Number Five's Story Feb 2006-Feb 2008
In February 2006 a litter of Lhasa pups was born--six in all! Hard labor contractions started at 8.43pm.
The fifth pup arrived at 12.01am: an average-sized male, gold with black markings and white spots on his feet, neck and head. His birth, as for all his siblings, was uneventful and smooth.
The pups were assigned a number corresponding to their birth order.
By four weeks of age pups can hear really well...the Fifth puppy was particularly intelligent and began to turn toward someone saying his "name":
"Number Five".
By five weeks, he was actually coming to the sound of his litter number--this one was definitely "a keeper" in terms of intellectual strength. His physical and mental development were always right on (or ahead of) schedule; all puppy exams were unremarkable. This was a high-energy and dog-friendly pup, sweet-tempered, submissive, and non-aggressive during rough sibling play or around food.
When it became clear at 11 months that he would be slightly overbitten, he was disqualifed from the breeding program, and scheduled him for neutering surgery...an uneventful procedure and recovery. On the day of surgery, he was vaccinated against rabies with a very well known and respected vaccine, which nonetheless contains a mercury-based preservative. Mercury is a known biological toxin.
Over the next several months, the sweet little pet...well..."disappeared". He began to urinate in his bed at night and during meals, barked at nothing, barked at everything, stood in corners and up against walls with his chin pressed down to his chest. If anyone brushed by him while he was wall-pressing, he would freak out. He stopped playing, and had to be closely supervised outdoors to get him to "finish" before coming in the house to eliminate on the rug.
His hair became wiry and brittle, his skin greasy and sensitive...he was itchy (gassy) and restless, anxious, obsessive, unable to make eye contact or wag his tail. He developed diarrhea, acid reflux, and began losing muscle mass. His eyes became gummy and infected.
His immune system had jumped into overdrive, and I do suspect that the vaccination event is the most-likely point of origin. There is as yet, unfortunately, no way to test for this physiologic reaction (and the FDA to date disavows this phenomenon).
Medication only poorly controlled some of the abberant behaviors and corrected a few of the social phobias, but his skin and fur still need to be degreased weekly and clipped close to the body since he began to suck compulsively on clumps of his own hair. I have been able to retrain him to eliminate outdoors--he has obsessively picked a few spots, but he 'goes' without nagging most times now.
I have changed to a mercury-free rabies vaccine for my gang...if you need some advice about this, or need help contacting the FDA, let me know.
Five's Story Feb 2008-Present
Beside medications, nutrition has become an important part of Five's therapy...his digestive organs are intollerant of many food ingredients, so I am always on the alert for symptoms of intestinal discomfort and malabsorption. He also started getting very painful bladder infections. High-quality foods made without corn, wheat, soy, spinach, celery, peas, or chemical additives are a must.
To make sure that his vitamin and other nutrient levels remain high, I have been sharing my daily nutritional supplement with him. Let me know if you have questions about using supplements with your pets. Excessive dosages are unnecessary for purposes of supplementation (and, in certain cases, can be harmful). Anything that stimulates immune attack of other body systems is to be avoided!!!
To prevent further immune overactivity, I have stopped using any ivermectin-based monthly heartworm preventative. Instead, Five takes a daily dose of diethylcarbamazine citrate...this is the older preventative that is no longer in commercial production for veterinary use, so it is compounded by a pharmacy.
Even so, Western drug therapies began to fail...
Five hears his name at four weeks old.
Five hanging out before vaccination, November 2006 (8 months old).
Five at 13 months, March 2007--note poor coat condition and reduced muscle mass. As opposed to his puppy photo, he's not looking up at the face, but indirectly to the side.
Five's Best Friend "Shiji". This Shih Tzu has been a devoted friend and helper at a young age...playing with Five when no one else would, and not taking "No" for an answer. He's not quite ready to have his own babies, but will no doubt produce Real Beauties on the outside and inside.
Five with better muscle tone, and renewed interest in things around him...December 2007. Skin and coat still an issue, but he has been enjoying life better since taking medications and supplements for more than 6 months. In February 2008 he had a relapse (many autoimmune conditions have a strong seasonal component) and we began consultations with a licensed holistic veterinarian...this proved to be very beneficial in a very short amount of time!
Did You Know...
Even though Lhasas and Shih Tzus can reach their full body frame size by 9-12 months of age, they continue to metabolize nutrients and build muscle to fill out a full adult shape for up to 2&1/2 years longer!
Gender-specific mental and social development continues to age 4 years, when many difficult dominance problems begin to make themselves known.
Update, Fall 2008: Little Five Pet has healed so much that he is now taking an interest in music lessons! To find out Who he likes most, visit the Potala Blog. Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies have worked very well immediately, and have not failed; even the deep nerve pains in his shoulders have completely disappeared. Note his ever-present Guard-Friend!
