[Dailydrool] Howliday Cards

[Douglas Paul]

I just want to express how surprised I was earlier this week when I started receiving wonderful Howliday Cards. I have been part of this joyous event since 2004, but for those that are not on Facebook, this year is different. Since October of this year Stonewall (our 11 yr old male) had not been feeling well and with many visits to our local vet, we were stumped with his sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting and no interest in eating. We decided to take him to Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center for evaluation. Well, after one week, the internal med vet was still stumped and felt that Stonewall was suffering from IBD and sent him home with a esophageal feeding tube inserted in his neck with instructions on frequent tube feedings and meds. Well after two weeks, there was no improvement, in fact Stonewall had lost over 16 pounds! We talked to our vet again and again off to K-State we went. After a second ultrasound on his belly, we were told by his internal medicine doctor, that he had many infarcts on his spleen which was also twisted and we were giving the choice of surgery or euthanasia. Well, needless to say, we decided on surgery. He spent another week post surgery in ICU and finally took food by mouth on his own thanks to a very caring, tenacious 4th year student. We were on our way to take him home and about 30 minutes away from home when we got a call that the surgical doctors did not want him discharged yet because his incision opened up a bit and was draining and they wanted to do a culture and sensitivity test to decide the course of antibiotics. Well, poor Stonewall had to stay another five days until the drainage lessened and he was finally discharged although he still had his feeding tube in place. After two weeks of twice daily dressing changes (I cried because of the removing the tape from his belly was understandably hurting him), and strong antibiotics (had to wear gloves when giving one type to him-very strong and if not cautious could cause nasty side effects to humans), Stonewall went back for his follow up and the initial internal med doctor was so pleased and happy to see how great Stonewall recovered. His feeding tube fell out on its own much to our relief and he is gaining weight and almost back to being himself.

With all this stress and obvious financial burden, I sadly decided that the Howliday Card event for this year would not happen for us. Well, some wonderful angel, I guess, put Stonewall on the special list and I am so thankful for this wonderful gesture. Tears rolled down my cheeks when I received our first card. You guys are the greatest, loving, caring basset slaves I am so proud to know.
I want to wish each and every one of you and your furbabies a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year.
Marie Paul