Attack of Ants

Friday night Cory and I went to Little Rock for a concert.  We stayed downtown at the La Quinta Inn downtown, since they allow pets.  We arrive at the hotel to see that there must be some sort of family reunion going on.  Needless to say, some of the kids were screaming when  we walked in the hotel doors with Goose.  Goose isn't even a big dog, he is a fairly small lab but it was pretty hilarious seeing these kids run away in fear since Cory and I both know that Goose couldn't or wouldn't hurt a thing.  That was pretty good entertainment. 

The concert was great.  Then Saturday morning came.

Cory and I got ready in a hurry, since there were fish to be caught that day.  I had my luggage and Hank on my hip and we headed out the door.  I decided to meet Cory down at the front of the hotel, so that I didn't have to walk as far with Hank and my luggage.  I walked outside of the main doors of the hotel and put Hank down in a flower bed to use the bathroom.  I knew he was probably about ready to bust since he hadn't went yet for the morning. 

He walks around, taking his time as usual, with me closely behind in fear he will run out into the road.  I noticed him stop and start sniffing and then something is in his mouth.  I run up, grab whatever that is in his mouth and get it out.  [It was a piece of hard boiled egg, I'm sure from the fancy continental breakfast served by the hotel].  When I get the egg out of his mouth I notice ants, several ants, on his face, on the egg, on his paw.  I wiped all of them off of him and didn't think much else about it.  A minute or two later, I see him shacking his head excessively.  I check him again, didn't see any ants or anything.. so I didn't worry. 

Cory pulls up by that point, I put Hank in the front seat, close the door and go to the back to help load up my stuff.  While I'm doing all of this I'm telling Cory about the ants and the egg.  We all the sudden hear a noise, like a squeaking noise...not like a gasp but like something is wheezing.  I instantly think HANK!  I run up to the passenger side and Hank is laying on the seat, all four legs stiff as a board and he is gasping for air.  I screamed and when I say I screamed, I really screamed... Cory runs to me and I hand him Hank.  He goes limp, we can't tell if he is breathing or not.  I'm hysterical at this point.  I run inside the hotel to see if there is a vet nearby.  I get a number and call them to find out they are full.  FULL?  WHAT?  FULL?  My dog is about to DIE! 

A few minutes have gone by, Hank is in the car with all the air blowing on him and Cory is petting him, talking to him.....  I'm sure Cory is begging him not to die, that his weekend of fishing would be ruined since he would have to take care of crazy me for the next week month.  I am fully aware of how crazy I was acting. 

We decided to get into the car and start driving, I got a hold of Maumelle Animal Hospital and they could see him in twenty minutes.  So, we were off!  In the mean time, I've called my vet - who told me that if it was fire ants that dogs can go into shock from the pain of the stings.  I noticed Hank had blood on his foot when I'm on the phone with her, which I discovered was several bites from the ants.

By the time we got to the hospital the little guy was perky, ran up to the door and everything.  They suggested benedryl and children's aspirin...so that is what we have done since Saturday.   Me being a helicopter Mom of course, hovering over him at all times, worried something is going to go wrong again.

Saturday was probably the most scared I have been, ever.  Sad to say that since it was just over a dog but seriously, I was thinking that the one constant thing that has been in my life for the past 7 years was about to die right in front of me.  Cory probably is second guessing marrying me since he has seen first hand how I react in situations like this.  I can't imagine would I would have done if it would have been a child!  Lesson learned!  Not sure that I will be prepared if that ever happens again but at least Cory will know I'm going to be psycho crazy. 

Later Saturday night, Hank looked like he had visited Erica at EMA.  He had some puffy lips!


Hank Williams is ALIVE!  

Goose and Hank at the hotel, before things went bad.