The fellowship of four and their parents have been keeping a secret to us of late: Smartie has been an ill little pup. The first sign of trouble was when Hattie offered us some diapers because Pocket still suffers from excitable peeing, and gets excited a lot. Why does Hattie Mae have diapers, we wondered? Shortly we heard Hattie Mae whispering in the Tanner Brigade cathedral to heal her sister Smartie and give her parents guidance.
No one pried, Hattie is a Jack Russell terrier, and they don’t like being pressured. Finally, when she felt ready, as we all knew she would, she informed us of Smartie’s illness. The family first noticed it when the little beagle stopped eating. If you know a beagle they never stop eating.
Then Smartie began having accidents in the house. The vet did what vets do. They start with the most likely answer, a urinary tract infection. But Smartie did not respond to the treatment the way the vet had hoped.
So now the pack entered the horrible puppy health care torture go round. You start with the blood work. Mom pays the bill. The doctor says they know no from the blood work. Mom pays the bill. They run x-rays. They find nothing. They order more tests. Mom pays the bill. They got sent to a new hospital, one with an excellent reputation. They took more blood, they did an MRI. Mom pays the bill.
But, thankfully, the merry go round ended there. Smartie was diagnosed with Stage III Chronic Kidney Disease With a new diet and medicine Smartie took a turn for the better. She was acting like a pup again, playing with Jackie Lynn, smacking Hattie Mae.
But then she went back to being one sick pup. More tests showed the disease was progressing. Also her red blood count had dropped quite a bit. Her Mom and Dad decided they could manage her care with her being poked and prodded for the rest of her days.
Smartie is home. She has accepted her medicine, her diapers, her pee pads. She is working with Jackie Lynn passing on all her knowledge. We don’t know how long it could go on for but your prayers will be appreciated.
I don’t believe that just because Smartie was the quietest that she wasn’t equal to her pack members or better. Smarties has held her own council and lived her life out of the spotlight. Not a life for me but a life I can respect.
So tonight when you go to bed think of the quiet, loyal, proud dogs like Smartie and know they mean to their families. Because without Ringo they would have just been a bunch of guys with guitars, long hair, and no rhythm.
It’s the Ringos that hold the pack together.
Oh my goodness he is so cute
ReplyDeleteBenny & Lily
Our paws are crossed and we send warm wishes and good vibes. Take Care. Have a great Monday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Oh My! All of them looks so cute. I just want to grab them and take them home with me.
ReplyDelete