CH C-Myste Dakota RA, CGC
As you all know, Dakota was my first Cardigan. I swore up until the day I brought him home that I was a Pembroke person.
Four years ago today, the SUV litter was born (Trooper x Baha) via C-section.
I remember seeing the "kids" toddling around the penned off part of the yard when I went up for a dog show. I remember again, seeing them a few weeks later when I went up for another dog show. it was at that time that Mandy and Carolyn told me how much I *needed* this black puppy. It was *NOT* a Pembroke! Ollie had been giving me a lot of stress in the ring, and they said adding Kota would help Ollie realize that my life did not center around him.
I left without him that day, and didn't even make it a few miles away from Carolyns house before I had to pull over and cry. A week later I met Carolyn near Shasta and brought him home.
Boy did he go through some gangly stages... but in the end, he really did turn out to be exactly what I saw in the puppy pictures.
In April of 04, when getting our health clearance to go to Nationals in St. Louis, the doctors found that Kota had a heart murmur. My world sank. Could I keep showing him? Would he die? How could this be? After a TON of research, and a lot of tests later, it was discovered that Dakota had a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosis). Carolyn and Chris (Armstrong) were great... the support they gave me was irreplaceable, and I thank those two women greatly for helping me through Kota's diagnosis and surgery.
After we returned from Nationals (and after United Airlines lost Kota in Chicago O'Hare for a few hours) we scheduled the surgery for July at UC Davis.
They were to insert metal "coils" via a catheter that goes through the femoral artery. Here is some info I found on that:
Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus: Transcatheter closure has proven to be an excellent treatment option for children with patent ductus arteriosus. First reported in 1967, this procedure is done in the heart catheterization laboratory with conscious sedation and avoids the need for surgery. During the procedure, catheters (thin plastic tubes) are placed into the large blood vessels in the legs and gently guided to the heart. These catheters are used to deposit small metal coils within the ductus. The coils obstruct blood flow through the vessel, in part by stimulating the development of a blood clot at the site. This procedure achieves an excellent result in most patients. Complications are rare and include bleeding, infection, and early dislodgment of the coil. If the coil dislodges it can usually be retrieved at the time of the procedure and repositioned or replaced with a larger size coil. The procedure is done as an outpatient and children can resume all activities within 48 hours.
Well, in Dakota's surgery, when they were inserting the third and final coil, it dislodged and landed in his abdominal cavity. The doctors called me and asked if I wanted it removed. My only reply to them was "you are the doctors. You do what is best for my dog". They put Kota in ICU and watched him over night and determined that it was not cutting off any blood flow to the abdominal organs and that it was ok to leave in. He came home a few days later and less than a month after surgery he competed in a dog show in Santa Cruz, CA, bringing home a few more points towards his CH :)
In January of 05, in Puyallup, WA, he earned his final points (out of the Open class) for his Championship with Mandy and Grammy Chris there to watch. I was so excited and emotional; it was a great high! Kota finished at 19 months. I have to thank Richelle and Paul for pushing me to go to this show. They wanted to go and they asked if I would go to show Ethan. In the end, it ended up being a beneficial venture for me, I'd say!
Dakota earned his CGC as a fairly young dog, and then went on to try Rally with me. I saw it in Portland in 04 and started competing with Kota in 05. He earned his Rally Novice title in 4 tries (one DQ because the judge said he was pulling on lead). He went on to earn his Rally Advanced (off leash) title in 3 tries.
He enjoys being a show dog more than I ever thought possible. When he sees the collar come out he gets so excited. He LOVES to be groomed (doesnt' even mind the bath part!) and fussed over. To his credit, he's earned 2 BOB wins at shows in Roseville, CA in October of 2005. He's no "special", but he sure loves to show and has some great (and not so great) qualities about him.
Dakota is my constant companion and one of my dearest buddies. He will be like his great grandma Julie.... he will be with me forever. I can't imagine life without Kota.
Today Dakota turns 4. Seems impossible to think that he's FOUR YEARS OLD!
My first goony Cardigan boy... the one who started my obsession with Cardigans... the one who won my heart. He's a special special boy who could never be replaced.
Here's to another year Kotydog... I love you!
Here's to another year Kotydog... I love you!
