Gypsy Jan
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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My Baja Christmas Dog Story
So, you know how maybe you don't want to talk about something that went so wrong, then turned good, because you afraid that you will jinx the good
thing happening?
OK, that thought is at the back of my mind, but I feel the need to share with you.
We have a nine-year-old Rottweiler that started coughing and losing weight a few weeks ago. All kinds of things went wrong with her - she stopped
eating, her eyes got reddish and enlarged with goop sealing her lids shut. Her throat got so enlarged with retained fluid that it looked like she was
carrying a sack of wet laundry under her chin.
She started losing her ability to stand up, she fell when trying to climb the stairs. We had to put diapers on her because she didn't know that she
needed to go outside.
She was going downhill fast - in a matter of days, this large, self-confident, well-conditioned dog got that sunken-eyed look of defeat that signals
the ultimate surrender.
Cue Ivan, the vet in Rosarito. He gave her a shot and then sent us home with more to administer that treated her water retention problems.
Once that problem was stabilized, he started her on chemotherapy to treat the growth in her throat. He said that she might have a reaction and get
violently sick and stop eating again.
She did not have an adverse reaction to the chemotherapy at all. It's ten days now since her first shot and she is eating - no - DEMANDING to be fed.
She is acting like an alpha female Rottweiler again and even engaging in play with the other dogs.
She has a way to go; she needs to put more weight on and yes, she is an elderly lady, but I think we are going to have a joyful holiday.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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DENNIS
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Location: Punta Banda
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Thanks Jan. Great story. All fingers are crossed.
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Neal Johns
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Great news, Jan.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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bajadogs
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I do hope you have a joyful holiday with the old girl.
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noproblemo2
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Keeping paws crossed for her speedy recovery. Have a nice Holiday with your company.
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BajaNuts
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Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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9 is not that old even for a big dog.
sending good wishes for many more years with th ol' girl.
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docsmom
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Location: Tucson, AZ
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I hope she continues on her road to recovery. Please share her name.....
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Gypsy Jan
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HER Name is Oscar
Old family joke/tradition.
Years ago, our daughter's first pets were two cats from an animal rescue in Long Beach (The Cat Protection Society, a privately funded, no-kill
shelter).
One was a plump, fluffy Russian Blue and the other was a sleek, mouthy flame-point Siamese.
She picked the names - "Oscar and Felix", the odd couple. In her childish innocence, she didn't know that the two kittens were female.
Oscar and Felix lived fifteen and eighteen years respectively, surviving and thriving with the household transfer to Baja.
Oscar went first, our family's first loss of a companion animal. We were devastated - it was a sudden and abrupt event.
That same week, a Mexican friend who knew about what had happened decided to give us a Rottweiler puppy from the most recent litter in their family.
So we brought home an eight-week old female that we named Oscar.
[Edited on 12-12-2009 by Gypsy Jan]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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DianaT
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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My hopes that her treatment continues to go well---
Thanks for sharing the story
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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Jan, I'm glad that Oscar is on the mend. As the "mom" of a 14 year old Chocolate Lab, I know how attached we get to our pets and how heartbreaking it
is to watch them get old and/or sick. I hope that you all have the best of holidays.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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docsmom
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Good name story Jan.
Hang in there Oscar girl!!!
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