Time to ask for prayers

It is Monday. I went to work with mom and she weighed me. I have lost almost half a pound in one week. I now weigh 4.0 pounds. They were going to switch me to a hypoallergenic food, but have decided to use a gastrointestinal diet. My energy is down too. I sleep alot more. I love riding in the car and looking out the window while sitting on the arm rest. Now I just go to sleep on mom's lap while she drives. The doctors don't really know what to do for me. I'm eating like a horse, but losing weight like crazy. I'm not vomiting, I'm not having diarrhea, but I'm losing protein. Please keep me in your thoughts.

I'm getting smaller

My mom had to take me with her to work. I was not acting like myself this weekend. I would wander off and get under a blanket. This is not how I operate. I have to be with mom at all times. Usually, I am too afraid to be alone, but mom knew I wasn't feeling good when she had trouble finding me. When I went to work with mom, I had lost even more weight. This is not good, as I don't have much left to spare. I'm wasting away at 4.4 pounds. The doctor said, "Let's run the ultrasound over him." I did not like laying with my stomach exposed, but mom held my front legs and rubbed my face, and made it better. They looked all through my lower GI tract. I'm so small that it presented some challenges. The doctors saw some wierd things around my gall bladder and bile ducts. There was "sludge." Perhaps my bile ducts weren't emptying properly, they thought. This led to blood tests, and I'm beginning to resent getting poked in the neck. I got extra hugs from mom, so I guess it wasn't all bad. The blood tests all looked good, as far as the liver was concerned, but my proteins are low. Somewhere I'm losing protein. They ruled out pancreatitis. It is IBD, and the doctor said it is a very real possibility that it could be cancer that is hiding. Off to the x-ray machine, but my x-rays looked wonderful. By the way I look, and the way I'm losing weight and protein, cancer is a very real possibility. It is just a matter of finding it. Mom is hoping that I can put some weight on, and put the whole cancer theory to rest. Time will tell.

Really? Dog of the Day!

I don't completely know how it happened, but I was minding my own business, and mom came home from work. She nibbled on some carrots that I really wanted to taste, and found out that I was chosen as Dogster's Dog of the Day. I looked around thinking maybe there was some mistake that had been made. Mom, did you read something wrong? Little 4 and a half pound, and shrinking, me is the Chosen One? My head was spinning, and then I saw all the gifts my friends had left for me!!! I would like to thank Nina for making me a commemorative picture for my page. Thanks to Abbie and Smiley Cassanova for sending me pawmail congrats; and to those who wanted to become friends with me. I want to thank everyone who gave me rosette gifties: Teddy & Casey; Natcho; Annie; Tinkerbelle & Natasha; Zoe, Inkspot & family; Precious Pup; Walker, Alexandria & family; Sammy Jo & family; Angelica & family; Angel Bosco, Kaci & family; Charlie, Abby & family; Angel Whisper & Dixie; and Quigley. A dog cannot ask for a better group of friends! I'd also like to thank 3 groups I'm in for recognizing my honor today: The Canine Lounge, Dogs Just Want To Have Fun, and Fur Frenzy. It means alot to me and my mom. And mom said that Zane was probably smiling down at me from heaven. That made me proud!

Love the skin you're in, or get a new harness

My mom bought me a new harness. She decided I would do better with a harness rather than a collar. My tags bang against the water bowl and scare me when I try to drink, and my neck is really tiny...go figure. So, this new harness scared me at first because it didn't go on like my coats and sweaters. I had to put my feet in first and then it buckles behind my head at my shoulders. Then, it velcroes behind the buckle around my rib cage! I almost went into an anxiety attack the first time it was put on me. It's been 2 weeks now, and I can wear it without any panic now. It is soft like a coat, and I know that I will be going somewhere when it goes on. I've had to wear it everyday this week because I've been going to work with mom at the vet office. I love going with mom, but I've been sick. Mom said she's worried because I haven't gained any weight, and my hair isn't growing back. I've been diagnosed with pancreatitis with no improvement. While at work, I had an accident in my kennel. I never go poo in the kennel, but there it was for the world to see. And there were drops of blood. The doctor said I had IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and I needed prednisone for the inflammation. He also tested my thyroid and it's low. So, I'm on 2 medicines for 2 conditions, and a prescription diet for 2 other conditions. Did I mention I need a dental badly? Mom's been putting that off until I get better, but I just keep adding to the list. The good news is that everyone loves my harness! I guess if you're gonna be health-challenged, you should do it with class and style.

Another problem...

So, mom has been really good at keeping my early stage kidney disease under control. I've been healthy eating a renal diet for some time now. Although, I've been having some intestinal issues lately. I'll spare the gruesome details, but I haven't been so regular, if you catch my drift. I've also had some knarly burps, bordering on tasting something from down below. Mom was really busy with Zane's illness, so I just kept my burps to myself, and let her attend to Zane. I gobbled up my food as normal, had my anxiety episodes, you know, kept things unsuspicious. But, Zane passed away, and mom began to notice that I was feeling a bit on the thin side myself. I was also getting bitey when my tummy was touched. Mom took me in and had her friends poke me with needles to get my blood. She thought maybe my kidney disease was progressing. I had to have a muzzle this time because I've been "snippy and acting painful." Of all the indignities! She weighed me and her jaw dropped. I am only 4.6 pounds. The blood test showed that my kidneys are ok, but one of my proteins is low. So, 12 hour fast, more blood for a GI panel, and a test called TLI was off the charts high! I have full-blown pancreatitis. Mom has to give me pancreatic enzymes everyday, which has helped my poops, but my burping and stomach gurgling still persist. Last night was extra tough. I threw up on the bed. Mom seemed upset at first, but cleaned it and gave me a hug. She kept me close all night and was happy that I was feeling better this morning. I don't know what I'd do without my mom. She loves me.

Christmas shopping

Mom went Christmas shopping yesterday and I got to go along. Of course, I had to stay in the car while she was inside the stores, but I made sure I kept my eye on everything. Mom would get out of the car and return with bags in her hands. I made sure that I watched vigilantly until she returned. I stood on the armrest and my head would be in the driver's side window without fail. Alot of people saw me and wanted me to look at them, but I was looking for one person, Mom. They were enchanted by my sweater, and my fluffy hair, but don't let the fluff fool you! There is 100% watchdog under this cute exterior. I did score lots of treats, like the girl at the little coffee booth who said she's never seen such a fluffy dog before, and the kid at the gas station. And best of all, Mom bought stockings! One with a dog on it, and one with a cat. Mom said Santa might bring treats for us dogs and cats, and leave them in our stocking! Now I won't have to beg off the human's stockings. This is turning out to be the best Christmas ever. And, I got to watch out for Mom during her shopping, because she needs me and counts on me to protect her. I might not be as big and scary looking as Zane, but I'm just as important. Mom says so. And she told Santa so!

Thanksgiving dinner

Well, Thanksgiving dinner was something this year. My humans all went to Granny's house, and since I'm so small, I got to go!! I ran around and was greeted by Grampa, who always gives me treats. Their dachsund doesn't really like me too much, she is old and stayed on the chair. I walked around a bit, looking for morsels of food as the house smelled like heaven. The humans sat in the living area, chatting. Mom's sister came, and brought her pug. It was a gathering of humans and dogs! The pug stayed close to her human, but we smelled each other out of polite greeting etiquette. Granny got dinner all set out, the humans ate and talked, the dogs were stationed under the table in case food dropped. Then, the humans went to the living room and talked more. The pug ran between the couch and coffee table, grabbed the lamp cord in the curl of her tail, pulled the lamp to the floor, broke the ceramic piece in 2. Granny got mad and talked of buying metal lamps. Grampa said he could glue it. Somehow religion was brought up and a heated debate was born between Grampa and a grandson. The night never truly recovered after that. Granny served pumpkin pie and a piece was dropped, the dogs were all over it. Mom pulled me away saying something about diarrhea, I wasn't listening because of the adrenaline/sugar rush combination brewing in my 5 pound body. The humans watched some tv, had some laughs, and then started packing up leftovers. It was dark outside and had been a long day. Mom said her stomach hurt from eating too much. In my opinion, too much food is nothing to complain about. At home, the humans watched Home For The Holidays and I slept on mom's chest. I was worn out. Mom got sad from the movie because she missed her brother and went to bed. I licked her face and we drifted off to sleep. Not a perfect Thanksgiving, but at the end of the day, we all know we love each other. Happy Thanksgiving.

Eyes are the window to the soul

It's been a month since my hot summer shave down, and my hair is growing back nicely. My mom's fears have been put at ease. Yet, it would be unlike me to keep mom worry-free for too long. I was squinting and itching my eye for a while, she didn't seem to notice. Then, I stopped her in her tracks one fine day. I must have looked close to frankenstein because she said, "What on earth happened to you?" I cocked my head to the side and pricked my ears forward, wondering what she meant. "Your eye is full of pus!" she told me bluntly. I'm not sure what that meant, but she didn't make it sound good. She put me on her lap and, there I was, in a headlock! Seriously! Then she picked at my eye with the fingernails of death, short but deadly. It kindof felt good because of the itching, but I'm not telling. She had the nerve to squeeze ointment into my eye. She's been doing it for two weeks, and she is still picking pus out of the corners with the fingernails and tissue paper. She looks worried, so at least I have the decency to lick her face after the torture has subsided. Afterall, she is my best friend. She works hard to help my kidney disease, and feeds me tasty canned food, so I'll give her the eye. And she'll give me chest rubs. She has the window to my soul, but I have the key to her heart.

It's hot outside!

The temperatures have been really hot lately. Mom is so delighted with my new hair growth, but I had a difficult time with the heatwave. I, afterall, am a snowbreed. I may be miniaturized, but I still have the coat to survive a Nordic winter. I can't take the heat. At night, even with the fan going, I couldn't sleep. I moved endlessly all night, panting. Mom could not sleep, I kept her up all night. She was so proud of my healthy hair, but she was sadly forced to shave it. It was for my own good, so I wouldn't get heatstroke. I slept soundly that night, and so did Mom. My hair will grow back, but for now, I'm happy and cooler, and chics dig me.

Check-up

Mom took me to work with her. I guess I caused it, I sort-of lifted my leg in the kitchen, right in front of her. It was a bad idea, I know, but I just have to wee alot and I couldn't help myself. This time, mom meant business. Not only did I have to pee in a tray again, but they took blood from me too. I don't mind the tray, I'm always happy to accomodate mom for a potty break. The blood draws are what I hate, I don't like the needles. But I love riding in the car and going to work with mom no matter what. I went 3 days in a row this week. Mom was real happy to see my bloodwork showed improvement. The only thing on the downside is that my urine is more dilute. This happens with kidney disease and its why I wee so much. My topcoat is really growing in nicely. I'm a redhead again. It's sad for mom to look at my page photos to see me with only my woolly undercoat. She is going to be taking my picture soon, but I don't hold still very long. I'm glad mom is happy that I'm doing better.