Reginald Martin Fry

Those of you who have met our boxer, Reginald, know that he's a real tender heart.  He is such a tender heart that each arrival of a new family member has been like a sharp knife to his heart when he doesn't get any attention for an extended period of time.  Well, when Reginald started acting really strange last week, I figured he was just depressed.  He started limping and we figured it was his recurring injury from years ago and figured we'd just see how he did for the next few days and then take him in - he started walking better.  But, last week when Amy pet him and he yelped, I discovered some large, swollen areas of his body with some oozing business.  Ken took him to the Emergency vet that night, he stayed over and needed antibiotics and it sounded really bleak - the vet there thought it was a terrible flesh eating fascheitis (sp?) that spreads quickly, etc.  So, in the morning, we moved him to our vet, Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital.  They figured it was one of 3 things - none great, but one treatable, so he's been there since Thursday morning.  I got to go see him last night and today.  He's eating, drinking, and acting normal again - and if he's acting normal after being in a small kennel, in a room by himself for a few days, I've decided I'm going to pray and go with the best scenario for him, which involves bringing him home when they get the biopsy test.  We were supposed to hear Friday night or this morning, but the biopsies are sent to California and they haven't processed them.  Without knowing what was causing the problem, we can't bring him home with our kiddos until they know that it's not a contagious bacteria...So, our poor old man is hanging out at the Vet tonight.  I'll go see him a couple times tomorrow - luckily, we have the best vet clinic and when the techs come to let the dogs out, they'll allow me to come hang with Reg as long as I want until they have to leave.  I'm sure they giggle about what a gomer I am after I leave, but I just miss his craziness around the house.  Sometimes I get so annoyed with him following me everywhere I go, staring at me and just waiting for that one little bit of petting I can give him...staring me down every time I'm in the kitchen to see if he can get a crumb of something on the floor...like he's starving!  But, I miss all of that and just want him back home.  If he gets to come home on Monday, I'm going to make a very conscious effort to let him stalk me for a crumb of food because it must just be that important to him to get a snack at that time.  He's 8 years old and doesn't get a ton of attention, so he can stalk us for snacks all he wants.  He just won't get it.  :)  I hope I can give you good news on Monday.  Pray for Reg until then.  If I have to give you sad news on Monday, then pray for our fam...we'll miss our old man.  Here he is with his cow that was just delivered to him tonight.  Hopefully, he'll be a little more comfortable in his kennel with Mr. Cow.  

Reginald - March 2011