Once again, Bauer has decided to give us another scare.
I was off work and doing some stuff around the house. We were having our bedroom painted and Bauer didn't like being in the kennel so I had him out most of the day and was just watching to make sure he didn't get in the painters way. I noticed several times throughout the day that Bauer wasn't acting right. I couldn't quite pinpoint it but he just wanted to lay around all day and didn't seem like he felt well. I even called my mom to tell her that I was worried about him and considered getting him a check up at the vet just to see if he looked ok to them. I knew there was nothing emergent so I figured I would watch him though the weekend and see how he did.
I picked up the kids from school at 3 and we came straight home. When I let Bauer out of his kennel he went straight to the entry rug and laid down. But he seemed kind of dizzy. A few minutes later he stood up, had a strange look on his face, and started peeing on the cowhide rug. I ran over to stop him and led him outside. I cleaned up the mess and went out to check on him. He has never had an accident in the house so I couldn't possibly imagine what was wrong with him. When I walked outside I saw him falling everywhere and then he started throwing up over and over in the backyard. He couldn't walk, couldn't hold his head straight, and was shaking. I helped him get inside and laid him down on the carpet in our study. I called my mom and dad crying and saying I needed help. I called Matt and asked where he was and thankfully he was in the neighborhood, As I laid there with Bauer I was sure he had a brain tumor. His eyes were shaking back and forth and he seemed scared to death.
Matt got home before my parents got here and we got Bauer loaded in the car. We were on our way and my mom and dad followed behind us. I called the vet and told them we were on our way. And then I sat in the back, petting Bauer, and crying the entire way to the vet. Sobbing. I knew this was the last time we would see him. That he would have a brain tumor and we would have to make the decision to put him down. When we arrived at the vet there was a team of people out there ready to help unload him from the car while another assistant walked us inside and to our room. I never imagined how hard it would be to lose him but I was beside myself.
Within about 10 minutes the vet came in to give us some really great news. Bauer was diagnosed with Vestibular disease which is similar to Vertigo in humans. It lasts 6-8 weeks and they have to be watched carefully in that time. He would continue to be very dizzy, could get sick, and would have to be helped walking. Any time in the kennel would be great because it would keep him contained.
The next few weeks were so hard and exhausting. Bauer didn't want to eat...at all. We would try canned dog food, cheeseburgers from McDonalds, and dog treats. I would try hand feeding him and he just didn't want to eat. I am sure when you are so dizzy it just makes you lose your appetite. The first few days didn't worry me but he started getting so skinny and wasn't making much progress. The vet put him on an anti-nausea pill which helped a little. My mom and dad watched Bentley for us so that we could lay Bauers food out and hope he would eat at some point. Thankfully, he started getting better little by little. He started walking again, didn't have to be balanced as much, and his tail began wagging again. His head is still cocked to the side and he stumbles when he wakes up but he seems much happier! We are so incredibly thankful for more time with this sweet dog, its going to be a hard day when we don't get it anymore.
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