Happy Leap Day to everyone!
This is a day that you are supposed to celebrate by staying home all day long and watching a Quantum Leap marathon on your portable DVD player while snuggling on the couch with your dogs.
Sadly, I have to work.
My employers don't realize the importance of this special *holiday* and didn't give me the day off.
tsk.
:o)
Phoebe Marie
September 10, 1996 - June 30, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Next Dr. Appointment
Phoebe goes back in to the vet to have her electrolytes checked on Saturday at 11:45.
I believe they will come back with good numbers because she is doing really well
(just really thirsty, but that's the medication causing that!)
*fingers crossed*
:o)
When she first was diagnosed with Addison's her electrolytes had to be checked at least twice a week (she was having problems with her potassium being too low.)
After her last vet visit on February 18th (when she also received her second med injection) her numbers were so good they said she didn't need to come back for "a couple of weeks." That was such wonderful news for Phoebe 'cuz after a month of being poked so often, it's been a nice break!
That "couple weeks" is almost up though, so I made the appointment today for her to go in on Saturday.
I believe they will come back with good numbers because she is doing really well
(just really thirsty, but that's the medication causing that!)
*fingers crossed*
:o)
When she first was diagnosed with Addison's her electrolytes had to be checked at least twice a week (she was having problems with her potassium being too low.)
After her last vet visit on February 18th (when she also received her second med injection) her numbers were so good they said she didn't need to come back for "a couple of weeks." That was such wonderful news for Phoebe 'cuz after a month of being poked so often, it's been a nice break!
That "couple weeks" is almost up though, so I made the appointment today for her to go in on Saturday.
I'm a ding-a-ling!
Third time this has happened:
I take the girls out to go potty in the middle of the night.....
Phoebe squats to pee....
and that is when I realize I FORGOT TO TAKE HER DIAPER OFF FIRST!
Duh!!!
It has always happened in the middle of the night when I'm still half asleep.
Oops!
Poor Phoebe!
I take the girls out to go potty in the middle of the night.....
Phoebe squats to pee....
and that is when I realize I FORGOT TO TAKE HER DIAPER OFF FIRST!
Duh!!!
It has always happened in the middle of the night when I'm still half asleep.
Oops!
Poor Phoebe!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
more pictures
Thankfully Phoebe is doing so well today I don't really have any new news to report, so here are a couple more pictures before I get nestled into bed to watch part 1 of the Project Runway finale
Here is some awesome poodle artwork that Mom and I found on the dry-erase board after we had some visitors on Saturday. :o)
Pictures!
This is how the girls spend their day when I'm at work.
They have such a rough life, don't they?!?
and here is my ALL TIME FAVORITE picture of the girls. This was taken by Germaine when we lived together. Water!
Woke up this morning to find the water bowl almost totally empty.
I know it was full before I went to bed last night!
Phoebe is a thirsty girl!
Phoebe did really well while Mom and I were gone for a few hours to see a niece's concert (which, by the way, was awesome!) I thought for sure I would come home to a wet diaper, but nope! She held it. That hadn't been the case just before we had left for the concert.....I had to change that one.
Who knew I'd become a diaper changing expert. Hee-hee!
I know it was full before I went to bed last night!
Phoebe is a thirsty girl!
Phoebe did really well while Mom and I were gone for a few hours to see a niece's concert (which, by the way, was awesome!) I thought for sure I would come home to a wet diaper, but nope! She held it. That hadn't been the case just before we had left for the concert.....I had to change that one.
Who knew I'd become a diaper changing expert. Hee-hee!
Phoebe the greedy girl!
I found a cute doggie blanket at Target in their $2.50 bin to give as a gift for a couple of my co-workers (who are sisters) because their precious little dog needs to have surgery tomorrow morning because he has a tumor and needs to have his entire eye REMOVED. I wanted to get him a little something from me and the girls to just let him know that we were thinking of him.
I got the blanket on Saturday and I had put the Target bag on the floor and Phoebe was sniffing in the bag and suddenly started to drag the bag around the floor while trying to pull the blanket out of there! She wanted the blanket for herself! It was a hoot! She’s a greedy little thing! I had to tell her it was not for her!
This is not the first time Phoebe’s done something like that. Just last month when I bought gifts for her cousin Oliver’s first birthday she pulled out one of the dog toys from the Target bag and was walking around the house with it!
The ladies like the gift and card I got for their dog. Unfortunately it made one of them start to cry. I felt so bad! That was not my intention. I just really wanted to let them know I was thinking of their boy and hope his surgery goes well tomorrow.
I got the blanket on Saturday and I had put the Target bag on the floor and Phoebe was sniffing in the bag and suddenly started to drag the bag around the floor while trying to pull the blanket out of there! She wanted the blanket for herself! It was a hoot! She’s a greedy little thing! I had to tell her it was not for her!
This is not the first time Phoebe’s done something like that. Just last month when I bought gifts for her cousin Oliver’s first birthday she pulled out one of the dog toys from the Target bag and was walking around the house with it!
The ladies like the gift and card I got for their dog. Unfortunately it made one of them start to cry. I felt so bad! That was not my intention. I just really wanted to let them know I was thinking of their boy and hope his surgery goes well tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Spring Fever!
According to Mom. Phoebe was picking on Sabrina quite a bit today. Wanting to fight...stuff like that. :o) A very good sign that she is doing well. I just wish the weather was warm so we could go for our daily walks, I know that is why she's pickin' on her sister. She's got all this extra energy she needs to burn! Soon! soon! soon!Again I must say: thank God for those diapers.....would have had a nice big mess on the carpet this afternoon without them. :oP
I'm adding one of my favorite pictures of Sabrina in this post, 'cuz she is feeling left out 'cuz there have been more pictures of Phoebe on here so far.
Right now Sabrina wants me to get OFF the darn computer and pay attention to her. Since I was gone all day and for part of the evening, I will do just that!
(Phoebe is upstairs eating supper!)
Thirsty dog!
Thank God for the diapers. Phoebe's thirst has increased again. The minute we come in from outside she is going straight for the water dish.
This is what is said about dogs with Addison's and their medication:
Most of the medications used in the therapy of hypoadrenocorticism cause excessive thirst and urination. It is absolutely vital to provide fresh drinking water for the canine sufferer.
This is also said about dogs with Addison's:
If the owner knows about an upcoming stressful situation (shows, traveling etc.), patients generally need an increased dose of prednisone to help deal with the added stress. Avoidance of stress is important for dogs with hypoadrenocorticism.
Thankfully there is no major stressful situation in Phoebe's near future. I had planned to visit a niece in Maryland this summer, but after Phoebe's hospital stay in January cost me over $2,000 (overall so far the vet bills for this recent diagnosis has cost me over $3,000) I canceled my plans to go to Maryland. I told my niece I'd maybe come see her NEXT year!
If I didn't still live with my parent's (I moved back home in 2003) there is no way I'd have been able to afford to keep my Phoebe alive. It is truly meant to be that I'm still home with them. Thank God for them and their patience and kindness in letting me and my girls stay with them all these years.
I have the best parents ever!
This is what is said about dogs with Addison's and their medication:
Most of the medications used in the therapy of hypoadrenocorticism cause excessive thirst and urination. It is absolutely vital to provide fresh drinking water for the canine sufferer.
This is also said about dogs with Addison's:
If the owner knows about an upcoming stressful situation (shows, traveling etc.), patients generally need an increased dose of prednisone to help deal with the added stress. Avoidance of stress is important for dogs with hypoadrenocorticism.
Thankfully there is no major stressful situation in Phoebe's near future. I had planned to visit a niece in Maryland this summer, but after Phoebe's hospital stay in January cost me over $2,000 (overall so far the vet bills for this recent diagnosis has cost me over $3,000) I canceled my plans to go to Maryland. I told my niece I'd maybe come see her NEXT year!
If I didn't still live with my parent's (I moved back home in 2003) there is no way I'd have been able to afford to keep my Phoebe alive. It is truly meant to be that I'm still home with them. Thank God for them and their patience and kindness in letting me and my girls stay with them all these years.
I have the best parents ever!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
diaper duty
When I learned that Phoebe would need to wear diapers, I went to Target to pick some up.
I'm 35-years-old and never in my life have I had to buy diapers. I had reached a point in my life where I didn't ever WANT to. But there I was in the diaper aisle.
It was overwhelming!
So many brands!
So many SIZES!
One of the gals at the vet told me Phoebe should fit into newborn diapers, so that is what I bought.
They have worked out really well.
I just cut a hole for her tail and she's good to go!
I don't know how long she will be needing the diapes. She received her second injection for her Addison's last Monday and since that time she's started to drink quite a bit again and late last night and again this afternoon she messed her diapers, so it could be awhile.
That's okay.
Other then the excessive drinking and peeing she is doing quite well.
Her energy level is good and so is her appetite. When she was at her worst she refused to eat and could barely walk she was so weak.
I'm so grateful that she is doing well.
First entry
On January 20, 2008 my 11-year-old poodle Phoebe was diagnosed with Addison's Disease (for information on Addison's go here: http://www.addisondogs.com/addisons/whatis.html)
Phoebe became very ill and had to spend the weekend at the Animal Emergency Clinic in Oakdale. For a couple of days I didn't think I would ever be bringing my girl home. She had gotten so sick that she required oxygen and had fluid in her lungs.
The wonderful people at AEC were able to diagnose Phoebe and begin treatment.
I was able to bring Phoebe home the evening of January 21st. She was still very
weak, but slowly began to improve.
Unfortunately a few days after she had returned home the medication she received for her Addison's (an injection that she will need to receive every month for the rest of her life) caused her to have excessive thirst and was having several accidents in the house.
Phoebe is now required to wear diapers.
She's being such a good girl about wearing them. I'm so proud of her!
Anyway, I thought I'd use this journal to record how my girl is doing.
I don't know if anyone will give a hoot or even read this, but I thought this might be fun.
More later.
Phoebe became very ill and had to spend the weekend at the Animal Emergency Clinic in Oakdale. For a couple of days I didn't think I would ever be bringing my girl home. She had gotten so sick that she required oxygen and had fluid in her lungs.
The wonderful people at AEC were able to diagnose Phoebe and begin treatment.
I was able to bring Phoebe home the evening of January 21st. She was still very
weak, but slowly began to improve.
Unfortunately a few days after she had returned home the medication she received for her Addison's (an injection that she will need to receive every month for the rest of her life) caused her to have excessive thirst and was having several accidents in the house.
Phoebe is now required to wear diapers.
She's being such a good girl about wearing them. I'm so proud of her!
Anyway, I thought I'd use this journal to record how my girl is doing.
I don't know if anyone will give a hoot or even read this, but I thought this might be fun.
More later.
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