#aboutadog

[astoldbytina]

Day 11: CatDog book & pet (bookish pet) #aboutadog #thatssobookish #books #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #igreads #librarybooks

[astoldbytina]

Day 9: books and notebook #luckofthebookish #books #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #aboutadog #igreads #librarybooks #booksandbujo

[astoldbytina]

My recent #libraryhaul #igreads #books #bookstagram #librarybooks #booksofinstagram #thesevenhusbandsofevelynhugo #aboutadog #amreading #bookblogger

[showthisbooksomelove]

Plumdog ~ Emma Chichester Clark

Plumdog ~ Emma Chichester Clark

Date Completed: 12/4/2015 Rating: 9/10 When I first saw the cover I was drawn to this book, but I was even more amazed when it arrived in the mail. It is beautifully bound with a headband and signatures, something that is not often found these days. The trim on the inside pages match the cover. This is a beautifully crafted book. Unfortunately this means I probably wouldn’t share it with kids,…

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[johnroconnor-blog]

The Piddle Battle Book

We’ve always been at war with my dog’s bladder.

Usually, the conflict is just a little bit of North Korean-style sabre-rattling -- like the times he’s peed on a pile of clothes waiting to get run through the laundry. Or, turning his FOMO into physical form when he knows we’re heading out of town.

But the introduction of diuretics to treat his congestive heart failure has turned a low-key engagement into a full-on shooting war.

Churchill now has to go out every few hours. One Saturday, I had to walk him eight times before noon.

And he needs round-the-clock attention. On his best nights he can go from midnight until five or six in the morning. At his worst, I get no more than two hours of sleep.

The sound of claws on laminate wood flooring can wake me instantly.

It wasn’t a big deal at first. My wife and I worked in walks on our lunch breaks. We took our longer trips when we knew he’d be napping for a few hours.

But for the past month the elevator in our building has been under repair. That means top-heavy, 60-pound Churchill has to waddle his way up and down a flight of stairs to drain the tank.

The first two weeks were fine. Then the Miami summer really set in and every trip in and out left Churchill panting, restless and uncomfortable -- often for hours -- when we got back inside.

And for the first time it was clear the drugs were struggling to keep pace with the liquid building up in his lungs. Eventually, our vet recommended upping his daily dose of diuretics.

So Churchill needs drugs to help him expel the fluid building up in his system.

Those drugs make him pee all the time.

And every time he went out to pee, he came back panting and restless -- which meant he needed more drugs.

Thankfully, the elevator is now fixed. Churchill knows that means it’s an easy in-and-out trip and isn’t forcing us to drag him to the door and down the hallway every time to go to the bathroom.

We’ve struck a truce for the time being -- but we’re pretty sure shots will be fired again soon.

[johnroconnor-blog]

Here’s Churchill on our way home from the pet hospital Wednesday.

[johnroconnor-blog]

About A Dog

I’ve never written about something I’ve really loved before.

Tuesday a timer started counting down on one of the best things in my life.

Nine months. Maybe a couple years. Who knows?

That’s how long the vet says it will take before my English bulldog, Churchill, dies of congestive heart failure.

For several days we watched our dog struggle to breathe as fluid filled his lungs. He hadn’t been able to sleep for more than a few minutes because he was constantly changing positions; squirming for just a little more air.

We took Churchill to the vet after a night where his rumble of a snore dissolved into wheezing and gurgling. By the time we got to the office his belly was so swollen he looked like he was carrying pups. His tongue was purple – a sign he was starved of oxygen.

X-rays and bloodwork – mistakenly – showed his heart looked normal, so the vet thought it might be pneumonia. Several days later it was clear antibiotics would not fix this and we headed to a specialist.

He spent the night in an oxygen cage to try and get his breathing back to normal. Lasix will purge the liquid from his lungs.

The cardiologist said he was sound asleep, probably for the first time in days.

Obviously, every relationship in our life is temporary. But knowing how and when I’ll have to say goodbye is a new experience.

The cardiologist said with careful treatment and maintenance we may forget Churchill has congestive heart failure.

I’m going to write about this because my wife and I learned Internet pet health tips are often less than useful. Maybe I’ll learn something that’s helpful. We’re already facing hundreds of little decisions -- some of them pretty amusing.

It’s also one more way to make the most of the time we have left with Churchill. And cope.

I’ll try not to be too self-indulgent (beyond the self-indulgent act of blogging about it in the first place). I started and abandoned a blog pretty quickly a couple years back. Hopefully, this time will be different.

[dioni-macaroni]

Misunderstood

She lies

Wreathed in shadows

But gold

Spills from her eyes

Imploring

Promising love