Buddy Update...

Gosh, Buddy keeps us on our toes!  After his little incident, we took him to the vet Saturday morning.  Luckily we were able to get him in to see his usual vet on such short notice.  Buddy suffered a stroke in his back which caused him not to be able to feel his right leg.  The x-rays showed that he had small herniated discs and a large lump in his stomach.  That was the big concern - the lump.  It could be cancer.  So we scheduled an ultrasound for that week.  The scary part was when the vet gave me his home phone and call him if something happens to Buddy over the weekend. 

Poor Buddy can't go on walks; no more going up or down stairs - he still manages to get across the house...slowly...resting in between.  He has figured out to sort of use his leg as a cruch. 

The ultrasound procedure was interesting; poor Buddy was put upside down on his back - he didn't like it.  He especially didn't like it when the doctor had to push the ultrasound thing into him - he was a little squirmy there and had sad eyes as he looked at me...I wanted to cry but of course I had to be strong and not cry in front of all these people!!

Luckily for Buddy, the area we were concerned about is just his adrenal glands that are larger than normal due to the Cushings Disease.  They are peanut shaped which is good, otherwise if it was just a large mass, then it would have been a tumor.  We have to look into seeing a specialist to determine whether we should change his medicine or increase the dosage...we still have the problem of him not opening his mouth all the way.....

Buddy, Buddy, Buddy....You are truly loved....

Devastated...

Who would have thought my week would end like this.  First, I was sick all week...sick since Sunday night.  It has not been fun.  I even took a sick day this week to recoup.  I missed 2 nights of dance class, barely made it through 1 dance class (got a little dizzy), missed dinner with friends Thur. night and was hoping I'd feel better for First Friday Art Walk.  My throat hurt a little today but I wasn't constantly sneezing.  I felt well enough to go to First Friday and have date night with Chris.  I called Chris on my way home from work and he was walking Buddy.  Unfortunately, the walk didn't go well.  A block away from home, Buddy couldn't walk.  Chris had to carry him home.  Not good.

I called Buddy over to me to see what was wrong with his leg and he couldn't even walk to me - it was as if his right back leg was stuck or frozen stiff.  I immediately called the vet to schedule the earliest appointment.  I hung up and cried off and on for 30 minutes.  It kills me to watch him try to get up and walk; he looks like he is going to fall over and break his leg in half.  I gave him a treat; he is SO excited and tries to get up for it but can't.  Then I give him the treat and he has a hard time eating it.  I don't know why he is having a hard time opening his mouth but he can still eat his meals every day.

I know people may say he is just a dog, but he is part of my family.  I just feel cheated in a way; I feel like his life is too short with me and that I haven't had him long enough.  I adopted him when he was 5, turning six in the winter.  Now he is just shy of his 10th birthday.  I never thought a 5 year old dog was "old."  It never really crossed my mind that dogs live 11-14 years.  Wishful thinking on my part I guess...hoping that he'd live a long time.

Chris did make me laugh through my tears; I guess he ran into a little girl on the way home carrying Buddy and she asked him if Buddy was lazy.  It was pretty funny for a sad situation.

I knew someday I would have to say good-bye to my sweet puppy, but I thought I had more time.  I am still hoping for good news tomorrow at the vet...maybe this is all just a small sprain???  Sigh...