One More Month

Howie had his vet visit last Friday. For the most part, the vet thinks he’s perfectly adoptable, as long as we disclose his health conditions- most of which are to be expected in a dog of his age. He has some stiffness in his knees and elbows. He has some cataracts starting. He’s deaf. And he has a heart murmur.

However, when we did blood and urine tests we found out his thyroid was low (test came back, he does not have thyroid disease) and the pH in his urine had changed, from just a month ago. That concerned the vet a little bit. She thinks he might have developed a bladder stone.

So, we’re on a special diet for a month. It is not quite the usual bladder stone diet, as that usually includes an increase in sodium, to make the dog drink more. However, just like with people, increasing the salt intake of a dog with a heart condition is not the best plan. So he’s on a very specific low sodium urinary tract prescription diet. And in a month, we will go back to the vet.

Now, the vet thinks he’s a very sweet and happy dog and doesn’t see any reason he couldn’t be adopted out. So, one more month it is. I won’t complain. He’s a sweet little boy.