Snow Day!

Yesterday, My Sailor had a 'snow day'! He got to stay home from work, so we went out in the evening to play in the snow a bit!
  While Clydas isn't in LOVE with snow, he's 'warming' up to it. (I know- bad joke, but I couldn't resist.)

So today, I'll share this clip of Clydas and My Sailor playing "catch". Enjoy!
Disclaimer - I am 100% for leash laws, and it's VERY rare that I let my dog play outside off leash in a public area. We felt safe with it this time because Clydas was between 2 of us, in a very small yard area.

The Pet Took Over This Post!!

Click here to see a post about Clydas on the couple's blog!

And the Furkid throws a Curve Ball...

So, like I've said, we've been pretty preoccupied with the life and health of Clydas the Furkid lately.

Here's the latest:

Clydas and Complications

So Clydas went in yesterday for a bandage change (1 day early) because I noticed the bandage seemed saturated. It's been 6 days since his surgery by that point. He was due for another bandage change on Friday, but due to transportation issues and the look of the bandage, Thursday seemed better.

In we go and the vet has not so great news. She praised me for bringing him in early (I love that they work me in whenever I need it) and said that his wound looks angry. The stitches are holding, but it's still oozing more than they'd like, and it's red and angry looking (which explains why Clydas has been trying to lick at it more). So they gave us a new antibiotic to be ADDED to his current regimen, and requested I come back on Saturday so the surgeon could have a peek. They cleaned it up REALLY well and wrapped him up.

I dropped Clydas off at him with his inflatable Kong E collar and crated him so that I could run some errands, though I had a funny feeling he wouldn't leave his foot alone...

I should have listened to my instincts... he managed to practically fold himself in half to get around the collar and pull out bloody gauze from his bandage, WITHOUT DISTURBING THE EXTERIOR WRAPPING! Oy. We saw this as soon as we got him and rushed him back to the vet. They worked us in (again).

A new vet saw him and wrapped his foot up, and told us she wanted daily bandage changes. While I'd love to comply, I do not have an unlimited supply of money. Each bandage change runs about $55 (materials only charge). That's $385 for next week - this week already ran about $200. While we do have care credit, I'm trying to be wise about the whole thing.

Today we can't go in (no car, My sailor needed it today), so we're going in tomorrow, as planned. I'm going to ask if they'll let me observe at the next bandage change. While I completely trust their judgement, I think I'd have a better understanding of what we're dealing with if I could see it for myself.

Oh yeah - and because of Clydas' little inflatable collar stunt, he's earned himself a Cone of Shame. Thankfully, I'm home all day, so he only wears it at night and when I'm out of the house and unable to supervise. He seems to like his booty bandage MUCH better.

Thriving in the Muck

Clydas is recovering much the same as yesterday. So there isn't much to report on the pup front.

But as My Sailor's inevitable deployment creeps up on me, I'm learning about a whole range of emotions that are all muddled together. I'm sorting and wading through it all one step at a time. It's the only way I know how to do things. That - and lots and lots of research.  I'm a research hound...

Anyway, I found a few great articles that I thought I'd share here. The tips are for living under a stressful situation such as a considerably long distance relationship, but I also think they are good tips for any relationship in general. (Click on the link above to see the complete article.)

1)  Don't be too hard on yourself. "The transition from nightly dinner dates to dinner on the couch for one can be a shock to the system...."
It's no lie that everyone is their own worst enemy. I am no exception to this rule. It's been a true gift to learn how to accept my feelings, live with them for a little while, and trust that I won't drown in their intensity. Everything happens for a purpose, even sadness.
By the same token, I'm a firm believer that every woman should live ON HER OWN for at least one year of her life. I'm so grateful for my time flying solo. It gave me the confidence to know that, no matter who or what comes and goes from my life, I'll be okay. I can care for myself - and with a good support system, overcome anything.

2) Focus on Creative Communication. "The cornerstone to any successful long distance relationship is communication."
This could be rephrased to say, "The cornerstone to any successful relationship is communication." And creative ways of communication are enjoyed by both parties. Whether it's  phone call, a photo, a text, or a love letter, expressions of love over any distance is valuable. I've heard of some military men who set up flowers to be delivered on special occasions prior to leaving, so that something arrives on Christmas - or they leave letters or cards behind for the family to open. While I HIGHLY DOUBT My Sailor has gone to such lengths, it just goes to show that it is possible - and sometimes, even fun!


So these were just a few tips and tricks the author had. None of it is brain surgery, but I'm so grateful that there ARE articles out there that give me an idea of what I might expect during the upcoming changes. Much of the advice is the same:
Expect to be depressed and despondant for a while. (duh) Expect days to drag for a while, but making plans to stay as busy as possible really helps. (We all know I'm ridiculously good at that!)
Make plans with friends and family. Good support is great. (I'm seeing my family over Christmas and maybe some friends or family over Thanksgiving. Clydas and I are overdue for another weekend road trip, and I plan on making myself useful at the local community theater as much as I possibly can. Did I mention Wedding planning is in there too? As well as possibly training for a marathon?)
While it's not easy - it's not the "Me and My Sailor" part that's hard. I think we're pretty well prepared for this adventure. (As prepared as we can be anyway.) ...I already can't wait until he comes home.

Starting off the week right!

 Check it out. That's MY DOG - standing on all fours! Well, pretty much. He had a wound check this morning and a new bandage put on. It's less constricting and he's moving around a bit more. Or at least he was at the vet's office. It pretty much tuckered him out for the day. But he's jumping up on and off the couch now on his own. Everyday he's making such big improvements. It really eases my heart. It was a tough decision to put him through surgery, but he's proving it was the right thing. Friday he has another wound check and dressing change.

I started off this morning by hitting up the YMCA after dropping My Sailor off at work this AM. It worked out well! It was HARD to get up that early (5:15 am) and get a good work out in, but I'm feeling great that I did it! Tried a new machine called an AirTrek. It gave me a great work out in 20 minutes. Looking forward to seeing how it continues to reshape my body. It's also set me up well for eating right. So far so good today, but I'll be blogging more about that on the health blog.

It's time for me to head back to work. Got the usual post-month-end junk to catch up on, housework, and some stuff to work on for My Sailor's seabag. I have a housefull of junk food right now, ready for the fall baking binge coming up any day now.

LOVING the fall cool, drizzly weather! Back to work!

When everything goes right...

Sometimes, even when the sky is cloudy, there seems to be a beam of sun light shining right on you.

Today, I realized that everything really has fallen into place. Even when things seem like they SHOULD be at their worst, they aren't.


My Sailor got off work surprisingly early yesterday, just in time to help me lift Clydas from the vet's office to the car and into the apartment. We were able to work out the finances of it. True, Clydas was up and down all night. In fact, he whined so much last night that I doubted his pain meds (strong stuff, morphine and Tramadol) were working. Remember, this animal NEVER complains EVER. So for him to be consistently whining is a HUGE thing. Yes, he kept me up all night, but really, can ya blame him? He just had 1/2 his foot amputated.

Even though this has been tough, it's been heartening as well. Clydas is growing stronger every day and I'm reminded what it's like caring for a child. In so many ways, Clydas is just that right now (only a diaper would be more easier than near constant potty walks outside, but they are probably good for his rehab).
It's day 2 and he's figured out how to move around on 3 legs pretty well. He's not ready to put weight on his foot, but I certainly don't blame him for that. He still falls over and a short walk is exhausting for him, but he's a real champ and is proving that my faith in his quick recovery is not misplaced. Though I can tell he's bruised and uncomfortable, he's already adapting so well. We just slow down and go at his pace. Another reason why he's the perfect dog for me - patience is one of my strong suits (most of the time).

We'll still need A LOT of support for the next couple weeks. Monday he goes in for a wound check, and I know it'll all become more "real" to me when I actually see the new shape of his foot. He should be getting a smaller bandage at that point. In about 9-13 days, he'll be getting his stitches out.

In the middle of this whole mess is My Sailor's deployment sneaking up on us faster and faster every day. I'm faced with a mixture of emotions, but I'm also reminded that all I have to do is what is right in front of me this moment.

And right now, that's eat lunch.

My four-legged Life - A Clydas Update

So this adorable 4-legged, 54 pound ball of brindle fur pretty much ran my life for the last week. Understanding that our pets are mortal reminds me to let go of the little things in life and just roll with the punches a bit better.

Since his diagnosis, Clydas has been allowed to cuddle with the "parents" (me and My Sailor) more often at night. He gets a couple more treats a day (his weight is under control), and he gets a new toy more often (usually My Sailor's doing).  He gets a few more random scratches throughout the day and a little less scolding (from both of us).

Yes, he's "just a dog".  But if you've ever owned a dog, then you "get it".

"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human.  The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.  ~Edward Hoagland"

Clydas has taught me a lot about life over his 7 years so far. When I got him, I expected to be the teacher, but sometimes I think he's taught me more valuable things than I've taught him. He's seen me collapse into a sobbing mess when I thought my world was crumbling, and taught me what a good friend is - someone who loves you even when you're a mess. He's seen me rise to the occasion - and reminds me that each day is "the occasion" worth rising to. He's been my traveling companion - and in doing so, he's taught me the value of a good walk in a small town. Through his occasional slobber and (more than occasional) gas, he's taught me that life will continue, even if there is fur on your clothes. In fact, sometimes life is more fun when you get down and dirty. 

Of course, in his world, there is little that a new squeaky toy can't fix. In the human world, it isn't THAT simple - there is little that a pair of perked up ears and a wagging nub can't soothe.

It's pretty obvious that I take my responsibility as a good pet owner very seriously. It's a title I want to earn every day. I know Clydas won't live forever, but I think it's part of my duty to give him the best, most comfortable life I can while he is around. After all, he's been my stead fast buddy (and some would joke one of the most stable males in my life over the past near-decade), so it's the least I can do. 


With some good news bolstering my spirits (the knowledge that his cancer does not appear to be spreading), I know Clydas will be in good hands as he undergoes surgery this week.

Announcement - Fur-kid Medical Journey Begins

Me and Clydas in Monterey, CA, December of 2006

Yesterday, I went to Portland and had a great time with friends. It was a much needed break.

On my way home, I got a phone call from Clydas' vet. See, Clydas had been into the vet on Tuesday. You can see a little bit about that visit here. Part of that I didn't blog about was that Clydas had a lump on his foot aspirated. They took a small biopsy to check on it. See, it's been there for a while, but I was just watching it to see if it got bigger, bothered him, etc. It never seems to cause him any problems. Boxers have a ridiculously high pain tolerance - I mean ridiculously high. Example: Clydas tapped one of the cats I used to have under the bed (when he still fit under there) and got a cat scratch ON HIS EYEBALL under the lower lid. He NEVER complained about it. Didn't rub at his face. Didn't whine. Nothing. So I didn't even know about it until I noticed green pus coming from his eye. Thankfully, he was fine. Another time, he stepped on a piece of broken glass while outside and CUT HIS PAD. He never cried out, never limped at all, never licked at it - nothing. If it weren't for the fact that we happened to be walking on WHITE concrete on our way home, I would never have noticed that he was tracking blood everywhere.

I check him on a fairly routine basis for injuries, bumps, etc, since I know what a trooper he is when it comes to pain.

Well, a while ago My Sailor noticed a lump on his foot. Thinking he just stepped on something that got between his toes and is working its way out, we kept an eye on it. Clydas never showed any sign of pain or discomfort. He didn't chew at it, bite at it, limp, nothing. So I assumed it was just a tag or something minor.

Since he was going to the vet, I had them take a look at it and that's where the biopsy came in.

3 days later, I get a voice mail asking me to call the vet's office.

When they didn't leave the results on my voice mail, I began to worry.

I called back, but I missed their operating hours. I was about to call this morning when the vet herself (not the staff) called me. During that conversation, my cell phone died... so I called her back and I finally got the news.

It's what they call a "Mast Cell Tumor".  When I read more about it, I noticed that they seem to change "on a whim" daily. And they are right. Today, it's small.

See the lump between the small toe and the big toe?

But to sum up, it's a cancerous growth that has often malignant in nature. They are fatty tumors that have little tendrils that ooze out into the surrounding tissue. Problem is, they release chemicals (like histamine, etc) which can cause problems when released in chronic excess.

Since they tend to spread out their tiny little microscopic malignant tendrils, they are easy to remove when they are in the fatty parts. Surgeons just remove a little more the tumor they see to make sure it's not spreading.

That's where Clydas is "special". His tumor is between two of his toes and is about the size of my thumb above the top-most joint. There is NO fat between his toes. So here are the options:

1) Lumpectomy - Remove the lump. It'll most likely come back based on it's location. There isn't enough tissue to remove all the tumor.

2) Amputate those 2 toes - This will most obviously hurt his mobility level.

3) See a Specialist - Most likely a doggie Oncologist would do the Lumpectomy and follow-up Radiation. High level of cure rate, but an expensive undertaking.

The Vet is great and I do trust her. She OWNS a boxer, as does the woman who owns the animal hospital, so they understand this unique breed very well. I highly respect that she didn't strongly recommend the option that would make her the most money (Lumpectomy - as it would mean return visits). She actually seemed to lean towards the Specialist option.

There is some silver-lining here. Boxers are more prone to grade 1 and 2 mast cell tumors than they are to grade 3 and 4. The higher the grade, the more dangerous the tumor. Since this isn't near any of his vital organs, it's not immediately life threatening.

And Clydas isn't in any visible pain. I keep reminding myself about this. He's had this for a while and hasn't been really showing any signs of illness, which puts me at peace a bit. The Vet is also encouraged by Clydas' age (he could be at "mid life"ish right about now) and overall fitness. He's in great shape, weighing in at a perfect 54 lbs at his last visit, and overall wellness is a good thing. I'm trying to focus on that right now more than anything and remind myself that, whatever we choose, this will be a long journey, but well worth it I think for this member of my family.

I decided a long time ago that the ONLY way I'd throw down over $2k for an animal is if the treatment is likely to be a CURE, rather than a "treatment". This may be the case where the Specialist answer comes in...

As luck would have it, this is laid in my lap while My Sailor is on duty, so we won't be able to discuss the options until tomorrow.

Don't worry - Clydas is going to get lots of love, especially today. I may be starting a special blog for Clydas' treatment, depending on what we decide. For now, he's curled up in his Tummy Warmer on the couch. Stay tuned...

Getting Clydas on The Kong

I've been debating the finer points of different styles of dog beds for... well, more than a lot of other owners probably would. I guess I have special worries about my dog for a couple of reasons:

Clydas is entering his 'mid-life'. He's acting more and more like an 'adult dog' now that he's on his way to 7 years old. He still reminds me he's a boxer every day though. Sometimes its in the little bouncy step he does when he's out on his morning walk and just can't wait to see what the day has in store. Sometimes it's in the way he puts his chin on my leg when he wants my attention when I'm working, or brings me his toy and will play with it at my feet while I work just to be in the same room with me. Sometimes it's in his annoying persistance to go for a walk that gets me out of a the house. But he sleeps a lot more now, and is generally less easily excitable, which tells me he's getting older - and so is his body.

Boxers are prone to hip dysplasia. I'm moving my aging dog from a warm, dry climate to a cold, wet climate. He also has short hair, but I'm hopeful that the Tummy Warmer will make up for a good chunk of that. True, I'm removing our daily stair climbing (for the next 6 months anyway).

EVERYTHING is changing. Not only for me, but for my dog. While Clydas and I have moved 4 times in his life, each move takes some adjusting to. One as drastic as this requires some extra TLC (for both me and him). Thankfully, we have My Sailor helping to look out for us, it's still quite a transition for all involved, and a lot of things are changing. To help Clydas keep his bearings (and to help with everyone's sanity), I'm keeping some of the old, and adding the new things as well.


After debating eBay vs. pet stores vs handmade I settled on the qualities that were most important to me:
1) Arrival time.  I wanted something Clydas can get used to while we're still here, so it'll be something he gravitates towards since its his from home.
2) SUPPORT. My dog is 55lbs. If I can put my hand into "orthopedic foam" and feel the ground beneath it, so can his hips - and that's no good. It's gotta be the right combination of support and softness.
3) Snug-ability. He needs something comfortable and most of all warm. But I'm not willing to take the added tumor risk that comes with electric heaters.




4) Appearance. Vain as it seems, some dog beds are really eye-sores. I don't really want a patchwork pillow with dog paws all over it.
5) Durability.  I want this pet bed to LAST. Heck, it would be awesome if future furkids could use this one too!



I settled on a Kong product. If you haven't heard of Kong, they make pretty much chew-proof toys and are most famous for the design of their treat toys. I was a bit skeptical when I saw the bed up on the top rack at the store, but nothing else was living up to my standards. I got someone to help, and she pulled it down for me. I was impressed by the price tag (about 1/2 what I'd intended to spend w/ discounts), and it lived up to the Kong name, so I brought it home to see what Clydas thought of it.

At first, he didn't even step on it, unsure if it was a think for people, but after some encouragement (namely, putting his blanket on it and encourage him to chew on and play with the bed) he realized it was for him.
This video is from tonight:

The critics have it! The Kong Bed is a hit! Check one more thing off the list.

Did Clydas catch the bunny?

Or did the bunny beat him up?

A mini update - and a call from the Vet

I was out of town over the weekend and didn't really make time to blog, so now that I'm back, I'll be doing just that. I have been having a bit of a crazy time, with the holidays breathing down my neck and all. But I think I've finally settled on a plan for the week to make it fun, relaxing, and to renew my Christmas spirit.

As many of you know, Clydas was in the kennel at his vet this weekend. I get to pick him up tonight and I'm so excited. I got a bit concerned today when I got a call from the Vet's office today though.

So tell me folks...
Is it a good sign when the vet tech asks if Clydas HAS to go home?
LOL