However... I found out today that he has heartworms... The young vet kindly but sternly told me the course of treatment recommended in addition to the adverse effects if Rusty goes untreated. She also told me how much it's going to cost: a lot. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that his life's not worth it! I plan to use whatever I can to get my precious boy taken care of.
I just feel so... helpless! There's nothing I can do now but give him his medicine (he's on antibiotics from the claw and a powder for intestinal worms) and make sure he gets the treatments (preventative heartworm pills then an overnight stay at the clinic to kill the adult worms in his heart). Now every time I look at Rusty I have this image of nasty worms in his tiny heart... Stopping up arteries and slowly choking him to death.
Obviously, I have to pay for the treatments (2 separate visits-- 1 for a day, the other is the overnight stay). That doesn't bother me-- yeah, there will be constraints and I may not be able to go out and buy some clothes or spend the money eating out, but that doesn't matter! I need him to be healthy and happy. He needs his heart to be healthy so he can do what he enjoys most: running around our 15 acres, chasing tennis balls, and dipping in the pond to cool off. I just hate that when I look at him how worried I get.. But at least I'll be here this summer to be beside him through the process. Right now I feel like an awful parent who could've prevented all this (hearworm pills do just that) but we couldn't afford to take him to the vet, and I honestly didn't know how bad this could be...
So, if you're reading this, please pray for Rusty. And please pray for my family. The treatments and care will be hard for him and us. He's a young, active dog and deserves the best care imaginable. He's my heart and my joy...
Because He watches over even the sparrows.
KT
Because He watches over even the sparrows.
KT
No comments:
Post a Comment