return to top

The Musings of a Chicago Street-Dog Now Living in the PacNW

There ain't no old shep gonna happen again

Luke got sick over Christmas and I found out he had cancer. He was euthanized yesterday afternoon and died with his head in my lap, surrounded by his best friend, Tank, and the humans who loved him best.

I miss him more than I ever thought possible.

Semi-colon

Well! Here I am, a little over two months into my new life without a colon.

That's right; in April, my family took me to the specialists and when I woke up the next morning, I was missing all but about five or six inches of my colon. The operation took over five hours, but they took great care of me, and I recovered nicely. I was in a lot of pain the next day, so the doctor called my family and said she'd like me to stay an extra day to make sure I was comfortable and started eating again.

The day after that, I was walked out of a room with a clear cone collar around my neck and saw my family sitting on a bench, smiling and calling for me. I ran right over and said hello. Everyone was really excited to see me, and I would have been, too, but I was still pretty drugged up.

Mom sat in back with me during the drive home and made sure I didn't move around too much. She and Uncle Homer lifted me out of the car when we got home and I caught up on some lost time out in the front yard. My buddy Tank was really happy to see me, but everybody else ignored me as usual.

I had a bunch of staples all over my belly and along my groin area, and a big wrap around my neck where they'd had my jugular catheter. I really needed to lick and scratch myself, but Mom and Auntie Chrissy made me a nice bed on a thick piece of foam and lots of blankets and they made sure I didn't move around a lot. They brought me chicken baby food and water and they kept me clean and dry.

Now, over two months later, I'm a lot thinner (about ten pounds lighter without that pesky mega-colon) but am gaining weight, and I'm back to my normal self. My belly and neck fur isn't growing back very quickly, but I don't care. I'm just happy to be here, chewing my tennis ball and playing with my friends.

I may never be able to be weaned off of stool softener, but Mom keeps me in diapers with tail holes cut in them so that I can hang out with everyone and not make a mess.

Well, it's time for another bath!

Shots!

This morning I have to go in to my companion's work for my annual exam and vaccines. She's given me a bath, which I hated but stood for because I'm a good boy. I now smell like wet dog and oatmeal, but if that's what she wants...

I'm excited to see my doctor friend again, as she has helped me through some rough times in my illness and we have a special bond. My companion has now fitted me with human adult diapers because of my colon problems, but I know the doctor (like my companion) won't laugh or make fun of me. I hear they are going to culture my urine to see if I have a urinary tract infection. They'll be doing this every six months, but it's for my own good. Besides, I get lots of cookies, so who cares!

After my companion gets home from work tonight, she is going to dremmel my nails. I know it's for my own good, but I hate having my paws touched. She likes a challenge, though, and will battle me until every nail is dremmeled.

Well, I'd better go. It's almost time to go. OH BOY! A CAR RIDE!!!!

I'm enjoying Dogster so far, and have already made quite a few new friends!

Catch you later!
Luke