Infection or Cancer...

Barely even have had time to grieve for our loss of Pepper & now our Taffy may have cancer :((...praying the lump under his left eye (right eye in the photo) is just an infection. We will know in a couple of days if the antibiotic clears it up.

She is Gone...

Pepper, my parents Black Lab left to join her sister, Cassie, in Heaven this evening...she will be so greatly missed. We love you Pepper-Pot!

Still Holding Our Breath...

 

(Update): Evening 2 of Pepper to the Vet for subcutaneous fluid injections, to rid her kidneys of the toxin. About 20 minutes and then she comes running down the hallway, and 'Let's head home'! One more treatment, then bloodwork to see if the 25% kidney function has improved. I force feed her a couple bites of food a day, along with her meds. I feel so sad for her to have gone 9 days now without eating.

Still Holding On...

 So the latest with Pepper is that my parents are bringing her in for iv fluids the next 2 days (they did yesterday) & trying to feed her tablespoons of food...she did have 4 Tbsp. today & has gone for a walk in the woods so staying cautiously hopeful. Thank you for your continued prayers. ♥

She's Slipping Away From Us....

The vet called & seemed to be upset that the other vet we saw gave us possibly false hope w/Pepper...my step-dad though is still not ready to give up...he's joined a Canine Kidney group online to see what might still be done to save her (which breaks our hearts even more)...our vet said to decrease some of her meds & see if this helps any...but if she doesn't start eating soon we have to let her go. :(( ♥

Still Holding Our Breath...

The blood work came back with not so great news...Pepper has a kidney infection & her kidneys are only functioning at 25%. We were prepared to say goodbye, but the vet wants to try & clear up the infection and then see if using medications & a special diet will give Pepper some more time with us. Time will tell...we are cautiously optimistic as she has started to eat a little bit after not eating for several days, but we will just have to wait & see. Fingers, toes, & paws crossed that this is not 'that time'...we just aren't ready to let go. Thank you to everyone for your warm thoughts & prayers!

Holding Our Breath...

 Holding our breath for blood work to come back tomorrow...if it comes back normal Pepper has about 6 months before she may not be able to walk any longer...she has an infection but also the worse case of spinal arthritis the vet has ever seen...so it will be a question of 'quality of life' if the blood work is ok. Staying hopeful & prayerful ♥

Not Ready to Say Goodbye...

My parents Black Lab, Pepper hasn't been eating the past few days & has been getting quite thin. She's been sleeping most of the day as she is 12 now, but I just cannot even 'go there'...none of us are ready to say goodbye to her...we've had her since she was a puppy...I remember the night we got her. She came through the front door like a bullet...so full of life & energy. Our Golden Retriever, Cassie was not at all thrilled that night, but eventually grew to tolerate Pepper & in time they became the best of buddies. We lost Cassie a few years back & our hearts still ache for her...how will we ever let go of our Pepper-pot?...I hate that big dogs don't last as long as the little ones...Small dogs seem to live forever...life just isn't fair. She's been such a good ol' girl. 
  
(from my Mom): As I lay down beside her, our eyes met w/a special understanding of what our time together has meant. A pup, 4x given away, (no one would give her the ♥ & patience she required), to the strong, bright companion I knew she could become...our lives intertwined. I stroked her head, her tail thumped against the floor,& then she placed her outstretched leg on my shoulder & my eyes welled with tears.

(**she has an appointment with the vet at 10:15am tomorrow...fingers, toes, & paws crossed she comes home...if not she will be going to her Heavenly home.)

My 1st Doberman! :)

Just the initial 'ruff' sketch. . .it will get better! ;)) Stay tuned! If you are interested in having a pet portrait done of your precious pup, feel free to contact me and/or check out my website at Studio Lara.com

I'm In!...My Dalmation Painting is in the Art Show at the Dog Show in Kansas!

 

Just wanted to share the good news that this piece will be on its' way shortly to the 2011 Art Show at the Dog Show in Kansas! Fingers, toes, & paws crossed it wins! If you are interested in having a portrait done of your precious pup, feel free to contact me and/or check out my website at Studio Lara.com