Last week was an emotional rollercoaster for us with our long time companion, Riley. At fifteen and a half, Riley has been with me through miles of trails, four churches, nine houses and in two marriages. Though he has been slowing down as an old boy, last week he took a dramatic turn for the worst and stopped eating and mostly moving.
The vet took x-rays and found that both lungs were half collapsed. The radiologist said he has a mass in his chest and pneumonia. We started him on antibiotics but by Wednesday it appeared he was done. Even as we prepared for this, he picked up his head and started drinking some water. Eventually we got his pills in him and on Thursday, after three days of no eating, we got scrambled egg down him, morning and evening.
Now, a week later, his appetite and strength have picked up, though he still requires assistance. He is laying here, panting quietly as I type this.
