Canine Nursing Home
Woman in the Middle | March 1, 2013I have been running a nursing home for a sick dog this week. Honey, who we realized will be 13 in July (we kept think she would be 12), started acting a bit weird around the beginning of February. It finally culminated in her drinking like a mad dog and then depositing gallons of dog piddle in unfortunate places like her bed. That bed was tossed and Honey went to see the doctor. Several hundred dollars of tests and two visits later it was determined that she has Cushing’s disease, which is an over active adrenal gland. The crazy drinking and accompanying piddling (what goes in must come out) are symptoms of that.
If all of that was it, it would have still been a stressful week. But that was not all. Just as we got the diagnosis of Cushings she became lethargic and stopped eating. Hum….those are not symptoms of Cushings. Back to the doctor for the third time in eight days and it was determined that she has pancreatitis, which sometimes happens to dogs with Cushings.
The poor thing has been off her food ever since. She is kind of a picky dog to begin with and now, very much so. I have been forced to become a doggie short order cook. Canned dog food? Honey will down a couple of half-hearted bites. Scrambled egg? Gobbled down enthusiastically. Does she have me wrapped around one toe? Of course! But like any invalid in my house, I want them to have what ever it takes to get them to eat a bit. If it takes scrambled eggs for right now I guess that is what it will have to be!
So, while Honey is feeling a bit better we aren’t there yet. You can think of me rushing home from work to scramble eggs for my dog.
So sorry to hear this. I do wish you a lot of strength and Honey a speedy recovery (although, she might decide to feign illness to continue with the scrambled eggs).
I totally get it. I have a diabetic cat and Jake gets whatever he wants. Usually he wants rotisserie chicken. Whatever. He won’t be here long so he may as well enjoy it. Now go scramble some eggs!
Oh this was a sad post……………….it is terrible when our four legged family members become ill
Poor, cuddly Honey! Well, at least she has an appetite for scrambled eggs.
I hope Honey is feeling better soon. It’s so tough when our pets are sick.
We’ve had quite a time giving our new cat, Linus, medication. It was so comical, in fact, it may be the subject of a future blog post.