Now the hard work begins

Roxy did well with the first heartworm treatment. We sure missed her while she stayed overnight at the vet. Iggy was really put out that I took her away and didn't bring her home.

Now the difficult work begins. I have to keep her quiet with little walking--just outside to do her business. It breaks my heart. She lives for the walks and spends most of each early morning, trying to coax me from bed to walk. She did not understand walking to the front yard and then back inside. She did not understand when I crated her and took Iggy for a longer walk. The treatment has not slowed her down in spirit or in body. She wants to play and run. This is going to be very hard, because it's for two months.

The danger, I've learned, is not so much the medication they give her, but the aftermath. As the heartworms begin to die, they break into little pieces. Raising her blood pressure through exercise or rough play can cause the pieces to enter her lungs for some really nasty consequences--including death.

I will ignore the look in her eyes because she doesn't understand why she no longer gets the long walks. It is for her own good. But it's breaking my heart.

I still cannot believe that someone could have let this happen to Roxy. How do you just let a dog leave your life without making taking efforts to find her? I do believe she'll survive this--yet another difficult time in her life. I do believe there is a home ready to love her forever. Hopefully this is the last challenge she must overcome.