Activity 1.2 Monty

1.  How should the owners respond?

• call an emergency verterninary hospital/call line or the veterinarian who examined Monty and prescribed his medicine to make sure he doesn't need to seek emergency services
• ask if the behavior Monty is exhibiting can be attributed to a progression of his condition or heart disease
• ask if Monty's behavior could be a side effect of the medication (tell the emergency contact the medication Monty is taking and the dosage and directions of dosing)
• return Monty to the verterniary hospital or office for a follow up examination
• bring samples of the vegetation in the yard and any other item that Monty may have eaten to the veterinarian
• describe Monty's previous behavior to the veterinarian to ascertain if the changes in his behavior and health are identified with any particular condition or support the suspected cause of heart disease
• create a safe place for Monty to rest, attempt to structure it in such a way that he is able to stay somewhat upright or is supported by pillows or other supports on his sides
• cover Monty's space/place with towels or blankets that can be easily removed and cleaned 
• ask all the family members if they have seen Monty eating anything or if they have noticed anything happening to Monty that was unusual
• take samples of Monty's stool and vomit to the vet for analysis
• make sure Monty doesn't come into contact with any other pets at home
• make sure there's no possibility that Monty has something contagious that can be transmitted to or infect humans
• keep a journal over the three days of all observations of Monty (what he eats, when he sleeps, coughing, sneezing, behavior, etc.)
• try to determine what makes Monty comfortable and provide that for him (food, water, attention from adults)
• caution the children to stay clear of Monty until he feels better (no touching)
• reward Monty for good behavior
• clean the carpet

Monty's owners should gather as much information as they can to determine the cause of Monty's illness.  They should ask the veterinarian to explain or interpret any medical results or descriptions that they do not understand so they are able to make informed decisions about Monty's treatment.  The recent changes in behavior can most likely be attributed to Monty's illness or the medication, and so Monty shouldn't be punished, rather the owners should follow the directions of the experts for Monty's treatment.  The owners' observations and intuitions should inform their decisions about making Monty comfortable and if they perceive his behavior or symptoms to indicate an emergency they should call immediately to see if it's recommended that they bring Monty into the verterninary hospital.  The owners should provide as much information as possible to Monty's caregivers, including any samples they can obtain and bring into the office, and a description of Monty's behaviors and routines prior to his illness so the doctors treating him have as much information as possible.  Until the cause of Monty's illness is known his owners should be very careful not to let him have contact with other family pets or the children since they don't know for sure if what is causing his illness is contagious and because he has displayed agressive behavior.  Monty's owners should be diligent in observing Monty (as the vet requested) over the three days of treatment.  They should keep a journal or notes of their observations so they can be sure to mention everything they have observed when they return to the veterinarian (they may not know what is significant and/or of interest to the veterinarian).  Monty's owners should make him as comfortable as they can whenever there is anything they can do and keep the environment as clean as possible to make everyone more comfortable and combat the spread of disease or bacteria.  Monty's owners should reward his good behavior and let him know through their words and actions that they care about him and are there to help him.