Doggie Woes

So in the last few months we've had quite a few unexpected trips to the vet.  

First, in mid-September, we took JD in for a routine check-up and to see if she could possibly start some medications for dementia.  She's been doing a lot of pacing and acting weird.  We're pretty sure she has doggie alzheimers (Canine Cognitive Dysfunction).  Her labs came back normal, but before we could get her started on medicine....

We came home and found a huge wet spot on our kitchen rug.  We soaked it up and found lots of blood in the urine.  Seeing as we have four dogs, we weren't sure who it was, but (not to be vulgar) only Ben could make a puddle that big.  So we took him in.  One thing led to another and they were concerned about the health of his kidneys.  So they did an ultrasound and found a mass on his adrenal glands.  Without surgery, there's not much we can do except monitor him.  It could be benign, probably is in fact.  He is 14. So Ben was started on antibiotics for his urinary tract infection. This was toward the end of September.

Then last Friday (October 15), Michelle came home and found out Kiso had gotten into our closet and eaten 12 heartworm prevention pills.  Before we heard back from our vet, she started having seizures.  So Michelle rushed her to the emergency vet down the road.  They started her on an IV and medications that would help her body rid itself of the toxins.  It was so scary driving her there.  She could barely stand in the back seat and she was very scared.  She stayed the night and by morning was cleared to come home.  They said her body did a very good job of neutralizing the toxins and excreting them. She was very glad to come home. 

This is Kiso passed out by the front door after getting home from the emergency vet. 
She didn't move for hours.

Now, we've discovered that Ben has developed an ear infection.  Michelle thinks it's a secondary infection from being on the antibiotics, so we're trying to treat it with medicines we have at home.  He's had many ear infections (he's a golden retriever), so we've got the stuff onhand to treat it.  However, if it continues to get worse, we'll have to take him in. 

We had saved up money to go to Michigan for Michelle's uncle's wedding, but needless to say, these trips and procedures have wiped out our savings and we will be staying in Texas.  Not that we'd do anything differently, but Michelle is very sad she won't be able to go home.  She hasn't been home in years.