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Baxter is my hero for surviving a near-fatal illness called ITP at just 6 years old. His immune system had been compromised by unknown causes. Blood was dripping from his nose, coming out of his mouth, and he had bloody stool. His platelet count and overall blood levels were so dangerously low that he needed a blood transfusion, along with X-rays and an ultrasound to check for cancer. He was prescribed several medications.

Euthanasia was considered by his veterinarian, but I refused—he was still responding to me. After seven days in the hospital, I took him home. He began to eat and drink water, though he remained very weak. One of his medications, prednisone, made him extremely hungry and thirsty. I once found an empty cake pan on the floor, completely licked clean—he had devoured a whole, freshly baked strawberry coffee cake! I think that’s why he preferred to be at home.

Slowly, he began to regain strength. He had lost a lot of hair, and his tail looked like just a stick. His front and hind paws were swollen to twice their normal size. But after a little over a month, he got better—he returned to his old rambunctious self and looked more like the Baxter I knew.

Now at 9 years old, people still think he’s a puppy.

Owner:
May