Health Problems

My happy boy needs to get better.

Bruce has been having accidents in our home lately.  And recently over the last few days it's been pretty frequent.  I'd been getting frustrated, wondering why he isn't telling me when he needs to go out.  He's just been urinating in random places at random times.  A couple of days ago I noticed he's been acting more anxious when I take him out.  Last night, I noticed a trail of urine and blood in my bedroom.  I realized he probably has a urinary tract infection (UTI).  So I brought him to the vet's office this morning.

I'd seen UTIs before and they're fairly easy to treat.  Antibiotics for 7-10 days or so and it clears right up.  So although my poor boy was feeling uncomfortable and hurting from a likely UTI, I didn't think too much more of it.  So as directed I dropped him off at the vet's office and awaited the call.

The vet was friendly on the phone, very kind and gentle with her words.  But it was still hard to hear past the shock.  The good news-- no kidney stones showed up on the x-rays.  The bad news?  He has a very high amount of red blood cells and transitional cells, which is consistent in transitional cell carcinoma.  In other words, bladder cancer.  Now, she told me, it doesn't mean he has it.  But it's a good possibility and I have to make sure I follow up with her after a week of antibiotics.  Our hope is that this all turns out to be just a bladder infection and that it clears up with the medication.  If not, we're doing an ultrasound.

How's that for news?  Either my 6 year old dog has a bladder infection.  Or he has cancer.  He's been under my bed all day except if he's outside peeing drips of pain.  He was a good sport taking his medication.  He gave me kisses and looked at me with big puppy eyes.  I can't help but feel afraid.  I'm hoping so much that it's just a bladder infection.

I guess all I can do for now is give him his meds, pray and wait.

Sigh - The Price of Dog Ownership

For the first time ever, I slipped in the snow as I was about to pick up dog poop.  Yay for firsts.

It's only 27 degrees out, but there is still snow out from our below-freezing weather a few days ago.  I took Bruce out as usual.  While he was busy sniffing around, I saw a bunch of dog poop and immediately became disgusted.  The poop was three feet away from the poop bags and can.  How rude!  

So I watched as Bruce did his business and then another dog owner came out.  His pretty yellow lab started barking at Bruce.  As his owner tried to hush him, Bruce (in mid-poop) started barking back.  When he was done, I grabbed a poop bag and made my way toward his mess.  Bruce had other things in mind besides waiting for me like he normally does.

He took off on zoomies, his butt tucked in and his head up high.  I called for him to come and he did, but I was already leaning into the lead and when he loosened it as he ran toward me, my foot went out from beneath me and I landed flat on my butt.  Right next to his mess.  Close one.

I looked up to see if the other dog owner was around to witness it, but to my relief he had already gone.  So I stood up, my hands all wet from the snow, and picked up the mess.

As I walked Bruce back home, I couldn't help but giggle.  I actually fell in the snow right next to the poop.  Gross.