More photos and an update

Gromit is doing great. Simply great. He's eating, pooping, playing just like a normal healthy puppy should. He's starting to get brave in the house and exploring, so now comes the fun part of having a puppy. :-)

Here is the link for the pictures again: Gromit's Picture Page

Hopefully the last daily update

Unless Gromit takes another plunge I'm going to stop doing daily updates. He's doing really good and I can see improvements in him every few hours. We learned a valuable lesson yesterday - don't overdo it. I was worried about bringing him to work and I was right to worry. The visit to the vet, my dads and then work was just too much. When we got home he wouldn't eat or go potty. He slept for several hours and then finally ate and made a big job (and I mean a Big job). Since then he has continued eating and pooping. His poop this morning was very solid!! We celebrated with kisses. I'm at work today and am going home at lunch to check on him. So long story short - if he continues this improvement I'm going to reduce the frequency of the posts, so don't worry if you don't see daily posts over the weekend.

Thank you to all of you who had Gromit in your thoughts and prayers. My dad told me last night that Rhonda said she actually thought he was a goner. I'm so glad I didn't know that at the time. Gromit sends puppy breath and kisses to all of you!

Some pics of Molly and Gromit

We went by my dad's today and Gromit got to see his sister and got to see just how much bigger she is than him. She weighs about 1/2 a pound more and is at least an inch longer (maybe two). Anyway - my dad posted some pics on his website, so for all of you starved for more pictures, here you go... Molly and Gromit (Note that Gromit is smaller and lighter in color. The first few photos are Molly)

He's doing really good!

He has eaten very well last night and this morning. He would probably eat a lot more, but I don't want him to eat too much too fast, so I'm giving him small portions at a regular interval. He currently weighs 1lb 12oz, up a little from the last time I weighed him, but I'm sure he lost more weight after I left him at the shelter, so I think that's great. He's walking around a little, but you can tell he just doesn't have a lot of energy - he'll get there! He loves giving me kisses on my face and gently biting my nose. It really is about the cutest thing I've ever seen. You can definitely tell he feels better. So I think it's just a matter of time before he's playing and acting like a crazy puppy. We'll be going to the vet this afternoon for a check-in and see what our long term plan will be. I took a ton of pictures last night and I'll try to post them in a little while.

He's Home!

My dad called about 1pm and said he was at the shelter visiting Gromit and that he could come home! Aaron picked him up a little bit ago and said he is playing and eating! I can't wait to get home and play with him. I probably won't post again tonight as I'll be snuggling with him all evening. :-) I just know he's going to like watching Lost with me.

He wagged his tail!

I just got back from visiting Gromit and you should see the grin on my face! He was so happy to see me and wagged his tail! He also kissed my face and we hugged for a while. I got to take him outside so he could sit in the sun for a bit. He didn't want to play - he just wanted me to hold him, so I did. I took him back inside and Rhonda gave him a different kind of food and he ate some of it - we were both so excited! She said if he keeps eating he can come home tomorrow!Oh I miss him soooo much! He is so sweet. Happy day!

Tuesday Update

I haven't heard anything new from Gromit, but Molly went to the vet yesterday and tested positive for hookworms, so at least we know what we're dealing with. The vet also said the dog doesn't have parvo - she would be pooping blood and they're not. Soo.... that's good news. The bad news is that hookworms are really bad and can kill a puppy too. Dad called this morning and said Molly threw up all night. I'll update again when I hear more about Molly or Gromit. I'm going to try to go visit him later today.

No change

Just got a call from Rhonda. He is doing the same: drinking a little on his own - eating even less. Still on fluids, Gatorade and antibiodics. She says he can't come home til he starts eating. No vomit or diarrhea which is great if you ask me. She's going to keep taking care of him and call again tomorrow.



Did you know that the real Gromit knits? What a great dog!

Easter Sunday

Well, the bad news is that we think Molly has whatever this is too. But the good news is she doesn't seem to be that bad. In fact today she was playing and having herself a good ole time. She got her medicine, so hopefully she'll get over it before it gets too bad.

I did get to see Gromit today when I took Molly in for her medicine. He looked ok - just really sad. Rhonda said he is still really tired and not eating a lot. He is eating a little on his own and drinking some water, but still has runny poo. Rhonda said he might get to come home tomorrow, but I'm guessing it will be Tuesday before he can. I miss him lots and it was good to see him today!

Oh - if you are reading this and can spare a donation - I would really appreciate it and I know the shelter would too. I'm very impressed with the care they have given these pups. Here is the link for what they need, but I'm sure they love green donations too.
Oak Ridge Animal Shelter Donations

Saturday update

Gromit is still at the shelter. Rhonda called this morning to say he was doing ok. She gave him more fluids and more medicine. He is walking around pottying, but no vomit. She said he is showing exactly the same symptoms as his brother who went home after two days of treatment, so hopefully by tomorrow or Monday I can go get him. Cross your fingers for me!

Oh - she is going to call again tomorrow with an update - I'll post again then.

Another bad day

It's 11pm and I just got home from dropping Gromit off at the shelter. I want to first say that Rhonda the lady at the shelter is a saint and should be awarded a medal for her good will towards this puppy. She is definitely my hero.

Gromit hasn't eaten all day and only drank on his own a couple of times. He started vomiting again and continued to have diarrhea. His weight yesterday morning was 2lbs 1oz. This eveing it was 1lb 10oz. To loose 20% of your body weight in 36 hours is a pretty bad sign. So, I talked to my girl Sue and she helped convince me that I should call Rhonda. So - I took him down and he got a good dose of fluids, more antibiodics and some albon (not sure of the spelling on that one). He looked like he wanted to drink on his own, but didn't. So - I left him there. She is going to call in the morning with an update. I'm thankful he's there because if he were here I would be worrying constantly if I was doing everything I could. Plus, if he should die I won't have to see him first. At this point I'm trying to stay positive, but it's hard. I can't imagine being that sick and getting better. Rhonda says "he'll be just fine". I really hope she's right.

Oh - and the darndest thing - it's snowing tonight. I'm certain that if he pulls through that the snow was a sign that he really is the little miracle dog. I miss him already.

Friday's Gromit update

Yesterday was a bad day. He didn't eat all day long. I am forcing pedialyte down him and he's drinking a little water, but not much. He's not pooping at all (which - I don't know if that's good or bad), but I'm guessing it's because he's not eating. He went back to the shelter and the nice lady gave him some more medicine and a dose of IV fluids. We got to see one of his brothers and he was doing really really bad. Sooo skinny and barely walking. You could tell he was in a lot of pain. At least Gromit as doing better than that. I really hope they all pull through. Molly is doing just fine. Dad says that she's rotten - keeps biting him on the foot so he has to wear shoes. I can't wait til Gromit is feeling better and agrivating me too. I am trying so hard to keep hopeful that he will get better. If you are reading this - I ask that you do the same and send happy thoughts his way.

I've been asked to post more pictures. So - I started a Picassa album. It's a little easier to manage. Anyway - you can see the pictures here: Gromit's Pictures

Gromit update

I heard him bark for the first time this morning. Actually - he woke me up. I was just fine w/ it!! He's eating well - a mixture of rice, chicken and chicken broth. He loves it. Poo is getting more solid and no more vomit since yesterday's feeding frenzy. His current weight is 2lbs 1oz - so he's already gained 3oz - that's great for a dog that little. He's been wagging his tail and playing a little. He tires easily and sleeps a lot - but he is getting more active by the hour.

Gromit

It all began on Monday when my dad brought a puppy by for me to see it and give my approval. The puppies final destination would be my grandmothers house to help mend her broken heart from Buddy who died a few weeks ago. I grabbed the puppy and wouldn't let go. I showed everyone at Nucsafe and everyone seemed to fall in love with her just as I did. I almost cried when dad came back to pick her up. He said she had two brothers left at the shelter. After work I called Aaron and asked him to join me in a visit. We got there and there was only one brother left. He looked just like Molly (which she had since been named). They are identical twins. I fell in love all over again and Aaron said no. He didn't say "No, you can't have the dog", but rather "I don't think we should get a new dog, especially a little dog". I couldn't convince him that this puppy would be a wonderful addition. I tried all night, he eased up. In the morning, he still said no. Then, in a last ditch effort he said "I don't think it's a good idea, but I'll support whatever you decide". I went over and bought the puppy.



I took him back to work (and everyone thought it was Molly), but no, I explained this is my puppy. He slept. He threw up. He slept. I thought he was fine - just a little worn down from all the action - I mean puppies sleep a lot. I decided we had better go visit our vet for our well check. They told me he had parvo and it would cost $1,000 to "try" to make him better (a 50% chance he would die anyway). I cried. I couldn't call Aaron because he was at work. I cried. I called my dad and he said what I had been thinking that we couldn't pay that much money to try and make a puppy better when we barely knew it. My heart broke into a million peices and I cried some more. I called the pet store where I got him and they told me to calm down and they would call the shelter, but they didn't think it was that serious. I felt better, I felt hopeful. I took him home and quarentined myself and him. I force fed him water and a little food. He slept and I cried. My friend Patricia came over and we cried together. He got worse. We cried more. He was loosing energy and strength and we could both see it. I knew he wouldn't live through the night. Aaron came home and I was finally able to tell him that I had bought the puppy and now he was going to die. I cried. We fed him more and then went up and scrubbed our skin off with antibacterial soap and went to bed. I couldn't sleep. I checked on him at 3am and he was walking around pooping everywhere (but no vomit). I felt hopeful. I went back to bed. In the morning it was more of the same - walking around pooping, but very very lathergic. He wouldn't drink or eat on his own - so I force fed him some more. The shelter called and said to bring him in that they would pay for the parvo treatment. I rushed him down there. They took one look at him and said he probably doesn't have parvo - he's not dehydrated. They thought he looked fine - just tired. They gave him a dose of medicine and sent more home with me along with some instructions. When we got home - I did as instructed and tried a little dry food with some chicken stock over it - he ate like the wind. He drank like the wind and he went back to sleep. I went back an hour later and gave him some chicken liver and some more broth. I thought he was going to eat the spoon. Since then he has pooped and peed. Still runny poo, but at least it's going through. He's been sleeping a lot, but at least he's eating.



Ok, now that you've heard our saga, I'll introduce you to Gromit (namesake of Gromit the dog from the Wallace & Gromit cartoons - check it out if you're not familiar).

This is the dog that I have fallen in love with and has broken my heart in less than 24 hours.



Oh - he weighs 1lb 14oz (well, that was before the feeding frenzy today)