Medical Emergency

For 2 days Power was having a bit of difficulty in passing his urine, and I had noticed a little bit of this for a while, but very intermittent.  I had thought that maybe this very thin urine stream was normal when it was occasional, and then the next pee time he would be back to normal.  But yesterday he was doing this and was not actually getting much urine out.  So off to the vet we went, and the vet said that he thought that Power had bladder stones, but that he would need to go to another vet whose x-ray machine was not broken.  Doc said that if the x-ray showed stones, then it would mean surgery, and then a very special food for the rest of his life. 

Who, ME?

So off to the next town we went and when we got there, they told me that they were not seeing patients that day.  I explained that it was an emergency, and that changed their story.  The vet was expecting to be leaving on farm calls, but he changed his plans, and saw Power.  The first thing he did was feel his belly, palpate his prostate, and insert a small probe up through the urethra to check for an obstruction.  All of this was "normal" so an x-ray was next.  The assistant carried Power to the x-ray room, and came back telling me that no stones showed! That was a relief!  The vet said that it might possibly be a bladder infection, so he gave me three prescriptions, one for a steroid, and 2 antibiotics.  Also, I am to come back in 10 days, and to bring a fresh urine specimen.  So, of course, I was thrilled to think that we were on the home stretch with this, and home we went.  

I'm not sick, I'm just training Mom to stay outside with me all the time!

He is still having trouble urinating, and each time we go outside, he needs to pee a small amount, move a few yards, pee another small amount, and repeat about 5-6 times. During the night, I went out with him a few times, and it was beautiful with the stars, cold with the night air, and scary with the coyotes near by.  One time when we went back inside, I was straightening up the sleeping bag on the sofa, and I found it to be wet, and the sofa also.  I can only assume that he pee'd during his sleep.  He's not eating well, either, but at least he hasn't forgot how to sleep!

Sleeping Power