When my husband took Beau for his morning walk, he seemed fine, but then he began to limp, and would not put weight on his leg. As many of you know, he is a tiny 13 year old white poodle who has experienced many health challenges. We have been watching him, along with our dear vet, and in October he had poor blood levels and a weekend hospitalization. He rallied, but today's blood levels were again very poor, and full body xrays showed that his arthritis in his spine was causing the problems, not his terrible knees. Inflammation is wreaking havoc with his red cell count. His knees and hips, as well as all his vital organs seem fine. While there he vomited, and had a loose stool attack.
We had three options...leaving him for another weekend hospitalization, leaving him to be hydrated for the day and taking him home with the meds that would be administered at the hospital, or a humane euthanasia. We decided that he was so traumatized by being left over the weekend last fall (he has never been boarded or away from us a night in his life) that we would take him home and see if he responds to the treatment plan. Our doctor actually agreed that we were capable of following his treatment plan, and that Beau would be happier, and more comfortable, at home. We will re-test his blood levels in three weeks, and decide how to move on from there.
Please send healing thoughts Beau's way...we know that his time is very near to cross the rainbow bridge to join his best friend, Ozzie. We are prepared to let him go, if need be, but if we can make him comfortable here we want to give him every chance to stay with us. He was shaking and very scared to be at the vet's office, but once his doctor came in his tail was wagging a mile a minute. He is still, for the most part, a happy and loving little man!
