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.

Could things be better? Day 152

Lucky has had no more meds since Friday and he has not gained anymore water weight. I'm afraid to get too happy but I am less worried at the moment.

He is not eating vienaa sausages either, hooray! He is eating dog food and apples.

Lucky has also found his voice again so we must bark at every dog on the TV and every person with the audacity to be outside our house. Thank goodness there are not many of those.

Lucky's mom, Koko needs to have surgery on her ears this week so hopefully he will stay on course so I can focus on her.

He's letting that person outside know he is here and protecting me. :-) I just want to hear the TV.

Lasix works sometimes, day 150

Lucky lost 4 lbs overnight. Hooray!!! But I'm such an idiot, I gave it to him at night. Neither of us got any sleep. He did not seem very amused that he had to pee for so long. He sort of looks at me while he goes and I can imagine he is saying, "can you believe this?"

Lucky groans, day 149

I don't think I've ever met a dog that groans. Late last night Lucky gained another 8 oz. Everytime he got up or turned over he groaned. I'm not too sure what to think about this.

Koko and Aly have nightmares and make noises as they sleep. They also snore loudly. Lucky really never did any of those things but now he groans. Poor baby, he must be so uncomfortable. He doesn't walk, he waddles. And he never lets me out of his sight. All day long he is up and down the steps following me to and from my office. He's so slow. I want to carry him up and down but I'm afraid to carry him. Just picking him up feels like I will pop him.

By 6 PM today, Lucky gained another 1.8 lbs. His tummy is huge. :-( We will go see Dr M tomorrow to see what he has to say. He's back on the Lasix to see if it will help.

Early this morning, Lucky's head was laying on my arm like a baby would. I had to rub the belly. It ended up as a double tummy rub. He looked like he was in heaven. It reminded me of the times when Koko was pregnant with him and she would lay in exactly the same position in the morning so I could rub her belly. Hers had been shaved also from an ultrasound so it was all soft, warm skin. Those were the days.