Dakota Moon Twenty

We helped Dakota to the Rainbow Bridge earlier this evening. She simply could not overcome the damage done by the kidney failure.

Dakota Moon Twenty

September 13, 1999 - November 16, 2009

Our hearts are broken, but will heal. Godspeed my baby girl. We'll see you again someday.

Thank you all for your love and well wishes over the past several days. Dakota knew she was loved by many.

"'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Dakota update

Hello to all of our friends.
Dakota did not respond well to the IV fluid therapy, and we decided that we would bring her home so that we could love and comfort her. She doesn't have much of an appetite, and we are doing what we can to encourage her to eat and drink. She's weak, but she is interacting with the family and interested in her surroundings.
We've done what we can for her medically, without subjecting her to even more time being poked and prodded, not to mention away from home.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Dakota's family

Update

For the past several months, we've mentioned from time to time that Dakota was diagnosed with Acute Renal Failure earlier this year. She had done quite well, maintaining the best blood levels and her weight. As little as six weeks ago, she was still good.

On Wednesday of last week. She seemed a bit out of sorts. We went to bed early, and in the wee hours, she fell off the bed. She took a bit to come out of the fall - concerning since she has a history of seizures as well - so I took her to her vets first thing Thursday morning.

A review of the blood work showed a dramatic increase in the blood levels that we were monitoring. She was started on IV fluid therapy, and has been in the hospital since Thursday morning. We were very hopeful that this would go a long way toward getting her back to the maintenance status we had enjoyed, and until earlier today, it looked like it would do so.

I heard from the emergency vet a little bit ago, that they had decreased her IV intake as a result of a concern about weight gain (about 2.6 pounds since Friday evening). Today's blood work showed an increase in certain blood levels, as well as an increase in the calcium level, something we had not seen prior to this. They have given her a light sedative, and have inserted a catheter to help us measure the input and output. She will go back to her vet tomorrow for further evaluation.

For now, we are trying very hard to keep a positive outlook, and hope and pray that we can have Dakota home with our family.

As we get more information, we'll share with you.

Dakota's Family,
The Mom, Momma Bev, Bandit, Sadie, Molly and Pedro the fish

Snow report!

There is none. That's my report.....................

But it is nice and breezy and about 60 degrees outside here. It's supposed to drop to the 40's tonight, which means I am going to squeeze in an evening nap, so I can get The Mom up two or three times tonight. She never knows if I have to potty or I am faking it to go outside!
All remains well here. Bandit is getting a bit slower, but he's still a big barking labbie. The new pup a few doors down was walking his people tonight, and Bandit started to bark as soon as he saw them. The pup seemed to want to walk across the street after that.
The Mom spent many hours in Molly's room yesterday. It's almost Colorfest time, which means my Nana will be here soon with donut holes! I can't wait. She brings us stuff when she comes, because she knows if we are eating or playing, we'll leave her yarn alone. She makes pup blankets and people blankets I'll have to get The Mom to drag out the flashy beast and get a picture for you. Bandit's blanket is particularly nice.
Yawn...... off to nap.

Home Improvement

Pups and kitties - remember these words. Home improvement. Now, if your people ever utter these words. Run. Pack your bowls, see if you can tuck the laptop in your puppacks and get OUT!

The Mom decided the home needed a little improvement. So, she hired this really nice guy to come in and do lots of stuff. He came in, and he put stuff everywhere! My stuff, stuff The Mom bought. Stuff I didn't even know we had. And they covered up the laptop! They covered up the door to get to the laptop! So I haven't been blogging. But, we now have...............

New counter tops for me to surf on - the new dark color really hides the paw prints!

Chilly square little tiles. Oh, they're in the bathroom, which is a NO DOGS ALLOWED room. So I'm not supposed to know this. Shhhhhh............ don't tell.

A new kitchen floor. I'm not sure about this though, our bowl slide a LOT.

Now, they did one or two things I didn't approve of............ like...................

Yeah. They took the doors out. On a rainy day. Rain in, the lovely cool air out.

Then she decided last week to paint my bedroom! I got ousted! I had to sleep in the hall! It was horrible, just horrible.

"My gosh, Bandit, the next thing you know, we'll have to sleep outside in the dog house!"

So pups, if they say 'home improvement' - run! Who knows what is next? My blankie redone?

A special request

Hi there all pups and kittys!
I apologize for not posting in a while, and I assure you it's The Mom's fault!!! But more later on this.
We just found out that next Wednesday, August 12 has been declared "Adopt a less than adoptable pet day!" by those folks at Petfinder!

What does that mean?

Well, did you know that big black dogs........ like Bandit!........ and senior dogs........... like ME! ......... are harder to find a good home for???? Well, we just need to put a stop to that. I assure you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a big galoot like Bandit or a delicate mature woman such as myself. WE MAKE VERY, VERY GOOD COMPANIONS!!! So, if you're thinking about another furbaby, think about taking a second look at a less than adoptable pet! You'll be awful glad you did.

Spring

I was laying around in the freshly mowed grass, making sure my nice white belly got a little of the green on it, and I thought, well, I haven't blogged in a while.
So here I am.
We got lots of questions about our last post, and yes, I can now confirm.
THERE'S ANOTHER STINKIN' CAT IN THE HOUSE!
Now, no offense to Huffle or any of the other kitties out there. I love you all. And I love you all because you don't live in my house!
Molly, the new cat, is staying with us while Momma Bev's dad is in a nursing home. See, Molly was his cat, and now he can't take care of her, so I have to take care of her. She's not furry nice. She's ok with The Mom, and she likes Mamma Bev too, but she does not like me or Bandit. She hisses, and she swats at us!
Is that any way for a guest to behave? I think not!
So, she lives in the 'guest' bedroom most of the time, and she comes out when The Mom works on her laptop or watches TV in my room.
I guess my readers want to know that I'm doing well with the kidney thing. I take pills, and I'm getting some tasty rice and chicken pretty much each meal. I even gained three pounds! My Dr is happy, and right now we're waiting for the latest test results to come back. I'll have to post when they are in.
Ok, so , that's the update.
Back to that nice newly mowed grass for me!