So our youngest doggie was throwing up blood last night and we took her to the vet's immediately. She had been puking up bile a few times during the day, but it seemed to go away. Throughout all of it, she never was lethargic or grumpy; just her usual cheerful and smiley self. We figured she probably had a bug and it went away. But then she puked up a lot. No food, just bile and quite a bit of blood, which freaked us out of course.
The vet took a look and a stool sample (poor thing; they slid a long straw-like scooper up her butt) and turns out she has a massive amount of particularly nasty bacteria. We think she got it from some goose poop (they are running wild lately). Our complex also has large grounds where all the owners walk their dogs and don't bother to pick up after them (pigs). So who knows where it came from.
Now she's on antibiotics and a couple of other meds. We are slipping the antibiotics in her favorite no-no food, Fancy Feast (yes, for cats).
Damn geese. And idiot dog owners.
And as far as the Pit Bull discussion, not to start a flame war of course (ah, the good old days!). . .But I didn't mean to offend anyone. I just think that I've never heard of a golden retriever mauling a small child or killing one, while I've heard of several Pit-related deaths. Here in Chicago there was a major story about a month ago where a jogger was running through a park, was attacked by two loose Pits, and lost a leg. If it had been two golden retrievers which have very strong jaws, size, and strong teeth, I doubt the outcome would have been the same. It's a common fact that many breeders emphasize certain characteristics and minimize others, and you can tell after a few generations. And many breeders over the last few decades have bred Pits and other dogs for being aggressive. Unfortunately, dog fighting is still extremely popular (at least in Chicago), and those aggressive strains will go out into the general population, and you have your problem.
I'm not singling out Pits as bad dogs; they're not. I just think that certain breeds have aggressive characteristics and people don't know how to train and/or socialize, and so it causes problems. In all honesty, I have a Lhasa Apso (look like little prissy dogs) who is very, very aggressive (and they are known for being a bit unfriendly as a breed). When our Shih-tzu was a new puppy in our home, the lhasa almost bit her eye out. She attacked my niece, who was just a 3 year old trying to give her a hug, and made a gash in her nose. If we walk her outside, I have to be extra vigilant when there are other dogs around because she will attack. One time some idiot owner was walking his Pug without a leash outside, and it came over to our Lhasa to say hello, and my dog went immediately for her throat.
Whose fault is it? Mine, ultimately. I didn't socialize her enough when she was a puppy, with children and other dogs. Many Pit owners make the same mistake. And when you have a breed that is not as docile as a teacup Chihuahua (like Pits and yes, Lhasa Apsos), then you have more probability for a problem than if you have a Lab.