He wasn't the cutest dog in the world.
But he was one of the sweetest
RIP Tater, 2009 - 2011
It's been a sucky year for my sister's family.
Her husband works in construction; he had more "work season" days off, than on, last spring, summer and fall.
Her older dog apparently ingested something that blocked his intestines. Again. The x-rays were inconclusive, the vet gave her some meds, and it did not go well at all. She had to take Brooklyn in to be put to sleep in November. Brooklyn wasn't my favorite dog, or even my favorite Bull Terrier (my sister's first Bully, Ivan was hard to live up to), but I feel bad for him, and worse for my sister's family.
A few weeks ago, her husband's grandma (who lives several states away to the south) was found by neighbors in a poor state; they called her grandkids, and the eldest granddaughter flew there to help take care of her. Grandma was put in the hospital where she was taken off the many and sundry pain medications she took plus kept away from her one true love: cigarettes.
Grandma was put into the psych ward within a day or so for being belligerent, and then into solitary for being 'a danger to herself and others.' The in state granddaughter was not allowed to visit, because grandma was 'trying to escape.' Anyway, they wouldn't let her do/decide anything, because there was no power of attorney.
Somewhere in there, 2 year old (my sister's 2009 Christmas present) Tater stopped eating. He was taken to the vet. Xrays were inconclusive. He was given meds to settle his stomach and get him to eat.
In the meantime, the eldest granddaughter flew home. The hospital allowed grandma - an unsteady 90 year old woman to move around the hospital unaided (presumably, no longer in solitary, not sure about the psych ward).
She fell and broke a hip. Though while the granddaughter was in state she couldn't make any decisions, now they called her and asked her to decide whether they could operate, and make some kind of decisions regarding anesthesia. She had a pin placed in her hip and was moved to ICU.
Back in Illinois, Tater was not changed. He was taken to his 'old' vet - the vet my sister trusts. They did a series of x-rays while barium passed through him. He had no blockages. They tested his blood. He had elevated Liver Enzymes and slightly elevated White Blood Count. They put him on antibiotics; they thought that he might have a food allergy.
He did no better. The next step was to put him on a steroid that would either make him better, or much worse. They started the steroid on Saturday.
He was put to sleep yesterday. While Brooklyn wasn't my cup of tea, Tater's ability to sleep through anything and to devote his entire self to being the best couch potato he could made him a fascinating dog. Besides, that underbite just rocked.
Grandma was removed from ICU. She aspirated while eating, and now has pneumonia. The hospital has moved her to a nursing home. The outlook is bleak.
I do not have any pictures of grandma (that's my brother in law's grandma); but I will share another of Tater.
Tater ("Couch Tater") and his bud, Danny