Little Moose

I'm trying to remain optimistic by moving Moose's story here from the Death and Dying forum. We were all pretty sure he wasn't going to live through the night last night... and frankly rather surprised at just how good Moose did look this morning when my husband picked him up from the vet. It didn't strike me until we got him home that the vet had not allowed us to actually see him at all yesterday -- even though we stopped by the clinic three times.

We decided to bring him home for several reasons... Not the least of which is the fact that the vets don't have any better idea of how to treat him than we do at this point. Yesterday morning we were told that Moose was in congestive heart failure. This morning though we were told that several of his symptoms were inconsistent with heart failure. If all that's left to do is let him lie there and see what happens -- we figured we could do that at home just as well... And at least he'd be here with us no matter what happens. As for suffering -- he doesn't seem to be at this point. His breathing has gotten pretty regular though he gets a bit winded when he moves around. He doesn't have that glazed and vacant look in his eyes either -- and picks up his head to follow us around the room. What he seems is thoroughly weak. And who can blame him?

I don't know the first thing about medicine.. but looking over our 1200 dollar vet bills for the past 48 hours I see a whole lot of tests and so on: fecal exam, parvo test, CBC, blood chemistry profile, coag profile (PT and APTT), blood typing for the transfusion, diagnostic thoracentesis, an ECG and several x-rays. Other than the transfusion and the oxygen though - I don't see where medication has been administered. The emergency clinic prescribed three medications for him when they released him yesterday morning - but the regular vet said he didn't need the meds when we asked... he said he had whatever he needed there. I'm confused but now armed with 5 bottles of medication. I just sort of wish I knew what he's had so far. Thank God for the internet where I can look up this stuff though and try to figure out what the medication is for.

If anybody has any advice for us as far as simply keeping our puppy hydrated and maybe even fed a little... I'd really appreciate it. I know he has not taken any food at all since Saturday night. I've been trying to give him water every couple of hours by syringe if he doesn't take it on his own (though he's been doing rather well taking it and I'm relieved). Thanks for being there for us all.

I'll keep you updated!
--pags

Little Moose

Hello. Three short weeks ago my husband and our three kids went out for our weekly grocery shopping trip and we spotted a young lady with a 'puppies free to good home' sign. We had been talking for months about how much we wanted a dog and we quickly agreed to stop and see what we would find. Well - we found Moose.

We brought Moose home and fell in love. He loved the kids. He followed us everywhere. He slept on our feet. It's amazing how fast he became an important part of our family.

Last week I noticed he wasn't quite as active as usual - spending longer chunks of the day fast asleep. I thought, honestly, that this was probably just due to the incredibly hot weather we have in the summer (although Moose spends most of his time inside with us - he also enjoys spending some time outside on the covered porch playing with the cat). Friday was his second puppy wellness visit with his vet. I was happy to hear that he was doing well - had doubled his weight - and showed no signs of worms.

Saturday was another lazy day for him -- and all of us. I swear we all slept most of the day away waiting for a tropical storm that never came.

But then it all started yesterday. In the morning he showed no interest in his food.. and he was taking an unusually long time coming to us when we called for him. By the afternoon I noticed he seemed to be breathing heavily and within an hour of this he began making little whimpering sounds under his breath. My husband at this point called the vet to make an appointment for when they open on Monday... but as I sat with him and watched him I realized he didn't have until Monday. We packed everyone up and drove to the only emergency clinic an hour away. Moose was just not moving anymore by the time we got there. They ran tests. Everything was negative. They said his blood wasn't clotting fast enough and he was severely anemic. They said they didn't know what was wrong with him - but he needed blood. Moose spent the night with them and had his blood transfusion. Over night they ran more tests and kept him on his IVs... This morning he was transferred to his regular vet. We picked him up and drove back to town to admit him here. We left him there as they put him on another IV and administered oxygen.

His vet is a wonderful man - and today he was a wonderful man with a really sad look on his face. He told me that Moose was in congestive heart failure. He assured me he would do whatever he could and he would let me know.

He called a few minutes ago to tell me he honestly has nothing to report. Moose is negative for every disease they've checked for. He had his pericardium drained only to find there was no fluid there. His EKG came out normal - so there's no medication that can be given to correct any electrical problem. He said the next step would be a cardio specialist -- but then there is not one locally and he doesn't believe Moose would survive a car ride without oxygen.

So here we are. Three weeks of puppy love. And it's ending this way. The wonderful man with the sad look on his face today -- sounded as if he was waiting for me to let Moose go. I hope he and Moose both forgive me for not having the courage at that moment. My husband tearfully volunteered to make the phone call for us all...

By the time I post this - it will be done.

Thanks for listening.