Jackson's "Summer Surgery"

Dearest Pup Pals,

Mom and I wanted to take a moment today to tell you about my summer, so far, since so many of you have wonderered where in the dog I've been for the past few months!

I have had a rough summer. Back one bright May morning, Mom noticed a lump on the left side of my neck. It seemed to appear over night, and Mom was immediately very concerned. At first, she thought perhaps I had gotten a buggy bite that I was having a little bit of a reaction to. However, the area of the lump - on the left side of my throat extending from my chin to my collar bone, with the swelling extending over my trachea, had Mom really concerned. She was terrified that I had lymphoma - a type of cancer that is common in doggies that often reveals itself by swelling on the lymph nodes on the sides of the neck (right where my lump was!)

The next afternoon, when Mom came home from work, the lump was still there, and just as big. Mom had already made an appointment for me to see Dr. Van Zee in the afternoon, so we turned around and headed back to the vet clinic. Dr. Van Zee examined the lump and concluded that it felt mostly like a fluid-filled mass. We took x-rays just to be sure. The x-rays did reveal a fluid-filled mass (we weren't sure what type of fluid at that point or why in that particular area the fluid was accumulating) but the x-rays did reveal the size of the mass was putting pressure on my trachea (my wind pipe) and making it deviate to the side. (Thus, making it harder for me to breathe.)

Dr. Van Zee decided on that visit to aspirate (or drain) the lump. This was very scary for both me and Mom! Dr. Van Zee inserted a needle into my lump and removed 40 CC's!!! of clear liquid (that looked mostly like lymph.) Dr. Van Zee surmised the lump likely arose as a result of some sort of trauma to that part of my body.

Well....within a few days, Mom thought she could detect the lump was returning - with a vengeance! In a week, the lump was back - and just as big if not bigger! I went AGAIN to Dr. Van Zee and had him drain the lump. I might add, for both times, I was a VERY BIG BOY and did a very good job holding still and not fussing. Mom was very proud of me!!

Dr. Van Zee and Mom thought surely this would be the end of my lumpy-bumpy. Alas - though - it came back even FASTER the third time. At my third visit to see Dr. Van Zee, we did not drain the lump because it was decided I would go to see Dr. Less at Kimberly Crest, in Davenport, Iowa, for an ultrasound. Dr. Van Zee took a fluid sample from my lump for analysis, as well as a blood and urine sample - just to be thorough! We also took a second series of x-rays and then we waited... Over the next few days, Mom and Dr. Van Zee anxiously awaited the results of my lab work and we all kept a close eye on the size of my lump and how it effected my breathing.

My lab work came back mostly normal. I had a low lymphocyte count, which made sense because my lump, according to the fluid analysis, was full of lymph. The next question became, how do we safely proceed with PERMANENTLY removing the lump.

As I was barking, it was decided I should first have an ultrasound of the lump to get a more detailed sense of what we were dealing with - and - more importantly - how close it was to my trachea and carotid artery. Mom, Dad and I traveled to Kimberly Crest around the first of June for my referral-ultrasound. This is a two-hour drive (one way) from my Dog House. I felt very important being the only doggy to get to go! The doctors and staff were very nice to me there. The ultrasound revealed my mass to be fluid filled (as we knew) and was "honey-combed shaped" - which is why Dr. Van Zee could never completely get my lump drained. There were lots of little chambers the fluid was accumulating it. It was also revealed the walls of the mass chambers were VERY CLOSE to my carotid artery. This was going to make surgery to remove the pockets very tedious, difficult, and risky.

After my ultrasound, I got to be the first doggy in my house to go to PetCo! Mom got me some Yogo-Bites (my favorite, thanks to Birdie!), a pig ear, and a new Loofa Doggy. I felt sooo cool!

With the news from my ultrasound, Mom was very hesitant to put me "under the knife!" After my ultrasound, all sorts of craziness happened at my Dog House! My little tw0-legged niece, Alexa, was born three months premature and my MOM found out she, too, was going to have a two-legger in February! Omidog!!!

Once things settled down a little bit, and Dr. Van Zee gradually coaxed and reassured Mom that surgery was really the best option for me. Then, Mom scheduled my surgery on her surgery day. I went in to work with Mom, and was not the best patient to begin with. BOL! I did not like waiting in a cage and did not know why Mom left me there while she took care of other patients! Then, she gave me my pre-medication, set my IV catheter, gave me my induction drugs and then I started to see Purple Elephants...

My surgery lasted about ninety minutes. (Mom had never watched those monitors so closely in all her life!) Mom watched the monitors so closely she paid little attention to what Dr. Van Zee was doing (mostly because she could not watch him operating on the love of her life - her little chi!) Dr. Van Zee had to work very carefully around all my blood vessels, arteries, nerves and trachea. He finally found the damaged tissue and dissected it away. When the surgery was complete, I had a pretty big incision site, and had several stitches. I had a bandage on my neck to hopefully reduce - if not prevent - the swelling from returning. I was having trouble breathing, though, with it on and Dr. Van Zee and Mom took a chance by removing the bandage and sending me home without one. (Thankfully, I never had any swelling after surgery!)

After surgery, my Dad started calling me Franken-chi and I HATED my new hair cut. It was sooo itchy! Mom kept ointment on my incision site diligently for the next few weeks until my sutures were removed. The damaged tissue I had removed was sent to the lab for biopsy and it was returned that Dr. Van Zee had removed my ruptured lymph node. (We still don't know how, why, or when the trauma occurred.) After two weeks, though, my sutures came out and my incision site looked great!

Best of all, since the surgery, the lump has not returned! I am back to my old self again! I can breathe easier and I have more energy to run and play. My fur is even growing back! (Thank Dogness!) My summer did not start off so well, but it is ending much better!

The Thing About Spring

Where can you find me this spring?? Out and about, of course! In the mornings, I love to sit out on the deck and watch the sun rise. I also love to sun on the deck in the afternoons. When I am not sunning, I love to be walking! Mom and I have already taken several nice long walks this spring, and I've met up with my neighborhood pals - Dexter, Wrigley, and Dolly. I've even gotten to go for a few car rides. I've been to visit my friends, Jen and Kenra, and their pet boutique downtown, and am becoming quite the celebrity at McDonald's drive thru window ... they even give me my own cookies!!

I can also tell you where you WON'T find me this spring, and that is cozied up next to my Grandma's black cat! BOL! I spent Memorial Day Weekend at my Grandma's house while Mom and Dad were out of town, and the black cat and I did not make the best of friends. In fact, Grandma said the black cat ran away and didn't come home until after I had been gone for a few days. (Oops!) Talk about a scaredy-cat!

I've got a birthday coming up at the end of this month. On the 30th, I will turn six. I can't believe a whole year has gone by! I wish time didn't go by so fast! Before long, it will be winter again. I had better get outside and enjoy the spring weather while I can!

Clean Bill of Health!

I had my yearly vaccines last week. My Dad took me to the vet clinic where my Mom works. My Dad scares me, so I was pretty nervous when he took me - and me alone! - and loaded me into his truck.

I was pretty happy to see Mom at the vet clinic! Phew!!! She put me on the scale and I have stayed about the same weight as I was last year - almost 6 pounds!

Then, Trish came in and tried to draw my blood for my Heartworm Check. I stay on Heartworm Prevention all year, but it is still a good idea to be screened for heartworms - just in case! I was pretty stingy with my blood. I didn't want to hold still and although the test only takes three drops of blood, I didn't want to give any! Trish had to poke me twice and pump up my paw to get my blood and I was sure glad when THAT was over.

Then, Dr. Van Zee came in and did my physical exam. He said my scaries (aka - teeth!) looked excellent for a dog of my age and breed. He also said my luxating patellas (knees) were not any worse! Yay! Then, he gave me my distemper vaccine. (I didn't care for this either!)

Afterwards, Dad left to do a little Christmas shopping and I got to spend the last half hour of Mom's work day with her at work. I got to take a tour of the clinic as Mom and the other girls prepared to leave for the evening. I sure was glad to get to leave with Mom, though!

We were both even more glad that I had gotten a clean bill of health from my veterinarian!

"Model" Dog

A few weeks ago, my Mom and I went to have my picture taken at Sanford-Muerhoff Photography. I got a little nervous under all the big lights, though, and Mom ended up in half the pictures with me. BOL! I wanted no part of posing on a chair, in a wagon, and especially not in a girly basket! We had lots of fun, though, and afterwards I got to go to Jen and Kenra's - where I got a cookie with red frosting (my favorite!)

Today, Mom went to see our pictures. Susan had our pictures in a slideshow with music, our names on the screen, and everything! Mom said when she saw our pictures it made her want to cry! We had forty pictures together!! (Mom thought maybe she would only have a dozen or so to choose from!)

What started out as something fun for Mom and I to do together, actually started to get a little costly as Mom was having a hard time narrowing down just which and how many of our pictures she wanted!

Our pictures won't be ready for us to pick up for another few weeks, but Mom can't wait to see them in print. What can I say - Mom and I are beautiful together! BOL!

As Mom was leaving, Susan asked Mom if she would sign a "Model Release Form" for me, so she could use my pictures in other places. Of course Mom agreed! Now where I can't go, my picture can! BOL! I didn't knowing being a model could be so much fun!

Breaking the Law Breaking the Law

I had a very big weekend! On Saturday, I got to spend all day with my Mom and Dad at a car show. There were no White Dogs and no Cash to steal the attention either! I got up bright and early and watched cars pull into the car show from my Uncle Seth and Aunt April's yard. Then, when we got to the car show, I got to see some parachuters and some trick planes! I met lots of people at the car show, and got lots of nice pets! I even met a few doggies! I met another chi, too! His name was "Cinco" as he was born on 05/05/05, and a Westie named "Lizzie" (who had red-painted toe nails!!!)

I've been to car shows before, but none like this one! After this car show, my Dad did what he called a "burn out" (because everybody else was doing them!) I didn't really know what the heck was going on. All I know is I got to ride with my head out the window of my Dad's car with lots of people waving at us. Then, Dad edged the car out into the middle of the road, Mom held me tight to her chest, and zooooommmm! away we went. I didn't really see what the big deal was. However....

As soon as Dad finished squealing his tires (and it wasn't a very good burn out, he said) we saw the lights of the police car come on! Aunt April and Uncle Seth live just a few houses away from where all the cars were leaving, and from where Dad did his burn-out, so we pulled into their driveway. Mom and I got out and walked to the front of the house and left Dad to deal with the police man.

Boy was my Dad mad! While the police man was writing Dad a ticket for squealing his tires, lots of other cars were doing burn-outs as well (and not getting caught.) After the police man left, Dad said he had to "Take One for The Team." He was pretty bummed about being one of the only guys they gave a ticket too, but also because he missed the other burn outs while he had to talk to the police man! (Mom was more bummed about the price of the ticket! It seemed like a lot of money to pay for such a small offense!)

I came home and told all the White Dogs about all the excitement and cool stuff they had missed. They said they didn't really care, though, because they got to run around at the farm all day and I not only had to be leashed, I also had to be a "good boy" all day! I think they were just jealous!

Board Shorts, Shopping Carts & Birthday Cakes!

My fur buddy, Mia, celebrated her fifth woofday over the weekend. She celebrated by coming over to my Dog House on Saturday.

My Mom and ny Grandma took Mia and I to Jen and Kenra's Pet Boutique. This is the really fun store where Mom got my T-shirt and birthday presents last month. Once inside the store, my Grandma put Mia in a shopping cart so she could wheel her around. Mom didn't think I would ride in the shopping cart, but I most certainly did! Mom said it was sooo cute. Mia and I rode around the store like royalty! Mom was sooo proud of my good behavior!

Then, Mom showed Grandma and Mia the rack where I had gotten my "Top Dog" T-shirt from. And, would you believe, there was a blue and pink shirt almost just like mine that said, "Diva Dog." If you know Mia, you know she is definitely a "Diva Dog!" BOL! My Mom bought the shirt for Mia as her birthday present and we wore our matching shirts on Saturday afternoon. We were certainly stylin'!

Grandma also got a little birthday cake-cookie from Jen and Kenra's Pet Boutique for Mia. And, my Mom bought each of us doggies a frosted cookie in fun summer shapes. Diesel, Aloha, Boolynn and Cash all got cookies shaped like ice cream cones. My cookie, though, had lots of pretty red frosting on it and was in the shape of board shorts. Boy those cookies were fun - and tasty too! I licked all the frosting off my cookie as soon as Mom gave it to me!

I am certainly enjoying these Dog Days of Summer! Hope all my pals are too!

You Are Loved

Today, I received a lovely rosette from one of my best pup pals, Tucker. The rosette directed me to Tucker's page where I read about the newest craze on Dogster called, "You Are Loved". To play, all need to do is pick 3 Dogsters who you think are fantastic & tell them why you feel they are pawesome. Be sure & tell them how much they are loved with a p-mail or a rosette.

Oh my! How can I only pick three pup pals?!

#1 Birdie! Birdie was one of my first pup pals here on Dogster, and she is such a great friend! Birdie and I have so much fun sharing pmails, IM's, and notes in the mail. She always makes me laugh and she understands what is it is to truly be a chi! :)

#2 Sparky! Sparky is also one of the first pup pals I made here on Dogster, and one of the original members of our group, Say Chi's. He, Tucker, and Molly are super supportive pups who I know I can always count when I need them for a hug, a smile, a laugh, or a listening ear!

# 3 Duke! Duke and his Mom are such nice people! They are always getting involved to help other people and pups out! They are very thoughtful and truly concerned about us pups!

There are so many more pups that I'd love to pick, but Tucker says I can only pick three - those are the rules of the game! I can't wait to see the love spread around to all the pups here on Dogster!

Steppin' Up

So, over the weekend, my Mom brought home this contraption called, "Doggy Steps." I don't know who came up with this idea, but seriously - does Mom expect me to use these?

She assembled the doggy steps and put them right next to the bed. I mean, how is she supposed to see me at night when I want up on the bed if there are steps in the way? Doesn't she know that she will have to reach over the steps to pick me and put me on the bed?

My Mom says the steps are for me. What? Huh? She says she got the steps so I would be able to get on/off the bed easier. Doesn't my Mom know that these contraptions for "normal" doggies (ie - Bark Collars, Gentled Leaders, and now Doggy Steps) are not for us.

Nonetheless, Mom has been trying to get me to use these blasted steps. And, I will, if there is a cookie at the top. But I won't use them on my own. I still try to jump up on the bed by myself. And, sometimes I make it, but a lot of times I don't. I hear Mom call out, "Use Your Steps, Jackson!" But, I think the steps are for dogs who don't have Moms to put them up onto the bed.

Dad says I should just get my own bed - a dog bed - on the floor. Whatever. That makes less sense than these crazy doggy steps! Oh, don't worry, I will get Dad back. I am sure, one night, he is gonna trip over those doggy steps and smack his nose right on the bedpost! I will just go on sleeping when he does (on his pillow! BOL!)

The good news is I've been getting lots of cookies (and lots of praise) for using the doggy steps to get on the bed. So, I guess they are good for something. But, I still think they will just be on Mom's way when I wake her up in the middle of the night to put me on the bed. :)

My Review of the Fourth of July

So yesterday was the Fourth of July. It started out pretty good. Mom and Dad were both home; we slept in; I got to eat some more of my birthday cookie. The afternoon wasn't too bad either. I took a nap; I played outside some; Mom and I played fetch-chase-tug with my Hide-A-Squirrel. The evening got even better! Aunt April and Uncle Seth came over with Turbo, and my Grandma Ronda came over with Sadie. I made an appearance, got some pets, and even nabbed a few bites of Mom's hot dog!

After dinner, Mom got my leash out, and Cash's too. She got some bug spray, some extra doggy bags, a blanket and loaded us in the car. I was so excited to be getting to go somewhere with them!

I liked riding in the car. I liked walking down some new sidewalks and "marking" things I hadn't marked before. I liked walking by all the people who told my Mom how cute I was. I liked meeting some new doggies (just my size!) down by the riverfront. I liked waiting and watching for the train to go by. I liked sitting on the blanket at the riverfront with my Mom. I even liked watching all the people and doggies around me while the sun set. (I was completely transfixed by this woman and her baby who were sitting just in front of us.) Ok, so I liked all that. All that was great! However...

I did not like the fireworks! I repeat - I did not like the fireworks! Mom was sure I was gonna stroke out or have a heart attack before they were over! I totally freaked out and started panting, trying to hide, and to get as far away as I could. Mom held me tight, petted me, and kept telling me it was OK, but I wasn't buying it! I am pretty sure I shed half my coat in stress last night. I know I clawed my Mom up a good one, and her shirt looked like it was made from my fur by the time the fireworks were over.

Did I tell you I didn't like the fireworks?

Mom was really surprised that I reacted the way I did. I have been lots of places and been perfectly fine. The fireworks the neighborhood kids set off do not even bother me, but last night!?! Whoa doggies! That was way too much noise for me!! I was sooo glad when the fireworks stopped!

I went right back to acting normal once they stopped. I walked on my leash. I was nice to everyone who greeted me. I rode home like a good doggy, and even hung out for a while with the rest of my family. But, boy oh boy, did I sleep good last night - curled right up next to Mom so those sky boomies wouldn't get me in my dreams!

Next year, I think I will just stay home. :)

Turning the Big 0-5 with Jen & Kenra!

Yesterday was my fifth woofday, and it was pawsome! My Mom had to work in the morning, but when she got home, she took me to Jen & Kenra's Pet Boutique. It was my first time ever in a store and Mom was soooo proud of me!

I got to meet both Jen and Kenra, as well as Jen's Mom and several other customer's in the store. Jen's Mom helped me pick out my very first shirt! It is a black T-shirt with red trim. On the back - it has a (masculine!) white design, and in bling-bling it reads: "Top Dog." Just when Mom didn't think I could get any cuter - I did! Mom could not stop smiling and admiring me in my new studly-shirt! (She also couldn't believe I looked so good in clothes but had never had any before! I knew my friend, Ratty, wasn't the only dog who could stop traffic in his cool clothes! BOL!)

I was sooo good, yesterday, at Jen and Kenra's. I let everyone pet me; I wasn't fussy or whiny (Though I did shed quite a bit! Oops! Hey - I am a dog - whatdidya expect, Mom?). I even let the girls help me try on clothes!

Mom and I browsed and browsed their store, looking at all the great stuff for doggies and people! Jen & Kenra's had everything a doggy could ever want - cute pet dishes, cookies and treats, clothes, toys, beds, leashes, accessories - we were sooo impressed! (We were even more impressed with how nice Jen and Kenra were to us, and we coulda spent all day in their store!) Mom also enjoyed looking at Jen's jewlery and purse selection, but since it was my Woofday, we focused on stuff for me! me! me! After lots of browsing, trying on, and visiting - Mom settled on getting me a new shirt, a big birthday cookie that I got to share with my fur family, and a new toy box (with a special compartment for my sized toys!)

When we got home, since The White Dogs were gone, Mom let me lick all the frosting off my birthday cookie before they got home! BOL! It was sooo good! Plus, I was a good boy and kept my T-shirt on all day without it seeming to bother me at all. I could tell just how much Mom loved it, and just how proud of me she was. Yesterday was truly one of my best birthdays ever, and I can't wait to go see my new friends - Jen and Kenra - again!