Dodged a Bullet
The other day as I was checking Jack over for ticks–don’t get me started on ticks! They are the bane of my existence!–I came across a hard lump on the inside of his knee. It felt like bone. Actually, it felt very much like the lump I found on IO’s foot last year that turned out to be bone cancer. I could feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks before I could even begin to try to be rational about the whole situation. For a week every time I was in the car, I found myself sobbing and bargaining with God to let me have him here just a little while longer.
The vet took x-rays and found that the lump we are feeling is simply arthritis from an old injury and ACL surgery. What an absolute relief. Jackson is almost 10 so a little arthritis is not unexpected. For now his discomfort is mild and intermittent so no real intervention is needed yet other than some supplements and the occasional Rimadyl.
I can’t help feeling as though one of these days my luck will run out and we will receive The Diagnosis and it will be time to say good-bye. But for the time being, I will hug him close and throw his toy and breathe the biggest sigh of relief.