Right now we have Hoover is hanging in there longer than anyone.   He’s too heavy to take outside now (front legs are starting to get weaker) so I’ve made up all this equipment (a stretcher to take him to the vet, a donut to help the bedsores he got from lying soo much, a soft pad, etc. and he’s doing ok.  I couldn’t do it if I didn’t work from home but since I’m here and he is SO cooperative why not.  He’s so accepting of everything which is why I think he’s still here.  He’s cool about lying around, squeaks his toys if they are available, yells at Riggs & Jazz when they “look” at him, and his only request is his water.  When he needs to shift position it’s “lets rotate Hoovie” and he helps as much as he can to lift.  I’m making him his own website – dogswithdisabilities.com (there are some pictures there).  But I really doubt he’ll make it till spring – though I thought that was the case two times already, and he’s always sprung back unexpectedly – but he’s getting so thin with NO muscle on his rear at all and his front is getting weaker too. A little gray is showing in his face and he’s on the pain meds constantly now – but he seems to be doing fine as long as he gets his pill.

Holly wants a pack so bad she is trying to make friends with Chevy & Pod (who could care less). But she wants it on HER terms – in other words, to be their alpha – but Gracie (her arch enemy) is their alpha so that’s not likely to happen.  They’ve been tolerating her lying in the room with them while they are in their pens, and she’s not picking fights like she used to.  I’m hoping to breed Moola or Jazzy soon – but having trouble finding a stud dog that I like.  A couple of friends have been disappointing in that regard.

Well that’s all from Malamute Manor…have to go let Riggs & the girls out for their “run arounds” which means they go outside and run around the yard in circles 50 times first thing in the morning losing all that pent up energy.  

On another note, I had my first dream about Shadow since he died.  It was wonderful (until I woke up and started crying because I miss him so much).  It was SOOOO real, and I was holding and petting him and his whole essense was there – aura, expressions, personality – I was carrying him around hugging him but he had no weight – just soft cuddlyness.  It was so nice.  After he died I felt so bad because so many of the dogs give you a “sign” they are ok at the rainbow bridge – a dream, a corner of the eye glimse when they aren’t there, a sound – but from him I got nothing.  Finally, a really strong sign he’s OK.  It felt good. 

I got the response, they can only give him enough for 5 days – then they need a blood test to make sure it’s not hurting his liver.  Ok, I didn’t think he would last 5 days…so I agree.  5 days comes and goes and Hoover is doing better than ever (though he still can’t get up, but he’s so content just to hang out, he’s happy, the Rimadyl is working GREAT).  I call and ask for more, explaining.  Nooooo, they need the stupid blood test.  They  were concerned that his liver levels were too high from a blood test last July.  (turns out they were high because of the steroids they were giving him then – that didn’t work).  So that evening I sew a stretcher so we can carry him in for the stupid blood test.  His liver is NORMAL.  No problem, right?  Well, we can’t give you the Rimadyl anyway - we want to give you steriods (that made his liver go out of sight 3x normal last July).  He wouldn’t listen and got defensive when I asked what his reasoning was – and truthfully, I think his reasoning was WEAK.  He felt since it was a spinal thing – it might respond better to steroids (yeah, and wreck his liver, kidneys and stomach in the process – IDIOT).  I think it was an ego thing. So instead he give him the steroid – and Pepsid to keep from blowing out his stomach (it’s dangerous to switch from a non-steroid to steroid quickly as it can cause bleeding in the GI tract).  He also didn’t read his chart and thought Hoover had been on Rimadyl since July which he wasn’t and I clarifed that. 

 Did he read ANYTHING on the chart????  Apparently not – so they gave him the meds that made his liver go out of sight last July – along with meds to counteract the stomach problems it will cause, and an antibiotic to mess up his GI tract more just for good measure even though I argued that he’s doing GREAT on the Rimadyl.  I don’t know what to do.  Hoover has been fine for 2 days now without anything (the longer you can go between the non-steroid and steroid the better) but he’s starting to go downhill again.  You can tell it hurts and the reason I went in was for the Rimadyl (a PAIN killer and antiflamitory) medicine – but of course he didn’t give him anything for the pain either.  So, I guess we start the steroid tomorrow – I really don’t have a choice since it’s so difficult to move him.  I really don’t know what to do…he absolutely needs something to feel more comfortable.  I just hope this helps.  I really have my doubts.  

Ok, dealing with that – but I just gave Hoover his “weekly” bath (Hoover is incontinent, paralyzed and cannot move his back end but he’s alert, generally healthy and very content to just “hang around” in his spot).  Well, his only stubbonness is he always likes to lie on one side – I think it’s more comfortable for him and he can turn his back to the other dogs.  Anyway, I gave him his “bath” (we put him in the tub and hose off his back end then dry him so he can be “pretty” again) and discovered a nasty bed sore on the hip he always wants to lie on.  All the fur had pretty much worn off so to protect that hip I was laying him on thick fluffy rugs – but that apparently wasn’t enough.  Well, this thing is nasty and with all his other issues (not being able to even go outside anymore – especially with the snow and ice) it breaks my heart.  A tough decision is going to have to be made very soon.  I’m going to give it a week and see if it heals any, but if not, it looks like I’m going to have to put him down.  It has to hurt – bad. Hoover is such a sweetheart and doesn’t ask for anything except that he can reach his water bucket.  He never complains, never gives me a hard time about ANYTHING and tries so hard to do whatever is asked of him.  This is such a hard decision to make.  For a dog that is so easy to deal with even though he’s incontinent and paralyzed, I don’t want to see him in pain, though he’s a trooper.  Since turning him over to treat the spot he’s not too happy – and is coughing some from being on the opposite side.  But I’ve got to be able to get to this sore and hopefully it will heal – I guess I’m just hoping against hope.  I was working on a new website just for Hoovie – Dogswithdisabilities – it’s been almost 9 months that he’s been in the “nursing home” (our front hallway).  He moved in when Shadow moved out and has been doing so well, so though I know it had to happen sooner or later, you are never prepared.  People often ask me “how do you know when it’s time” and I say you just know.  Well, this is one of the harder ones.  At least Shadow was partially blind, somewhat deaf, demanding and falling apart.   Hoover just refused to get up anymore – he gave up.  Hoover’s not.  I think that makes it all the harder.  Well, gonna go hug the Hoovie and enjoy what time we have left before I cry all over my computer and short it out.  

 It was bath week this week for Hoover, Pod and Riggs…they look much better now.  Hoover wasn’t too crazy about lying down in the tub (he’s the one that can’t walk) but he did ok.  He is such an easy going guy and hates to be dirty so he humored me.  Pod was a real challenge – kind of like bathing a pogo stick! 

Gracie cleaned up – THREE Group 4′s – one each day – at least you can say she’s consistent!  And best of all Hoover had a blast.  I wasn’t sure how hard it would be to travel with a handicapped dog – but it turned out fantastic.  He had an enjoyable time just hanging out at the dog show and by the end of the trip we coudn’t stop without him rotating himself around wanting to get out.  The excuse was to pee, but I think he was just enjoying the scenery like we were.  I coudn’t pack his wheelchair due to lack of space, but that didn’t stop him.  I served as back legs and he was able to get into and out of the van just fine and even insisted on checking out the sand dunes and going down to the water.  He wanted to do everything the others did. 

We also took evil Holly (to spare our petsitter her brattiness)  and Moola who I showed (she is becoming the reserve queen like Grandma Penny – I always said they were alike!).  Anwyay, it was very enjoyable and we just love the area.  Everything went well for our wonderful petsitter back home – Pam Gibbings who did an awesome job.  I really think the guys at home thought THEY went on the vacation themselves. 

We ate out a lot and stayed at a really nice hotel that allowed dogs in the rooms.  We put a plastic shower curtain down, with Hoover’s rug on it, and Hoover did just fine.  Midway I made a laundromat stop to wash his rugs which was the only real concession to an incontinent, paralyzed dog. The only thing he wasn’t too crazy about (and neither was I) was camping in the tent on Saturday.  We both could have done without that!  The wind was really whipping and scary and I HATE tent camping so that was totally miserable for both Hoover and I.  Other than that though, the week was fabulous.