I Love My Dog

I realize my Jake is an old dog at 11, but I was not prepared for the news from his recent blood work at the vet’s this week. This was the check-up that was supposed to focus on his decreasing vision.

My husband took him in to see a vet in our practice who specializes in veterinary ophthalmology. The good news is he doesn’t have cataracts but instead a condition that many older dog get where they get a build-up of fluid that makes their eyes look somewhat opaque. While he was in, she also drew blood for some routine tests. But overall she said he looked good and was exactly the right weight.

So I was somewhat shocked yesterday when she called to give us the results of the blood test, which showed an abnormal liver enzyme count. There are several possible reasons for the liver enzyme to be elevated, but the one to be most concerned about would be a malignant tumor in his liver. He’s scheduled for a scan tomorrow to find out.

But meanwhile, he’s enjoying the company of “his boy” who has finally returned from Europe for good. He’s wolfing down his homemade food twice a day. He’s fetching his Kong every time he can find a sucker to throw it. If he’s so sick, he doesn’t yet seem to know it.

I have to hope this problem is not the worst case scenario, but rather one that can be corrected or controlled by some means.

Jake is by far the best dog I have ever had. I’m not ready to lose him!