Sedona - The Hero Dog

Let me tell you about a dog named Sedona. Sedona's not just any dog. She's MY dog. She's my companion. She's my protector. And last night, she was a life-saver, literally.

After a long week of working and running, I was ready to relax and celebrate Cinco de Mayo (a day late) with some girlfriends. I found a peasant top for $5 at Wal*Mart, and I was prepared to make apple enchiladas for desert. I even cut a rose from the front yard and secured it in my hair.


After eating some yummy fish tacos, I sat down with my girlfriends to watch our chosen chick-flick, Made of Honor, when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and saw it was my friend, Anita. I immediately knew something was wrong, and I was right. Her great Dane, Junior, was incredibly ill and in need of blood. Lots of blood.

If you're a long-time reader of my blog, you'll remember that Junior is Sedona's play mate. I wrote about their adventures in this blog post, but to refresh your memory, here they are playing at the park last year.

I didn't think twice about helping out my friend. I knew if the roles were reversed, I would want someone to come through for me and Sedona. I left my Cinco de Mayo fiesta and rushed home to get Sedona. She was all excited to go for a car ride, and I felt badly that we weren't going anywhere she wanted to go, least of all to the vet.

When we got to the animal ER, she knew something was up, and she was a bit antsy. The vet gave her a mild sedative to relax her and make it easy to get the blood they needed. I felt so badly that she didn't know what was going on, but after the sedative kicked in, she was pretty much out of it.

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING PICTURES MAY BE DISTURBING, MAINLY TO MY HUSBAND. Hun, I PROMISE she didn't feel a thing and I was by her side the entire time. All dogs stick their tongue out when they're under sedation.

It took four people to get her onto that gurney. Once she was there, I pulled back her ear and told her she was the BESTEST DOG IN THE WHOLE WIDEST WORLDEST. She was pretty out of it, though. I had to hold her head still so that the needle wouldn't pop out of her jugular. The young tech on the left was in such awe of Sedona. It was so sweet! She couldn't get over her size and how big her paws are compared to our hands.

After about 20 minutes, I couldn't hold her head any longer. My bad shoulder was giving out so Auntie Anita took over that responsibility.

She was telling Sedona that she was such a good girl and that her and Junior really appreciated what she was doing for them. Since Sedona knows Anita, I know she was at ease. I wasn't too far away at all, either. I snapped this picture real quick and went right back to her side.

All in all, they harvested a pint of blood from her. Once they got the first bag, they gave it to Junior. It was interesting to be a part of the whole process especially since they don't normally allow pet owners to be present for this type of procedure, but believe me, I wasn't going anywhere.

After getting her off the gurney (no small feat at all), I sat by her side waiting for her to wake up from the sedative. As I talked to her, she kept whipping her head back to me as if she was saying, "Mama! Mama!" It was super sweet.

Auntie Anita sat with her for a few minutes as I went to check on Junior who was in the same room but in a kennel. I watched as Sedona's blood dripped into Junior's IV. He looked so sad and so very sick :( Please pray for this gentle giant - he's really sick.

Today, I couldn't be more proud of my biggest girl. She trusted me so completely that she let me use her as a blood donor last night, and this morning I found her peacefully sleeping next to my bed. Protecting. Loving. And the only thing she has to show for her ordeal is a shaved neck and a few needle pricks. She IS the bestest girl ever.