Not Today Mom

Yesterday, I was sure Bailey was ready to make the trip to the bridge today. All the signs were there and the Vet was sure we'd be back to visit today. However, she gave us one more option a shot to make up for the meds he'd refused to take orally and a suggestion for meat baby food. Not having much hope DH picked up a couple of jars of baby food knowing the store collects baby food for the local food pantry and if he didn't eat it, we could donate the unopened jars.

Well Bailey's not ready to leave just yet. I'm not sure how much longer he wants to stay, but he gobbled down two jars of baby food yesterday and two today including one with his oral medications which he's refused to take since last week. When he doesn't take his meds he can't keep food down and eventually stops eating all together, which is what happened over the weekend. This is the sign we've been told to watch for as a sign he's done fighting. When he stops eating and we can't get him started again, it is time to let him go. We thought we had reached that point yesterday. DH had to return to the store for more baby food jars. Honestly, I have no idea how that smell appeals to his stomach as it makes mine turn, but as long as he's eating I can deal.

He also was sniffing in the garden today where Katy's been flushing out the bunnies. He hasn't shown any interest in critters for weeks. His back legs are very weak and since that trip out he's been resting quite a bit.

This may just be that last burst of energy some dogs show at the end. I don't know. I can't think beyond the fact that today we are not visting the Vet to say goodbye to Bailey. Tomorrow and the next day I can't predict. We are cherishing the time we have. The Vet said he'd tell us when it was time to say goodbye. Today's message seems to be not today, Mom. I'm not ready to leave just yet.

Thank you all for your prayers. We are continuing to take this one day at a time. He will let us know when he's ready. We just have to follow his leads. We ask for your continued prayers.

Prayers for Bailey

After a weekend of not eating and being sick to his stomach when he tried, we saw the vet today and the news isn't good. Bailey is refusing the oral meds that were helping him to eat. The vet thinks he's decided he's done. His back legs have recently given out on him and he's struggling with stairs. We decided to give it one more treatment. He got a shot today and we are trying baby food. If this doesn't work, she believes he's making it clear he's done.

We can't argue. The energy he showed at the beginning of this fight is gone. He does seem to have surrendered. However, we are giving him one more chance to decide if he wants to stay or go. It is also giving us time to say goodbye if he truly is ready to go. Our baby boy has certainly fought hard. When we started this journey nobody thought he'd live to see the trick or treaters come to the house once more. Then the goal was Christmas. He made it through his 13th birthday in March. Sadly, I don't think he's going to see Katy's 8th birthday at the end of the month. We ask for prayers to guide us in making the right choices as we continue forward.

Wordless Wednesday: The Power's On

Bailey's had this strange attraction to the power strip lately. He really does seem to think he can draw power from it.

However, he has found another source of power that is helping him get stronger. He and Katy have started massage therapy and it is working wonders. We found a massage therapist at Paws in the Park and decided to check her out. We'd talked about doing it for years, but sadly something always came up. This time with Bailey's health issues we decided it was a priority. Then we discovered she lives in town, which made it seem even easier to commit the time to do.


Bailey has become very bow legged and walking almost on the sides of his paws. He's also lost significant muscle strength in his back legs that occurred sometime around our failed rescue attempt. He's had chiro for years, but nothing had stopped the progression. After his second massage session, his bowing has decreased significantly. His front legs have straightened dramatically. I hope to get some pics to show his vet the progression. He was too tired last night to submit for pics and I wanted to post something this morning.

We are also learning stretching exercises. As someone who needs PT exercises myself it never occurred to me to think that my dogs might benefit from stretching exercises as well. In the first session DH and I learned how to stretch both Bailey and Katy to help keep their legs more limber. Katy, especially has seen a difference with the stretching.

Our second session was with an intern who suggested we try making some beef broth from bone to help with Bailey's joint issues. I've made beef and chicken broth as starters for us over the years, I've never thought of the benefits for the dogs. I won't add all the veggies I do for ours, but I will look to getting a soup bone this weekend and making up some broth. She suggested freezing them into ice cubes to store the broth. Bailey loves ice cubes, so this could be a nice treat for him as well, especially with the hot summer months coming up.

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Bailey Keeps On Suprising Us All

Mom got a shock the other day while snuggling with Bailey. She found a lump on his tummy. She's been waiting to find tumors. After all everyone told her they'd come. Bailey had made it through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, even New Years, and then there were lumps. His annual appointment, which nobody thought he'd ever need was just a few days away, so Mom worked to calm her fears knowing the Vet would have answers then.

Poor Bailey had to endure 5 needles Saturday. Not only did he have a lump on his tummy, but the vet found two others. The vet aspirated all three lumps and Bailey went on to endure the shot for rabies and the blood draw for heart worm. To add insult to injury he also had the meds up the nose for kennel cough. It was not an easy day. The vet being the amazing vet she is, did the tests right then and we got results right away rather than having to wait until Tuesday when regular office hours resumed. The growths were similar but different to growths Bailey had before. They are not tumors but fatty deposits. She measured them and noted them in his chart to keep track of any future growth of them. However, Bailey still shows no signs of Lymphoma. He has even gained another 1/2 pound since his last weigh in. He's almost to his goal weight and we are cutting back on the steroids again.

Bailey may turn 13 in March. Mom's Baby Boy may actually be a teenager. That was something we hadn't even considered when this all hit in the fall. We ask for your continued prayers.