Thursday, May 18, 2006

Update on my editor-in-chief

Just a short note regarding old Po', my missing editor. When I looked out on the patio just before 6:00 this morning, there was Pony on her chaise lounge. Sliding the glass door open I said, "Good morning, Po'!" As she turned to respond, she had one of her stabbing pains, immediately jumped down and ran to the fartherest corner of the backyard.

This was the first time I'd seen her have such a pain in her one remaining refuge, the backyard, and I figured this wasn't a good sign for the day to come. It wasn't. The last remaining spot Pony had for painless sleep, her patio chaise, was now just another painful bed like all the others.

It was a horrendously long day for her with absolutely no lying down, no sleep nor rest from 6:00 a.m. - 8:45 tonight. Fourteen hours and 45 minutes on her feet! Almost 12 hours into her stand-a-thon, the vet and a tech assistant made a house call. We didn't want to subject Pony to the additional stress of visiting the vet's. The vet is convinced my diagnosis was right, i.e., it's something in the right shoulder/front leg and, to a lesser degree, the left one too. But what?

We agreed to have more X-rays of these taken in the morning. In the meantime, I picked up her prescription for valium. I'm sure these will help me sleep better tonight also. As I looked out on the patio just now, Po's getting reacquainted with her chaise lounge. Far off in lalaland, the valium's definitely helping her. I doubt she'll get off that bed before morning.

8 comments:

enigma4ever said...

oh poor sweet pony...and to Pony's loving parents...thoughts and prayers your way...

Dada said...

Thanks enigma. It was a long, long day for her, but surprisingly, she spent most of it in the cool house. (I guess when your last stabbing pain took place outside in your refuge, the house suddenly looks good again.)

We were also reading up on stuff like "when to euthanize your greyhound" which was sobering and sad. Geez, we hate playing gods. Hopefully, that's still on the back burner for awhile longer.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad that Pony's at least laying down & resting, and hopeful x-rays can give a definitive diagnosis. Seeing her on that chaise lounge, her bestest nest, gave me a small comforting thought : maybe a nice valium-inspired dream of the good old days running & chasing will ease her stress a little. yours, too. D.K.

Anonymous said...

oh, dada, I'm so sorry that I haven't visited to offer some words of comfort during this tragic turn of events...my thoughts are with you in this regard...do what you can every day to offer comfort to ol' po' and let things happen as they will...you will know when the awful decision to euthanize has to be made...my own experience with "spud", my semi-handicapped cat who never could get around very well was this...as her ability to go out onto the porch and lie down to bask in the sun diminished during her last summer and fall, I knew the end was coming and made every effort to give her the best opportunity every day to enjoy the end of her days...when, finally, I came home from work one October day to find her lying in a pool of urine at the bottom of the basement stairs (after obviously falling down the entire flight) I made the call to the vet for mercy....

Dada said...

DK - Yes, YES! It took over an hour before the one valium we gave her last night kicked in, but boy, once it did, Pony was on her chaise and fast asleep. Which is exactly where we found her this morning.

She wouldn't get up on the chaise after giving her the pill last night. Finally, it hit "DADa" (Dah!). The chaise was in the same place where she'd suffer her last stabbing pain. So I moved it back to where we usually have it at night and *presto*bingo* she bought it.

This morning at the vet's, she was a total mess! Just like her old self, barking and acting all young and foolish (Pony seldom if EVER barks) at another dog. Just as spiffy and quirky as she's always been. (It was a wonderful hour or so.)

But I'll blog more about this, hopefully, with an X-ray or two! There's still hope...and we'll begin trying it next Tuesday. For the moment, however, the valium's doing its job again...only THIS TIME...in the *house*! She hasn't slept in the house for days and days.

Dada said...

maineac...Oh wow, that was a really sad tale. I guess there was no doubt it was time for spud after her fall. What an incredible shock it must have been, discovering her at the bottom of the stairs like that.

I guess our reluctance at these times is twofold. We hate to let go of a loved one, and we detest having to step into the role of gods. This morning at the vet's we took a step back from having to play that part in Pony's life. At least for now.

Today marks the first anniversary of the departure of our dear "Mister" Cooper. He spared the wife and I having to make a life and death decision by having a stroke, heart attack or passing a fatal blood clot. Of course, the fact that he was playing with a toy just two hours earlier made his sudden departure that much more of a shock. Fortunately, we were both there to hover over him as he passed.

And Sunday marks 6 mos. since Annie left us after the most horrible night of our lives. Watching poor Annie suffer so thru that night was torture paid for selfishly keeping her here one day too long. But we honestly thought there was hope she would improve.

Do these things ever end easily? Thanks for the kind thoughts, Maineac.

Anonymous said...

no, these things never end easily, especially for people who have pets so they can get a little glimpse as to what love for all living things means...even the quick passings bring a burden of grieving...these pictures you're posting are so poignant!

I am very glad to hear of the beneficial effect of the valium on pony and commend you for thinking like a dog and moving the chaise, so she could get some much-needed rest and another day with her beloved companions...good human!

Dada said...

Thanks maineiac...as I read that last sentence of yours, I was suddenly one of my dogs...most likely Annie....as I stood there, wagging my tail and panting with a smile on my face at your approval!

Thanks!