Tuesday 25 September The vet visit and discovery

25 September 2012

So there we were at the vet.  He stepped on the scale and had lost 6 pounds.  My stomach flipped over. The month earlier he had been on a diet to get rid of about 5 pounds or so.  He has always been a very active dog, but had put on a few extra pounds and that really doesn't help with a dogs aging joints.  However, I hadn't planned on that quick of a weight loss, and that's when i started to get a bit worried.   

The vet came in - Dr. Betsy King who I absolutely adore and Ernie does too.  She is a holistic vet as well as a traditional vet - so i get the best of both worlds.  She looked Ernie over and said she just really felt he didn't fell comfortable and would really like to get X-rays.  I asked wow, how much - but not sure why because it didn't matter.  They were going to be done.  So off Ernie and her went while I waited and tried not to panic.

Well..........  she came back and went to pull of the X-rays..  hmm somethings up, I will be right back she said.  Well turns out only one turned out, but she said it was enough to see that his spleen was quite enlarged.  And that Ernie was very very scared :(((  during the X-rays so she didn't want to repeat them, she saw enough to know his spleen is at least two times its normal size.  OH MY GOD. What does that mean?  I am freaking out.  Well.... it could be this or that and worst case scenario - hemangiosarcoma. WHAT?!?  She said..  worst case.. Lets not go down that road!  Ummm okay dokey.  So she said the next step was an ultrasound.  Either at an office, or she could have the mobile vet come in then I could be there with him.   Mobile Vet it was.  She asked if i would baby sit some needles why she went to make calls, and i said of course.  My vet also happens to be an acupuncturist, so she gave Ernie a gratis treatment to soothe his aging hip.  She left.  I waited.  

Lucky enough the mobile vet could come tomorrow.  But they don't come at a specific time - kind of like a repairman kind of deal.  So to be sure i didn't miss the appointment, I would need to drop Ernie in the morning, and then wait for a call.  ok.  that's fine I guess.

I was already a mess...  Ernie might need surgery, or worse have cancer.  or or or or

I left the room and paid my giant bill and went home.  Bleah.

I let my friend know our trip might be off because Ernie might have to have surgery but I wouldn't know a thing until tomorrow.  I didn't tell anyone else.  It was ok.  Everything would be okay.

next ....  the ultrasound...