Dxenion

If it was a defined terminal illness, I could handle that but the mystery is making me second guess if I'm doing the right thing by her. Am I giving in too easy or is it the right thing to say enough's enough? The OH and I had a talk about Monday's visit so we both know where we stand based on what the vet says. Is it wrong to think that if we make the decision, I'll think I've failed her? I'll wonder if there was some simple thing we overlooked or that perhaps I didn't try hard enough. That's what's making this so darned hard. Not knowing what we're dealing with so we don't know how to treat it. I watched her climb up on her lounge tonight (her choice - she has a memory foam bed on the floor but prefers the lounge) as she has done for the past couple of years. A bit slower these days but doesn't need help. I watched her shuffling around after the boys, telling them off if they get too rough and for the first time in her life showing an interest in toys. Then I think of Monday and that decision - it just doesn't seem right. Then I think of the not eating and vomiting starting again and think of the impact on quality of life. That's why I'm sitting up at 3am - I just don't know what the right thing is to do. She's lying on the lounge looking at me as I type and I feel like a traitor for what we are contemplating.

In her prime she worked as a therapy dog visiting people in nursing homes. I remember one dear old lady who could cuss well enough to make a sailor blush. While she was glaring at me and telling me (using very colourful language) just how much she hated big dogs, she was secretly feeding Java cheese twisties one by one from her stash in the bedside drawer. Java of course was happy to accept the offer. When we were leaving, the carer said she was speechless at what had just happened. Apparently the lady guarded her twisties very carefully, so to watch her feed them to the dog must mean she adores the dog. The lady telling me she hates big dogs was just an act to hide her real feelings and that this was the first time she had spoken with emotion since moving in. To this day, I think of that lady whenever I see cheese twisties.

I think we may no longer be dealing with what we hoped was a recoverable illness but have now slipped into palliative care for our nearly 13 year old GSD Java. Just when we thought she was on the road to recovery from an illness, she's gone downhill again. She went off her food about 6 weeks ago. We tried all sorts of things to get her eating again and just when one method worked, she'd stop again. We kept her on the lighter end of the normal weight range to help her arthritic hips but the lack of appetite was starting to cause unhealthy weight loss. We discovered by accident that she no longer tolerated the raw meat in her diet and that stopped the occassional morning vomit but then she started bilious vomiting late at night. We switched to feeding more often which worked to control that, but then she stopped eating. We took her back to the vets again for another thorough checkup. Nothing unusual was found. Her stools and urine outputs were normal and water intake was fine. She is still able to tell our boys off during playtime, prefers to climb up and lie on the lounge rather than in her bed on the floor and is about as active as an old arthritic GSD is expected to be. The vet gave her an anti nausea shot and we then we had to wait for results from the blood test. She was also put on a chicken and rice diet. We took her back to the vet on Thursday for some tablets to coat her stomach. I also weighed her and she's now lost a bit over 7% body weight. The thinking was that the acid produced at the sight of food was making her nauseous so she didn't wan't to eat. At least she hadn't vomited in a week. Spoke too soon though as she threw up again 3am Friday morning. This afternoon she threw up her medication. We're going back to the vet on Monday and to be honest, I don't think we'll be bringing her home. It all comes down to her quality of life. I'm torn because I just don't know what else to try and at her age and in her condition, anaesthesia for exploratory surgery will carry far greater risk than what they might discover anyway. I feel that by describing her otherwise normal health, I'm making excuses to avoid having to make that decision. At the same time I feel absolutely rotten at the thought that there might be something I haven't tried and that if we could just control the acid, she might eat with enthusiasm and put on weight again. If this was something more definitive and terminal, I think I could make the decision much easier. It's the mystery thats tearing us apart.

Tlaloc snoozing in the Saturday afternoon sun with Pelican. Edited for spelling.

Rakim and his new toy. It's still in one piece..........just.

Happy 1st birthday to Cooper too :-)

If they stocked Kyjen, it would be dog toy nirvana. The scary thing is that wall of toys extended out even further past me. I just couldn't get it all in the photo.

Tlaloc's was yesterday and Rakim's was today. The fact that their birthday's are a day apart didn't occur to us until Rakim was winging his way from Sweden.

Of course, what birthday woud be complete without breakfast in (my) bed?

They even had Cold Rock birthday icecream. Banana flavoured for Odin, Rakim and Java. Mango sorbet for Tlaloc as he is allergic to dairy products. From the left: Tlaloc, Odin, Rakim and Java.

Tlaloc received a Eco Naturals toy dog from Secret Santa last year and he absolutely loves it. Surprisingly it's still in one piece. He now has a pelican from the same range. Rakim chose a Jumbo Skinneeez Raccoon, the same toy that he had as a baby puppy in Sweden. Both of them are fast asleep curled up with their new toys. I'll try and get a photo as soon as my phone has enough charge. I do have a Kyjen Ginormous Invincibles Snake on order for each of them and they should be here in a couple of weeks time.

Happy 5th Birthday to Tlaloc and 2nd birthday to Rakim. What a massive range of toys they had to choose from!

Please delete

It started out that way but he quickly got the idea. There wasn't really enough snow left to afford him the luxury of eating it all.

Well not lost ones but he will take them off your feet.

In the beginning he ate more than he retrieved but he eventually figured out how to carry them without having them disintegrate in his mouth. It's handy having a dog that will fetch your snowball fighting ammunition for you!

Lovely set of shots. Have you thought of tracking down the owner and giving them a copy of the series? It's a beautiful set of photos that show the breed doing exactly what it was bred for.

The council had better not go soft on him. People like this drive me nuts with frustration. Well done for reporting him. The best of wishes for a speedy physical and psychological recovery for Riddick. Please keep us posted on what the council does.

I've only imported a pup into Sydney once and based on that experience I will go elsewhere next time, even if I am in NSW. I was very angry with how much weight my pup lost and the pathetic excuse I was given for why they refused to follow vet advice to give three feeds a day and only gave two. I put in a formal complaint but never heard back. My pup didn't have any issues with water before going into quarantine but was petrified by it just four weeks later. Again absolutely no reason was given as to the reason why. I will avoid them like the plague for my next pup.

My fondest moment came after a two year search for just the right pup. I watched this little baby grow from 3 weeks old until he left Sweden at 12 1/2 weeks, then hung on to every word the puppy visitor sent us during his 4 weeks in quarantine. Finally the day came when our 17 1/2 week old baby left Sydney quarantine and flew to Perth. I could barely contain myself, standing at the airport waiting for the him to be picked up and brought over to the collection point so I could finally meet this very special boy. Just as the sun was setting, the airport trolley truck came back from the tarmac with one lonely little crate. I remember vividly that exact moment our eyes met as the truck rounded the corner and rolled to a stop. He was sitting so proudly in his crate but his entire back end was wiggling with excitement, eyes glued on me. That little boy will turn two on 19 October and has now successfully started his career as an assistance dog. There have been many fond memories but that moment our eyes met was the fondest, because it was the moment we started our life together.

Our front lawn only needs a trim every four weeks but the back yard needs a good haircut every week at the moment to keep it under control. I hate to think what would happen if I watered it or added fertilizer. Daily pooper scoopering becomes an interesting game of hide and seek by about day 5.

Not great at mowing in straight lines but his fees are very reasonable.

ROFL!!!! I would have paid money to see that!

It is really sad. It also shows why I was prepared to go to extreme lengths to identify this one. I have four dogs here and I can't fence off the entire back yard because the burrows are everywhere.

Ooh, I only just saw this - is there a prize? Lol, yes - a free Melbourne Trapdoor Spider. Just PM me your address and I'll send it off in the morning.