Jake Gets Elk

Santa Paws brought Jake more than one thing.  Santa Paws brought Jake elk treats.

Sniff Sniff...

What's this?

Is it for Me?

Silly question.

Yes.  Just put the nice juicy Elk in my mouth.

Yes.  Yes.  Yum.

Chomp Chomp Chomp

Why Yes

I do believe I will have another piece.

Look What Santa Brought Me!!

I was a very good basset boy this year! Santa Paws brought me goodies!!!!

For Me?  Really?  I'll just take this.

Hmmm To Hide or To Eat?

Decisions, Decisions.

Where to Hide, Where to Hide

All my hidey-holes are full

You know what?

I'll just eat it. :)

Merry Christmas!

Jake and I hope Santa Paws brings you everything you wanted!

Jake's Video Entry for Free Food

Okay
Here's the latest version. I killed the background noise and added music. I've fixed the jumpy area and I've lengthened the first text box.

A Present? For Me??

Yesterday Jake got his first Christmas present.  As you can see, he was very happy!

Nom Nom Nom

I'm busy hiding a cookie....

All I Want for Christmas!

Jake's working on his Christmas List!  He's all excited about Santa Paws coming.  He hopes he's been a good little basset!  (I think he's been *wink*)

Jake's Christmas List

1.  A heated bed
2.  Cookies
3.  Mommy to stop trying to put pills in everything.
4.  Jerky
5.  Chewies
6.  More walks
7.  More car rides.
8.  More belly rubs.
9.  Mommy to shop chasing me around with eye medicine.

Here I am from last Christmas!

Mommy took the candy cane away.

It makes my gums bleed.

Mommy's mean like that.

Thursday Update

Hello all
Sorry for the light posting.  Jake is being somewhat difficult.  He's gone on a hunger strike.  I've tried just about everything to get him to eat and to take his meds.  It's been very difficult.

Today Jake had his stitches taken out!!!! YAY!!! His ears are healing nicely.  However, it looks like there could be some permanent facial nerve damage as Jake still can't blink properly.  Also, Jake is having some trouble eating on his right side.  It could be facial nerve damage or it could be some underlying jaw issue.  In other words, although the surgery solved his ear issues, it may not have solved his jaw problem.  The latest on the jaw problem is that it could be arthritis in his jaw.  We are going to try metacam for a week to see if that helps.

I really feel like Jake needs House.

As Jake and I were discussing his medication problems, I ran into his dermatologist, Dr. Metry, who is totally awesome and she gave me a big hug telling me that it was great news.  I'm like, yeah, Jake got his stitches removed.  She's like they didn't tell you?  Tell me what?  The final biopsy results came back.  The mass in Jake's ear is not cancer!!!!!!  It apparently was something that became a necropsis in his ear and became surrounded by pus and other goo.  Because his ear was so calcified, the medications could never get to the mass.

Here is Jake in the exam room!

He's got Christmas collar cover on!

Doesn't he look awesome!

Snoods!

Basset hounds are low to the ground with very long ears that can drag along the ground, getting all icky and ooky. In the winter, when there is snow on the ground, it is really important to keep basset ears out of the snow as the ears can become frostbitten. Now that Jake is bald and with shaved ears, it is even more important to keep his ears warm.

Over the summer I bought him a tie-dyed cotton snood. Unfortunately, the temperatures in St. Louis nosedived this week and the tie-dyed snood wasn't warm enough for de-furred ears.

I had my snack.  Now it is time for a walk!

I decided to get Jake a fleece snood.  I contacted the same person who made his tie-dyed snood, Howlin'  Hounds, and ordered a fleece snood.  

However, Jake doesn't like it.  It's too hot I think for him and uhm, his mommy ordered the wrong size..so it's a little big.

Lucky for Jake, he has a friend the crochets and made him a crocheted snood!

How many of these things do I have to hide before mommy gives up?

You can see about getting one from Joy!

He seems to like this one a little bit better.  It's got air holes, so it doesn't get as hot.  Jake's mommy isn't so bright and mis-measured Jake's head.  Luckily, I can tighten it by just retying the elastic!

Dreaming Jake

Here's Jake sleeping or dancing.

Preliminary Biopsy Results

Good Friday to you all!

The surgeon called this morning with the preliminary biopsy results. So far, it is excellent news. The mass in Jake's ear appears to be infection and inflammation. NO CANCER! The full biopsy isn't completed as they have to de-calcify his ear to check the deeper parts.

The cultures of the infection came back as well. Our favorite bacteria, psuedomonas, was present. And, unsurprisingly, resistant to the free antibiotics they hand out at the grocery store. But don't worry, it is susceptible (sorry it was a mistake earlier) to an antibiotic that is $7.50 a dose. yay?

Tuesday Jake Update

Hi all!
Jake is doing really well.  Sometimes he seems a little confused, but I think it is because he's still adjusting to being totally deaf.  For the most part, he has been taking his medicine like a good little basset.  It involves baby food, cheese, and the peanut butter from a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  There was some damage to Jake's facial nerves, so he was having trouble blinking, but it seems to be getting better.  This requires Jake to get eye ointment.  Jake's been really good about leaving his ears alone, so he only has to wear the cone when he's unsupervised or at night cause I can't keep an eye on him, cause I'm sleeping.  He's licking his paws more so I guess I have to wash them with the medicated wash.  That's always fun!

His stitches are scheduled to be removed Thursday, December 17.

That bald spot on his butt is where his opiate patch was.

It came off today.

I Do Not Like the Cone of Shame

Happy St. Nick's Day!  Jake is home and currently eating rice and hamburger, he had baby food appetizer laced with pills :).  He's doing really well, although there was some facial nerve damage, as Jake can't blink really well yet.  He gets eyedrops until he can blink!

Jake gets to wear a cone!  So far it hasn't been all that great.  Jake keeps running into stuff.

Here's Jake the Flower.

This is the cone they gave him at the hospital.

He steps on it.

Here's Jake modeling his new cone.

It's soft and padded.

It also folds so that he doesn't step on it.

Thanks for all your special prayers and wishes as Jake was sick and in the hospital!

UPDATE: Jake's special bud Mike composed a poem for Jake:

I would not wear it in the shower

it makes me look just like a flower

I would not wear it in the park

I would not wear it in the dark

I would not wear it in the yard

I can not walk it is too hard

I would not wear it on a walk

I look so silly folks will gawk

I do not like this cone of shame

I do not like things that are lame

Update on Jake 12/5/09

I visited Jake this morning in the vet hospital.  He's doing really great! He's not really eating well, but that is to be expected given the stress of the surgery and the opiates.  Jake won't take his medicine (shocked, I'm shocked not at all) so he has to stay until Sunday so they can give him shots.  They wanted me to try and give him pills while I visited...yea, right.  The vet student also said he kept trying to escape...

They shaved his butt for a pain patch.  They also shaved his head and his actual ear flaps.  Walks are going to be very, very cold.

His paw has lots of band-aids and the IV.

He's bald!

You can see the base of his ears are swollen.

JAKE IS OK!!!!!

Hi
I just got off the phone with the surgeon. Jake is out of surgery and recovering.  The surgeon isn't convinced it is actually cancer but we won't know for sure until the biopsies come back.  She seemed to think it the mass actually maybe chronic otitis.

Basset Sphinx

Before recorded history, before they worshipped cats, the Ancient Egyptians worshiped basset hounds.  They made many monuments to the bassets and the earliest sphinx were not lions, but rather bassets.  Sadly, all of the quantifiable evidence of this has been lost to time (or to someone's lack of organization).  However, the basset hound still retains his noble bearing and sphinx-like appearance, to share with us his past (and still) total awesomeness.  The basset hound (Jake in particular) is to be worshipped and adored.  One day, they will reclaim their place of pride.  Until then, the noble basset practices his pose for that day of adoration.

You must worship and leave offerings.

Jake's New Duds!

Hello all,
Jake is feeling almost normal!  Some kind soul sent Jake an early St. Nick's Day and Christmas Present, a new collar, harness and leash!!! Doesn't Jake look so bright and cheery?

Jake Update

Hi Everyone!
Jake is back to his old self!  He's can sort of yawn and his appetite has really improved.  He's even hiding in the closet when he sees me with his medicine syringe.  I never thought I'd be happy to see him run the other way.

I'm ready for Christmas Cookies!

Turkey for Me, Turkey for Me....

Since Jake's been feeling better and can open his mouth up around 2 inches, I decided he needed a treat!

Uhm, can I have some?  Please?

TURKEY!!!! TURKEY!!! NOM!!!

(see how little the pieces are?

That's the biggest size Jake can currently eat.)

Jake says hope everydoggie had a Happy Turkey Day!  Remember, cooked bones are bad for dogs and too many special Turkey Day Treats can give doggies Pancreatitis.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jake would like me to tell everyone what he is thankful for this year:

1. His Mommy that adopted him from the foster home.
2.  His Auntie M for giving him Reese's Peanut Butter.
3.  Mommy's friends who are so generous so I can have my surgery.
4.  Moonshine and Eclipse because when they smack me, mommy gives me extra treats.
5.  Cookies.
6.  Chewies.
7.  Ferret friends Ani & Daxter for hiding treats around the house for me to find.
8.  All the vets, vet students & vet techs that are helping me feel better.
9.  Trips to the park.
10.  Car rides that don't end at the vet!
11.  The basset rescue that took me in.
12.  Mommy can't find scissors or construction paper...she kept talking about feathers on Jake....something about a basset turkey....

Today's Jake Update

Hi all.
Jake was able to be seen by the dental service at the vet hospital.  The dental vets don't think he has the doggie MS disease.  They think the tumor in Jake's ear has grown or that the pressure in the ear canal is what is causing him not to be able to open his jaw fully.  The vet brought out a doggie skull model and the ear area is really close to the jaw bone and joint.

The moral of the story is that Jake needs ear surgery sooner, rather than later.  As in Jake's surgery is scheduled for Thursday, December 3.

I'm not sure what the prognosis is at this point.  I think if they can get the mass out, everything will be okay.  It all depends on whether or not the mass is cancerous or not (the vets aren't sure) and what happens when they start operating.

I do know Jake will be in the hospital for 3-4 days and most likely will have a cone.  Don't worry, I'll take pictures of that.

I gots a chewy to hide, stop following me!

(This was taken early Sunday afternoon, when Jake could still chew.)

Update on Jake

As you know, Jake has been feeling ill.  Jake's bloodwork came back indicating an inflammation or an infection.  He's been prescribed antibiotics.  He was doing better until Sunday.  He didn't want to eat, but I thought his tummy was upset from the antibiotics because it has happened before.  The twitching/shaking started back up as well.  Jake then decided he wasn't having any of his pills.  Hot dogs, velveeta, the pb from a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Jake wasn't buying it.  I was like fine, I'll just pry your jaws open and jam the pill down your throat.  Jake screamed when I opened his mouth.  Needless to say, pill attempts came to an abrupt halt.  I then noticed the left back side, where the jaw joint is, was swollen.

I was able to get Jake into his vet on Monday.  She was not able to get Jake's jaw open either.  She prescribed liquid meds (we have a pharmacy here that can compound meds!) and referred me back to University of Illinois and Jake's vet there.

The vets at University of Illinois Vet Hospital don't think it is the mass in Jake's ear growing.  It is unheard of for that kind of tumor to act that way.  The vet suspects Jake has masticatory myositis, which seems to be some kind of doggie MS.  Hopefully the vets can pry Jake's jaw open to take radiographs.  If not, a CT will have to be done.  They need to check to see if his jaw has fused shut.  If it has the prognosis is poor.

He is doing better today.  His appetite is back and he's eating lots.  Jake has an appointment with the dentists on Wednesday, 11/25, at 9 am.  I'll keep everyone updated :)

Do Not Disturb

Jake is till not feeling up to his normal self, but he seems better.

Here is Jake napping.

Love how he sleeps with his ear covering his eyes.

Jake is Under the Weather

Hi all.  Sorry postings have been light.  Thursday night, Jake started twtiching/shaking/trembling in his front legs and shoulders.  I ended up taking Jake to the emergency vet.  The vet is unsure what is wrong with Jake.  The blood tests seem to indicate either an infection or inflammation.  Jake is now on antibiotics and pain killers.  He seems to be doing better today (Friday) but doesn't seem to want to walk very far.

Drawing is by Owen at Drawn to Be Catholic

(He's totally awesome and a dog lover :) )

Jake's New Toy - The Kibble Nibble

Because of his ear, Jake is on prednisone, which makes him very, very, very hungry.  His stomach is a bottomless pit.  A couple weeks ago, Jake got into a big bag of peanut M&Ms.  Something had to be done. Jake doesn't play with toys, so leaving him with a special toy is out of the question.  I decided a treat ball/toy dispenser might work if it was simple enough, as Jake isn't the swiftest.  After some searching, I found the Kibble Nibble, which is an egg shaped container you put kibble in or small treats.  We got ours from Pets in the City.  The reviews suggested the kibble comes out too fast and to use a tennis ball inside the egg.  The treats I got don't come out very easy, so I had to actually tap the rubber stoppers on the holes so treats came out easier.

The Kibble Nibble

I'm interested.  Can I eat it?

NEW TREATS!!!!!

Can I have one?

Please? Please? Please?

The dog is way too clueless to figure this out.

Just put some catnip in it for me.

K? Thanx.

Uhm Mommy?  I can't the cookies.

My tongue's too short.

I can't eat this thing.

I rolled it.

Nothing happened.

Seriously.

Why are you being mean?

The cookies are stuck inside.

I want them.  Get them out for me.

Seriously.  You want me to play?  Act like a dog?

Ahhh the sweet taste of success!!

Ask Jake!

Hello all, it is time for Ask Jake.  Sorry it is late today, my secretary (Mom) wanted to work on her dissertation.

So this week's question comes from Jenny, who asks, What is your favorite thing to do that your mommy doesn't like?

Well Jenny, my mommy likes everything I do.  Well, there are 3 things I do that mommy doesn't like.  
1.  I eat things I'm not supposed to like cat poo and deer poo.
2.  I lick my mommy's birkenstocks.  They are quite tasty.  Mommy's worried I'll start snacking on them.
3.  I lay right behind mommy when she is in the rolly chair.  It upsets her when she rolls over my paw or ear.  It's good for extra cookies.


Thanks for all your questions and comments!  Thanks for supporting me so I can have ear surgery soon!
Until Next Week
Woof & Wags
Jake

Sunday Reflections - Playing in the Leaves

It's Fall!  Jake wants you to be a kid again and jump in the leaves!

Did a Train Just Pull into the Yard?

Jake, when he wants back into the house, does one of two things.  He either stands at the door or he puts his nose up against the door and starts puffing and snuffling.  He sounds like a train.

CHUGGA CHUGGA!

Jake wasn't cooperating.  Normally his nose is pressed tighter to the door!

Ask Jake!

Jake would like to apologize for his lateness in answering this week's questions.  His secretary was occupied with such mundane things as homework and work.  Really, she doesn't have her priorities in order at all.

This week's question comes from Father Leo (who is totally awesome and serving his country as an Air Force chaplain!)  Father Leo asks, What are dogs dreaming about when they are running in their sleep?

Chasing the enemy of course!  Or hunting.  I dream about catching that cat Moonshine..she's mean and bops me on the head.  I dream about catching a plump bunny cause I'm fast in my sleep and the bunnies are slow.   I can only dream about it, as if I caught one mommy would cry.  I dream about cookies too and playing in the park with mommy.  

Moonshine and Jake

Moonshine is about to swipe Jake on the nose.

Thanks for asking questions.  Don't forget to leave your questions in the comment box.  


Until next week,
Woof and Wags
Jake!


PS.  Jake wants to add a tail wag to all those doggies who have bravely served our country and their handlers! Thank you!

Jake Loves Cookies

In honor of Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary, here's Jake eating a cookie!

C is for Cookie...

J is for Jake :)

Waiting For Mommy

What does Jake do while I'm at school?  Well when he isn't looking for contraband M&Ms, he waits for me....

ZZZZzzzzzZZZZZzzzz

Poke Poke...Hey wake up Jake!  I'm home!

Jake has yet to figure out I come in the other door ;)