Emergency Vet trip #2

Well...been another long day for the little girl, today. Last night Everett seemed to be having trouble swallowing. She consumed her dinner (my Champion Eater!), but within a few hours, something was not right. She started asking to go outside, only to turn around and ask for re-entry to the house. About 4am, she started wretching--thankfully she did not throw up. She ate breakfast fine (I fed her early to see if she'd eat, first, and second, hoping her meal might clear whatever was causing her to wretch), but soon thereafter seemed to be in additional stress. She started a pattern of lick, lick, swallow. Lick, lick, swallow. Every few seconds she did this, and the swallow was accompanied by a little head bob. She lay down in the kitchen but even with her head on the floor, the pattern continued--lick, lick, swallow. Lick, lick, swallow.

When she started digging at the kitchen floor, I knew something was really wrong, and off we went to the emergency room. Certain Eve had something stuck in her throat, I tried to describe her odd behavior, but the lick, lick, swallow spoke for itself. There was no doctor there yet, so they took Everett from me for observation 'til the vet arrived, and I went home.

Doctor called a few hours later after seeing Eve--I gave the rundown again, answered some questions, and then we hung up so the Doctor could call the University and talk to Eve's Oncologist. They took radiograms (X-rays) of her throat and chest, to make sure all her passageways were clear (they were). They tried feeding her hard food--the doctor said Eve dropped the first cookie, but later ate it. They gave her soft food, and water, and she consumed both right away.

So...once again, there is no definitive diagnosis for the odd behavior. Doctor did say the area around her tumor seems to be inflamed and possibly infected, so she prescribed some antibiotics and sent her home. On a side note, one of the technicians stayed with me while I waited for Everette to come out...in part of our small talk she let me know she and another tech experimented with Eve by giving her cookies--Eve ate the first one whole! Not a single chew...the tech said they first thought she'd dropped it because she was immediately looking for another one. Not knowing if this was before or after the vet tried giving Eve a cookie, I didn't really know what to do but laugh at the antics of the little girl.

I am so greatful to this wonderful staff, who has taken so much time with me. When I picked Everett up, the same vet spent a good 20 minutes telling me all they'd done with Eve, went over her radiogram with me, made sure I knew all that has been prescribed for Eve is in conjunction with the doctors at the U. It is true, we do not know what caused her bobbing, or floor digging.

Lastly, yet again the vet was just amazed at Everett's age. Since I've had her since October, 1994, her age may be off by a month or so, but not more...pride just oozes out of me every time a dog-smart person is so surprised at Everett's age. She is sleeping now, and I am hopeful she will sleep through the night with no head bobbing, or anything else. No idea what was causing her to be so stressed, and while it is frustrating not to know what's wrong, it is so gratifying to see her resting comfortably. You go, Girl!