[Magdalen] Doggie prayers, please

[Grace Cangialosi]

Heather, I hope what your dog has is kennel cough, because that's an easy fix--and then you should get her vaccinated. Years ago, when I boarders a dog, the kennels all required that, and I've kept it up ever since.
Unfortunately, that wasn't what Gracie had. They did find a deep pneumonia that time, which our regular vet hadn't been able to see. But they did a bronchoscopy and an Echo, since her heart appeared enlarged, and more x-rays. Gave her antibiotics and steroids, and it calmed down a bit. The pulmonologist was quite sure it was cancer, and there was one procedure she suggested, but I said no at that point. I had already spent more than I could afford and knew that I would not put her through a course of treatment in any case. The vet agreed that that was reasonable.

So she's basically been fine since then except for a random cough. It got bad one other time, and we treated it with a course of steroids.

Actually, she's perked up quite a bit this morning, and after getting an appointment at the vet, I called back and said I'm going to hold off for now. Gracie took some more ice and a piece of cheese, got off the couch , came into the kitchen and even went out on the porch briefly. Oh, and wagged her tail! So I think the worst is over. I'm going to get some chicken broth and cook a little rice with it.
Kind of like having a kid with the flu...

Good luck with your furry friend!

> On Nov 24, 2014, at 1:31 AM, Heather Angus <hangus at ctcn.net> wrote:
> 
> My doggie of about 12 has just started coughing/honking like a Canada
> goose, and I googled Dog Heavy Coughing, and read several articles, and I'm
> pretty sure he has kennel cough. Apparently that's not terrible, but it
> *can* go into pneumonia which is quite a bit worse. I'm going to at least
> call the vet tomorrow about it, and I'm interested in learning what your
> vet has to say about Gracie.
> 
> On Sun, Nov 23, 2014 at 9:51 PM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> My dog Gracie (she CAME with the name!) has been sick since Thursday--at
>> first just didn't want food, a little better on Friday, so I didn't call
>> the vet.  Sicker yesterday and again today.  Not eating or drinking, not
>> even going outside to pee.  I did get her to take some ice cubes this
>> morning and again this afternoon, but that's it.  We're off to the vet in
>> the morning.  She's probably about 7 or 8 and basically healthy, except for
>> a ridiculous cough.  I spent a small fortune on it at the beginning of the
>> year, and even the specialists were unable to come up with anything. She
>> sounded like a Canada Goose for about two months. Still coughs, but nothing
>> like she did at first.
>> 
>> Even the cats are worried about her, and she has the most godawful
>> breath--probably dehydrated by now.  I lost my beagle a year ago, not ready
>> for another loss.
>> 
>> --
>> Grace Cangialosi
>> Ruckersville, VA
>> 
>> "There are a lot of amazing people out there to be thankful for--
>> and a loving God. that's what life is about."
>>                                                                   Robin
>> Williams,  1951-2014
>>