White Dog and the rest of the White Dog Army looked behind us, then they strained to see into the car. They sniffed both Steve and I. "Where is she?" White Dog demanded.We had just returned from taking Puff to the emergency vet where we had to leave Puff the Magical behind in ICU. Her cough just would not stop and this morning she started wheezing and gasping. Of course our regular vet is not open on Sunday and Dr. Julia is out of town until midweek n any case.
In the hands of strangers, we were nervous but the very competent vet basically said the things we expected to hear: they wanted to do xrays of her heart and lungs, a cbc blood panel...and once they heard her cough and listened to her wheezing, wanted to put her on oxygen overnight with IV antibiotics. I wrapped my arms tightly around my little girl who was shaking with fear and gripped Steve's hand. Leave her overnight? I wasn't sure I trusted them that much but knew in my heart it was necessary.
This was eerily like a few years ago when I sat in the emergency room with the same symptoms and a pneumonia diagnosis only to nearly die from congestive heart failure. And when the vet stumbled for the right words ending with, "and I have to ask considering Puff's age and heart and lung issues, if something should happen, do you want us to attempt resuscitation? For a 14 year old dog the chances of recovery at that point, I will be honest, are almost none." I teared up at the knife twisting in Steve's memories of the night they asked him the same thing about ME. I felt his hand tighten around mine.
On the plus side, she is not running a fever and her gums are pink. She still can walk, is eating a bit, and is eliminating... and she is alert but VERY tired. Puff, Still Another White Dog, is a fighter and stronger drugs administered in combination with oxygen will hopefully push her back toward balance.
Still it is a physical pain to not be with her...and the others White Ones feel the same. They sit by the door awaiting her and search her favorite places to rest. Everyone has come up to sniff us again and again looking at us with questioning eyes.
Visiting hours are at six tonight and we will go see Puff to reassure her that she has not been abandoned...as well as to just touch and love her. The vet has promised us regular updates and if he doesn't call, believe me, we will be on the phone to him.
Can we ask for your positive thoughts and healing energies? Some Power of the Paw would be much appreciated.