Gus, Buster, Hobbit & Abby: Goodbye, Huck. We love you.

Yesterday was a very sad day. And things will be sad for a while. Our mom and dad had to make a difficult decision. They prayed and prayed for guidance and they had heartfelt and honest conversations with our vet Dr. Sarah, and our doggy behaviorist Mr. Scott about our brother Huck. It was determined that although Mom and Dad did everything they could to help Huck, there was nothing else that could be done. Huck was a nervous dog with aggression issues that could not be brought under control. Dr. Sarah and Mr. Scott truly believed that Huck was suffering from a mental illness or genetic brain abnormality of some kind. So, yesterday afternoon, Mom and Dad held Huck on their laps, kissed him, hugged him and told him how much they loved him and what a handsome, smart and loyal dog he was. He was sedated, and then Huck went to Heaven. Mom and Dad said they had never seen him at such peace. Peace that he never seemed to have because of his anxiety issues.

We all miss him terribly, but Mom and Dad said they know in their hearts that they made the right decision. The right decision for us, for them and for Huck. Our brother is at peace now. We know that God welcomed him home and that he will now get to meet our beloved brothers Bogey and Lindsey and our sister Annie.

The day we found Huck.

Huck as a beautiful puppy.

Huck comes home with us and discovers his new backyard.

A growing boy with lots of energy.

Our very smart Huck on the day of his obedience graduation.

Playing in the snow and with pine was fun for Huckleberry.

Huck was quite fond of gerbera daisies.

Huck giving Mom a kiss during our Christmas photo session.

Huck's beautiful smile.

Handsome Huck.

Goodbye, Huck. You were so very loved, and even though things weren't always easy with you around, we are so glad that you were a part of our family for the past 14 months. Be at peace, sweet brother. We love you.

Gus, Buster, Hobbit and Abby

Gus: A Home for Huck.

This is not easy to write.

Here it goes.

Mom and Dad need to find another home for Huck. We are all very sad about it, but he is not doing well in our home. He needs to be in a calmer environment, a home where he is the only animal. And no children. They frighten him. He can be an excitable dog, but he had a tough puppy hood. He was only about four months old when Mom found him abandoned on the side of a country road, waiting for his owner to return. He was there for hours and he wouldn't leave. What a loyal dog. And smart, too. He learned all his obedience commands super fast. He knows "sit," "stay," and "heel," and he picked up on the house training thing quickly, too. And he is so affectionate and loving. But first he has to get to know you, and sometimes that can take a little while.

Mom and Dad are looking very hard to find just the right home for him. Someone who can give him loads of attention. Huck craves human interaction. I sure hope and pray there's that someone special out there waiting to love him and work with him. He would make someone a wonderful companion.

Happy Huck

Smiling Huck

Silly Huck

Handsome Huck

Dear God,
This has been a very difficult time for our family. First, dealing with Buster's illness, and now coming to terms with the fact that Huck isn't a good fit for our home. Please, God, we pray that you will find that special person and home for him. We pray that you protect him and keep him happy. And, God, please be with Mom and Dad through all of this. They are having a hard time. Amen.

Signed,
Gus

Buster: Restin', Eatin' and Walkin'.

Well, I've been home now for almost six days and, boy oh boy, I'm sure glad to be here. Ever so slowly I'm coming along, eatin' just a little bit more each day. I gotta  tell ya, I'm getting kinda tired of boiled chicken, but the vet says I gotta stick with bland food for now. Maw and Paw try to mix white rice in with the chicken, but I just pick out the meat. I started out eatin' tiny, itty bitty scraps of chicken. Now I'm eatin' bigger pieces. Maw thinks I've eaten about two chicken breasts (skinless and boneless) in the past 24 hours. That's an improvement. Especially 'cause I'm still gettin' sick ever' now and then. That's purdy worrisome for Maw and Paw. They talked to Kim, one of the vet students at Virginia Tech Vet Hospital, and she consulted with the surgeons. They seem to think that because I'm still healin', these vomitin' episodes might occur ever' now and then until I'm better. One of our local vets, Dr. Warner, said for Maw and Paw to feed me more often to keep food in my tummy. That gastric acid on an empty belly can make ya feel sick. He also told Maw to give me Pepcid. So, now I take that and Prilosec at night. Those are people medications that are supposed to help my stomach work correctly. To help coat my belly, Maw has to give me sucralfate in liquid form three times a day. Yuck! I'm not fond of that, but I try to be a good boy and take it without too much fuss. Tomorrow is the last day I have to take antibiotics, and I'm happy about that. So, I'm feelin', eatin', and lookin' a little better, but it just seems to be takin' a while for me to bounce back. I guess havin' surgery on yer stomach can set ya back a bit.

The best way to know how well I'm doin' is to watch me walk. Maw took a video of me last night trottin' down the street. See? I'm gettin' some spring back in my step!

Today I got a letter from, Lara, one of the Virginia Tech vet students that took care of me. Isn't that nice? She sent me a get-well note! I remember her very well. She was kind and gentle with me. She also sent a lovely letter to Maw and Paw. They were very touched. I wish I could have gotten my picture taken with her before I left the hospital, but she wasn't workin' in the ICU anymore. As a student she had been moved to another course of study at the hospital.

Well, it's almost time for some more chicken. I could use a change, so maybe Paw will boil some lean ground beef for me this evenin'.

All my love to my friends and supporters,
Buster

Buster: Home, Sweet Home!

I'm home! I'm finally home! The staff at Virginia Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital decided I was well enough to come home yesterday, so Maw packed up my medicine, aftercare instructions, and the comfy things she brought for me to sleep with (her pillowcase and t-shirt), and off we drove, back home to West Virginia to see Paw, Gus and Hobbit. To keep things as quiet as possible for me at home Paw sent Abby to visit Aunt Mary, and Huck to stay at "Camp Good Shepherd." That was a good idea. They are too excitable for me right now. I need some peace and quiet. But, boy, oh boy, were Gus and Hobbit happy to see me. Especially Gus! He really wanted to play, but he knew not to get too frisky. He could tell I was purdy tired. Paw was the happiest to see me. He smiled real big and shed tears of joy. And when I ate some of the chicken he fixed for me? Well, that made him even happier!

As Gus said in his blog entries on July 7th and July 10th , things have been purdy scary. When we got to Virginia Tech Vet Hospital last week, it was decided that I needed emergency exploratory surgery. During the procedure the surgeon found a tear in my pylorus. That's the part where the stomach empties into the small intestine. The surgeon said it was a difficult place to make a repair. On top of that, my blood wasn't clottin' like it should have. The doctor also found some dark spots on my spleen, so she removed it. The odds of me gettin' through the surgery were not in my favor, but the hospital staff watched me closely and lots of people were prayin'.

The next hurdle was my recovery. It was a long week in ICU with a lot of ups and downs, but because everyone at the hospital took such good care of me I'm now on the mend. The vet students and clinicians  would sit with me and pet me, talk to me and do their best to make me feel comfortable. I really enjoyed the little walks they took me on, too. On top of the excellent care and attention I received at Virginia Tech, I was on the prayer lists of many people. Even dogs and cats! Lots of these carin' individuals wrote to us here at The Doggy Diary sending prayers and "purrayers" that I would get better. There were even some blogs that posted my picture on their site, along with information about my condition and a link to The Doggy Diary. They are great blogs: Loving For A Living, Beyond The Garden Gate, Cat Blogosphere, and Max The Quilt Cat. (I sure hope I didn't leave anybody out.) And, boy, were there ever lots of well wishes and encouragin' words posted on Maw's Facebook page. The support our family received was awesome and we still can't get over it. But, more than anything, Maw and Paw say it was all the prayers that worked. God is Good! He loves all of His creation.

Well, I'm ready for another little walk with Maw. I can't wait to show the neighborhood that I'm startin' to get some spring back in my step!

Love,
Buster Booglebear

Here I am the day before I was released from the vet hospital. I think I look purdy good after a week in ICU.

This is Dr. Laura D'Amico, the resident veterinary surgeon who performed my emergency abdominal operation. She saved my life. 

This is the veterinary student who was assigned to my case the last half of my stay. Her name is Kimberly DeLisi and she's real friendly. Smart, too. She'll make a fine vet someday. Another sharp student named Lara Brennecke took good care of me the first part of my hospital stay. She was very kind and gentle with me, too.

And here I am, real happy to be lyin' on my dog bed, in my house, surrounded by my family. :)

Gus: Buster update.

Mom drove down to Blacksburg, Virginia, today to see Buster at Virginia Tech Veterinary Hospital. (Dad really wanted to go, but he had to stay home to be with us.) When Mom called tonight she said that Buster was so happy to see her! She was just as excited to see him! She said Buster wagged his tail and put his head in her arms. When she talked to him, telling him how much we all love him, she said he placed his paw on her arm. That's what he always does when Mom talks sweet to him. :)

Mom got to see the ICU where Buster is staying. It is very nice and he has a big, quiet, comfortable place to rest. Mom said the space was so large that there was room for her to lie down with him. She wanted to spend the night with him in there, but they wouldn't allow it. I personally think it would only help Buster to have Mom with him! I guess they have hospital rules. So, Mom is staying at a hotel near the hospital and waiting for Lara ("Buster's student") to call her in the morning with an update. Later on in the day Mom will go visit him again.

The veterinarian/surgeon is still concerned about Buster's nausea and vomiting, which is being treated with IV fluids and medicine. Until that gets straightened out, they can't feed him - and he needs to eat. The vet said that Buster's improved mood is encouraging, though. Maybe with Mom there he'll perk up even more!

Many nice humans and their dogs and cats are praying/"purraying" for Buster. Here's a nice blog that has Buster's picture posted along with a link to The Doggy Diary so that others can send words of encouragement. This world really is full of wonderful people. :)

Dear God, I miss my brother Buster. I pray that he is resting well and that he will be healed so he can come home to us. My mom and dad are worried, but they know he is in your hands. Please keep Buster comfortable and let him know how loved he is by not just his family, but by so many. Amen.

Goodnight, 

Gussie

Sweet Buster

Gus: Praying for Buster.

It's been a tough couple of days. Buster is very sick. He had been having some tummy trouble for a few weeks, but the vets couldn't figure out why. Well, on Monday he took a turn for the worse. He would hardly move and you could tell his stomach was really hurting. Mom and Dad rushed him to the animal ER. The veterinarian couldn't figure out what was wrong with Buster either. The next morning our regular vet Dr. Sarah (we love her!) scheduled him for an ultrasound. They found lots of fluid in his belly. Dr. Sarah was very concerned and got an emergency appointment for Buster at Virginia Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Blacksburg, Va., for the next morning. In the meantime, he stayed at Dr. Sarah's hospital to get fluids and pain medication through an IV.  Early the next morning Dad and Mom drove Buster down to Blacksburg. The poor guy got sick again on the way there. They felt so bad for him.

When they got to the hospital they hardly had to wait. The staff was very nice. A technician explained what to expect from their visit at the hospital. A fourth-year veterinary student examined him. So did a resident. They were very kind and gentle with Buster. Next they had a neurologist look at him because the reflexes in his hind paws and face weren't very good. It was decided that it was probably caused by a slipped disc in his vertebrae, which is common for an older dog. They said it was not a major issue. They were more concerned about his painful belly, so they did a special ultrasound on it. That's where they found the problem. He not only had fluid, but lots of gas built up in there. They said the cause was a tear somewhere in his stomach or intestines and they had to do surgery right away. They warned Mom and Dad that complications could  arise. Mom and Dad agreed to the surgery because they knew they had to do something and because the surgeon said there was some hope. That was good news because we all had been worried about cancer. Dad and Mom spent about ten minutes with him, loving on him, talking with him and praying for him. The veterinarians told them that they couldn't see Buster for at least 24 hours after his surgery, so Dad and Mom came home to be with Hobbit and me. (Abby was staying at Aunt Mary's and Huck was boarding at Dr. Sarah's.)

Well, when Mom and Dad were half-way home they got a scary phone call from the hospital. Buster was in the early stages of a condition that prevents his blood from clotting and that meant he might not make it through the surgery. The surgeon said there was still hope, though, so after Mom and Dad also talked with Dr. Sarah about it, they told the surgeon to go ahead and operate.

At eleven o'clock last night the hospital called to give us the very good news that Buster had made it through the surgery! They found the tear in the place where his tummy empties out into his intestine. They said that made fixing it kind of difficult, but that they think they got it taken care of. We were all so thankful! He was in critical condition, though, so now he just needed to make it through the night. Well, they called this morning to say he was doing well! Thank you, Lord! And then they called again just a little while ago and said that he remains in ICU, but that he's okay. Thank you, again, Lord!

Buster still needs lots of prayers. Mom, Dad, Hobbit, Abby, Huck and I will be praying really hard that he gets better and rests comfortably. We know he's getting lots of love. When "Buster's student" (that's what she called herself) called tonight she bragged on what a good patient he is and said he is getting lots of big hugs!

Dear God, please take good care of my brother Buster. He is a smart, stoic and sweet dog, and he is loved very, very much. 

Thank you,
Gus

Dad and Mom loving on Buster before he goes in for surgery. He is such a good boy.

Hobbit: Freedom for ALL!

It's the holiday weekend and humans are having fun celebrating Independence Day. My mommy and Poncho say we are blessed to live in a nation of freedom. I think America is a very special place because family pets are well cared for here. My mommy said the American Pet Products Association reported that over $48 million was spent on pets in 2010. Wow, that's a lot of money! I know I am very thankful that my mommy and Poncho spent money on me when they found me hurt and lonely on that October day six years ago. They said they knew right away they had to help me, so they took me to the veterinarian and paid to have me neutered, my hernia fixed and my badly injured eye removed. It was a lot for me to go through, but then they brought me home to a wonderful life, one I could have never dreamed of.

There are lots of lucky doggies in America. Mommy recently read an article in The Daily Tail about a dog named Naki'o in Nebraska who had a very sad puppyhood. He had been abandoned in the cellar of a foreclosed home. It was so cold his that paws were frostbitten. Thankfully, he was saved, but all four of his paws had to be removed. A nice lady adopted him and decided to give him the freedom he always deserved. So what did she do? She had prosthetic legs made for him. Isn't that cool? Now he can run around like other doggies! And he's quite good at it! Just look at this video.

I can really relate to doggies like Naki'o. We may have physical challenges, but because of the love and compassion of some kind people we have been given the chance to live full, happy and independent lives!

Hooray for Freedom and God Bless America!

Love,
Hobbit