Cicero Is Having a Rough Year So Far

Yesterday I was worried. Cicero was really dragging, couldn't manage more than a walk and refused food. For a dog who normally climbs trees and looks ready to take leave of his skin whenever I make a move for the door, he was definitely not acting like the happy puppy we know and love. I watched him carefully as he moped around the house for a few hours and then decided to take him to the park. He perked up to about 50% when he spotted the fat little squirrels at Central Park, but then started dragging again. I agonized over how I would feel if I made the wrong call here, then took him to the vet.

Dr. W. at the animal hospital was really very nice to the both of us but had no idea why C. was feeling so bad. Complete blood tests showed that last week's adventure with rat poison was not the reason. At least he seems to be clotting well, which was the big worry. At the end of a two-hour visit, all the good doc had to offer was a few guesses, an anti-nausea shot, and the bill.

This is the second time Cicero has done this to me. Three years ago he got stung by a wasp out at Enchanted Rock and acted like such a wimp I thought he might have broken his leg. The vet diagnosed a bee sting and charged $150. This time I was deeply grateful he wasn't dying of internal bleeding from the rat poison. We still haven't figured out what the problem actually is, but I'll take what good news I can get. I've upgraded his food to real boiled chicken and rice, and his appetite is coming back. He even chased his tail this evening after I gave him some yummy stew. While he still doesn't want to jump or run, he seems to be slowly recovering some strength.

So to me, it looks like Cicero the Dog, in addition to recovering from eating rat poison, is healing from some kind of injury. Maybe he slipped a disk or wrenched a muscle. In any case, if he doesn't get back to full health in a couple of weeks, I have an offer from the family chiropractor to give him an adjustment. Now THAT would be fun to see.