My Baby is sick

For those of you who know me, you know that I can't have children and that my babies are my dogs. One of my babies, Conner, is sick - again. He has had problems off and on since the fall of 2006. He had a bladder stone removed after we noticed he was peeing blood. He had peed blood before, but the vet has said that he only had bladder infections and treated them with antibiotics, but that time, they saw a stone that was irregular in shape that was cutting up the inside of his bladder and it neeeded to be removed to relieve his pain.

Since then, he has been on medication to lower the pH of his urine. This medication is sprinkled on his food - it is called potassium citrate. He loves the stuff - I guess they flavor it up and smacks his lips for a long time after eating.

He has had numerous problems with his anal glands getting infected, so we have made several trips to the vet to get antiobiotics and steriods for that as well. In fact, we just had to go last month for that problem.

Now, just a few nights ago, he has been waking us up in the middle of the night (yes, both little ones sleep with us in our king bed) to go pee. He has never done this before. And, he's drinking lots of water. Then, yesterday, he started protecting his hind end again. I noticed it towards the end of the day, but saw no need yet to take him to the vet as it was 5:30 and he wasn't showing too many symptoms for them to make an accurate diagnosis. So, I gave him one of my Valium to make him comfortable (the vet has said in the past this is perfectly ok), and called the vets office to ask when I could give him another if the need should arise. The vet tech told me in the middle of the night, but that I should probably give him Benadyl next time or in the morning.

I asked if maybe we should collect a urine sample in the morning and bring it in for analysis for crystals (this is what they look for when they are looking for stones) and blood. She said that was a good idea. So, last night, on their last trip out to go pee, I went out with them in the back yard and took a flashlight to watch them. Caeser, our other baby, went up the stairs fine when he was done. Conner looked at me strange and pitifully, then proceeded up the stairs. He was doing ok with his front legs, but he was fairly stumbling with his back legs. It was pitiful to watch. I tried to stop him to let me pick him up and carry him, but he just went on his merry, but pitiful way.

When we go inside, he seemed to be walking ok. So, we are not quite sure what he is protecting on his hind end, but we know he is in pain.

This morning, my husband got up with the boys and got the urine sample and took it the vet. When I got up hours later (my husband is so awesome), I called to be sure they had it and asked for the results. They hadn't finished processing it yet, but I asked for an appointment today anyway. The receptionist gave me an appointment for 5:30pm. I then told her that we had given Conner a Benadryl at 6:30 this morning and when might I give him more should he need it. She asked me to wait and said she would ask one of the vets. When she got back on the phone, she said they wanted him in earlier, and for him to come in at 2:00pm. Then I started worrying.

So, I called my husband to let him know what was going on. He told me that when he dropped off the sample the vet tech told him that just by looking at she highly suspected there was blood in it. Now I am more worried.

I got off the phone. Then I went and took anxiety medication to calm down. I don't need to worry my liitle baby worse than he already is. He's a little nervouse Nelly sometimes.

I'll let you know what happens when after the vet visit.




         This is my baby Conner, who is sick
          He is a miniature Schnauzer
          He has a brother named Caeser, who is his littermate