Bestest Friend and I are doing a blog project. Every day we will write a blog post on a pre-determined topic chosen by a random noun generator. The theme for the twenty-first day of the month is "Decision."
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Hannah the Dog had an appointment with her neurologist last week. Doesn't she look so sad about it?
Anyway, we were cautiously optimistic going in because Hannah has been so much more active recently. And the vet was also cautiously optimistic when I ran through the list of things that Hannah was doing that were different from six months ago at her last scans. What we were hoping for at this appointment was basically for there to be no new sites of infection. In a dream world, it would show healing from the old sites, but the realistic optimistic take was status quo.
And that's what we got. It looks like there are no new sites of infection.
So now come the hard decisions. Do we keep up all the medications she's currently on? Do we allow her to start interacting/playing with other dogs? Can we get the go ahead to take her to the dog park and let her run as much as she wants to run? Or do we wait until we get scans that actually show healing?
Poor Hannah has been through so much and has stayed sweet and wonderful throughout it all. We want to make the right choices for her so that she can live the best dog life she can. But knowing what the right decisions are is so hard.
Here's to all of you out there making these hard decisions with little humans. I do not envy you your task.
Oh, NGS. Decisions are so hard, and you don't have a crystal ball into the future and so all the impacts of different decisions are impossible to weigh fully. I don't have a dog, but just in life generally (and I do have two kids!), I get this.
ReplyDeleteBut also - you know Hannah. You love Hannah. And I really think what your gut tells you - in consultation with the vet - will work out for Hannah. She has come so far and you've put so much love and energy into her care and making hard decisions. You can do this! I suspect there is no "right/wrong" answer here, but I have no doubt you'll come to the right place. Make the best choice you can with the information you have now and because you're so attuned to Hannah and her needs, I bet you'll be able to pivot if/when necessary? Sending you and Hannah all sorts of love today.
P.S. As always, she is like the most gorgeous, photogenic dog EVER. I have yet to see anything short of beauty in any picture; how does she do it?! She's just so wonderful it always shines through. And those eyes?!
Yes, I suspect that the "there's no right/wrong answers" is true. We're going to have to experiment until we figure it out. I just don't want to cause damage in our experimentations!
DeleteI appreciate you noting Hannah's gorgeousness. She's not everybody's cup of tea, but I think she's lovely and sweet and perfect!
Yes, I love that photo of her- so expressive! Anyway, this is great news- it seems like she's definitely moving towards healing. I agree you have some tough decisions now... and I think in a way it's harder with non-humans, because they can't give you accurate feedback about how they're feeling. Everything you've done so far has been great- so just continue to do your best and have faith that it will work out. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYes! I feel like pets and non-verbal humans have it the worst. Being a veterinarian must be such a hard job.
DeleteIt must be difficult to deal with an unhealthy pet. I hope our cat remains healthy for a long time because I can’t see her coping at all well with medical interventions.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed! Maybe she'll mellow out as she gets older and allow a bit more intervention. We had a very mean cat when I was growing up, but by the time I left for college, all she wanted was to be on people's laps.
DeleteI don't know how my friends with human children do it, either! Making pet decision is hard enough. I'm glad she's hanging in there.
ReplyDeleteIt MUST be a million times worse with infants and other non-verbal humans. I can't even imagine!
DeleteAwww Hannah! So very glad that things are steady! But yes, making the decisions that impact another being's life is SO hard and so fraught with uncertainty. I know whatever you choose, you will make the right choice with the information you have. Hannah is in good, loving hands.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the confidence in my decision making. I shall do my absolute best.
DeleteIt's so hard to know what to do! Making decisions for another being is so hard.
ReplyDeleteIt really is. We don't deserve to be put in charge of these trusting creatures.
DeleteThe hard part about medical decisions for fur babies is that you're working 100% non verbally. They can't tell you where it hurts and you can't explain to them why you're taking them to the funny smelling place or why they have to take the pill. My sweet dog is TERRIFIED of the vet and it breaks my heart to take her there for her checkups.
ReplyDeleteIf we can't have healing we'll take no new infections and the increase in activity.
We have started taking Hannah to the vet for the sole purpose of getting a weight and having the techs pet her. LOL. It just makes it so that every appointment there isn't poking and prodding. Maybe you could try that with your pupper to try to desensitize her a bit?
DeleteAhhhh she is just so cute. I want to hug her. Seriously, I LOVE dogs that look like Hannah.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you. She is adorable and she knows it!
DeleteYou've taken such good care of her all this time. Kudos for that. And yes, medical decisions are always hard - esp. because you don't really know how it will play out in the future. But it looks like you're doing all the right things. Did the vet make any recommendations at all?
ReplyDeleteWell, the recommendations are for her to do what she's able to do. The thing is that we won't know what she's able to do until she does it! Dogs aren't like people who (generally) stop when things hurt. She'll keep going until she ends up in pain. It's so hard to know how hard to let her play because it's clear she wants more than she's currently getting.
DeleteYou so obviously care about her a great deal and I hope her health will improve even more in the coming weeks under your good care. Whatever you decide will be in her best interest and that counts for something I think. It sounds like a hard choice.
ReplyDeleteIt IS a hard choice, but totally worth it, of course. Her health is important to all of us.
DeleteShe doesn't look happy about her appointment at all. Bless her sweet little doggy heart. I know all too well how hard the health decisions are with our pups. I too can't imagine making them for humans. I know you will do what is best for your sweet girl.
ReplyDeletePoor Hannah. Always taken to strange vet offices and not happy about it! It definitely makes me feel better that I'll never have to make these decisions for children.
DeleteIt's hard being an adult, making decisions with incomplete information. I want to look to the other adult in the room to make a decision - and then realize, I'm the adult in the room that needs to make the decision. Gah. I hope you figure out the right path forward for sweet Hannah!
ReplyDeleteRight? Where are the REAL adults?!
DeleteI remember when I became a parent being so overwhelmed by having to make decisions constantly. I tend towards indecisiveness so this was probably the hardest part.
ReplyDeleteHannah has such a sweet sweet face! Thank you for sharing her in this space! I'm sure whatever you decide will be a decision made out of love for her, and that's probably a good place to start.
The vet seems to think she can just be a normal dog, so I guess we'll just start with long walks and hikes and go from there. Fingers crossed!
DeleteI do not envy you having to make decisions for your wonderful, adorable Hannah (and Zelda). It is so hard. But I'm so encouraged by the results of the tests - the vet's take on the situation - and of course knowing that you and Dr. BB will make the right decision for Hannah. Because you love her. :)
ReplyDelete