Not that there's ever a good time for a furkid to be sick, but this time of year seems even worse, especially when I am supposed to be getting on a plane in 48 hours.
Sunday Preacher seemed to be his normal self. He's 13, hypothyroid and blind so he's not as speedy as he once was, but he's still talkative, bossy, and happy.
Monday Preacher refused to eat. Preacher never refuses dinner, snacks, treats, whatever he'll eat it! He was awfully quiet. He has a very distinctive, very loud half howl-half bark that echos for miles!
Tuesday, still no noise, still refusing food. I tried every treat in the house, every kind of meat and kibble, even canned cat food and he wouldn't take a nibble. I called and talked to my vet who didn't seem overly concerned as Preacher was still drinking and hadn't been vomitting.
I woke up this morning to a porch covered in bright green bile. Preacher was still refusing food and not drinking now. So off to the vet where he's been all day and will be until tomorrow at least.
Physical exam found nothing--normal temperature, no pain reactions, no sore spots, no stiffness, no nothing! Blood work was normal, in fact it was better than I would have expected for Preacher on a good day! Kidneys, pancreas, liver are all functioning normally. His electrolytes were a little off, but he's dehydrated which explains that part.
Preacher was kind enough to bring up a large amount of bile after the tests were done, so at least the vet could see he really is sick. It's not just that he has a neurotic owner! Abdominal x-rays show a lump at the back end of his stomach. My vet is calling it gastro-entritis for now, but says she's really not sure what the lump is. As a young dog, Preacher did have a habit of eating rocks and other things that he shouldn't, but he hasn't done that in a very long time. It could be a tumor or could just be a very swollen, irrated stomach lining.
Preacher will get a dose of barium tonight and the x-rays will be redone in the morning. Hopefully the barium will clarify whatever the lump is. He is getting IV fluids as well just to get him hydrated again. I'm hoping he can come home tomorrow afternoon, doesn't need surgery and doesn't have cancer!
It's not fair being
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