It’s been a rough week in the Kalet household.
Those of you who read this blog on a somewhat regular basis — there are a few — know I generally only write about my personal life if there is a good reason. I write about running, for instance, when there is a race and about my nephews when we take them to local events.
But my mind is elsewhere right now, focused far away from the drama that is local, state and federal politics, away from John Bolton’s resignation, away from the war and tax reform and Route 92.
My dog is sick and I’m a bit preoccupied.
There are those out there who might view my concern as rank sentimentality, who would dismiss my concern for a dog as just wanton silliness. But I am a dog lover. Honey, my dog, is like my kid. She’s always there and offers nothing but unconditional love.
Honey became sick last week — Nov. 26 — and stopped eating. I won’t go into the gory details, but suffice to say that she has not eaten since, not fresh-cooked chicken, not baby food, not crackers, nothing more than a morsel here and there, and she has dropped about 10 pounds, giving her a gaunt and pathetically lost look.
We had her to the vet twice last week, once for a two-night stay, and she’s back there for another overnight tonight. She’s not the kind of dog who likes the sleepaways — she’s never been kenneled or in the vet for more than an afternoon — and she’s completely attached to Annie and me.
All of the tests — blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound — have come back normal, but she still won’t eat. If things don’t improve overnight, we’ll have to take her to a specialist.
I’m beginning to wonder, having had some college psychology, if she is not proving Pavlov and Skinner correct, if she has not conditioned her own response to food, associating it with her sour stomach and essentially teaching herself not to eat.
But I don’t know. I’m hoping the vet will call and things will have turned, but I’m also growing pessimistic despite myself.
Last night, in the middle of the night, I woke up. She wasn’t moving and I couldn’t tell if she was breathing. I got down on the floor with her, but didn’t feel the soft heave of her abdomen inhaling or exhaling. I leaned toward her snout, heard a breath and climbed back into bed. Then I grew unsure of what I’d just witnessed, so climbed back out and checked again.
This is what we do for our pets.
So forgive me if I seem a bit out of it or if this blog seems a little more random than usual (could it really be any more random?).
South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick
Hank Kalet 
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED???! Is your baby Honey ok??My Siberian Husky fell ill also this past week!! He started coughing last week and that led to his restricted breathing. We took him to the Vet for x-rays and he saw a specialist in NYC(costing a fortune!!! do you know where they have any funding for sick pets?—His health insurandce is hardly covering anything!!! He has pneumothorax: In medicine (pulmonology), a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, is a potential medical emergency caused by accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity, occurring as a result of disease or injury.[1] His lungs have surrounded with air and his lungs are unable to expand. They wound up withdrawing the air out and gave him a catscan. Pneumothorax – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AVMA – Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association – 220(11):1670 – Abstract Day 2-The specialist withdrew the air surrounding his lungs. Nanuk is healing gradually as oxygen is brought back to his lungs. My puppy (10 years old and he is still my puppy baby!) is being monitored in the hospital in NYC. Upon viewing the results of the catscan they did however find a \”Bulla\” (see definition below) attached to his lung, this was the underlying cause of the air entrapped around his lungs. He will now have to have this \”Bulla\” surgically removed. The good news is all of his blood tests came back EXCELLENT, he is healthy overall, which is why we have decided to extend his doggie life. PLEASE SAY ANOTHER PRAYER for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bulla: These areas threaten the patient’s health not only because of the underlying emphysema. As an air pocket—a bulla—grows, it takes up space in the chest cavity and can encroach on the lungs. Severe disruption of normal lung function due to the crowding and pressure is a common result. Bullous emphysema is also known as vanishing lung syndrome. It is most often treated by surgical removal of the bulla, which can grow to 20 centimeters—more than a foot—in diameter. A bulla that takes up a third or more of the space in and around the affected lung is called a giant bulla. Because of its close association with emphysema, giant bullae are most often found in older patients who smoke or used to smoke. A giant bulla is classified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), along with chronic bronchitis and asthma. Giant Bullae – Pulmonary Disorders – Thoracic (Chest / Lung) Diseases – Division of Thoracic & Foregut Surgery Homepage – Roc.. Day 6– The hospital found more air building and then decreasing around Nanuk\’s little lungs after the first surgery, so they are monitoring that and debating a second surgery— We went to visit him at the hospital (the animal hospital has visiting hours!~) and he was soooooo happy to see us! He is a healthy dog overall which is why it is hard for us to put him to sleep (plus he has been in the family for the past 10 years!!), he just has this issue and now he might have to have another surgery….I feel so bad…but what can you do….I talk about him like he is a human! but they almost are…maybe even better than humans! Sorry about this bad news…PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR HIM!!!!!!Please keep me informed about your baby!!!!! I will say a prayer for you!!