Kota is in respiratory distress. I am sitting in the parking lot at the vets office right now with Kota. He started last night. His breathing became shallow and slow. On a normal dog their respirations should be 30 breaths per minute. The highest his breath got was 16 and the lowest was seven. That’s when he was at rest. When he’s active and walking around, his breaths increased to 55 breaths, per minute. Please say a prayer for this wonderful dog. I am so concerned and confused right now about what’s going on with him he was doing so well. But then all of a sudden he has plummeted. I know he’s in pain, because when he’s in pain, he will come to me and put his head between my legs and drop his head. That’s when I know that he needs comfort . He was doing this to me early in the a.m. Just pray for him please. I can’t take another hit on our vet bill. But he is my heart. Ever since Michael died he’s not left my side. He has saved my life twice, I really hope they find out what’s wrong with him finally and fix it. I hope I can return the favor and save him.

*******UPDATE*********

This morning, other than finding the regular things that are wrong with Kota- he checked out fine otherwise. After answering some tough questions from the vet, she informed me that the reason Kota is having breathing difficulties is because he is catching my stress. She said that we are both so entertwined and connected that he can smell my stress level rising even before I can realize that it is rising to the stratosphere. She’s giving me mild sedatives to give him which will help his breathing and his anxiety.

I was, I can’t even think of the word of how I felt when I realized that I was the reason that he was presenting with such symptoms. I thought when I rushed him to the vet this morning that he was having heart issues or fluid problems on his lungs. But he was just ianxious about me. I am going to try to keep my balance from here on in.

I am still missing Michael like crazy (although my primary care provider informed me a few weeks ago that I should’ve only grieved for Mike for a year.)I should be over it by now that is her diagnosis. Trust me I’m trying to be over it but I miss him like crazy. He was a big part of me for so long and not having him here is still extremely difficult. I don’t care what my doctor says about that.

So I left the vet office, feeling grateful for the diagnosis, but guilty for causing it. It was an expensive lesson that I won’t soon forget. Thank you to those who prayed, I was really concerned driving to the vet as well as very confused  after looking in all my books to see what he might have going on, he had none of the symptoms of anything such as poisoning, shock lung disease, or any respiratory illness, other than the fact that he was struggling to breathe.

Thank you for your prayers