I woke up yesterday morning around 5:30 to the sight of Moe standing in front of my bedroom door (he sleeps in the lazyboy downstairs). I figured he must really need to go out but I couldn't get him to follow me downstairs. He was too quiet and very disoriented. With a lot of coaxing, cajoling, and gentle tugging I finally got him downstairs and out the door. I watched as he made his way into the yard and then just sat down in the wet grass in the dark. I knew something was very wrong. I managed to get him back in and laying down. Then I just lay with him and cried. We just lost my father-in-law a couple days ago and if I lost Moe it would really be too much. He is my best friend and has helped me through many hard times. When it was light I called the vet and made an appointment, sure that something was terribly wrong. There was but but I'm not losing him anytime soon, thank goodness! It turned out that one of his cysts had become infected, resulting in a fever which explained his listless behavior. The vet drained some of the infection, inserted a drain, gave him an injection of anitbiotics, placed a large cone around his neck, and gave us some medication and special instructions. Then they clipped his nails, adding insult to injury. He looks like a bizarre sort of tulip as he wanders about the house and yard, getting caught on pieces of furniture and drawer handles. I think those collars are very difficult for a short dog to wear comfortably. 
The drain comes out on Monday, and a decision will have to be made about possible surgery, but my Moe will be with us for many years to come, God willing.
Question for Betsy: I seem to remember you mentioning having multiple cysts removed from one of your dogs. Moe has four large ones (Walnut size) and we are wondering if we should have tham all removed or only the one that is troubling him now. How did your dog do with the removal of multiple cysts? The most we ever had taken off Moe at one time was two. Also, in our case, whenever we had one removed, several others developed. Did this happen with you? I was curious if this was a common thing to occur.
Terry
The drain comes out on Monday, and a decision will have to be made about possible surgery, but my Moe will be with us for many years to come, God willing.Question for Betsy: I seem to remember you mentioning having multiple cysts removed from one of your dogs. Moe has four large ones (Walnut size) and we are wondering if we should have tham all removed or only the one that is troubling him now. How did your dog do with the removal of multiple cysts? The most we ever had taken off Moe at one time was two. Also, in our case, whenever we had one removed, several others developed. Did this happen with you? I was curious if this was a common thing to occur.
Terry
