Piggy
It’s a sad day in the Terry household. Took Sadie (aka Piggy) to the vet today, as she hasn’t been eating and her belly is swollen. We went to a vet here in the neighborhood instead of our regular at the beach, for convenience sake, and $523 later we walk away with the knowledge that she has advanced heartworm disease (stage 3) and her abdomen is filled with fluid, as the disease is affecting the right side of her heart.
He said she only has a matter of weeks before the disease kills her, but there are treatments we could start her on – 3 shots at $500 a pop after she’s admitted to hospital, has her abdomen tapped for fluid and started on antibiotic and Aspirin to thin her blood, before the treatment regimen is even started. And of course she might not be able to tolerate the treatments and that could kill her quicker.
We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with our regular vet to look over the x-rays and the findings and see what he suggests and weigh the options. I am fully prepared to be bringing her home in a box, as it doesn’t seem hopeful at all and I absolutely do not want her to suffer any more than she already it – although the vet today said she isn’t in any pain, but rather is in a constant state of nausea with labored breathing due to the fluid causing her windpipe to be slightly constricted.
Tonight she rests comfortably in her bed beside my desk and her breathing is fine. I gave her a chocolate doughnut hole and she wolfed it down, no hesitation – which gave me a false sense of hope in thinking she might be feeling a bit better, when in reality she’s just a pig, but she’s my pig. I know chocolate is bad for dogs, but what the hell difference does it make now.
I miss her already and she knows it, as she keeps glancing up at me with a look in her eyes that I’ve never before seen.
FUCKING NASTY-ASS MOSQUITOS!!!
so sorry…. i hope you get better news from the other vet. it’s amazing how our pets intwine themseves so fully in our hearts.
This reminds me of what my friend went thru last year. She lost 2 dogs a bird after 16 years. The way the bird said good bye was similar to the way you describe Piggy looking at you. Truely is amazing. I will keep you in my prayers.
Adam
Thank you, Adam. We also lost our love bird, Vera, just a few weeks ago. It’s amazing how something like a little bird can become so attached and take up such a big place in our hearts.