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Tag: obsessive compulsive disorder

  • Depression Sets in With Sparky

    sparky-may-6-2009Since my last update on Sparky on April 19th, I’ve noticed that he seems depressed and has lost over five pounds.  Since that day that I gave him the sedative, I only had to give it to him one more time this past weekend. The reason I did this was because the vet had taken off the splint on Friday. So now Sparky only has a bandage and I was worried that if I left him alone all day Saturday, the temptation to take off the bandage would be great.  If sparky took off the bandage and started to lick his wound again, we would end up in square one.

    He  has been leaving his paw alone for the past three weeks.  But now I wonder if the pill was too strong for him. Even when Cristian takes him for a walk, he says he is unmotivated. Maybe that drug is too strong.

    I just took this picture of him sitting in the doorway. It is about 2 feet from my desk. He usually goes out in the sun when I leave the door open for him. His breathing is kind of heavy too, so I am kind of worried. Today I am going to the vet again. (more…)

  • Update on Sparky’s Wound..My Labrador

    sparky my labrador march 09Sparky’s paw still has an exposed wound. I have been taking many precautions and  care  in the past six months so it doesn’t get infected. However, he is over 100 pounds, very stubborn and refuses to let it heal with the bandage. This picture where I found a brace usually only lasts about a couple of hours. Then he maneuvers to take it off, when I am not looking.

    I am at my wits end. I am tired of yelling at him. I yo- yo between ignoring him and back to worrying about his paw. As I observed him the other day, I wondered if he is now used to the pain of this exposed wound. I know it must hurt him, even though he still walks normal yet with a slight limp.

    I finally had an idea the other day of maybe getting a cast on it, just like I had when I broke my bones.  My brother, Ricardo, who is a dermatologist sent pictures of  Sparky’s wound to a dermatological vet. He said that Sparky’s condition is an obsessive compulsive disorder.  The wound started because he scratched a groomer. What started as a small wound ended becoming bigger and bigger as he continuously licks it.  The vet says that this type of condition is very hard to get rid of and that some people have tried snake venom to prevent this.

    The problem is that it keeps getting bigger and bigger as time goes by. Isn’t this true with our own emotions? Don’t we sometimes suppress them again and again when a trigger causes us to react and suddenly we are exposed?  My own process  has been long and painful. At least I finally feel my heart is in a better place, stronger and ready to take the punches without a meltdown. I only hope Sparky heals soon.