The vet said the lumpus wasn't really a lymphoma lumpus. She thought it was a fungal infection, and gave me some drops for it. She felt that a surgical solution was not a good way to go with Bird. So, drops it is. After just two applications, the wound is starting to heal.
She palpated Bird and commented that the area around her diaphragm and lungs was stiffer, that the tumors feel like they've grown. Bird wheezes often now. When the time comes to let her go, it will probably be because she can't breathe.
She also has had a hard time defecating. But not because her stool is hard. The vet explained that the tumors have grown around her lumbar spine, making it hard for Bird to assume 'the position' so that she has to strain. She suggested I increase the amount of fish oil I put into her food.
So, I know this post is not written in the usual light, humorous manner. The vet thought Bird was definitely showing signs of weakness. I want to prepare everyone that loves her. She may be on the decline. I know I was in denial, almost as if she was a regular dog. And old girl, but not sick. So, here it is. Who knows how long she has. To me it feels like maybe two months. How do I know? I couldn't say. I could be totally wrong. But I don't want to just post one day out of the blue and tell you she's gone.
Thank you for all of your precious love, Anneke
Here we are, living and loving til the wheels fall off.
sending love and well wishes to Bird and Anneke,
ReplyDeleteyour dear story touches my heart
Bless your heart for doing right by this precious creature. It takes a lot of guts to take in an animal at the end of its life. Thanks for sharing this beautiful creature with us and your great heart. Thanks also for preparing us. Again. All you people have tremendous compassion and integrity and these beautiful dogs are all so special and unique and all deserve a chance at a good life, no matter how long they have. Enjoy your time with this precious Miss Birdy and again, thanks for sharing your life with us that care.
ReplyDeleteAwww. Every time I see an email 'Birdy Flies Home,' I think it will be the one about her flying to the great beyond. Birdie is very fortunate that you are helping her last days be comfortable and full of love. Thank you for what you are doing!
ReplyDeleteI'm just so glad that Birdy's had this time with you and that we've been lucky enough to peek in on this valiant and playful old soul's final days. Instead of starving on the streets, when death finally comes for her, she'll be surrounded by love and spent the end of her life eating delicious food, getting to sleep on all the softest surfaces, dig holes for fun, and even touch the hearts of total strangers. I wish both of you all the best, hope the hardest moments pass swiftly, and thank you so much for loving Birdy despite knowing you would lose her and sharing her with us.
ReplyDeleteI read everything you and Bird write, but this post reminded me to tell you: I just love you guys. That's all.
ReplyDelete- Jess and Birdie (my senior pup)
Thank you for sharing Birdie and your journey with us. Sad, happy, funny, or heartbreaking, its always a pleasure to read your posts. I teared up a bit on this one, thank you for sharing. Thinking of you from Canada.
ReplyDeleteTwo beautiful souls. Bless you for letting a living dog live and loving her so much.
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ReplyDeleteI've been reading about Birdie before she had the perfect name ... and a wonderful Lady. Thank you for adopting her, caring for her, and for sharing her with us. It takes heart, love, and courage to do what you're doing and to put it out there for all of us to read. Thank you ...
ReplyDeleteI also teared up on this one. I think sometimes we go into denial... Like if we don't think about the cancer then its not really there. Our family's 4 year old pit-mastiff mix had two months after diagnosis. The tumors grew and he couldn't breathe and we had to end his suffering. You are a saint for taking Birdie in when she needs someone the most. I hope she has many more days ahead of her. But if not at least we all got to experience some good in the world by reading her stories. She is loved and when the day comes, she will be missed. XOXO
ReplyDeleteI also teared up on this one. I think sometimes we go into denial... Like if we don't think about the cancer then its not really there. Our family's 4 year old pit-mastiff mix had two months after diagnosis. The tumors grew and he couldn't breathe and we had to end his suffering. You are a saint for taking Birdie in when she needs someone the most. I hope she has many more days ahead of her. But if not at least we all got to experience some good in the world by reading her stories. She is loved and when the day comes, she will be missed. XOXO
ReplyDeleteThinking of you both living and loving til the wheels fall off and sending well wishes and prayers.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a difficult time putting my thoughts into words, but they are with Birdy and her family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being that family.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for giving Birdy such a wonderful last few months of life. You are a hero.
ReplyDeleteJust stopping bye to send my love to you both. Anneke, thanks so much for taking in this skeleton of a dog. You've given her some very good months ... sorry if it can't be in dog years but that's life
ReplyDeletei'm tearful but grateful to read birdy's story. you are both so special. thank you for giving her such a great life, and for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteAnneke u r an angel, as is sweet Birdy :) true love and compassion lies within us all and you are proof of that <3
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you both - when it's time for Birdie to cross the rainbow bridge I'm glad she has a Nice Lady like you, Anneke, to hold her paw.
ReplyDeleteI read your post yesterday and have come back a half dozen time to comment to let you know how much you two are in my thoughts right now but each time I just couldn't find the right words. I still don't have them but wanted to do it now regardless. I don't know Birdy personally but there was just something about her that I fell in love with from the start back when I learned of her on the Bad Rap Blog, when you took her in I think like you I've been in denial as she has done so well and I was thinking(hoping) of her as regular dog, a senior yes, but normal other than that. I am so thankful to you for what you have offered in these past months for Birdy and I'm going to continue to hope she is with us as long as possible. I do thank you to for the heads up as to her condition so that the jump to the Rainbow Bridge doesn't catch me completely off guard. There is nothing I would love more than to hug her myself but since that is not possible will you please do it for me and tell her that she doesn't know me but that Diane loves her very much nonetheless! Sending you both loads and loads of good and happy thoughts.
ReplyDeleteDear Diane, I too fell in love with Birdy the first time I learned of her on the Bad Rap blog. The first post, the one with the starving skeleton photo - I burst into tears. Then as Donna posted more, about her lymphoma and looking for someone to do 'fospice,' I knew it was mine to do. That I loved her immensely without knowing why, but wanted to take her and give her all my love and care. Give her a life full of love and fun and lots of yummy food and comfort. She has been nothing but delight and love. I love caring for her, cooking for her. She is funny and quirky and loving, and nothing but a delight. I gave her a big hug and kiss from you.
DeleteWith tears. I love you both Birdy and Anneke.
ReplyDeleteHolding my pibble extra tight. I don't like to think about suffering, so I hope she goes before there's too much of that.
Mikey, there will be no suffering. One of my mottoes in life is, 'There may be pain, but suffering is optional.' When she starts to struggle to breathe, then we go paw in hand over that Rainbow Bridge. No worries, please.
DeleteWe love Birdy and have been following her from the very beginning. So glad she has a place to call home for as long as God wills it. I thought I would mention I had a pooch who had problems with the pooping because of severe arthritis in the spine. Pumpkin seemed to help. Daily with every meal. Give Birdy a good but rub for us.
ReplyDeleteI'd been giving Bird pumpkin, extra greens and olive oil. The vet didn't want me to give her anything that added volume, instead preferred we use some kind of 'lubricant' to make her stool softer. Like olive oil and extra fish oil. Which is what I'm now doing.
Deletei love reading about birdy and everything you do for her and with her.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually very wordy but not so much right now. Thank you for the updates and for the warning but mostly thank you for taking such great care of this lovely soul at the end of her too short life. If only all dogs were as fortunate.
ReplyDeleteYou know how I feel about this already but I have to mention...Bird may be slowing down but she still has the spark in her to go dig a hole (does she not like your gardener? looks like a booby-trap!). And I might say from the pictures, she looks quite gleeful about said hole. She is enjoying life-maybe at a slower pace, but still...
ReplyDeleteI guess we all could hope that when it is "our time", we have someone like you to make sure we have had the best life possible, eaten the most scrumptious foods, allowed to excavate in the garden, make sure our pooping is comfortable and make sure we are eased into what lies before us.
Who knows what her life was before she was found on the streets? But we all sure know what it is towards the end. And for everyone, be it dog or human, there must be an end. Can you be sad and happy at the same time? I think I am because I know Bird, and really all dogs seem to live far too short a life. But happy thinking about how comfortable and loved Birdy is-not all are so lucky. Thank you for having the courage and compassion to love her.
When the wheels fall off, we'll all know that's because her wings are finally ready and fit to carry her. We will cry and cheer and cry some more.
ReplyDeleteTo Life! To Love! To everything Real!
That was a beautiful post, especially the part that said when her wheels fall off, we'll know that's because her wings are finally ready and fit to carry her. Brings tears to my eyes because anyone who knows how special and innocent animals are understands. How true with all innocent animals when they pass on. Thanks for all you have done for all these innocent, amazing dogs.
Deletei read every post but never comment. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing Birdy with us. i'm a shelter worker and Birdy has inspired me to push for a fospice program at my shelter as well. we're not there yet, but i'm still pushing. So Birdy's story will make it so other animals can enjoy a loving end just like she got to. Maybe it's a little bit of a legacy
ReplyDeleteI have been following Birdy since she first appeared on BAD RAP's blog. I will not have the pleasure of knowing her, but I can see that she is truly a special dog. Dogs reside firmly in the Now. The only thing they would ever do on a psychiatrist's couch is snore. So, the life you are giving her now, full of love, excellent food and a garden to dig holes in is what matters. Thank you for giving her a beautiful, funny, quirky voice and a life full of love.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I too was hesitant to give my senior pup, who is not well, a special new collar, but thanks to Birdy, I re-examined my thought processes and he now has a really nice collar.
I don't personally know Birdie or you, Anneke, but me and my family's thoughts are with the both of you. Like so many others, I have fallen hard for Birdie. What a little wonder pup. After reading this I shared a few tears with my husband, but shared some smiles, too, for the wonderful life Birdie has had with Bad Rap and you. She's something special and so are you!
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