I took this photo of Widget as we were leaving Vermont Veterinary Internal Medicine on Monday afternoon. That's the "nest" that Alayne fixes up for her in the front seat of the truck. As if the seat isn't big enough already, Alayne puts a box on the floor, adds a few beds to raise it to seat level, covers the now lengthy expanse with a big dog bed, and then tops it with a fleece blanket ... for one very big bed. It's how Widget expects to travel. In spacious, comfortable style.
Our internal medicine specialist, Dr. Bryan Harnett, was waiting on Widget's other lab test results to come in before deciding on what to do for heart medications. During his echocardiogram of Widget's heart on Monday, he noticed enough changes in the valves that he thought it was probably time to start her on some meds. Dr. Harnett wasn't alarmed by what he saw, because the changes were the type you might expect in an older dog, but he thought it was time to put Widget on medication to help her overall heart function. We think she's about 10 or 11 years old.
The results came in on Tuesday, and both her blood work and urinanalysis were terrific -- presenting no obstacles to the heart medication he wanted to begin prescribing, which is Enalapril. (That's a drug we have seen a lot of over the years!)
Blind Avery, by the way, is doing great, too. He's now completed his heartworm treatment. In a couple of more months, he'll get a different kind of "treatment" -- neutering! The delay is to allow all the dead heartworms to exit his body before putting him through anesthesia again.
Just before writing this post, I was downstairs having lunch ... where Widget was, as usual, relentless in pestering me for some of my meal. She was, as usual, successful. Widget says, "There's no need to teach an old dog new tricks when the old tricks work so well!"
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Widget, we're not getting older, we're getting better! We just have to take our meds for what ails us and move right along...and with your spirit, there will be a lot of moving lol!
Love the queen treatment for the ride home. It's a tough life :)
Posted by: Ann | June 17, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Love the update on the Queen Bee. She is such a divine Diva.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Regis Dalton | June 17, 2011 at 10:08 PM
Since you use enalapril a lot, you probably already know this, but it is on the $5 list at Sam's club. I loved Sam's when my old dog needed medicine.
Posted by: teri | June 17, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Well, we know who the boss is in THAT household! Her imperious stare says it all, really.
I think most of us dog owners have stories like that. I suspect that the word "master" when translated to dog language means "servant". :)
Posted by: Kelly | June 17, 2011 at 10:36 AM
You can hear the love you & Alayne have for your "kids" in every blog you post. You may feel you are pampering them but in reality you are showing them how special each one truly is and thanking them for all of their love they give you each day.
Posted by: Kathy Hertzel | June 17, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Hi Widget,
So glad to see you travelling in style. You look quite comfortable and happy to be going home.
Congratulations on the good test results too!
Wishing everyone at the Farm a lovely and peaceful weekend.
Posted by: Chloe | June 17, 2011 at 09:01 AM
Love it..."there is no sense in teaching an old dog new tricks when the old ones work so well." I will save this one for my book of quotes. What a comfy bed for a sweet girl.
Posted by: Dee in KY | June 17, 2011 at 07:48 AM
Princess Widgie! All she's missing is her crown. Don't worry, Widget, aging happens to the best of us, and you are definitely doing it gracefully! Of course, it helps when you have excellent Staff in your Kingdom, as you do. ;-)
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | June 17, 2011 at 04:32 AM
Thank you, Steve, for the update on Avery's heartworm treatment.
Our Daphne (who is now 15) has a pronounced heart murmur, but our vet doesn't think she need any meds yet, as there is no coughing, or laboured breathing.
Needless to say, Daphne quite agrees with Widget: who needs new tricks when the old ones work so well?;-)
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | June 17, 2011 at 04:12 AM
Remembering your description of Widget from your Website, "Widget is like having a blind Napoleon locked inside a Dachshund body wearing a Beagle uniform." Napoleon never traveled as comfortably as the Widge does!
Posted by: Moon Rani | June 16, 2011 at 11:22 PM
As someone on my share of old people medicine I feel a special kinship with Widget. She deserves to travel in comfort since she's the one who keeps RDF running smoothly. It's a tough job for one lone beagle. All she asks, like any beagle, is a constant supply of snacks to keep her going.
Posted by: Bob | June 16, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Of course Widget expects to go FIRST class! I know how you feel Widget about getting older but you are doing GREAT!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | June 16, 2011 at 08:04 PM
What a spoiled potato that Widget is! Us older folks have to take our medicine, so Widget has lots of good, seasoned company. Medicine is good for the heart, and so is a contented Widget!
Posted by: Linda | June 16, 2011 at 06:22 PM