The Generosity of Friends | Barks and Bytes

I just have to share something with you.  The other day Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie and I were thrilled to get a certain package in the mail.

That package was from our buddies over at Sand Spring Chesapeakes:  Gambler, Glory, Nellie and JoAnn.  Though JoAnn said she was sending Jeffie a birthday gift, just look at these three amazing dog collars!

Handmade by JoAnn who not only did a fabulous job on these paracord collars, but she coordinated the colors perfectly.  As she says in her notecard:

Rosie - Dark blue & white for her Blue Devils
Rudy - light blue and white for his Tarheels
Jeffie - Royal blue and crimson for his Jayhawks

 

 I think Rosie looks fantastic in her new collar!

 Rudy loves his!

Jeffie refused to pose nicely for me, 

but collars just don't show up well on the hairy guy!

The dynamic duo are ready for anything 

now that they're looking so sharp!

Don't you just love it?!  I do!  They're so sturdy, well made and beautiful!  Thank you so much, JoAnn!

In other news... I think we had 2 days of spring here and they included tornado warning..  We've now gone from stormy to temperatures in the upper 80's / lower 90's.   The dogs don't know what to think.  First it was too dark to take photos of the new collars, then it became so hot the dogs didn't want to cooperate at all.  

Today I'm actually contemplating turning on the AC.  Remember that photo of my cherry tree I shared on May Day?  That night hail took every single one of the blossoms!  Sigh... Between late ice storms, wicked thunderstorms and hail, no flowering tree, shrub or flower blossom survived longer than a day or two around here.

Oh well.  I think we'll be swimming early this year!

AND if you missed my Give Cancer the Paw blog post, you missed my video of my heart dog, Lucy, with my Randy Barr original dog song Lucy and Me.  Here it is again and at the end you'll see how you can get a song for your own dog and help canine cancer victims, too.

I'm joining the Barks and Bytes blog hop today hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog  Grab the badge and join in the fun!

Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry. 

Help Canine Cancer Victims and Get a Personalized Dog Song | Give Cancer the Paw

Randy Barr and Ernie

Too many times I've heard stories about pet owners who cannot afford treatment for their pets with serious illness - often cancer.  Some begin fundraising efforts; some are lucky enough to find a resource that will help them get their dog desperately needed treatment.  

As some of you know, I have a thing for original songs about dogs.  My obsession with my own dog song music playlist led to Dog Song Saturday.  

One day while hunting down some fresh material, I stumbled on a singer songwriter named Randy Barr and his song Ernie and Me.  As I listened to the lyrics they just felt right and I felt my heart crack a bit with their sweet joy.

I shared this wonderful song and the video of Randy and his dog Ernie on a Dog Song Saturday.  I always like to link to the composer and/or performer in those blog posts, so I did a bit of research on Randy.  

That research led to correspondence with Randy himself, plus to this blog post.

At this point you're probably wondering what a dog song has to do with canine cancer.  A lot!

Donate to help people whose dogs have cancer and cannot afford treatment and enjoy your own dog song.

There's a very special organization near and dear to Randy Barr's heart:  Canine Cancer Awareness. 

Canine Cancer Awareness, Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the prevalence of canine cancer, its effects and the available treatment options.  

Donations made to CCA are used for veterinary care for dogs with cancer whose families are financially unable to provide treatment.  CCA sends those monies directly to the vet involved and the dogs receives treatment.

They also maintain a wealth of information about canine health in general, as well as canine cancer.  Fetch their website for an amazing collection of articles about canine cancer and useful information to guide you if your dog is battling cancer.

Make a tax deductible financial donation to Canine Cancer Awareness, Inc of $10 or more.  Randy will do a digital recording of your very own personalized version of his song Ernie and Me.  Get your dog song here.

Have a listen to my own personalized dog song, Lucy and Me, then head over to CCA and grab a personalized dog song of your very own.  

It's a win - win.  You're helping a worthy dog cancer cause and you'll have a sweet tribute to your own special friend.



You can also listen to Randy's original song, Ernie and Me, and watch his sweet video of him with his dog Ernie.Randy's music has been described as melodic rock with a kick and is available on cdbaby, Amazon and iTunes.  He has a new album out This Thing Called Love which you can preview at RandyBarr.net    You can also find Randy on Twitter or Facebook, too.

Talking Dogs is participating in the Give Cancer the Paw blog hop, hosted by Pooch Smooches and Peggy's Pet Place.  Join us with a  tribute to a lost pet, personal experiences, tips, research - anything related to pet cancer.

Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.

Canine Oral Melanoma | Give Cancer the Paw

Spanky was a victim of oral melanoma.

 Ignorance can reap a bitter harvest.

That's the alternate title of this blog post about my Spanky and his death from canine oral cancer.   

This is not the post I planned to write.  However, I decided to leave out the pathos because what is really important is to make checking inside your dog's mouth a normal weekly activity.

Know what normal looks like and head to the vet immediately if something just doesn't seem right.

At a routine health checkup when he was almost 9 years old, the vet recommended a dental cleaning for my black Lab mix, Spanky.  We were preparing to make a cross country move, so after some discussion about the anesthesia and procedure, I agreed.  We decided that it would be best if his regular vet took care of this instead of having to worry about it after the move when we were getting settled.

Spanky did fine with the cleaning.  When I came to pick him up, he was already out of anesthesia, walking around and charming everyone in the vet clinic.

A few months later we made our move and we soon realized that something was wrong.  Spanky's breath had become killer.  We needed a vet.  ASAP.

There were only two small animal veterinarians in our immediate area.  Note: when you live in a rural area, choices (in many things) are quite limited.  Anyway, one vet came highly recommended by many. 

We told Dr. L about the bad breath and recent dental cleaning.  Spanky had no other symptoms.  So, imagine our shock when we got the diagnosis:  malignant melanoma.    Dr. L called our previous vet who told her that she'd also removed a small "skin tag" from one side of Spanky's upper gum almost on the roof of his mouth.  She not only did not do a biopsy, she did not inform us.

Now Spanky had cancerous growth on the roof of his mouth.  Spanky was scheduled for surgery the next day. Though the surgery appeared successful, the cancerous growth came back with a vengeance.  At the time, chemo and radiation therapies were not recommended.  The cancer was far too aggressive.  

Within five months of diagnosis, Spanky's quality of life was such that we made the very hard decision to let him go.

Even if Spanky's original vet had biopsied the growth and he'd had surgery much sooner, he probably would have only lived a few more months at best.  Canine oral melanoma can be a very fast killer.

The most common oral melanomas are found on the lips, gums, palate and tongue.  They may be pigmented or unpigmented lesions.  As they grow they spread to the jaw, neck and head, plus can metastasize to any part of the dog's body.  The life expectancy of a dog with advanced canine oral melanoma can be as little as five months.

Canine oral melanomas occurs more often in:

• Black or dark dogs 
• Male dogs
• Dogs aged between 9 - 12 years 

Symptoms include:

• Severe halitosis or bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Facial swelling
• Preference for soft food over hard food
• Chewing changes or difficulties
• Swallowing difficulties
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Chronic cough
• Depression and dementia due to neurological changes

Spanky was black, male and nearly 10 years old.  The only symptom Spanky had was the first:  terribly bad breath.  Otherwise he seemed to be in perfect health and spirits.

Standard treatment is surgery to remove the cancerous legion(s) and surrounding tissue.  This sometimes means removal of part of the jaw or face.  Radiation may be prescribed, as well as chemotherapy.  Early research results of a new oral melanoma vaccine may extend life expectancy from five months to about a year. Recurrence of oral melanoma is very common.

I learned the hard way to regularly check my dogs' mouths for signs of anything at all unusual, to make sure my vet checks and keeps me informed.

Since Spanky's ordeal, there have been major developments in fighting cancer.  When caught in time, cancer does not mean a death sentence.

Talking Dogs is participating in the Give Cancer the Paw blog hop, hosted by Pooch Smooches and Peggy's Pet Place.  Join us with a  tribute to a lost pet, personal experiences, tips, research - anything related to pet cancer.

Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.

Follow-up Friday:: Tears and Laughter

 I'm happy to be joining Heart Like a Dog in the follow-up Friday blog hop this week.  This is the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.  Hosted by FUF creator, Jodi at Heart Like a Dog and co-hosted today by Emma at My GBGV Life.

What a week of emotion.  First, I had a heck of a time writing my post for the new Give Cancer the Paw blog hop sponsored by Pooch Smooches and Peggy's Pet Place.   It timed perfectly with the anniversary of Tucker's death.  I can't believe that was two years ago; it seems like yesterday.  Then I read JoAnn's heartbreaking news about Norman.  You'll need lots of tissues to read it, but you shouldn't miss JoAnn's tribute to her beautiful boy.

On the other end of the emotional spectrum, we've been having lots of fun celebrating Rosie's first birthday.  Though I'll report on festivities this coming week, suffice to say, Rosie didn't let me spend the whole week crying!  There was a whole lot of laughing when she made her trip to Tractor Supply and picked out her birthdays gifts.  That blur is her tail wagging - LOL.

Rosie shopping for her birthday gifts.

A Puppy Meant For Me
Thanks to everyone for your comments!  I do believe that Rosie and I were meant to be together and I'll tell you more about that in another post.  Here's a teaser:   it has to do with contacting an animal communicator.

Rhyme for Rosie
Like Mary, I lost count long ago of the number of times my grandma said this rhyme to me!  Nope, Flea, her name is definitely Rosie :-)

My Tripawd Dog
Jana says:  "I can just feel how hard this must have been to write."  You are so right.  I wrote a little, cried a lot, then wrote a bit more.  Though this happened a long time ago, not a day goes by that I don't think of Benji.  He was a character and maybe, now that I've told this part of his story, I can tell some of the funny stuff.  A number of you referred to my love for him, like Jen who said: "...I could feel your love for Benji shining through:)"  Thank you.  

Mel noted: "I am so glad you went for that second opinion and had him for so long."  There is more to that part of the story, but I wanted to focus on "the big C," rather than the whole vet issue.   However, I'll note here that Dr. H is Wayne Hunthausen and, among many other honors, he was chosen 2013 Kansas City's Best Veterinarian.  Of course, in my own mind he's "the vet who saved my Bennie."

My Benji

The next Give Cancer the Paw blog hop date is February 6.  I'll be sharing the story of my black Lab, Spanky, and his battle with mouth cancer.  Even if you've not lost a furry family member to "the big C," I hope you'll join the hop and help spread awareness.

My Tripawd Dog | #GiveCancerthePaw

Not a day goes by that I don't run my hands all over my dogs' bodies.  

I'm not just "petting" them and, though I'm sure they think I'm just massaging them, it's more than that.  

It's a learned habit.  It is being vigilant.  And it is a lesson I learned long ago with my dog, Benji.

This a story without a lot of medical jargon and details.  It's just story about a dog with cancer. It happened before I had internet access and before the explosion of traditional and non-traditional medical advances.

Benji, aka Ben, Bennie, Bennie Ennie Ennie, Benopolis, was my first on-my-own dog.  While in college I accompanied some friends to the local animal shelter.  I was going along because I adored dogs.  My friends went with the intention to adopt one.   

There I encountered a 4 month old puppy who was scheduled for euthanasia.  At the "midnight hour," I raced back to the shelter and adopted him.  I had no business with a pup at that time in my life.  

However, he was now mine and I was his.  We were a team of two.  We were halves that made a whole.  

He was my dancing dog.  He was my first heart dog.

My dancing dog the morning of his amputation surgery.

Benji was 3 years old when I noticed the strange little growth in his "armpit."  

We were living a new city and I thought I'd found a good vet, thanks to co-worker recommendations.  When I found the growth, I made a vet appointment.  After examining Benji, the vet washed his hands and told me that since my dog was not a purebred, it was no big deal.   It could be "something," but probably wasn't and since my dog was a mutt...   He shrugged his shoulders and figuratively washed his hands of me.

I was young.  I was speechless.  And devastated.  In tears I drove away.  

Two days later I had an appointment with another vet, thanks to a friend's recommendation.  This vet, Dr. H, was a dog lover.  He examined Benji and decreed that the growth was, indeed, probably nothing, but should come off.  It was in an awkward place where just by virtue of walking, it would be irritated.  Surgery was scheduled.  Growth removed and biopsied.   Benign.

When Benji was 8 years old he had another strange growth, but this time it was on a back foot.  Back to the vet.  

Same song; second verse.  Surgery, biopsy, benign.

Ben on the morning of his amputation surgery.

Benji was 9 when the growth came back.  Same location.  Dr. H warned me that the recurrence was probably not good news. 

Third verse:  Surgery, biopsy, malignant Mast cell tumor.

I was overwhelmed with fear and felt helpless.  

Options were discussed and the case for amputation was made to me by both Dr. H and his partner, Dr. C.   Just the thought of amputation horrified me and that horror hung around me like a dark cloud until Benji taught me different.

Benji, my Doberman / Shepherd Mutt

Benji came through the surgery with flying colors.  In fact, the vet clinic staff just couldn't keep him down.  He was up and hopping around right away.  While they marveled, Dr. H told me he'd never seen a dog with such life force and will to live.

Post surgery

Dr. H repeated that to me many times over the next few years.  Because the odds were that we'd only bought "a little" extra time.  Both vets warned me of the signs to watch out for that the cancer had spread.  Vigilant became my middle name.

Before he wore the muzzle (only while I was at work), we made 3 trips back to the vet to repair stitches. Unfortunately, nothing short of this "get up" worked.

Benji came home early and got right back to teaching me life lessons.  He couldn't dance anymore, but otherwise nothing had changed.  Life was good.

In fact, he was so good on 3 legs that people didn't realize he was missing a leg.  People would play with him and after a few hours exclaim:  where's his leg?! 
 
Benji was 11 when we moved from the city to what we call "the big farm."   He roamed 150 acres with me and enjoyed his new incarnation as farm dog.  Good times.

Benji and Sherman on the farm.

He was 13 when he had his first seizure.  Tests revealed cancer of the liver.  Our vet prescribed a special diet, medication, and offered radiation treatment.  However, that was only available at the Vet School 5 hours away.  

He would have to stay at the Vet school to be treated and I would not be allowed to be with him.  His odds were not good.  He was 13 years old.

Benji, 14 years old

I chose to keep him at home and live with joy on the farm.  As long as he was not in pain, he would be with me.    Benji was 14 years old when he passed away in his sleep.

Benji taught me a lot.  Too much to tell here, but he would want me to tell you this:

• Be vigilant.  Check for lumps and bumps often.  Do not procrastinate if you find something.  Time is of the essence.
• Make sure you have a vet you trust who also has a compassionate "bedside" manner. 
• Amputation bothers humans, not dogs.  As horrific as it sounds (and looks immediately post-op), Dogs get on with life and don't care how it looks.  
• Keep your dog lean and fit.  This was very much in Benji's favor and helped him quickly adjust to tripawd life.
• If your dog is diagnosed with cancer, you need to get your own feelings of panic under control first in order to make good decisions.  Then trust your gut and forget about being perfect - there is no such thing.
• Be positive.  Be hopeful. 
• Live fully in the present moment.

Benji beat the odds and lived a long, joy filled 5 years as a tripawd.

My heart dog, Benji.

Talking Dogs is participating in the Give Cancer the Paw blog hop, hosted by Pooch Smooches and Peggy's Pet Place.  Join us with a  tribute to a lost pet, personal experiences, tips, research - anything related to pet cancer.

Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.