Tailwaggers

- M O N T A N A - for your pet

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Hi Everyone, A sad note from our place in Montana. Good ol' Bjorn, despised, hated, feared, loved, hated some more, yelled at a lot, cuddly, happy, squawk your ears off as a nuisance and in his joyfulness, master of kindling, blood drawing, chasing, shoe killing, mischievous, unwittingly destructive, wittingly cute, cuddly and bothersome..... Left us. Boy we miss him even after all that. Bjorn died in our arms last Thursday morning of unknown complications after a week or so of something resembling little more than a light sniffle and occasional sneeze. We got up in the morning, awakened him and his condition had overrun him. He died about 40 minutes later. Our little guy who lived his life in the "terrible two's" left with a whimpered squawk and last breath. Gently, weakly, sadly. Death upon him. Most all of you have some story and scar to show for his time here, 26 years with Janey and Jim's 18 years. After that much time you can figure his presence in our routine of life at home is rich and deep and the goofy hole you think would be relief really is not. With all the trouble we were forever diligent to and energy he required, amazingly, his hole is one of loss. Interesting such a little guy had the warm, albeit see the first paragraph again, presence all good meaning life does. Just Bjorn being the cockatoo Bjorn was meant to be. But for our friends visiting our house, the kitchen is now safe from tyranny, your shoes, ears and noses no longer at risk. We however will miss the laughter as people were forcibly banished from an area by a half pint bird with wings outstretched, beak locked and loaded, attitude that said "run from me or pay a dear price!" and we did, yes we all had to respect our feathery master. So now he sits with his old mate Roscoe on the great perch in the sky. All the love and best to you Bjorn. A wild and crazy treat you were but as a friend commented on his passing, "gifts were exchanged, time to go", and they were. Gifts were exchanged. 'Nite Bjorn.

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The Plunge!  From left to right there's a tall dog, a red dog, a Janey dog, a Jim dog and a husky-type dog.  Brrrrrrrr.   Who can swim in ice water?

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Holistic Help for Trapper

For those of you who know Jim and I, you know that our approach to medical treatment for our pets and ourselves is based more on a holistic approach. We do not discount the professionalism of medical doctors or a veterinarian or the need for their services. And by embracing both forms of treatment we are able to explore and thoroughly understand our options. Not everything can be cured with modern medicine or holistic medicine. But how wonderful it is to have a choice. A perfect example would be our beloved dog, Trapper.

In June of 2011 Trapper was having an issue with a toe on his left hind foot.  At first we thought it was a broken toenail. The toenail was removed.  The toe was not healing.  We were told that it could be a tumor and that we should remove it.  We had the toe removed and chose not to have a biopsy done.  We both knew that chemo and radiation would not be a treatment choice we would choose.  So as the summer progressed Trapper’s toe healed, and he had a great active life again.

Come September we noticed Trapper had lost weight. We thought it was due to all the swimming, hiking, and runs. His appetite was great and his energy was fabulous, so we just carried on.  But in mid-October his appetite was not good and he continued to lose weight. We decided he'd best go in for a checkup. So he had a physical. His blood work was fine.  Everything appeared normal with the exception of an ear infection, and apparently an ear infection can sometimes cause a dog to lose his appetite.  So we treated Trapper's ear with an antibiotic ointment.  After a week there was no improvement.  Back to the animal hospital. This time x-rays were taken of Trappers stomach and lungs. The stomach looked fine; however, the lungs were filled with mast cell tumors.  Jim asked, "Could it be a infection, a fungus?" Jim was told that those types of infectious diseases would not be so scattered.  Jim was told Trapper had about two weeks to live. He was sent home with Prednisone for pain and inflammation, PepcidAC for ulcers caused by acid in his stomach from not eating, and a drug used to coat his throat. All the normal prescriptions to make him comfortable. Nothing was given to Trapper that could cure the cancer.

Jim and I were devastated and could hardly believe this could be happening.  I believe the first day we were in shock.  In the next few days we decided that our Trapper was not going to die, and we were going to do what ever we could to help him.  Whereas modern medicine often does not offer a non-invasive treatment, holistic medicine has many non-invasive treatment options to manage cancer.  Looking back, there were no coincidences.  Everything happened for a reason, and events unfolded as if they had been planned.  With the help of a wonderful holistic practitioner, a group of very gifted friends, remote treatments by the spiritual guide John of God, and a wonderful little book I had purchased months ago,... I am happy to say Trapper is a fat, happy, loving soul today, January 26, 2012.

Could Trapper have been misdiagnosed by the veterinarian?  Maybe.  Could Trapper have been misdiagnosed by the holistic practitioner?  Maybe.  It really does not matter who was right or wrong.  Trapper was helped by the prescription drugs. The drugs allowed Trapper comfort enough to start eating.  He was on the prescription drugs only for two weeks.  On the third day after the diagnosis he also started with the holistic remedies.  Have the holistic remedies strengthened his immune system?  Absolutely.  Have they been instrumental in his recovery?  Absolutely.

The most important thing Jim and I are learning is that thinking outside of the box is as important as understanding the box does not always have the correct answers.  But looking from the outside in and the inside out can open unlimited possibilities!

  Janey at Tailwaggers

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We are Freezin' for a Reason for the WAG Dog Park.

We froze last year and had so much fun (okay, Janey doesn't remember a thing) we're jumping into icy Whitefish Lake again to benefit Special Olympics Montana athletes in the name of WAG Dog Park.

Even though you couldn't pay us enough to jump in a lake in February, we need to raise at least $200 in order to join Jim, Thor, Ed, and more to have the privilege and honor of taking this special-in-many-ways plunge.  We appreciate any amount donation for Team WAG.  Again 100% of all money raised for our team goes to Special Olympics of Montana.

Penguin Plunge

Saturday, February 4, 2012

11:00am ***NEW TIME***

City Beach - Whitefish Lake

Whitefish, MT

See ya there!

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The Cold Patrol?

Two young Danes find out if they're tough enough for the world's only military dogsled team.

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"If man were relieved of all superstition, and all prejudice, and had replaced these with a keen sensitivity to his real environment, and moreover had achieved a level of communication so simplified that one syllable could express his every thought, then he would have achieved the level of intelligence already achieved by his dog."

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