Rest In Peace, Toopie

Our little dog Toopie passed away Sunday afternoon, just a few days after we found that he was ill.  He went from being energetic, to off of his feed and lethargic very quickly, and our vet looked at him on Friday.  He determined that Toopie had a swollen liver, which could be caused by infection or cancer.  The vet put him on antibiotics in case it was an infection, but the downhill slide never slowed down.  Toopie did enjoy Friday evening, going for a ride in the family car with us. 

Toopie was a challenge with several health problems, but he was a joy to have around.  We had him wormed, cured his mange, and brought him through treatment for heartworms.  It was a real blow when he suffered a stroke last December, but he was a tough little dog and made a complete recovery.  His pal Brat cat stuck by him when he was down last winter, and this weekend Brat sat with Toopie, right up until he died. 



Toopie's recovery from his stroke last year seemed downright miraculous to us.  His rapid decline and death shouldn't be a surprise, given our long history with pets, but we were hoping for a few more years with our little buddy.  We will miss him. 

Toopie

Toopie Stroke Update

We haven't mentioned Toopie for a while, and we sure don't want people worrying about the little guy.  The top photo is Toopie last summer, after we had him shaped up and adjusted to his new home.

He had a stroke on December 1 that paralyzed him, and we thought he was a goner, but our vet pulled him through, and sent him home to us with some easy exercises to use for physical therapy.  A month after his stroke, he was almost walking.  A month after that he was trotting, and now he can run with the big dogs, although his balance and coordination let him take a tumble once in a while.

Toopie has never seen an Occupational Therapist, and the closest he comes to Occupational Therapy is when we tempt him with treats.  However, we judge that his occupational skill recovery is nearly 100%; quite a bit better than his physical recovery.  To date, he has regained the skills of opening kitchen cabinets, bags of flour, packages of almonds, and cocoa mix, plus jumping onto sofas and into vehicles.  The little guy is a joy.

Toopie Recovery Report

Regular visitors will recall that our little Terrier dog, Toopie suffered a stroke in the early hours of December 1.  I thought that his doctor would put him down, because he was totally incapacitated.  The doctor kept him for a week, and we have been working with him since then.  Toopie could not stand on his own, but could stiffen his legs and stand with help when he came home from the vet.  We have been working his legs and he began crawling on his own.  He has started walking after a fashion during the last week, and his daily progress is surprising.  I don't think he will ever negotiate steps again, but if he continues to improve, he will be able to spend time outdoors with Jack and HeyJoe when spring arrives.

Toopie Trots!

Toopie continues to improve in his recovery from a stroke on December 1 of last year. He now is practically running, and is ranging out to run all over the yard. We may have to start leashing him again so he doesn't run off. I am still incredulous  astounded at the changes we see in Toopie every day. I thought he was a goner the day the stroke took him down.

Toopie Walks!

It's been a month and a half since Toopie was paralyzed by a stroke. He is improving rapidly, with obvious changes on a daily basis. He is now able to mark territory, walk, and go up short steps. He is also enjoying going out with other dogs again. He still has trouble with his front paws turning under, and he loses his balance and falls down frequently, but he is way ahead of our expectations.

Blue Monday

Zeke and Brigid have lost Barkley.  What can you say?  We've buried more four-legged friends than I can stand, but we always make room for more.  We couldn't live without them.

 Merky and Cracker,

 Snaggle,

Teddy,

Toopie.  Brat stayed with him while he recovered from a stroke, and stuck by his side while he died.

Hank.

Marvin.  Jack sat inside his pen and mourned while I buried him,

and he did the same thing while I buried his companion, HeyJoe.  Learned people will tell you that animals have no soul, but if a pet can call me across hundreds of miles, and if a pet mourns when his friend is dying, are they not as real as we are?

This Is What All The Noise Is About

Click To Enlarge

The thirteen year cicadas have been busy around our home, and it is easy to spot females laying their eggs now.  These red-eyed wonders deposit their eggs in twigs with their ovipositors, and die soon afterward.  Newly hatched larvae will drop to the ground, dig in and remain out of sight until 2024.  There will be a batch of seventeen year cicadas here in four years, so we won't forget their song.  Toopie has enjoyed them more than we have, chowing down on them with great enthusiasm.  I hear that some royal smart person enterpreneur cooked up a batch of them and added them to ice cream.  Hopefully, the customers can keep them down better than our little dog.

Almost A Ghost

We are beset by strokes, it seems.  The Mrs.' father, then Toopie; the Mrs.' mother, and now Bart.  I had just returned from Iowa Monday night (Labor Day) when I heard Bart fall behind me, and I witnessed him struggling to get up as his tail twisted to the left.  I put him in a soft bed, and in about ten minutes, he was up and wobbling around.  I took Tuesday off and took him to the vet, and now every morning I pill him to keep his heart in rhythm and to thin his blood.  Pilling a cat is not something you take lightly.  I had the vet give me a good lesson, and so far, Bart takes it well.  Before I pick him up by the scruff of his neck I repeat to myself, "All Cats Are Always Loaded."  Bart is worth the risk.