b'Two Tails Upwords and photographs by Martin HimmelfarbWe learned that Jasper had terminal awardedbyPetPartners,agroup specialty clinic. liver disease when he was 11 years old. devoted to promoting the relationship ThevisittothespecialistwasHehadshownnoseveresymptoms, between humans and their pets. But ominous. Elevated enzymes could bealthoughinretrospecthisotherwise despitedailybrushingwithpoultry causedbyanumberofconditions,finickyappetitehaddeclinedsome- flavored toothpaste, his teeth needed noneofthembenign.MaybeJasperwhat and he was less perky than usual. scaling,aprocedurethatcalledfor ate some poisonous mushrooms, andHis vision had been dimming over the general anesthesia.hisliver,theorganwhichfiltersoutpast year or two, and his legs were stiff Onaroutinepre-opbloodtest, harmfulchemicals,wasinflamed.Nikita (left) at four months joins Jasper for a romp. with arthritis, but he was still himself, his liver enzymes showed up as astro- Maybehehadaninfection.Perhapseagerforourcompanionshipand nomically high, a sure sign of serious Jasperhadatumoroftheliver,orready to go anywhere on a moments liverdisease,hisdoctortoldus.She there was a blockage of his bile duct. notice. He still hated squirrels and cats recommendedanultrasoundscanof Weagreedtotheultrasound,and would tug at his leash if he sensed his abdomen to see what was causing because it is not an invasive procedure,their presence. He had recently passed his ailment and maybe a liver biopsy, but declined the liver biopsy, in whichhis therapy dog test and even earned a both procedures to be performed by a large bore needle is used to removecomplexrating,thehighestlevel aveterinarygastroenterologistata some liver tissue for analysis. 54THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'