In Loving Memory

Yukon Jack
Jan. 26, 1998- May 9, 2008

Sadly, Yukon Jack couldn't continue his struggle anymore. He passed away in his sleep this morning.

Yukon Jack Update May 8, 2008

I just returned home from spending time with Yukon Jack. He seems somewhat more sensitive when touched to be moved into a different position today.
They will do more tests today to see how the pancreatitis is doing. The Vet is concerned that he is showing signs of edema which could indicate that his body is beginning to shut down.
He said its still 50/50 if my boy is going to make it. He is still on IV and antibiotics and nothing by mouth.
His front paws continue to show no strength meaning there is no way he is capable of sitting or standing. This is why he has to be changed positions every few hours so he does not develop pneumonia.
The vet says that he pants from time to time because of the discomfort caused by the edema.
The Vet did say that if the pancreatitis is gone they can begin trying to force feed him again and give him water to drink. Once he is able to be hand fed he will be able to come home. I will continue to work with him doing manipulation of his limbs, massage and hand feeding him until he regains strength.
The Vet told me that my positive energy is good but he wants me to try to prepare for the possibility that Yukon Jack won't make it through this. He said the little bits of progress are good but he still has a long way to go and he may not have the strength to fight this for too much longer.
He is hoping that once he can eat and drink (even if hand fed) his IV can come out and he MAY get some strength back in his front paws, because he might be "favouring" them because of the iv line.
Please continue to pray for my boy. He is such a sweet and good boy!
Thanks
Amber

Yukon Jack is still hanging on. NEEDS PRAYERS

Amazingly Yukon Jack made it through the night. I just got back from the animal hospital. His breathing is better, his gums are still pink meaning he is getting oxygen but he's in a coma and non reactive to anything. The vet believes it is stem cell (brain) damage because he is not responding to tests that would rule that out, and his pupils are so tiny, and she is concerned that the longer he remains in this state the less chance of him pulling through without permanent brain damage lessens. His temp has risen a bit, not enough to worry about anything but it could mean infection somewhere. He is on mega doses of antibiotics though so she hopes this will fight off whatever that is.
The other problem is that he could technically stay in this state forever.
I am at a hard place needing to decide what to do. The vet said there is less than a 1% chance that he WILL pull through and be ok enough to have any quality of life and she recommends we let him go for today treating him still with iv and antibiotics and see if there is any change for the better or worse.
The irony is we have no idea what happened. He was not injured in any way. It just came on suddenly which leads her to believe it was an aneurism in his brain. He eats only the best of food, is never off leash, and gets tons of exercise daily. He is a happy boy who knows he is loved dearly. This is just a fluke that is a mystery and it happens sometimes I am told but I am so hungry for answers. I need to know what happened to my boy!
I don't know what to do. It costs like $80 a day for hospital care plus all the stuff they are doing for him and I simply don't have money to pay for this. I don't want to make the choice to have him put down, so I begged him and Creator to decide one way or another what is best for him on his own.
I feel so powerless. There is NOTHING I or anyone can do for him except keep him hydrated with iv and antibiotic treatment, and hope he decides one way or another what he wants/CAN do. The entire vet staff are spending time with him, talking to him, hugging him, stroking his fur telling him he is so special and loved and we want him to pull through. It simply isn't enough. If love could save my sweet boy he would be bouncing around and coming home today.
I put tobacco down asking Creator to decide today. I can't bear to see him like this. This is so soon after losing my beloved Nvwati. It is so unfair and I don't understand the reason /lesson in this. My heart cannot break anymore. All I can do is sit and kiss Yukon Jack and tell him what a very good boy he is, how sweet he is and how much he is loved. I tell him over and over again how I want him to fight with everything he has to get better today, to show some sign that he is going to be ok. I feel so powerless!!
Breaks my heart.
Amber

I have just come back from the Animal Hospital. The vet called and told me if I wanted to say goodbye I should go. Poor Yukon is non responsive. He won't make it through the night.
He is in coma so not in any pain but its so weird. It happened so fast. He was literally fine one minute then went downhill the next.
Vet says she is sure it is a blood clot. All tests came back negative.
He is not in pain, hooked up to IV and antibiotics ( in case there was an infection that did not show up on blood work earlier today), and breathing sporadically.
I am heartbroken. Yukon Jack is such a sweet sweet boy and such a GOOD boy.
Broke my heart to tell him if he has to go, I will let him go but wish he would stay with us longer. I told him Nvwati will meet him at the Bridge and show him around. I thanked him for letting us love him, for coming into our home and helping us heal over the loss of Nvwati.
Its too much. Too soon.
I'm not ready for this.
Yukon's Mommy

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!

As my mommy types this I am in emergency. They think I may have had a brain aneurism today. It came on suddenly. I just want to sleep and mommy stroking me and talking to me was bugging me so she went home for awhile so the doctors can do their thing to get me better.

January 26, 2008 - My 10th Birthday

Ahoooooooooooooo today is my 10th birthday. I wonder if my new mom knows this or not? If she is planning something special for me she sure is keeping it a big secret. Now its MY birthday so I think I should be in on the surprise don't you??????

December 27, 2007

Ahooooooooooooo
Well I survived my first Christmas with my new family. It was all fun. Santa Paws came to our house and brought us lots of gifts! AHooooooooooo
and it was all going well until yesterday when my new Mommy MADE me wear these God awful antlers and take a picture. How humiliating! LOL.
She WANTED me to sit next to the fireplace for the picture but I said NO WAY! I ran on to her unmade bed and told her if she HAD to get a picture of this, it would have to be right here! So she complied.
She instantly sent a copy to my Nana, who misses me so much!
Now I KNOW my Nana understands me cuz she tells my new Mommy all kinds of stuff about me so when she opens her email she will say "Oh Poor Yukon Jack! Look what that woman made him do!" yes she will!!!
AHooooooooo

December 2, 2007

Ahooooooooooo The snow has come and I have so much fun outside playing in it.
This morning we were out and Mom's scooter got stuck in the snow so she said "Mush!" Mkwaa started to pull her but I just sat down, looking ever so handsome! Mom laughed and said, "Ok Yukon hasn't learned Mush!.. . thats ok." Mkwaa managed to help mom get moving again.
I hear we might go out to the park later today if the snow ploughs come through.
Ahoooooooooooooooo
PS I just realized Mom has my first Diary entry twice and she hasn't figured out yet how to delete one copy of it.

November 2, 2007

Ahoooooooooo............... Mommy said it is ok if I borrow her computer so I can now do a diary!
I have settled in nicely here at my new home. I have a sister here too! Her name is Mkwaa.
My mommy loves me and is very very good to me but Man! She likes to kiss me a lot and I am not a real mushy type of guy you know. But I tolerate it.
She gets the biggest kick out of me when I have to go outside. I sit next to her and tilt my head and say "Woooooooooo Wooooooooooooo" and she laughs and says "Wooooooooooo Wooooooooooooo? Ok! Go get your leash then!"
I have her trained pretty good already.
Even though my mommy can't walk too well we get to go out on so many trips every day because she uses a big machine thing that is her legs. We go to parks, to stores, downtown, oh and the doggie park so my sister Mkwaa can play with other dogs.
I can't go offleash because Huskies tend to run away so usually Mommy and I hang out while Mkwaa plays and she tells me how very sweet I am and what a good boy I am ( and sneaks me extra treats too!) and how greatful she is that I came to live with her.
There are often other dogs who can't go off leash and sometimes we hang out together because I just love all dogs. I even love cats apparently.
Well thats it for now. I think its time to "Woooooooooo Wooooooooooo" .
Snuggles and (reluctantly) Kisses
Yukon Jack

November 2, 2007

Ahoooooooooo............... Mommy said it is ok if I borrow her computer so I can now do a diary!
I have settled in nicely here at my new home. I have a sister here too! Her name is Mkwaa.
My mommy loves me and is very very good to me but Man! She likes to kiss me a lot and I am not a real mushy type of guy you know. But I tolerate it.
She gets the biggest kick out of me when I have to go outside. I sit next to her and tilt my head and say "Woooooooooo Wooooooooooooo" and she laughs and says "Wooooooooooo Wooooooooooooo? Ok! Go get your leash then!"
I have her trained pretty good already.
Even though my mommy can't walk too well we get to go out on so many trips every day because she uses a big machine thing that is her legs. We go to parks, to stores, downtown, oh and the doggie park so my sister Mkwaa can play with other dogs.
I can't go offleash because Huskies tend to run away so usually Mommy and I hang out while Mkwaa plays and she tells me how very sweet I am and what a good boy I am ( and sneaks me extra treats too!) and how greatful she is that I came to live with her.
There are often other dogs who can't go off leash and sometimes we hang out together because I just love all dogs. I even love cats apparently.
Well thats it for now. I think its time to "Woooooooooo Wooooooooooo" .
Snuggles and (reluctantly) Kisses
Yukon Jack