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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Lux

I know that I don't talk about her all the time, but she definitely gets her mentions. I just wanted to talk about how much this dog means to me. She is the light of my life. I 'm frequently accused by C of loving her more, because of all the concern and love she gets. When I lost Wyatt, and I lay on the couch for hours crying, she never left my side. She is always there for me, no matter what. I honestly couldn't ask for a better dog. She listens to me (cocking her head as though she understands), she knows when to cuddle and when to just leave me alone. I love her more than I can adequately express with words.
 Tonight I came home around 5:30 or so, she came rushing out to meet me, ran around the yard for awhile, and then came in and ate. Right after eating, she came in and laid on the rug near us in the living room. Everything seemed normal. Then she got up. I assumed she'd go and scratch at the door, when I didn't hear it, I went in to see if she'd just decided to lay on her bed in the dining room. She had had diarrhea all over. She NEVER goes to the bathroom in the house and she was acting funny. Then she went into the living room and I went over to hug her and felt that her heart was going a mile a minute. I freaked out. C, who is used to my dramatic nature, tried to tell me to just relax, but I knew something was wrong. Of course the regular vet was closed by this time (6:30) so I called the emergency place and headed there. I could see her heart going crazy while we drove. I was freaking out. C didn't come, but I didn't really care. Once there, they triaged her and then we waited while she panted and her heart went crazy. There was another very sick dog being taken care of. It was probably close to 8:00 by the time they took her. The vet kept trying to attribute the heart rate to anxiety, but there was no way, because she'd had it at home! C came and joined me, they ran a million tests, did X-Rays, and the only thing that came back really off was her potassium and phosphate, the potassium was so low that the Vet actually said she thought the reading was just plain wrong. Period.  Her heart rate was still 160. Normal for dogs her size is 60-80, but she didn't seem all that concerned about this. Of course, we were! They offered to watch her overnight, but said she seemed fine, other than the heart rate and we took her home (11:00). We got home, and C insisted I eat something. While I was making something, he came into the kitchen with his inhaler- "I know what she got into!" I freaked out, she'd bitten the inhaler. I called the Vet back, who had me call poison control, who then sent us back to the vet. She needed fluids, potassium, and to have her heart rate monitored! On our way there they called us and said they had to send us to another emergency place that's about 45 minutes away, because they didn't have the right fluids. C drove like maniac, and when we got there, although she seemed a little weak, she was still interested in smelling everything! I really liked this Vet right away, and she said that she was really happy that Lux looked so good.

They have her on all kinds of stuff to get her potassium and phosphate back to normal, and they're monitoring her heart all night. She's never been anywhere but with family overnight and I've never spent a night in this house without her. They said she'll be ok. And hopefully she can come home tomorrow. I just wanted to ask everyone to keep her in their prayers. I just keep thinking of her in that cold  crate. Do you think she has a down comforter???? I'm going to guess not. I can't wait to see her tomorrow and cuddle her.

7 comments:

  1. Oh what bad day for Lux! I am glad you didn't take any risks and took her to the vet and what a lucky break for your husband to have found the inhaler so at least they know what they are dealing with. I am sending prayers your way that all will be resolved by the morning. Sending you positive thoughts! xxx

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  2. Oh my...poor puppy! I can't believe that other vet was so dismissive of her condition! Saying a prayer for her to get well soon!

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  3. Thank you sooo much! Her levels are up to normal this morning and they're just watching her for the rest of the day because of her heart rate. She should be able to come home this evening. Thank god!!!!!

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  4. Thank goodness!!! I know how you feel; my dog Lottie was my constant companion when my son died. A couple weeks after my miscarriage I found a strange lump on her chest and FREAKED. (My last beloved dog had died of cancer not long after my 3rd IVF cycle.) They wanted to monitor the lump but I demanded they remove it, and it wound up being a grass seed that had gotten into her chest muscle and formed a mass. But the stress of all of it was so exhausting. I hope you are all recovering well from your ordea.

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  5. We have two black dogs, the older one is Lucy and we have had her since she was a tiny little black ball that could be held in your hand. She is around five years old and has some hip problems. She honestly doens't know sh eis a dog. She gets filtered water, sleeps in a queen size bed covered with a down comforter, and has her own couch. My teenage sister asked "what are you going to do when Luc dies". I replied simply Lucy is never going to die. There are somethings in this world I refuse to believe or think about. I am so glad that your best friend is on the mend.

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  6. I forgot to mention I found your blog through (ICOMLEAVWE)

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