07/07/2025
At 8:30 this morning, I left a puppy out back, bouncing around, happy. By the time Kevin got up at 10, Loopy was sacked out in his spot - on the cool bricks, against the house. 30 minutes later, he hadn't moved. 5 minutes later, he didn't even lift his head when called. Kevin nudged him and Loopy lost his bladder control. That's how fast a puppy can go down.
Since I was on Mom-duty while her caregiver has the day off, we conferred by phone. Is this ER worthy? All the pups who have declined this fast raced through my mind. We were able to save a few, and we weathered the heartbreak of the others who didn't make it.
At the same time, a FB acquaintenance was sitting in an ER waiting room with her non emergency issue. She knew that it would take weeks to get a 'regular' appointment, and that her dog wasn't an emergency, but definitely couldn't wait 2 weeks. What to do? Wait until it becomes an emergency? Same with human medicine...
Then as Kevin relayed from the ER waiting room that more puppies were in the queue to be tested for parvo, I read (on fb) that another rescue was at the same ER with potential parvo pups. What are the chances? Turns out, they're pretty high...
I do not fault the vets, nor the veterinary industry. But this is untenable. AND at the same time - I thank the universe that I can pay $1000 for tests for one particular puppy.
Fortunately, Loopy was Parvo negative. And there was nothing conclusive on the urinalysis. So, move on to other diagnostics.
I was on the phone during these consults, while Kevin was in the same exam room where we'd said good-bye to Chief this winter, sitting in the same chair where he'd said good-bye to our little Edith a month later. I don't really know much about post traumatic stress or secondary trauma, but this is what I imagine.
Names of tests, dollar amounts. They really wanted to do more. We authorized the blood test, which showed elevated white blood cells - could be an infection. We opted to go home after giving fluids, with a prescription for antibiotics and close monitoring. No x-ray or ultrasound...yet.
I don't know what's right. As I was composing this post, he vomited, a lot. Then ate some chicken and rice and happily took his meds.
He's sleeping now. This is the part of pet ownership that I really don't like. The uncertainty. The second-guessing. I am trying to stay in the moment and not project past puppy deaths. And that is taking all of what I've got left.
Let's see what the morning brings.
Thank you all for riding the roller coaster of rescue with me.