3 months after loosing our Tripawd, Oreo and 6 months after losing her sister/litter mate/best friend, Cookie we are still struggling with the pain of loss this year. But I am so grateful for the time I had with these sweet dogs, and for the comfort I received from this community! I love reading the posts of dogs that continue to do well, and my heart grieves with those of you who are mourning your ‘angel’ dogs. Strength is drawn from all. My ‘best husband in the whole world’ and I wish you all happiness in the coming year!

I feel like a zombie. Constantly wandering around, spontaneously bursting into tears, and sobbing from this hole in my heart. Just 6 months ago, it seemed both my dogs were perfectly healthy. I had just recovered from a broken back and looked forward to jogging with the girls again. Now, loneliness. Nothing left except beautiful, beautiful, treasured memories.

Thank you so much you wonderful people of the TriPawd community!!!! I have only been here a few months but, your comments and support are felt deeply – I appreciate your words more than I can say.

So, if you are wondering what happened so suddenly with the Oreo: Oreo seemed to be doing fine right after her amputation. I was so impressed with her ability to cope, she has always been a tough dog. Although her cancer was found late, there was no evidence of lung metastases until 4 weeks ago, and they were 3 small nodes. But, Oreo began having more difficulty getting around. She had diminished tendon reflexes on her left side (a sign of possible neurological compression in the spine) and I just tried to keep her healthy and strong by doing her physical therapy, a daily swim, and walks as tolerated. She started requiring a break every few steps during her walks. The past week, she would not get up for meals, even with much coaxing. (Thank goodness she did not lose her appetite, though – she loved to eat!) So, I would feel her by hand. She also started having diarrhea, despite measures to counteract this it still persisted. Until the last day, she had no accidents, though. On Monday, September 16th, I tried to get Oreo to sing with me – and she could only whisper. I thought maybe we had done too much singing lately and she had gotten hoarse. We continued our rides and walks but they got very short and no amount of coaxing could get The Oreo to go more than a few feet. Just the week before we were taking about switching Oreo to metronomic chemo. Now, I began realizing she probably would only be around a few weeks. I had no idea she only had a few days.

Wednesday night I had a slumber party with The Oreo. She could not seem to get comfortable, even with the pain meds I gave her. So, I just cuddled her and stroked her all night. When she tried to go out in the morning, she just fell over to her right side (side of amputation). When I tried to help her with a towel under her hind legs and a hand on her harness, she still stumbled. She was acting like she had a stroke and as she made it to the grass, she fell over. The she defecated all over herself and gave me “the look.” I cleaned her up and rushed her to the veterinarian near our house. By now, Oreo had no voice – not even a whisper, and I found a huge lump on the side of her neck. The vet said the lump was a lymph node and things did not look good. She could give The Oreo steroids to see if she would rally but, it would probably give her only a few days. I looked in Oreo’s eyes and this is what they said to me, “tiff, I’ve had enough. But! If you want me to keep on truckin, by golly, I’ll do it! But….really….I’ve had enough. ”

So, I called Jared and he came home from work. We spent the day with The Oreo. She could not walk without help so, we took her for a long walk in the stroller. I let her eat anything and everything she wanted. She gave me a great hug (she always gave great hugs, rarely any kisses). She kicked Jared in the face as her carried her in the vets office – this made us laugh. Oreo was part dalmatian and part clown – she could always make you laugh.

When I picked Oreo up for the first time as a puppy, she peed on me. I thought how funny that as she left my arms, she also peed on me. Her tail was thumping until she took her last breath – what a dog! I don’t know what I am going to do without my best friends. But, I know many of you are missing your best buddies, too. I’ll draw on your strength now, if that is OK? I can’t seem to find mine. For now, I’ll be the zombie that I am. A few pictures of better times….

That date is wrong <<<<<

I might have to leave a few things around for a while, including: her drink bucket and her bed in my jeep with a half-eaten chew…

Tiff can’t speak. Too painful. Brave little dog. Will miss her so much! Hole in our hearts. Woke up after ‘sleeping’ by her side last night. She could not walk….

Oreo: Spent the day, having a walk in the stroller, a short wade in the pond, being petted and mushed over, some delicious salmon (no I didn’t roll in it), and treats til I couldn’t eat any more! Then I left to go play with Cookie! How I have missed her! I’ll miss you jared and tiff, thanks for a good life!

Pain. Heartbreaking. On Monday I tried to get Oreo to sing her typical “Blue Moon” with me to find she had completely lost her voice! I know we are down to only a few days now. She has made the down turn fast: trouble getting up, difficulty walking,  and now losing her voice! I found a large tumor, what I suspect is a lymph node 0n the side of her neck, next to her amputation. This is her 3 month ampuversary. We felt it would be worth it if she was pain free two months…and it had been a great 3 months!

Hooking up the trailer to go camping. The Oreo is too excited. In July we went camping and Oreo sat by the trailer for an hour while we loaded it up. She wanted to make sure we did not leave her behind. This time she sat on the grass, whimpering (don’t leave me behind!), until Jared loaded her up.

We found a beautiful camping spot by Bear Lake. No one around for miles. We enjoyed some swimming, resting on the beach, and sunshine. Oreo was so cute, swimming with her 3 legs and a little stability help from her life vest and jared. We decided to go rest for a bit, tiff and jared wanted to read a book, The Oreo wanted a nap. We set up a shelter/tent (shelter from the bugs) and were just getting settled when a gust of wind ripped the shelter from its anchors, cutting and bruising tiff’s leg. The Oreo was unharmed, thankfully. The shelter was ruined. Oh well, there was wind so jared decided to fly a kite. This reminded me of Cookie and how she used to dig a hole in the sand to try to get away from the kite…. The wind died and jared’s kite went into a tree. After we rescued the kite, a storm, no, correct that, a wall of water decided to move in.

Oreo was getting wet and it was disturbing her nap so, we put her on the bed in the trailer while we attempted to keep a fire going to make dinner….

This summer has been so dry here, the ground quickly absorbed the moisture and Oreo was ready for more exploring.

We were tired and decided to go to bed early. We had just settled in when we heard a car pull up. The next thing we know, a family with 8 kids is setting up a tent in the dark (although they had about 10 annoying flashlights) RIGHT NEXT TO US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DIRT ROAD!!!! No one around for miles and they have to go right next to us? Well, we thought they have small children and will be going to bed soon. NOT SO. They partied loudly until 3 am (kids, too) and starting around 11pm, more cars came, more tents were set up, more people partying. We would have left at once but we had unhooked the trailer and thought we’d have difficulty hooking it up in the dark. Grrrrrrrrrrrr! We were there first. I cannot believe how rude people can be.

The upside? The Oreo slept through the whole thing. While I lay in bed, thinking about going and letting the air out of the intruders’ tires….The Oreo was having a great puppy dream and I cherished her little paws rubbing against me as she ran through her dream. I saw the muscles in her right neck/thorax contracting and one can only assume that in her dreams she has all 4 legs. It made me smile and once again, The Oreo taught me to see the good in a situation.

We got up early and blasted a little Green Day to wake us up (heh heh 🙂 ) and hooked up the trailer. Before driving to a quiet spot where we could breakfast in peace, jared filmed the small tent city that had popped up. 8 cars and 5 tents! Unbelievable. Jared said we must look so cool – everybody wants to be right next to us (this has happened to us before but, not as extreme). But, I do think The Oreo is one cool cat –  I can’t blame anyone for wanting to be right next to her!

The camping seemed to perk The Oreo up a bit. We might have to squeeze in another trip or two. Cherishing this time with her!

A good, fun day!

Spent the day with tiff and jared. So many people at the park, petting my ears. Several peeps came up to me and said they had a tripawd, too. I hope they get to have fun days, too.

I love to ride in my stroller when I get tired:

I really liked watching the skateboard competition. It reminded me of pulling jared on his skateboard. We used to go so fast!

Smiles all around. But, I sure got tired at the end of the day. I could not even stand up to eat dinner. Oh well, I had so much fun!

The Oreo has not had a very good week. She has been lethargic and unable to walk far, let alone run the way she had been weeks previously. She always has had a weak hind end and some neurological problems but, this week she has been unsteady on her feet. Then we had the vet exam this morning and radiographs show 3 lung mets/nodules. We knew they were probably there upon diagnosis but, seeing them makes the heart sink with reality. The Oreo is trying to stay chipper and says there is much more fun to be had! “Let’s take it easy and relax outside while the weather is good!”

Driving to chemo today we had to drive under some hot air balloons (The Oreo’s least favorite). She barked at them (this dog almost never barks) as if to say, “do your worst, for I will do mine!”
At the vet clinic, a couple brought their little guy in to be put to sleep. The poor lady just broke down to me: “I lost my horse last month, I had a stroke a few months ago, and my husband is having triple bypass surgery tomorrow….I can’t stand this year.” As my heart was breaking for her and I was thinking the same thing – this year has basically sucked, The Oreo came hopping out, smile on her face, ready to get on with all the fun she can. I am going to cherish every moment with this sweet dog.

The Oreo took off down the paved path on Monday. I could barely keep up with her! She went about 1/4 mile before she seemed to think, “I’ve got to hop all the way back ‘cuz Tiff did not bring my stroller.”

We did not get much sleep last night due to thunder and lightning…and wind…and rain. The Oreo was scared, and no amount of cuddling/consoling could ease her. These are the times I know she misses the comfort of Cookie, and so do I.

I’ll continue the food post later, I’m falling asleep and The Oreo is singing. Singing?! Are you not tired, girl? Here’s the picture of her singing:

I assume we have all been there. “There” being in the presence of “them” (the judges). At the pond today one guy said to me, “it always makes me sad to see a dog who has lost their leg…” I said to this guy: “you should not be sad for The Oreo is sooooooooo happy to be out of that terrible pain from the osteosarcoma.” Soooooooooo happy!

Here is a before amputation photo (Couldn’t find The Oreo that day. Finally found her plunked in the flower bed, her head on a rock…. completely knackered from the pain….cream crackered!)

And here she is now. No pain meds, just fun to be had! Be happy everyone!

I love dress up. Put something new on me and I’ll strut around until I make you laugh, then I will ham it up all the more. Tiff gave me a new harness today. She says it is so she can help me up stairs and up my ramp – which she says works beautifully. I don’t know, I just think I look cool. I’m strutting around and Tiff is laughing so, I must look cool! Thanks for my new ‘outfit!’ Off I go!!!