Lulu's Heart

"It was as if the Governor called a minute before execution" was how our vet put it. I likened it to doing an ultrasound before an abortion and then changing your mind upon seeing that little heartbeat. Whatever we compare it too, our 9 year old pug Lulu is living on borrowed time and she knows it.

Lulu was having heart failure and we were told that the lasix was not clearing her lungs. Basically she was drowning. Neither Janet nor I had ever had to put a dog "to sleep" so we were both emotional wrecks. The vet was supposed to come in after a 5 min or so good-bye, but when 15mins, then 20 then 45 minutes passed, we noticed that Lulu was breathing okay. She wasn't panting or anything and was just looking deeply into our eyes (guilt!).

The vet comes in with the syringe. We ask her if this is the right thing to do cause Lulu looks better. She does, the vet agrees. She'll support us in whatever our decision, but the medicine may finally be working! We decide to give Lulu one more night, no oxygen and a DNR order should she start to go downhill again.

Next morning and Lulu is doing really well. Morning after that she can actually go home!!! Vet bill? No comment.

They suggest a visit with an animal cardiologist. She is in her thirties. Therefore younger than I, now that i am in my forties as of two months ago. This always seems wierd to me. But on this day I just want to get out of there as i am also a victim of the widespread Salmonella poisoning having had fish tacos with Jalepeno cream the day before. You get the picture. I basically want Lulu to get fixed and get out of there.

But Lulu's heart is broken. Mitral valve stenosis. Congentital. The cardiologist was quite surprised she has made it this far without any problems. There is a risky surgery we could do at UC Davis or heart meds which will give her 6-12 months of quality life. Lasix, Enalapril, and Atenolol every day for the rest of her life until they don't work anymore.