Tuesday, June 27, 2023

This post may not appeal to all of you and that’s ok! Yesterday, I mentioned a vet visit for Ernie on Friday and I thought I would go into more detail.

Baby Ernie

So, I thought I would do a little Ernie update. Ernie is our 10 year old chocolate lab if you are new around here. At the end of January, we received some devastating news. He was acting lethargic and not eating. The vet reported that he had an internal bleed and he most likely had cancer on the spleen which is common to big dogs? We could opt for surgery, but at his age and due to the pain it would put him through, it wasn’t recommended by our vet and we love our vet. He told us we could try this Chinese herb that helps clot the blood and possibly stave off an internal bleed or help it a bit. You sprinkle a bit on their food (if you can get them to eat). So, I drove to the Chinese herb store (conveniently right by the vet), ordered Ernie a McDonald’s hamburger, cried all the way home, then sprinkled the herb on his burger. I continued to sprinkle the herb on his food for about 5 days and I don’t know if that helped, but he was back to himself really by that evening. He was no longer acting lethargic, and he started eating again. Thank you, McDonald’s! #notsponsored. Just kidding!

Ernie loves his spot by the back door.

So, from January until now Ernie has been trotting along. He gets lots of walks each day, swims in the river on the weekends, eats a nice diet of kibble, boiled chicken, canned green beans and canned carrots – occasionally a scoop of canned pumpkin.

I committed to hurrying home each day from school to walk him and spend time with him after that vet appointment. We never called and said he is doing well and we never heard from the vet – which I thought was weird.

Ernie developed a couple of sores/patches on his face so Tom wanted me to take him to the vet. I did not want to at all but Mason agreed to come for support. I was triggered and didn’t want more bad news and wanted to leave well enough alone.

So, I get to the vet and he says he loves it when he is wrong and he says that there is no way he thought Ernie would be in to see him about a face sore 5 months later. I cried. He couldn’t believe how peppy Ernie acted. By the way, Ernie loves going to the vet and loves our vet. Our vet is also a lab guy – he has yellow labs of his own. Ernie told me that the smells outside the vet’s office and in the waiting room are just to die for. He also gets lots of treats.

The face sores were not a big concern, but maybe just places where his fur got wet and didn’t get dried well – he gave him an antibiotic and a steroid to take for just 5 days to clear them up – hopefully.

While there, he said he wanted to do a quick ultrasound and saw that the spots were still there, but there was no fluid (blood) like before. He thinks the places are just stable for now, but they are still there and we just don’t know how long they will remain stable. Ernie has also lost about 6 pounds since January.

So….I guess it was good news…for now? We are going to continue to give him the best life possible for as long as we have. I do keep it in the back(front?) of my mind that this could be his last summer.

Thanks for listening,

Amy

43 thoughts on “Ernie Update”

  2. This post is giving me deja vu! About 4 years ago we had the same thing happen with our dog though he was a small dog. He had a mass on his spleen that had ruptured and he was bleeding internally. I rushed him to the vet and they did emergency surgery. I also purchased a Chinese herbal medicine that I gave to him daily. He recovered with lots of love and attention but unfortunately, the mass was cancer and we knew our time was limited. He passed away 9 months later but we spoiled him and loved him those 9 months. He was a fighter. Ernie seems like a sweetheart and I can tell how much you love him. Continue to love and cherish your time. Prayers🙏

    Like

    Reply

  3. I am so relieved the sores weren’t a big deal. Our shis tzu is 14 and I feel the same way – last year at her appt they told me she was in kidney failure and recommended a huge treatment regimen. We decided against it because it was all so invasive. The good news is she seems fine but when I take her for her appointment this year I am skipping the blood tests – I just want to enjoy her!
    Ernie just seems like the best dog – what a sweetie!
    xo,
    Kellyann

    Like

    Reply

    1. I think it’s another old age thing. It’s just like humans. Maybe I should give him collagen! Oh gosh. I think you have the right idea. I should have said no to the ultrasound.

      Like

      Reply

  4. I love reading about Ernie. Our pets are such a BIG part of our lives and while the thought of loosing them hurts, the thought of never having them and the joy they bring hurts more.❤️ IMO.

    Like

    Reply

  6. I love seeing Ernie’s pictures! He is such a handsome lab. We have labs and they are family. I hate going to the vet so my husband usually does it. For a while there, every time I went it was bad news so I just can’t go for a while. What was the herb your vet recommended? I will keep Ernie in my prayers and know he will have the best care and life with y’all.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you! I love other lab people – they get it.
      I want my husband to go, but I end up going sometimes. I am so glad I had Mason to help me. Mason is such a calming presence and had total control of Ernie – he is really good but there was a charcoal lab puppy in the waiting room.
      The herb is Yunnan Baiyao.
      Thank you so much.

      Like

      Reply

  7. Sweet Ernie! He is definitely living his best life with the best family in the world, there is no doubt about it. I would be doing what you’re doing- just keeping the thought tucked away and enjoying all the moments you can. I would definitely consider this great news for now! I’m so glad he’s peppy again, too. It’s so hard to see pets struggle!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you! It really is hard, but he is doing well now and there is a lesson in living in the moment and being grateful for each day. I am learning lots of lessons this year.

      Like

      Reply

  8. I’m so sorry Amy! I hope you get lots more time with Ernie. I feel like I need to rush home from work and love on molly now! Enjoy your summer!

    Like

    Reply

  9. Thank you for the update! I’m glad the spots are stable and that the sores on his face are not related. He sounds like a really good boy, and he has the best life!

    Like

    Reply

  10. Thank you for the update. Our pets add so much to our lives. Our soon to be 12 year old golden retriever had her spleen removed a few years ago and did really well. She has arthritis now and has definitely slowed down but we are just trying to enjoy whatever time we have with her. I’m hoping you get many more years with Ernie.

    Like

    Reply

  11. I’m SO happy for you guys. I know how much you love that fella. We lost our 7 yo lab/German shepherd to cancer and it was devastating. We even broke down and paid for chemo. She was good for about 2 more months, then it came crashing back. But it was worth every last minute we had with her that she wasn’t in pain. They become our babies and mean so much. Hug and smooch Ernie for me!

    Like

    Reply

  12. I an soooooo glad Ernie is doing so well! He is such a sweet and good boy. You guys take such good care of him-he is lucky to have you!!!❤️

    Like

    Reply

  13. Aww……….LOVE the Ernie updates and all the pictures. He’s such a sweet boy. He is so fortunate to have you and your family to love him.

    Like

    Reply

  14. Ernie updates are always welcome! I hope his face sores heal quickly and am glad that he’s feeling peppy. My husband says dogs are angels on earth, I believe it too.

    Like

    Reply

  15. Awww, I’m glad his face was ok and that he is holding steady with the other health issues! I have always felt like our dog is a huge part of the family, but even more so with an empty nest! Albie has developed large warts/moles on his face and neck. Unattractive, but the vet said they are not harmful!

    Like

    Reply

  16. Ernie, give me more Ernie! He seems to be the sweetest dog ever! Love him and spoil him, and let’s hope for the best! ❤ ❤

    Like

    Reply

  17. Baby Ernie is too cute! I’m glad he’s doing well. He’s lucky to have you and , and of course, vice versa. I can see why you would want emotional support. We lost Shiloh in 2019 and then due to Covid, even when we took homer, they’d come to the car to get him. So, when I took homer for a check up in 2022, they so happened to put me in the same room that we were in with Shiloh. I didn’t think too much about it…until I did. I was brave during the appt , but cried the whole way home. All the emotions of losing her came flooding back. I hope you have lots of time left with Ernie.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you! He was never really small. Oh wow – I remember them coming to the car but that didn’t last long. I’m sorry you had that triggering moment, but I also believe it’s good to cry and let it out. I do that from time to time. It’s just a way for us to remember how deeply we loved and how deeply we were loved.

      Like

      Reply

  18. We received this same diagnosis for our 12.5 year old boy today after he has been showing similar symptoms for a month or so, and my sister-in-law sent me here. I’m glad to hear your boy is doing well so far.

    Like

    Reply
  19. Pingback: Friday Favorites – Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa
  20. Pingback: Friday Faves – Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

Leave a reply to Trish Cancel reply