Feeling Better

Well Thor has been playing again. The last few days while we were outside he did a few quick runs. As well as played with Arabella after dinner last night. So I am feeling better about his health.

 He also has a vet appointment on Monday. He is due to see his cardiologist but when I called to make an appointment I was informed he was no longer with that practice of specialists. They also haven't gotten a new cardiologist at this point. So he will be seeing an internist. I'm taking that as a good sign for now. The cardiologist would just be putting a Holter monitor on and then sending of the readings to be read else where. He may also do an echo-cardiogram. The internist can do that as well. They might also may be more mindful of the tumor.

In the mean time Thor's appetite is great. He seems to have figured out with little effort I will give in and give him a treat. Along with that treat he also gets a hug and a kiss. There's nothing like positive reinforcement!

Finally Back In!

I am so sorry it has taken so long to post. I had a log in snafu that seems corrected now! Whew! So where to begin.....

I know it has been two weeks and our household has been through somethings. We have been remodeling an old home that we had rented, it is finally done and on the market. (Thank God!) I had to go over there and spent quite a bit of time and was leaving the dogs home everyday. Thor seems to be slowing down and it has concerned me. One day my husband calls me and tells I need to come home NOW! I of course start to freak. I ask if Thor is OK, and it a very pleasant voice tells me Thor is fine. It was that the weather was getting nasty and he didn't want me driving in it. If I could have reached through the phone, I think I may have strangled him.

Since the house is now done, I have been staying home a lot more. I have noticed Thor isn't running or playing much. It has me concerned. Last Saturday, I don't know if I was being a bit over anxious or not. He seemed "off". He would sleep some and then he would just sit and watch me. I was trying to catch up on all the housework that I have fallen behind on. He wasn't acting like he was in pain, but he just wasn't quite himself.

My husband and I were suppose to go to a concert that night, and I was really getting worried about leaving him. We were going to be gone 6 hrs. I found a dog sitter/walker that could come in and give him his medicine at 7:30 so I had someone checking up on him midway through the evening. I still was worried. I had gotten the Chinese herbal supplement, bayaio yunnan, but haven't talked to the vet about it yet. I took a leap of faith and gave it to him. It was early afternoon. I figured if it was going to have a negative effect on him I would know before I left, which it didn't.

I don't know if it had a positive effect, or I was imagining it did, to make myself feel better about going. He did seem a bit more relaxed by the time we left. Now I have to decide if it was just me, or if it really did improve things. And if it did improve things what are the implications. Has he started to bleed? Do I need to be giving him this everyday? If so how much?

Sigh...It is so hard to know what to do. I just hope and pray I make the right choices. I love my boy so much.

Staying the Course

Thor is still doing well. Still active and eating well. He is coming due for is annual cardiac exam. I thought for all of two seconds about skipping it. My concern is I know he will have to wear a Holter monitor for 24 hrs and that means being taped around his belly. The cardiologist is in the same office as the internist so I am sure they can come up with a safe way to tape him.

 Plus I want to talk to him about a Chinese herbal supplement I found that promotes clotting, bayaio yunnan. I want to make sure it will not effect Thor's heart or his medication in any way if given daily. Or even if I just give it when there is a small bleed. I don't want to trade one problem for another.

I am also unfortunately going to have push back his appointment a week or so. Our a/c sprung a leak and had to be replaced. That was $3000 I wasn't planning on spending and the budget is beyond tight this month. (Actually for the next few months to make up for that big of a ding.) I just hope I can keep the option of pushing it back. It has been eight weeks since we found out about the tumor and he is still doing well. I just hope that doesn't change.

Whine....

Being the overprotective '"mom" I went running this morning when I heard a whine. I jumped up, ran around the corner and there both my dogs just started staring at me like I am crazy! Arabella had a toy hanging from her mouth and Thor was whining because he wanted it. So then I just go back to my desk, sit down and feel three things all at once. Relieved! My boy was okay. Stupid, for being over-reactive. Finally, Happiness! My two playing always just makes me smile! If you have ever seen two dogs, especially boxers, play, you understand.

Thor has been particularly frisky this week and I am doing my best to enjoy every minute of it. I am also doing my best to put my fears of him rupturing the tumor on the back burner.  I am trying to apply a quote from Jimmy Buffet to Thor.  "I'd rather die while I'm living, then live while I'm dead." (from Growing Older, Not Up.)  I am guessing since the only singer I have quoted on this blog is Jimmy Buffet, you may have figured out I am a bit of a parrothead.

"Thornado" the Movie

I finally got the "Thornado" on video!

Spring has Returned

I mean that in two different ways. First, the weather is cooler and the April showers are on their way. Second is the spring in Thor's step! It was about 60* when I let him and his li'l sis, Arabella out this morning. He was just full of energy and was running around like a two year old! Every time Arabella stopped, he went right back at her, chasing her. Thor has this move I call the "Thornado". In his younger days he would jump up and do a 360. Now with age it is two 180's, but still impressive. My nearly 11 year old boy was out doing his "Thornado" this morning. By the time I thought to go in and get my camera to film it, he was done.  I've never gotten that on film, and would love to have it. It is suppose to be cooler all week so I will keep my camera ready!

I think Summer is Going to be Early.....

Thor has been a bit lazy the last few days, but it has been warm. We're suppose to be near 90 degrees today. It is way to early for that much heat! He is in good spirits though, lots of nubber wiggles and cuddles. And the heat hasn't seemed to effect his appetite any. I've had to cut it back his food a bit because it looked like he was gaining a little too much weight.

I hope I am not jinxing myself, but I can't believe we went through the whole month of March without either dog needing to go to the vet. That seems to be an amazing feat in my house. I hope we can keep up that up until there next scheduled visits at the end of June.

I have done some research and came across a chinese herbal supplement, yunnan paiyao, which is suppose to stop bleeds. When I went to the local Asian market, they were out, but will stop in this week and see if it has come in. I still would like to consult with a holistic vet. I have a lot going on right now and can never seem to remember to call during office hours. Hopefully things will slow down a bit after this week.