Bo was the first dog we ever “put down.” It was in Roxboro, NC. It was Dec. 21 and I was so sad and crying that I even got the vet, Dr. Berryhill to cry. The background music was “Silent Night” and right after he was injected, we heard “sleep in heavenly peace…” Ever since then, when we euthanize a dog in Dec. we sing Silent Night.
I’m writing this because Scully is in bad shape again (and Dutchess just started yelping). Two weeks ago Scully started to crash. Greg brought her to Mt. McKinley on a Sunday (McKinley is the only open vet on the weekend). The vet wasn’t sure why Greg brought her in, but told us to give her the antibiotic amoxicillian for infection. Not wanting to be a hypochondriac momma, I waited around five days to see if the amoxi had any effect. Nope. I brought her to Aurora a few days early for her biweekly hematocrit check– which was 20%. The vet tookex-rays to see what was going on in her gastrointestinal track. The ex-rays were inconclusive. I brought her back the next day for an ultrasound. The ultrasound told us that there was something either on her spleen or intestines. I brought her back the next day (Friday, Dec. 11) for surgery (note to self– never have major surgery on a Friday, when the vet is closed on the weekend), with the understanding that if it was a tumor on her intestines, we wouldn’t wake her up. If it was on her spleen, she’d get a splenectomy.
I was quite happy to hear that she had splenectomy and didn’t have to die. Scully had a 5″ tumor on her spleen. Apparently one theory of hemolymic anemia is that it is caused by a failing spleen.
Scully isn’t doing to well, she’s eating very little, can’t walk, and looks miserable. Greg keeps reminding me that she’s in post-operative mode and she just had major surgery. She has a vet appt. tomorrow to check her Hematocrit.
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Duchess has been yelping all weekend. She’s the girl who has had two tumors removed from her neck, as well as mammary cancer removed a year ago.
I’m preparing for Scully and Duchess, by practicing singing Silent Night. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but it’s always good to be prepared.