A few weeks ago, maybe after the apocalyptic day in New York, when the skies turned orange and everything smelled of smoke because of the Canadian wildfires, Ellie started to cough.
It’s not that she’d never coughed before. In fact, she has a full menu of interesting coughs and sneezes to her name: including the how-dare-you-pull-on-my-leash cough, which sounds like a frog is jumping out of her throat; and the excuse-me-where’s-my-dinner cough, which is more like a whisper, with her head turned away for deniability. But this cough was something new. It sounded like she was choking on something, or suffocating, and then she’d sort of cough up whatever it was and collapse as if she’d run a marathon.
The first time I witnessed this, I was afraid she was going to die right in front of me. I may have taken it more seriously as a result of the debarking surgery that was done when she was still a breeding dog, because the scar tissue from that surgery has made her throat more constricted than it should be.
It was a few days before I witnessed another coughing attack, and I was shocked by it again, especially by the way she seemed almost paralyzed for a couple of minutes afterward, but then she was fine, and I was relieved. She started to cough more frequently after that, but with less seriousness, and I wondered if maybe it was just an allergy, exacerbated by the air quality, and, really, I was distracted. Cricket had been diagnosed with kidney disease and needed fluids every day, and we’d had a car accident and had to buy a new car, and I’d had to go to five or ten doctors’ appointments, and prep for my second oral surgery (the follow-up to last year’s surgery), and that’s only the top line of the chaos that was going on around here, and there was no way to keep up with all of it, so each time Ellie stopped coughing and seemed to be breathing and walking and eating okay, I just breathed a sigh of relief and let it go.
But last week, when Cricket had to go back to the vet for a follow up blood test, and I was between medical appointments, it seemed like a good opportunity to bring Ellie in to be seen as well.
Of course, as soon as we made the appointment for both of them, Cricket, who had been doing surprisingly well, had a downturn. She couldn’t eat and she was woozy, even without the calming meds, to the point where she allowed me to insert the needle for the fluids without a fight. We all went to bed that night thinking this was the end, and we’d have to leave Ellie home the next day, and bring Cricket in to the vet for the last time.
But in the morning, my little phoenix rose from the ashes again, climbed up and down the stairs herself, ate her breakfast and demanded more.
So we went, all together, to the vet, me as the chauffeur in the front seat, Mom sitting in the back with both dogs, so that Ellie wouldn’t have to sit alone back there (Cricket has never tolerated sitting in the backseat. When we would put her in a harness early on in her life, she’d escape within thirty seconds and make her way up to the driver’s seat). With Cricket and Grandma sitting next to her, Ellie got through the ride without crying once, though she was still breathing heavily.
I carried Cricket into the vet’s waiting room, not wanting to have her walk on the hot ground (Ellie refused to be carried), and the vet took Cricket out first, to take the blood, and then focused on Ellie and her cough. I tried to reenact the cough for him, so he’d know what he was dealing with, and he gave me a look and said, “Can you do that again?” It took me a second to realize he was joking. If he has a sense of humor it is very, very dry. He checked Ellie’s heart and looked in her mouth and took her temperature (which she found horrifying), and he gave her an anti-inflammatory shot and sent us home with antibiotics and a cough suppressant for her to take twice a day, and he said to call him in a few days and let him know if she was coughing any less (because if not, he’d want to follow up with an x-ray).
And we were free. This visit, which, for a few hours there had seemed like it would be the last time I ever saw my Cricket, turned out to be routine and quick. When we got home we were all ready for an afternoon nap, maybe me more than everyone else, to be honest.
Both dogs were thrilled with their treats (with their separate meds hidden inside) once the naps were over: Cricket discovered a great love for sardine juice, and Ellie discovered that she had no such great love and stuck with pieces of chicken.
Ellie coughed less for a few days, though she became more and more picky every day about the treats within which we could hide her pills, but then the coughing came back, and Ellie was barely eating anything at all. We called the vet and he said to stop the antibiotics, because they might be causing her lack of appetite, but keep up the cough suppressants for a few more days and then call back.
Pretty quickly, though, it was clear that Ellie was getting worse. She was breathing heavily, leaving treats uneaten (where Cricket could easily steal them), and refusing to walk more than a few feet at a time. So we called the vet for an emergency appointment this morning and brought her in, and as soon as he saw her he said she didn’t look good at all. He took an x-ray and said her heart was huge and misshapen, and there was fluid collecting around her heart. He gave her a shot of a diuretic and told us he would send the x-rays on to a specialist and then let us know what medication she could take going forward. But, he said, she could collapse at any time. He couldn’t explain how she’d gone from having a little bit of a cough to being in heart failure within a week, but most likely the cough had been caused by the enlarged heart in the first place, pressing on her trachea.
Ellie’s home now, still breathing heavily, but peeing rivers, which will hopefully relieve some of the pressure on her heart. But my heart is overwhelmed. Cricket is oblivious: sleeping on Grandma’s lap, eating well, and barking her frustration at all of the attention her sister has been getting. And now we wait, to see what comes next.
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Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
I am so sorry to read this about sweet Ellie. I hope both doggos get better soon!
Thank you!!!
It’s such a worry when our dogs aren’t 100% well. Your two are such darlings. I hope they both get back to their old selves soon.
Thank you!
If Cricket can be a phoenix, then I believe that so can Ellie. Hoping she gets better soon.
I hope so! Thank you!
🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
I hope the best for the two dogs so you can get some peace of mind.
Thank you!
Oh Dear sweet Ellie.. praying for all needs.
Thank you!
Such a difficult time…hope you, Ellie and Cricket are better soon.
Thank you!
It does sound like the end is near. I had Merlin put to sleep almost two weeks ago. I hope you both get a comfortable last few days or weeks together.
Thank you!
I had water around my heart a year ago and with diuretics it cleared up quickly. Wishing you and your poochies all the best.
That’s great news. Thank you!
I grieve with you as your dogs age and struggle with their health. May you find peace and time to savor each of them in the days ahead.
Thank you!
Not at all what I expected you to be writing about. I hope all goes well and your babies get better. Soon 💕
Thank you!
I was so sorry to read your post. I’m praying.
Thank you!
Sending love and prayers to you. That is really not much help but what else can I do? So sad when our fur babies have these troubles.
Thank you! Everything helps!
Sending supportive thoughts to you, Ellie and Cricket.
Thank you!
Pleasure
As a part of the family, it pains us to see them suffer. Hope they are both feeling better soon. Allan
Thank you!
It seems wrong to “like” this post. I hope your next can report good news about both dogs.
That would be wonderful!
Oh so sorry to hear about Ellie’s troubles! Hope she’s back to her old self soon!
Thank you!
😔🥺🤗
Oh, poor baby! Hope Ellie improves soonest. Thinking of you all Rachel.
Thank you!
Sorry to hear that Ellie is not feeling well, Rachel. It’s very difficult when our pets get sick. Sounds like Ellie is getting the care she needs — and all that love from you can’t hurt. I’m thinking of both of you!
Thank you so much!
Oh my goodness, what a rollercoaster you all are on. Here’s hoping Ellie follows Cricket with a phoenix act.
Thank you!
How scary that a cough turned out to be something so horrible. I hope you post a follow on both Ellie and Cricket. I need to know how Ellie is doing. I read “Yeshiva Girl” last week and was amazed. I will write a review on Amazon.
Thank you so much!!!!
Your book is so good!
I’m so glad you like it!!!!!
😊
I’m sorry you’re dealing with so much. It’s hard enough when one of our treasured pals is sick but to have both at the same time …I hope Ellie can be helped with medication. One of our Chihuahuas had heart issues and went on medication that helped with the fluid. Thinking of you all ❤️
Thank you!
lost my 10y Collie ZORA these days,
wish much more luck and a good doctor with healing ideas!!!!
she also had cough and drank a lot, but had a liver tumor discovered by pure chance and drunk a lot of water..but survived for about 90 days until she was humanely redeemed – without a heart injection…
I’m so sorry!
Good grief, Rachel. What a confluence of awfulness. We’re all pulling for you and your dear family!
Thank you!
I hope your fur babies will get well soon Rachel🥰
Me too! Thank you!
I’m so sorry to hear that Ellie is doing poorly on top of Cricket’s health issues. It’s so hard when we can just make them better!
It sucks. Thank you!
You are such a sensitively good parent to Ellie and Cricket! I have Congestive Heart Failure, myself, and know what that feels like – poor Ellie was really suffering and you did all the right things. I’m sure the heat wave isn’t helping any – for all of you, puppers, your mother, you. Good luck with both Cricket and Ellie and stay as cool as possible!
Thank you so much!
I bet your heart is overwhelmed. Already dealing with so many issues, then to have this with one of your beloved fur friends. Such a painful situation. As so many others have done, I offer you hope and send you all the positive energy I can muster. Take care.
Thank you so much!
“… but most likely the cough had been caused by the enlarged heart in the first place, pressing on her trachea.”
Hi lady and dogs!!!
In my case, as I reported in your blog about the dog I adopted of the same breed as yours, the diagnosis was the same: advanced age affected the functioning of the heart, and this deregulated its pressure and caused an intermittent cough.
The bad misguidance given to me by the veterinarian (and also my inattention) made me give the wrong way medication, which caused kidney paralysis and death.
I say this in your favor and to vent. Thanks and blessings!!!
Thank you!
Oh, God. That’s a pet owner’s worst nightmare: to have what seems like a simple little problem turn out to be an emergency. I hope Ellie gets better and Cricket stays well.
Thank you!
Very worrying times. I wish you all well
Thank you!
God bless your little darlings.
Thank you!
So sorry to hear that Ellie has suddenly become so ill. Sending love to you all x
Thank you!
I will be thinking of little Ellie, and hoping for a good outcome.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you so much!
I am so glad things turned out well. You are a good mom to your fur babies. ❤
Thank you!
Quite a worry. Thanks for the post.
Thank you!
I’m so sorry that precious Ellie has a grossly enlarged heart. With your good care and the right treatment plan, she may still have some good time ahead. In the meantime, good to hear that Cricket keeps bouncing back.
Thank you!
There is nothing worse than your pet dog seriously ill, its like the end of the world (we never really appreciate how much they ARE our world); fingers crossed she recovers.
Thank you!
Oh, Rachel, I am so sorry. You and your mom take such good care of your beautiful doggies. I will pray for all of you.
Thank you!
Don’t despair! With the right meds, dogs can go on leading a good life with congestive heart failure. My greyhound X Millie was diagnosed at 13, and with meds she went on to live another two years. It wasn’t actually the heart failure that ended her life – her arthritis compromised her mobility too much for quality of life and she had to be PTS. If she’d been a younger dog she could probably have gone on even longer with the heart condition.
I hope Ellie and Cricket are both feeling better soon.
Thank you! My previous dog, Butterfly, had heart issues before we adopted her and also ended up dying of something else. But Ellie showed no signs until now, very suddenly, so I was worried her situation was/is worse. So far so good, though. She’s eating again and has barely coughed. Fingers crossed she will continue to improve.
That is good news! My fingers are crossed too.
Ah Rachel, life comes at you like a tsunami. Humans moan and groan about ailments but our furry loved ones just go along in silence until the signs penetrate through all life’s demands and distractions. I do hope Ellie feels better soon. You too, these things are hard on the nerves.
It’s been crazy around here. My mom has taken to calling our apartment “the infirmary.”
It seems all kinds of wrong to ‘like’ this post. I’m so sorry to hear sweet Ellie is not feeling swell. Sending gentle thoughts of healing energy her way.
Thank you!
I hope Ellie gets better soon! It sounds like you have a good vet and is knowledgeable on the subject of congestive heart failure. I’m from Canada and sorry you all are getting the smoke too. It’s been a nightmare!
That one day when the sky turned orange – that was like a zombie movie. We’re keeping the dogs inside during the day, to avoid the worst of the heat, and hopefully the air purifier is doing it’s job.
Oh Rachel, reading about Ellie brought tears to my eyes. Sending you both some Labrador love from Adi & Summer.
Thank you!!!
Those poor babies! I will be praying for them both!
Thank you!!!
I am so sorry. There are all sorts of troubles in this post. Sending a hug through the rough times.
Thank you!
I hope Ellie will be back to full strength soon.
Me too! Thank you!
Hang in there; you’re doing everything you can. It’s out of your hands
to some degree and both Ellie and Cricket are so lucky to have you!
Thank you!
Awww! It hurts so much when fur-babies get sick. Hoping for good health for you and yours!
Thank you!