Brinkley's healing process...

[Heather & Brinkley]

Brinkley's healing process is taking longer than I expected.  Last time he got sick by day three I was at least seeing small signs of his personality shining through the sickness... but this time around I just feel like he one giant slug.  I'm going to call the vet when they open today just get her take on it. Over the last 24 hours he has become less interested in food.  In order to get him to eat DH and I have to hand feed him the boiled chicken... and you can forget the rice.  He refuses to eat it.  And I basically have to force feed him water... which I don't like.  He needs to stay hydrated.  

His back legs are so weak.  I hope it's just weakness (in the back  of my head I keep thinking "boy, I hope he didn't lose motor skills when his fever got high)-- probably just me being over worrisome but this sickness has exceeded anything I've ever witnessed.  When he tries to poop it takes about 10 tries in order for him to have the strength and find the correct position to tuck and poop. And there are little weird things he's doing-- for instance, he won't walk on the side of the road... he HAS to walk straight down the middle.  This is a new development since he got sick.  You can imagine how hard it is when a car comes. And he won't even touch the grass... I cut through a yard this morning and he freaked. I'm not sure why he doesn't like the feel of grass on his paws as of late.  He has a very hard time lying down... and once he's down there he isn't comfortable but it's hard for his to get up and down... so he spends a lot of his time just sitting and looking... when I know he really wants to rest ( I do help him get down and find a comfy position but he doesn't stay long.)

 

Anyway, I'm just throwing all of this out there and you can give me your thoughts.  

 

This is all so overwhelming.  I had a mild meltdown last night.  Work is unbelievably stressful right now.  Our work is celebrating our 50th anniversary of broadcast and I'm the one producing the HUGE event with thousands of people... and this is on top of my normal job of producing a tv show every day.  Then add this with Brinkley, I just curled up on the sofa and went to sleep b/c everything felt too overwhelming. It's also stressing me out knowing that in a few days my DH is leaving town (he has an interview in Boston for Physician Assistant school in a few days)... so I know that if Brinkley doesn't get better I'm going to have to deal with all of this on my own.

 

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so sorry that you and Brinkley are going through this. I have no advice, but JD and I are sending hugs and hoping you can get to the bottom of this and Brinkley will start to feel much better.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Heather, you're certainly dealing with a lot right now.  I can tell you that last Fall when Murphy had the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and he spiked a very high temp, it took a week before he got his strength back.  He was very lethargic and just "out of it".  It scared me too, but then gradually he came back to normal.  As much as you can, try not to cater to his little "quirks"....I worry that otherwise he'll start to think it's okay.  I'm not saying to force him to do something uncomfortable...just not to modify what you would normally do unless you absolutely have to.  Good luck and we're sending positive thoughts your way.  Get Well Brinkley!

[Ellen, Brûlée, and Tira]

Heather, it's clear that you are carrying some really heavy loads.  It sounds like you're doing everything you can on every front.  Keep loving on Brinkley.  He may be miserable, but your closeness is certainly a comfort to him!  Try to focus on what you can do rather than what you can't...Make time to remember that this will pass, and try to take a minute or two to take care of yourself!  Prayers are flying your way from all of us Doodlers!

[Kyoko]

Heather, so sorry to hear about Brinkley's illness... I cannot imagine how overwhelmed you may feel....I think if you write things down and cross out what has been done, it may reduce your overwhelmingness a little.. May be have three sections, one about Brinkley, one about your regular duty at work, and one about your special event. And once you leave the work, try not to think about it. Elephant may look sooo big for us to eat and the thoughts of eating the whole elephant may overwhelm us. But if you focus on one bite at the time, eventually, the whole elephant will get eaten. ( I know its a strange example...) I hope you and Brinkley will fell better soon....

[cheryl & oliver]

Heather, I am so sorry that Brinkley isn't getting better quickly, maybe witht he new meds he will improve more rapidly...Hugs and great doodle vibes coming your way.  I am so sorry that all this stress is on you right now, but just try to go one day at a time...I know it is easy for me to say, but thats what my therapist told me many years ago...Please keep us informed about you and Brinkley....

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I hope Brinkley starts to mend soon.  Smart girl to pretend you  were still going on vacation. I know that dehydration causes tons of problems - my mom was hospitalized once due to complications dehydration caused.  I hope that as soon as Brinkley's fluids get back on track, so will he. 

We all send our love and support.  Tell DH good luck in his interview.

[Leslie J]

Heather, I'm so sorry that Brinkley is under the weather again.  I don't blame you for having a meltdown!  I hope that a few more days of rest will get Brinkley feeling better.  Cocoa still doesn't like to drink water since she became sick, but she'll chomp ice cubes- maybe Brinkley will?  Cocoa and I are sending hugs and wishes to Brinkley!

[Allen and Pamela Kerstetter]

Meltdowns are the greatest cleanser for our bodies as it physically lets us express outwardly what has been cycloning inside. How is it we feel so helpless. yet we feel so painful for our darlings pain.  Duke went thru a lot last year and we   just ended up at a dog park where they happen to be setting up for a blessing of the animals and to this day I believe it worked.  I can not express the relief I felt.  Maybe someone could give you this level of peace and Brinkley can feel the healing or love given he feels by you.  What a wonderful caring owner you are.

[Heather & Brinkley]

Thanks everyone!  Well, we woke today and he's once again asking for food. He's eating well. Water is still a problem... but I'm getting it in every chance I get. I've been sneaking some into his food bowl. My little guy's personality is starting to shine through.  I'm cautiously optomistic-- I so want him to get better and stay better, but it's still in the back of my mind that we were hear a few days ago with him getting better and then BAM!

He does seem likes he's further along with feeling better this time around-- he even picked up his stick from the pile we have for him (that's how he tells us he wants to play fetch).  We didn't play b/c I don't want to wear him down too soon, but it was good to see him ask to play for the first time in over a week.   **Just maybe** the extra meds, pain shot and fluid injection gave him what he needed to pull through.  I really hoping he's on the up and up for good.  I'll be sure to let everyone know how he's doing.  

Thanks again for al the encouraging words. You guys are awesome!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Glad to hear the improving news.

[Heather & Brinkley]

Thanks!! He's more mobile today while still taking plenty of sleep breaks. :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

So great to hear you see an improvement in Brinkley. Hoping this is the road to complete recovery! Yea!