The trip to the vet today confirms that the odd thumping sound we've been hearing in the house is indeed Kenya's heart and she does have a grade 6/6 murmur, which is extremely rare and rather loud. Fortunately, she doesn't have any other cardiac symptoms except a precordial thrill (which means you can feel her heart beat with your hand an inch off her chest). Everyone in the medical center came to feel and listen to her thumper because it's so impressive.

Yesterday she decided she didn't want her belly touched, so we made sure her innards got groped well while she was being seen by the doctor, and we did take the precaution of muzzling her first, or she gets bitey. She was definitely tender in these areas, so we are going to have to up her pain medication. It's possible that she's getting a bladder infection, so I'll be taking a sample to the office tomorrow to get that checked. It's possible that there's no real change in the bladder cancer and it's just an increase in pain. But it's also possible the tumor has grown and is blocking the outflow of one or both kidneys. If one kidney, she can limp along on one, with more pain medication. If both kidneys, we're talking down to a number of days left.

She is still eating, still playing, and not peeing excessively, so her quality of life is still there. When she stops the first two and really increases the latter, we'll know it's time. But she's an old dog limping along, and so far so good.

Note: Since I wrote this yesterday, the vet called and said that yes indeedy she has a urinary tract infection and needs the antibiotics.  ¶ 3:27 PM