Or: Why I don’t have kids
Either title works for this one.
My dog Artie is getting up there in age. She’s nearly 13 and it shows on her body. She’s still acts like a two year old puppy but her body just can’t keep up with her.
In late July or early August, Artie started having renal problems. Since then she’s gone from a 60 pound dog that was at a good weight to a 44 pound dog with her hip bones and ribs sticking out. She’s on a special diet because her body doesn’t process protein like it should. She still eats like she always has.
Of course, her usual eating habit isn’t doing her a world of good right now. Artie has always been a sometimes eater. By that I mean sometimes she eats all her food, sometimes she eats only a few bites and sometimes she doesn’t eat at all. It seems to depend on her mood. Before her renal problems this eating style wasn’t causing her any problems. Now, it’s not helping her at all.
Last Wednesday she started throwing up. Long after she’d eaten she’d throw up some or all of whatever she managed to eat the night before. When I took her to the vet they gave her a new medication and recommended that I give her a half tablet of Zantac 75 twice a day.
Saturday she didn’t throw up. Sunday she threw up a bit. Yesterday she didn’t throw up. Today. . . well, today she really lost it.
I had stopped by the vet’s to get some canned dog food that goes with the special diet she is on. My hope was that she would eat more with the canned food mixed in with the dry. She did, too. Then about 3 hours after she ate she threw everything up again.
Gross!
Since I have yet to figure out how to get her to clean up after herself, I had to clean it up. As I was cleaning up the large mass of partially digested food I ended up throwing up myself.
Yep, evertime she vomits I end up vomiting as well. Fun.
Hell, hair balls make me nausious.
I was supposed to call the vet’s on Monday to let them know how Artie was doing. Now I’ll be calling them first thing in the morning.
Work at Home Mom Revolution says:
I’m too queasy for Survivor also. It’s the one reason I wouldn’t even consider trying out for the program.
3/4/2009, 12:08 amjan says:
It may not be what you want to hear, but Artie is over 90 in dog years. Her systems are breaking down and you might consider not prolonging her life. It’s one of life’s most difficult decisions. But it’s a reality for all the wonderful years pets give us.
3/4/2009, 11:36 amJenn says:
Uggg I puke too when my dog does. Mainly she does because she’s eaten too many sticks and berries at the dog park.
3/4/2009, 3:35 pmFabulous Girly Girl says:
My dog is the best part of my life. He also has chronic renal disease. He is responding well, thus far, to his special diet. I feel for you.
You are being a wonderful mom to Artie. All he wants is your love.
You are a survivor! I would not vote you off!
3/4/2009, 6:33 pm