Bitey

Herself speaks.

I took Tiny Dog in to the vet's office this week for a check of her heart condition. While we were there, she had her nails clipped and she received a booster of her anti-heartworm vaccination. And she was quite bitey. They resorted to a wee little muzzle to keep her contained. Bless her tiny little furry angry-ness.

The good news: her labwork was good, which means that her kidneys are still functioning properly (if her heart condition affects her circulation, her kidneys will be affected), and her liver enzymes are within range (if she retains fluid because of her heart condition, it will put pressure on her liver and cause problems). Her weight is stable at five pounds even, so she is sufficiently active and is not retaining fluid (which oftentimes is one of the first signs of heart failure).

The less good news: her heart murmur is a bit more pronounced; and her blood pressure is a bit high. (Do you know how they take a dog's blood pressure? They put the cuff on the dog's tail. I heard one of the vet technicians call out to the vet while they had Tiny Dog in the back room, "The cuff is too big for her tail." I can only imagine how they managed to get it done.)  We go back in a month for a re-check of her blood pressure. 

If it is still high, it will be time to add a third medication to her regimen. She currently takes an ACE inhibitor plus a second drug that strengthens the heart's contractions and dilates blood vessels. We would add a calcium channel blocker next. All of these medications are designed to delay the inevitable heart failure.

The vet is exactly the sort of person you would want to explain bad news about an animal you love. He has a soft-spoken demeanor and ever so kindly explains what is happening, with just enough scientific detail to give the full picture. He has a measured, unhurried voice, and answers the hard questions gently. Bless him. What a kind soul.

The truth of the matter is: we do not know how long Tiny Dog has. 

It could be years. Or she could take a sudden turn for the worse, as Elderly Three-toothed Dog did, and reach the end unexpectedly quickly. 

I am still grieving for Elderly Three-toothed Dog. His death was very hard, for reasons I do not fully understand. And it is hard right now to contemplate that I will -- whether sooner or later -- have to send Tiny Dog over the bridge as well. 

Tiny Dog. My heart aches at the thought of losing you. 

I need more time. Stay well, and stay feisty, my Tiny Dog. I will do all I can for you.