Bell is in bad shape

[Faye]

Bell is Debbie's(my oldest daughter) beloved Bull Mastiff. Those of you who have been here a while may remember a year or so ago when I had to take their little dog to the vet and have it put to sleep because they could not bring themselves to do it. Of course, she would have but I was more than glad to save her from having to take Angel to be put to sleep. Angel was about 14 and Debbie got her when she was 6 weeks old. She had been hit by a car and survived but was never the same. She finally got so sick and had such bad neurological problems she had to be put down. That brings me to Bell who is about 2 and weighs about 80 lbs. and is Debbie's baby. A week ago she started getting sick and has been to the vet every day since. Her kidneys are really bad and of course that makes us think bad food. She is on all kinds of meds and gets drip every day but the blood test today showed her white count is even higher. Tomorrow they will x-ray to see if they can find anything else. These vets have taken care of Bell since she was a tiny baby(she was the runt) and Debbie brought her home from Virginia. She was on a trip to see her husband who was working way off somewhere and she found her on the internet. Debbie's vet put Bell on the prayer list at his church sunday. I am praying also and ask for your prayers and good thoughts. I know this is rambling but just wanted to give some background and let you know how much Debbie loves her pets. She has 6 horses and another dog and she loves each of them. Thanks for letting me tell you about Bell.

[Faye]

Bell is to have surgery tomorrow because the x-rays did not show what the vet hoped it would. He said the only way to know is to go in. He is hoping the problem is a uterine infection. Debbie was going to get her spayed anyway so I guess a hysterectomy will do that. I am afraid the surgery is going to be hard on her in her weakened condition but she is not getting better so I am praying they will find the problem and she can begin to heal.

[Al_Coda]

I am praying also and ask for your prayers and good thoughts.

Done, hope everything turns out for the best.

Lost 2 pets ourselves back in in 2002, a cat (eighteen) and a dog (thirteen). Too much of a wimp to do it myself when the vet would for $30, and the money wasn't an issue. Buried them at our cottage, which we'll never sell - so we'll always have their memories close.

[Faye]

Bell had surgery today and the news is not what we hoped for. She did not have a uterine infection but one of her kidneys is about 1" long and very scarred. The other one is about 6" long and healthy. Vet said he thought it might even be a birth defect but could not be sure. I really don't think so but what do I know. He said she can live a long time with her kidneys like this but it will finally be what kills her. She will be on meds for them the rest of her life and on a special food for the kidneys. Thank you to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.