Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Mr. Odie - pee machine
Turns out Odie's big swollen belly was indeed fluid in his abdominal cavity. Without good circulation, his liver couldn't process all the fluids going through it, so it was like a sponge that was totally saturated and the fluids had to go somewhere.
Dr. W doubled his salix for the weekend, and said he would have to pee a whole lot (multiple times a night) until he gets all the fluids out. She said some other stuff looks like poor circulation too (his cold feet and belly, the color of his gums), but overall, he is still in excellent health for his condition.
Dr. W says his breathing shouldn't be so labored once he gets all the fluid (pee?) out and it isn't pressing on him so much.
Kappa has had something that looks like an eye infection for the past few days. I have been keeping him in, and at first I put ointment in, and yesterday I started some leftover antibiotics he had when he had that abscess on his head. His eyes are all squinty, but I think they're getting better.
Dr. W doubled his salix for the weekend, and said he would have to pee a whole lot (multiple times a night) until he gets all the fluids out. She said some other stuff looks like poor circulation too (his cold feet and belly, the color of his gums), but overall, he is still in excellent health for his condition.
Dr. W says his breathing shouldn't be so labored once he gets all the fluid (pee?) out and it isn't pressing on him so much.
Kappa has had something that looks like an eye infection for the past few days. I have been keeping him in, and at first I put ointment in, and yesterday I started some leftover antibiotics he had when he had that abscess on his head. His eyes are all squinty, but I think they're getting better.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Odie's not doing so hot
He is walking shorter and shorter distances, his breathing is more labored, and most distressingly to me, his belly is really big and tight. Last week it was squishy, like a water bed, and this week it is tight like a drum.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Top of Mt. Constitution
These were taken on our second trip to the top. The first we BIKED all the way up. A 20 mile round trip, 3000' elevation gain bike ride. It took over an hour to go up, but less than 10 minutes to go down.
Friday (Anacortes)
But I am cheating (3 per subject) by making up tons of subjects. This is two of Washington Park, and one of Mt. Baker from the other park in Anacortes.
Tulip Festival
I am limiting myself to three photos per subject, since there are too many good ones.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Stampy's cry for help
Stampy attempted suicide this morning while I was out at the barn.
He got Odin's pills from the countertop, tore apart the pill containers, and then, to my horror, ate what looked like all of Odin's heart pills.
So I called Dr. W, who did some calculations and called me back and said Stampy needed to come in to get charcoal in his stomach. Since I had been gone 3 hours and we didn't know what time he ate them, there wasn't any point in inducing vomiting.
He looked a little, droopy, with dilated pupils, and so we raced over to the vet and got the charcoal tube in his belly.
I've been watching him the last couple hours to make sure he doesn't pass out. Some of those pills are blood pressure reducers and others are blood thinners, and too many at once could have been trouble.
But, as I was cleaning the house, I found that he actually stashed most of them (for a later, second attempt?) and they were mostly the nasty heart-stopping ones, so I think he's going to be ok.
Little bastard.
This must be becuase I'm weaning him off the prozac.
He got Odin's pills from the countertop, tore apart the pill containers, and then, to my horror, ate what looked like all of Odin's heart pills.
So I called Dr. W, who did some calculations and called me back and said Stampy needed to come in to get charcoal in his stomach. Since I had been gone 3 hours and we didn't know what time he ate them, there wasn't any point in inducing vomiting.
He looked a little, droopy, with dilated pupils, and so we raced over to the vet and got the charcoal tube in his belly.
I've been watching him the last couple hours to make sure he doesn't pass out. Some of those pills are blood pressure reducers and others are blood thinners, and too many at once could have been trouble.
But, as I was cleaning the house, I found that he actually stashed most of them (for a later, second attempt?) and they were mostly the nasty heart-stopping ones, so I think he's going to be ok.
Little bastard.
This must be becuase I'm weaning him off the prozac.
Monday, April 06, 2009
My new favorite sweater
My sister made this for me in my favorite color. It is a very cool pattern and it fits perfectly. I LOVE it!
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Odie good vet visit
Dr. W says Odin is doing great. He has a "sparkle in his eyes". I told her that's only because she gives him so many treats. He was even talking at her, trying to get her to give him more treats. (And then, because Stampy stayed at home alone, they both got cheeseburgers after.)
She said that she thinks the big sign will be that he'll stop eating, and then boom - he'll die. She said he is not suffering right now.
So my list of trivial things:
- His bulgy eye is quite possibly a fatty tumor that's behind his eye, like the ones on his body. Since it's not bothering him and there's nothing we'd do about it anyway (like surgery), there's no need to do anything.
- His breathing and afib at night is just what it is. Not a sign of impending death.
- His cool lips/nose/tongue/feet AND wobbly back legs in the middle of the night are all inadequate circulation. Nothing to do about that either.
- Flopping down in weird spots, seeming tired - also just regular old heart failure.
She said it's ok to take him on little short walks.
That's it. She said that for a dog with all his heart problems, he is doing just as she would expect. She thinks he's stabilized on all the meds, and seemed optimistic he could hold out like this at least a few more months. She told me twice she thinks he'll just die suddenly, and while that's worse for a planner like me becuase I won't know it's coming, it's good because he won't have a long drawn-out suffering phase where I'm agonizing over what to do.
Oh yeah, and the gagging - she said there's no fluid in his lungs, and a heart failure cough is a little puff, not a nasty retch.
She said that she thinks the big sign will be that he'll stop eating, and then boom - he'll die. She said he is not suffering right now.
So my list of trivial things:
- His bulgy eye is quite possibly a fatty tumor that's behind his eye, like the ones on his body. Since it's not bothering him and there's nothing we'd do about it anyway (like surgery), there's no need to do anything.
- His breathing and afib at night is just what it is. Not a sign of impending death.
- His cool lips/nose/tongue/feet AND wobbly back legs in the middle of the night are all inadequate circulation. Nothing to do about that either.
- Flopping down in weird spots, seeming tired - also just regular old heart failure.
She said it's ok to take him on little short walks.
That's it. She said that for a dog with all his heart problems, he is doing just as she would expect. She thinks he's stabilized on all the meds, and seemed optimistic he could hold out like this at least a few more months. She told me twice she thinks he'll just die suddenly, and while that's worse for a planner like me becuase I won't know it's coming, it's good because he won't have a long drawn-out suffering phase where I'm agonizing over what to do.
Oh yeah, and the gagging - she said there's no fluid in his lungs, and a heart failure cough is a little puff, not a nasty retch.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Odin has been gagging a lot
It sounds like he is choking on rawhide, but since he hasn't eaten any in years, that's not it.
Sometimes he gags stuff up - spit stuff that goes on my carpet which my bare feet never, ever touch.
He's breathing loud at night too.
T thinks he has less energy, but I think he is still him.
Sometimes he gags stuff up - spit stuff that goes on my carpet which my bare feet never, ever touch.
He's breathing loud at night too.
T thinks he has less energy, but I think he is still him.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Odin's eulogy
I'm trying to come up, ahead of time, with what his memorial stone should say. It has to be perfect because it's for Odin.
I can't write anything better than famous authors, so I'm reviewing all my favorite meaningful quotes.
So far I have for line 1:
Odonata - 6/21/1999 - x/xx/2009
Option 1:
"I get up. I walk. I fall down.
Meanwhile, I keep dancing."
Option 2:
"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other.
To me, you will be unique in all the world.
To you, I shall be unique in all the world."
Option 3:
"Round and round he walked, and
so learned a very valuable thing:
that no emotion is the final one."
Option 4:
"That is how she felt without him,
feeling his presence where he no longer was."
Option 5 (one by me):
Odin lithe and supple
slinking, sliding, prancing now
he moves like liquid
Option 6:
I loved Odin "more than I had reasons for.
- which I know now to be the only way to love,
without conditions or explanations."
Option 7:
"Let us go then, you and I, when the
evening is spread out against the sky ...
[for] indeed there will be time."
I haven't decided yet on a stone or the wall (with his ashes), at Marymoor:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor/petgarden.aspx
I can't write anything better than famous authors, so I'm reviewing all my favorite meaningful quotes.
So far I have for line 1:
Odonata - 6/21/1999 - x/xx/2009
Option 1:
"I get up. I walk. I fall down.
Meanwhile, I keep dancing."
Option 2:
"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other.
To me, you will be unique in all the world.
To you, I shall be unique in all the world."
Option 3:
"Round and round he walked, and
so learned a very valuable thing:
that no emotion is the final one."
Option 4:
"That is how she felt without him,
feeling his presence where he no longer was."
Option 5 (one by me):
Odin lithe and supple
slinking, sliding, prancing now
he moves like liquid
Option 6:
I loved Odin "more than I had reasons for.
- which I know now to be the only way to love,
without conditions or explanations."
Option 7:
"Let us go then, you and I, when the
evening is spread out against the sky ...
[for] indeed there will be time."
I haven't decided yet on a stone or the wall (with his ashes), at Marymoor:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor/petgarden.aspx
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Stampy, Wallis, and Gromit
An unflattering picture of all three of them. (Intended to show size of Stampy in proportion to them. W&G combined, however, outproduce Stampy in hair manufacturing.)
Stampy has a new BFF
While we were gone yesterday, Stampy dragged T's clothes out of the bedroom to suck on instead of mine. What is terrible is how joyous I was about that (instead of mortified and ashamed).
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Pictures of Two of My Christmas Gifts In Use
Weather girl is telling me what to wear; and Octavia (the hemaphrodite boom box) is rocking out to Modest Mouse.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Enjoying life on the adult couch
We are actually watching This American Life after a rousing game of Seinfeld Scene It. (Mom won, by a nose.)
Dryer + Pen = Ill-fated Experiment
This is what happens if you forget you have a pen in your pocket and wash it then dry it.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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