Happy New Year! I apologize for the gap in my posts, but like all pet owners, when one of my own is sick, my world comes to a standstill. My little, elderly yorkie, Bose, came down with a severe case of gastroenteritis that has led to the development of an ulcer. His first symptoms showed up the week of Christmas after he snuck a bite of a breakfast burrito. Despite a bland diet, he has had a hard time bouncing back. I took him to see the radiologist to check him for pancreatitis, and during the abdominal ultrasound, the radiologist found a mass in his bladder - a type of cancer known as transitional cell carcinoma. While this type of cancer is typically slow-growing, it is inoperable and terminal. This incidental finding added insult to injury and broke my heart. Bose holds such a dear place in my heart, knowing now that he is dying has been difficult for me to process. His GI tract is on the mend, and he has finally started taking treats from his favorite baker, Lisa at the Farmer's Market. But, while he is not yet showing symptoms of his cancer, I know that it is lurking. And I face the uncertainty that cancer brings with it. Once Bose's tummy heals, he will begin a regiment of anti-inflammatory medication and chemotherapy to help stunt the growth of the cancer. But for now he continues to heal and to fight. And I am thankful for each day I have my perky companion by my side.
I wanted to share this experience because as doctors we often approach patients with clinical precision. When our own pets get sick, it turns the "vet-side" of our brains off and we become like all of our patients - patients. It is such an important part of my job as a veterinarian to empathize, and to know and personally experience how stressful and heart-wrenching the uncertainty of a pet's illness can be. Walking with my pets into the twilight of their lives makes me a better doctor, I think, because it reminds me of how deep the emotional current is that runs beneath every relationship between a pet and a human.
So, I have spent the past couple of weeks nursing my little guy back to health and have been the patient rather than the doctor - following medication regiments, strict dietary requirements and bestowing as much TLC as Bose will tolerate.
Tune in this weekend for my next blog post.
