I weighed Kekoa on Tuesday and I am happy to report that she is back on track at 74.5 pounds- one more pound gone! She really is a trooper. She has this great talent of utilizing her lower center of gravity to butt Brody out of the way when they are jockeying for position at feeding time, so despite her shrinking weight she still had mad leverage skills. We ran into someone who hasn't seen Koa since shortly after she came to live with us in March. He was floored. "She's so shiny!" he said. ... Read more »
Cancer sucks
The numbers game
Owners have very high expectations of one's ability to diagnose a condition based on their description, what they read on the internet, and (to a lesser extent) my physical examination. Don't get me wrong- taking an accurate history and doing a physical examination are instrumental skills. But they are not 100%. "What is it, doc?" the owner asks as I poke at a lump. I can give you some guesses with a good amount of accuracy based on its appearance, how it moves on or under the skin, that sort ... Read more »
Hearts and thoughts they fade
While I was cavorting at BlogPaws this weekend, my husband was getting some work done around the house, a task I truly appreciate as I despise housework with the hot flames of a thousand suns. While I would like to think this was because he just loves me that much, the cynic in me also whispered that perhaps he was just buttering me up for the abandonment that comes with the start of the NFL football season. No matter. I am still happy. One of his self-appointed tasks was to hang some ... Read more »
And then
I appreciate all the thoughtful comments yesterday, and especially I appreciate everyone who sent me a picture of their beloved pets to be included in yesterday's video. It was wonderful to see how many people knew what this day would mean, because you all have had this kind of day too. Yesterday was shaping up to be the same type of day I have been (thankfully) having for quite a while lately: simple and uneventful. And then. ... Read more »
Tumbleweeds
As I was driving home yesterday, I was thinking about Emmett and how much has changed in the past year. One year ago, I said goodbye. One year ago, I sat 10 feet from where I am now with my head on his neck for the last time, while he sighed into my hands, too tired to even roll over for a belly rub. It was a bad day. I was thinking about how, after he died, our house was the cleanest it had been in years. The tumbleweeds were gone- the ever present little hair balls that found their way into ... Read more »
The scar remains
One year ago today, I wrote what turned out to be a rather iconic post. If you aren't familiar with why I keep referring to my undying hatred of Kevin, that post explains it. The anniversary of Emmett's passing is next week, and I am already dreading it. I have lost dogs before, and will, I am sure, go through it again though I am hoping that day is far from now. Over time, the sharp pains of grief turn into more of a dull ache, which in time recedes into the corners of one's mind and only ... Read more »
An ode to O’Malley
Many years ago, at my very first job, I had the good fortune to meet a technician who was also to become a wonderful friend. We were young, both new to our jobs, and flush with the excitement of entering this field. We had new pets: I had Emmett, 2 at the time, and had recently rescued Mulan as a 5 year old. Amber had just adopted an adorable orange fluffball named O'Malley. O'Malley was many things: confident, sassy, a bit of a handful. And by "a bit" I mean "a majorly huge handful." He'd ... Read more »
New frontiers
Do you know Batman the cancer dog? I didn't either, until today, when I read that he died. This is sad news, but also one that represents a great victory. Batman was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor in 2008; according to the news article, the same type as that which took Senator Ted Kennedy- a glioblastoma. Average survival time for a human: about one year. The senator survived 15 months. Batman survived 19 months. Needless to say, most pets with a diagnosis of cancer live ... Read more »
Hour 22: Onto the maudlin
This is the part where I lay down on Brody and start feeling sorry for myself. Not really. I'm just running out of brain cells to remember things and direct my fingers to type them. I was looking through the files of my old journal and came upon this little gem from last Christmas. Last Christmas was rough. Mulan was very sick (she was euthanized on New Year's Eve) and every death was a reminder of what was coming. I read it today and actually laughed at myself. Boy was I bitter. This year ... Read more »
Hour 2: Heart dogs
Every pet that enters our lives has a special place in our hearts, without a doubt. I can rattle off the list of the menagerie I've lived with and tell you stories for hours. But within that hierarchy, there is always that one special one- your heart dog (or cat or horse...), as Dr. Crosby has so aptly described it. The one who really taught you what this whole pet-having-thing is all about. I can talk about all my departed pets with a smile and a wistful remembrance. But when you ask about ... Read more »
Dog Beach Redux
September 13th marks the third annual National Pet Memorial Day. I didn't even know there was a National Pet Memorial Day, and it took a bit of digging to determine how this day came about (it appears to have been designated by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries), but just so you know, it's the second Sunday of September. I wrote a post about Emmett's last trip to Dog Beach before I knew it was his last trip to Dog Beach, and I never did post it. It seems like as good an excuse ... Read more »
Family ties
Brody is not Emmett, nor should he be. There is a lot I have yet to learn about Brody: his personality, his likes and dislikes and quirks. I am excited for that period of discovery. I have been blessed with such vivacious pets in my life, from crotchety Taffy to daft Nuke, mild Mu and the inimitable Emmett. I can't wait to find out who Brody will be. I've already found that he, unlike my other dogs to date, has begun bonding immediately with people other than myself in the family. That is great. ... Read more »
Lost in translation
In the urn post, some of you said that you didn't feel a need to have your loved ones' ashes back. I get that. I mean, it's just soot and shadows and memories. Nothing of what made them what they are remains. Emmett had a big red mane like a lion. He was the most huggable dog I've ever met. I spent hours with my face buried in his neck- studying for board exams, seeking solace, or just hanging out. You can't do that with a hard edged box. He used to be waiting for me by the door every ... Read more »
Oh, Emmett.
When my husband and I took Emmett to Dog Beach a couple of weeks ago, my husband commented how the place was like 'heaven for dogs'. I was thinking the same thing, though he probably wasn't thinking about it in as literal a context as I was. This weekend, I went again, without my husband and kids. Just me and Emmett. He had a fantastic time, wading through the surf, visiting other dogs, getting lots of pets. It was a perfect day. That night, things started to go downhill. Fast. I threw every ... Read more »
All Dogs Go To Kevin
The vinblastine (which we had tried last week when the other chemotherapy regimen failed) was kind of a bust. It was expected, but I'll keep trying as long as Emmett feels well. Hope springs eternal. Hope also springs eternal that a 3 year old might drop some Cheerios. We're feeling good enough to beg (CHECK OUT those big sad eyes! What a ham!) so that is a good thing. Man, I love that little guy. Last week, a person who had just lost his dog in a terrible way asked me through his ... Read more »
A day at the beach
I still have a hard time dealing with the fact that I am going through this yet again, so soon after losing Mulan. I wasn't ready yet (though are we ever, really?) The pain and sadness are exactly the same, as is the sorrowful anticipation. But some things are different. I made good on a promise I couldn't do for Mulan. There couldn't be a more perfect day to take a dog to Dog Beach than there was today. The sky was crystal clear, the waves mild, the pug meetup amusingly snorty. Parking was ... Read more »
One word is all you need
My boss is a very talented clinician. He has expertise in both internal medicine and in surgery, which makes him a great wealth of knowledge on just about anything. Except rats or hamsters, so I have some value to my place of employment. I went into work today, on my day off, to watch him do a forelimb amputation. It went swimmingly, by the way. While the tech was with the dog in recovery, I was hanging out in the back and chatting while my boss looked at some of the drop offs. Among them was ... Read more »
For K
(K, I hope you don't mind me talking about you here- if so please let me know and I will remove this right away.) My heart is breaking for my friend today. She has a wonderful cat Bailey, whom she adores and spoils and overall just loves to pieces. Bailey has been having a rough go of it lately- what started as an upper respiratory infection turned into a frightening series of seizures. After a myriad of vet visits, referrals, clueless receptionists and a neurologist visit, K and her husband ... Read more »
