Monday, July 30, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
St. Louis Parks
Jake's hiking buddy is a photographer. He has a new book that features his photos called St. Louis Parks. Jake helped Mark out by posing in many of the parks. Sadly, only one picture with Jake in it made it into the book. My footprints are even in the book! But it is an awesome book and features lots of nice places to take bassets (and other dogs).
You can buy the book directly from Hiking Buddy on his website
You can buy the book directly from Hiking Buddy on his website
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Jake and a Lake
Bassets are not built to swim. They are built to crawl through underbrush and chase bunnies. They are not built to swim. Some basset rescue groups will not adopt out to homes with pools because bassets are so not water dogs.
Jake's starting to have more bad days. He was having a good day today so Hiking Buddy and I decided to take Jake out to dinner at the Boathouse. It's on a lake. The edge where the tables are is finished and drops maybe 6 inches into the water, which is probably only 4 feet deep.
Jake fell in the lake. He was sort of backing up and I was like he's getting really close to the edge. I was worried because the prednisone has weakened his back legs so much. Jake took a step back and his back leg went off the ledge and then his second back leg. Then Jake went in. Hiking Buddy was holding his leash and tried to pull him up by the harness. Jake slid right through the harness. Hiking Buddy tried to grab Jake's collar but I keep Jake's collar loose so Jake doesn't get stuck and choke. Also, Jake's throat has been swelling so I kept it really loose. Jake slid right through it.
As I was running around the table to try and get to him, Jake looked at me. He looked kind of like he was saying goodbye. He went in on his back and flipped over under the water. He didn't seem like he was trying to doggie paddle or anything. He just started going straight down. I grabbed his butt. I could barely reach under him to pull him up he was so deep already. Hiking Buddy pulled his head out and we were able to haul him up the ledge.
I'm shocked at how fast Jake sank. He didn't float at all. He went straight down.
It's all a blur afterwards. Jake was ok but soaking wet and shaking so I went to the car to get a blanket for him. I am so thankful Hiking Buddy was there. This could have ended so much worse.
Jake's starting to have more bad days. He was having a good day today so Hiking Buddy and I decided to take Jake out to dinner at the Boathouse. It's on a lake. The edge where the tables are is finished and drops maybe 6 inches into the water, which is probably only 4 feet deep.
Jake fell in the lake. He was sort of backing up and I was like he's getting really close to the edge. I was worried because the prednisone has weakened his back legs so much. Jake took a step back and his back leg went off the ledge and then his second back leg. Then Jake went in. Hiking Buddy was holding his leash and tried to pull him up by the harness. Jake slid right through the harness. Hiking Buddy tried to grab Jake's collar but I keep Jake's collar loose so Jake doesn't get stuck and choke. Also, Jake's throat has been swelling so I kept it really loose. Jake slid right through it.
As I was running around the table to try and get to him, Jake looked at me. He looked kind of like he was saying goodbye. He went in on his back and flipped over under the water. He didn't seem like he was trying to doggie paddle or anything. He just started going straight down. I grabbed his butt. I could barely reach under him to pull him up he was so deep already. Hiking Buddy pulled his head out and we were able to haul him up the ledge.
I'm shocked at how fast Jake sank. He didn't float at all. He went straight down.
It's all a blur afterwards. Jake was ok but soaking wet and shaking so I went to the car to get a blanket for him. I am so thankful Hiking Buddy was there. This could have ended so much worse.
Tie-dyed Basset Burrito
I'd feel alot better if you'd give me some of your dinner.
I was just trying to see the turtle...
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Jake Update
Jake is holding his own. His lymph nodes have not shrunk, but they have not gotten significantly larger. Rubbing under his chin gives me the willies though. All of the lymph nodes, I think they are called submandular, are enlarged. It's like grapes in his neck.
Jake is starting to show signs of side effects from high doses of predinsone. His face is sunken in and his belly looks like a pot stove. His muscles are atrophying. The vet is concerned that the prednisone will damage Jake's heart enough so that he goes into congestive heart failure. Jake already has a heart murmur, so this is a distinct possibility.
The goal now is to keep Jake happy, able to breathe and swallow and pain-free. He's now allowed to eat whatever his little doggie heart desires.
It's now a matter of weeks.
Hiking Buddy and I have decided to have 1 last adventure with Jake this weekend. We are still debating where to go.
Jake is starting to show signs of side effects from high doses of predinsone. His face is sunken in and his belly looks like a pot stove. His muscles are atrophying. The vet is concerned that the prednisone will damage Jake's heart enough so that he goes into congestive heart failure. Jake already has a heart murmur, so this is a distinct possibility.
The goal now is to keep Jake happy, able to breathe and swallow and pain-free. He's now allowed to eat whatever his little doggie heart desires.
It's now a matter of weeks.
Hiking Buddy and I have decided to have 1 last adventure with Jake this weekend. We are still debating where to go.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
I was breed for this!
Jake in a field.
Hiking Buddy and I were struggling.
Jake was happy as a clam!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Jake at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows
I took Jake to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows. It was suggested that I pray for a miracle for Jake. Instead, I prayed to St. Joseph for a happy death for Jake.
Jake's Last Adventure part 1.
Meramec State Park and the overlook at Meramec Conservation Area. February 25, 2012
Cave Dog
Bats! I smell bats!
nananananana BATDOG nanananana
It too dark in there to find Hiking Buddy. I'm outta here.
taken at Meremac State Parl
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Scare
This morning when I woke up, I looked at Jake and noticed the entire lower left side of his head and neck, especially his muzzle flap were swollen. My first thought was It's Wednesday...You're vet doesn't work on Wednesdays Jake.
Clearly Jake had to go to the vet but it wasn't clear if it was an emergency or not. Jake was breathing ok, just a little rattly/raspy so I made an appointment to take him later. The vet tech asked all sorts of questions and we decided he could wait until 4.
I took him to the vet. He hasn't been feeling well...he perked up at the vet's. He has escape on his mind.
I was hoping it was a tooth. It's not. Jake's left submandular lymph node is about the size of a handball. His right is the size of large walnut. Normally, you can't feel these at all in a dog (unless you know what you are doing.) The vet wants to increase the dose of prednisone and see what that does for Jake. I expect lots of peeing in my future.
What I understood from the vet is that lymphoma is different in every dog. They know generally what happens but not specifically and every dog is different. The lymphoma can show up any where. The vet said Jake has lived longer than most dogs. She just had a dog that died 6 weeks after diagnosis on the same therapy as Jake. You just don't know.
If the swelling doesn't go down, Jake's lymh nodes will keep increasing. Eventually they will swell so much and block his throat. He won't be able to eat and then he won't be able to breathe. He'll eventually suffocate.
The vet gave me a sheet on "paw"spice care and we talked about how to know if Jake is going into respatory distress. Jake breathes 24-30 times a minute. If he breathes 60 times a minute and it's shallow and there is no obvious cause (like being at the vet's office) then he needs to go to the doggie e.r.
I'm trying not to cry because I was so worried I wouldn't be able to bring him home today and he's home but I'm so sad he's going through this.
Clearly Jake had to go to the vet but it wasn't clear if it was an emergency or not. Jake was breathing ok, just a little rattly/raspy so I made an appointment to take him later. The vet tech asked all sorts of questions and we decided he could wait until 4.
I took him to the vet. He hasn't been feeling well...he perked up at the vet's. He has escape on his mind.
I was hoping it was a tooth. It's not. Jake's left submandular lymph node is about the size of a handball. His right is the size of large walnut. Normally, you can't feel these at all in a dog (unless you know what you are doing.) The vet wants to increase the dose of prednisone and see what that does for Jake. I expect lots of peeing in my future.
What I understood from the vet is that lymphoma is different in every dog. They know generally what happens but not specifically and every dog is different. The lymphoma can show up any where. The vet said Jake has lived longer than most dogs. She just had a dog that died 6 weeks after diagnosis on the same therapy as Jake. You just don't know.
If the swelling doesn't go down, Jake's lymh nodes will keep increasing. Eventually they will swell so much and block his throat. He won't be able to eat and then he won't be able to breathe. He'll eventually suffocate.
The vet gave me a sheet on "paw"spice care and we talked about how to know if Jake is going into respatory distress. Jake breathes 24-30 times a minute. If he breathes 60 times a minute and it's shallow and there is no obvious cause (like being at the vet's office) then he needs to go to the doggie e.r.
I'm trying not to cry because I was so worried I wouldn't be able to bring him home today and he's home but I'm so sad he's going through this.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
I'm outta here
Really Mom.
You took a picture of those flowers last year.
Let's get rolling.
I got things to sniff, things to pee on.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Jake's X-rays pt 2
On Saturday, Jake had his annual appointment and a recheck of his cough. He's doing ok. His lymph nodes are all huge again so we are increasing the prednisone. He has chronic trachiobronchitis, probably an allergy to something. Here's the x-rays!
I circled his microchip!
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