Honey 2

[lynda]

Just back from vets yet again. Poor Honey’s face is so swollen and she is really uncomfortable. It looks like it is forming an abscess (so we are hoping the blasted thing bursts ASAP!!) – she has been given painkillers on top of everything else. So she will probably sleep this afternoon.

It’s so hard to keep hope going…..

[admin]

Oh Lynda

I’m sorry to hear this. Poor Honey’s dear face. I really feel for you – this is very traumatic & upsetting for you all & I hope this possible abscess doesn’t cause her problems for too long – burst, you swine. Such an awkward place & you are so right – the lack of healing with these drugs is a price some of us have had to pay. Did you vet indicate if it would be possible to drain it at the surgery if necessary? At least you would know it is definitely an infection if an abscess forms.

I promise you, Lynda, there were a few times we had the same thoughts about not putting Worzel through any more when he was very ill – he wouldn’t eat anything at all & looked like he’d had enough of life. I can’t bear to see animals suffering & would never have continued if I didn’t think there was a chance he could make it. He was painfully thin & looked like a bad case of starvation that should be reported to the RSPCA. My friends burst into tears when they saw him. The wonderful people on here supported me through this awful time by telling me the stories of their own roller coaster ride & encouraged me to keep up hope & the vets were the same. His leg wound was painful & infected for quite a while, but I appreciate Honey’s mouth is far more serious than that. I agree with Brigitte – wanting to eat is the most positive sign that she’s fighting as hard as she can. I would have paid a million pounds for Worzel to eat at that time. I know Vally had been through these “thoughts” many times with poor Bingo too.

I saw Dr Dodds had contacted you pretty quickly on the other thread & I am praying it’s not the cyclosporine & it is an infection. Please try & stay positive for now – to hear she is eating is really GOOD. We are all here for you, Lynda & are hoping she’ll soon make an improvement. I will be thinking about you & Honey constantly.
Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie

[lynda]

Thanks Sheena. Have just spoken to the vet for the umpteenth time. Honey is quiet (the effect of the opioid painkiller), but keeps looking up to see where I am. I am worried about her breathing, because there is some blood in her mouth, but so far she has managed. The vet checked her breathing and heart this morning and it was OK. She (the vet) said they all thought it was an abscess – but difficult to lance because of where it is, and it hasn’t come to a head yet. She said that in their experience, most mouth abscesses were caused by anaerobic bacteria – so let’s hope the antibiotic for those kicks in VERY soon.
It’s awful when other people see her, and they ask when we are going to make that decision. But Honey IS still wanting to fight; I do feel that. That’s why, even feeling a bit dopey from the drugs, she is still watching what I am doing….

[admin]

Bless her sleepy head – she is incredibly tough, Lynda. Greyhounds can be such wimps in some ways, but Worzel absolutely amazed me with his strength of character through this illness. I don’t think dogs think like we do either. I don’t think they understand know ill they are & as long as that fight is still there, they want to be with us because of the mutual love we share with them.

I was thinking about Tara & Diablo when sending you the last message. Her boy has been through two horrible old dog vestibular attacks (a bit like a stroke) & her messages on here, she told us her friends were saying she should make that decision & not keeping him going. When owners come across something like that which is very distressing to see, it is a relief to talk about it with others who have experienced the same scenario. I told her that my dog & some of my friend’s dogs had been through the same thing & had all made full recoveries, except for one which had a slight head-tilt which didn’t bother her at all. He is absolutely fine now, but there are no certainties in this world, I know. I promise you I would never encourage anyone to keep their dog going unless I thought there was a chance of recovery & would never consider for a moment letting an animal suffer. I believe in YOUR gut instinct too. No-one else knows Honey as well as you do & I am absolutely certain you will make the right decisions for Honey, no matter what. Their eyes tell it all.

Come on antibiotics – get cracking on killing those bugs. I hope you know that we are all rooting for dear Honey. I have a massive soft spot for greyhounds & lurchers & want to help you in any way I can. I know someone else who feels the same – Dr Dodds. As you know, she adores greyhounds too, so you couldn’t be in better hands than hers!

Thinking of you, Dora & Sleepyhead – hope she has a comfortable afternoon.
Sheena & the boys

[lynda]

Honey will have to go into hospital this afternoon. The swelling has got bigger and now she won’t eat. It is looking very bad

[admin]

Lynda
Just sending you my sincere support & hope that they can do something for her.
Sheena

[Vally]

Me too Lynda. Hoping and praying for you both and that the vets can get her mouth better quickly.

Vally.

[lynda]

She will be admitted to Leahurst (Liverpool Vet Small Animal Hospital).
She is up, though, and looking at me in a bewildered way – why is this happening to me? When she heard me get the car earlier, she came trotting out….