Sweet 16!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Well, I made it! Here it is September 1, 2008 - Mom said she wasn't sure if I would a couple of times but I fooled her! I still walk a little funny but I'm back to eating normal food after sampling Italian and Chinese - both very tasty - egg foo young is my favorite, pasta with cheese sprinkles and butter, a close second. Now I'm happy with Mighty Dog and Chinese white rice. Mom's been crushing my 4 meds and mixing them right in - I can't even tell ! Then I have a biscuit or 2 to clean my teeth! Mom has something planned for later today - it's a surprise - I think it's a nice warm bath, a trim and then a party with Spinney, Padd, Daze & Widj! Oh, boy!! Can't wait! Gotta go... ! :-)

Dog of the Day, June 10, 2008

What a great thing to happen! Mom told me the news when she got home and showed me the page with my picture right in the middle! She said I’d gotten a lot of emails from pups who wanted to be pals and pups who gave me gifts – I feel very lucky! We’re going to try and answer every email but it’s hot & stuffy in Mom’s “office” where the computer is – but we’ll do it – in the mean time: “Thank you all very much for being so kind ! I really like meeting all of you and getting your emails!” “Thank you, DOGSTER, I’m very honored to be selected.”

I’m a “GERBER Baby” now – Yum!

Age has it’s privileges – I got tired of the same old kidney diet, the bland, smell-less stuff Mom’s been giving me for months – even the Pill Pockets weren’t tempting any more – Last week Mom got really scared when I was eating less and less… Well, you figure I don’t do much but lay around and nap and I am a good 18 pounds (fighting weight for a typical Lakie!) so I could afford to be picky – I just didn’t have any other way to tell Mom to perk up the grub. Gotta give her credit, tho, she figured out that baby food might do the trick – if it’s good enough for babies it’s good enough for me! I’m lovin’ it – don’t have to chew too much – tastes like stew – I know Mom’s crushing up all my meds and mixin’ them in but I can’t taste ‘em – We went to the vet on Saturday – that’s how scared Mom was – Dr. Nancy checked me out – said my heart & lungs sounded OK, no change, said baby food was fine & they’d do blood work on Monday when I see Dr. Donna, my chiropractor. I could tell Mom was VERY happy – We stopped at the market and she got a big bag of Gerber stuff (oatmeal with bananas is YUMMY!) and when we got home we shared an toasted English muffin – we both like those! Then I hung out in the backyard with Paddles & the girls – the sun felt really good!  Sunday was a beautiful day too – lots of porch time!

A good report... and a new buggy...

Good news!! Mom took me to the ticker doc last Friday - she listened to my heart with her little machine that shows movies of my insides – seems everything is staying the same. The meds I’m taking are doing the job! Mom was VERY happy, especially when the doc said she’d see me in 6 months! I’ll be 16 then!!! Mom made an appointment for 4 months, though, right after my birthday – she doesn’t like bad surprises – me neither!
I got to ride in my new buggy again – Mom got me a cool buggy just for pups since I have a tough time on the slippery floors that every vet seems to have. I get around pretty good at home – we’ve got carpeting and Mom’s put little rugs all over the kitchen – they’re in the washer a lot – the girls think they’re grass ‘cause they’re green… I know better – I use the white pads Mom puts on top of them!
Maybe this weekend we can go to the park again – People looked at us really funny – they expected to see a baby and there I was – my fuzzy face lookin’ around at all the scenery and smellin’ all the good outdoor smells – Mom told them I was 15 and would rather ride than walk – plus she gets more exercise pushing me. Back in the day I used to be SO FAST that she was scared to take me for a walk – I escaped my harness twice and ran out into traffic – she was very afraid those 2 days – so we never walked much until I slowed down – about 5 years ago…now I get to ride!! ;-) Pretty cool! Age has it’s advantages!

Life is good!

Spring at last! My favorite time of year! I can lay out on the back porch and soak up the sun – it feels really good – very relaxing! The girls play in the yard and bark at the rabbits but Padd and I hang on the porch – he doesn’t have much fur so he stays out of the sun & wears shirts.
I’ve been feeling much better these last 6 weeks or so, since the vet figured out my kidneys were having some problems and my heart murmur was developing into mild congestive heart issues – Mom doesn’t like to use the word “failure” so I won’t… She took me to a cardiologist (see photo) and had my ticker checked – lots of little colored lines and funny noises – very interesting – Turns out I’m not in BIG trouble, just need a few meds to help my heart along. Mom does a great job of hiding those pills & supplements – She’s got these little flavored chewy things she puts ‘em in - they taste just like a liver treat – I eat ‘em first, they’re so good! Pill Pockets she calls them! Once in a while I get the “pip” (Mom’s mom’s word for an upset tummy) and miss a couple meals – that gets Mom upset so she gets out this funky pink stuff, gives me a blast of it, I get pink whiskers and the tummy ache goes away – Pepto something she calls it… tastes very strange but it works!
Still going to the chiropractor (stopped the VOM treatments – vet said the chiropractor was just as effective and didn’t cost as much – good – that woodpecker stuff was nerve-wracking! ) We’re going to see Dr. Donna tonight! Can’t wait! She cracks my neck and gives me a great back rub! I always walk out faster than I walked in! Last night I got a nice warm bath in the sink and Mom clipped me on Sunday – not too short so I won’t get sunburned!
Life is good!!! I’m very happy – and Mom’s happy that I’m happy – I’m glad :-) !!!!!!

VOM : Attack of the woodpeckers!

Well, that VOM stuff is kind of interesting… it’s like a couple woodpeckers giving you a back rub. Mom said the gizmo was putting my back bones in a straight line and popping my leg joints back into place. It did feel kind of weird but when it was over I did walk out faster than I walked in. The next day I was a little stiff (that was OK the vet said). Mom thinks I’m eating a little better, too. We go again this Saturday – oh, boy – I just riding in the car with Mom, ALONE – like it used to be before she started saving dogs – don’t get me wrong – my buddies are all very nice to me but I have to share everything now… Mom, food, toys, beds… you know how it is. But it’s OK, I know she still loves me very much.

Home early - good news!

Oh, boy! Home a day early!! Yipee! It sure was nice to see Mom last night. They had just finished giving me a bath when I was bundled up in a huge blanket and taken out to her in the waiting room. After she paid the bill she grabbed a few cookies from their treat jar so I could have a snack in the car - and off we went – into the Jeep and HOME!! A shiny metal box with a fence on the front is interesting for a few hours but I’d had enough –
In no time we were home – Ahhhhh – what a relief – familiar backyard smells…no place like home – Everyone was glad to see me – Spinn said she really missed me – of course I got knocked over a couple time in the greeting process !
After the dust settled Mom gave me some supper and my meds – She wrapped the capsules in damp bread – I ate them but I knew they were there… I was too tired to deal with the meat in my bowl so Mom put me in my bed and sat next to me and fed me with a fork, just like people! No messy whiskers – quick & easy. Maybe I should be tired more often! Then we all went into the living room and piled onto Mom’s lap for some TV. The doc says my kidneys are pretty OK, some tests said the function was in the high normal range, nothing dangerous, so Mom’s happy. I’m happy ‘cause she’s happy and won’t cry any more. Saturday we go to get me adjusted so I can walk a little better – Cool! Life is good!

Update on stem cell treatment:

Well, it doesn’t look like my joints are bad enough to get the stem cell treatment. [heavy sigh…] The vet called Mom and said the lab in CA was working on treatments for organs (esp kidneys) with stem cells but it won’t be ready for use for about 6 months & that I might be a good candidate for the “clinical trials” whatever they are… so…. we’re doing some other things in the meantime… As we speak I’m napping peacefully at the vet’s in a nice big kennel with lots of fluffy blankets. I’m hooked up to a long clear tube – Mom said it’s an “IV” and it’s supposed to clean out my kidneys – I didn’t know they were dirty !:-) I’ll be here for three days – good – I can get some rest – the divas drive me crazy at home – Paddles & I just like to snooze but Spinner’s relentless – Daisy keeps her occupied, tho…
Then, Mom told me yesterday that we’re going back to the nice vet in Easton on Saturday for some VOM (veterinary orthopedic manipulation) – it’s a more detailed, controlled kind of chiropractic adjustment – painless (that’s important!!! ) and it’s supposed to relieve some of the nerve issues that are making me lame – 5 – 6 treatments maybe I’ll be able to chase the girls around! :-)
Well, back to my nap – Mom’s coming over tonight to visit & read Dog Fancy magazine to me – there’s a nice room with a big sofa – I like to look at the pictures – she’ll probably try to give me my pills…that means peanut butter & bread…so I guess I’ll let her… :-) Can’t wait – Hugs are GOOD MEDICINE!!

A New Lease on Life !!!!

Mom's been spending alot of time on her computer since we watched a news show (ABC Nightline, Jan 9, 2008) where they talked about a new treatment that's now available for pups like me who have some trouble getting around... Mom said it's called "stem cell therapy" - that's where the vet does a little surgery on you under anesthesia and takes some of your fat (who needs that anyway!!!) and sends it to a lab in California overnight where they do magic things and take out the stem cells (special cells that can grow into any kind of replacement tissue, depending on where it's placed - like magic!), load the cells into syringes and send them back to the vet overnight. The next day the vet takes the needles (yuk!) and injects them into your joints and in a general transfusion (under a lighter anesthesia) The idea is that these cells will attach themselves to the joints or organ tissue and begin the regenaration process. The Golden Retriever on Nightline had hip displasia and showed great improvement in several weeks!

Yesterday Mom bundled me up and we took a nice ride to a new vet about 1/2 hour from our house. Her name was listed as a vet certified by the stem cell lab to do this new porceedure (here's the link to the lab's site):
http://www.vet-stem.com/locatevet/smallanimal.php
So, this nice lady vet checked me out, looked at x-rays from last March, and 2 series of blood & urine tests and then took another x-ray to see if there was anymore joint deterioration. Yep, she thought I would be a good candidate for the joint application and that the stem cell transfusion may have an positive effect on my kidneys. Direct injection of stem cells into organs has been done at the lab with good results but is not a designated use to the public as yet. Mom asked if this would be possible for me... we'll see...

The whole process sounds pretty simple - kind of like having your teeth cleaned - no big surgery and a few needles (that I wouldn't even feel) - recovery would be mainly from anesthesia groggyness - I don't have to stay overnight - Mom would take me & come & get me on a Tuesday and again on a Thursday! Simple! She said it's a little pricy but that I'm worth it!
So, we're waiting to hear from the vet about the final approval for the proceedure and then The Big Days will be Jan 28 & 30! Oh, boy! Maybe I'll be able to race up the steps again! (Just kidding!) I'd just be happy to stand steady on all four paws and not get knocked over by the "divas" (Spinner & Daisy) !!!