He's slowing down alot

Well Mr Beebs seems alot less energetic since his nuetering. At least that's one of the reason's he seems so old all of a sudden.I also wonder if the swollen prostate is shrinking inside him or if there is something hiding in it like a tumor. I am hoping for the best but facing the fact that if it is cancer I have some hard decisions to make. These last 2 years have been nothing but hard decisions for me regarding this poor pup. It's an everyday job keeping him happy, pain free, and doing as much as I can to give him quality of life. I could wring that surgeons neck for what he's done to my guy. My life will never be the same ....this situation has propelled me into an entirely new focus and drive in my life. To think that an ACL surgery could lead to such life altering conditions is beyond anything I could have dreamed up. I'm glad I didn't know what I know now.It would have sent me over the edge along time ago....but I'm grateful my beautiful dog Beebers has redifined my life and my life's purpose .So in a way this hardship has given me new determination and a sense of direction.That in and of itself is a blessing...and leave it to an 80 pound ball of loving fur to provide it.

Is this just an act?

Hmmmm,

Mr Beebs has taken to looking at his food bowl and retiring to another part of the house.I get worried and say come on boy eat your breakfast. He follows me back to his food bowl and stares at it like a snake is lurking in the bottom of it and is about to strike any minute. In the meantime Sydney has eaten half his food with total abandon. I ask myself..is he in pain? So I get a towel out and make him sit in front of me and then I hand feed him noodles and chicken.All of a sudden his appetite returns and he eats like a dog who has been roaming the streets for several weeks. It occurs to me that I am being trained. Why should he stand up and eat his food when he know's I'll run to his rescue and feed him succulent morsels by hand and then wipe off his big sloppy jowls. Who ever came up with that saying "Work like a dog". It must of been someone who never owned one thats for sure.

Merry Christmas to all

Well Mr Beebs has a swollen abdomen and the vets think its prostatitus..or bacterial infection of the prostate .No bacteria has shown up in the cultures so far and I'm feeling like something isn't adding up. I have the Merck Vet manual and was reading it last night and his symptoms seem to be more closely related to a cystic condition. I have no idea but I need to really stop...think...and get very clear on his treatment. The poor old guy has had so many surgeries and numerous set backs that I have to really pray about this one. He's such a good boy but I can see he's tired and I believe even with the pain meds its uncomfortable for him.So I need to get him taken care of.Its been a real heartbreak these last couple of years...I guess its true the "cup that holds your deepest joy holds your deepest sorrow."

Here we go again

Well Poor Mr Beebs is now looking at castration after 10 years of having his testicles .Apparently his prostate is 10 times its normal size and its infected. What concerns me is his heart. When we were in Georgia they called in a cardiologist because there was something going on. How many operations can and should this dog have? He's been through so much already and if he died on the table over a swollen prostate I'd be heart broken.He could be in pain though and so its a quality of life issue.Oh boy...anyone who thinks a family pet is property is living in an alternate reality. I have had so many emotional ups and downs over his situation not to mention the financial aspects. Well I'll pray about it and perhaps get a clear answer...he deserves to live pain free.

Bleeding from his penis

Oh boy...I had thought when I saw drops of blood coming out of there that it was surely a bladder infection. Unfortunately it's not...the culture came back clear that means its coming from his prostate . It's most likely an infection in the protate and after a physical exam the vet could not feel any enlargement so to speak of or any irregular shapes ect.
His back leg is horribly weak and one of the signs of protatis is terible back leg stiffness.
I'm learning way more than I ewver bargained for. I feel like I've been to vet school over the last year.
Naturally this blood appeared on Thanksgiving weekend while we had 2 international guest staying with us. Right now Mr Beebs is taking tramadol twice daily, deramax, and ciproflaxin 2 times daily. I did some research as soon as we got home from the vets and found that certain ab's work much better at getting into the gland and getting at the infection. The vet was all set to continue the cephalexin until I mentioned to her that I didn't think it was one of the more effective drugs in treating this scenario. She called me back half hour later and changed to ciproflaxin which thank God I had about 60 pills left over from the least ordeal.
The poor guy...my first thought was cancer...the vet says' neutering would solve it all. However after 13 surgeries I wonder how wise it would be to put him under again.The other vet agreed and said if it were my dog at 10 and with his history I wouldn't either. So we are aiming for quality of life..pain free living. I carry him everywhere it seems and my back feels like an 80 year old womans. He is chipper and flinging his toys around the room in fact he makes his son look like an old man the way he carries on. Appetite is really good. He enjoys rides, and short hops in the park. I watch very closely to see if he's happy. So far he has rebounded very well and I believe has a good quality of life.I never want to be selfish and keep him longer than he can stand to be here.
I'm working on my bill for the CT state legislature and went for an internship interview yesterday. I hope I land this as it will give me insight in ways no amount of schooling can. The interview went very well and if fate allows I'll be in there by January...and I'll do everything I can to make the world a better place for the beautiful animals we have in it.

Well no Fox news for us

I tried...I tried to get a lady in town who's dog got MRSA from a TPLO to do an interview. If only the public had the info...knew what to look for. But I can't make someone help if they don't want to.I'm very disappointed because I believe what has happened here could be of use to pet owners...the vets...it could save alot of pain and suffering.

Mr Beebs back leg is really wobbly and the dam wheelchair is wrong so I have to take a ride up to Mass. I have term papers, book reviews and a state intership on the line.

Taking him up and down the stair climber is getting harder and harder because he is more unsteady.I dread winter snow and ice and how unsafe I too will be walking backwards down the stairs with a dog who is not stable.God help us. Maybe I'll live in the basement with the dogs for the winter. Make a potty station outside the door with wood chips or something. One bad fall on the ice and it could mean the end of Mr Beebs.

I injected him yesterday with 1.5 mls of adequan.I'm hoping it will stave off anymore deterioration. I can only do my best for him. If I get that job in the statehouse I'm going to study the process like a hawk...make the contacts that will aid the cause and make a move when everything is in place.I will protect my pets and if I have to do it this way I will.

Back leg is weakening

Well Mr Beebs has been standing on his back foot upside down . I just went and got more adequan to help. Its more likely in the twist in his spine which is exaggerated from placing his remaining leg more centered. I have a massager and it seem to help when i run it down his back...but he is falling alot more than he has been.Getting on the stair climber has also become more of an issue. I have to put a towel under his back end try and coax him onto the platform and then while holding him up walk around to the front and walk backwards down the stairs ...while holding the toggle switch and his body weight up with my arm.The other day he fell down on the platform and thank God I had put plastic mesh and a strap to keep him safe.
He's is good spirits and lunges at poor Sydney and is no doubt still top dog around here!
I just hope that what ever time he has left I can make it good for him. We go out for a wobble in the park everyday.Sydney runs around and Beebs pojo's after him.Sometimes he just sits down because he's tired. Then we all sit on the grass and watch the world go by. Maybe he's trying to get me to slow down. He's such a great dog....I kiss his face everyday.