Happy! Happy!

  For months now, the old dog has been ailing.   The poor, old pup just could not shake the maladies that vexed him so.  Actually, there was not just one thing wrong but a build-up of a multitude of things.  He had a fungal nasal infection, a fast growing tumor on his hind leg, a scratched eyeball (his doing), arthritis, the beginnings of congestive heart failure and...well, age.  He probably could have shaken one or two but when all piled together at once, he was not faring well.  That said, I started tackling one problem at a time.  For some odd reason, the regular vet did not want to give him a strong antibiotic.  He prescribed a weak one and only for one week.  Allergy pills and pain pills, however, were plenteously plied.  The tumor situation was not addressed "until we get the other things under control" and then "proceed with caution due to the heart".  I was perplexed.  Herbal concoctions brought a good bit of relief for the sinus situation but did not fully remedy it.  Poor fellow suffered in silence.

  Then, a deer fly bit him on the eye lid causing him to scratch.  That scratch caused an injury to the eyeball and led to an emergency visit to the pet hospital.  While there, I questioned the vet that owns the hospital about the tumor.  He agreed that it needed to be removed and said we would do it right away.  I felt a bit of turmoil about the risk but was assured that things would go safely.  The surgery was a success and Mr. PJ came home the next morning with a bandaged leg and the cone of shame on his head.  That cone seemed to be far more troubling than the surgery.  He hated it!  I hated it.  First, because it did not keep the dog from reaching the incision site and second, with the thing the size of a bucket on his head, he knocked over everything in the house!  The normally very easy dog magically turned into a bull in the china shop. 

  After two weeks of torture, it was time to have the staples removed and the incision checked.  The cone came off and Mr. PJ is happier than I have seen him in a long time.  While at the pet hospital, I questioned the doctor again.  "Since PJ has been on the medicines you prescribed, the sinus problem has dramatically improved. Do you think we can continue?"  YES!!!  I came home with a new supply of the antibiotics. The cone came off and Mr. PJ is happier than I have seen him in a long time. Oh, happy day! Mr. PJ can breathe again, can rest easy with no bucket on his head and does not have a pound and a half of extra garbage hanging on his leg.  He can actually trot again!   It does the heart good to know that I made the right decision about his care. It would be so grand if he continued to heal and live the rest of his days pain free.  It would also be grand if the veterinarians at the pet hospital could see him on a regular basis and not just for emergencies!