THAT WAS NOT HEART ATTACK

Sunil came to my hospital without his usual smile… Unshaven face,..unkempt hair,..eyes full of sadness…

Did his fiance ditch him??   He sat in the chair and in a wispering voice asked me.

“Doctor, will a dog die of heart attack?”

“Yes.It is  possible. What happened?” I asked.

“I think Deepu had an attack…. She is gone doctor…” Sunil,s eyes brimmed wih tears.

“She was full term …. I was eagerly waiting for the arrival of her pups…..She has gone

along with her pups……”

Tears rolled down his cheeks.

I can understand his pain . Death of a pet is a personal loss for every member

of the family. Deepu was a very special pet for Sunil. I still remember the day, four years ago,

when Sunil came to me with a cute doberman pup. He named her Deepu. There after Sunil & Deepu

were frequent visitors to the veterinary hospital….. Any trivial problem - - a sneeze,.. a cough…
,
a  bruise,…  a little loss of appetite…. were all serious  problems for sunil & he would rush

to the hospital with Deepu.

” You are in more labour pain than Deepu”  I used to tease him watching his restlessness when

Deepu was nearing  welping.

Well fed, well brushed, well trained, with cute mischievous sparkling eyes and glossy skin

Deepu was the darling of all. Sunil was indeed very proud of his pet.

“Tell me what happened?’ That was a shoking news for me. She was dear to me also.she was always a very

cooperative patient. During injections and vaccinations she never created problems.

” Doctor , you know her very well. Where ever I go Deepu accompanies me. Yesterday when I started

the car she jumped in and sqatted on the front seat. I could not resist her imploring eyes and

allowed  her to accompany me. In the town  I parked the car and went out for a small  shopping.

Deepu was inside the car . Way back I met long time friend of mine and reminisced school days.

.         Half an hour passed in a whiff. when I came back Deepu was not in the seat… she was lying down

“Deepu,….  Deepu”…. I called her . she did not respond. Did she have a score  aganist me for

being late? I thought.. . She was a very intelligent dog. But my Deepu was actually dead doctor………..”

sunil sobbed with tearful eyes. “I dont know how I drove back home…. Her memory is haunting me……

I cant sleep,… I cant eat,…  I am utterly confused…..  what happened to my deepu?….”

I tried in vain to console sunil. I promised to arrange a pup for him .

” It was not heart attack that killed deepu.” I told him.

” she died of heat stroke . when you switched off the car, the air conditioner also went off.

suddenly temperature inside the car started rising . To reduce the heat  panting is the

only way for the dog. when a dog pants it inspires hot air  and expires cold air. After some time

this mechanism stops functioning . Temperature inside further rises.  Dog keeps its tongue out

and pants vigorously. In a  short time the dog collapses.”

“It is me who killed her…….. my god…….. “. sunil broke down .

” Please control yourself sunil”.

” In hot season keeping dogs in the sun chained or in a kennel,  strenuous exercises,

trainigs  with or without water  may lead to heat stroke. Extreme heat will affect the kidneys first.

During hot season never keep a dog in a closed car. At home , kennel should be in a shade  and dogs

should have access to water always. If a dog pants unusually get veterinary aid at the earliest .

Before the vets arrival  spray     cold water lavishly on the dog especially on  the head and the belly.”

Sunil went home With a broken heart

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