For Better or Worse

Monday was puppy's first day to stay at home for more than 4 hours.  After a short 6 hour day, I returned to find his puppy pad soaked and could feel his anxiety.  He was so upset with me for being gone that he would hardly look at me.  He stayed outside nearly all night (by choice).

Monday night was also his worse night yet.  He was choking and couldn't breathe.  I looked up late night vets, but decided to wait until his appointment on Tuesday.

I like his new doctor better.  She came up with the same prognosis, but was much nicer about the whole thing.  We got two new prescriptions.  I have hope for my little guy.

Sunday, Feb 13

Beryl had a strange day.  He woke me up this morning at 7:40 crying and screaming from his playpen downstairs.  The noise startled me, made me think that there was an intruder or that he was about to dirty his playpen if he didn't go out that second.  I bounded down the stairs to let him out.  I think he was fine, just a baby pushing new boundaries.

He was so lively in the morning.  We went for a short walk around the block and played in the yard.  By 1pm, Beryl was feeling sick, sleeping a lot and was feeling badly.  Seema came over and he couldn't even play with her-- they were both feeling badly.  I didn't give him anti-nausea medicine Saturday or today and he was fine all day Saturday.  I decided he was looking quite ill and probably needed to take his pill.  He through up literally within 5 minutes of getting his medication.  I tried again successfully around 4, and by 5 he was excited and happy again.

Today I learned a couple of things about my puppy--
1) he cries
2) he bites
3) he scratched the door and when I opened it, he peed on our welcome mat then ran into the yard
4) he feels he needs to eat every time I do (he actually ate more today than the recommended amount & and so did I)


I love my little Bear-yl...

Distemper it is...

Symptoms of distemper:

• Gooey eye and nose discharge CHECK
• Fever (which often comes and goes unnoticed) CHECK
• Poor appetite CHECK
• Coughing and the development of pneumonia CHECK
• Vomiting and diarrhea CHECK
• Callusing of the nose and foot pads (hence one of the old names for distemper – hard pad disease) NOT YET
• Seizures are not the only distemper sign by any means. Tremors , imbalance, and limb weakness all may occur. SOME EYE TWITCHING

After doing some research this morning, my dog definitely has distemper.  I am broken hearted and scared for Beryl, but I think tracking his eating and activity daily will help us track his progress or digression.  This will help me know what to tell the vet and help me see trends (good or bad) in his behavior and in the disease. 

One Sick Puppy

Beryl ate when we got home from the vet, but didn't eat much and didn't eat dinner.  When my little puppy refused breakfast, I got concerned and called the vet.  On our second visit, my puppy's runny nose and lack of appetite, combined with his upper respiratory infection, resulted in a second and sometimes fatal diagnosis: Distemper.  The doc suggested he be admitted to the hospital and stay for a while.

I lost it-- Matt left for Angola the same morning and this was a lot to take in.  Since he was just released from the Humane Society, it broke my heart to think he'd be back in a crate in a tiny room with other dogs.  His blood count was good and he wasn't dehydrated.  The doctor gave him some fluids, and some anti-nausea medicine, and I opted to bring him home, hoping I could get him to eat. 

I started him on baby food (turkey and turkey sticks) and he began to eat.  After a slow start Friday, he was happy and healthily eating wet dog food on Saturday.  We even went on a super short walk and played in the yard all day.  I was beginning to think my puppy was misdiagnosed. 

Sophocles?

The twist of receiving a male dog, instead of female, through our chosen name (Lima Bean) out the window.  We now needed a boy name.  After a yelling varying words and names at one another, just to see what would stick, we decided on "Beryl."  Its a mineral and started out as a joke, but we both like it and our little man doesn't seem to mind.

Beryl came home scared and dirty.  Because of his surgery, Beryl can't be bathed until 2/18, and he was dirty!!  We gave him a sponge bath and scheduled him a vet visit for the following day.

At the vet, Beryl was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, but otherwise ok.  We got a cone for him so he wouldn't bother his stitches.

Our New Puppy - Home at last

I should have started this last week, but I didn't know we would go through the trauma that we  experienced.  Sunday, February 6, we found the cutest little white puppy named Sophie at the Houston Humane Society.  This was our second time to look for a new dog (we went to the SPCA the weekend before), but the first time we took the first steps to adopt.

After we filled out the paperwork and walked little Sophie, we went to the front desk to make the adoption final.  At this point, we were informed that someone else was interested in Sophie and we were on a waiting list!  I called the Humane Society first thing Monday (the other interested party had not confirmed the adoption in time to solidify) and Sophie was ours!! Our little girl was to be spayed and vaccinated and home by mid-week.

Wednesday, we found out Sophie was neutered, not spayed, and we were now bringing home Sophocles a male puppy, about a year old!