Down and Out

"Let's eat!" I call to the dogs as I open the gate and release them. Feeding time is such a happy time, they bark, run up the stairs and dance around their prospective bowls. All but Archie, the one dog who lives to eat, who won't rest until he has sniffed out every nook and cranny looking for anything to ingest, who checks and double checks the other dog bowls making sure nothing has been left uneaten. No not this time, instead he slowly walks up the stairs through all the commotion, heads to the garage door and waits quietly and patiently for me to let him out. Archie dines in the garage because of how fast he can put away his food and how quick he can go after everyone else's dinner. I'm beginning to grow concerned as to why he is so disinterested in his meal. He doesn't bay when I put the kibbles in his bowl, no dancing around, just sadness. Then I bring myself back three months ago when our little Beagle was diagnosed with a condition that he will live with his entire life. At four months of age Archie had symptoms of lethargy, depression, fever, loss of appetite and when we held him, he would yelp in pain. Watching him waste away was too much for us to bear so we took him to our veterinarian for a full examination. He stayed in their care for a couple of days but were unable to diagnose him. The Vet suggested we take him to the University in Pullman where they have an animal hospital and staff who specializes in hard cases. The husband didn't waste any time, he loaded up his puppy and headed straight for Pullman. After three days of testing and blood work Archie was diagnosed with immune mediated polyarthropathy disease. A condition which can be precipitated by any inflammatory, infectious or cancerous process. It's treatable through medication but we've been advised not to continue with future vaccinations as it could stimulate his immune system and cause a relapse, as well as experiencing any trauma or stress. We can handle giving him medication, we can handle no more vaccinations, we can even handle keeping him safe as long as he is a happy puppy. That's one thing we can say about Archie, he is a happy puppy. But every so often he has a down day where he's just not feeling well. Not sure what triggers it and it never really last long, usually by the next morning he's ready for breakfast baying, dancing and ready to attack his food. Insidentally it takes an episode like this to remind me, although he's on medication, he's not cured. I also find myself missing his silly antics and loud obnoxious baying, because a happy puppy is a baying puppy. Keeping this in mind, I will never complain again.....