Tough Time

I currently have six dogs...and I've had six dogs at once before. However, this time it's harder for some reason. I wouldn't part with any of them for anything (and I do mean ANYTHING), but one of the reasons it's harder this time, I believe, is because almost all of them have a health or behavior issue.

Wheatie, my oldest, was diagnosed with degenerative myeopathy several years ago, but it finally progressed after Patch died. I continue to have acupuncture and underwater treadmill therapy done for him. The acupuncture kept his disease from progressing beyond muscle spasms for about three years! Although he's very cognizant and has a can-do attitude, Wheatie's mobility has significantly declined. This harsh winter and the slippery yard has not helped and he's had many pee accidents over the past several months. Ever the gentleman, he has them in the kitchen where they're easily cleaned up, but having him outside to do his business for a half hour, only to bring him in and him pee is frustrating.

Mona is the most worrisome right now. She has kidney disease that popped up a few months ago. I worry it was brought on by her diminishing eyesight and a fear of getting pounced on (in play) by a dog I was dog-sitting around that time. She's gotten better, but still seems touch-and-go to me at times. I'm awaiting blood work results to see if she's indeed in kidney failure. Getting her to eat adequately is the real struggle right now.

Winnie has heart disease, but that is being controlled with medication and she appears fine. My biggest frustration with her is her coprophagia. It's the one behavior that actually takes a toll on my human-animal bond. Not enough to break it, but definitely stress it. Worse yet, I think she "talks" a few of the others into doing it. ("Hmm, if she's eating it, it must be something to consume...")

Missy has recovered nicely from her second cruciate surgery, but my issue that popped up with her after the last surgery was having accidents on her bed. I attributed it to bad knees and it feeling better to squat on a poofy structure, but having to put bloomers on her and her knowing how to get them off is aggravating. Then, over the past four months when I'm having late days, she's become anxious and pooping in her crate often. This from a dog who has been thoroughly crate trained. With her accidents, I can't trust her out, so I have to deal. And now, she's on the kidney disease watch list. (sigh)

Calin has separation anxiety, but that's to be expected after being abandoned by his home of nearly nine years and going through two other homes before coming to me. It can be annoying to hear him yip after being outside without me for more than five minutes, and while I understand, I wish I could have him understand he's finally home. I think he would prefer to be an only dog and have all of my attention, but that is just impossible (and always will be). He has some health issues related to periodic blood and mucous in his stool. Tests have been inconclusive, but the worry now is diabetes/thyroid/kidney. His water consumption has increased significantly over the past several months. I await blood work results on him, too.

Manos' (my newest) only issues are occasional pee accidents, although she's learning, copping thanks to Winnie & Missy, and alarm barking. Her alarm barking is getting better, but when you have six dogs, one barks and the others take notice. She IS a good alarm system, though. One squeak, creak, car door slam, loud noise and she tells me. She can cool it a bit, though. ("That door squeak is just ME coming out of the bathroom, silly!") And BTW, Manos is my youngest at 7 1/2.

I can honestly say this is the last time I will have this quantity again. I'm skating the line of quantity and quality and I don't want to do that. I have to feel they get my quality time and they have a quality life. They probably have it better than most dogs, but my expectations are high for my children. I want to be the good dog mom I envision.
If only I could find that dog dad to help...

Remembrance, Old & New

May 31st is Freckles and Fozie’s birthdays. I lost Freckles in 1992 and Fozie in 1999.

I lost Patch on 4/22/14

Patch & Me (Photo credit: Angela.)

and Bowie on 5/22/14.

Bowie sleeping (Photo credit: Me.)

I miss them all.

A Few Of My Reasons For Being...

Mona & Patch (Photo credit: Me.)

Wheatie (Photo credit: Me.)

Bowie (Photo credit: Me.)

Calin & Winnie (Photo credit: Me.)

Must watch dog movie! Beyond The Myth free on Hulu for a limited time.

Every person should watch this movie. Go here to do so:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/417334#i0,p0,d0

Your babies become my babies

I do some dog (and cat) sitting here and there, mainly for family and friends, but a few others as well. Since I work in animal care and with a lot of dogs specifically, I have an excellent grasp on the care needed, but also connecting with the dogs. The longest I cared for someone else's dog was a full month when they were WAY out of the country. The current care-giving has been nearly two weeks. And although this puts a slight stress on some of my own dogs (and cat) when the guests are younger and more energetic (all of my dogs are seniors), the dogs always incorporate into my household nicely.

I had a realization the other day when loving on the guest dogs: They totally trust me and show love immediately for caring for them. The look on their faces and in their eyes is priceless and I can't even fathom those who betray that trust. Dogs are so pure and really do make you feel like a better person just for providing for them.

When a dog enters my home, they do truly become mine while they are with me, no matter the length of stay. Their parents should feel great relief in that, for that level of commitment can be hard to find.

 

 

 

Jasper & Joey take over the couch. (Photo credit: Me.)

Mine don't care too much: Calin took over THEIR bed. LOL. (Photo credit: Me.)

The Story Of An Eye (part three - finale)

Long delay in updating, I know! So, on with the “story”: The conclusion.

Back to more rechecks. I took Mona all the way to Columbus for one of the first rechecks since the melting corneal ulcer was diagnosed. The eye not only had the ulcer, but there was a small area where the cornea was so thin that the specialist said the eye could start leaking fluid/blood, meaning the eye would no longer be viable. What’s more, she was not sure the eye had vision anymore. We would hold out hope, though.

The next recheck, the eye/ulcer was looking better and there was a slim chance Mona still had vision in the eye. However, the following week, a different eye specialist working that day didn’t think so. Since this was the first time I had seen this particular specialist and wasn’t very “impressed” with her as much as the other two, I didn’t let that completely dash my hopes. More rechecks and the result was what I didn’t want to hear: Mona’s vision, which had been restored by the surgery, was now gone in that eye. More so, and this is the kicker, that thin area was still at risk of giving, so the eye needed to be removed completely. As a matter of fact, the eye was starting to atrophy, so the body was more or less trying to absorb the now un-functioning structure. Luckily, my own vet could do that, saving me money and Mona a trip to Columbus.

No more left eye, right after surgery. (Photo credit: Me.)

It's a big bummer for two main reasons: 1) Mona did get her vision back in the eye for awhile. I chose to go for the surgeries with the mindset that, as a Chihuahua, she could easily live to her 20s and therefore had half her life left to live. To do that with full vision really was the most optimal for her well-being. To have her get her sight back and then lose it again really sucked. 2) I spent A LOT of money on the surgeries and aftercare. Money wasn't going to totally dis-sway me. I would do anything for my babies. But, it was extremely disappointing because of the final result. 

That being said, Mona is great. She's adjusted to only partial vision just fine. I always make sure she knows what's coming from that blind side, though. The last thing I want is for her to develop any anxiety from things startling her because she didn't see something coming.

"I don't need no stinkin' eye . . ." (Photo credit: Me.)

 

The Story Of An Eye (part two)

Getting Mona’s cataract and glaucoma surgeries done was going to be tricky since she had to go to Columbus for it and I had a very hectic work schedule around that time. Luckily, my city’s emergency clinic would transport her to Columbus for a fee. I jumped on that option and took her in early (we’re talking 5:30 AM) on a Monday in September last year. Her surgeries were Tuesday and she would have to stay for at least three days to have her eye pressure checked regularly. This in and of itself was stressful for me, not having my dog, but I could only imagine how it was for Mona. At least I knew what was going on. All she knew was she was away from home with strangers.

Her surgeries went good and the specialist was confident eye sight had been restored. But, her eye pressure started going up. Evidently they go conservative with lasering glaucoma (you can go back in but you can’t put it back), so after spending the weekend at the hospital, I was told they had to go back in. After that, her eye pressure was good. Eleven days later, I get my dog back in an ecollar and on five different eye meds, some which were to be given four times a day, and two oral meds. 

Surgery was on her left eye. (Photo credit: Me.)

She would have rechecks every week to two weeks for a little while to ensure everything was healing nicely and the eye pressure was good. And it was. I got the go-ahead to take off her ecollar, although meds would continue for awhile. I left the ecollar on one more day, then took it off. Then, the following Monday when I got home from work, she was squinting. By Tuesday, I could tell she had a corneal ulcer. Ecollar: Back on (to her dismay). Upon recheck, diagnosis: Melting corneal ulcer (basically meaning infected).

Oh boy. 

Melting corneal ulcer. (Photo credit: Me.)

How will this story end? Stay tuned for the final installment of "The Story Of An Eye".