Taffy Candy

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Well our beloved little Taffy Candy is fighting for her life right now. She started acting strange last Wednesday evening. She is a Jack Russell mix, and a VERY active, playful dog. Wednesday evening all she wanted to do was sleep. Thursday she wouldn't eat, but drank a ton of water. Her nose was runny and she began drooling. She ate a little Thursday evening, so we thought she was getting better. By Friday morning we realized she hadn't gone to the bathroom, and she wouldn't eat or drink. My daughter decided to give her a bath as a last resort -- she absolutely LOVES water, and will play in the water to the point of it being almost impossible to bath her, :smirky: . Not Friday, she didn't move while my daughter bathed her.

Called the vet, and we took her in. She had a fever, but all her labs came back within acceptable levels. No heartworms, no parvo. They sent us home with an antibiotic and a pain med (she seemed to be tender in her back left leg). The vet said IF she threw up, to call first thing in the morning -- she threw up. We took her in Saturday morning and they did more tests. They sent us home with enough syringes of meds to give her for two days (1 another antibiotic, the other an anti-nausea med), and with an IV bag with an order to give fluids twice a day. We were also to continue the other meds (that we got Friday) as well.

Sadly, she has thrown up all weekend. We fed her chicken and rice soup (recommended by the vet), which she gobbled up, but then 45 minutes later threw back up. Her breathing has gotten really labored, and now she's just sleeping on her pillow.

I'm afraid we will be saying goodbye to her tomorrow, unless there is a dramatic change. Please pray for my daughter, this will be the second of her pets that she has lost. She has worked so hard to take care of her -- SHE gave all the injections and the IV's all weekend!

It's been hard trying to be strong for my daughter -- I get so attached too. I know Taffy is suffering now, though. Her muzzle is almost completely white, so we're pretty sure she's an advanced age. To stretch this out would be cruel and inhumane, but it's just so hard to think of this house, this family, without her.

Anyway, it sure would mean so much if y'all would keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks, and
Blessings,
Hms

[Wolfcounsel]

All dogs go to Doggie Heaven. No pain. No hunger. No thirst. Nothing but play.

[buckeyepete]

My heart goes out to you and your daughter.

My tabby cat, "Dawg" has been missing for two days now. She's old. She can't withstand the 'global warming' we've been experiencing lately. I've searched the woods, barn and the road, but can't find her. I know she couldn't have gone far, cause she was to old. If we went for walks in the woods, I'd end up carrying her back.

I'll place a cross on "critter hill" in the woods, in her memory.

Gonzo67 will miss her too, but he won't admit it.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Oh pete, I am so sorry for your loss, hun. My husband had an old bird-dog who went off to die one day. To this day I believe she did that to spare my husband, who was crushed enough when he found her gone. I don't think he "really' thinks of her as gone, but rather that some old hunter picked her up and she's happily chasing birds somewhere. I will send up extra prayers for you, that He might grant peace, comfort and acceptance. Be blessed.



As for our sweet Taffy, she made it through the weekend. She didn't awake until about 10:30am today. When she got up she went straight to the front door wanting to go out. She managed to get down the steps all by herself, and went potty (pee), but soon after began throwing up again.

I called the vet, who said to up her fluids (IV), continue the injects, but to halt the oral medications. He said the pill for inflammation may be the culprit causing her to throw up (I sure pray it's just the pill, anyway). My daughter went outside to do her reading assignent, and Taffy followed her. She is now laying in a sunny patch close to my daughter's chair.

The only silver-lining to this is that at least if we do have to let her go, my daughter will have had a chance to spend some time with her and to say goodbye. When her kitty died, she could not be with him (he was in the back at the vet's).

Thanks so much for the good words, y'all. They are greatly appreciated.
Blessings,
Hms

[Timberwolf]

My Rexx was with me for 15 years...he was a constant companion and got me through some pretty rough patches in my life. He died in my arms about 4 years ago. He started having seizures...vet thinks he developed a brain tumor.

That being said, I know what you guys are experiencing. You'll be in my prayers.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Well, Taffy is still with us (remarkably!) She has lost 1/3 of her body weight, which was only 16lbs to begin with! She ended up in the vet hospital for a week, they did all kinds of tests, pumped in all kinds of medicines, and even performed exploratory surgery. She is a medical mystery -- they simply cannot find what is wrong with her. But she's a real fighter! She WANTS to live. The vet, and everyone at the hospital, fell in love with her ... so much so, he stopped charging us for her care after 2 days! Everything he has done past the first batch of medicines has come out of his pocket because he is so upset that he can't find out what's wrong with her.

We brought her home for the weekend this morning, and she's resting in her little kennel. She's had two bowls of food with no throw-ups (so far), and drank quite a bit of water. We have to give another round of meds tonight before bed, and someone has to check on her every hour, so it will be a long night. But, for all that, she's still our sweet little girl (and still willing to play with a squeaky toy!)

Thank you for the thoughts, prayers and wishes. We will continue to covet them until she is either healed or called home.

Blessings,
Hms