Sheltie Mom

9/28/2013

Mom and her babies


Roy and Mollie

8/30/2013

The newest addition to our family: Mollie

8/13/2013

Where Andy is Not

I wake up in the morning and look beside my bed where Andy is not.

I come out of the bathroom and look where Andy is not.

I go on my walk without a leash in one hand where Andy is not.

I eat breakfast and look at the AC vent where Andy usually curls up behind the table, but Andy is not.

I watch our Netflix movie and look beside my chair where Andy is not.

I cook unobstructed from a little mouth scavenging for dropped morsels because Andy is not.

I come from my shower expecting to see Andy waiting by the closed door, but Andy is not.

Andy has been by my side for 8 years.

How will I cope with his “notness?”

I know that time is a great healer, but O Lord, I think my heart will burst.

It has been eleven days since Andy died. Time is slowly healing our broken hearts, but they are by no means healed. A memory will crop up and tears will fall. There is a big empty place in our hearts.

Roy is very confused and still wondering where his brother/friend/soulmate has gone. Since Andy was the dominant of the two, Roy still waits for Andy to go out of the door first. He looks back to see where he is. When we go for our walks, he looks back and is not sure where his place is since he used to always walk with Andy on the left, then Mom, then Roy, and then Dad. He is still not his cheerful little self. He refuses to let us out of his sight. When we are not in the same room, he goes back and forth between us.

Roy seems depressed and mopes about. He is just not his cheerful little self anymore.

When we came home with Andy's body, I placed him on the floor for Roy to see. Roy gave him a good smell, then went on out the door searching for his Dad who was outside digging the grave. After we buried Andy, I took Roy out to the grave site hoping he would know where Andy was. He refused to approach the covered grave. I guess his healing will take time too.

Death is hard whether it is for we humans or our four-legged children.

8/02/2013

Andy Courie

August 31, 2005 - August 2, 2013

R.I.P.

4/21/2013

I have been complaining to our Vet for some time that Andy keeps losing weight. He is on thyroid medicine, but was underweight before we even started the thyroid meds. He had a bottle brush tail, so at the recommendation of his breeder, I had his thyroid tested. It was indeed low. Dogs suffering from hypothyroidism are usually overweight, though.

Finally, I decided to have Andy checked by another Vet and we found he is suffering from Stage III kidney disease. He is on meds and a special kidney approved diet. Many dogs have problems eating the new food, but Andy simply would not eat it. I couldn't afford to "just let him get hungry enough" since his ribs were already prominent. I tried adding low salt chicken broth, green beans, and even oregano as various bloggers suggested. Finally, I just started spoon feeding him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qTjZPO2mmA

Andy is gaining weight and is feeling and acting like his old self. I don't know how long we can keep him healthy, but each new day is a blessing.

3/20/2013

My Andy has just been diagnosed with kidney failure. After the initial shock and tears, I am thinking positively about his future. With proper diet and kidney helping drugs, I am hoping he can live a long life. See Dad in the background listening to music and reading.....