1:00 A.M.

I went to bed last night at around 10:30 p.m. expecting a peaceful restful night. Sometimes things don't quite go as we planned. I shut down my computer for the night, checked to see the doors were locked, turned out
the light and got in bed. I looked down at Cookie lying in her bed and see looked so sweet. Cookie always has a way of making me smile.

I was sound asleep and I heard this noise, I looked over at Cookie's bed, she wasn't there. That is always a panic for me. I jumped out of bed, turned on the light, and saw Cookie walking near the foot of our bed, stumbling like a drunken sailor, her body shaking, and knew in a flash that she was having another one of
her epileptic seizures. I have seen so many of them in the last few years.

I picked her up and carried her to the bathroom door and I sat down on the carpet of the hallway and I held her like I have so many times before. A little after one on a Sunday morning, she was my only thought. I needed to hold her and protect her. If she stumbled around she could very easily cause injury to herself. I put my arms around her, petted her, told her it is going to be alright. She kept shaking and wanted to get up and
walk. No way would I let that happen. In five or six minutes her shaking was becoming less and less. Finally she looked at me and laid her head on my leg, it was so cute.

Now you will know why I was by the bathroom door. She stood up and started to act like she was going to vomit. I held her head inside the bathroom and soon she threw up on the bathroom floor. A lot better than having her throw up on the carpet. I knew she would vomit because it happens every time after she has a seizure.

We sat there a few more minutes as I continued to hold her and comfort her. Soon she got up like nothing had happened and walked back into the bedroom. That meant it was time for me to clean up her vomit.
It wasn't bad, just kind of watery. It might upset some people at a little after one in the morning, but to me it is just a part of life with my dog that has epilepsy.

It was a little after 1:20 when I finally got back in bed. I couldn't go to sleep right away. I would listen to the sound of Cookie breathing. Why, I don't know, it is just habit. I know very well she would be alright for the rest of the night. However, it was after 2 a.m. until I finally fell asleep again.

Cookie is on medication for her seizures, but the vet told us that she could still get them. They would be less violent and not as bad. I love that little beagle with all my heart and I will always protect her if I can. I do worry sometimes that she may have a seizure when I'm not at home, but sometimes she has to be left alone while we go out. I have held her and comforted her many times in the last few years as she had a seizure. It is part of a man loving his dog. A dog that shows more love to me than anyone deserves. She is happy and playful 99.9% of the time. That .1% she needs me and I will be there for her.


Copyright   Larry W. Fish   2015