First, I took Pepper to the vet on Saturday for her yearly checkup (we adopted her last January) and found out that she has heartworms. She'd been tested before we adopted her and tested negative at the time and we've had her on monthly heartworm medicine ever since. But apparently, if they have young heartworms that are not yet producing the antigen they test for, then dogs can have a false negative and that's probably the case with Pepper. The good news is that it was a light positive which means she probably does not have very many heartworms. The other good news is that the lifespan of a heartworm is only 1 to 2 years and hers is most likely at least a year old. We talked to the vet extensively about our treatment options and have chosen to take a less aggressive route. If you choose the more aggressive treatment, you have to keep your dog inactive for 4 weeks afterward or else they can have deadly complications. As Pepper is a very excitable dog, we decided this could be a dangerous option for her. So instead, we are giving her an antibiotic that is known to weaken heartworms and will retest her in six months. Of course, meanwhile I am freaking out every time she looks funny or does anything out of the ordinary. It's going to be a LONG six months. Please, God, please let my baby girl be okay!
Yes, she thinks she's a lapdog.
In other disheartening news, I found out today that I have high cholesterol and that my bad cholesterol is particularly high. This isn't the end of the world and it isn't really shocking news as high cholesterol runs in the family, but it made me sad all the same. I'm sad that at only thirty-three I already have to start watching what I eat. I know it's a good thing in the long run to change my diet, but it still makes me sad. It makes me feel old. I guess I can't keep eating "kid food" when B's out of town. I don't think tater tots and chicken nuggets are low in cholesterol. Oh well!
3 comments:
Well, that's a double whammy, isn't it? I'm sorry about the pup; I'm glad she has the option of the less aggressive route, though. As for you...isn't being a grown up fun? I was going to tell you about my own wake-up call, but it's too embarrassing to put out on the internet, so let's just leave it at "I understand and sympathize."
ugh, definitely not good news. just took will to the dentist today (took him 6 months ago) and the dentist told me he had 4 cavities and needed sealants -- $700! sometimes it's crappy to be an adult.
*hugs* Hopefully Miss Pepper will be just fine!! Its so hard with pets because they can't tell you what's wrong, and you can't tell them that they have to sit still to get better. Our cat had to have surgery today and it's gonna be a stressful few days I think :(
On the flipside, high cholesterol is a good excuse to eat more cheerios!!
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