Gracie's break through

Major excitement at Grace's vet check up this week. She has deep pain sensation in one toe. This is a big deal as she has not had DPS for the last 10 weeks. She did not right her foot when the vet put it over on the knuckles (called "the toe test"), but Grace did make an attempt. Another first!!! She pulled her back foot out of the vet's hand 3 or 4 times.

For the first time, we have some traditional clinical signs of possible recovery.

Grace has had 2 treatments of discus compositum and 2 cold laser treatments. We go back in two weeks for another assessment. Although Grace is still on crate rest, she is allowed limited movements while I am changing her crate, 3 times a day.


www.tpdr.ca is the website of the rescue sponsoring Grace. She is on the home page. Thank you to all who have bought magnets to help fund Grace's treatments.

Our new foster, Grace

We have a new foster in the house. Grace is a 4 year old doxie, down in the back about 10 weeks now. She came into rescue about 3 weeks after going down. She had received some medications, but no crating during that time.

We have a long road ahead of us. Grace is on steroids, crate rest and receiving discus compostium injections coupled with cold laser treatments. I am very grateful to Tiny Paws Dog Rescue for stepping up to the plate and providing Grace with every chance to walk again. Thank yout to Sandra Rosano as well for donated TellingtonTouch therapy and teaching me treatments we can do at home.

She does not have deep pain and fails the toe test, but there are some interesting reflex responses which tell us that some signals are getting through :-)

Grace is a happy girl. She LOVES belly rubs and giving kisses. Whether she walks again, or rolls through life in a cart, she will make someone a wonderful companion.

The circles of life

I named this blog "life with 3 special dachshunds" when we were only 3, each with a different type of special need. Then Daisy Mae was returned and Stanley came into our lives. Then it was life with 3 dachshunds with a specific special need, plus "the boys".

Life has circled back; Daisy Mae left us December 18/09 and my sweet boy Stanley left us this past Saturday, January 23/10. Again it is life with 3 special dachshunds.

Stanley has changed me forever. His pawprints will always be on my heart. Quiet, dignified, with a charm that drew people to him at first sight, he was one of those "special" furkids. He forced me to face fears and grow, to give him his fluids. Never did I ever think I would stick a needle into a living thing. Love for him was greater than my fears. Stanley's legacy is that skill. Some place, somewhere, maybe on an EARS deployment, I believe I will need this skill again to help another animal - Stanley's gift to that furkid.

I am glad that I was able to track down his first family and they were with us at the end. Stanley did recognize them and wagged his tail. However hard it was to make that drive to them, knowing what was coming, I am glad that I was able to give him and them that last meeting.

I miss him so much.

Dogspeed my little Snorey Bear

Life with Kidney Failure

We are doing pretty well. I am so touched with the response from the rescue community. I sent out an email asking for help to hold Stanley while I do his sub-q fluids. I am happy to say that we have a full rotation of volunteers; pretty well every day of the week has someone assigned to help us. Sometimes they come to us and sometimes we go to them. 10 minutes or less and my boy is good for another 24 hours.

I fuss over Stanley. If he does not eat/drink as much as I think he should, I worry. The vet said 24 hours without eating and we need to get back to the hospital. He needs to keep his kidneys flushed out. I try to add 2 cups of water per day to his food, in addition to his 100ml of sub-q fluids.

A bonus with having our "gas station attendants" is that I get impartial feed back from them about how Stanley is doing. Someone who sees him once or twice a week is more likely to notice changes that I am; seeing him constantly.

It is not easy to keep his appetite stimulated. He has not been a big eater since coming to me. He is not fond of the prescription dog food, so finding appropriate, low protein enhancements for his meals is a struggle.

I am getting much better at handling his needles for the sub-q fluids. Having someone hold him makes all the difference.

I know that we are just buying time. This is not a cure. We are grateful beyond words for the people who have volunteered to be part of his palliative care.

For now, my boy is content, eating well and taking an interest in his surroundings. He enjoys cuddles, tolerates his treatments and is just his charming, adorable self. What more could I ask for. Each day is a blessing with our Christmas Miracle.

Stanley Christmas update

I had a lovely Christmas present yesterday, Stanley ate and had a good day with us :-)

Stanley slept a lot during the day, but we had a sucessful sub-q fluid session in the morning. This was my second time EVER sticking a needle into a living thing. My first time was Christmas Eve, my stomach was one big knot all day, knowing what I was facing. It went pretty well for my first attempt. The clinic forgot to tell me about the valve that needs to be opened and closed. In the beginning, there wasn't any fluid flowing; but a friend told me about the valve and we had a good session. (The clinic sent Stanley home for Christmas with an full IV bag, I need to get fluids under his skin once or twice a day, depending upon how much he also drinks during the day)

Stanley perked up in the evening at my sister's house. He had a nice meal of rice, water/gravy and a bit of turkey. He sat up and sniffed around at his different environment.

Since his is one of the cart kids, I started the sub-q fluids in his two haunches, where he has less feeling. I needed to stack the odds in my favour for our first couple of sessions. This morning we had to move up to the shoulder area. I got the needle in ok, but he could feel the fluids more, wiggled about and the needle came out before a full session. That is ok; I will do another half session tonight and then we will be on evening sessions, in preparation for me going back to work. Mornings are too busy to try fluids then.

Monday is "decision" day, if this course of treatment will support his kidneys and give him a quality of life. One of the key factors will be if we can keep him eating. IF his bloods tests are acceptable, then we will be doing these treatments every day. Such a small thing to do, if it gives my boy more (quality) time with us.

Who knows, he may be back in his cart soon :-) for that picture that I haven't taken yet to show off his new wheelchair.

Whatever the outcome, I have to thank several quiet angels. The vet clinic has received several donations towards Stanley's vet bill. Each angel has sworn the clinic to secrecy. I can make guesses, but don't know for sure who all has been so generous to my boy. Thank you is inadequate. Without these extra payments towards his bill, he would not have this chance. Thank you too to Dr. Makawol. All the clinic staff went above and beyond for Stanley while he was in hospital. As well, Dr. M. gave us a "holiday discount" on the hospital stay.

I am overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity and love shown to us this past week. Thank you is inadequate, but all that I have. Thank you and may God bless all of Stanley's quiet angels.

Merry Christmas everyone and wishing everyone health and happiness for 2010.

In Mourning

We lost Daisy Mae to Rainbow Bridge on December 18, 2009.

Stanley has been in hospital with kidney failure. He will be home for Christmas as the vet clinic is closed. I will be giving him sub-q fluids for the weekend, and we will re-evaluate his condition on Monday.

I don't know if I can stand to lose two of my furbabies in less than two weeks.

Heidi, Valentin and Pogo are very subdued. They know things are very wrong.

New foster, Gwenyth.

This is the picture from the shelter of Gwenyth, my new foster. She was rescued in a puppy mill seizure along with her two 5 week old puppies. She is not much more than a baby herself. We will get a better picture of her, this one does not do this sweet girl justice. She is so loving, especially considering where she came from. Her adopters, whomever they will be, will be lucky to get this sweetie. In the meantime, she is certainly livening up our household.