We're Pulling For You, Norman

 I got a call one day from my son Phil, telling me that their 18 month old dog, Norman, was critically ill.  They found in lying in wet grass one afternoon, barely breathing.  They rushed him to the local vet, where he stayed for several days while they tried to diagnose him.  After seeing a specialist, the likely diagnosis is Chagas Disease,  a deadly illness.  They are awaiting results of a blood test that will confirm their suspicions.  It's a wait and see situation, and if he is diagnosed with Chagas Disease, his future looks grim.

I had never heard of Chagas Disease before.  It's a very serious deadly and increasingly common disease in dogs in Texas.  (Norman was born in Texas and brought to Colorado as a young puppy).  Chagas is caused by an infection by the parasite Typanosoma cruzi.  The infection is transmitted in dogs, people and other mammals by the kissing bug.  (I never heard of that bug before either).  Kissing bugs are nocturnal, blood-feeding insects.  Dogs usually catch Chagas disease by eating the kissing bug or by being bitten by the kissing bug.  Chagas disease causes serious heart disease and death in dogs.

Symptoms of Chagas disease include fever, weakness and lethargy, increased abnormal heart rhythm, congestive heart failure, bloated belly (fluid in belly), coughing , seizures, sudden death.  You get the picture.  Normal had fluid around his heart, which is a major reason they suspect Chagas disease.  

At this time there is no treatment for Chagas disease.  We'll have to wait and see what the definitive diagnosis is, and from there just hope for the best.  Norman could possibly live up to 5 years, or he could die of sudden death tomorrow.  I know what Phil and his family are going through.  They have a wonderful young dog, well trained, that they have all bonded with.  He goes camping with them and runs every morning with Phil.  He is a wonderful dog, and I'm hoping that whatever the diagnosis is, Norman will be around for many years.

Since I originally wrote this, I have good news.  Norman tested negative for Chagas.  It turns out to be a bacterial infection that attacked the heart.  He is doing well and should live a normal life.