Rest in Peace

This is Gigi, Chubbs' adopted sister again. My Mom asked me to tell you that Chubbs peacefully went to his "eternal nap in the heavenly dog bed" today. He was very old and had many health problems. Walking was very difficult and even when he could walk, he often bumped into things. His vision was actually okay but he was very confused mentally. Mom brought me to the vet to say goodbye. I sniffed him when I got there but mostly I was busy pooping and being nervous. I couldn't help myself! Mom held me up to him later to sniff him again after he had the injection, but I wouldn't do it. I knew he was no longer there so there was no reason. I'm going to lie in his old bed and think about him now.

Filling in for Mr. Chubbs

This is Gigi, his adopted sister. Mr. Chubbs had successful eye surgery last week and was recovering nicely though he had to wear a lampshade on his head and I made fun of him. Tonight, however, Mom got worried because he was panting very violently. She rushed him to the Animal Medical Center and he is in the ICU getting oxygen. The vet said it could be a blood clot in his lung, which could clear up by itself, or it could be a brain tumor which the vets have suspected that he may have. Mom is crying because he looked very sick in the ICU and unless there is a miraculous improvement, he may not come home again. I know that I have often barked that I would rather be an only dog but now I am sad too. It seems very empty in the house without him. I am very worried and I furrow my brow whenever Mom looks at me so that she knows that I care after all.

My life is full of drama!

Today Mom thought I was winking at her, but when she looked closely, she discovered I was squinting out of one eye. She washed the eye off which I didn't like one bit and ran to the vet. It's the eye where I kept getting a sty. Now I have an ulcerated cornea! I don't like the sound of that. We have to go to the big animal hospital tomorrow morning to see the opthamologist. Can't an old guy ever catch a break? Sheesh. At least I got to cuddle up to Dr. Jennifer today.

A bit better

Mom finally put me on steroids and while I am not growing any big muscles, I'm definitely feeling a little better. I can walk a bit better and I do things like follow Mom down the hall. Before I wouldn't really notice her. I've also regained my appetite. The medicine does cause me to pant really loudly sometimes and when that goes on for more than an hour, Mom starts to have a breakdown because it's an annoying noise. But other than that, we're both feeling pretty peppy. I haven't even been drinking tons of water like the doctor warned.

Home, Sweet Home

Mom was disappointed that the surgeon at the animal hospital said there was nothing to be done for my bad hips and back. I was happy because I didn't want an operation. The surgeon and the regular vet said just to keep me comfortable and take things day by day. I am a little perkier lately. My condition flares up and dies down often. I still walk sideways like a crab but I can do a lot of sideways walking lately. Mom got some medicine for what she calls my "senility" (what's that?) and I find that I spend less time getting stuck in corners and under the bed. However, I still like to wake up at 4 am and run around the house and pounce on things that aren't really there. Mom says if I keep doing it, she's going to leave me overnight at the vet again so she can get some sleep, so I"m going to run around a LOT so I can go visit Dr. Jennifer.

Things are ruff

I haven't written for a long time, but I was very busy in 2005, what with all the naps I had to take and so on. For the past few months, it has been hard for me to get the quality sleep I am used to. I am suffering from degenerative disk disease and it is getting worse. It is getting harder for me to use my hind legs and that is very stressful and scary as you can imagine. When I can't get up I get very nervous and start to wheeze. I'm also having a lot of accidents inside. I admit that I've always been somewhat blase about whether I'm inside or outside...when you've got to go, you've got to go, right? But lately it is hard for me to even stand up or to control the urge, so sometimes I produce a big puddle while I'm lying down and then Mom finds me and has to wash me and the floor. I am dictating this from the vet's office, where I am staying overnight. I have been doing a lot of barking while I am here. I usually love the vet's office because it is fun to walk around and greet the patients and pee in Dr. Jennifer's office, but I am frustrated now because it is hard to get up. No one has ever heard me bark so much. Mom has ordered special doggie diapers for boys because the regular diapers didn't provide good coverage and I admit that I liked to wiggle out of them. When the diapers come tomorrow she will pick me up and bring me home. I don't like the idea of diapers but I will be glad to go home. I am also getting some new medicines, seeing a surgeon for a consultation on Thursday and getting measured for a wheelchair. It's a very busy time. Please send good thoughts in my direction!
P.S. Mom says Gigi misses me but I know that's a lie.

Health update

Well, that darn cyst has grown back on my eye again. Mom is going away on business and she has put Dad in charge of taking me to the vet. I'm counting on him to forget about it. At least the snow is melting. When it was very thick on the sidewalk it hurt my little feet. I try to pick all four paws up at once and then I fall down and have to be carried inside.

A fond memory

Mom and Dad were on vacation recently. Gigi and I stayed home with the dog sitter. I like her because I can trick her into giving me extra food and carrying me home from walks. Anyway, Mom and Dad told me they were thinking of me because they were sitting in hammocks. A few years ago, a friend invited them out to the country and I went too! So all three of us were sitting in hammock in the country. While we were sitting there, a big fly kept buzzing by and annoying us. So I unfurled my tongue, caught the fly in the air just like a frog and ate it with a big gulp! Mom and Dad think it was my finest moment.

Busy day tomorrow

Will my woes never end? Tomorrow I have an early morning appointment at the beauty parlor followed by a trip to the vet. Poor me! Mom thinks I'm smelly, so she's sending me to be beautified. Why doesn't she understand that I just got to the right level of smell? This is a good smell! The beauty parlor lady is nice but she puts me in water and then blows hot air at me. I don't like that one bit and when Dad comes to pick me up I always tell him very loudly about what happened. Then the vet...well, a while ago, I had a yucky cyst on my eyelid and I went to the vet and they drained it. That was no fun! Now it's grown back and it's even worse! Mom took a close look at it and said "Eeek!" So it's going to be a difficult and busy day for me tomorrow.

Free at last

My tail fur has grown back and I am free of the lampshade. Once in a while I nibble on my front paws, but Mom has been making me stop. Fall is coming and I am preparing for winter hibernation by sleeping under a pillow and snoring loudly all night -- or until 5:30 a.m., when I bark for my breakfast. I don't know why Mom is so grumpy about it -- she should go back to sleep after breakfast, just like I do. What's this "work" thing she needs to go to all the time?