The Day I Thought Max Had Rabies

Max arrived in our lives on May 27, which is also my non-biological mother's birthday. At first, I really didn't know how to take care of a puppy inside the house. I was always worried that he might accidentally bite or scratch us because he was very playful. Every little thing made me overthink.

One day, Max accidentally scratched me. It was just a small scratch, but my mind started thinking about the worst. I became so worried that maybe he had rabies. I didn't tell anyone, not even my husband, because I didn't want to make them worry too. I just quietly counted the days and kept watching Max every single day.

Then something happened that scared me even more. I suddenly saw bubbles coming out of his mouth. My heart almost stopped. I remembered reading that foaming in the mouth can be a sign of rabies, and I honestly felt like crying. I kept looking at him and checking if he was acting strange.

Later, we found out that the bubbles came because this naughty little puppy drank soapy water mixed with a little Clorox while we were cleaning. Every time we gave him a bath, he also tried to drink the shampoo water. That's just how curious he is. Thankfully, after cleaning his mouth and giving him fresh water, he became normal again. I was so relieved.

Since that day, I watched him even more carefully. I counted his breathing sometimes, made sure he was eating well, and even gave him milk. We all gave him so much love. Every day he continued acting like the same sweet puppy who loves following us around the house.

Max is very adventurous. He likes exploring everything, even things he should not touch. He is gentle with the kids, listens when I call his name, and always wants to stay close to us. I even laughed when I saw him chewing a piece of bitter gourd. I never expected a puppy to like that.

Looking back now, I realize that becoming a fur parent also means learning every day. Sometimes we panic because we love them so much. I learned that not every scary moment means the worst, but it also reminded me to be more careful and keep harmful things away from curious puppies like Max.

Today, Max has been with us for more than a month. He is no longer just a puppy living in our house. He became part of our family. He made us laugh, worry, smile, and love in ways I never expected.

Thank you for reading my post
@usagigallardo015