Feeling Blessed!

August 19, 2013 by M101805

     As I sit here on my couch, and Mason naps next to me in his bed I look at him and think….I’m so blessed!

The long hours I work or commute, the times I have to go out somewhere or want to go out somewhere, he doesn’t care. At the end of the night he still loves me unconditionally. Seven and a half years ago, I walked into a shelter with no breed in mind and fell in love with him. Over the years I have watched Mason grow up into a dog who loves people of all ages, dogs and just life. His high energy level like he is a puppy still reminds me every day when we first adopted him, so excited to be with people even know he was a wee bit nervous of his new home. Adopting a pet, is an AMAZING feeling, knowing I’m giving him a better life then wherever he came from or was. I am able to re write the first 9 months of his life with happiness, memories, an over abundance of love and care, Purchasing a pet from a breeder or store is not much different, unfortunately due to the stores and how they treat animals, you are essentially getting the same feeling and doing the same thing as adopting, and buying from a breeder well that just gives you the opportunity to do it from the start, love & care, memories & happiness!

The people that know and love Mason, know his worst trait if any at all is his uncontrolled barking in a car, LOL. However, if that’s the worst that’s not so bad.  They say the more you communicate to an animal the more personality he or she develops, well ask my husband isn’t that the truth! For example and for a great laugh, this morning  I was eating my breakfast and just like every time Mason sat next to me, looking up at me like “mommy can I have please”, my words “M, this is my breakfast go eat yours its ok eat your breakfast” and there he goes running across the kitchen feel….few seconds later I hear crunch crunch crunch and I am amazed all over again. My husband stands shocked, impressed and laughing. Well there you go the connection and bond I have developed with Mason over the years is due to me allowing him to develop a personality, talking to him and most importantly paying attention to him! I just read in Dog Fancy magazine from a 2012 issue that all a pet needs is exactly 5 minutes a day of uninterruptable attention (ie; petting, brushing, snuggling etc) to feel that they are loved.

So Mason, everyday I feel blessed to have you in my life, our lives. Funny thing is he is I’m sure even more blessed finding a home with true family, humans he can trust, unconditionally love and memories. Some people think a dog doesn’t have much memory, but some things I believe are imprinted in them(a bad experience, a certain place they love to go etc) Everyone should or feels blessed at some point in there life for what they have, because even when you think you have it bad, someone has it worse. At the end of a day no matter how tough it was I feel blessed, but having Mason knowing what I can provide for him and the dog he has grown in to makes me even more blessed. I have read quotes on facebook or other places, “The road to my heart is paved with paw prints” this is true . I know he feels blessed, but WE feel blessed everyday to have you in our lives. The dog that willingly takes bathes, the dog that is so good with kids, the dog that was house broken in 3 days and still to this day, the dog that is everything to me, for so many reasons that it would take years to write.

When you read this, if you have that special pet in your life, look over at him you know what your thinking Your feeling blessed too                        

If you are not a pet owner, go get one, like NOW LOL…Cats, Dogs, whatever your fancy is. This is just not because I don’t have kids, I know plenty of people that have children and a pet and would agree. They are family.

XOXO
DOGOBSESSED

Houdini, he AMAZES me

Its been almost a month since the last blog…life has been pretty crazy. So, I thought I’d write something simple, something comical just for fun. Makes me laugh!

Since the small age of 10 months, we have called Mason Houdini and everyday since than he has continued to amaze me. When we first got mason, we attempted to crate him for training purposes after he went on a chewing frenzy due to separation anxiety. Many times we would come home and Mason would be waiting by the front door, we looked at each other, scratched our heads and made phone calls to see if family members came by and let Mason out..the answer was no! So, question remains how in the world was he getting out of the crate, with the door still hitched closed. This went on for about a month, everyday he was getting out but don’t worry the door was still locked, LOL

We started to call him Houdini. Shortly we realized, sadly he had bad separation anxiety and was pushing against the gate door so hard that he was squeezing between the door as it snapped back locked to get out. Actually bent the metal door, strong little puppy!

To this day Mason has continued to surprise us…as I drive in the car a short distance of only 10 minutes, we get to our location usually my mom’s and his leash is off! I tend to watch Mason in the rear view mirror as I am driving to make sure he is OK and I do not see him ever take his leash off. It’s not chewed through, the latch isn’t broken I am still unsure how he gets it off, I crack up every time.

Then their is the collar, we come home from work the collar is off, mason plays outside and comes in collarless(just a few times on this one) but I am still convinced he is Houdini. It makes for a good laugh and I don’t know if I will ever figure it out. 7 years later and he continues to amaze me, he is my little Houdini!

I wonder if anyone else has these experiences, I would be interested to know.

The check!

       

Ok, I know what your thinking what is this about..kind of an odd title! The check… My fairly new weekly routine with Mason.

Late last year while laying with Mason my hand ran over his chest to pet him and there it was a bump..eek! What was this? How long has it been there? My mind now racing. Knowing my friends experiences to many times with her little baby I decided to watch it for a week. Over the week this bump went from under to skin to above the skin and back under. From small to smaller to enlarged changing sizes daily.

The following week we decided to get it checked out. To my worst fear it was a mast cell tumor, cancer! My vet booked him for an immediate surgery to remove. Now it’s the waiting game.. Tick tock.. Something I hate the most. Five days and results..as they talk and I try to calmly listen I hear stage 2. Stage 1 being the non worry nothing else to do stage and stage 3 being the worst and needing further treatment. Hmm so what did stage 2 mean?!

Stage 2- to watch him closely for the rest of his doggie life for re growth in the same area or more bumps that could possibly develop. However, his margins were so clean and the tumor so small they were confident they got it all, it had not spread and he wouldn’t need further treatment. Phew!

So it begins…the check. A reminder on my calendar to spend 10 minutes or as long or little as it takes weekly combing through masons fur checking for new bumps or re growth where they removed the first one. We all have busy schedules and we all rather not think of doing it but to take this time to potentially find something early may save his life!

Lesson.. Check check check your puppy or cat for changes and/or anything that seems off, it could save their life and give you more time with your loved one!

To this day, Mason is checked weekly and hasn’t shown or developed anymore mast cell tumors(knock on wood)
He did really well with his surgery and recovery. If I didn’t take him or find this he would have never told me as animals don’t show pain, not like this at least. Be your animals physician and take them for yearly check ups as well as be alert attentive and observant to changes!

Xoxo,
Forever playing doctor and ok with it!

August 19, 2013              

Home Remedies, save a buck!

Having a backyard is a big advantage..Mason gets to run and play whenever he wants all hours of the day! With those hours might come injuries, which it did last week.

As Mason runs out the door he likes to make a running POUNCE into the dirt. This pounce becomes a little hole over time we keep fixing. Well..this time he ran and “fell” into his “hole” that he kept pouncing into to. Don’t worry he was fine..with a small limp

As the day went on I thought about the vet..hmm
WAIT, I got it, the heating pad! When my bones or muscles hurt from previous injuries I use the heating pad and it tends to help. So, why not, let’s try it! I get the heating pad plug it in and turn it on, on low of course.
It’s warm now..”Mason lets go lay down”

We lay down together, I wrap the heating pad around his front paw or his “arm” as I call it and wait! Crazy I know, but this might just work. Tick tock tick tock…ok it’s been almost an hour lets see. “Mason up” I call. He gets up and starts to walk OMG he is barely limping. Lets try it again. Another half hour goes by, lets try again. “Mason up” he gets up OMG WOW it worked no more limping! I did it. I helped my baby, saved time, a doctors visit and money!
So next time your furry best friend gets hurt, stop and think Is it simple enough and not serious enough that a home remedy could work WITHOUT putting them in danger. I wanted to share this with hopes it will be passed along and can help someone out!
Xoxo
DOGOBSESSED

Speak for me please!!

August 19, 2013              

    

Every day, every minute, every second I look at Mason and just think how can someone hurt an animal or a child for that being. Example currently being this Sammy case. I cringe trying not to read the stories but allow myself to read so I can follow Sammy’s case. Poor defenseless animal.

At 31 years of age I still do not understand that we allow a person to drop off an animal or child even to any shelter, hospital or vet without question and still to this day people continue to abuse and harm. We made this law for a reason. It’s sick and twisted. Mason can’t speak no animal can. They cannot scream for help, they cannot even attack because at that point they are vulnerable, helpless and defenseless. Please I beg of you be their voice.

These people cannot possibly have a physical heart beating inside them to even have that thought run through them to do something like this and every other case out there. It is heartbreaking and disheartening how disturbed people are and others, animals have to pay for it.
If only our law would allow us to reciprocate the act to those that have done to others. Sounds brutal but if these animals could say something they may just agree and stand up for themselves.
So I quote ASPCA when I say “we are their voice” that couldn’t be further from the truth. Protect them. Love them. Spread the word, report the abuse or suspicious act. Lastly bring your cat, dog or whatever living breathing loved one to someone who can love them the way they deserve and need to be. If they piss you off, do something to anger you, look in the mirror your not perfect either but they will unconditionally love you forever.

Knowledge is Power

                                                                       

So I will start this off with a little background story and close it with today’s position! About 7 months ago or so Mason randomly started throwing up. I’m talking projectile vomit on a whim LIKE A 4-YEAR-OLD, ha ha! It wasn’t after every meal or drink, nor was it consistent with days. I started with the vet who did blood work just to be safe. I rather spend dollars to save a life and even get peace of mind then to just assume and not take action. It came back and I quote “He’s the healthiest 10-year-old I know” Gee, thanks glad I am doing that part right! I was advised from there to get a slow feeder bowl to slow down his intake and switch his food as well. For anyone that personally knows Mason he eats like it’s the last supper, LOL.

 

**Spoiler Alert**This has a very happy ending and Mason is just fine ;)

 There we are about 3 weeks later on this path and it’s back to randomly throwing up. This time the same type- projectile, random and always his food undigested. I now moved him to prescription duck and potato food, which seemed to do the job! However once again about a month in, my poor fur baby was throwing up again. SOLUTIONS, SOLUTIONS I just wanted….so back to the vet we go! My next step was having the vet do an x-ray of the stomach and areas around to make sure he didn’t have a blockage. *Note to self- a dog can have a blockage and still be able to go to the bathroom! This I did not know. Again, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. The x-ray showed something in the stomach area, however no guarantees or promises if it was anything or something. Ok, a cat scan or scope was the next step… I want answers!! The next few days Mason was scheduled for a cat scan. You may be thinking at this point, how is everything else- eating habits, personality, temperament, activity level and such. Let’s just say you would never know anything was wrong! Nothing changed, he was still the 10-year-old I knew with the energy of a puppy and an appetite of a dog that’s acted like he never ate. Do keep in mind though, dogs don’t’ or rarely show pain.  So, I wait…days later Mason has the cat scan- results…. The healthiest 10-year-old they know! Electrolytes in balance, no masses, density, cancers or problems for that matter. Amazing news right? Well of course, but I still didn’t know why else he was still getting sick. I attempted in the meantime switching him to people food but (grilled pork, chicken, vegetables and rice) it wasn’t enough nourishment. The “density” that appeared on the x-ray was no longer on the cat scan and was determined as a ball of gas (LOL in the vet’s office).

 Back to the drawing board and brainstorming…. what about splitting his food into 4 small meals instead of 2 large meals, sure we will give it a whirl, can’t hurt! A few people suggested it and we will go with it. Well, it’s been a few weeks now and oh my puppy, I think we’ve got it! It seems to be working but we will keep our paws crossed! Mason is a VERY excitable, energetic, high strung dog not one like I have ever met before and I wouldn’t trade him for the world!! However, after months of experiments this very well may have been the problem. Too much food at once combined with a crazy nutty let’s jump around and do circles right after I eat kind of dog. I am happy that it is finally working and hope to continue on this path. Why after 9 years this has changed? That I am not sure of, but what I am sure of is I seem to have a solution, Mason is happier and healthier so that is all that matters. Dog’s bodies can change over time just like a human. With that said, I leave you with this- Always ask questions, don’t be afraid to take it to the next step, a second opinion and be open to changes. Knowing is better than staying silent and just assuming its’ fine it will work itself out.

 

xoxo,

DOGOBSESSED