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Brut Quote

Brut Quote

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Thank you for your prayers and a Brut update.



Since we last left you:  Brut's eye cleared up and the color was back, but there was fear of blood still in the back of the eye.

We took Brut to the doggie eye specialist last Friday and came home with the diagnosis of high blood pressure/hypertension.  We were both quite shocked at the results of the eye test the doctor did.  By the way Brut did fantastic with this doctor.  Although after the about the fifth test, Brut had had enough and gave a warning growl and bark. lol  Which was fine the doctor had gotten the info he needed.  I was truly impressed with this specialist and would recommend him.  He was very professional and caring with Brut.  We didn't even need to sedate Brut like we thought we might have to do.  

So the appt. went well and the doc sent us home with some medicine for the high blood pressure and told us to continue the eye drops. Today we are taking Brut to our regular vet to get blood work done, urinalysis, and get his blood pressure checked to find the cause.  The doctor thinks Brut may be having kidney problems, which is a common cause of hypertension in dogs.

So what we were seeing in Brut's eye was hemorrhaging caused by the high blood pressure and isn't an eye issue at all.

The diagnosis would explain a lot of Brut's behaviors when he gets so worked up and very touchy.  He's probably had it for a while.  I don't think it explains his aggression, but it would explain the extreme of it and what I could never put my finger on.  Thank goodness he's calmed down so much over the years and his aggression isn't as much of an issue.

We've been in shock for the last couple of days digesting the news and what it means for our boy.  But all in all, I think we caught it early enough to get him the help that he needs.

We will know more in the next few days and will let you know the progress.
Thank you again for your prayers and well wishes.  We needed them.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Wednesday Weirdness


Why do dogs drink out of the toilet and puddles of stagnant water....


but expect their water bowls to be clean before drinking out of them?

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Peace with Luigi's death



Remember our little ducky Luigi who past this last winter?  Well, I was in Luigi's pen cleaning out his pool that was nasty from sitting all winter long.  In fact it still had ice in it!  After I emptied the pool and lifted it out of the dirt, I found quite a few feathers where the rim of the pool was.  I was so surprised and grateful to find them.  Since Luigi died in December he had already gone through his molting season in September, so to find any feathers was a gift.

I have some from over the years, but this was special because they would be the last ones.  And I found peace in them.  I'd been sort of dreading spring because that's when all the water fun happened for Luigi and I was afraid that it would be too difficult for me without him here.  But honestly I've found peace being in his pen and cleaning up.  I didn't expect it and it was a nice feeling.

I also found these little rubber duckies, one was in his pen and the Santa one was in the house.  Something about it touched me.  They were dog toys I bought several years ago and I don't know how the one got in the pen and I didn't see it before.  Such a sweet gift to find.

Something I didn't expect either was that as much as I missed my little buddy, I did not miss the responsibility of taking care of him through the winter.  In fact, it was the first winter that I didn't have to go outside when it was bitter cold.  I enjoyed staying in quite thoroughly for an entire day when it was too frigid to bear and the dogs could only go out for their business.  I hadn't realized how trying it was always having to trudge through the cold, snow and ice, with a bucket of water and food, until I didn't have to do it anymore.  And I never really thought about it at the time, it was just what I had to do to take care of Luigi, but I must say I enjoyed the break!  It was like a luxury that I'd earned.

OH! And not having to worry all winter long whether he was safe or not, warm enough, protected enough on those nights when it got -25 to 30F below zero.  That was heaven!  Just to know he was safe with God and in the best hands possible was such a blessing.

And so friends, we turn another chapter in our book.  I still hear Luigi squaking at me and I still will get a glimpse of him here and there.  Happy and free and probably learning to fly because he never could in this life!

 

Friday, April 17, 2015

Update: Brut's eye, our next step



We will be taking Brut to an eye specialist next week.  We were in luck as this doctor only makes a trip up our way once a month and we were able to get an appointment.  It will save a trip downstate which would have been a 4 hour drive and this way we will only have an hour drive (one way) to see the doc, making it convienent for everyone.  Brut doesn't like riding in the car very much, but does eventually settle down some as we drive on.   So it will be just long enough to calm him down so he won't be so hyper seeing this eye doctor.  The whole experience will be nerve racking enough.

Our vet had a look at Brut's eye this past Wednesday and did all she could do with an anxious Brut in a muzzle.  The last thing she could do was measure his eye pressure, but with the difficulty of just trying to keep Brut still so she could look in his eye with a light was about the limited of it.  And I appreciated her honesty.  Brut is not the easiest patient.  She said the eye specialist will know how to sedate him and get a good eye reading.

This specialist is someone our vet knows well and trust, and we trust her judgement.  I also received another confirmation from a friend who knows another vet, who also gave her stamp of approval.  Thanks Friend! ☺

So it sounds like Brut is in the best hands possible.  Now we just have to wait out this week, continue with the eye drops and hope we will find out what the problem is with Brut's eye and a solution to go with it.

Thank you so much everybody for your prayers, well wishes and good thoughts.  We can not thank you enough for being part of our doggie family.  Please keep them coming!

We will keep you up to date.

Thank you again.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Update: Brut's eye




While we still don't know how Brut injured his eye, it is better than it was.  We have been giving him prescription eye drops 3 to 4 times a day.  The white cloudiness dissappeared and the color of his eye was looking better as a whole.  

The problem is that it hasn't improved anymore in the last 4 to 5 days.  The eye is starting to have a discharge and Brut has begun squinting in that eye.  I'm not sure what to make of it.  The vet said to watch for the color of the iris to come back, a sure sign he was be getting better.   Instead it has stayed bloody looking.  We may be headed to a specialist if we are unable to find an answer.  

WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS, POTP, AND ANY GOOD VIBES YOU CAN SEND OUR WAY!

Going to a specialist would mean a 4 hour one way trip in a single cab truck with a hyper Brut who would have no way to lay down and would want to stick his head out the window.  Which I don't think would help his eye situation.  

This whole thing has been like a bad dream that just keeps going on and on.  My husband, Mark has been an emotional wreck over the whole thing from the time we first noticed it.  It was such a relief when we went to the vet to find out it wasn't cataracts.  Then she said it looked like an injury, with the bloodliness of it and we prayed the eye drops would work.  And they did for the first week, but now it doesn't look like they are helping anymore.  

Of course we are afraid of the worse, like Brut losing his eye, or losing some vision or all.  We don't know what we are going to do.  Mark is going to talk to the vet about the situation and see what she advises.  

Keep your paws crossed we find out some good news.  Thank you.   


Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Brut's eye injury-Need prayers please!

Somehow Brut hurt his right eye.  (your left) It was tough trying to get a pic of it.  
The injured eye is full of blood and it is tough to see the pupil.


Saturday, April 4, 2015

Zappa and Blaze Walking Together-Video

When we started this journey of having two packs, we weren't sure what to expect.  There are many reasons we have taken our time with merging them and mostly it had to do with Brut.  There was also time that was hard to come by with the hours my hubby, Mark worked and I sure couldn't do it alone.  With limited resources and so-called trainers and behaviorist that were worthless, we've been left with ourselves to unite the two packs.  Walking one dog from the Back dogs and one from the Front Dogs. is our major first step towards that goal.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Zappa and Blaze walking together

Zappa and Blaze at 10 months old

Hubby, Mark and I decided to try something different on our walk with the "kids" of the two packs.  Since Brut was laid up with a pulled muscle (don't worry he's doing fine) we thought we'd do something we haven't done in a very long time.  Walk one "kid" from the Back Pack with one from the Front Pack.  It has been a good five years since we've been able to do this because of Mark's schedule, we could never stick to it.  So we thought we'd try again and try to make it a habit for this spring and summer. 

So first up was Zappa and Blaze.  They used to be great friends.  Zappa was Blaze's first friend when she was returned to us and the first and only one so far that accepted her from the Back Pack, before Chance was also returned to us.  (Check out our "About Us" for a quick recap in upper right corner)  After Chance came back and Blaze reunited with her best friend, getting together with Zappa didn't happen as much as they had in the beginning.

I have video that I've spent way too much time trying to use a video program, so you'll have to be patient with me as my frustration levels are getting very Brut-like at the moment.  ☺

So what do you think the chances are that they still remained friends and enjoyed their outing together?

Hopefully, cross your paws I will have video next time I post to show you what happened.  So tune in next time!

Have a great day!