In the morning he was chasing squirrels and jumping in and out of the car. He didn’t eat any supper that day – which was very unusual for him… No food the next day either – so I booked him in at the vet the following morning “just in case” as we were going into the long weekend.
“Oh my God!” she lifted up his gum and it was paper-white. “Either he has internal bleeding, a tumor that is blocking his blood flow or an autoimmune disorder. We need to do x-rays and blood tests now.”
I nodded, in shock. Cyrus has been one of those surprising gifts. He was a rescue dog whom came into our home about 7 years ago. The first year he was so nervous that he walked around panting all the time. He hated being held so much that he would go stiff as a board with all four limbs sticking out in front of him. He took a year to stop panting and tolerate a cuddle. And 3 years until he started to snuggle back. He has a sweet, curious nature and wouldn’t hurt a fly. He honestly couldn’t hurt a fly because he has an under-bite. He is a mutt, therefore has been healthy all of his life. This announcement from his vet was a complete shock.
Then: “His red blood cell count is 14%. At 12% blood transfusion is necessary.”
They took x-rays and blood samples. No bleeding = whew! No tumor = whew! Now what? Start him on steroids and see what happens overnight.
Early the next day: “His RBC’s are now at 7% – he has to go to a specialist hospital and get a transfusion.”
My husband says: “No, he has had a good life. It’s OK to let him go.”
His vet says: “If I can find him blood, can you drive out and get it?”
I say: “Yes.”
My son and I do a rally drive from Vancouver to Langley. Langley Emergency Animal Clinic has a blood donor program and had a pint of universal blood ready and waiting for us. He wanted to drive as a 16 year old building hours it could’ve been a good option. But the vet said: “ drive carefully but every hour counts.” I drive. It takes us less time than google maps claims. The clinic is amazing – they have the blood ready and the paperwork can wait. We run out. On the drive back to the city, I marvel that this is even possible. Who knew that dogs gave blood? That there were universal donors? That the emergency Pet Hospital in Langley has a pet blood donor program which was why they were able to supply the blood? I had been clueless. I was still clueless about whether I was driving the blood back to a dead dog – or not.
We pulled in, jumped out of the car and ran to the clinic. We’d called about 20 minutes out to give them an ETA. The vet said “Thank you. We have everything ready to go.” Took the blood and we left.
I didn’t hear anything all day. That evening I returned to the clinic, alone. My boys were going with their mother for the weekend. My husband wasn’t home from work. I didn’t know if I was picking up a live or a dead Cyrus.
I walked determinedly to the door. The vet was talking to another pet owner and saw me enter. With a huge smile, she opened her arms and said: “He’s taken a good turn.” Tears welled up in my eyes and poured down my face. I sank into the nearest chair. The other pet owner started towards me. “I’m good, these are happy tears!” The vet said he’d been touch and go all day so every time she thought she could call me, he would do something that was an indication he wasn’t OK. Now, he was OK. She gave me a list of signs and symptoms to watch for and food that I could syringe into him if he didn’t eat. Yes! He had eaten that afternoon.
I did force- feed him for a day and a half. He needed food to go with his medication.
We changed our plans and stayed at home so he could rest and rebuild his RBC’s. I went out and had a exciting ‘hello’ with our Prime Minister. My husband stayed at home with the dogs. The biggest thrill of the day was that Cyrus ate by himself.
Every day he has been slowly improving. He is eating by himself again. He is walking off leash. He is jumping in and out of the car. He has progressed from looking at squirrels to chasing one this morning.
Cyrus could be out of the woods in another week or so. I am so grateful that someone donated their dog’s blood. Without the service in Langley, Cyrus would have died… a little too soon. Hopefully within another 3 months he will be weaned off the steroids and he will never have a relapse. If he does, then we will at least know what to watch for…. If he doesn’t make it then we’ve had time to enjoy him and say goodbye.
Please, if you have a healthy pet, consider donating blood. Their blood could save someone like Cyrus.
Thanks for reading and please pass it forward – or at least let people know about the blood donor program for pets.
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