as I type this.
I noticed that his breath was really, really bad Saturday morning. By Saturday night he was obviously very uncomfortable when I touched his face... and yesterday he wouldn't pick up his toys, had a hard time opening his mouth, refused treats and water, and pretty much buried his head either under his pillow in the crate or under my arm pit. I tried to look in his mouth and ears, but he yelped each time I touched him.
I chopped up his RAW in little tiny pieces and he managed to swallow most of it w/out having to chew, so at least I got some food into him. Wouldn't touch his kibble though, not even soaked in water.
We sat at the vet yesterday for several hours, but they had an emergency come in (dog hit by a car, needed extensive surgery)... the new vet tech prodded and poked at Sepp a few times
, and I ended up taking him back home without having him examined by the vet.
So... we went back this morning. No temperature, but very sensitive to being touched on the left side of his face. Our vet tried to do a quick look-see, and he screamed... BUT he didn't try to snap or bite, no aggression at all. He just tried to hide his head so people would stop touching it... poor little man.
Swollen lymph nodes as well. So, after my heart stopped for a second or three after hearing that, our vet thinks that he has either an infection/broken tooth/TMJ/food stuck somewhere... NOT cancer.
They will have to sedate him to see what's going on, and they'll call me at around 2-ish.
Yes, I left him there... in part because I want him to see that it's okay to be at the vet, and partly because I HAVE to get over the "anxious Mom" syndrome. After the "swollen lymph nodes" comment I was a total wreck and it took a good ten minutes for me to even comprehend the rest of what our vet was telling me.
If it's a cracked tooth he'll be on pain meds and antibiotics until Thursday, and they'll pull it while he's getting neutered.
Sepp was pretty happy when I left - he loves the staff that's working today.
I went home and had a drink.
I'll know more in about an hour or so.