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The Eclectic Pen - Nugget

By: Ronny S. (ronny)   + 7 more  
Date Submitted: 10/28/2007
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs » Memoirs
Words: 646
Rating:

Nugget was puny when I got him. He hadn't been fed as much as he should have so his tiny little chihuahua ribs were kinda sticking out. But I fatten him up real fast. He could eat like the big dogs and would always beg for more. Nugget was the name I chose because he looked like a tiny chocolate nugget, a dark brown ball of hyperactive fur. He had two speeds: stop and full throttle. Nugget loved to wear his sweater even inside and when I would lean over him to put it on he'd fall on his back and lift his front legs up ready for me to put it on him. Then he'd prance around with his sweater on like he was showing off at the Ritz. Nugget liked to sleep under the covers right up against me. I was afraid he'd cook with the electric blanket going and him underneath the cover but once he dug in for the night he was there till morning. Ready to go full throttle again. He knew how to worm his way right into my heart from the minute I got him. When I got Nugget they lady said he was up to date on his shots and heartworm treatment. I found out that wasn't true. I had him tested for heartworms and he tested positive. They now have a new treatment instead of the old arsenic treatment. He had to stay at the vet's office for three days and get one shot a day. Then I had to keep him mellow for six weeks. I went to the Goodwill store and bought a baby playpen and set it up for him and got a metal dog cage for night time. He took right to the playpen as long as he had a toy to play with and would lay in his cage at night and sleep. I put the cage up on my bed so he'd be right next to me and I could stick my fingers in the cage for him to smell me while he slept. I could feel his nose against my fingers all night. Two nights ago about midnight he started throwing up after we went to bed. I got him up, cleaned him up, and we went back to bed. Then he got worse. He started wheezing real bad and still throwing up. I got a washrag and washed his face and then he just fell over. I picked him up and he went totally limp in my arms. He tried to raise his head but couldn't do it. I wrapped him in a towel and took him to an overnight vet emergency room in Atlanta and they ran him back to the ER room. They worked on him, put him on oxygen, and his breathing got a little better. Then he took a turn for the worse. He developed DIC. Disseminated intravascular coagulation. Meaning his platelets were all used up and he couldn't stop bleeding. He had fought so hard and the doctor had fought so hard but it was taking its toll on him. I had to make a choice and I hated it. I chose what was best for him. The only other choice was blood transfusions and his tiny body couldn't handle it. I couldn't let him suffer any more. They let me go back and see him before they gave him the shot and I rubbed his tiny brown head and told him I loved him. His eyes were half open and he wasn't responding but in my heart I know he heard me. I went outside and waited and the nurse came and told me when he was gone. It broke my heart and I didn't mean to cry in front of her but I couldn't help it. Goodbye my Nugget I love you

The Eclectic Pen » All Stories by Ronny S. (ronny)

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