We took Abe in last Tuesday because he was refusing to eat. He had been kind of picky lately and having diarrehea. We had added the pumpkin to his food as suggested by several people here and that helping his bowel movements firm up.
Once they sent the blood work off to A&M we received news of pancreatitis and that it was a chronic case. That means my angel had been suffering for a while and I didn't know. This kills me inside. I had taken him a few months ago because he kept losing weight and the vet recommended a diabetes test which came out negative. He had suggested some other tests but I decided not to at that time. Just 1 1/2 weeks earlier we had both Kenny and Abe's teeth deep cleaned and both sets of their bloodwork came back normal. When I declined that other testing after the diabetes test, I don't even know if they would have tested from pancreatitis at that point but I can't fortgive myself for not further pursuing other tests.
On Sunday afternoon after we came home from church, I heard a beep on our home answering machine message. It was the female vet Shelli saying that Abe had passed away on Saturday evening. For the life of me, I will NEVER EVER understand why she left us an answering machine message. She never attempted to call our cell phones and she had access to them. Maybe she knew what our reaction would be? I started screaming and crying because DH had taken the trash out to the alley and I was alone when I heard.
On Monday, the male vet Trent contacted us. Hubby talked with him for several minutes. He said that by the time they figured out what was wrong with him, his pancreas was already shutting down and he was just wasting away. He had eaten a good amount of food on Thursday but when we saw him on Saturday they hadn't been able to get him to eat much. He was also unaware that Dr.Shelli contacted us in that manner and seemed very caught off guard. Hubby asked about Abe's body and Dr. Trent recommended not seeing the body unless we were going to cremate or bury it because they essentially freeze the body until they find out from the owner what they want to do. We decided not to see Abe to remember him how he was a happy, cheeful, quirky, OCD oddball who started off as a withdrawn rescued doggie and turned into an expert snuggle bunny.
I miss him every moment of every day and I want to wake up from a horrible nightmare to have my sweet boy sleeping at my feet keep them toasty warm. I also feel very guilty because I look at Kenny who has also lost his "brother" and all I want is Abe. I am holding Kenny extra itight and loving on him lots. We went out of town the day after all of this for a wedding/Spring Break and I am not sure if Kenny understands. I think this is going to be harder on me when I get back home.
But a light has come through this darkness. We had had our home on the market for almost 9 months with not a lot of action or showings. On Tuesday, we recieved and accepted an offer on the house. I truly and prayerfully believe that this was Abe (and God's) gentle way of allowing us to move on. I have so many wonderful memories of Abe in the only home he ever had and maybe moving on will help me heal from his loss.
I miss him so desperately and I just want to hold him again and rub his soft little belly. He was just the most precious little boy with an expressive face.
RIP Sweet Abernathy. We were so blessed to be your mom, dad, and brother.