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ZoomDoggy

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  1. Aw, Marcy, yes you did meet Michael on that Farm run a few winters ago. He adopted his second-to-last GH on that haul. That was Kiowa BossHodges, whom he renamed Kaia. Another sweeeeet mamadog. Sadly Kaia had some sudden-onset health issues and tragically passed away last summer.

     

    And I sort of always wanted two greys. Never imagined I'd be up to four. Sadly, that won't last though, with Alimony's OS. :sad1 Hubby made it clear that four dogs is *not* the new normal for our household. :lol

     

    Thank you so much for your kind words, everyone.

  2. Hi everyone. I want to introduce the newest member of our family, Boo, formerly known as WWs Kool Show. How she came to us is a sad story, but with as happy an ending as we can muster.

     

    In December of 2011, my friend Michael co-piloted my hound haul for GPA-MN. We brought seven hounds into our group for adoption that day. Michael had recently lost his last greyhound and in the back of his mind, he was contemplating adopting again. As soon as Kool Show hopped out of the hauler, and we saw her stunningly unique face, we both fell in love with her.

     

    This is the photo I took that day for her online adoption listing:

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    I knew she wouldn't last long as a foster with her sweet broodie temperament and her beautiful coloring. I was overjoyed when my friend Michael decided that he would adopt her. It was the next best thing to keeping her for myself (which was not an option-- our inn is full), since I'd be able to see her regularly with my friend. Michael renamed her Boo, after the song that is this thread's title.

     

    Over the next few months, my friend Michael's cancer, which he'd been diagnosed with two years ago, started to ravage his body despite the aggressive chemo treatments he'd been undergoing. He had a couple of long stints in the hospital, during which I took care of Boo. She fit in perfectly with my girls, as though she'd been part of my pack all along.

     

    A gratuitous car ride with my girls:

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    Sand pit shenanigans with Dazzle and Flower:

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    Dazzle is queen of the hill:

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    Boo and Alimony seem to have a secret broodie bond. :wub:

    550947_4049328189225_390742841_n.jpg

     

    Sadly, as my friend's health rapidly declined, he finally asked me if I would keep Boo if/when the time came that he'd no longer be able to. His girlfriend and family adore Boo, but none of them were in a position to keep her, and she was so happy in our home with our girls. Of course I said yes. I told him it would be my honor and joy to keep Boo for him. Especially since he knew I had coveted Boo since I first laid eyes on her.

     

    The timing was/is not great, as we are also carefully monitoring Alimony with her OS leg. Alimony is very fragile and requires extra care and vigilance so she stays as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. But Boo is so easy and sweet, she just fits in seamlessly. The two pointy-eared mamas:

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    The final week of Michael's life, he had requested that I bring Boo to visit him at the hospital. I brought her into the ICU with the family and oncologist's blessing, and hoisted her up onto Michael's hospital bed so he could weakly pet her. The next day, he was transferred to a hospice facility. The next morning I got an urgent request from Michael's brother to please bring Boo for a visit as soon as possible. I was there with Boo within the hour. When Boo walked into Michael's hospice room, I saw his eyes lock on her, and his hand reached out to her. I believe that was his final conscious gesture. I hoisted Boo up onto his bed again, and there she stayed, gently placing her paw in his hand and her head on his leg, for the final three hours of Michael's life.

     

    My friend Michael passed away on June 10, at 12:20pm. He was surrounded by loving family and friends, and his beautiful sweet dog.

     

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    So now Boo is a part of our family. She will forever be Michael's dog, but I love her and will spoil her as one of my own for the rest of her days. Michael's family has requested "visitation rights" which I am of course happy to provide. My door will always be open to them. And I will forever be grateful to my friend and his family for allowing me to have Boo.

     

    Welcome to your new home, beautiful Boo-berry.

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    I am torn between being filled with joyous love, and being soul-crushingly sad. But each day is a gift, and we shall do our best to not squander any of them.

     

    If you've read this far, thank you for looking.

  3. When I was syringe-feeding Marla, I used her regular kibble. I'd soak a few cups of food in water or chicken broth over night in the fridge, and then liquify it in a food processor with a little more broth until it was smooth and liquidy enough for the syringe. This way I was able to stick to the kibble diet which I knew wouldn't upset her tummy.

     

    The oral syringe I got from my pharmacist had a very tiny opening, so I cut the tip off and filed the edges so they weren't sharp, increasing the opening size a bit because even pureed, the food would still occasionally clog the syringe.

     

    I made this in batches so I wasn't constantly preparing food, and could re-warm a serving in the microwave, again adding water or broth as necessary to get the right consistency.

  4. Believe me, I understand your pain. It can be so frustrating. :( Once they catch on to "hiding" pills in various foods, nothing works. I've been through the gamut of delicacies also, and Alimony is the queen of suspicion. :lol

     

    So the method I described for you yesterday is all that works when Ali is in one of her non-eating moods. The thing is, you really do have to push the pills SO far back down in her throat, it feels like you're pushing it down into her lungs. I assure you, that's not the case. And keep that snout pointed upward (to let gravity assist) while gently rubbing the throat also helps.

     

    And yes Tramadol is one of the worst-tasting pills you can give a dog. So I try to ensure that I not let it touch her tongue, pushing it far past her tastebuds so she won't have to taste it much if at all. Greasing the pill with a little butter might help make it harder to hack up too. But could also just make it harder for you to grip the pill in the first place. :lol

     

    Good luck. *sigh*

  5. I have no regrets, I know that whatever Dr. C says is the law of the land. Hopefully he will figure something out, until then Toby is happy, playing and generally having a good time so I know what I've done so far is the best for him

     

    That's all any of us can hope to do. May you have many wonderful days ahead of you together.

  6. Are his stools okay (firm and parasite-free)? You said his blood work was all good... Hm. I would be worried too, as this weariness and lack of appetite definitely sound like something's going on. I wish I had more ideas for you... :(

     

    What about some tick-borne disease that normal blood tests don't cover...?

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