Dog Sense; How Do They Do It?

Around three in the morning Toopie wanted out, and I put him out in the dog yard with Joe and Jack so I didn't have to get dressed and walk him.  I sat down and waited for Toop, and pretty soon Jack came to the door and sat there looking at me.  That was odd, because he usually runs around in the yard with Toopie, so I went out to investigate.  Toopie had collapsed, and it appears that he has had a stroke.  I brought him in and made him comfortable before I went back to bed.

Jack normally sleeps under the porch, and Joe likes to stay in one of the DogLoos, but this morning when I got up Jack was in a hut lying next to Joe.  He knew something was wrong in his Dog World, and his anxiety was showing.  You have to wonder how animals can be so sensitive that they pick up on the problems around them.  I wonder if humans have this ability to communicate silently stashed away in the corners of our minds, just waiting to be used if only we were open to it.

The vet looked at Toopie this morning, and we expected that he would put down our little dog, but he is treating him and observing for a day or two before he makes a decision.  He says that dogs often come out of strokes, so it is worth some wait-and-see time.  Toop's vet has shown good dog sense before with him, so we are doing some hopeful waiting.

Update:  We spoke to Toopie's vet, Dr. Zieren, in Carmi, Illinois Saturday morning.  Toopie is eating and drinking, and is able to stand.  He is pretty wobbly when he tries to walk.  Doc Zieren will keep him over the weekend; we are very much encouraged.