Little Dog, Big Scare

We almost lost Lola on Wednesday. Daughter, who found her outside, seizing and with head trauma, quickly bundled her up and got her to the nearest vet. It did not look good for everyone's favorite little Miss Priss Dog.

Lola is not an Only Dog. She is one of four: Zoe, an 8-year-old black Lab/Border Collie mix; Tripps, a crazy 3-year-old Australian Shepherd, and Little Man, a 4-year-old Chihuahua who looks more like a Miniature Pincher (hope I got the ages right). All are dearly, dearly loved and spoiled rotten, but Lola, well, this tiny Alpha-Princess-Dog Chihuaha has an extra little something that makes her utterly impossible to resist. Even to folks who favor big dogs over tiny ones (like me) or cat-lovers or those who don't like animals of any kind.

She's 8-years-old (young for a Chihuahua), tiny (4-5 pounds, maybe?) and has ears as big as her head, big buggie eyes that look like they're about to fall out of her head, fur like velvet, and a tongue that perpetually dangles out of the left side of her mouth. When picked up she cuddles into your chest and neck like a baby. And nobody ever wants to put her down. When visitors are around, Lola is usually passed around from person to person, as they fight over who gets to hold her next.

It's her attitude that sucks you in, though. Fearless (that may change), regally entitled, and just plain sweet, to boot. When Daughter was planning her wedding a couple of years ago, several family members and friends offered to walk Lola down the aisle at the big event. But Daughter knew better. Lola is a scene-stealer, and there was only going to be one scene-stealer at this wedding, and it wasn't going to be Miss Lola. Alas, she had to stay home.

Anyway, back to the trauma story. Daughter rushed Lola to the nearest vet (not her usual one), who quickly determined swelling - tissue? Fluid inside the head? The vet did what she could to stablize the little dog before sending Daughter and Lola off to Georgia Veterinary Specialists, the Mayo Clinic of vet services according to Daughter. It was really touch and go. No one knew the extent of her head trauma. Until the swelling could be stopped and lessened, it didn't look good. Not much hope was given Daughter and Son-in-Law when they left Lola-Bean at GVS.

Thanks to Facebook, news of Lola's emergency traveled far and wide. Prayers and good wishes started pouring in for this funny little creature. We couldn't imagine our world without Lola. It was so unexpected. I suspect the doctors didn't think she'd make it through the night, that's how serious the situation was. So all we could do was wait.

Good news came around midnight. Lola was responding to the meds and slowly returning to her old self. Everyone was hopeful that she might, indeed, make it through the night. And she did. The good folks at GVS took brilliant care of Lola throughout Thursday, and, miracle of miracles, she was able to go home that afternoon.

If she could be any more spoiled than she already was, well, that's what's happening now. A new bed, new treats, and not out of Daughter's sight for an instant. An unbelievable turn-around, considering the DNR papers Daughter and Son-in-Law had to sign Wednesday.

Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets. So glad you decided to stick around, you little sweetheart!