Dogs Are Smart

Hello!  

Dogs are smart!

We have a little snow here, and I LOVE running around, then when I get cold,

I run right up to the door.  Tonight, even though it was dark, I still ran & ran, 'cause I love it!

Then I played a trick on Mom (Beanie & human mom!).

I ran up to them & poked Human Mom on her knee, then real quiet & stealth-like,

I ran!

I ran to a dark corner of the yard.

I heard mom ask, "Where's Duncan?"

I heard her ask a few times!

Then I felt bad she couldn't see me, & I ran right up to her! Ha! She figured out it was

me that poked her.  I was playing tag!  And she was it!

We laughed & laughed at how silly I was!

I won that round BOL!

Getting Ready for Christmas

The tree is ready, the gifts are wrapped (almost!), the time is near...wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a healthy new year to you and yours!

Westie Yoga

Mom always starts her day on a healthy note!  She goes through her favorite yoga positions and then she is ready to face the day. She is so flexible!  Yay Beanie!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends, near and far!  This year, I am thankful my mom came to live with us.  She has shown me that being together as a family is more important than treats and playing in the leaves. She fits right in and everyone here loves her! And they love me too ;-)!!

Do you have any favorite recipes you are making this year?  Mom was thinking of making macaroons, but now that plan was scrapped.  She may make a quiche for breakfast (yum, eggs & cheese, can't go wrong!)

What's on the menu this year?

Haha, mom wanted me to show you that I too ring a bell to go out!  The first part of this short video is WAY boring, but I do listen & ring the bells.  You can see the scratches on the door, as I ring the bells every day.  Several times a day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IMgfdgcCk0

Hello, furiends!  I managed to hoard a bag of treats the other day, mom saw me drag it across the floor, hide it under the desk, and plop down in front of it so no one could even see it. I'd grumble just to make sure no one got too close. Of course, mom doesn't eat dog treats (mom Beanie does!), so she wasn't too concerned.  Then I fell asleep in my bed (2 feet away). Human mom said, "Hmmm, what were you hoarding, Duncan?" And she found them! And she laughed at me!  And gave us both a treat just for me being a smart-**s. BOL!

Westies Wish You a Happy Howloween!

Happy Halloween from Beanie and Duncan!

We got all dressed up this morning, and went to the park--

only to find the pet parade was yesterday! BOL!

Mom was at Meet the Breeds yesterday so we missed it.

We still have Halloween nest week!

Woof!

What can I say? I love my mom Beanie!

Westies on a Bench

 Westie

...Ah Duncan!

Time for legislation that supports pet ownership

Alright everyone! I see so many of us with tremendous pet bills.  Insurance doesn't cover everything, and as your pet ages, the cost goes way up.  Makes you wonder if it's worth it! A whole lot of "what ifs" come into play. I propose new federal legislation. I think veterinary bills should become partially tax deductible. Now, of course, some will say there are some deviants out there that will fake a pet or get one & abuse it just to get the tax deduction.  And this is criminal.  But I think overall, pet owners will feel better about giving their pets better care.  Possible effects:

• Better care for our pets = pets live longer
• More income for veterinarians & labs = economic stimulus
• Owners REJOICE! Our pets can finally be treated as family & not property

Some terms may include:

• Original receipts must accompany tax forms; even a form for veterinarians to verify
• A cap on the deduction, as there is for college tuition, say $1500-$2500 
• We can even have the cost of the office visit not count, as most insurance companies would agree.

It may not help that much, but it would be help!  I see so many struggling to pay a $1200 vet bill, or people can't afford cancer treatment for their pets.  This way we can treat our animals with a little more confidence, knowing our investments in their health not only has a small tax benefit, but we get to have them that much longer.  And I bet we'd all agree we'd like that.

If you think this is a good idea, leave a screen name here as a comment.  I'll send on to the powers that be.

If you think this is a stupid idea, just ignore me! I can't fight city hall without you, so if most of you disagree, I will bide by the masses!

Thanks!

50 SHADES OF POO...A CELEBRATION OF FOOD & THE DOGS WE LOVE

Here's Beanie & me--we're sharing!

Beanie had fun watching another Westie sing on You Tube!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! YAY I'M 3!!

And here's Mom Beanie on her 6th birthday! We're summer babies!

Hello friends! 

Hey, I voluntarily went & sat next to my mom, Beanie, the other day!

I have to admit, it is kinda nice, to have her around.

She is always there for me when I take on those squirrels.

She sticks up for me when a strange dog comes around.

And she never takes my toy from me.

She is a beautiful lady, a champion in the ring, and the best mom a pup could ask for.

Today, when my human mom was working, we both slept at her feet, me on the left side,

mom Beanie on the right.  Mom teared up a bit ;o).

Send in your mom stories, I'd love to hear them!  It's always a good day 

to celebrate moms!

Follow @DuncantheWestie

Missing Smokie

I never followed up to my post on 3/15. That day I was rubbing Smokie's neck (she loved that) -- and found 2 holes in her neck, each 1/2 inch wide. I touched her underneath them--and fluids came rushing out. Poor Smokie's tumor was ulcerating & eating away at her skin. I decided then & there it was time to say goodbye. Don't know why I hadn't seen the holes before. She was looking straight up in the air & I got a good look. She drank a lot of water but still seemed a little dehydrated--no wonder. It would literally leak out of her. So terrible! She's been gone a couple weeks now, the cats still seem different....she really was The Queen....

WARNING-GRAPHIC IMAGE & TEXT BELOW

If you can stomach what cancer actually looks like, scroll down to the next 3/15 post.

A picture of a mass and a graphic description of the condition known as squamous cell carcinoma is below. When I tried to learn about it, I never saw anything online that showed how ugly cancer is. Bleak, yes, but no one actually SHOWS how ugly it is.

Hope I don't offend anyone!

Love you, Smokie!

Time to Say Goodbye (for now) to my Feline Sister with Squamous Cell Carcinoma Smokie

Sorry, Duncan, I have to write this entry. WARNING-GRAPHIC DETAILS AHEAD!

Smokie has been through enough, no matter how much she eats, or how little, this SCC type of cancer has already won the war. As I wiped the drool off her face tonight, she raised her little tortie head to look at the ceiling light. And on her neck, right in front of where you can feel the tumor spreading, I saw two holes. Not scratches, round holes, that were allowing her fluids to leak out. Looking back through some pictures, I can see the blood on her neck, but never actually saw the holes. We thought all the drool & mucus came from her mouth & her nose. Her eye tears as well.

No one on the internet describes how this skin cancer eats away at the body, while the kitty is mentally alert, even purring, as she snuggles, as she eats; no one shows exactly how ugly this can be. They warn you to examine your cat's mouth---and please do! If it starts as a small mole it can be treated very successfully.

Smokie has been obviously sick since November; her diagnosis came back right before Christmas. She was given weeks to live. The best nutrition & herbal therapy seemed to stall it in the beginning, but the last few weeks, it took over. It took several months to win, but win it did. I have to call the vet tomorrow and say goodbye (for now); I can't sit and watch her simply dissolve away.

She is a very mellow, dignified, large kitty; we call her Queen Smokie sometimes. She walks past you with confidence, not a concern in the world. Being the largest cat, I guess she always knew she could take anyone on & win. Except for cancer.

I'm posting a very gross photo here, I hope I don't offend anyone, but maybe it will convince at least one cat owner to have their pet examined. If your kitty drools, has a loose tooth, or red gums, or stinky breath, GO TO THE VET and look for SCC. Look for it with every office visit. You do NOT want to watch your cat live with this.

Here's me today...mom trying to catch me running!!!

Sent from my Motorola Smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

6/6

eating...the next they say angrily, what about Smokie? She was always a mellow cat she tries so hard to take this in stride

5/6

When I talk to the kids, one minute they try to be mature and say we're not going to wait until she has completely stopped

4/6

kind of little stream of mucus, but coming out of her mouth while she slept. The mass is going further down her throat.

3/6

bigger every day now. Her nostril is pushed closed inside and has a steady stream of yellow mucus. Yesterday I saw the same

2/6

thought that was the reason for her visit. That weekend she barely ate at all; last night just some treats. The tumor is

5/5

flinch anymore.....

1/5

Cancer sucks...Smokie ate a small bit today. She forces herself to eat treats, and she is purring something fierce. She

Sent from my Motorola Smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

Oh the picture on.my end has white cat paws on the right side lol

Oh the picture on.my end has white cat paws on the right side lol

New Message

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Please be aware your friends can forward your picture, video, and album share invitations to others or post the unique Web link to your share invitation on any number of sources (e.g. blogs), through which others could also gain access to your online photos. If you have private or sensitive photos you are sharing, please share them only with those you trust.

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Wow, that looks awkward! Posting from a phone comes back quite ugly. Better stick to text! Smokie was caught eating my dog food--but that's ok, she can eat whatever she wants. I didn't grumble at her today, not once.

Mom starting to comb me a lot cuz my hair is getting long! Grrr!!! She keeps trying to teach me to walk on a treadmill. Duh! That's just not natural!

New Message

You have a Picture Mail from cynthiaupshur@pm.sprint.com

Message: View Entire Message Send and receive Pictures and Videos through Picture MailSM. For more information go to www.sprint.com/picturemail.

Please be aware your friends can forward your picture, video, and album share invitations to others or post the unique Web link to your share invitation on any number of sources (e.g. blogs), through which others could also gain access to your online photos. If you have private or sensitive photos you are sharing, please share them only with those you trust.

© 2012 Sprint. All rights reserved.

Hello! Well, the Westies didn't take Westminster this year--but my family is doing so awesome, I'm mighty proud of them! And of Smokie! Just when I think she is down & almost out, she comes back & pigs out! Wait, she's eating my food!!!!

My "nephew" is in Wesminster next week! SO excited & happy for him! :o)

Go Smokie!

Smokie is still here, plugging along with the tumor, stretching her little face---but while given weeks to live, she is quickly approaching 2 months since diagnosis. She drools a lot, but she still eats, and continues to pee & poo as always. Thank God it's not a systemic thing, where I'd have to watch her suffer. She still has her personality, just sleeps more, and has less patience for me, Duncan :o). If she hadn't lost weight & looked different, you'd never know she was sick. I don't have to worry about her liver, or her tummy, or her kidneys---just hoping the tumor stays out of her lungs! It's in her jaw, I can feel it, and can't be removed. But she even eats dry food now & then, still eats as many treats as she can get! Go Smokie!

Hello just testing the text to blog feature...

TRUPANION

Just an FYI--Duncan has Trupanion, love it, love the comfort knowing if Duncan ever needs surgery or a bionic limb or a kidney transplant (do they do those?), he's covered, and money won't be an issue. They reimburse 90% of the treatment costs, no matter how big or small. I didn't insure the cats, no, not because I don't love them, but because they were already senior cats when I enrolled. Their health has been stellar, until Smokie, and medically she hasn't viable options. So if you are considering pet insurance, consider Trupanion!

SMOKIE UPDATE

Been giving Smokie artemisinin, trying to hold back the cancer cells. Don't think it's working, sometimes the tumor looks larger. But she is not deteriorating at the rate the doctors seemed to imply, so maybe it is helping. She played with a toy last night, and ate a full pouch of Soulistic food. Some days she eats more than others, but luckily, she can still eat treats & mushy food. She still tells Duncan to back off when he gets too close :o), and jumps & goes wherever she wants. I have to thank the folks at Blue Buffalo & Soulistic for making palatable food I can prepare for her. Maybe it's the good nutrition making her hang on so well. She had one bad morning since her diagnosis when she was so aggravated at the mass she hit her face & got blood all over one small area of the kitchen. But since then, she still eats just fine, keeps her potty schedule, and hasn't had a bad morning like that at all. Keep it up, Smokie!! We love you!