Posted by Dinah on June 7, 2004, at 12:02:43
I took Harry in for a couple of hundred dollars worth of tests the other day and the vet says he's just fine. He admits that if something is going on in the brain, he wouldn't be able to tell, but he says his kidney and liver functions are fine, and his chest xrays showed nothing. He did say his eyesight was failing.
But my momdar says that Harry took a downturn two or three weeks ago. He seems to be unsteady on his feet, and stands in odd poses that seem to be intended to brace him. I'm having to put his food bowl on something because he appears to fall forward a bit when he eats too close to the floor. And he's not finishing all his food (unthinkable for Harry - he'll finish it just so the other dogs don't get any). He feels thinner to me. His sleep seems different - thicker and less content. He still wants to be held all the time, but again he seems less content. I told the vet all this.
I'm so frustrated. I guessed when I brought him in that the vet wouldn't find anything. But I just can't help but feeling something is wrong. Even my husband notices it, and his momdar is notoriously poor. I trust my instincts on this more than the tests. I know Harry like I know myself. But there's nothing I can do! The vet was telling my mother how great Harry was doing and how amazing it was after all these months, so he's not going to take my protests seriously.
I'm not a hysterical mom. Harry took a downturn in December or January, I added some Metamucil to his food and he felt a bit better. He's been stable from then till now. Not feeling great, but not feeling miserable either. Something is different now. I don't know what to do other than to continue to give him lots of love.
My current enthusiasm began shortly after I picked up on something being wrong. I often wonder if my enthusiasms are purely physical or if they have an escape function. :(
poster:Dinah
thread:354532
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040602/msgs/354532.html