Hi all,

This Thursday morning, my little dog "Icypole" was admitted to the pet hospital. He was feeling down, moving lethargically and had some involuntary head shaking that sometimes shook him so hard he was being shook off his paws.

After some IV treatment to keep his fluids up and some oral antibiotics, the vet, my partner and I felt that we had got on top of his illness. We were able to collect him from the hospital on Friday afternoon, happy that our little boy was home with us. For a few hours things looked promising, but soon his shaking was much more severe, he accidentally wee-ed on our bed (Icy felt so bad for doing so), and his temperature went up again. He was restless all night and could not get comfortable in any room of the apartment.

Saturday morning he was due for another blood test, so we took him back to the hospital. The vet agreed that he should remain at the hospital for observation, while reverting back to the IV but this time with intravenous antibiotics. Xrays were to be taken in the afternoon as our little boy was also developing a cough. We went home worried that he had gotten worse, and I wished we did not remove him from the hospital so soon..

Halfway through the afternoon, my partner contacted me asking to call him immediately. I got him on the phone and he said that the vet at the hospital wanted to speak to us about Icypole ASAP. As my partner was about to start work, I quickly hopped a bus (train was 25min wait-time) to the hospital. Once I arrived I was immediately taken to the Xray room, quiet and away from the animals and the noise of the hospital.

The vet explained that Icypole has a number of issues with his health. Xrays showed that he has problems with his lungs, possibly fluid or a an viral/bacterial/fungal infection. Basically the x-ray of his chest was cloudy white - not a good sign, but not surprising having heard his breathing. The x-rays also showed the right side of his heart looking swollen, but this could have been due to his slight heart murmur he has always lived with. Another x-ray also showed a possible collapsed disc in his back. The vet explained it however did not really explain his head shaking due to the way a pinched nerve normally reacts. Also Icy's trachea was not sitting correctly, due to either the swelling of the heart, or the swelling of the lymphs. Further, his blood tests showed his white blood cells , critical for fighting illness, were very low, and while his body is still producing them, not enough to be improving his health.

Seeing my eyes swell with tears, the vet handed me the closest thing to a tissue he could find, a medical swab. Immediately once he gave me it, I started to cry streams of tears down my face. My little boy has brought my partner and I so much joy its hard to put it into words. I guess for anyone who has a human child, I guess this is how you feel when they are in hospital. Some people might say a dog is a dog, but seriously, I have kept a number of pets over the years, but none have ever formed such a close connection with me as this little white dog. He truely is my little adopted "boy" from "Doggie Rescue"...

The vet then took me to sit with Icy. He was still a little sedated from the medication that was administered to keep him still for the x-rays. I sat with him, and just let tears down my face as I patted him. I didn't want him to be distressed by me moaning and crying and out. One of the staff came by and gave me some water and tissues, and I sat there on the floor next to Icy's cage until my partner arrived. I asked the vet to speak with my partner about Icy if he had the time, just so he knew everything - I figured I would forget to mention some things while I remained upset.

After what felt like an eternity, my partner arrived, and we were invited to take Icy into a private consultation room to spend time with him. We moved him, with his IV's attached, and spent time patting and chatting to him. The vet took the time to again chat with us. (This man is brilliant! He knows what he's talking about, and has the most beautiful bed manner. I'm so very glad he took on Icy's case for the day.)

With a quick blood test before we left, it was then time for us to move Icy back into the hospital area for the staff to monitor him. With him almost guaranteed to spend the next few days at the hospital, we felt better in the knowledge that he will remain stable until then. Unfortunately it does not look like he will get better alone, so we need to wait for the long weekend (it's a Monday public holiday in Sydney - Labour Day) to finish before we can use the vet's referral to see some specialists.

Through this evening, we had contact with the hospital twice. Around 7pm the vet confirmed that the blood test they conducted at the hospital showed his white blood cell count had gone up to just under the "low" range - which he said is good news. He did say that the standards/techniques that the Lab will do may produce slightly different results, but that at least it was a positive sign. We then spoke to him around 10:45pm to find out the Lab results and for a general update on Icy's condition. Unfortunately the results were not in yet, and Icy's condition had not improved.

Basically that's where we are up to with him this evening. With many tears shed and tissues sacrificed, we will be there at the hospital first thing Sunday morning to visit him in person. We have planned not to stop fighting for his little life. Many people, I know, feel that a dog with illnesses like his should be "put down".. it's the most humane thing to do apparently! I strongly believe however, that if a child was in the dog's place, there would be no such discussion. I will not take away his life due to any inconvenience it may cause me, financial or otherwise.. This little creature means so much to us, and us to him - I will not take his life away.. He has given so much to us, he deserves whatever it takes from us to make him better..

Now, many of you know I'm an atheist. I don't believe that prayer helps a sick person or animal, but since the dog has not declared his faith (at least to me!), I ask that if you're religious, you say a prayer for my little dog Icypole, or if not, that at very least you could send some positive vibes that he gets better.. (that's what Im doing!)

We will take anything that will make him better - I will not turn anything away..

I will keep everyone posted of course..

My love to you for reading this (novel!)...

Shelley
xxx