Penelopesslave

Dear BJ, I haven't been around GT much lately, but I am so, so sorry to read about your losses. We had such fun with you and your pups when we had the GUR for Bell. I am thinking of you and your babies.

I haven't been around much since I had my daughter and we moved to California, and even less since our beloved Bella went to the bridge. Today we lost my first hound, my best friend for 10 years, my companion Penny. She went into heart failure after a routine dental and xrays showed a large mass, probably hemangiosarcoma, on her heart. I was able to be with her when she died, though it was not an easy death. She fought right up to the end when we decided to let her go. I hope some of you remember us and especially my sweet girl Penny. Thank you Melissa, Dave, and Josie

I am so sorry for your loss of Quiet Man. I remember one Dewey where I saw a car with the Mass. plates and a handsome brindle boy in the back, and I thought, "I hope that's Quiet Man!!" and it was, and it was such a pleasure to meet him.

What happy news for Lee and for you! So glad he is doing well under your loving care, Patti. Give that old man some kisses for me.

Penny is on Tylan twice a day for her diarrhea problems. It seems to be helping, but it also seems that she is drinking GALLONS of water every day. She's needing to go out 2-3 times a night. Combined with the wakeups from my 5-month-old skinkid, I am getting zero sleep. During the day Penny needs to go out about every hour and half. If I leave her in the house alone, I have to put down pee pads because I know she will have an accident. Has anyone else been on this medication? I can't find any mention of excessive thirst as a side effect on the internet, and I am wondering if the thirst is unrelated to the Tylan. Thanks--

The second opinion is in, they agree that the cells are mast cells and probably indicate some kind of internal cancer. The good news is that the results are so unusual that the lab volunteered to re-do the blood work for free. So we are off to the vet this morning to get another blood draw done. I am hoping beyond hope that this is all a lab error!

The vet called today regarding Penny's lab work. We'd had some panels done because of her recurring bouts with poop trouble and other gastrointestinal upsets. There are many mast cells in her blood. The vet wouldn't come out and say "Cancer," because she is getting another vet to look at the slides for a second opinion, but she mentioned possible liver or spleen involvement. I did a consult with Dr. Google and he tells me this is a bad sign. Other things are starting to make sense in this context as well-- she's lost 5 lbs. for no reason, doesn't want to run anymore, is more sluggish about getting up in the mornings, etc., though I had just written that off as age finally catching up to her, as she is 11 now. Anyway, I guess I just needed to get my fears out and ask for a little light and good wishes for my pal Penny. She's been my best friend for 9 years and I can't imagine how I could get along without her. I also thought maybe someone might have more experience with a similar situation and could share his or her story with me. Thank you.

Our beautiful, strong Bell (EMK Bolivar Bell). 7/14/94-11/21/08

Go Lee! We are cheering for you, big guy!

It might be better to let him fast for 24 hours instead of trying to get him to eat-- i think I made Penny's HGE attack worse by letting her continue to eat instead of fasting her so that her tummy and GI tract had a chance to fight off the infection that was causing the Big D. I would second the Pepcid suggestion and add an Immodium to help with the "splat" poops. Poor baby, I hope he feels better soon!

Penny ate her chicken and rice this morning, took her meds without a fuss, and, best of all.... greeted me with a happy dance and wagging tail when I got home from my OB appointment this afternoon!!!!! I haven't seen that since Bell died! My Pennymonster is coming back to me.

I just picked up Penny from the hospital, A $2400 bill (who needs Christmas, right??) later, she is not quite as good as new but she is getting there. She practically RAN up the stairs to our house, leg splint and all, so I know she is tired of being in the hospital and is ready to be home! She fell asleep the minute she got onto her bed. She hasn't vomited since yesterday and no more diarrhea, either. She's on "Fast Balance" to calm her tummy and amoxicillin for the bacterial infection, plus the chicken and rice diet for a week. Thank you all for talking me down when I was freaking out about her. When she is feeling a little better I'll post some pics. Whew, I am tired too! Maybe I should go take a nap too.

I just talked to her doctor, she is looking good. Still not interested in food, but that may be stress/the hospital environment as much as anything else. She has had no more diarrhea or vomiting so the doc is going to release her at 4:00 PM PST today as long as nothing changes in the meantime. Last night she was looking better to me though not her normal energetic Penny-self, she did have the gleam in her eye returning so that was a great thing to see. Thank you for all the good wishes. They worked.

Good news, the internal medicine vet called with another update and she ate a little bit and is keeping it down. They still want to keep her again tonight for monitoring and fluids, though. She should be coming home tomorrow I am going to leave here in about an hour to go visit her and bring her a dirty t-shirt of mine. Oh, and the internist has 2 greyhounds of his own so she is in good hands!!

Just talked to the internist at the hospital-- Penny has stabilized but they don't want to send her home yet as she still won't eat. I am going to go visit her this evening and try to give her some treats. Once she can take food and keep it down she can come home. The house is too, too quiet with no dogs in it.

This is probably just the paranoid thoughts of a VERY pregnant lady, but has anyone ever heard of a dog actually dying from HGE (Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis)? Penny is very sick with it in the hospital right now (see my post in Off Topic) and is being treated aggressively but she's not out of the woods yet and I am so very, very worried about her. I know if left untreated it can be fatal but I am wondering if anyone has lost a pup to this disease while in a doctor's care. I don't know what I will do if something bad happens to Penny; I can't yet make it through a day without crying over Bell multiple times.

I have been second-guessing our decision to let Bell go since we made it last week. I know in my heart it was probably the right thing to do, but then I see a picture of her and it seems like her eyes are asking me-- did you really try everything? Why didn't you catch this problem a year ago? I hope someday I an be at peace with our choice but for now the guilt is overwhelming. I miss her every minute of every day.

Oh Judy and Mike, I am so very very sorry. I nearly lost it when I saw you posting here, I hope Andy has found Emmy and they are together as a family once again.

I am so sorry. I know how hard it is to let them go. I hope you find some peace and comfort soon.

I am crying for you and sweet Thunder right now. Too many of our loving seniors are leaving us these days...

Go Polli! I hope you eat lots of yummy turkey and stuffing because there is a lot to be thankful for!

I am so, so sorry. Believe me when I say I share your pain at this time. He was such a handsome hound.

What she was: the gentlest soul I have ever encountered. the first dog DH and I adopted together. a survivor of the terrible days after Hurricane Katrina. a shy little old lady with a spine and heart of steel. a catalyst for bringing out the best in people. my comfort during the lonely, scary times in a new city. always ready for a walk or a snuggle session. a double trans-continental traveler (she made it cross-country both vertically and hortizontally!). possessor of the softest fur and the highest mohawk I've ever seen. a dancer and prancer with a surprisingly deep "WOOF!" when she wanted something. always willing to try, whether it was a steep set of stairs to climb or a squirrel to chase. a reminder that there is such a thing as unconditional love in this world. Goodbye, Bell, my Tinkerbell, Stinkerbell, Bellasmella, Miss B, Hot Bell, Boogie Girl. I am so sorry that the last weeks here were so hard for you. Letting you go was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I love you. I miss you. This is how I want to remember you:

She's gone to the Bridge. Thank you all.

We're going to the vet today at 3 to make sure there is nothing else to try (oh, and to have Penny's foot looked at, apparently she has dislocated a toe. Great timing!!) I've canceled our dinner plans for Saturday and made my excuses for a birthday party on Sunday. Bell is at least sleeping peacefully today though she hasn't moved since last night. My poor little angel.