Squirt - my Queen has crossed The Bridge

Hey, Patti - I answered your question as best I could on Tipper's thread. You are so far above my knowledge with the reticulocytes I haven't been able to help much. :o

Squirt is doing alright! :cool::) Well, other than her pain level, which I am having a hard time controlling. She HATES the Tramadol and I HATE fighting with her to push a pill down her throat so I don't often force the issue. I tried being sneaky and including a couple of pills in her teas and she refused to eat. :rolleyes: Huzzy. :p So I ordered a couple of new herbs to try with her. One, Devil's Claw, she has had in the past but the other, Kava kava, she hasn't - and that is one I am still a bit afraid of as it is quite potent and has an anecdotal reputation for liver damage with long term use. Kava has a strong sedative action and will be used sparingly!

Knock on wood, her leaking has stopped - she hasn't been wet in weeks now! :cool: Of course, that scared me at first as I thought it meant her kidneys weren't working right but she's drinking normally and peeing just fine - no more and no less than usual just not peeing on herself. :)

As for the prizes, the food was delivered the day of the interview but I had to decline the cash prize. It has to be reported to the IRS as income and I am on the brink with my disability. It's barely enough to make ends meet and low enough to qualify me for Medicare programs that pay my ins. premium and most of the cost of my meds. Without these programs, I simply could not make it as two of my meds would cost over half of my disability. Any reported income will throw me over the limit for these programs and for the first time since my dad passed, some oil rights we inherited have actually paid a bit. We typically got $1 or less per year until this year - one cousin has a framed one-cent check for her dividend! :p I am already on pins and needles with fear that the little we got this year, around $400, will take me out of these programs so the cash prize the TV station offered I requested they donate to Arkansas Chihuahua Rescue, the rescue I work with. Kari, the lady who runs it, has been very good to us and I know she could use the help - we have about 30 pups to care for. ;) So I hope the station can make that happen.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Leslie:
Sorry to hear you cannot get the cash, but what you did with it is wonderful. I have to watch what I make because of taxes, and I do not want to pay more. It is really something that it is not enough to live on, but would wreck you programs you do get. Figure that one out Mr. President. At least your babies got the dog food and that is a big help. All the neighbors leaves that they didn't clean up are coming into my yard that was clean! I guess when this winds dies down I will have to clean those up too. I read some on the Kava Kava and Devils Claw before. I don't know enough about some of them so I always check with you. You are my safety net, I know you always have the answer. God Bless You and the babies.
Patti

Leslie:
I just checked the wild salmon oil and the omega6 is 150mg is that low enough? Thanks
Patti

Oh Leslie, I do hope they will send the money to the rescue, as they so badly need it.

So glad that Squirt is doing okay. I know you'll figure out something for the pain management. Tramadol really does seem to have that negative effect on their taste buds. Bitter just isn't palatable.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Leslie:
My yard is covered with leaves from my neighbors yards. I had mine all cleaned up. I guess I will go out a few minutes at a time as I do not leave Tipper alone. it is really brisk and we are expecting our first substantial snow of the season tonite. I am sure it will be pretty to see. I have to go find the cats and do a nail trim. One of them accidentally got me on the hand and it is deep. You said your dad had oil royalties, were you raised on a farm? That is my life's dream to live on a farm and rescue animals. Blessings
Patti

Awww couldn't they just give you the cash, you put it in your purse and IRS none the wiser?? That sucks! You deserve that money Leslie.

Now I was wondering if you can get the Tramadol in drops form. I have that for Flynn, I used to put it in his food for a long time. Then he decided he did not like it anymore :eek: But at least with the drops, if I think he really needs it I can just give him a squirt in his mouth, he might not like it but it is not a fight as it went right on in. Just a thought.

Have you been on the telly yet? Is it available online as I would love to see it :D xx

Well !! I go away for awhile and you become a celebrity. OOOHHHH I know a celebrity :D
You deserved that notoriety better then anyone I know. You are a rock for all of us here and with all the other things you are involved in. It is so comforting to me, that you are here on this forum to direct, guide, share and explain so much. I personally an very grateful to know you. I really wish you could have kept that money somehow.
Now onto Squirt.... I'm sure I don't need to tell you anything but I was having a very hard time with Keesh and his Tramadol. As he's onto me about hand held treats and will now accept nothing out of my hand, I went to the deli and got turkey or chicken large sausages. I cut them into diamond shape. His pills are breakable so I give him 1/2 a pill x 3 each morning and night. He could find a pill in anything, but because I've cut the meat into diamond shape I can bury it completely. He can still eat around it and spit it out but in most cases he gets it down. I wash my hands after handling the pill, then put the meat in his dish. He hasn't figured it out that the dish can also hold that dreadful pill- LOL.

Squirt has gotten too wise to pill hiding tricks! :p She takes nothing from my hand, nothing on the floor, no single bites in her bowl - if I can't mix it in her feed and it not taste or smell bad, she will not take it. It's either in the feed or syringing it - which means a fight every time. My Queen can be a real huzzy! :D

Yes, the story was last night and I was SO relieved when I saw it. I don't remember what was asked nor what I answered and was a bit afraid to hear it! :p But they did a great job editing and it turned out ok. My babies looked SO GOOD! Made Mama very proud to see them on TV. :D If they provide a link, I'll post it so ya'll can see them, too.

Hugs,
Leslie

This isn't what was shown on the news last night but is part of the interview that wasn't shown. You can see Squirt, Trink and Sophie in this little ditty -

http://www.arkansasmatters.com/story...iUizeQkdC7N7_Q

They edited out the part where I screamed "200 POUNDS OF FOOD?!?!! OMG!!!" :D

Leslie:
I just watched your t.v. spot and the babies looked darling, and Miss Squirt sitting on mom's lap! I cried thru a lot of it as I am so proud to know someone like you. God Bless you and the babies. Blessings
Patti