Thursday, May 31, 2012

UPDATE on my RUBY

I have an update on my little Ruby.
Yesterday she had an EKG which looked OK.
They listened to her heart again and the tech had some concerns when listening to the left side of her heart.
They did another X-ray.
This time you could see that her heart curved out more on the left side.
The vet "squared" off the X-ray?
I don't completely understand that but it's a way to see if her heart is too large from too much fluid? I guess.
Evidently it wasn't fluid but a weak heart muscle on her left side.
She is now on 2 different medications.

They said that it was good that I was home when it happened and that if she hadn't gotten some oxygen...well, she might not have made it.
(I will never feel guilty about hitting the snooze button again.)
They also think that the heat from last weekend could have stressed her.
It had been in the high 90's.
They asked if I had air and I told them I have window air-conditioners but hadn't put them in yet. I said that I knew that it had gotten as warm as 86 degrees inside at one point but I had the ceiling fans going plus 2 other fans. Also most the time everyone was outside on the patio in the shade of the Weeping Willow. (Truth be told, I had kept a very watchful eye on Blue because he's so big but everyone else seemed fine, mostly snoozing on the coolness of the bare floors.)
They said that it was lucky that this was discovered NOW and if it had gone undetected, she might have only had a few more months.
At this point, I got very upset but they calmed me and reminded that it HAD been found.
So, one of the medicines is supposed to strength her heart muscle and stop further damage.
There's nothing that will make it all better.
I'm supposed to not let her stress too much and remember that she can't tolerate any hot days.
I was told to remember that she's like an 80 yr old woman who can't take the heat.
and then they said to remember, that even though she can be kept out of the heat...
She's still an 80 yr old.
I went back through my photos and most of them always had Ruby as part of the "herd".
I took some yesterday of JUST her and when I loaded them up in the computer, I found myself very surprised at how white around the face she's gotten.
Time flie by so quickly.

6 comments:

An Urban Cottage said...

I just got caught up on your last two posts. I'm sorry I missed your first one the other day. I had something similar happen to one of my cats just after his brother passed away. It's terrifying.

Good luck to your cute little gem of a Ruby. You just have to cherish every day you have with them.

Nita Stacy said...

She is sooo cute! I am so glad you figured out what is going on with her. You'll just have to baby her. It's good you know what is going on and can keep her safe. So sad that they old so quick. My Violet is now 77. She has had the snuffles and her nose was all chapped. The vet said..."well she is older and sometimes their noses get like that. Well...not my Dog! My dogs don't get noses like that...so I put vaseline on it for two weeks and now she is all beautiful again. The snuffles are way better too...but I bet she is going to have to keep on the antibiotics for another month.

I'm so glad you were there when Ruby got ill and could get her treatment right away. She is adorable. I can see how she would be your heart.

Vickie H. said...

Don't think I have ever visited your blog before but when I saw Ruby's picture on Nita's blog roll I had to come over and see what your update was about. I will keep little Ruby in my prayers. My husband and I are dog rescuers here in Dallas. My heart goes out to you as I think of the terror washing over you as you saw Ruby fall over the other morning. May God bless and keep you both.

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

Hang in there dear Ruby...you need to remain cool and calm. You are so loved!

Anonymous said...

Good thing You still was at home and good thing they caught it in time! I'm glad we seldom reach 80's up here in the north even if we actually did that some weeks ago, very unnatural in May, it's even rare in late June when it is as warmest here.

Have a great day!
Christer.

Robin Kent said...

Such a cute old lucky dog! Glad to see her cared for in her retirement. She looks happy and loved.