Furry Health Scares in Packrat

I believe in a Higher Power and regularly pray to the Creator, the spirit of the animals (in my people's religion), my uncle (who loved animals, too), St. Francis, and the archangel Ariel for the health and protection of my furry family.

I figure any entity who loves and guards animals will love and guard mine, no matter what religion I am, and I want them to have all the love, help, and protection they can.

I believe in the power of prayer and ask all of you who love animals to pray for mine as well.

I already wrote about my cat and her mini stroke. I hate to leave her for the hours I have to work, and I've been sleeping in the living room with her (the other old cat can then sleep with us, too; that tabby has been one of the reasons why my cat hasn't been sleeping with me like she normally does).

We have a dorgi, although my mom claims her as hers. She was a shelter dog whose time had run out. A couple who volunteered there at the time (2006) knew of our love of animals and asked if we would take in three until they could find homes on PetFinder. We agreed. As soon as the little dorgi stepped into the house, she attached herself to my mom, who already knew by the next day that she didn't want to give her up. I called the couple and told them to stop searching as all the dogs had found a home (the other two fit in so well with the dogs we had that my brother didn't even know there were two extra, and they lived here until they died of old age).

Less than a week ago the dorgi showed signs of having an allergy, come coughing, some difficulty breathing. We gave her something for allergies, and her symptoms seemed to clear up until the last couple of days; her breathing has been more labored; she hasn't eaten supper; the allergy meds don't clear up her symptoms as much.

The vet today said she has congestive heart failure, gallstones, and could go any night in her sleep. She's old.

I'm shocked because her symptoms just started, and I researched her conditions; she's in the early stages, and what he's given her is the best treatment. She could be worse but she's already resting better.

Her condition can be treated, and the only reason I can think of for the comment that she could go at any time is her age; she came to us full grown and started showing signs of being an older dog a few years later.

I'm upset. What can take away my cat and dog isn't something for which there is a treatment; they're both old. They've been old for a few years now. What will take them away from us has no cure. I feel they're now on limited time, and I just want them to be comfortable and healthy all the days they have left. I hope they have many days yet, and when their times do come, I hope we can bear it.

UPDATE. The little dorgi responded to the meds immediately. Her breathing is not quite yet normal, but almost, and she's perky, eating again, alert.

My cat slept all day the day after her mini stroke but is back to her sassy self, swatting at whoever gets in her way, demanding treats, eating normally.

Both of them have incredibly strong jaws because they clamp them shut when it comes to taking their meds/supplements.

I thank God and all the powers that be that they feel so well!

Last updated August 01, 2014