BALANCING JOY AND APPREHESION

I was gonna tell you our happiest news, then in a separate post, maybe next week, I was gonna tell you what Dougie has been walking through. But life does not separate out like that does it?

Kevin meets his new Dad. Russ suspected I was up to something maybe before I did! And before Kelani just randomly let him know a B&B pup had a new home :D

So I am gonna tell you everything, and update you in real time. Telling you Doug’s story before it is resolved feels like when I told you Wuzzy’s story before it was resolved. And that ended happily. (Fuzzy and Wuzzy were our hairless dumbo Rex rats. Wuzzy got sick, and I told her story before I knew how she would do. She was my first pyometra surgery! She did great :))

This will end happily too, I think.

And right now, it is pretty happy around here.

We adopted a puppy from Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland!! And Dougie is struggling with some health issues. Let me add some details. And photos. Cuz these boys are CUTE.

Ten days ago, a fat little Beagle from Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland showed up at Westgate Animal Clinic to be neutered.

“Let’s do that one first!” Bre shouted.

“What?” I shouted back. And that was our introduction to Cheddar. Somewhat like my introduction to Doug - Halas of Golden Retriever Rescue of Nebraska at the time. I had to remove that gorgeous eleven month old Golden Retriever pup from the exam room so I could talk with his amazing foster parents about his upcoming neuter because he would NOT shut up! Neither would Cheddar, and I fell in love with yet another puppy.

Turns out he is not a fat little Beagle. - well maybe, but not just Beagle. He is some sort of ridiculous, gorgeous Basset mix, and he did not yet have a home. “Oh no,” I thought, and next thing I know, Kathi Ortmeir, the founder and leader of Basset and Beagle was putting his ear meds in my scrubs pocket and Cheddar in my arms, and we had once again accidentally (and miraculously) adopted a puppy. We are so happy.

His name is now Kevin Cheddar Finch, and he is twelve weeks old, and has his first puppy class today. They grow up so fast!

Kevin learned that if he does exactly what Doug does, he cannot go wrong.

He is named Kevin after the bird in Up, because Doug is named after Dug, the dog in Up, and also, he just seems like a Kevin. It is the first name he wagged his tail to (in his sleep), so Kevin it is.

Shortly before meeting Kevin, Doug peed in our bed for the first time ever.

So began a series of tests that started with a physical exam (still perfect) and a urinalysis (pee tests) that showed mildly dilute urine which led to x-rays and blood work that showed hypercalcemia which led to an abdominal ultrasound which showed NOTHING BAD INSIDE (NBI which is the happy opposite of SBI - something bad inside). And now we wait on ionized calcium level, parathyroid hormone level, serum protein electrophoresis, another urine check - this time for Bence Jones proteins and a splenic aspirate.

Dougie with Uncle Dave’s cool-on-the-hottest-evening drive-in set up

Meanwhile the hypercalcemia or underlying disease or both are making Doug feel terrible. He has developed dehydration that shows up about every other day despite drinking his fool head off (that is, polydipsia, which often goes with polyuria - urinating more than normal - which Doug is also doing, together often abbreviated PU/PD).

Is Dougie huge or is Kevin’s couch tiny??

So Doug has also been geting subcutaneous fluids (saline) every other day for about two weeks and has been hospitalized for the past two days on IV fluids in an attempt to get him feeling better and lower his calcium. It seems to be working, and he is feeling good most of the time.

Here for my IV fluids and all the attention!

We also started prednisone yesterday knowing full well it could mess up any further cancer search efforts, including a possible bone marrow biopsy or complicate pain management options or any chemotherapy he may need.

The addition of prednisone was honestly a reaction to my heart breaking seeing this dog we love so much off his bullshit. He has not been a jackass in the evening for two weeks straight. He is always a jackass in the evenings. He wants everyone to go to bed when he does and barks his fool head off until we do. Or until we pay him the attention he deserves.

Dougie waiting to talk to the Aksarben Juice Stop team about their no fur in the drinks policy. He thinks it is nonsense.

Now he is back on his bullshit, causing nighttime trouble and roughhousing with his new brother. And he is eating well again. So there is that.

Also, medically speaking,, prednisone can help lower calcium.

Medicine is always a balance. I will not be mean to myself about starting prednisone if I learn I have messed up future testing or treatment because today, Doug is doing so well. Remind me I said that next week as tests start rolling in. Doug is acting like Doug, and I need him in good enough spirits to get through whatever this is.

Blue and Russ with Kevin and Dougie on our favorite walking path <3

Woo. It’s been a month. Dogs, man. They are so worth it, even though they always break your heart in the end.

But this is not the end. This is a start of a new chapter with Doug, and I am hopeful he will handle it with the ridicoulous optimism and silliness he has handled everyting, including this new puppy, who he has decided is the most annoying and most fun brother he could ever have. He has been asking for a baby sibling for two years, and I am so happy it is Kevin. We all are.

Kevin and Doug helping us put out neighborhood flags on the Fourth of July. And stopping to smell ALL the flowers. Great job boys!

HERE ARE THE PEOPLE AND GROUPS WHO HAVE HELPED US THROUGH THIS SEASON WHO I HOPE YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO ALSO KNOW AND WHO I HOPE YOU JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING. THANK YOU YOU AWESOME DOG LOVING VILLAGE. I SO APPERECIATE YOU ALL…

YOU - our family and friends, including the entire Westgate Animal Clinic team - I love you all <3

Kathi and Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland for being awesome and for Kevin

Dr. Christopher Byers for your friendship and advice and words of encouragement

Dr. and Mr. Salwei for your expertise and help with Dougie’s ultrasound and further work up and for telling me he will be ok <3

Idexx but please hurry - JK I know it takes the time it takes!

Science Diet for making the one thing Dougie will eat - and says he will only eat now going forward - canned i/d stew

Nebraska Wildlife Rehab for the drive-in that was Kevin’s first social outing (and Dougie’s first drive-in movie!) and for welcoming us and them so warmly. And also thank you for saving all the beavers and armadillos and birds and bunnies and the rest <3 I miss working with you! Damn allergies.

David Codr and the Doggone Problems team for your advice and future help!

Jeanie the awesome trainer at Petsmart of Papillion for Kevin’s introduction to formal education - He says he loves it. And you.

MazzyCo for outfitting our boys so handsomely ;)

To be continued…