Oh come ON!!

I was just informed that I have to go to the vet AGAIN in the morning and this time I have to stay overnight! Are ya kidding me? I was just getting my "Louie Mojo" back!! Now I will walk away with the shameful shave somewhere on my back and have to look like a goob for another month. I need to talk to my agent about this because somehow I got screwed.
I will share with you that I am the sweetest dog ever. Know what I did last night? I could tell my mom was cold and needed me to keep her warm (fat boys generate a lot of heat). So, I waited until she was asleep on her side, and then I snuck up behind her. I put my paws on the back of her neck and then snuggled my body against her back, with my nose under her ear. I knew that in addition to being kept warm, she would want to hear me snoring. I bet it comforts her when I do that. The steadiness of my breathing probably makes her have really good dreams.
I have a new trick, too. Well, actually, it's my new way to manipulate my mom. I have the "look." Whenever I do something bad, I have learned to just have a blank stare on my face and keep my ears down. These other idiots crap in the house, and the minute my mom looks at them their ears flop back. I wanna scream at them and say "Morons!! Just sit still and keep your ears in place and she won't know it's you! Quit being a dead give away!!" I get away with stuff all the time because I am like "don't look at me..."
Ok guys, I gotta go outside and then head to the "nite nite" bed before my big day tomorrow. Say a little dog prayer for me.
Love you guys!
Lou

My old self!

I know it's been awhile since I blogged, but I am really too busy feeling like my old self!!! You would never know there had been anything wrong with me, except for the two shaved places. I thinkI overheard my mom talking to the vet today about my next appointment in a couple weeks and I have to stay overnight. NOT pleased. I thought I was done with all that mess.
Let's talk about my special food. At first, I really liked it. But, as time has gone on, I feel like eating some of Fritz's food, then tumbling over to Miko's bowl for her leftovers. I would try and steal Cosmo's, but he eats too fast. Now that my tummy feels better I don't understand why my mom won't feed me the good stuff. Can you believe that she ate crackers tonight and didn't give me ANYTHING? I almost considered not sitting on her lap while we watched "Glee." In the end, I caved. I know I have given her a rough time lately and I didn't think she could emotionally handle the shun.
Wish there was more to say right now, but maybe I will have more interesting thoughts after Grandma visits next week. It won't be the same, since she always brings good treats and now I can't have any chewy bones. But if she is reading this, I can still have the regular treats I get after going potty. *wink* *wink*
Peace out peeps-
Lou

Enjoying the attention

HI guys!!! I thought I would update you on my recovery...my mom is still home, so she helps me type. I have been home for almost a week, and aside from the first night, I have felt great! I get to take my Flagyl in these special treats that my mom bought at the vet. It's pretty cool because I am the only one who gets them. Neener neener. One thing I haven't figured out yet is why I don't get Mom's food anymore. Now that I think about it, no one does. I am not sure that seems fair to me, given that I am "recovering." I heard mom talking to Grandma about it and it has something to do with table food being "bad." I'm not so sure, but whatever.
I love my new food, and feel pretty special that everyone else gets the crappy old stuff, and I get the new expensive vet food. Oh yea. I'm cool. My mom still yells at me when I run and get too wild, or try to start some stuff with my cousin Cosmo. I keep forgetting I have the heart thing goin on too!! Man! I am pitiful!! :)
I thought my mom would cry when I first ate some food last week. I thought she was a freak, but then remembered that she had to clean up the projectile blood all over the house, so her happiness might have been related to that. Regardless, I am happy to be home with my mom and siblings, and have enjoyed the cold nights because it gives me reason to snuggle my head on mom's shoulder. Plus, my mom has been sick, so I think it is my duty to help take her mind off of that and have her pet me. Seems like the least I can do.
So that is what is new with me. I gotta go claim my spot under the yellow quilt. My mom puts it in the dryer to get it warm and then we fight to burrow under it when she puts it down on the floor. Life is good.
Love ya!
Louie

Longest week ever...

Hi guys! It's Louie! I'm home!!! I gotta tell ya, even though I love to eat and find small pieces of random crap in the yard to digest, I am gonna think twice in the future. I am now officially the world's most expensive rescued shelter dog. Pancreatitis is NOT fun.
My mom was worried about me last night because I wouldn't eat and acted depressed. I did sleep in the big bed and snuggled with her. When we got up this morning, I was more perky and even ate a couple teaspoons of my special new dog food (Cosmo is jealous). When my mom got home from the hospital, I ran to greet her in old style fashion...........wagging my tail and doing my "excited" bark. I immediately took one of my special treats and gobbled it up. I pottied outside, and it was mostly "normal." I won't share more than that, for fear of TMI.
The best part was that I was really hungry, ate about half a can of my special food, took my medicine, and have kept it down! Plus, you know I am back to normal when I constantly whine and my mom and nudge her hand to pet me. I think I am worthy of some extra TLC for say.....oh....the next 3 years. Just sayin'...
Thanks to everyone who prayed for me. I was prayin for myself! I was getting pretty pissed at my mom for picking me up twice a day and leaving me in the scary place. But, everyone says I am "handsome" and "sweet" so it's nice to be appreciated. Gotta go sit on my mom's lap and watch Grey's Anatomy. I don't really like the show, but it's time with her, so I adapt.
Much love to all my fans (and thanks for supporting my mom)-
Lou Lou

Does no one like me anymore?

Louie is mad at me for leaving him at the emergency vet again tonight. I got right in his face and he refused to give me a kiss. Stubborn little stinker. I am sure he thinks that he is being punished for something! When I went to my vet to pick him up tonight, I was waiting in the lobby and this vet nurse walks out with a dachshund. This one had one of those plastic collars on to keep them from licking. I thought "how pitiful." The dog kept staring at me and I said "that dog looks a lot like Louie." The nurse says "Uh, it IS Louie." WHAT? Hasn't he been through enough to not have to wear that shameful collar? He apparently was trying to take his IV out. Pitiful.
So, I had a long talk with his regular vet, Dr. Bolles, who I think is actually a saint. I mean, if I could ordain people for loving my dog as much as me, he would get ordained. He explained all of his labs, ABG's, and electrolytes. And, he reassured me that this problem wasn't interfering with his heart treatment. Hopefully, he can get the fluids he needs tonight and bring his temp up so that tomorrow they can try solid food. If he can accomplish that, he can probably come home. I am not sure my heart or my wallet can handle another night at the ER.
He will have to permanently be on a special diet, which should help his digestion and his weight. As if he needed the blow to his ego right NOW to have them tell him he is a fatty. But, I will do whatever it takes to avoid this again.......for Louie's sake and mine. His buddy Cosmo is lost without him, but Miko and Fritz could really care less. We will have to have a family meeting about that.
I haven't had a meltdown today, and am more relaxed tonight. However, I am praying that Louie can come home tomorrow. It would be great if you could too.
Signed,
President of Louie's Fan Club

A long, long night...

Hi guys! It's Louie. I am a sick boy, but know I have tons of fans and want to keep you posted. My mom is pitiful...she hardly slept all night and couldn't wait to come pick me up. I am still not myself, and turns out that the ER vet did a test on my pancreas and I have pancreatitis. Boo hoo for me. I got morphine. That was nice. When my mom left, they told her that I was a "handsome sweet boy " and they wished all their patients could be that way. I am glad for the compliment, but how difficult can you be when you're high?
I went back to my regular vet this morning and Dr. Graves just called my mom. Basically, I have having trouble keeping my temperature up and they have me on heating blankets. He said I will have to go back to the ER vet to stay the night again tonight, and then back to the regular vet all day tomorrow. I am not thrilled about this, but I feel so terrible that I don't care as long as I get better. I have to go on a special diet now (and a weight loss program). Seriously? Food was my ONLY highlight (aside from my mom). Oh well.
This sweet boy has to sign off.........I gotta rest today at the vet and let them kiss me and pet me. I really don't even feel bad for my greeting to them this morning. My mom put me on the floor when we walked in and the first thing I did was walk over to the mat at the door and take about a 5 minute pee. HEY! I had like 800ml of fluid or some mess infused last night! My bladder isn't that big, even for a fat boy!
Love you guys-
Louie

Relatively sucky day

Louie has given me permission to write on his behalf...if he were here he wouldn't be up to writing anyway. I came home from work today to find a couple drops of blood on the kitchen floor and Louie's rear end was covered in dried blood. FREAK OUT. After assessing the house, I found several large spots of blood which I temporarily cleaned up...before racing out the door to the vet. When we got to a room at the vet, they drew blood and went to draw labs. It was at this point, when Lou and I were alone, that he started to look like he was going to poopy. Uh NO. He literally projected blood out of his rectum. Poor guy was so scared he crawled under the chair. At this point, I am sweating and trying not to cry. Vet says that it was hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
Treatment for this is continuous IV fluids and antibiotics. Only cool thing was that he could use "real" medical terminology and I was able to understand the pathophysiology of it (I know, NERD alert). The plan: they give Louie IV access and I take him to the emergency vet to stay overnight and get fluids. Vet wrote transfer orders and we zipped on over there.
One problem: ER vet didn't open till 7pm, which gave me just enough time alone with my sweet boy to have a total meltdown. Picture me, in the dark, in an empty parking lot, bawling while holding my dog. Apparently, one of the employees spotted this meltdown, felt sorry for me, and let me come in 30 minutes early.
Now, when I met with Dr. Hamm, the waterworks continued and I gave up all attempts to be a calm and collected mother. She handed me tissues (ME! Tissues!!) and told me all that they would do. The breaking point was when the tech came in and asked me if I gave them permission to do CPR if needed. Seriously? Do I present like someone who would NOT want CPR? Louie had yet again had another projectile blood event at the emergency vet and seeing him so miserable was the end for me.
So, baby boy has to stay overnight and I pick him up at 630 am and take him to my regular vet to stay for the day and get more fluids. This routine may have to go on for a few more days, or he may be able to come home tomorrow night. My vet said it would probably be a couple days, but the ER vet said maybe not. For many reasons, I am voting for Dr. Hamm's assessment. I just want my baby to feel better........and for me to be able to calm down enough to finish my school work and get some sleep.
Who's up for another yard sale? Plasma donation?
Much love to all of Louie's fans-
Amy