Zoe

Zoe died tonight. After 2 days at Vescone, a week at home, and a week in the ICU at Tufts with tons of tests, 3 types of antibiotics, and finally steroids, they still didn't know what was wrong and she couldn't hold on. Her symptoms were painful and swollen joints, fever, abscesses, and some changes in her blood chemistry - high white cells, low platelets, and finally low blood protein. They treated her for a tick-borne illness until those tests came back negative, and then treated for a bacterial infection. The other thought was an immune-mediated disease but they couldn't treat for that without ruling out a bacterial problem because by suppressing her immune system they would take away her defense against the bacteria. They started her on steroids yesterday feeling pretty comfortable that it wasn't bacterial and hoping there was still time. Hopefully the necropsy will give us some answers, although the joint taps, x-rays, ultrasounds, biopsy, and multiple blood tests didn't tell us much. One positive is that our experience with Tufts was terrific. Zoe's doctor (Dr. Cornejo) called me at least once a day with a very detailed explanation of what was going on and what everything meant. I sensed in our conversations today that she felt like they were losing the battle. She said that the whole hospital was upset that they hadn't been able to help Zoe.

We brought Zoe into our family when Adlani turned 1, because I felt like I could handle a puppy at that time. I purposely waited after Rosie died because I knew that we were planning to have another baby and it was tough to give Rosie any attention while I had an infant, let alone take care of a puppy. When Zoe was about 6 months old we found out that we were going to have Norah. The combination of another pregnancy/infant, added to the fact that Zoe was a very hyper dog, meant that Zoe could not be as integral a part of our family as Rosie had been. I feel guilty. Zoe was with me when I was home alone or the kids were in bed, but was like a bull in a china shop when the kids were home and awake. I did the best I could...we just completed our 3rd round of obedience training, private lessons this time. She had turned a corner and was nearing the end of her naughty teenage years. The kids are bigger now and I wasn't as concerned about her accidentally hurting them. She had actually become a pleasure to be around and I know she loved us very much. We love you too Zoe.

Thank you to everyone who has been checking in with me on her progress.