This one is for animal lovers...

Our Dog "C"

Hubby left for NC Tuesday afternoon and when I got home from work, "C" was a little weaker than usual. She ate, but not with that "intense" hunger like she had been. I didn't feel it was a good sign, but I tried to stay optimistic.

Wednesday morning she didn't eat and was not cooperating when I tried to give her her pills. I put her food in her crate with her, hoping she'd eat during the day while I was at work. But, it was still there when I came home. I gave her fresh food, which she didn't touch, and it was tough getting the pills down her. That night, as she lay on the floor by my feet, it looked like she was dying.

The thought did cross my mind that she might be dead when I got up Thursday morning. She wasn't, but she was very weak. (By now she is extremely thin, too ... spine showing, ribs showing, sunken head, hip bones starting to protrude.) I dropped her off at the vet on my way to work. I brought all her medication and hoped they could get both some food and medication in her. Either way, I figured it was the best place for her to be.

That afternoon, I called to check on her and they said the vet wanted me to come in around 5:15-5:30 so he could talk to me. I figured it was bad, because they usually just told me what was going on over the phone. When I asked if she ate or they got any medication in her, they said they didn't have the chart in front of them. All they would say is she is sleeping.

I got to work half an hour late that morning and made up my time at lunch. I was afraid to ask if I could leave half an hour early, but they didn't have a problem with it. I got to the vet's office around 5:30. The vet told me it was not good. Her blood tests showed a decline again .... that she wasn't producing healthy blood cells. He starting talking next steps ... which include blood transfusions and chemo. I told him hubby and I had discussed what we would do if it got to this point and that we'd put her down -- especially since there is no guarantee that her quality of life would be any better after putting her through all of that. I said I'd have to talk to hubby that night when he got home, before I could give him a definite answer.

Hubby returned home from his business trip that night. I felt horrible that I did not bring "C" home with me so he could see her, but I didn't want to make her climb in and out of the car. It was hard enough for her to walk at that point.

Friday morning I went into work a half hour early to make up for leaving early the day before. Hubby went to the vet as soon as they opened to say his goodbye to "C". He called me around 9:15am. He was sitting with "C" outside the vet's office and was feeding her leftover london broil and small dog biscuits. I asked him if he wanted me to call the vet and have them come out to get her so that he did not have to go back inside. He said no.

He called me again at around 10:15. I thought he was home by then ... but he was still at the vet's office! When he finally went inside and the vet learned she devoured everything he had given her, plus a handful of meaty treats one of the assistants brought out to him, the vet decided to do one last blood test. When the technician started to take "C" into the back, she tugged hard back towards hubby, knocking the tech off balance. (that had to just about kill hubby ... she must have thought that was the end!) Hubby fully expected the results would seal "C" 's fate and he was ready to let her go.

Surprisingly, there was a jump in her blood counts. Not huge, but significant enough to let her continue to fight. The vet even said she's too good a dog not to give it one more try .... although he was very clear he did not want to give us any false hopes. He changed her medications, giving us a really expensive drug for free (!!). "C" has most definitely won over every heart in the vet clinic.

So, "C" is home with us again. We see incredible improvement. There is life back in her eyes, and she is carrying her head high, standing strong, and wagging that stubby tail with vigor. All things that have been missing for the past couple weeks. Her diet now includes red meat for the protein .... which for anyone who knows me knows this is something special, as I don't give animals people food! (She has been getting an iron pill every day.)

We are cautiously optimistic. If nothing else, we have the weekend with her to say our goodbyes.

Attached is a picture I took last night. She often walks around with one ear down and one ear flipped up like in this picture. She is such a goof!

Give your pets a big hug. Our animals are precious.