I took Mosby in to see his regular vet today to get some blood work done, because he and the oncologist were concerned that Mosby still had no appetite and was very depressed and lethargic. He was such a good boy while they took his blood and we waited. The blood work came back “perfect.” The vet did notice a tiny spot of blood on his incision, but it didn’t look infected and Mosby has no visible or chemical signs of infection. Still, the vet took a sample and will have it cultured. I asked a million questions of possibilities. I asked if he saw anything in his mouth that might be causing him pain. The oncologist had been worried about possible pancreatitis, but his blood work rules that out, plus he has no visible discomfort or issues in his abdomen. The vet and the oncologist consulted by phone, and the oncologist asked him to take x-rays of his lungs, so he did, and they came back clear of any visible metastasis (both by our vet and the oncologist and her radiologist). Which left us with a whining, unhappy dog who refuses to eat for no visible reason.
The vets decided the best plan was to hospitalize him this afternoon and overnight so that he could get IV fluids. The thought is that he might have become really dehydrated, and sometimes it doesn’t really show up in the lab work. Not sure what I expected when I took him in around noon, but not going home with him definitely wasn’t what I expected. They took me back to say goodbye and showed me where he’d be spending the night, and I *barely* held it together until I went to sign the hospitalization authorization at check out. That’s the second time I’ve cried there, the first time being when I was checking out after Mosby had unexpectedly been diagnosed with bone cancer.
I am hopeful that dehydration is all that it is. The plan is for the vet to check on him in the morning, and if he isn’t better, then I will pick him up and take him to the vet clinic where my oncologist is, because she is in town tomorrow, and they will probably do more tests there, probably including an ultrasound I assume.
Our house is full of Mosby’s beds, the toys he hasn’t touched, a counter top full of medicine, bags of healthy treats we tried to bribe him with, all kinds of people food we tried to bribe him with — and no Mosby.
The vet just texted me and said that it may be wishful thinking, but that Mosby seemed brighter and stronger when he went to check on him tonight, and charged out of his kennel and dragged him out the door for a walk. I agree it’s wishful thinking. On his worst day, Mosby would still charge out of a kennel and drag you out the door of a vet clinic. I’m sure he thought he was being rescued! But that is better than a report that he seemed worse or weaker.
I read a lot about other tripawds that go through this journey, and there’s a lot of mention of dogs’ happy go lucky nature and cheerfulness, etc., and Mosby is definitely not that kind of dog. Mosby has always, since day 1, taken things Very Seriously. He is a creature of habit and likes his routine and does NOT like having to go outside of his routine. He is the kind of dog that will refuse to walk on my right side, simply because I trained him to walk on my left. He panics a little bit on the right and just keeps trying to get back over to the left. He is not what you’d call adaptable. An incredibly good dog, and a sweet dog, but a creature of habit.
With that kind of nature, I know that this whole ordeal, these last 6 weeks, has been immensely hard on him emotionally. We have asked SO many things of him and he has been such a trooper about it, but he always has this look on his face like “ok, Mom, when do we go back to the way it was?” Chris and I have tried everything to make him happy again and that’s been the hardest thing for us. If Mosby could only address one issue at a time, or two, we could get him back into a routine, and hopefully he’ll settle more.
I’m hoping that he does ok tonight. I’m hoping that he feels much better tomorrow. I’m hoping that it really is something as simple as dehydration. I’m hoping so many things but mainly hoping that we’ll get to see Mosby happy again.
Got a few tears over here…And I think they’re “tears of hope”, and a lottle bit of joy because he clearly is NOT worse….and maybe a little bit better!!
I love hearing more about Mosby and what a fella’ of habit he is 🙂 Only wanting to walk on your left side,being a very serious boy. He’s just so special.
I know it’s miserable being home without him tonight. The intensity of these past weeks, the non stop watching over him, and now he s at the Vets…probably resting well and snoring! Hopefully you can get some good rest tonight.
We k ow you will see Mosby happy again! We know that!! And it will start when you go to pick him up tomorrow and bring him home to his toys and his treats! And kf at all possible, whatever his “normae” routine woukd be around the time of day you vring him home, try to stick to it. If he eats at a certain time, gets treats at a certain time…just try to do everything according to is routine.
You have nonidea how hard I’m hoping with all my might that Mosby is betterand happier tomorrow…And stays happier and better!!
Guess they’ve leave the fluid IV in tonight too. That WILL help!
Lots of love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
I have experience with a dog who wouldn’t eat after his amp surgery….Nitro ate NOTHING for 7 days after surgery – unless you count the yogurt we spooned down his throat to get his multiple pills in him. And just recently, he got on a kick where he wouldn’t eat either. My vet gave me an appetite stimulant (mirtazapine)I that worked wonders after just one dose. She also said cerenia (used for nausea) also works for appetite. Just throwing this out there if you need it. Good luck
Paula and Nitro
EmmaRose is also a dog of habit. She is not one that suffers fools gladly: which all of her endeavors lately have been in her opinion. Out of the now 9 total days and 4 nights spent at hospital, she ate a total of 2 days. Again, the vets were not all that concerned although we have all decided that Emma gets to come home in the evenings to keep her to her regular routine of being in the pasture, in her dog house, with her water bucket and her Bear and her horse, etc. She ” survives” the hospital by shutting down: and she is an ACD/Pyr cross so is not outwardly expressive which concerns those who do not know Emma. All of which is to say, if you have a serious dog, it is harder to get a read on them sometimes.
My next two cents: Mosby may just want to be left alone for awhile- no acupuncture, no treadmill, no trips to vets, no sitter, nothing but his exact daily routine. He hasn’t had that in awhile and, for him, my guess would be he really needs it. Not eating is tremendously frustrating, but that is not completely true in his case. He is eating which is FANTASTIC. Just not nearly as much.
Mosby may, and some dogs do have this happen, not have an underlying physical cause at all for his inappetance and lethargy. He really may just be slightly depressed due to all of the changes- both physical and mental and emotional. Time and patience and calm happiness is the only cure for that- which is an almost impossible demand on his humans. I know. I have been there. It is really tough. But…wouldn’t it be wonderful if he has no physical underlying cause and it is simply he needs r&r?
He will get better. He has already made it this far. And that is a testament to his Mosbyness!
Best wishes, hugs, and PyrPaws all around.
You bring up so many points that I have thought about. The depression being a big one. We are dying to get him back to his routine, which is daycare 5 days a week, but he needs to be cleared strength and health-wise. I am hoping that maybe we can get to that point next week. Until that point, we can’t eliminate the sitter because both Chris and I are gone at work all day. 🙁
I can actually feel your underlying doubts and worry and concerns. It’s so hard to do these things to and for our dogs and not being able to explain to them why all this pain, upset, change of habits and fear is necessary.
I know that with horses there can be diarrhea from not getting enough electrolytes (is that what it is called in English, too? I hope you know what I mean) and you can get rid of the diarrhea by adding them curatively. So maybe the IV really will take care of all that!! I know it’s hard to leave them in an environment where you know they are not happy, I had to leave Manni at the clinic for 5 and a half days after surgery. But at least you know that he’s in good hands and they can have a trained eye on him.
Hoping that all will be resolved with this and he can get back in to his habits reaaaaally soon.
Tina
I know it is hard to leave him, but I am thinking it is for the best. The vet can get him hydrated and observe him. You can get a good night’s sleep (which I hope you did instead of worrying all night), and when he comes hime, I agree that you should try to make his routine as normal as you can. We are all with you and Mosby in this!
I am sure it was crushing to have to leave him, but it seems like a good idea to get him well hydrated again. I am sorry he seems so out of sorts. Sending best thoughts.
Hi. I’m so sorry that Mosby is having a hard time. Charliebear makes some VERY good points. It sounds like Mosby is a serious and sensitive dog. Nothing wrong with that but it would be understandable that his routine (which is VERY important for a lot of us) is thrown out of sync. I think it might be good to just let him be and enjoy not having to battle cancer for a little while? He might even be sensing your emotions and fell a little rattled by them? I sure hope he perks up and you can all have a day or two of peaceful “normalness”.
Wanda