Dixie's Battle

Born 12/21/2009, she was a happy accident between a black Labrador father and a Rottweiler mother during a TX vs OU football game (of course the Longhorns won). She was the runt of 3, the only female, and the only one with the rottie coloring. Her 2 brothers had the black lab look with white spot on the chest and were much bigger. The family named her Dixie, after her mom, but the kids nicknamed her Kisses. (She licked everyone... A lot... Still hasn't stopped.) An unusually white Christmas came 3 days later. I had no idea that while I played in the snow just 4 miles away, my new little souldog would be experiencing her first snow. (She has loved snow since, but we live in an area that it is pretty uncommon in so she hasn't had much snow time in her life.) About 6 weeks later, I was scrolling through craigslist dogs even though I didn't really plan on one just yet... But I just knew as soon as I saw her chunky little self that I had to go get her immediately, and nothing was going to stop me that day. Best $20 I've ever spent.

Booty shaking madness...

Dixie has been an extremely happy healthy girl most of her life. When something does happen, it's usually go big or go home for her. At 11 months old, she won a fight against Parvo. Needing only a 2 night stay at the vet, couple thousand dollars, and lots of love to make her better. At 5 years old, she had a rough upper respiratory infection. At 9 years old, she caught her tail on something that cut down to the bone and had to have it amputated. The only time she has ever been calm... Was while she faught Parvo. If her butt wasn't attached to her body so well, she would've shaken the thing off by now. (Extremely surprised she kept her tail for so many years without breaking it.)

The upcoming battle...

Dixie has always been a super excited dog with a ton of energy, a big panter, and a water chugger. But over the last couple weeks, it became obvious the panting and water drinking was becoming more than the usual, even with the summer weather getting hotter. Plans were made to have a full checkup and bloodwork panel done. With her being 12 years old soon, any slight changes are definitely vet trip worthy to me. But when it was bath time, she had a large lump that seemed to show up out of nowhere. Did it bother her when I checked them out? No, of course not. She still ran circles and wanted to play with the towel. But this was absolutely something I knew had to be seen quicker that the appointment I was about to set up. Off to the emergency vet we went for a late night 4 hour visit.

The good, the bad, the ugly...

The best part when needing a vet trip... Dixie just absolutely loves going to the vet because any attention is good attention to her. Her pure happiness goes a long way in making it easier for the humans too, even when lots of pokes are happening. Have you ever seen a dog happy while getting an IV placed or blood drawn? Yea, that's my strange dog.

Xrays were up first. This showed a couple masses on her mammary glands that I already knew we were going to find but hoped it would not be. Surgery would now be required to remove the tumors for testing and to spay her. Everything else looked great for being the age she is, so that was at least one positive thing with the bad news.

Next came bloodwork with great levels on everything. Nothing to show a reason for the excessive panting and drinking. Another small positive.

I had also requested flea and heartworm preventative since we had slipped while dealing with my goat's medical fight and loss. So this means heartworm test also.

Positive.

This is where my heart finally just shattered in front of the vet.

I had prepared myself for knowing it would be mammary gland tumors, for knowing she would need surgery, for knowing we would have to test and wait for an answer, for knowing we may have a tough battle on our hands. But I was not prepared for a long slow battle just to get to the next battle that will be even more rough. 

Treatment...

Surgery to remove the tumors for testing and her spaying cannot be started until the heartworms are gone. Dogs do not do well under anesthesia when positive, so we have no choice but to wait to even check for cancer. It will be a 6 month long battle not only to fight them, but to also keep her calm and relaxed during this time, so that she can make it to surgery. (Remember... This goofy dog gets excited over every little thing and can't keep her butt still.) The vet trip just to find all of this was $1021 already. We are looking at another $4880 on the low end at least, just for the treatment, surgery, and testing. I don't know what results will come from the tests after or even an idea of the financial fight I may have after this.

Dixie has been by my side for so many years, through the many happy moments, the heartbreaking times, and the struggles. She is my protector, my furry alarm, my goofy foot warmer, my car ride loving copilot, my soul dog.

I am going to fight for her every step of the way because she has given me nothing less than her entire heart.