My Best Friend Is Sick

I am so bored!

As you all know, Khia has been down in the dumps ever since Mya passed away on 3/19/15. For half a second, everyone thought she was improving. Mom and Dad had been giving her extra special lovings and playing fetch with her outside every evening.

On 4/2/15, Mom noticed that Khia had a “lump” on her underside, just below her ribs. Khia does have fatty tumors on various parts of her body so although scary, Mom and Dad weren’t 100% freaked out (only 99%). Dad took her to the vet on 4/7/15 (the next available appointment) and by then, he thought it had shrunk a bit. The vet said to keep an eye on it and if it grew, to get her right back in. She said when masses are bad, they grow rapidly. She also said that Khia appeared to be a picture of health. That line in itself was enough to scare the poop out of Mom because that’s what the other vet told her about Mya 3 days before she died.

The vet did say that Khia seemed to be developing arthritis in her hips and her knees. Mom and Dad were not shocked by this because when Khia was a puppy, a vet once told them that her hips were already bad and she’d likely need surgery to repair them in a few years (she’s 9 now).

Khia was prescribed Deramaxx, an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) and the vet also suggested that we keep up with a chondroitin supplement. Seeing as she had been on Deramaxx for a week in February with no problems, Mom and Dad were satisfied.

On Friday, while Grandpa was here, Khia threw up the biggest throw up Mom had ever seen. None of her food was even chewed and it was hardly digested considering it had been 6 hours since she ate. About a month ago, Khia started eating Science Diet Adult formula instead of Science Diet Adult Light because her weight was starting to get a bit low (72 lbs). Immediately after throwing up, Mom and Dad decided she was going back on her old food. If for no other reason, she was going back on her old food because she was up to 80 lbs when the vet weighed her. The vet said it’s the perfect weight for her but Mom knows its too much and is sure it has something to do with her hips and knees bothering her.

Mom also figured the Deramaxx had something to do with her stomach being upset even though she gets it after she eats her breakfast and not on an empty stomach. To be safe, they stopped giving her the Deramaxx until further notice.

Khia has been in so much pain that she is constantly panting – a sign of pain in dogs – (even in her sleep) AND she has been snapping at my tiny, cute little face when I try to get her to play or give her kisses. ME! HER BESTEST FRIEND!

Yesterday morning Dad couldn’t take it anymore and he gave Khia another Deramaxx. Can you guess what happened? Yes, Mom woke up to a huge puke puddle by the back door today. I, Khia’s knight in shining armor, woke Mom so she would know that Khia was sick.  Mom cleaned the mess and helped Khia up into the bed so she could lay with Dad since Mom had to go to work.

When Mom called to check in around lunch time, Dad told her that Khia didn’t even eat 1 piece of kibble from her breakfast. Of course, they agreed that Khia will NOT be getting Deramaxx anymore and Mom scheduled Khia another vet visit. Unfortunately it’s not until Monday afternoon. If Khia gets much worse before then (i.e., continuing to avoid food), they will walk her in as an emergency appointment.

This is all very upsetting. Khia has been pretty indestructible her whole life. She has eaten cold medicine left out by irresponsible teenagers (Sudafed to be exact), pieces of a tuna can (the actual metal), aluminum foil, the disgusting pad that is found under raw meat bought at the grocery store, and many other things that would kill most dogs if they ate it and didn’t have some type of surgical intervention. None of it even gave her the runs!

I don’t want her to be sick anymore. I want to see her happy. I want to play! If you could all say a little prayer for her, that would be great.