A couple of months ago Mikey, one of the terriers, was diagnosed with a very serious blood disorder.  His red blood cells went crazy, and began procreating at an amazing rate.  He had more than twice the normal quantity of these cells which is life threatening.  

Apparently this disease is very rare.  It was diagnosed more by accident, than on purpose.  He went in for some dermatitis issues and through routine blood work it was discovered.  The symptoms are really subtle...over time he had become more lethargic, lost some weight, and did seem to be drinking a bit more water...but there weren't really any flashing warning lights. 

The good news is that after many, many visits to the vets office for some good old fashioned "blood letting" coupled with a daily medication he's back in the "normal range".  He feels good, and is much sassier than I've seen him in a couple of years.  The downside is the medication has side effects....such as hair loss. He has lost most of his long, crazy hair.  He's down to his soft, downy undercoat....it's taking some time to get used to...he really doesn't look like his 'old self'.  

And, since the medication impacts "hair" and toenails are "hair" they are not doing so good either.  They are all getting ready to fall off, which is very painful, as I know first hand from my chemo experience.  The vet says once they do fall off, he'll feel better, which again I agree with based on my own toenail drama.   I just feel sooo bad.  I really struggle each day when I give him the medicine which keeps him alive and spunky, only knowing it's causing him toe distress.

BEFORE:  

NOW (and I know, he is still incredibly cute handsome!):  

I really don't know how parents manage when they have kids with cancer or other such illnesses....it must be excruciatingly painful to take the little ones to infusion centers to kill the bad stuff, which also makes them really sick to boot.  I completely understand it's to save a life, but still, very, very painful.

Maybe some day we'll live in a world where all this pain will be a thing of the distant past???