crumbs from your table

I know that adopting a dog is nothing like having a baby. Or a kid. Not really. But sort of.

If sleepless nights, stomach-churning anxiety, frantic phone calls, and feeling like you never thought something so small could occupy so much of your heart have anything in common with real motherhood, then maybe I am getting ever closer to understanding moms.

Something is wrong with Auggie Doggie, and after a few days of fretting about his new-found pickiness, we bought him some new food and even tried cooking for him. He would eat a little of the canned food, none of the dry, none of his treats, and was not even interested in people food. We talked to the shelter manager to see if we should take him to the vet. Could be serious, could be the heat. His, um, outside activities were normal. He seemed pretty energetic, if a bit snarky and grumbly. But I started to get worried last night, while Yale was in Rock Island for the rest of the week, when he preferred sitting glumly in his bed to playing or going for a walk.

Roomate even brought him some apples to try, and he simply moved one chunk of apple after another into a little pile on the floor, and then walked away.

On our way up the stairs from a longer, cooler evening walk, he started looking strange, and I suddenly knew that he was having a seizure. It was terrifying. I called Animal 911 and they said there was nothing much they could do for him, and I shouldn't transport him if he was having a seizure. So I just held him and watched him and cooed sweet nothings into his ear. He eventually started to act like himself. Except for the part when he refused to sleep in the bed with me. No sirree. He had to wait by the front door, in his bed, for Yale to come home. He didn't believe me that Yale was not coming home for 2 more days. So we both slept fretfully.

And I woke up this morning and started calling vets. Non-emergency vets, that we can use for primary care. Most could not get him in for weeks. Told me to go to an animal ER. Great. They told me to call a non-ER. After 4 calls or so, I finally made him an appointment for tonight. After the intake person made me feel like an evil animal-hater for leaving him home alone all day. I actually LIED and told him that my friend was going to go over there and check on him. THEN I texted Roommate to see if she could walk over...

Of course today is my "long summer Friday". The one Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day that I have to be here until 5. It was too late to switch, and at least 3 people have to be here in the office at all times. SO instead I get to sit here and wring my hands and type rambling blog posts and pray that we can figure this out ASAP.

Ugh. Usually Auggie Doggie begs for any food that I will give him. Now I'm begging him to sit with me on the couch. And to try to get over the fact that Yale is not going to be home with him 24-7. We'll both have to get over that.