Roller Coaster

Jack, Russel, and Buddy

This has been an emotional month for me and my family. On the thirteenth we found out our little dog Jack was dying of heart failure. He had heart worms and they were killing him. I called Scout and told him so he could come say good bye to Jack before we went to the vet the next day. We had him put to sleep that Friday. 

Colt and I were with Jack while he was put to sleep. He went so quick, it wasn't painful, but I felt so guilty looking at the sorrow in his eyes. I think he knew we were putting him down. It''s painful when you decide to kill something that you have come to feel is a major part of your family.

We barely had time to absorb the pain of losing Jack when we noticed Buddy acting funny. I locked the dogs up at night in Guantanamo, the pen, until Jack died but after his death, I let Buddy start running loose at night.

On Monday Buddy was laying in the back of Colt's truck and wouldn't get down and come to us. I went out there to see what was wrong with him. Buddy was curled up in a ball and couldn't raise his head. He looked like he was about to die. I called Scout to tell him about Buddy. He came to see Buddy for himself. We stood by the side of the truck looking at Buddy, crying and petting him, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. 

Scout noticed his left butt cheek was swollen up real bad. His left eye was also matted shut. We put eye drops in his eye, in case there was any trash in it. He acted like it hurt, but he didn't feel like fighting us.

Around dusk I went back outside to feed the cats and check on Buddy. He actually seemed to feel a little better. He stood up and circled around and laid back down. He was holding his head up even when he was laying down. Before, he had been limp as a rag. Scout came back over to check on Buddy and was thrilled to see Buddy was better. I promised to take him to the veterinarian on Tuesday if he lived. Donny agreed.

Scout didn't work because of the weather, so he and I took Buddy to the Animal Hospital. The same doctor who saw Jack, saw Buddy. She said that Buddy had a temperature, and an abscess on his hindquarters that needed to be drained. Buddy would have to stay at the hospital for the surgery. She also treated his eye.

I was able to pick Buddy up from the vet the next day. He was full of pep and so much better than he had been when we took him there.  He enjoyed riding in the car, looking out the windows, on the way home. He hung over the front seat watching me drive as I talked to him. The doctor told me to keep the wound clean and dry so I kept him in the house so he wouldn't re-injure his wound. 

Buddy has never been an indoor dog but he's surprised me with his intelligence. He hasn't had a single accident in the house. He will go to the backdoor when he wants to be let out and will come right back inside when he's done his business. I can't believe he's that good. He likes laying in the floor next to Colt's bed, but when I lay down and no one is around, he comes into my room to lay by the bed. 

I've been giving him medicine wrapped in bread or bits of meat and he's been real good taking his pills. He doesn't even mind it when I put salve in his eye. I couldn't have asked for a better patient.

Donny and I had to go to the doctor last week too. Donny had the flu and needed a shot. I had to go to the doctor for a physical and to get a doctor's order for a mammogram. They had already done a mammogram a couple of weeks ago but wanted to take more tests. 

I hope we don't have another week like this again. It was too expensive and too stressful. Thankfully, we all seem to be doing better now. Buddy is lively and happy, Donny is getting over his congestion, and I don't have to go back to the doctor again for six months. 

We are very blessed to have come though everything. I can't complain. Several of our friends have been having a much harder time. They have lost loved ones who were unable to overcome serious health problems. Our loss and sorrow is insignificant compared to theirs. I wish I could do something to help ease their pain but I know there is nothing I could say that would make it any better. As stupid as it sounds, the only thing that will ease the pain is time. It doesn't make the pain any less real, it just makes it more bearable. 

My heart goes out to you all. 

AS ALWAYS

PIO