Tuesday night Lassie threw up a few times. I didn’t think much of it, Lassie’s stomach is so sensitive, I just figured he ate some people food that didn’t agree with him. He was fine all day Wednesday, so I was sure that was all it was. He was running, playing, eating, drinking and acting his usual self. Despite that, Wednesday night he started throwing up again, this time there was a little bit of blood in his acid-y vomit. Thursday he went to the vet (favorite vet, 45-ish minutes away) and threw up on their floor. It smelled awful. They did some blood work on him and everything looked fine. I can’t remember everything they checked, but they checked a lot. Everything was within a normal range. We thought maybe it was a blockage then, though Lassie is not one to eat things he shouldn’t, but you never know. He does have a hard time resisting the cooked chicken bones, though 95% of the time we take those straight to the big trash can outside, which the dogs have no access to. But better safe than sorry, so they did x-rays, but found nothing. All looked well, though he did have some gas, and he does have a bit of arthritis in his hips.
We wondered if maybe he had a stomach ulcer, which just didn’t show up in x-rays. So we decided to start some medications for his upset tummy and a possible ulcer. He got a shot of Cerenia, an anti-nausea medication. They also gave him a dose of Sucralfate, for the possible ulcer, and told me to pick up a generic brand of Pepcid from Walmart.
Now he never actually got that last one, because within 30 minutes of being dosed with the first two medications, Lassie started acting funny in the car. His head was swaying and he was having a difficult time lapping up his water. Luckily we were still near the vet, so we went right back over there and had the vet come out to the car to take a look at him. She said his coloring looked good and he didn’t appear to be having a reaction. She said he was probably just feeling sick and a little uneasy. She said to take him home and let him sleep it off. We did that.
Here’s my Instagram update from Thursday afternoon: 
We had to carry him from the car into the house. He wouldn’t walk. Or couldn’t, I later realized. I hoped the drugs were just making him a little loopy. We laid him down on his dog cot to get some rest. A little while later, lifting his head became a chore. He could do it, but not for long and not well enough to drink. I started giving him water with a straw (which I later upgraded to a syringe; much easier).
Instagram update from Thursday Evening:
All the while I’m trying not to panic to the point of sobbing hysterically. Lassie doesn’t like that.
We got through one worrisome night of me waking up to syringe more water into Lassie’s mouth and to help him wobble his way out to the yard to take care of business.
Friday Morning Instagram update:
A few hours later, around 10:30 AM or so, Lassie gets up and wobbles around restlessly. I help him through the kitchen, thinking he wants to go outside, but he stops and this yellow, stomach-acid looking, vomit just falls out of his mouth. Then he wobbles his way over to the window that houses the swamp cooler and flops down in front of it. His breathing was labored and instantly I was reminded of my sweet Ella before she passed.
How I managed not to throw up at that point, I don’t even know.
I called the vet and told her what was going on. She wanted Lassie in right away. They’re 45 minutes away. Do I settle for one of the vets I despise here in town? Or do I take a risk and make the drive?
I called the vet here in town. He was out of town. So was the other vet. The only vet available was almost as far as Favorite Vet.
My Mom, my Dad, one of my sisters, Lassie and I piled into the car and took off. We were making the drive to Favorite Vet. They knew exactly what medications they had given him Thursday and they had his x-rays and blood work on file and, most importantly, they care the most and I trust them.
I spent the drive crying and panicking and trying not to think about a similar drive we made with Ella. Except with Ella we rushed to the nearest vet possible and she took her final breath as we whipped into the parking lot. This could not happen again. I didn’t want to do that again. Not now. Not with Lassie.
My Dad turned that 40-45 minute drive into a 30 minute (maybe less, I don’t know, it still seemed so long to me) drive.
(Thank you Dad for breaking the law for my best friend).
Instagram update Friday Afternoon:
I gave the vet this list of drugs not to use. They promised to review it and took my concerns very seriously.
Instagram update Friday Evening:
Friday night was a very long night. Possibly the longest night I’ve had in a very long time.
Or so I thought…
Saturday Morning Instagram update:
“prayers” is the last word; it wouldn’t fit in my iPhone screen shot.
Saturday night, last night, was a much longer night than Friday. I got very little sleep. I feel like I’m missing an appendage or something. That might sound dramatic but I don’t care, this is weird. Lassie has been by my side since I was 13. He’s been my best friend. He got me through those awkward and awful teenage years. He got me through a lot of losses. He has taught me so much, from patience to budgeting money. He makes me smile and he makes me laugh. Unfortunately he also makes me completely crazy when he gets sick. He hasn’t been this sick before. The one and only other time he spent a night at the vet was after his neuter, nearly 8 years ago.
I miss him.
Petal misses him. She’s never been apart from him for this long.
Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Ella’s sudden passing.
I want good news tomorrow.
I want my boy back.
I have a pretty good feeling I’ll get what I want (when I take a deep breath and force myself not to freak out, that is). I just hope I get it tomorrow.
I’ll keep you guys updated, but my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages will be updated first and more often, simply because it is super easy to just type everything up on Instagram and then share it to Facebook and Twitter as well. You’re welcome to check those pages for updates (links to them can be found in right sidebar, those images at the top of the sidebar will take you where you want to go). I won’t hear anything new about Lassie until tomorrow morning, however. I’ll try and post another blog post then. If not tomorrow, then hopefully Tuesday.
Thank you guys again for all the love and support and well wishes and advise on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! It means so much to me. I’m sorry I haven’t replied to every comment, but I promise I read every one.
♥
