Lucky had a UTI, day 262

Lucky started getting worse and was not eating. It all seem to start after his annual booster shot for something or the other. He also seemed to be in pain so of course we headed straight for Dr. M, I told him it was time for another liver test.

When we went in I was told it was time for Lucky's annual exam which involves several test including a urinalysis.

Lucky's liver test was only slightly different, that the last time. One of his emzymes was higher. That was not better but it was not so bad either.

His ears were worse so I decided to do another test to find out what was in his ears. His ears were hurting a lot and when Dr. M tried to get some junk out Lucky cried and lashed out. So I tired and he put his mouth on my hand to warn me away. Well I won't take any grandstanding from my dogs so the tech and vet left so I could deal with him. This meant putting a muzzle on him. Well he won. :-) So they came and got him and took him to the back and no had no issue getting what they needed he was the perfect gentleman. I was not amused because he lets me touch his easr even when they hurt. He knows I will not hurt him anymore. As I thought about I realized it had nothing to do with his ears, it was the muzzle. I use to muzzle him to try and force the pills in him and he has never forgotten. He has real issues with pills.

We were all baffled about why he would not eat. I left to wait for the call about his ears in a few days. Maybe his ears were bothering him enough to make him not want to eat.

The next day Dr V called me, Lucky has a UTI. She wants to know do I want to pick-up pills or do the more expensive 1 shot that gives him an antibiotic for 2 weeks. I know, she knew there was no way I was doing pills with this dog no matter how much that shot cost. Getting a pill in him is like thinking I'm going to walk the Great Wall of China with back problems so severe I can't take a step without being in pain. yes, it is that bad. So in we go for the shot and three days later he is eating.

But we all know that is not the end of the story..........the day he starts eating I get a call from Dr M. Lucky has 4 things growing in his ears and he needs to take 2 antibiotics 2 times a day forever. I'm sure he did not say forever but it's along time, like 6 weeks. So for Lucky and I it might was well be a lifetime.

Looking on the bright side something good did happen. The problem was not his liver and 1 shot cured him from the UTI.

Lucky is so skinny, day 238

I got back from my trip yesterday and found Lucky so thin. I had told the vet he was retaining some fluid but he was not 100% sure. It was not real bad but he made him look a bit heavier. We had hoped it was fat. Meat on his bones as Dr M says. On the plus side (Ithink), he drained the water by himself. Lucky has not been on any meds for some time now. He got sick and tired of all the meds. He would not take anything and I stopped trying to force him.

My daughter and her family moved into the house to stay with the dogs while we were gone. He wouldn't eat a lot but she always takes good care of him and he was eating. She told me he looked angry or sad. She did not want the small kids around him. I think part of it was he missed me. On the othert hand he does look a bit sad. We will be going to the vet this week to get his liver numbers just to be sure because he once again has that breath that could knock you out. Like something died in there. :-(

Lucky gets on the bed and has shots, day 234

I went away for the week-end with Lucky's other human grandma. This left my husband in charge of all three dogs. Lucky is close to me there is hardly anyone he will leave the house with. it's like he's afraid he won'tome back. Maybe it was all those hospital stays. He's become quite neurotic but he's ours and he's alive. :-)



We left Friday afternoon . Saturday morning when my husband let the dogs out for there morning baldder run and back in he went back to bed figuring only Aly could make it on the bed to cuddle. He doesn't like it when all three of them are in the bed because he likes to take up most of the bed. Much to his surprise when he woke-up Lucky was there where I would normally be. He was so excited and called me right away. We had a celebration.



Last week on another one of our many visits to see Dr. M, he felt Lucky was well enough to have his very over due vaccines. Since everything is processed via the liver he had only had rabies. Dr. M did not want anything going through his liver that was not 100% needed. Who would have ever thought I would measure his wellness by a yearly vaccine. The tech brought the vaccines and when Dr M saw how many there were he told the tech he was only doing 3 of the 6. Only one shot, one nasal, and one liquid he had to swallow. We discussed Lucky's ears. Unfortunately he has Cocker ears and we are trying everything for him not to go the the way of his Mother, she will be having ear surgery next week.

Lucky almost made it on the bed,day 204

He's got excess water, again. It's a weekly thing now. But today he tried to make it on the bed to hide his treat and he almost made it. I caught him and pushed him up as he was falling but the fact that he even tried was promising. He has not tried since he got sick and failed to make it up.

I still don't know what to think and his numbers are the same, not too bad, not better. The vets just say, the longer he lives the better his long-term chances of survival. I could have a liver biopsy done but there are risk with it and the anestesia. I told the vet it was not worth the risk. No matter what the biopsy said, I would not change his care. I will care for him till the end as if he will live 10 more years.

Last week-end I went to the beach and my friend and Lucky's other human grandma came to pick-up all three dogs to stay overnight with her and Lucky's dad. Lucky would not leave and he snapped when she tried to get his leash on him. Very odd behaviour because he still loves to go bye-bye. He has become so close to me that he does not want to leave this house unless it's with me. I happen to find this depressing for him. When I go in any room and shut the door he lays so close his hair is coming through the bottom of the door so I always let him in. :-)

Then there is Lucky's ears. They don't seem to be getting better. But we can't give him any strong meds because of his liver. Can't even give him his shots except rabies.

I wonder if we will get to a year and still not know anything else?

Lucky is still fighting, day 199

It's been exactly 1 month since my last post. I wish I could say that because Lucky was better and there was nothing to say. Instead it's because of work. Don't these people know I have sick dogs to take care of, i really don't have time to work. No one listens to me.

Well anyway, Lucky is about the same. on certains weeks he gains the water weight and I give him Lasix. It's been working. He was 30 LBS two days ago. Today he is 26.2. he's been jumping a bit more and that good.

He is eating his Mom's dog feed most days except when the water is at it's highest. He is still eating as many wheaties as I will give him. :-) And the fruits are still a favorite of his too.

He is skinny and his hair falls out but he seems happy! Till next time.

Lucky discovers frosted mini-wheats, day 168

Lucky has been on two different diuretics and his water weight up and down since my last post.

Then he discovered frosted mini-wheats. I gave him one at a time and eventually an entire bowl. That evening he jumped up and even jumped on one of our lower beds. I wonder if they work like spinach does for Popeye?

Today he ate 2 bowls of dog food! I have wondered if that day would ever come. Everyday I wonder how I can fatten him up and I come up short.

For now Lucky seems to be doing better. All my fingers and toes are crossed.

What is this world coming too, day 155

Lucky had remained the same since Sunday with no meds. Gave him some more lasix today and he lost 1 lb. Otherwise he seems the same. Fingers still crossed.

Now for the OMG story. Yesterday I took Koko (Lucky's mother)to a vet surgeon. She has suffered from ear infections most of her life. It's been real bad for the last year. I had to take her in for a consult before scheduling the surgery.

I was handed one of those sheets were you promise them your first born if you can't afford to pay and you still don't get ypur dog back. They gave me some papers that explained they were more like a regular hospital than a vet. That I could get more than one bill depending on what specialty was needed to treat my pet. All the alarms went off. They were going to charge me some huge amount and I would never know what they did. I was wondering where my doogy HMO was when I needed them and would they have referred me to this hospital if they had to pay?

I'm not the type to think too much about money when it comes to my loved ones. Lucky has cost me so much he should have a medal. Forget "Best in Show" he is "Best in the World"

Anyway I thought she was getting a modified version of the ear surgery but he said, it was not very successful so they did not do it anymore. I was very disappointed and it showed on my face. I do not want her to be deaf forever. He explained the possible complications and I felt ever worse. Then he told me the surgery was around 4k. I didn't even blink or flinch. We spoke for about 10 min. He recommended I speak to the animal dermotologist before making up my mind since I was resistant to this type of surgery. I thank him and leave. At the desk the charge is $110.00. Considering all he did was talk for 10 min I find this outrageous. :-0

We go upstairs to setup an appointment with the dermotologist. I am informed the consultation fee is $110.00 and that does not include a diagnosis, meds, test, nothing, just a talk. I wondered if I would get 10 min or less. I guess they had many shocked clients otherwise why the big warning.

Their are currently pet insurance companies but just like their human countertparts they have a lot of exclusions.

I'm still wondering when there will be animal HMO's and all the follow-on lawsuits.