{Photos by the talented Cio}
When Michael & I had been married not even a month, we started playing around with the idea of getting a dog. Why? Because we were crazy, of course. We lived in a tiny apartment on the second floor! Getting used to living with each other wasn’t enough! We needed to add potty training, yapping, & a pet deposit to the mix! We were certifiable.
The day before Christmas Eve 2007, we found ourselves in the Wal-Mart parking lot while running errands. All the people trying to pawn off their litters of puppies had shown up, adorable furballs on display. Michael suggested that we go “take a look,” but not to worry, we probably wouldn’t get one.
I saw lots of puppies that day, but when I walked up to a black Suburban, I saw only one. He was a tiny brown puff. I had never seen anything like him. “What kind of dog is that?” I asked. “A long-haired chihuahua,” the woman replied. “OOHHHHH NOOOOOO,” Michael said, backing away. “I don’t WANT a chihuahua.”
Famous last words.
When I stuck my hand out to that puppy, he lifted one tiny front paw & pawed my hand. If was as though he were saying, “Hello there, I choose you.” He won my heart right then & there.
We ended up leaving without the dog because I was too nervous to make the commitment right then & there. But I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I told everyone I encountered that day about the little dog I had seen. I began to think of names for him.
The next day, Michael said “Let’s go by & see if that dog is still there.” Surely he won’t be, I thought. He was the only one left & it was almost Christmas; surely someone would have snatched him up by then.
He wasn’t gone. He was very much there. And as I walked up to snuggle him, a little boy popped out of nowhere, & his parents started asking about the dog. Instantly, my mind was made up. He was my dog. I wrote that check faster than you can say lunatic.
I named him Pancho because, really, what else do you name a chihuahua? As it turns out, he’s gotten pretty huge for his breed. 14 pounds to be exact. Oh, & his ears never stood up. But I still insist that he’s a chihuahua, even when everyone says “That’s not a chihuahua!” Of course he is! I have papers, you know. And I paid ENTIRELY too much for him to not be a chihuahua. So there.
Life with Pancho has been interesting. It took him 6 months to potty train. He has anxiety issues from being alone so much when I was working as a substitute teacher when he was a tiny puppy. He’s had to have teeth pulled & has been to the vet for a handful of miscellaneous items. He pees when he gets too excited. He cries when I leave the room. He hides under the bed when I need to put him outside. He gets into the bathroom trash constantly. He’s really just a very naughty, needy dog.
But he’s so sweet. And loving. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade him for the tiniest “real” chihuahua you could give me. I wouldn’t trade him for any other dog, even if that dog was perfectly behaved with no bad habits. Pancho is the best snuggler in the world. When I was severely depressed, Pancho was one of the only things that could always make me smile. He keeps me company when I’m alone. He’s my baby.
On Thursday night, Michael went out to get Chinese food, & I left the room for a few minutes. When I came back, Pancho was shaking violently, with a glazed look on his face. Immediately I thought it’s happening again. In June, when we first moved into this house, at 1am one morning, the same thing happened. I frantically called every emergency vet in town, but couldn’t get a call back. He ended up being just fine & I thought maybe it was a one time thing. But when it happened again, I knew something was wrong. Seriously wrong. I tried calling Michael but he had forgotten his phone. So I held him & tried not to panic while I watched for Michael’s headlights.
As soon as Michael walked in the door, Pancho was having another seizure. I tearfully told him what was happening, & he took Pancho & had me start looking up numbers & calling emergency clinics. When we got a call back, Pancho was on his fourth seizure. We rushed him over to the vet, who asked us questions while I tried not to bawl my eyes out. He gave him a shot to stop the seizures & told me to bring him in the next morning for blood work.
I cried for a good while when we got home. It’s so scary to not know what’s wrong with your dog, isn’t it? Pancho slept & I kept waking up throughout the night in a panic that he was having another seizure. I took him back first thing the next morning, & they ran tests. Everything checked out as far as blood work goes, which led the vet to believe he’s epileptic.
I’ve been giving him a high dose of medication for the last 5 days, which has made him act like he’s drunk, sleep poorly, & drink a lot of water. The final high dose was last night, which is a huge relief for me. Now, I’ll give him a low dose every day, & that will hopefully keep the seizures at bay. He should get more & more used to the medicine, so soon there will be few to no side effects.
Thank y’all so much for the tweets, emails, comments, etc. while I was in full-blown freakout mode that night/the next morning. It means the world to me that people care enough about me & my little dog to send thoughts & prayers our way. I really appreciate it & if I could, I’d give all of you a big hug. And I think Pancho would too.
Comments on The Giant Chihuahua.
From Kari Anne:
I’m so glad the doctor figured out what it was! And it’s okay for you to act that way over your pets…they are your children until you have actual children…and then they are still your first babies… Hope the side effects go away soon!
From RootsAndRings:
I think his non-chihuahua-ness is one of his greatest qualities. :)
I love that little Pancho. I hope the meds help him and it doesn’t happen again. Dog issues are very scary, I know.
How’s my Leia?
From Amber:
He’s a beautiful dog. I adopted a rescue cat right when I started my first job out of college and sometimes she was a terrible roommate, but she was always an irreplaceable companion. I was inconsolable for at least a week after she was diagnosed with cancer, so I can imagine how you felt that night.
From Shelly Pagliai:
My daughter has a teacup poodle that did the same thing. It is scary. She did just like you and cried and freaked out. He’s doing well now, tho, with his meds.
From Thea:
I havet two chihuahuas and I promise I paid entirely too much for them too! One is also a “long-haired chihuahau” (Libby) … she looks more like a teacup Golden Retreiver though ;)
They’ve really taken to ranch life though … but aren’t allowed to be out unsupervised cuz I have too much anxiety about owls & hawks carrying them away!
http://thiscowgirllife.com/2010/02/26/ranch-huas/
From Meghan:
Poor little Pancho! I hope you guys are okay in the aftermath.
From Kaci Johanna:
Oh geez, I would have been a DISASTER if that were any of my dogs. I can’t imagine how you must have felt! I’m glad you seem to have things figured out, though, and that little (big) Pancho is happy and healthy from now on. :)
From Kristina:
Oh my goodness! I would have completely freaked out too! My doggy is having some issues too! For the past two days she has been vomiting. Her personality hasn’t changed she just occaisionally throws-up, which is definelty freaking me out!
I’m glad to hear that Pancho is doing better!
From Liz:
Srsly Lauren, I love him and I don’t even know him. He is the CUTEST chihuahua I’ve ever seen and normally I think they’re butt ugly lol. I can completely relate to being obsessed with your pet <3
From DebbieQ:
Oh goodness. So glad that he is doing better. I panic more when the dog is sick than I did when the progeny were sick. And I am not sure what that says about me…..
From Suburban Sweetheart:
Pancho is so cute – & you know I don’t even like dogs that much, much less little teeny chihuahua-y ones. But he is SOOO. CUTE. And I hope he’s well. XOXO. <3
From Cole:
Awww, I had no idea – I hope Pancho feels better soon!
From Kara:
I’m so glad to hear that little Pancho is okay! He’s so stinkin’ cute, real Chihuahua or not!
From san:
I would have never guessed that he’s a Chihuahua, but maybe that’s a good thing… he’s awfully cute though :)
From Emily:
I’m so glad he’s doing okay now. He’s so handsome and fluffy!
From Amanda:
Hi LFT,
I love your blog, and I love your sweet little pancho too…I’m so sorry that happened! Our pets are part of our family too and its so scary when something happens to them. My family doggie growing up was epileptic and it was scary every time it happened. The meds he was on had some bad side effects, but now they have better meds for it. Prayers for you and Pancho!
Amanda (from MN)
From stephanie:
LFT,
I had a chihuahua as well that this same thing happened too. I took him to several specialists and it turns out that these dogs in particular can get very dehydrated and have seizures. This can happen when the weather is extremely hot, or the dogs are going through a change and dont want to drink or eat. My regular vet had no idea what it was either. I hope this helps…dont stress!
From Amy --- Just A Titch:
I would have lost it. I’m SO GLAD Panchito (can I call him that? Little Pancho, you know) is okay. Much love to you both.
From Courtney:
I feel your pain. My Riley started having seizures a little over a year ago. We’d get them regulated with Phenobarbital, then they would come back so we’d up the dose. She’s now on 2 meds, Pheno and Potassium Bromide. After she went through a bout of pancreatitis (I know, she’s a MESS), her pheno levels were too high and yep, drunk Riley. Pheno decreased, Potassium increased and, knock on wood, it’s been over a month since she has had a seizure. Long story short, I know what you’re going though. There needs to be a support group for this kind of thing!
From Heather:
You poor thing! I just read this post. I’m so glad Pancho is OK!!!
From Abigail @ Skywaitress:
Oh I would be terrified if anything was wrong with Phoebe. He looks like such a sweet dog. I hope the medicine works for him and everything goes back to normal.
From KT:
Oh my goodness poor Pancho! I would FREAK OUT if my dog started having seizures. Sending healthy puppy thoughts your way!
From Taryn:
Oh I am so SO glad he’s OK now. Dogs just have a giant paw-hold on our hearts, don’t they? The few times (thank GOODNESS) Truman has been sick it has nearly killed me. They don’t complain like humans do so your heart hurts even more for them. I’m sure Pancho will be digging through your trash for a VERY long time :-)
From osarah:
Oh, Lauren! I’m so sorry. I hope the medicine is effective at keeping the seizures at bay and keeping Pancho healthy. It’s a very scary feeling when there’s something wrong with your pet and you don’t know how to help him or can’t help him. I’ve been there.
From Manderz:
Pancho is so adorable…and he looks almost identical to one of mine (who’s a dachshund retriever!). I’m sorry to hear about the seizures and epilepsy. My cousin’s dog has it, and I know it’s not easy to deal with.
From Kristina:
Our dogs are the same person. My dog was from a breeder in Spring, TX, met in a gas station parking lot, intended to get a different puppy, fell in love at first site with Winnie. They said she’s full chihuhua, but I have my doubts as well – she has the hugest bat ears I’ve ever seen, and a long body, and she too weighs a lot. She pees when she gets excited (so annoying but isn’t it amazing how you get used to it?).
From Rocco:
Everyone says any Chihuahua over 6 pounds is not a Chihuahua. They’re wrong! Just like your Pancho, My Rocco is a Purebred, AKC approved Chihuahua! His parents are AKC approved too! And he’s 15 pounds! And totally not fat, pure muscle! He competes in Agility Competitions, so obviously he’s not fat! He’s my baby boy. No matter how much he weighs, he’s a lapdog, and will never be anything else. He’s my little baby boy, and anyone who says he’s not a Chihuahua can shove the registry papers i have up their bum!