Good News Update and a Film Strip Friday!

Proof that internet juju and well wishes work, Norbert will be ok!  On Friday we took Norbert to Ridgewood Vet hospital.

For a specialist consult.  The vet we saw, Dr. Travis Cerf, is an expert in canine bladder issues.  He told us there were two possible outcomes, infection or cancer.  Infection is very rare in male dogs so given Norbert's age and gender he was concerned.  He performed the ultrasound quickly and within 25 minutes was able to tell us Norbert does not have cancer!  He has an e coli infection that  that came from his outer male parts and climbed up his urethra to his bladder an caused his bladder to become very inflamed.   He may have had the infection for months or years with it going undetected, despite regular vet care and urinalysis, because until it reached the bladder and flared up it was likely very low grade.   Dr. Cerf has almost never see this before in male dogs and he is an expert.   The only issue now is what antibiotics to use to treat it.  He has been on clavamox for so long the infection may be resistant.  We did a culture and will know in a few days, Norbert will need to be on high doses of antibiotics for 6 to 8 weeks, but after that he will be fine.  I was so happy I nearly hugged the doctor...and of course I can't stop hugging Nobert who really is not too happy about that.

Who can blame me, I love my big guy and I love the Ridgewood hospital. We are going back July 5th for an acupuncture consult for Norbert's arthritis.  Now we just have to get through Tubby and Ping's Saturday exams for their old age issues and we will be home free.

Now in honor of the end of the school year, though I will be working summer school, an educational film clip from Coronet films 1950, about a teen with a crippling fear of the water, good campy fun!