Cautiously Optimistic

Last night we settled Tess on her bed in the garage, held the bowl for her to have a drink and left her lying on her side, sleeping.

I had some trouble sleeping but waited till morning to check on her. I was afraid of what I might find.

What I found was Tess lying in the same spot but with her head up looking around. I gave her some water and offered the special food Dr B had sent home with us. She drank but refused to eat. When I put some food in her mouth, she spit it out.

She had wet herself so I changed her bedding, cleaned her with some foaming waterless shampoo and changed her position. It's important that we switch her from one side to the other regularly so she doesn't get sores.

We have checked on her frequently during the day, but except for drinking some water, she wants to sleep. I was starting to think she may not come out of this.

At feeding time the other dogs raced downstairs to the garage. When I opened the door, I found a puddle of pee and Tess was on her bed but facing the opposite direction from where we'd left her. Somehow she managed to pee on the floor, not her bed and get back onto the bed all by herself.

I offered her some of the special food but she refused it. So I filled the bowls for the others and set them down. The girls started eating and Tess shot me a look. I put some kibble and tuna in her regular bowl, set it in front of her and she ate almost all of it. Then she had a drink and Rob offered her a cookie. She took it and seemed to really enjoy it, so she got a second.

Now she's sleeping. She ate well, with her sisters, moved herself around somehow and is responding when we talk to her. Her vet says to just give her time, that it could be a week before she's able to walk, so I'm feeling better than I did last night.

That POTP is truly amazing.