Rescue Dog Alerts to Stroke in Grandmother

Grandma Pat
Dogs always seem drawn to her

 I  routinely checked adoptable, lost and found pet listings while comparing them to lost & found networks with whom I am involved. The week before New Year's Eve, I reviewed the found dogs list at the Saratoga County (NY) Animal Shelter . My eyes zeroed in on a skinny, doe-eyed dog with floppy, chewed-up ears. A distinct Dachshund head and Italian Greyhound body, I went to work trying to locate potential lost dogs across the US fitting this description. Nothing came up from network resources.

"Gypsy"
Shady Oak Tinsel & Tap Shoes

The week between Christmas and New Year's was fairly busy with family, travel and caring for my elderly parents. As much as I tried, I was unable to locate a lead nor could I get this little red hound out of my thoughts. In fact, I saved her photo and showed it to family with enthusiasm. I knew I had to at least foster her if at all possible. She was still on the found list and not available for adoption, but I presumed fostering her in a home environment would help lighten the load of the shelter.

I must admit, there was another reason. I hoped it might ease the ache of the loss of my Bullmastiff, Gypsy, to osteosarcoma in 2016. She was my best friend and the funniest frog-faced dog I ever had the pleasure to live my life with. Despite Gypsy's enormity, she was very gentle with my 87 year old Mom. The battle and will to live was strong and she maintained a happy companion throughout her stoic fight.

Grandma Pat & Gypsy
Sharing a chat

New Year's Eve I kept thinking about the tiny red dog and was consumed with her well being. I had gone running New Year's day and went to Dunkin Donuts to refill my antioxidants with caffeine. Coffee in hand, I found my car in front of the animal shelter wanting to see the little red-haired girl.

It would seem "Susie" was not yet for adoption though no one had claimed her. I went to visit her just the same and while all the other dogs barked with exuberance, she sat with quiet interest in through the glass partition. Upon going back to reception, I asked to put my name on a wait-list for her. One of the employees revisited her availability date and informed me she was available after all! I had to meet her in person!

I entered the dog playroom and was informed that Susie could be shy and skittish upon meeting new people. With that, I turned my ball cap around so she would not be frightened by a shadowy face. I removed my bulky winter the jacket and reduced my tall size by sitting on the floor. I knew it as important to not intimidate her with direct eye contact, so I was prepared to avert my gaze. The door opened and the little red Corvette sped across the room and dove into my arms with tail wagging. It was an easy decision! Home we went! Susie had thus been renamed Chilli Bean.

Chilli as Babushka

She has since gained weight, her ears healed, and she was easily house & leash compliant. She adapted to life with us in record time and displayed the same enthusiasm as the day I first held her. Further, when my 87 year old mom held her, she settled down immediately and was markedly docile. It was not a fluke, she had an affinity to sense the differences in human physical abilities and displayed this same behavior consistently.

The week of January 23rd, Chilli Bean came upstairs in the morning to see my mother as usual. Mom walked into the kitchen and Chilli play bowed behind her and furiously wagging her tail began barking. We had not observed such prior behavior. She continued to exhibit this puzzling behavior over the morning. A behavior that seemed different from previous play-behavior invitations. Neither of us could determine her urgency. Upon returning home that evening, Chilli whined and paced with a sense of urgency.

Chilli
On her way home from the shelter

Late the next day Mom explained she had lost her vision the day prior in the afternoon but it had come back. She was now having difficulty reading and understanding words. It was clear to me she was likely having a stroke and I immediately drove her to the ER.

Two day after admission to ER, the test results indicated she had a stroke on the same day Chilli had been barking at her heels earlier in the morning. We began to piece together Chilli's behavior as a possible tip off to the stroke.

Mom was released and Chilli was ecstatic to have her back home. She has not since displayed the behavior towards Mom as she had the day of her stroke.

In speaking about the mind-body connection, I want to include that this can extend outside our own being. Canines in particular, have shown the ability to sense electrical and chemical changes emanating from the human body. For example, Jamie Heimbuch (2016, para. 1) writes:

With about 220 million scent receptors (compared to our 5 million), dogs can smell things that seem unfathomable to us. They can detect some odors in parts per trillion, and they can detect countless subtleties in scents.

Is it remotely likely that this shelter rescue dog was able to bond with and indicate a pending stroke in my elderly mother? Heimbuch (2016, para. 3) points to this possibility:

And yes, there are the dogs who have sniffed out medical issues that even doctors weren't aware of. Dogs can pick up on tiny changes in the human body, from a tiny shift in our hormones to the release of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, released by cancer cells. Researchers and dog trainers are just beginning to understand how dogs do this and how we might put them to work in being our helpers in health care.

There are many dogs today working as sentinels for health issues such as seizure and narcolepsy. I have no doubt that this little red-haired girl tried to tell us as best she could in her own language that my mother was giving off prodromal indicators of a pending stroke.

The additional value of having such a sensitive dog is in giving their family a sense of support and second sight. Our canine family is there through thick and thin without judgement. Their world is simple - they watch us all day and notice subtle changes in us. Dogs are able to fill-in the blanks beyond those of human senses. Loyal and insistent, the have learned to trust their instinct. Something human beings have been socialized to ignore. Especially when it comes to women's health.

In the future, we will look towards Chilli's connection to us through her language. I wonder if Chilli somehow sent out otherly signals from the shelter for me to find her!  She is a blessing and has been a great running partner to keep me motivated & positive.

Works Cited

Heimbuch, JAYMI. "6 Medical Conditions That Dogs Can Sniff Out". MNN - Mother Nature Network. N.p., 2017. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.

Copyright © CeCi DeSio-Luongo for Vitality Factor 2017. All rights reserved.