I left the dogs at Laura's today to get their toes chopped and butts squeezed. When I arrived to pick them up after work, I was informed that the tech (Liz) needed to talk to me about Patti...*gulp*. Turns out that the poor little bugger has an anal fistula (I had looked at his butt, cuz he was licking at it, but couldn't see anything) and is extremely dehydrated. Since he's been drinking literally 3 times more than a dog his size should be, obviously there's something going on. So he's on antibiotics, and I was told to stop restricting his water (which I had "sort of" been doing i.e., taking it up after supper so he doesn't have accidents at night...on Laura's orders!!! ). Laura's quite concerned it might be his kidneys, so he's getting bloodwork on Friday (moving day, so they were going in for babysitting anyway). He's been a bit "off" the last couple of days, but nothing too serious. Hopefully it'll continue not to be too serious!!!! Poor old man (Laura thinks he's closer to 12 than 8, and I have to agree with her.)
And Laura's comment about all this? "Well, Paula, he IS a dachsie, and not just a dachsie, but one of YOUR dachsies!" Thanks a bunch, Wen!