The Chronicles of Sir Winston Humperdoodle, and Would You Rather Just Not Know?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Last week Winston went in with a pretty serious ear infection in both ears that hadn't been responding to medication.  In fact his ear infections have become quite chronic.  The vet became concerned enough about the situation, and the fact that they never seem to fully resolve, to send off some cultures and warn me that depending on the results, there is a chance Winston's ear canals would have to be removed.  Of course this sent me into fits of panicky chaos wavering from complete dread for poor Winston's sake to wondering how I was going to manage.  Long story short, the results are in and it turns out he can be treated with a special antibiotic and an ear ointment, and re-check next Friday for his ears to make sure it's working.  

While discussing the results with the vet the other day I sort of jokingly gave him crap for scaring the bejeebees out of me.  He asked me if I'd rather have not known the possibility of the results not turning out well, if I'd rather he omitted such info until I absolutely needed to know.  My first instinct was an unequivocal yes.  Lie away.  Why worry when I don't have to? ...But now it's got me thinking.  

If the results had turned out worse, and we had to consider the surgery to remove his middle ear canals, then I guess the more time I had to prepare the better.  Karen sent me some helpful info which I was armed with when I went back in for the results the other day.  I was prepared to discuss the options.  It probably would have been a lot more overwhelming if I had showed up thinking we'd find some medication that would work easy peasy, only to hear that the infection is not responsive to anything and we need to remove Winston's ear canals before it gets worse.  That would have been really hard.  However, on the other hand, I spent a week agonizing and worrying, dreading the worst, when things turned out somewhat ok after all.  We're still not completely out of the woods, but he is responding well and feeling much better so I am hopeful when we recheck his ears on Friday they will come up clean.

All of his recent vet appointments for his allergies, ears, and tummy troubles has set me back well over 1K in vet bills (it is just astonishing how quickly they pile up) but at least things seem a little more manageable... at least until the next Winston-related health crisis...

...Enter the small abscess on his back left paw discovered by groomer a couple days ago.  So now I get to put that 'would you rather not know' question to the test.  Should I research the crap out of abscesses, not knowing anything about them, or even if that's what it actually is, or should I go about my days as if it's no big deal, until I get to see the vet next Friday for his follow up ear swabs.  The vet clinic said it can wait, so I'm just going to ignore it and pretend it's not there until Friday. In the meantime, I'm keeping it clean and dry, and trying very very hard not to worry. 

The good news is, Winston looks pretty darn spiffy after his grooming appointment.  Don't you think? (sorry for the sideways photo!)

Not that he needs to be well coiffed to attract new, err, friends.  Winston does love a good round of the humpty dance. I cannot tell a lie.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Such good news!! Hope the meds continue to do their thing! Winston looks so velvety soft! Good luck on Friday!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

The Humpty Dance!  LOL.  

Hope his ears continue on the mend and his paw is okay.  He is such a handsome dood!  

I would be inclined to want to know ahead so I could research options, etc., ahead of time.  I am the eternal optimist anyway and would just will myself into believing the outcome will be fine.  

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks for the update, good luck on Friday! Love the photos, :-)

[Gail and Bailey]

Glad to hear there is hope for those handsome ears!  Winston is such a good looking dood!  Hoping the appt on Friday is filled with only good news!

[Becka]

Happy to hear that Winston gets to keep his ears intact! He looks so soft and snuggly in his new 'do.

[BG and Gavin]

Good luck on Friday. You have had too many worries. Your last picture made me lol.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Sherri, That's great news! LOL, that Winston is a great friend and he does look quite spiffy in his new do. Wishing you the best news on Fri.