My Little Old Man

 So here's my best Bud Cooper, hanging out in the van.  I've been noticing things for awhile ... tired, sleeping a lot, not as active.  So when the real symptoms started to happen, I was pretty concerned.  This kid is over 16 years old, and has traveled all over Alaska and all the way to Maine with me.  He and Miss Jessie were the best companions a girl could have.

Poor baby ... he was wiped out.  

And so when I found this animal hospital in Yuma that had something like 1500 favorable reviews, I made the call.  Ray was kind enough to drive me.  I think he regretted that when it took three hours.  

So here we are, sitting waiting for the vet.  Here's what we found out.  They did a blood test that showed he was within range everywhere but the pancreas.  His numbers are not off the chart, but are above normal, meaning he has pancreatitis.  That is what she thinks is causing all the stomach problems and vomiting.  That in turn, caused dehydration.

He will still live a good life, but I will be required to treat the symptoms for the next two weeks and probably cook his fat free diet at home.  They gave him a shot to stop the nausea, and pills to stop the diarrhea.  They said he would eat them, no problem.  I said you don't know my dog.  He ate all around the food with the powder on it, fought me tooth and nail over the 2mm of gel I tried to get down his throat, and it took six treats to get that teeny tiny pill in his mouth, whereupon he spit it out three times.  Just open his mouth you say?  Well that wasn't happening!!

They also gave him fluids for the dehydration, which resulted in us being up every 30 minutes to go outside.  He will be on probiotics from now on, if I can figure out how to hide it in his food.  

And so I will be heading back home today.  I prefer he recover from this bout at home where he is more comfortable.  Once he heals up, we can travel again, but he will never overcome the main problem.  He's had a long and spoiled life, so I will continue to spoil him rotten!!  Maybe a year, maybe more or maybe less.  There's just no definite number.

Thank goodness for good Vets, because this could have ended badly.  Yes it was expensive, but he's worth every penny.  

I'll see you in Indio this afternoon.