Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - Time to catch up! It's been awhile.....PHOTOS!!! [ ]

Hi guys! I have not been on here in probably 9 months or better. Just wanted to check in and see how everyone and their furkids are doing. I keep up with some of you guys on Facebook, but some of you guys I only see here. I noticed the boards have been pretty inactive on here, so hopefully a bunch of you will see this. Get ready for PHOTOS!

As for me, well we have had a good and difficult year....

We lost Duke, our black Lab mix, to lung cancer in August. He was only 7 years old. It came on very quickly, and presented with similar symptoms as kennel cough initially. After ruling out several things, the diagnosis was given to us after a lung biopsy. There were no options for him, it was already too advanced for chemo to give him any shot. We kept him comfortable, let him do all of his favorite things, and loved him until the very end. He is buried in the horse pasture next to our Golden Emma. They loved to run those fields together, so it only seemed fitting. I know they are strolling the fields together again up there. Still makes me sad and teary-eyed to talk about. We miss him so much.

Here is a pic of Duke on his last beach vacation in May in Hilton Head:

After he passed, I was so devastated, and to be honest didn't want to bear the thought of another dog at that point. I think we all go through that. It almost feels like you are heartless to think of another dog, when that dog is no longer there. But as we all know, there are millions of animals out there, who need a home, and so I knew it would only be a matter of time. Little did I know, how quickly it would be....

The week we put Duke to sleep, an 8 week old Boston/Frenchie puppy was brought into my clinic. The owners had purchased her only a week prior, and she came in sick, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargic, of course it was parvo. The owners could not afford treatment and were going to euthanize her. After much discussion they signed her over to the clinic, so we could try treatment on her and see if she would make it, knowing that if she did we would find her a home. She fought like --heck--, and after 4 days of treatment was able to hold down food and water, and was symptom free. She was so tiny, I carried her around in my pocket, weight was 3.2 pounds. She stole our hearts, and that Saturday, 4 days after letting our sweet Duke go we brought her home. After careful consideration, and disagreements, we decided to name her Gertie.

Gertie's first picture:

To say Lana, our Golden, was not ecstatic at first was the understatement of the century. She refused to let her lay next to her, would move away at the notion of it. She refused to engage in play with her. But she came around, and now they love each other dearly. Gertie is about 6 months old now. Let me tell you this little dog thing is a new experience for me. Before Gertie, the smallest dog I ever had was Lana, a 50 lb Golden Retriever. Gertie is wild, rambunctious, mischeiveous, playful, and a snugglebug. We love her dearly, and think that maybe Duke had a paw in bringing her to us, to help us ease the pain.

Lana and Gertie, the girls posing on Halloween:

Last one, Gertie on her first beach trip, 12 weeks old, St. Augustine FL:

I hope everyone is doing well, and thanks for listening to my novel! Would love to hear from you guys!!!![/img]

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:34 am Post subject:

So sorry to hear about Duke and his passing. I hope you have a ton of great memories of his time spent with you.

Love, love Gertie! Makes one wonder if Duke had anything to do with her swift arrival. Happy to hear Lana has since warmed up to her.

On a side note, can you tell me how the parvo was treated. And since you work in a clinic what you may have found helpful (or not) in the treatment of parvo.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:08 am Post subject:

Well, we basically just did supportive care on her. She had IV fluids, IV antibiotics, Cerenia( anti nausea/ vomiting) injectable, and that was it for 4 days. She came close to needing a blood transfusion as her hematocrit dropped somewhat low due to all the blood she lost in her stool, but this improved before it was dangerously low.

Parvo is such a --I have a Potty Mouth-- shoot. Some dogs come in and are positive but look pretty good, but get very sick and don't make it. Other times very sick ones come in and pull through. It is such a nasty virus, we are so thankful our Gert pulled through.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 5:16 pm Post subject:

Hey, how are you? It is great seeing you post again. Actually, I haven't been on for quite a few months too.
I am so sorry to hear about Duke leaving for the bridge. It sure breaks our hearts when they leave us.
OMGosh, Gertie's is adorable. Do you always take "beach" vacations. The dogs really seemed to like them. Are you kidding, I would like them. Smile

Last year I had to send my sweet cooker, Patches, to the bridge b/c he had CHF and just couldn't breath. I still have my Shih Tzu, Gidget; two basset hounds, Roscoe & Chloe and I inherited my granddaughter's golden, Lily, when she moved out and couldn't take Lily with her.
Everything is all about the dogs here in NJ.

Happy New Year!

Vi

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:34 pm Post subject:

I agree with your thinking on Parvo being a ******. There never seems to be a reason on who survives and who does not. Regardless of all the supportive care some still don't pull through.

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:43 pm Post subject:

Imvi: good to hear from you! Yes we take annual beach trips with the dogs and we all really enjoy it. I am sorry to hear of Patches passing, it is so hard to let them go. Congrats on the Golden addition, aren't they the best? I am just a little partial.

Buter: it is just such a cruel virus.

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 3:55 pm Post subject:

I have been looking at a few Bostons lately. There is an 8 year old in Ohi I would take in a minute. I just need to talk DH into the drive.

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:37 pm Post subject:

They are like Energizer bunnies! But so much fun, and ours is a little cuddle bug.

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:54 am Post subject:

So lanhimom did you get the boston?

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:54 pm Post subject:

Wow....for starters, I am so sorry about Duke... Crying or Very sad

But perhaps he did, indeed, have a mission in getting Gertie to you!!! Smile

Hoping Lana and Gertie are getting along quite nicely by now!!!....I rarely check in here to PF anymore...... Wink

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:50 am Post subject:

Loved your pictures/story. I like the pic of Gertie play bowing. Thank you for not giving up on her!

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