Please Don't Tell Me It Comes in Threes!

You already know that this week has been eventful for Cora. I am happy to report that Cora is doing well. No more fever, just an awful sounding cough. Thankfully, the cough does not seem to bother Cora that much.

Being fever free and on the upswing, Cora and I decided to do dinner with a friend. I left Penny in the house because I knew it was going to get cold outside. When we got home, Penny was on the back of the couch as she often is when left at home alone. Normally, Penny will jump down off the couch to shower whomever comes home with kisses. Last night, however, she seemed really reluctant to jump down off the couch. When she did get down, she was in an almost cowering posture. I called John and he figured it was probably nothing to worry about. So, I went about getting Cora ready for bed. 45 minutes later when Penny was still acting odd, I tried to pick her up and she yelped with pain. I put her on the bed and her whole body just shook and shook. This is when panic set in. John looked up the number for an emergency vet clinic, and after talking with the vet tech, Penny, Cora and I set off to get her checked out. Penny had all her vital signs checked and everything was stable. The vet couldn't give me a definite diagnosis without more testing (translation: more $$$ from me), but she suspected a slipped disc. She gave us some pain pills and let us go home. When we got home (at 1:00 in the morning!), I did a little internet research, and I feel confident that a slipped disc is the mystery ailment. Unfortunately for Penny, the treatment consists of pain pills and solitary confinement in her crate for 2 weeks. She only gets out to eat and to go to the bathroom. I am already seeing improvement in her, so I'm really hopeful for a full recovery. I just hope that she can endure the confinement. So, don't tell me these things come in threes. . .I'm the only healthy one left!