Rockie Dog Update!

Dear friends,

Firstly I would like to thank you all for all your wonderful well wishes, forums of support, and rosettes to lift our spirits during this difficult time, thank you so very much, our Dogster friends really do mean the world to us, you have always been so supportive!! Thank you!!!

As I type this my Rockie is fast asleep next to me on the bed, thankfully home at last. Poor Rockie has had every test under the sun, not to mention his full blood transfusion, to see if the Doctors could pin point the trigger for his Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). They’ve done Blood tests, an Ultra Sound and chest X-rays and found no underlying causes (I still say it was that Acorn, 5 months in anyones tummy can't do them any good!). They checked his bloods again today and his PVC (red blood cell count) has dropped again from 30 (normal) down to 24 (he was at 16 when they gave him the transfusion), but his Doctor said that it is not too unusual and that his system is probably getting used to the new drugs (that are suppressing his immune system) before it will level out at normal again... However we have to watch him carefully over the next weeks and if he starts showing any sign of the lethargy and weakness he had before or if his gums lose their colour (and go white) then we have to take him to the local vets who can then do a blood count right away and send the results to Murdoch University to check if he is crashing again. Fingers crossed he does not do that again! Then if none of this by Monday, I have to take him to the local vets for his weekly blood count test anyway just to ensure he’s cracking along okay. Thankfully Rockie hasn’t developed any jaundice though so that is good and he’s still a lovely normal colour. So today he was discharged and here he is back at home where he should be!! Sadly for him, he is not allowed to have any walks for at least a week (he won't be happy about that once his strength starts returning as he loves his walks) and is to be on strict rest, with the most he's allowed to do being going outside in the garden to go to the bathroom, then back to bed again. Poor Rockie, thank God he is home though.

Thank you all again, we will keep you updated of Rockie condition and please do continue to keep him in your prayers for a full recovery.

Love Mummy Sarah, Bee & sicky puppy Rockie xox

Life's Curve Balls

Dear Dogster Pups,

Please wish my little Rockie well as he under goes treatment for Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia which he has been diagnosed with and is still in hospital with this Easter weekend. He has been rushed to Murdoch Veterinary Emergency Centre (in Perth) and undergone a blood transfusion.

IMHA causes something (they have no idea what, it could be the Acorn that he finally vomited up from NYC, pollen, chemicals, anything?) to stick to his red blood cells and cause the body to believe the red blood cells are a foreign invader. This then causes the immune system to kick in, attack the red blood cells and destroy them and down goes his PCV (packed cell volume - percentage of the volume of whole, unclothed blood occupied by red blood cells). Since his blood transfusion his PCV is back up to 30, but he’s not out of the woods yet. He is now on medication to suppress his immune system to try and stop it attaching again (and will have to be for at least the next 3 months) and medication to stop his blood from clotting (which is the next imminent threat for him). He has to stay in hospital so they can monitor him and make sure that his immune system doesn’t start attaching his new blood cells (by taking blood tests every few hours) and then hopefully if he is stable and the medicine is all working he can come home in the next few days.

Unfortunately with this, it is something he will have for the rest of his life and could have a relapse so we have to watch his exposure to chemicals and cleaning products (and everything!!!) and take him straight to the vets if he starts showing any signs of fatigue or the other symptoms.

Hopefully our boy keeps fighting and please keep your fingers (and paws) crossed for Rockie’s speedy recovery.

Love Mummy Sarah, Bee & sicky puppy Rockie xox

Happy Birthday Rockie Dog!

Dear Rockie,

Happy Birthday my little boy!!

My poor baby you are stuck in quarantine with your sister at the moment, but I am thinking of you and missing you enormously. Rest assured that you will have your pressies and Nanna's celebatory Roast Dinner the milli-second that you are out of jail (only 6 sleeps Rock!).

Happy 4th Birthday Rockie!!!!!!! I Love and Miss You!

Love Mum xox

My Tail of Devotion for Rockie

This is a special Tail of Devotion

See All Tails of Devotion

Mum's Weird: Dear Dog!

Well Mum received this as an email and she thought it was really, really funny, being as Bee got to post it in the forums, I got to post it as a diary entry!! Hope you enjoy!


Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king-sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. I have been using the bathroom for years--canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours, and does not speak clearly.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they: eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Dog Philosophy

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
-Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.
-James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.
-Unknown

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!
-Anne Tyler

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'
- Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret

It's My Birthday!

I'm 3 years old today!!!

Mum says I am a big boy now and I received lots of pressies too, including a posh new red collar and leash with little skulls and crossbones on them!! Mum also got me lots of treats, little doggie squirrel shaped cookies and little scroll shaped doggie cookies and bully sticks!! All of which I very kindly shared with Bee too! We also went on an especially long walk in the park to chase real squirrels and run around and get nice and tired for a nap and then we'll get to go and meet our friends tonight in the park again for a bit more running around and some birthday celebrations!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! :o)

Walkin in a Doggie Wonderland

We got this fabulous little song of our pal Little Doug and his Mommy when they sent us my Birthday pressie (which Mummy is still withholding until my actual birthday on December 16!) from smalldogmall.com!! We liked it sooo much we wanted to share it with you all!!

Walkin in a Doggie Wonderland
(sung to the tune of Winter Wonderland)

Dog tags ring, are you listenin’?
In the lane, snow is glistenin’.
It’s yellow, NOT white I’ve been there tonight,
Marking up my winter wonderland.

Smell that tree? That’s my fragrance.
It’s a sign for wandering vagrants;
“Avoid where I pee, it’s MY pro-per-ty!
Marked up as my winter wonderland.”

In the meadow Dad will build a snowman,
following the classical design.
Then I’ll left my leg and let it go Man,
So all the world will know that it’s mine-mine-mine!

Straight from me to the fence post,
flows my natural incense boast;
“Stay off my TURF, this small piece of earth,
I marked it as my winter wonderland!”

Love is...

Love is… when your puppy licks your face, even after you left him alone all day when you go to work!

The Great Black & White Spotted Hunter!

Gosh I’m getting so good I tell you!! Remember my entry about the pigeon? Well today we were on our morning romp in Central Park where we go to play ball, usually it's my sister Bee who spy's and goes after squirrels but today while she was distracted with a flock of little birds she was running repeated through, I saw one!!! There it was in the distance by a tree... so off I went at top, top speed towards it! It dashed from one tree half way to the next, then back to its original tree, then back towards the other tree again and that's when I caught it! I grabbed it right on it's fuzzy little tail, but alas, it was around this time that Mum had caught up with me and she was even madder than when I caught the pigeon. She yelled and picked me up and carried my little butt back to where we were originally playing ball and made me sit and stay where I was until I learned not to chase the squirrel. I honestly don't know why, the squirrel did more damage to me scratching my face with it sharp little feet than I did to him... Oh well. Mothers. Who'd have 'em!