But, my progress didn't last long, and I relapsed. In fact each time I want back to the vet (we're on a first name basis by now) he would put me back on the medication, I'd do okay for a week or so, but as soon as I came off the meds, I would relapse again. This was NO fun. Mom and Dad were pretty stressed too. But this was becoming a pattern. Finally on a Sunday Mom and Dad said 'enough' and that I had to go to Michigan State...they could find out what was wrong and help me. My Mom an Dad are BIG Spartan fans and I've spent lots of time there before. It's always been fun romping around the campus and letting everyone pet and admire me...and of course, I was wearing my best green and white Michigan State collar. Problem was, I just wasn't feeling too good...and I didn't think this time was going to be like the others.

I was right! Mom and Dad rushed me out to the car and off we went. The MSU Doc's were really nice to me, gave me an exam and some new meds (and I got to meet a pretty neat Airedale and a white puppy, and I got to come home, but my new Doctor; Dr. Barrios, told Mom and Dad to watch me close and bring me right back if the meds weren't helping and I didn't get better in just a few days. I tried, but....I didn't, so I had to go back for something called "exploratory surgical biopsy".

While this sure isn't something I'm going to recommend, my Doctors and students were great. I got lots of cuddles and walks and they played with me 'n my penguin (he got to come with me). After my surgery I had to spend three days in ICU on a water bed with a heated blanket...(and my penguin) and Mom and Dad came up every day to visit me. My Doctors said I had something called 'chronic colitis', a congenitally small liver, distended bladder, an extreme bacteria count and some erosion of my intestine. They gave me more medicine and a prescription diet but they took ALL my tummy fur !!! I'll probably never hear the end of that from Jaspaar! My Doctor called my Mom and Dad several times a day to let them know how I was. And my student, Mary, told them she would say goodnight to me for them every single night. Mom says she thinks I got the best care ever!

I'm almost finished with my meds now...only two more days. My Doc says I still can't have anything except my prescription dog food though. Mom and Dad are worried that I might relapse again...but I'm going to try as hard as I can not to. Now that we know what was wrong my Doc said we can treat it whenever it comes up again and I should be just fine. That's why it was good to have the biopsy, nothing else would have diagnosed the problems correctly.

I'm, feeling really good now too....in fact Mom just about cried the first day I whomped on Jaz after I'd been home about a week. Didn't know that could make her so happy....maybe I should do it more often! In fact, Jaz even seemed happy about it. Dad said Jaspaar really, really missed me and kept waiting with his nose pressed to the window, for me to come home. Sure....I bet he played with my lambie and hippo when I was gone!....But that's ok, I missed my family and I'm glad to be home. I was soooo happy to see Mom and Dad when they came to get me I almost didn't let my Doc's give me my good-bye hugs. But.... the next time I go back to Michigan State...I just want to bark at the ducks and have a picnic by the river.