Help Zoli, a girls best friend

Hello! I am Zóli, aka Zo zo, house hippo, hefalump. I come from the mean street of Milwaukee. My Momma found me when I was 6 months old and brought me to her house. She became my new home! I hear hoomans say all the time that " home " isn't a physical place but its your "person" . My Momma is my person; she has given me so much love for the 6 years I have been with her. You could consider me her ride or die. While I love Mom very much, I am a very independent pooch. I mainly use her for every day things that I can't do on my own; ie. Food, water, being outside, playing tug a war, car rides etc. I am affectionate on my terms, but I prefer to guard Mom with my back to her. I hear sometimes that humans have soul animals, in our case, I would like to say that I am that for my Mom. I came to her when she was in dire need of an unconditional love, a protector, and someone/something that wouldn't give up on her. We've been through many of life's ups and downs; lots of happy moments, but plenty of sad ones too. We are both lucky that my fur is as absorbent as it is- it has caught more tears and boogers than I'd care to tell. Mom always tells me I was her saving grace when Grandma died.

I've lived a really good and healthy life!! I also gained a new Dad, a hooman child, a fur brother and fur sister kitty.

Unfortunately last weekend I became sick; I really wasn't eating much but I was so thirsty! I ended up making an accident in my kennel which I was really disappointed about because I have ALWAYS been a good girl and never had messes. Momma took care of me, didn't scold me, and wasn't disappointed. Instead she paid extra close attention to me. Later that day I became really weak in my hind legs, I hurt so bad but I couldn't tell her. Mom did everything she could, she checked range of motion, temp of my skin/muscles, she massaged my legs, iced my legs etc. She made sure that I had water and food, Especially since I had a hard time getting up on my own. Soon after this I started to have some really yucky stuff come out of me. I get that I am a dog and I lick my own butt and eat gross things sometimes, but even I have to say it was baaaaad. My human parents called the Vet Monday first thing and got me seen.

They diagnosed me with pyrometra, which is an infected uterus ( no wonder I was stinky).

My hoomans were given 3 options; ER VET in Madison with hopes they could stabilize me, antibiotics, hope and prayers that I would be okay from Monday to Thursday when I could have surgery at my regular Vet, or to take the long sleep, my life rested in their hands as they made a very difficult decision.

After seeing my Mom cry hysterically, and smother me with love they decided on Emergency Vet.

The ER was called and got a better idea of cost (starting at 5k). So my regular vet worked the schedule around to get me in Monday with them. Unfortunately, my platelets were way too low to safely have surgery. Mom said I only had about 22 thousand and a healthy doggo should have 165k or more. While I was jumping for joy at the possibility of being cut open.... (not) everyone deemed it not safe for me, I would have bled out. Who wants that ?! I wouldn't want to go out like that, I want to be able to say bye to my family when its my time.

I stayed at the vet for several hours getting IV fluids and antibiotics. I know I mentioned before that I came from the streets of Milwaukee, but daaang that sedition hit good. Haha. I came home later that afternoon with some antibiotics to treat tick diseases in case my test came back that I was positive- we would have had a jump start on treatment. Fortunately for me the tests were negative, however since the antibiotics cover a wide spectrum of illness I continue on them. I was running a temp of 105 at the Vet when I got there, when I was discharged it was down to 103!

After being at home my family watched me, they were so attentive. They brought me my water and helped me go potty. I feel bad ai was so whiny, but it was my only means to communicate.

Today is Thursday and I had a follow up with possible surgery. It saddens me to say that today was not my day, yet again! My platelets were down to 19k today !! Can you believe that ?! I've been taking my medicine like a good girl, Momma has been supplementing me with freshly boiled liver and other human goodness ( I'm spoiled I Know). When I was listening today the Vet said they are starting me on another medicine, prednisone, apparently its gonna make me really thirsty! We are hopeful that the prednisone will suppress my immune system so that my platelets will continue to multiple. I also has blood sent to pathology to see if I have some other kinda fungomungo going on. I get to be stuck with a needle again next week to see if I have improved, and we should also have pathology reports back if not by tomorrow definitely by Monday. That should get us a better picture!

I feel bad that I am costing so much, I know my Momma will do what she can, however if some how I can lessen the burden I want to. I want to be able to relax and love up on her without sensing worry, stress, and a broken heart because she doesn't know how she'll do it.

A lot of you don't know me, but I'm the greatest girl to my family, I want more years with them, we have so many more memories to make. I want to watch my boy grow up and tear the house up with my fur siblings still!

If you can help me/us my love will extend to you, I mean it does already - I'm a dog, I love everyone !!