Just a quick update on Elvis.
Yesterday we (Randall and I, sans Elvis) went out to Dr. Walthall's office to pick up more meds.
While we were there, I asked Melody if she thought Dr. Walthall would want to see him in the near future. Basically, Melody said that if things were going well, there was no need to subject him to the stress of a visit.
And, well, things ARE going well. Elvis rarely has to have a Torbutrol (maybe 1/2 pill every 10 days to two weeks), his weight is really good and he's eating like a pig. The small daily dose of Prednisone has handled the wheezing he used to plagued by, and the diuretics appear to be doing their job. His monthly heartworm tablets aren't giving him any trouble, either. No coughing a day or two after he gets them - which is what he was doing originally.
All in all, I couldn't be more pleased with the way he's doing. I think the little stumpy fellow has surprised us all with his resiliency.
We're also approaching a very special date. On July 13, it will be one year since we brought him home to foster. We were surprised (and very pleased) when he made it to Christmas since he was in really bad shape last July. I told Randall earlier in the week that I suspect Elvis will be with us a good long while. As long as he's responding to his medication and nothing else goes wrong, I really believe Elvis will be here longer than anyone ever thought.
So this is where we are. I'm hoping to get some new pics and maybe a video or two of him before July 13 so I can post them for his Fosterversery.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Doomed shelter dogs airlifted to homes in the Northwest
Doomed shelter dogs airlifted to homes in the Northwest
The day we met, the occupants of Row D, cages 3-11 at the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center were mercifully oblivious to how close they were to being snuffed out like match flames.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/062810dnmetfloyd.1b892b3.html
Friday, June 18, 2010
Update June 18, 2010
Not really much in the way of an update here because I'm still working on integrating the foster cat into the household.
Elvis is doing well, though he is less than thrilled with having a new cat in the house. And, well, it's not just because Ollie is a big, black cat, but because Ollie is never at a loss for something to say. As a matter of fact, Ollie spends most of his time talking, and that tends to make Elvis nervous. It has though, seemingly occurred to Elvis that while Ollie talks a lot, he doesn't back that up with any missions to assault dogs.
That's a huge improvement over Howdy, who not only talks, but knows which buttons of Elvis' to push and is happy to do so...repeatedly. Of course, it doesn't help that Howdy and Ollie are still getting acquainted, and that's accompanied with much hissing and spitting on Howdy's end of things.
Elvis has decided that staying well out of range is his best bet, so he's well and truly ensconced under Randall's desk. Fortunately all the extra activity hasn't translated into extra coughing that requires either a Torb or Valium to deal with.
So things are moving along here, and Elvis is taking most of it without too much upset. I'll update again in a few day.
Elvis is doing well, though he is less than thrilled with having a new cat in the house. And, well, it's not just because Ollie is a big, black cat, but because Ollie is never at a loss for something to say. As a matter of fact, Ollie spends most of his time talking, and that tends to make Elvis nervous. It has though, seemingly occurred to Elvis that while Ollie talks a lot, he doesn't back that up with any missions to assault dogs.
That's a huge improvement over Howdy, who not only talks, but knows which buttons of Elvis' to push and is happy to do so...repeatedly. Of course, it doesn't help that Howdy and Ollie are still getting acquainted, and that's accompanied with much hissing and spitting on Howdy's end of things.
Elvis has decided that staying well out of range is his best bet, so he's well and truly ensconced under Randall's desk. Fortunately all the extra activity hasn't translated into extra coughing that requires either a Torb or Valium to deal with.
So things are moving along here, and Elvis is taking most of it without too much upset. I'll update again in a few day.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Coughing problems....
Not particularly severe, but it's definitely increased some.
I've suspected all along that, like with people who have breathing issues (my dad with COPD is a good example), increased humidity causes some difficulty for Elvis. And it has been REALLY humid here...yesterday we had record rainfall for Waco (nearly 7 inches at our house in 3-4 hours) and yesterday Elvis had to have a 1/2 Torb.
Today it's a little less humid, so there's less coughing, but he's still exhibiting some aggravated breathing problems. It's the sort of thing I like to keep an eye on since too much coughing causes him to pant and lose moisture. Once that happens, dehydration is a real issue for him. So that's something I like to keep strictly under control.
One more issue is he is now really, REALLY concentrating on food. LOL
I was in the front room with the new foster cat (Ollie is still in quarantine), and I kept hearing this noise outside the bedroom door. First I thought it was Haley with **A New Noise**, but then I realized it really didn't sound like her voice. And when I opened up the door, everyone was there so I wasn't any wiser. However, it kept going on, and I realized where I'd heard it before...Elvis at the dinner table when we're done eating and he's angling for handouts. I open the door again, and he's the only one in the hall, so I knew it was him.
Bless his heart. He has gotten so food oriented it's unreal. And since I go in to see THE EVIL CAT and SHUT THE DOOR....well, it's obvious I'm going to come to some sort of great harm and he'll miss being fed his dinner and getting handouts from ours!
He's got the rustiest little voice, but since he didn't start coughing, I didn't see any real reason to try and keep him away. If it starts becoming an issue, then I'll have to be sure he's in the den with the gate closed when I go in to see Ollie at 4:30 or so. And fortunately, I hope to have Ollie out of isolation by this time next week (which won't really improve Elvis' life since he's so frightened of cats).
I've suspected all along that, like with people who have breathing issues (my dad with COPD is a good example), increased humidity causes some difficulty for Elvis. And it has been REALLY humid here...yesterday we had record rainfall for Waco (nearly 7 inches at our house in 3-4 hours) and yesterday Elvis had to have a 1/2 Torb.
Today it's a little less humid, so there's less coughing, but he's still exhibiting some aggravated breathing problems. It's the sort of thing I like to keep an eye on since too much coughing causes him to pant and lose moisture. Once that happens, dehydration is a real issue for him. So that's something I like to keep strictly under control.
One more issue is he is now really, REALLY concentrating on food. LOL
I was in the front room with the new foster cat (Ollie is still in quarantine), and I kept hearing this noise outside the bedroom door. First I thought it was Haley with **A New Noise**, but then I realized it really didn't sound like her voice. And when I opened up the door, everyone was there so I wasn't any wiser. However, it kept going on, and I realized where I'd heard it before...Elvis at the dinner table when we're done eating and he's angling for handouts. I open the door again, and he's the only one in the hall, so I knew it was him.
Bless his heart. He has gotten so food oriented it's unreal. And since I go in to see THE EVIL CAT and SHUT THE DOOR....well, it's obvious I'm going to come to some sort of great harm and he'll miss being fed his dinner and getting handouts from ours!
He's got the rustiest little voice, but since he didn't start coughing, I didn't see any real reason to try and keep him away. If it starts becoming an issue, then I'll have to be sure he's in the den with the gate closed when I go in to see Ollie at 4:30 or so. And fortunately, I hope to have Ollie out of isolation by this time next week (which won't really improve Elvis' life since he's so frightened of cats).
Saturday, June 05, 2010
You know Elvis is desperate...
...when he pokes his head into the bathroom where I feed Howdy at 5:00 because he wants to be REALLY sure The Foodlady is coming back. LOL
Seriously, as terrified of cats as he is, it was a huge surprise to see his little muzzle peeking around the corner to check on my progress feeding Howdy. He's been lurking closer and closer outside that door for the last week or so because 30 minutes after I feed her, I feed him. And that is VERY important to Elvis. But still, I never expected to turn around and see him poking his nose through the door.
He's gone from the boy who ate to live to the boy who lives to eat. :)
Another bit of news is that he did make it all week without any sort of coughing from his heartworm pill. This is a definite plus in my book particularly since we never thought he'd ever even get to a heartworm pill in the first place.
Tomorrow I grill out a pork loin. This will be one of the first that I've done in ages, and I suspect he'll learn the joys of "grill guarding" with the other two. With any luck I'll manage to snap some pictures because I suspect he'll be pretty close by.
Seriously, as terrified of cats as he is, it was a huge surprise to see his little muzzle peeking around the corner to check on my progress feeding Howdy. He's been lurking closer and closer outside that door for the last week or so because 30 minutes after I feed her, I feed him. And that is VERY important to Elvis. But still, I never expected to turn around and see him poking his nose through the door.
He's gone from the boy who ate to live to the boy who lives to eat. :)
Another bit of news is that he did make it all week without any sort of coughing from his heartworm pill. This is a definite plus in my book particularly since we never thought he'd ever even get to a heartworm pill in the first place.
Tomorrow I grill out a pork loin. This will be one of the first that I've done in ages, and I suspect he'll learn the joys of "grill guarding" with the other two. With any luck I'll manage to snap some pictures because I suspect he'll be pretty close by.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Settling the new foster in
Yes. There is a new foster in the house. Ollie, a very large, very handsome, black, 9 year old Oriental Shorthair mix. We brought him in on Tuesday (much to Elvis' disgust), and he's currently occupying the guest room where he'll stay in quarantine for the next 2 weeks.
He's got a blog (of course!!) located at http://wacofostercat.blogspot.com/ and he'll have a photo gallery somewhere. Elvis' has had his over on Keep and Share, but I'll be honest, while they have an outstanding calendar, their photo album function well and truly sucks. So expect us to take our photo storage business elsewhere soon.
Things are quiet with Elvis right now since I'm concentrating on getting Ollie settled in. He was an owner surrender and was at the shelter for a month. He has turned into an unbelievably ecstatic cat who is just deliriously happy that he has a home with people.
I hope to have more on Elvis here in the next several days. I will say his weight is good and his heartworm treatment (Monday night) went off without a hitch...no extra coughing a day or so later, so fingers crossed, he's going to start taking his pills without any side effects.
I'll post more in the next few days once things are a bit more settled.
He's got a blog (of course!!) located at http://wacofostercat.blogspot.com/ and he'll have a photo gallery somewhere. Elvis' has had his over on Keep and Share, but I'll be honest, while they have an outstanding calendar, their photo album function well and truly sucks. So expect us to take our photo storage business elsewhere soon.
Things are quiet with Elvis right now since I'm concentrating on getting Ollie settled in. He was an owner surrender and was at the shelter for a month. He has turned into an unbelievably ecstatic cat who is just deliriously happy that he has a home with people.
I hope to have more on Elvis here in the next several days. I will say his weight is good and his heartworm treatment (Monday night) went off without a hitch...no extra coughing a day or so later, so fingers crossed, he's going to start taking his pills without any side effects.
I'll post more in the next few days once things are a bit more settled.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Just making Elvis' week....Not.
If everything goes well, Randall and I will be bringing in a foster cat on Tuesday. Since the shelter is absolutely overwhelmed, now is probably a good time for us to do that. My goal is a cat that is 3+ years of age, but beyond that, I'm pretty well open to options (breed, sex, coat). All I'm absolutely against is a kitten or young cat.
Elvis, I am sure, though, would be happy to live the rest of his life without a cat present. He never was a fan, but the night the Howdy jumped down on his head when they were both going for a piece of sweet potato, has convinced him that all cats are evil and have horribly designs on his person.
Fortunately, the cat will be isolated in the guest room for the first two weeks (that's my goal, though it's possible we will only be able to do it for 10-12 days), so he won't be exposed to the Evil Feline. After that, though, the cat will slowly be introduced to the household
Tomorrow I'll be busy getting the guest room set up for the new foster, so I'm not sure I'll have anything to post. I do need to get a weight on him since it's been quite some time, but he doesn't feel as if his weight has shifted much, so if I can't get to it until tomorrow or Tuesday, I suspect I'll be OK.
So for now, things are quiet. That's sure to change soon. *g*
Elvis, I am sure, though, would be happy to live the rest of his life without a cat present. He never was a fan, but the night the Howdy jumped down on his head when they were both going for a piece of sweet potato, has convinced him that all cats are evil and have horribly designs on his person.
Fortunately, the cat will be isolated in the guest room for the first two weeks (that's my goal, though it's possible we will only be able to do it for 10-12 days), so he won't be exposed to the Evil Feline. After that, though, the cat will slowly be introduced to the household
Tomorrow I'll be busy getting the guest room set up for the new foster, so I'm not sure I'll have anything to post. I do need to get a weight on him since it's been quite some time, but he doesn't feel as if his weight has shifted much, so if I can't get to it until tomorrow or Tuesday, I suspect I'll be OK.
So for now, things are quiet. That's sure to change soon. *g*
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Outside pics. 5_27_10
As you can see from his expression, Elvis just doesn't think too much of me pointing a camera at him.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Update 5_23_2010
Whew!! What a month or so.
My trip to Dallas to get my lower dentures (set for three weeks) morphed into a nearly five week stay when my mother decided it was time to get the long-postponed foundation work on the house done. Had it been a strictly outside endeavor, my presence wouldn't have been needed. BUT...she had to have 19 piers installed INSIDE her house.
Now, none of you (except Randall) has ever seen the inside of her house, but let me just say that during the 20 years of marriage to my stepdad they traveled all over the world. Before his death in December 1999, they made at least one trip a year somewhere. And that meant gobs of things brought home (many very cool, very lovely, very sentimental things, but still, gobs). So at 75, my mom simply couldn't face what was coming at her with this foundation work, so I stayed to help out.
Unbelievably, we got it done. Exhausted the hell out of us, but done. So now she can wait several months, get the house painted and other requisite work done and then put in on the market. She's staying in Dallas (Yeah! She would hate moving back to Waco, and it does free Randall and I up so we can move there if things permit), but the house is too big and has, unfortunately, a history with foundation issues...the entire neighborhood does, so it's obviously more than just one house with problems. :(
So that's where I've been and what I've been up to for the last several weeks.
Now on to Elvis.
Little Stumpy Fella is doing just grand. He had some adjustment issues after I first left, but he, Skeeter and Randall worked through them. By the time I was due to come home after my initial three weeks, he had settled in just fine.
His heartworm treatment on May 2 went without a hitch. As a matter of fact, he didn't need a Torb at all like he has the last couple of times. He has usually had some mild coughing either late in the day after the treatment or early the following day. This time nothing. So fingers crossed that he's moved to a new stage in the treatment. We'll just keep going this way since it's the easiest thing for him. If we're lucky enough to have him for another year and a half, most if not all the adult heartworms should have died off.
Another good thing was that while I was gone Randall didn't have to give him a Valium. That's really rather surprising because my cat, Howdy, began to really be a pissant during the last couple of weeks and one of her favorite pastimes is to torment Elvis. Since he's terrified of cats, that can send him over the edge. However, Randall was vigilant and ran interference, so there really wasn't much of that going on.
His weight was also pretty steady while I was gone, too. He'd fluctuate a half a pound or so, but that was it. The weight gain is one way we can monitor his congestive heart failure...rapid weight gain means, at the least, tweaking his Lasix for a couple of days. Weight gain combined with coughing is going to have me calling the clinic. But none of that happened, so it was a good several weeks.
When I got home Thursday, I was really surprised at just how fast he slid right back into his old routine. He was right in his usual spot beside my desk chair at lunch, dancing around the dining room chair at dinner, and happily anticipating his morning treat of four Cheerios before his breakfast (he gets those while sitting on my lap while I'm blearily sipping on my first cup of coffee).
About the only weird thing he did while I was gone was catch that bird in the yard. Randall said that for days after, he'd look wistfully through the wire fencing to the other side of the yard where the birds were hopping around. He managed to climb it a few times to (no real feat considering it's only 24 or so inches tall) when Skeeter would head over.
All in all, everything went really well. I'm hoping to get a few pictures in the next several days since Randall got the yard mowed and it's not going to be too hot yet for him to spend time outside. Being black and with medical issues means his outside time is monitored.
So that it from here. Hopefully my next post will be in a few days with some photos.
My trip to Dallas to get my lower dentures (set for three weeks) morphed into a nearly five week stay when my mother decided it was time to get the long-postponed foundation work on the house done. Had it been a strictly outside endeavor, my presence wouldn't have been needed. BUT...she had to have 19 piers installed INSIDE her house.
Now, none of you (except Randall) has ever seen the inside of her house, but let me just say that during the 20 years of marriage to my stepdad they traveled all over the world. Before his death in December 1999, they made at least one trip a year somewhere. And that meant gobs of things brought home (many very cool, very lovely, very sentimental things, but still, gobs). So at 75, my mom simply couldn't face what was coming at her with this foundation work, so I stayed to help out.
Unbelievably, we got it done. Exhausted the hell out of us, but done. So now she can wait several months, get the house painted and other requisite work done and then put in on the market. She's staying in Dallas (Yeah! She would hate moving back to Waco, and it does free Randall and I up so we can move there if things permit), but the house is too big and has, unfortunately, a history with foundation issues...the entire neighborhood does, so it's obviously more than just one house with problems. :(
So that's where I've been and what I've been up to for the last several weeks.
Now on to Elvis.
Little Stumpy Fella is doing just grand. He had some adjustment issues after I first left, but he, Skeeter and Randall worked through them. By the time I was due to come home after my initial three weeks, he had settled in just fine.
His heartworm treatment on May 2 went without a hitch. As a matter of fact, he didn't need a Torb at all like he has the last couple of times. He has usually had some mild coughing either late in the day after the treatment or early the following day. This time nothing. So fingers crossed that he's moved to a new stage in the treatment. We'll just keep going this way since it's the easiest thing for him. If we're lucky enough to have him for another year and a half, most if not all the adult heartworms should have died off.
Another good thing was that while I was gone Randall didn't have to give him a Valium. That's really rather surprising because my cat, Howdy, began to really be a pissant during the last couple of weeks and one of her favorite pastimes is to torment Elvis. Since he's terrified of cats, that can send him over the edge. However, Randall was vigilant and ran interference, so there really wasn't much of that going on.
His weight was also pretty steady while I was gone, too. He'd fluctuate a half a pound or so, but that was it. The weight gain is one way we can monitor his congestive heart failure...rapid weight gain means, at the least, tweaking his Lasix for a couple of days. Weight gain combined with coughing is going to have me calling the clinic. But none of that happened, so it was a good several weeks.
When I got home Thursday, I was really surprised at just how fast he slid right back into his old routine. He was right in his usual spot beside my desk chair at lunch, dancing around the dining room chair at dinner, and happily anticipating his morning treat of four Cheerios before his breakfast (he gets those while sitting on my lap while I'm blearily sipping on my first cup of coffee).
About the only weird thing he did while I was gone was catch that bird in the yard. Randall said that for days after, he'd look wistfully through the wire fencing to the other side of the yard where the birds were hopping around. He managed to climb it a few times to (no real feat considering it's only 24 or so inches tall) when Skeeter would head over.
All in all, everything went really well. I'm hoping to get a few pictures in the next several days since Randall got the yard mowed and it's not going to be too hot yet for him to spend time outside. Being black and with medical issues means his outside time is monitored.
So that it from here. Hopefully my next post will be in a few days with some photos.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Back in town
Didn't think I'd EVER get home. LOL
Elvis is doing well, and he's slipping right back into the old routine very fast. I won't have a chance to actually update the blog on him until probably Sunday or Monday, but he is doing very well, looks great and his attitude is super. Randall has done very well caring for him in my absence.
I also hope to have some new pictures of him in the next several days.
Everyone have a great weekend!
Elvis is doing well, and he's slipping right back into the old routine very fast. I won't have a chance to actually update the blog on him until probably Sunday or Monday, but he is doing very well, looks great and his attitude is super. Randall has done very well caring for him in my absence.
I also hope to have some new pictures of him in the next several days.
Everyone have a great weekend!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Resuming blogging update...
Just a heads up that I will FINALLY be returning from Dallas on Thursday. I suspect I won't begin updating Elvis' blog until the weekend, but Randall has said that he is doing very well with little coughing going on. Weight is good and his bird hunting attitude is highly evident. :)
I'll see everyone more regularly, I hope, beginning this weekend or early next week.
I'll see everyone more regularly, I hope, beginning this weekend or early next week.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Elvis Catches A Bird
Donna is still in Dallas, but I have a quick update on Elvis. I washed dog laundry today (the bedding from Elvis and Skeeter's crates) and hung it out to dry since it was a warm and sunny day. About 3:45 I decide to go out and bring it in. Naturally, I let Elvis and Skeeter come out with me. They run out into the yard. I grab the crate bedding and head back in to put it in the crates without Skeeter's assistance.
I open the door to go back out after some towels and hear birds squawking their heads off. I look up and notice a bunch of loud blue jays diving around Elvis and Skeeter. Then I notice Elvis has a bird in his mouth and is gumming it. (What do you expect? He only has two teeth.) I guess his attempt to chase after a bird last month was not some type of fluke.
I call him and try to get him to bring it to me. Given all the West Nile and stuff in the area, he doesn't need to be eating a dead bird. He takes off across the yard -- away from me, naturally. I change to my yard shoes and go out after him. Now you have to understand that he's a fast old guy and the only way to catch him is to corner him. I'm not really trying to catch him, I just hoping he will drop the dead bird near me so I can grab it. Nothing doing. He runs off with the bird.
Walking doesn't get me near enough. I run. He goes all over the yard. I trip on a tree root and fall. Skeeter thinks falling means I'm playing. I get back up, discover the fall hasn't done anything for my hernia, and stumble after Elvis. Elvis finally drops the bird on the gravel path to the patio when he realizes I'm able to block both his exits back to the yard. I quickly grab the surprising well-chewed bird and take it to the trash. From looking at it, it was a young bird, probably not able to fly well yet -- which would explain the other birds makes such a fuss.
I was afraid that Elvis would be terrified of me as I chased him or starting coughing up a storm from all his running. Surprisingly, he was neither terrified nor coughing. Perhaps the fact that his dinner was coming up in 60-90 minutes had something to do with how quickly I was forgiven.
For an old dog with a lot of health problems, Elvis has a lot of energy. More than I do in 94 degree weather, come to think of it. He's asleep under my desk as I write this, probably dreaming of the bird that did not get away.
I open the door to go back out after some towels and hear birds squawking their heads off. I look up and notice a bunch of loud blue jays diving around Elvis and Skeeter. Then I notice Elvis has a bird in his mouth and is gumming it. (What do you expect? He only has two teeth.) I guess his attempt to chase after a bird last month was not some type of fluke.
I call him and try to get him to bring it to me. Given all the West Nile and stuff in the area, he doesn't need to be eating a dead bird. He takes off across the yard -- away from me, naturally. I change to my yard shoes and go out after him. Now you have to understand that he's a fast old guy and the only way to catch him is to corner him. I'm not really trying to catch him, I just hoping he will drop the dead bird near me so I can grab it. Nothing doing. He runs off with the bird.
Walking doesn't get me near enough. I run. He goes all over the yard. I trip on a tree root and fall. Skeeter thinks falling means I'm playing. I get back up, discover the fall hasn't done anything for my hernia, and stumble after Elvis. Elvis finally drops the bird on the gravel path to the patio when he realizes I'm able to block both his exits back to the yard. I quickly grab the surprising well-chewed bird and take it to the trash. From looking at it, it was a young bird, probably not able to fly well yet -- which would explain the other birds makes such a fuss.
I was afraid that Elvis would be terrified of me as I chased him or starting coughing up a storm from all his running. Surprisingly, he was neither terrified nor coughing. Perhaps the fact that his dinner was coming up in 60-90 minutes had something to do with how quickly I was forgiven.
For an old dog with a lot of health problems, Elvis has a lot of energy. More than I do in 94 degree weather, come to think of it. He's asleep under my desk as I write this, probably dreaming of the bird that did not get away.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Vacation extended
Just an FYI, my vacation has been extended until the week of May 16. I'll probably be back in Waco on the 19th, but I'm pretty sure I won't post until a few days later.
Randall has said that Elvis is doing fine, though the cat, Howdy, has been stomping through the house looking for trouble and she knows Elvis is scared to death of cats...so Randall has been running interference there.
He's had his monthly heartworm treatment, and his weight is staying between 7.8 and 8.2, so things are looking good. No coughing yet from the treatment, but Randall knows to keep an eye on it and give a Torb if it starts.
I'll probably not post again unless there's something more specific going on.
Randall has said that Elvis is doing fine, though the cat, Howdy, has been stomping through the house looking for trouble and she knows Elvis is scared to death of cats...so Randall has been running interference there.
He's had his monthly heartworm treatment, and his weight is staying between 7.8 and 8.2, so things are looking good. No coughing yet from the treatment, but Randall knows to keep an eye on it and give a Torb if it starts.
I'll probably not post again unless there's something more specific going on.
Monday, April 26, 2010
April 26, 2010 - Quick Update
Since I'm still up in Dallas, and will be through Friday, May 7, I'm just going to post a really quick update.
Elvis is doing well at home with Randall. His weight is stable (7.8 lbs), and his coughing is minimal. Randall did have to give him a Torb one night, but that was mainly because Howdy was prowling around squalling. That makes him nervous at the best of times.
Other than that, all is well. He's bunking a lot with Skeeter because of storms coming through the area, but he's handling them well from what Randall said.
I will probably post another quickie update sometime next week unless something happens.
Elvis is doing well at home with Randall. His weight is stable (7.8 lbs), and his coughing is minimal. Randall did have to give him a Torb one night, but that was mainly because Howdy was prowling around squalling. That makes him nervous at the best of times.
Other than that, all is well. He's bunking a lot with Skeeter because of storms coming through the area, but he's handling them well from what Randall said.
I will probably post another quickie update sometime next week unless something happens.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
4_14_10 Update
This will probably be my last update until I get back from Dallas in May.
Elvis is doing fine. His weight is fluctuating a bit between 7.6 and 8.2 pounds, but I think that's more reflective of his food than anything else. One thing you can say about this little guy, his pasture has improved tremendously since we brought him in.
I did have to give him 1/2 a Valium today because I cut his toenails. That always stresses him terribly and I keep the Valium ready because I know he'll need it. Sure enough, he did, but the Valium did its job quickly and he settled right down. I shouldn't have to cut his toenails again until June. I was hoping to make it every three months, but they just get too long.
One new thing. He chased a bird tonight after dinner. :) First time he's ever shown any interest in any of the birds or squirrels that come in the yard, but Randall saw him do it and said there was no mistaking what he was doing.
I do have a major complaint about him, though. There is apparently some bug or something that is coming out of the ground in our yard at dusk/night, and Elvis refuses to come in until he's grazed his fill. Unfortunately, that can take 20-30 minutes which means the evenings are spent yelling at the back door for him. There's no question he hears us because lots of times he looks up from his grazing to look at us, but there's no getting him in until he's good and ready to leave the buffet. If I could walk, I'd go out there and see just what in the hell it is he finds so tasty.
Anyway, I leave for Dallas on Sunday, and Elvis will stay here with Randall. I can't imagine that I'll do any sort of update, but Randall has assured me that if something happens, he'll post an update here on the blog. He also said he'll try to post one general update a week if he gets a chance.
Elvis is doing fine. His weight is fluctuating a bit between 7.6 and 8.2 pounds, but I think that's more reflective of his food than anything else. One thing you can say about this little guy, his pasture has improved tremendously since we brought him in.
I did have to give him 1/2 a Valium today because I cut his toenails. That always stresses him terribly and I keep the Valium ready because I know he'll need it. Sure enough, he did, but the Valium did its job quickly and he settled right down. I shouldn't have to cut his toenails again until June. I was hoping to make it every three months, but they just get too long.
One new thing. He chased a bird tonight after dinner. :) First time he's ever shown any interest in any of the birds or squirrels that come in the yard, but Randall saw him do it and said there was no mistaking what he was doing.
I do have a major complaint about him, though. There is apparently some bug or something that is coming out of the ground in our yard at dusk/night, and Elvis refuses to come in until he's grazed his fill. Unfortunately, that can take 20-30 minutes which means the evenings are spent yelling at the back door for him. There's no question he hears us because lots of times he looks up from his grazing to look at us, but there's no getting him in until he's good and ready to leave the buffet. If I could walk, I'd go out there and see just what in the hell it is he finds so tasty.
Anyway, I leave for Dallas on Sunday, and Elvis will stay here with Randall. I can't imagine that I'll do any sort of update, but Randall has assured me that if something happens, he'll post an update here on the blog. He also said he'll try to post one general update a week if he gets a chance.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Vacation reminder
Just a reminder that Elvis' blog will be on vacation from this weekend until around May 8. I'll be in Dallas during that time and unless something happens with Elvis, the blog will be on hiatus.
Friday, April 09, 2010
4_9_10 Update
Oh man. Not a good day for poor little Elvis.
We were scheduled to take him to the clinic this morning for a quick checkup and his booster shot. We'd gotten the stuff in the van, and all that was left was for Randall to take him out and put him in his crate.
He walked out the utility room door into the garage with Elvis in his arms, saw the door was down, and hit the button to raise it. Big mistake. It blew Elvis' mind. Got him in the crate and while Randall had run back inside for something, Elvis expressed his anal glands. So out I get, open the door to the crate and catch him just in time as he launches himself across the seats to the open door.
Poor little guy. He's shaking and coughing. Got the towel exchanged and Elvis back in the crate and off we go. Get a block away and I can hear him wheezing and coughing and obviously in the grip of a full blown panic attack. I had Randall turn the van around and go back for a Valium.
We got out of the driveway and started the drive over and in about five minute I could tell the drug was beginning to take the edge off. The drive to the clinic take 20-30 minutes and by the time we pulled in, he was about 80% recovered.
Got into the clinic and it was apparently the day for new shelter animals to get checked over. Everyone in the clinic was going nuts trying to get a handle on the new shelter dogs and surgery and Elvis. Of course, that set Elvis back off again.
Fortunately we got him calmed down just enough, but when Dr. Walthall saw him (and this was on the bench in the waiting room), she listened to his lungs and asked, "Elvis. Why aren't you dead yet?" LOL His lungs sounded bad still from his panic attack.
That aside, she said she didn't want to give him his booster because if he was doing well (and he really is), she doesn't want to jinx it. And, frankly, it's not like he's exposed to anything now and even if we brought in another dog, the vaccine he was given last year should be effective for another year.
So, today wasn't the best of days for the stumpy fella, but once he got home and around his buds, his cough went completely away and his behavior went back to normal. I'm just sorry he had to go through hell this morning, but like I told Randall, it's hard to know what will set him off, and there are times he goes nuts and you don't know if it's going to be a five minute episode or a 50 minute episode. This morning it just happened to be the latter.
Since things have calmed down now, I'll probably not post another update until early next week.
We were scheduled to take him to the clinic this morning for a quick checkup and his booster shot. We'd gotten the stuff in the van, and all that was left was for Randall to take him out and put him in his crate.
He walked out the utility room door into the garage with Elvis in his arms, saw the door was down, and hit the button to raise it. Big mistake. It blew Elvis' mind. Got him in the crate and while Randall had run back inside for something, Elvis expressed his anal glands. So out I get, open the door to the crate and catch him just in time as he launches himself across the seats to the open door.
Poor little guy. He's shaking and coughing. Got the towel exchanged and Elvis back in the crate and off we go. Get a block away and I can hear him wheezing and coughing and obviously in the grip of a full blown panic attack. I had Randall turn the van around and go back for a Valium.
We got out of the driveway and started the drive over and in about five minute I could tell the drug was beginning to take the edge off. The drive to the clinic take 20-30 minutes and by the time we pulled in, he was about 80% recovered.
Got into the clinic and it was apparently the day for new shelter animals to get checked over. Everyone in the clinic was going nuts trying to get a handle on the new shelter dogs and surgery and Elvis. Of course, that set Elvis back off again.
Fortunately we got him calmed down just enough, but when Dr. Walthall saw him (and this was on the bench in the waiting room), she listened to his lungs and asked, "Elvis. Why aren't you dead yet?" LOL His lungs sounded bad still from his panic attack.
That aside, she said she didn't want to give him his booster because if he was doing well (and he really is), she doesn't want to jinx it. And, frankly, it's not like he's exposed to anything now and even if we brought in another dog, the vaccine he was given last year should be effective for another year.
So, today wasn't the best of days for the stumpy fella, but once he got home and around his buds, his cough went completely away and his behavior went back to normal. I'm just sorry he had to go through hell this morning, but like I told Randall, it's hard to know what will set him off, and there are times he goes nuts and you don't know if it's going to be a five minute episode or a 50 minute episode. This morning it just happened to be the latter.
Since things have calmed down now, I'll probably not post another update until early next week.
Monday, April 05, 2010
4_5_10 Update
Just a quick update.
Elvis is still doing the coughing bit, though now it's in the evening after his dinner/before ours. He is really getting himself worked up, and when he does, the cough starts.
Of course, what's really starting it is the potty break after dinner is the one where both Skeeter and Haley are ready to tear down the door to go outside. That just totally ramps him up and he's flying down the path fully stretched out to hit the back of the yard first. I know he really shouldn't do that; that much exertion isn't good for him, but he LOVES it SOOOO much, I just can't bring myself to stop him.
So between the oak mold, the evening run down the path and the excitement he's working up to before our dinner, he's getting 1/2 of a Torb pretty much every evening. The good news is that since we keep the house closed up now, he's not coughing like made in the morning.
So it looks like we've exchanged one problem for another, but it's manageable, so I'm not really worried.
Also, Elvis has an appointment Friday morning to go in for a checkup with Dr. Walthall. I just want her to go over him and also give him his vaccination since I'll be shooting my guys here at the end of the month.
I'll update after she sees him.
Elvis is still doing the coughing bit, though now it's in the evening after his dinner/before ours. He is really getting himself worked up, and when he does, the cough starts.
Of course, what's really starting it is the potty break after dinner is the one where both Skeeter and Haley are ready to tear down the door to go outside. That just totally ramps him up and he's flying down the path fully stretched out to hit the back of the yard first. I know he really shouldn't do that; that much exertion isn't good for him, but he LOVES it SOOOO much, I just can't bring myself to stop him.
So between the oak mold, the evening run down the path and the excitement he's working up to before our dinner, he's getting 1/2 of a Torb pretty much every evening. The good news is that since we keep the house closed up now, he's not coughing like made in the morning.
So it looks like we've exchanged one problem for another, but it's manageable, so I'm not really worried.
Also, Elvis has an appointment Friday morning to go in for a checkup with Dr. Walthall. I just want her to go over him and also give him his vaccination since I'll be shooting my guys here at the end of the month.
I'll update after she sees him.
Friday, April 02, 2010
4_2_10 Update
Randall came in this morning with the news that Elvis did very little coughing when he first got up. Just the usual bit when he first begins moving around when he comes out of his crate, but nothing more.
Since I get up an hour or so later than Randall (he's up at 6:30; I'm up about 8:00)and then feed shortly after I get in the den, there's a pretty good stretch of time for Elvis to either settle down or keep coughing. When I got up and in the den, there wasn't any coughing to be heard. I went ahead and dialed the Lasix back to .75 ml.
So it looks like Elvis has an allergy to oak mold, which really isn't surprising considering our house has three huge live oak trees and the amount of leaves on the ground in the spring is unbelievable. And, well, since his coughing really seemed to get worse as the oak mold count climbed, it wasn't rocket science. Obviously allergies aren't the only problem, but they do seem to exacerbate his heart condition and the breathing problems he has.
So with that in mind, we'll be careful about opening the house for the next couple of weeks (the green hairies will be falling from the trees soon), though we'll probably try opening the house a bit in the morning and then shutting it up in the afternoon and running the house fan.
(Oh. And he had his heartworm pill last night, and there's no coughing from it, either. This is the second month now that he's not coughed the day after the treatment.)
Since I get up an hour or so later than Randall (he's up at 6:30; I'm up about 8:00)and then feed shortly after I get in the den, there's a pretty good stretch of time for Elvis to either settle down or keep coughing. When I got up and in the den, there wasn't any coughing to be heard. I went ahead and dialed the Lasix back to .75 ml.
So it looks like Elvis has an allergy to oak mold, which really isn't surprising considering our house has three huge live oak trees and the amount of leaves on the ground in the spring is unbelievable. And, well, since his coughing really seemed to get worse as the oak mold count climbed, it wasn't rocket science. Obviously allergies aren't the only problem, but they do seem to exacerbate his heart condition and the breathing problems he has.
So with that in mind, we'll be careful about opening the house for the next couple of weeks (the green hairies will be falling from the trees soon), though we'll probably try opening the house a bit in the morning and then shutting it up in the afternoon and running the house fan.
(Oh. And he had his heartworm pill last night, and there's no coughing from it, either. This is the second month now that he's not coughed the day after the treatment.)
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