All's Well That Ends Well

Oh man, a scary weekend two weeks ago. A friend came to visit to introduce me to her fiance and to invite me to their wedding. She held the door open too long, and my dog got out. He is not allowed to go out unless he has me on the other end of his leash. It was a little while before I realized he was gone, but I was not too worried, certain that he would come home. Meanwhile, my friends and I went out for lunch. When we returned, there was Dandy, none the worse for his little adventure. 

The next morning, Sunday, we went out for our walk as usual. Dandy had diarrhea, but I didn't think too much of it. He laid around a lot, but I think he does that when I'm at work, so again I didn't think too much about it. Around 4 PM I noticed blood on the balcony. A lot of blood! I tried to call the vet, but there was no response. A friend gave me their emergency number, and the vet met us at the clinic. 

The vet looked at Dandy's grey gums, took his temperature (it was normal), and advised me that he should have IV fluids. Of course I agreed, and I sat and held and petted Dandy for the nearly four hours it took for it to drip into him. The vet gave him shots, oral meds, and meds in the IV line. I was having visions of cancelling my trip to Canada to pay for this. Sometime around 8PM the vet said I could take Dandy home. I still wasn't sure he was going to make it. Turns out he probably ate rat poison. On the way home Dandy jumped out of his carrier and passed more blood. 

That night I didn't sleep much. I kept checking to see if he was still alive. Dandy slept in my bed beside me. At 3 AM I still wasn't sure which way things were going to go, but by 6 he was starting to perk up and I knew he would make it. He had to go back to the clinic on Monday and Tuesday for more fluids and meds, and Wednesday he was really showing progress. 

Because Dandy is the only family I have here, it was an emotional time for me. I am glad we having such a competent and caring vet in our town.