Baby Joshua

[JayM]

Joshua is our Doberman Pinscher that we raised from a puppy. He recently turned 11 years old. He's usually had a smiling, happy demeanor and other than being mischievous is always very obedient so his nickname is Sunny Jim. About half of his "tricks" weren't things that he was actually taught, they were just things that I told him to do and he figured them out then did them. The "usually" above is because sometimes when he wasn't allowed to have something he wanted or to do something he wanted to do he would lie on the floor and sulk, so another of his nicknames is the Sultan of Sulk.

After having had a chronic cough for two weeks and being misdiagnosed with a bacterial infection and not responding very much to treatment, yesterday his appetite suddenly decreased. I managed to get him to a proper animal hospital this morning where he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a lot of fluid in his lungs, which was confirmed by a chest x-ray. I had to leave him there in their ICU. The head vet (and chief surgeon and owner) was the one who examined him and sent a blood sample to a lab. If the results are good Josh will start on an "aggressive" intravenous diuretic therapy to get rid of the chest fluids, then I'll suppose he'll be on other heart medications to strengthen his heart's muscles and prevent a recurrence.

Here's a picture of him trying to sit on my lap, taken a few years ago (all of my recent pictures are of him sleeping because otherwise he'd move and they'd be blurry.)

Asking for prayers, good thoughts and well-wishes for my smiling little boy.

[dolphin_oracle]

hang in there buddy

[Jerry3904]

Hope that works out OK, Jay. Not easy on the human emotional system...

[JayM]

Thanks, Dolphin. I'm doing my best. Allso salamat, Jerry.

[Eadwine Rose]

Oof.. yeah I hear ya on the worry. Hoping for a good result and then swift feeling better. And for both

[thinkpadx]

went through 24/7 care for 5 1/2 months with my last dog due to firbocartilagenous emboli. killed me to see him with the stroke like symptoms. had to put him down due to all 4 legs useless - so I feel for you- Good luck. (I ihave had dogs for 70 years. and was an ex K-9 trainer and behaviorist)

p.s. it was so bad i had to carry him....

[richb]

Hoping for a good result.

[linexer2016]

Hope that works out OK, Jay. Not easy on the human emotional system...

Ditto from me Jay and as Jerry said it certainly is not easy ....

[asqwerth]

Fingers crossed. Always tough when a beloved pet is sick.

[Leo]

Awww, poor puppy! Sending positive vibes, willing him better. Hang in there, guy...