(no subject)
Recently I was reminded of one of the reasons that I fell in love with my hubby.
If you are on my Facebook Friend list, than you are probably aware that our dog Ashley has not been well.
Ashley turned 14 this year, and David & I adopted her when she was a mere 8 weeks old.
She is a gentle, loving, devoted cocker spaniel. She was our 'kid' before we had kids. In fact, I remember during our pre-marital counseling we were asked how we think we will handle rearing children (I was 5 months pregnant). To which we both replied "well, we have dogs and we agree on how to discipline and teach them, so I am sure we will be fine" LOL!!!! WHAT did that lady think?!?! She must have laughed so hard after when she went home to her own children!!!! LOL. Gosh... we were in for some enlightening! I have to hand it to her though, she didn't laugh while we were still there!!
SO Ashley had been coughing ALOT. Kinda a dry cough which would lead to loud retching, but usually no vomit. This had been going on for about a month... and it was getting worse. She would be woken up from sleep for one of these coughing fits. I would also wake up and try to help her by rubbing her back or throat. It seemed to help for a while. Then on Wednesday June 24 & Thursday June 25 she was coughing most of the night. She sleeps with us so David and I didn't sleep much at all. On Thursday night I was teary eyed... sad that she was so uncomfortable and fearful that we would wake and find her life-less body.
Friday morning I called the vet. Ashley hasn't been to the vet since we moved back to Winnipeg, but I chose the vet that we took her to as a puppy since the doctors are still the same ones. They were able to get her in for 9:40am. So... I dropped the daycare kids off with my sister, David re-arranged an important meeting at work, and we took her together. I told him not to worry, that I could take her... but he wanted to be there, and I was thankful. I feared the worst and could barely keep it together.
When we arrived at the vet, Ashley was reluctant to go in :) Funny how dogs can sense the vet!!!
We were put in an examination room to wait for the vet. When she came in we talked about what has been happening, and I lifted AShley up to the examining table. Ashley was shaking like crazy and panting hard... she was so nervous. But there is no fear that she will bite... she is SO loving.
The vet explained that the problem seems to be Ashley's heart. Most likely heart disease, but it could be heart worm. She said she would get an estimate of the cost to run the tests and come back to talk to us. David and I were so sad... we didn't know what it would mean if she has heart disease. WE didn't know how much pain she is in. But when the doctor came back in, she pulled out the heart model and explained everything to us. She said that if it is heart disease, then there is medication... same with heart worm. But we would need blood work to rule out heart worm and to make sure her kidneys are working and not shutting down. The estimate was $489!!!!
David told her to run the tests. SO Ashley went in the back with the doctor and I drove David back to his car so he could make his next meeting. On the ride to the car we talked and he said "if it was one of our kids we wouldn't think twice about spending the money to prolong their life and make them more comfortable... she is part of our family, it was never a debate"
And that my friends... is it in a nutshell. Right back to the beginning. When we adopted Ashley, she became part of our very small family. She may be a dog, but we love her. She trusts us in everything!!!!
David and I don't always see eye to eye. We argue and even get on each other's nerves. But at the base of it all... we are committed... not just to our human children... but to our dog. Not every guy is like that... heck... not every person is like that. YOU may think we are crazy... but we both GET it.
I thank God for using a difficult time to remind me of one of the reasons I fell for my hubby.
Ashley is doing better. Coughing a lot less and when she does cough... it is less severe.
Twice a day we have to 'give' (actually shove down the back of her throat) her two pills. She will need these for the rest of her life... but she may live another two years. Whatever time we have... she will feel loved... and I will continue to be reminded :)
If you are on my Facebook Friend list, than you are probably aware that our dog Ashley has not been well.
Ashley turned 14 this year, and David & I adopted her when she was a mere 8 weeks old.
She is a gentle, loving, devoted cocker spaniel. She was our 'kid' before we had kids. In fact, I remember during our pre-marital counseling we were asked how we think we will handle rearing children (I was 5 months pregnant). To which we both replied "well, we have dogs and we agree on how to discipline and teach them, so I am sure we will be fine" LOL!!!! WHAT did that lady think?!?! She must have laughed so hard after when she went home to her own children!!!! LOL. Gosh... we were in for some enlightening! I have to hand it to her though, she didn't laugh while we were still there!!
SO Ashley had been coughing ALOT. Kinda a dry cough which would lead to loud retching, but usually no vomit. This had been going on for about a month... and it was getting worse. She would be woken up from sleep for one of these coughing fits. I would also wake up and try to help her by rubbing her back or throat. It seemed to help for a while. Then on Wednesday June 24 & Thursday June 25 she was coughing most of the night. She sleeps with us so David and I didn't sleep much at all. On Thursday night I was teary eyed... sad that she was so uncomfortable and fearful that we would wake and find her life-less body.
Friday morning I called the vet. Ashley hasn't been to the vet since we moved back to Winnipeg, but I chose the vet that we took her to as a puppy since the doctors are still the same ones. They were able to get her in for 9:40am. So... I dropped the daycare kids off with my sister, David re-arranged an important meeting at work, and we took her together. I told him not to worry, that I could take her... but he wanted to be there, and I was thankful. I feared the worst and could barely keep it together.
When we arrived at the vet, Ashley was reluctant to go in :) Funny how dogs can sense the vet!!!
We were put in an examination room to wait for the vet. When she came in we talked about what has been happening, and I lifted AShley up to the examining table. Ashley was shaking like crazy and panting hard... she was so nervous. But there is no fear that she will bite... she is SO loving.
The vet explained that the problem seems to be Ashley's heart. Most likely heart disease, but it could be heart worm. She said she would get an estimate of the cost to run the tests and come back to talk to us. David and I were so sad... we didn't know what it would mean if she has heart disease. WE didn't know how much pain she is in. But when the doctor came back in, she pulled out the heart model and explained everything to us. She said that if it is heart disease, then there is medication... same with heart worm. But we would need blood work to rule out heart worm and to make sure her kidneys are working and not shutting down. The estimate was $489!!!!
David told her to run the tests. SO Ashley went in the back with the doctor and I drove David back to his car so he could make his next meeting. On the ride to the car we talked and he said "if it was one of our kids we wouldn't think twice about spending the money to prolong their life and make them more comfortable... she is part of our family, it was never a debate"
And that my friends... is it in a nutshell. Right back to the beginning. When we adopted Ashley, she became part of our very small family. She may be a dog, but we love her. She trusts us in everything!!!!
David and I don't always see eye to eye. We argue and even get on each other's nerves. But at the base of it all... we are committed... not just to our human children... but to our dog. Not every guy is like that... heck... not every person is like that. YOU may think we are crazy... but we both GET it.
I thank God for using a difficult time to remind me of one of the reasons I fell for my hubby.
Ashley is doing better. Coughing a lot less and when she does cough... it is less severe.
Twice a day we have to 'give' (actually shove down the back of her throat) her two pills. She will need these for the rest of her life... but she may live another two years. Whatever time we have... she will feel loved... and I will continue to be reminded :)