Puppy Prayers

These past few days have been rough for me. Last week my puppy started vomiting, got better, then a few days later she got much, much worse. Last Saturday she started getting sick again and stopped eating or drinking. At four months old, this poor little thing became super skinny and could barely walk.

Yesterday my parents took her into the vet for me and relayed some pretty bad news. Her stomach is full of foreign objects. The little shit eats everything! Last week she was throwing up pieces of my bra strap...yeah I wasn't happy when I came home to find that she'd wiggled her way into my closet. I've caught her chewing up my bathroom cupboards, brackets that hold my cable to the wall, the fake grass I've been potty training her with - even the bottom of my bed isn't safe around her.
The problem lies with me, though. I thought it was cruel to crate her all day while at work. Instead we "puppy proofed" my bedroom, bathroom vanity area, and patio. I was wrong. Unfortunately there is no puppy proofing with a sneaky pup. I now know crate training is for their safety. Luckily I live 10 minutes from work so I'll just have to visit her every day during lunch.

The vet's x-rays reveled that she's in real bad shape and needs emergency surgery. They kept her yesterday because she needed to be hooked up to an IV to get her strength back. Her heart was too weak for an operation. Right about now they're cutting her open and the doctor will meticulously feel every inch of her intestines. Each spot where he feels something lodged, he'll have to cut the intestine open, remove the item, then sew her back up. It's going to be a pretty intense surgery.

Due to the type of procedure, it's not a cheap one. Thank God she's my pup because my dad told me that had it been his dog, he would have seriously considered putting her to sleep. I look at it as she's my child. It may be costing me my entire savings (and then some) but in these past two months I've become so attached. Plus I am a huge dog lover and could never forgive myself if I had to put her down :(

I'm really hoping that she pulls through the surgery. The vet was amazing and said that he'd even bring in another vet to operate (at no extra charge) just to be extra sure they do the very best they can. He feels she'll do great because she's young enough to bounce back. I'm praying he's right.

I can't wait to see the little stinker soon. We have no idea when she can come home at this point and when she's discharged she'll have to stay at my parents' so she can be closely watched for at least two weeks.

It may sound cheesy to those who aren't animal lovers, or dog people, but please send thoughts her way. You all know I never ask for prayers but this is one of those times I could really use them.