Bailey's Health

I took Bailey to the vet the week before last.  She needed shots and we also needed to get her flea and heart worm medications.  And a she has a bump near her bum we wanted checked out, I think both assuming it was some type of tick or bite.

She hates the vet.   We turned onto the road and even though and it had been over a year, she knew where we were going.  Todd dropped me off and took the kids for a ride.  I took Bailey in who was shaking.  We weighed her in at 17 pounds (the vet assistant commented on how amazing it was that Bailey is ALWAYS the same weight.  I was thinking the same, since Abbey feeds her half her meal and Adam is always sneaking her treats).  Here is the the exam room, our view sitting on a bench.  Bailey had taken her shots like a champ.  Hugging me.  She didn't yelp, which the assistant was surprised, since somehow she remembered that she usually does.  After they left the room and we waited for the vet, I had to put Bailey down...she was clinging to my neck, poor thing.

 The vet felt the bump and felt like it may be a tumor that needed surgery.  I asked if there was some type of test before doing that.  She said she could try and extract cells and look at them in microscope.  Boy, I was thinking, animal medicine is NOT like people medicine.  On the second try, she got some cells.  They showed a type of cancerous tumor that needs to be removed.

I tried very hard to be a big girl and not get emotional.  The vet assured me that most likely it is contained to the tumor and once we remove it, there will be no more problems.  I guess it's not uncommon.  She has surgery this coming week, on Thursday.  She will be ten in August.  I love this dog.  When they gave her shots, I found myself feeling like I do when my kids get them...my heart tight and my eyes a but watery.  I know things will go well and she'll be with us a long time.  She's part of our family.

After all, she's the dog that made me a dog person!