A Day Like All Days

( The story of a dog who thought she was a cat... )

So after a few sessions of cuddles and petting from both of us, we bid her farewell just before noon today. It's incredibly sad to have it end like this, but I like to think Brandy has had a long and happy life as best we could give her. Rest in peace, Brandy.

As you may have read in an earlier post of mine, our Cairn Terrier, Brandy, has been diagnosed with a malignant bone tumor in her left shoulder area. ( Veterinarian's Hospital, the continuing stoooory... )

The saving grace is this particular tumor, which doesn't often occur in small dogs anyway, is also atypical in that it has been progressing very slowly. I'm beginning to think she might have a good four to six months left when originally we thought she'd be lucky to get two.

She's on pain medication, of course, which still keeps her reasonably happy and, to be quite honest, she's really more active than she should be (she could break the affected bone at any time and such a fracture might prove fatal). We now have to carry her up and down stairs, but she insists on jumping onto the furniture and I reckon that trying to stop her is an exercise in futility, short of keeping her in her cage -- quite possibly for the rest of her life, given that that bone isn't likely to get any stronger. I think we all agree that's no way to assure her quality of life in whatever time she has left.

More as it happens.

For those who don't already know, our Cairn Terrier (gmjambear calls her our Cairn Terror ;-), Brandy, had ten teeth extracted last Tuesday and has been rather ill as a result.

Last night Brandy began eating again, and we're all very happy for her. She's a lot more alert than she has been, too. I think backing off on the medication and feeding her a little at a time has helped a lot. She still sleeps a lot, but she always has so that's perfectly normal for her.

I think one of the biggest signs she's returned to normal is I caught her licking the pillows on the bed again. ;-)

...is wholesome even for the King." -- Emily Dickinson

Reading a recent entry in dakoopst's journal, along with a bunch of others, it seems like the whole of the USA has gone mad with this nonsense of terrorists under the bed, as it were. (Gee, substitute "Communist" for "terrorist" -- the words even rhyme -- and we're back to the 1950's!)

And yet, on the other hand, we have the unfolding of spring, the flowers in bloom and all that wakens from its winter sleep. It's nice to see the sunlight streaming through the windows for a change. In a moment I shall be walking little Brandy and taking a breath of fresh air.

So I won't belabor the point of how screwed-up this country is; rather, I'll enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. There will be time enough to bitch about things political later.

C'mon, Brandy, let's go.

As I mentioned in my previous post I saved the serious shopping for Sunday. ( Read more... )

So much for my ambitious plans for the evening. ;-)

Friday, October 11

( Got a late start, had dinner with gmjambear, kj, mathan, and scottybear, barhopped a little, hung out at the Toolbox, went to sleep. Click here for more. )

Saturday, October 12

( Went to see kj's hockey game, visited the ROM, shopped, ate at the Eaton Centre, relaxed at the Box, dropped by for 1/3 of Game 2, had dinner with Bear Towers folks in Mississauga, back to the Box for drinks and conversation, back to bed. Click for more. )

Sunday, October 13

( Spied on the Hell's Angels, had brunch, chatted with shadcub et al., checked out, got on the road. )

All in all, a relaxing weekend. It was good to see friends old and new, and to be in Toronto on our own rather than for a bear event.

Updated 12/27/2008: photos re-hosted at livejournal.com from home.rochester.rr.com and disclaimers revised