Doom Dogs

[cranefly]

We lost two of our three cats last year. Geek early in the year, Pancake on Halloween morning.
Both were scheduled affairs at the Vet, both due to old age/failing kidneys. And it just never gets easier.
It really never ever gets easier.
Hard to know what exactly to say in a world where death is the punctuation mark in every entity's sentence.
I guess I just hope the matter resolves in the most comfortable and positive way for all concerned.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Feb 13, 2009. He was a great dog.

[thatguy]

Man, I'm sorry.

--tg

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Very sad; I' m sorry for you, The Queen, and Preston.

[The Queen]

Thanks. I was thinking of you yesterday, and that it was probably a very good thing that you and your whiskey supply were not conveniently close by. Instead, this morning I have an Entenmann's Chocolate Covered Doughnut hangover, which is not as painful (although it will probably take longer to recover from.)

[cranefly]

Lady Cranefly and I are both saddened by the news.

[Drunk Monk]

His heart is pure.
His soul is free.

He was a great dog indeed.

[El Dingo]

Kyoto is getting up in years. She has trouble walking and she's pretty much deaf.

I'm saddened for your loss and realizing how short the years are getting.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

We are back at the Vet. Preston was kind of neglected as we dealt with Cuchulain. His skin makes him itch, but we kind of had it handled. His teeth need cleaning. His hair is falling out. He can't bend his joints. Just your fine all around dog.
For the past week or so, I've noticed his belly being kind of distended. He's on a steroid which makes him go to the bathroom a lot. I figured his bladder was pushing out his belly. I made the appointment for Monday to go see where money lives. But on the Saturday, I was cruising the internet where all the information is stored. I found an article on Bloat. Funny, after reading the description about Bloat, I realized that Preston had the exact same symptoms. Bloat kills dogs in hours. I rescheduled the doctor appointment for immediately.
Cindi and I take him in. Dr. Castaneda (I keep thinking we are going to have talks about metaphysics) says we really need to do an X-ray to find out why he is so swollen. It's not Bloat because he's been in the condition too long. She says we can wait while they do the X-ray. How fun. Cindi and I have spent a lot of time in that waiting room. I bring books. She brings knitting.
The X-rays tell us it's not bloat. The winner this time is the Spleen. The Spleen is so large, it is pushing the intestines all to one side. But she can't tell from the X-rays why the spleen is so large. She needs to do an ultrasound to really see the tissue. There are two options on the table about the large spleen. It's a benign mass, in which case the spleen needs to be removed for Preston to be comfortable. People and animals can live normal happy lives without their Spleens. If it's malignant, the spleen has to be removed in order for the dog to live. The one problem is that the malignancy might have spread from the Spleen to all it's organ friends, much like it did with Cuchulain.
The only real way to determine if it's Benign or Malignant, is to take it out and look at it. So, take it out, I hear you ask. But Preston is old. Preston has a heart murmur. Anaesthetic doesn't really go well with old dogs with heart problems. We'll do the ultrasound to get a good look and make further determinations. Preston gets to stay with the Vets. Cindi and I go to eat.
We come back later. We barely have to wait at all. Preston in his usual difficult was was so full of gas, they couldn't get a good look at his Spleen. It's big, but they don't know what's wrong with it. We are not taking it out, because that will probably kill him. Of course, leaving it in, will kill him as well. They gave us Opiates for pain, (The dogs, not ours), a pill to relieve some of the gas and some stronger steroids for his skin. Did I mention steroids are bad for dogs with heart problems? Yeah, Preston is balanced precariously in the center of a web of medications to keep him just healthy enough. Stupid Dog.

So, there we are with another mystery dog illness. Preston seems a bit healthier than the last one was when we got the great health news. He even was nice enough to sleep through the night without waking up barking and rubbing his back on the carpet. Of course, that was worrisome, too. Why is the dog so quiet? What's wrong with him?
The poor boy is going down hill, but I think the decline is a little gentler than with the Brown dog. At least that's what I am hoping.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Should I say anymore. Just the word, gives me the Shivers.

The Queen and I are back to our full compliment of two dogs and two cats. The new dog's name is Maeve. She's going to be a full size aussie and she is already well on her way to wrapping us around her finger, er paw.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

This thread is useless without photos.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Sigh. Maybe you shouldn't ask for pictures. Who knows what that could unleash? I do. But your wish, my command.

Ladies and Gentleman, I present Princess Maeve:

[Drunk Monk]

mt055

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

And twice on Sunday. Send the Queen and I sleep if you get the chance. The Queen got to be up all night with the Princess. It's amazing the shrieks that will come out of the pup. And that they will come out for four solid hours.

Still, how can you be mad at that face?

[Drunk Monk]

...try a kid. puppies never learn to open doors, use the phone, steal your booze or anything like that. housebreaking ain't nothing compared to potty training... :toimonster: