Squirt - my Queen has crossed The Bridge

You've been such a pillar of strength for everyone here and on the FB page.
Now it's your turn to take some time and start feeling better.

Glad to hear of Squirt's improvement. What a relief.

Thanks, ya'll! I'm feeling much better. The big silver bowl is no longer within arms reach and my fever is gone...AND my Sweet Bebe is amazing! :)

She has not had any more anxiety episodes at all - none at night and none during the day. Yesterday and the day before, she was up and about most of the day instead of sleeping in the closet or bathroom. She followed me around like she used to or lay on the floor by the bed. :cool::cool::cool: I've been almost afraid to say too much for fear of jinxing it! :p

She was hurting a bit more yesterday morning when we went out for a walk and didn't want to walk much but neither did she want to go back home - she wanted me to carry her from interesting spot to interesting spot then put her down to investigate. :p When she was satisfied, she'd walk a little way then ask to be carried again. This loyal subject is thrilled to help her Queen explore new territory! :D

So happy for you Leslie. You and the precious Squirt are amazing. You give all of us hope. Love, JoAnne

Oh Leslie, this is the best news! Just what I needed to read right now. :) I love hearing that she didn't want to go back home, but just explore, with you to make sure it happened. :)

Glad you are feeling better too. :) Still, more rest for a bit, make sure you are over it completely!

huggers,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Leslie:
Just checking in with you and Squirt to see if the wonder girl is still doing well?? I hope you don't get the storms we are in for today. They said they will be bad. Poor Tipper she is just feeling better from her new dosage. Funny how 5mg makes such a difference. I could tell the first day she was controlled. She has such strong symptoms that as soon as her dosage stops working you know it. Do you think I should be giving Tipper any kind of supplement to support her adrenal glands? Do you think that would be bad and make the tumor function more? She has had a good couple days since the dosage increase. Hope the October ACTH show her level to be good and not too low again. Enjoy your weekend with the babies. Blessings
Patti

Hi Leslie,
So glad to hear that Squirty continues to do amazingly well. We all age and some things go. With me most have headed south! :D Squirty just plows on. Bless her little soul. She has an entire flock of angels cheering both of you on.;):) Very pleased also to hear that you are on the mend also. :p Continue to get lots of rest Leslie. We worry about you. XXXXXX

Squirt continues to do well. No night terrors, no panic! :cool::):cool: Her energy level is good and she's happy as can be. She's enjoying her food and back to reminding me when it's time to serve it! :D She was going and stealing Trink's kibbles so I've started adding about 10 pieces of kibble, crunchies, in her bowl and that seems to have satisfied her desire to crunch. We had some rain yesterday, finally, and today the temps are much lower than they have been - a welcome relief for all of us in this house except my itty bitty man who gets cold so easily.

They were calling for the possibility of some pretty heavy storm yesterday so she got a dose of Valium just to be safe. I almost didn't give it to her but was afraid if she gets scared of the thunder, it will kick off the night terrors again, so I doped her. Which meant she slept most of the day yesterday then was awake and ready to play last nite when we normally go to bed. LOL She wanted to play Piggies and Cover Monsters then wanted down and wanted me down to play on the floor with her for a bit. We went out and walked in the moonlight for a short while after the rain stopped and she was fine out there, in fact seemed giddy from the adventure. :) We came back to bed, played a little bit more, then she curled up and slept the night away. I started getting a sore throat yesterday and sneezing a little, some fever last night but that didn't matter when Squirt was feeling so good - I'll walk in the moonlight with her every night if she wants!

I feel a little better this morning so we'll go walk the field shortly for a while then I hope to be able to go harvest some more Goldenrod which is blooming like mad all around right now. I have one closet already full, hanging to dry, but this is a staple in my medicines so I can never have too much! ;)

Hugs,
Leslie and a feisty Queen :D

I've also got to take some time today and find my dang phone. I hope it's not laying out in the woods somewhere! :p I carry it in my backpack in case something happens and I need help...but I'm not real good at zipping pockets back up after I take something out so things do fall out from time to time. :o

Leslie:
I am curious what you use the goldenrod for? I know many are allergic to it, but didn't know of it's uses. I am so glad you did not have the thunder, we didn't either and for Tipper that was a good thing. You seem to be out in the country?? I love the country, my development is in the country, but I would prefer to be off by myself on a piece of land. I got the socks I told you about and they are wonderful. They sent me a sample of Dermapaw also which I am going to try on her leg. They shipped really fast. I am all stocked up on every ones vitamins, supplements, etc. I just ordered them on Amazon as I was constantly running low on somebody's something. Since all of them take supplements, and vitamins it is a lot to keep track of. Which reminds me I will have to order Manuka Honey for Tipper. I use Missing Link for the bird and cats. I am so glad to hear about Squirt continuing to do well, she is amazing, I hope Tipper can be like that. I baked Tipper's birthday cake today. It is really dense, so it will be for animals only. I am freezing it as who knows what will go on between now and them and I want to have it ready. Do you have snakes in your fields there? I am sure there are some poisonous vipers down your way. Two years ago a neighbor killed some baby copperheads here, so I am always looking everywhere Tipper walks to keep ahead of her. Hope you don't get these lousy storms. We were supposed to get cool weather, but it is hot and humid. As long as we have no thunder, we are good! Blessings
Patti

Goldenrod has great anti-inflammatory properties as well as antibacterial and antimicrobial; it works to help with allergies; as a mild diuretic and support for the urinary system, including frequent urination; helps heal wounds and aching joints/muscles.

Allergies to Goldenrod are rare. The pollen of Goldenrod is heavy and sticky, not air born. BUT Ragweed, which many people are allergic to, is often a companion plant to Goldenrod, found growing side by side. Pollens that are lighter and air born, can stick to GR pollen, causing a reaction but it is typically to the foreign pollen, not to the Goldenrod plant itself.

I started using this and Plantain in Squirt's tea after it seemed the Nettle was causing diarrhea for her to help with the incontinence. The Goldenrod can also help with her pain level by working as an anti-inflammatory. I am taking it now for this cold along with Elder Elixir and Elder Flower - all strong in antibiotic actions.

As for where I live - I am on the edge of the city limits in three directions and there are many places around that are still wild and open. My house is the last house on the street and faces a wooded strip that I was able to explore until the ice last winter took down so many trees out there. I hope to be able to clear some paths back in there when the leaves fall. And yes, we have poisonous snakes here - Rattle snakes, Copperheads and Moccasins. I put on my bright yellow rubber boots, long loose pants, bright colored bandana, and plow through grasses shoulder high, deep woods, and open fields with wild abandon. When I see a place that looks interesting, I start knocking on doors to get permission to roam, explaining who I am and what I am doing. People have been very kind and generous, if a bit puzzled by the weird old broad in goofy clothes. :p

Speaking of poisonous snakes - this spring I was working at the wood edge trying to keep the vines and Privet cut back. I was cutting away with hedge clippers, tossing the cut parts aside as I did, when I noticed the parts I had just tossed were moving. Closer inspection revealed a young Copperhead that I had cut in two with the clipper, thankfully just behind the head because they keep biting for a minute or two even after dead. I located the head portion, gathered both pieces and buried them in the woods....after doing the Wild Woman jitterbug, that is! :p There is a rather large Speckled King snake that lives in the woods and he does a pretty good job of keeping other snakes away from here but he missed this one! The snakes and my natural clumsiness are why I carry the phone - I see something interesting and don't look at anything else til I reach that goal. I stepped right off a drop of about 4' one day! :D Copperheads can get pissy and they have been known to actually chase people so I figure one of these days I'll piss one off...just hope there's a tree close by with low limbs when I do! :p

Leslie:
That was a close call with those clippers! When I was a child I was sitting on the front porch in suburbia, and along came 2 girls walking at dusk. One screamed in front of our house and yelled snake. The snake had tried to bite her as she did not see it on the road and stepped near it. My dad was not home, but the neighbor got his car and tried to run it over!! I was really upset as I do not kill things on purpose. It struck at his car though. When my dad finally arrived he got a rake and picked it up and went in the woods with it. It was a Copperhead so I saw how nasty they can be striking over and over at the car tire. I learned as a child from my dad not to kill things unless they are going to harm you. There are lots of woods around this development. Some of the woods were taken out to put these houses here. I have seen a lot of field mice. When you see them you know there are snakes. My dad loved to fish, and he would have me, at 8 years old take his pistol and watch for vipers while he fished in creeks. I learned a lot about the outdoors from him. Needless to say I am not scared of snakes, critters, spiders and all from learning about them from him. I used to bring snakes home all the time, and my friends would scream when they saw them. I have a great respect for all living creatures. I know how to spot different types of trees , but not herbs. What about the one that was green and is spiked all around and had white and purple like threads you could pull out. The kids all called it Indian Tobacco. I wonder if it had any medicinal purpose?? We always had a lot of Queen Anns Lace. Is that used for anything? Tipper actually went out and played around on the porch for a while it was raining!!! She never does that!! She seems so much better on the 25mg. I am hoping by the time she gets the ACTH in October that the numbers are good, and not too low. I am glad I decided to add the 5mg trilostane. Well we have a rest period until Wednesday when she gets her blood pressure and weight. She seems to be getting larger around like a barrel. I need to get some more weight off her. Usually it has not been that hard, but lately after that uncontrolled period I cannot seem to get the weight off her. I am still giving her lentils and if not for them she would be huge. I am blessed every day I have her with me. It got me teary eyed baking a cake for her birthday. In my mind I was wondering how many more she would have. I hope she can be like Squirt and be a wonder dog and keep on going, that I can only pray for. Blessings
Patti

The spiky plant may be a Thistle and many of them do have medicinal uses. But one common name for Lobelia is also Indian Tobacco and it is used medicinally also, tho it is one I am still afraid of as I don't know much about it and it can be a difficult herb to use correctly. I use 1/4 tsp of dried Lobelia in my smoke mix - it calls for a full tsp. but I'm very cautious with this herb for now. ;) I do make a Lobelia tincture for a friend who has RSD / CRPS as I will never use all I have on hand and she is comfortable using it.

I'm so glad Tipper seems to be having a good day so far! I, too, hope she is like Squirt and finds her balance soon.

Snakes don't scare me - in fact, I really like them, but if you want to see an old broad throwing backpack, camera, collecting bags, and clothes in the air while running around like a whirling dervish, just let a grasshopper get on me! :p Things with legs that move fast CREEP ME OUT! :D:D:D

Jeepers remind me never to go on a walk with you and Squirty!! :eek::eek::eek: SNAKES and lots of them and you walk in long grass :eek::eek::eek: I hope your yellow gummies have steel cap reinforcements!! :eek::eek::eek: I am leaving your thread now as I am feeling all clammy :D:D:D

Very pleased to hear Squirt has picked up though!! Love she is enjoying her walks, either under her own steam or getting her Mom to give her a ride... smart wee dot she is :D:D xxxx

Leslie:
I was looking at a lot of the pictures you posted of your babies. I swear that Squirt has some Jack Russell in her. When you look at her face and guard hairs etc. she is very similar to Tipper. We had rain most of the day yesterday. Without any noise coming from the heavens Tipper did very well. She has a decent nite sleeping also. The skin moving and leg jumping are scaring me though. I am so scared it is that tumor being active. It seems as soon as she closes her eyes it starts up, but not during the day unless she is sleeping. I feel a little better today so I may attempt to clean 2 rooms in the house. I don't like things messy or dusty and it is getting on my nerves. Tipper has already walked this morning, and it is very overcast and gloomy outside. I will take this cool weather any day. Hope you and Squirt have a good adventure today. Blessings
Patti

My Sweet Bebe is the product of two show dogs who escaped and "hooked up" - literally in their case! :D Her dad is a black Cairn Terrier and her mom is a black and white Long Haired Chihuahua. So you are seeing Terrier in her face, but it's Cairn, not JRT. ;)

Now, Trish...you gotta come to Arkansas and take a walk with me! By the time we got back to the house, you would find your Soul filled with beauty and wonder and hope I promise. I happen to think my home state is one of the most beautiful, diverse places in the country. There are mountains, gently rolling hills, grass plains, and delta lands here. I always felt that when Mother Nature was forming these lands She was just practicing in the other areas and placed all Her favorite things here in Arkansas, close to the center of this country, to display much Her Glory in one place. :)

Leslie:
I love a good old Cairn Terrier. They are adorable and wonderful dogs. Very smart, and tenacious as a terrier should be. Terriers are really resilient dogs, and keep going and going. Tipper's breed lives to 17-18 years, I pray she can use as much of that time up as possible. With the decline I have seen in her the past few weeks it will be a miracle of God. Blessings
Patti

Glad to hear that Squirt is doing well and just wanted to say that you write the neatest things on peoples posts, thanku

Leslie:
Hoping you and Squirt had another good nite. Are you having the cooler weather? I hope so as it makes these Cush dogs feel so much better. Going to clean up the house today as I am feeling much better. Is Squirt on or off the Lysodren now? I got Tipper's vaporizer out of the closet today. Last year when I put it away, the thought of her not using it again ran thru my mind. Thank God she is with me, I am trying to get as much out of every day that I can with her. I have all the cameras and video ready for her birthday. It will be a happy, yet sad milestone that day. Blessings
Patti

Leslie, i don't mind snakes as long as they're not attacking. As a child, I also fished often and was lucky enough to never meet a poisonous snake. Copperheads and water moccassins are known to be in the area. I adore garter snakes. They're sweet and mellow.

Leslie:
Just checking in on you and Squirt. I talked with the cardiologist yesterday about Tipper. I had read so many good things about Hawthorne and it helping dogs hearts that I wanted to know if Tipper could take it. She said many of her patients use it, and she has not seen any problems from it. She wants to see Tipper in November and XRay her heart to see if there are any changes from the echo she had 6 months ago. Then we will see about the Hawthorne. I read somewhere it is not good to give it to your dog if it has Congestive Heart Failure- so I am confused. Even though Tipper's heart is functioning well is the condition still considered CHF or not until problems start? So I am concerned that I read if they have this condition do not give them this. Do you know anything about this? Very cold and foggy here this morning, Tipper is loving this weather. Blessings
Patti

I'll read up on Hawthorn in my books and see if they say anything about not using with CHF and let you know.

Leslie:
I searched but cannot find the article saying don't use hawthorne with CHF. I am wanting to start Tipper on it and need some help. The Dr. told me to buy form a good source to get the best. Where is the best place to get this best product? Do I buy pills or extract?
There are several types of both, some from the flowers, some from the berries- which to use? For 18 lbs how much should she get? She is currently on a heart supplement only. It is from Vetri Science called Cardio Strength- can it be used with this? The cardio does have some CoQ10 in it, it is sold on amazon. I don't want to mix the wrong things together. Also the Dr. told me this can cause gastro upset, should I then mix with food or what? Thank you Leslie, you are my go to person on all things herbal. Blessings
Patti

Leslie:
Do you think there is enough to help support her heart in the Cardio Strength, or should I add additional CoQ10 or anything that you think she needs for her heart? I am wondering if I should be giving her taurine because of her eyes? I am ordering the Hawthorn where you suggested. You are so brilliant , and I am blessed to know you. Your help has been a Godsend to Tipper and I.Blessings
Patti

Hi Leslie,
How is Squirty doing? Xxxx

Leslie:
What's going on in your neck of the woods? How is Squirt doing? Are you getting all your herbs in before the frost comes? It is still cool here. I noticed on the weather this morning that storms are coming for Friday. Just when Tipper is really enjoying herself this has to start up again. Hope everyone is well. Blessings
Patti

Thanks for asking about Squirty! :) She doing alright. She's not as alert during the day as she has been but is still resting well at night, no terrors at all. She doesn't want to go for a walk every morning but does most and enjoys it when we do go. My nieces came by Fri. afternoon, in from college, and took Sophie home to visit for the weekend. While they were here, Squirt came to visit with them, obviously remembering their scents and happy to see them. :cool::):cool:

I've been harvesting and drying a good armload of Goldenrod every other day while they are blooming strong...but one of the fields got clear cut, trees and all, this week, taking down acres of the plant. I have about all I should need for the coming year and enough to share with some fellow plant users but not as much to share as I had hoped. It's nice to share plants from your area with others who then share plants from their areas with you! A plant exchange! :D I need about a week of being house-bound so I can clean this house instead of roaming in the fields and woods every chance I get! :p

Yesterday I harvested and made a syrup for pancakes, biscuits, etc. from this plant that grows wild all over the place here - the American Beautyberry Bush - and it is DELICIOUS! If I can get more jars soon, I plan to make some jelly from it as well! Learning to eat from the wild is going a long way toward supplementing my diet these days! LOL

https://www.google.com/search?q=Amer...h=557&dpr=1.25

You are brilliant Leslie! :)
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Leslie:
I looked those berries up and they are a form of Mullberry it seems. They look beautiful. Are they growing wild or did someone plant them? Great idea to make jelly with them. You are very resourceful with things. It is a great day for the babies to be outside. Blessings
Patti

I am always relieved to hear that Squirty is doing okay. :)

I would love to spend a few days with you shadowing your trek through nature. I am in awe of your scavenging skills. Not only do you find things, you know what the heck they are and how to use them. I could learn so much by being a fly on your shoulder. ;) You are a real treasure. Definitely and endangered species. :) xxxxx

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Budster's Mom

You are a real treasure. Definitely and endangered species. :) xxxxx

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I agree 100%! Leslie sure is a Blessing to us all.

Thanks, ya'll.

Squirt has not had a good afternoon. She's been afraid again. :(

oh not, poor Squirt. Poor you. Strange that it would be during the day, when previously it was at night.

Has it gotten any better?

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly muffin

Hoping for a better day for our little girl

I was finally able to knock her out with the Valium last night - she had 6mg over a period of about 8 hours. :( It was raining yesterday but a light rain - no wind, no thunder, no heavy rain sounds. I don't know if she was feeling the atmospheric changes with the weather or if what we are doing is starting to fail. Since there had been some slight changes over the prior few days, I fear what we are doing to help is starting to lose it's power. There is one more thing to try then if that doesn't help, I will have to say goodbye to my Sweet Bebe. I won't let her live in fear every day. She deserves so much better.

She is not afraid this morning and bugging me for breakfast so I am off to feed my Queen.

Leslie:
I am so sad to log on and hear Squirt is afraid again. It may be the change in the pressure. Tipper is very sensitive to it also, and gets freaked out. This is heart breaking for me to hear this. What else can you try? I don't want her to be afraid either, but don't want you to lose your baby either. All I can say is this disease has to be one of the worst things a dog could ever get. I look at my Tipper and can't believe what I see. I am praying this gets turned around Leslie I know how hard you have worked to over come all this. God Bless you and Squirt.
Patti

Leslie:
I am wondering about something. If this is a non functioning tumor, would it stay the same size, or do they continue to grow also? I am going to get the ultra sound on the 15th. I want to know if the tumor has grown. As much as I want to hide in my little bubble, I think that will help tell what it is???? I am scared to death to know this, God help me. Toper is on 25mg now so there is no even way to split it. I would have to do 15 and 10 and I am not sure the 15 would hold her all day. Do you think that is a good idea or not? I have been living in my denial bubble, and when this tumor thing comes up, I just go to pieces. I am wondering if this tumor has been there all along since her first us and because it was not high resolution it was not seen. If so it would have to be really slow growing, or not growing any more to still be that tiny a year later. Maybe I am just becoming unwound trying to think up better scenarios than what I really have to deal with. Blessings
Patti

Hope your little Squirt is doing okay today. I wouldn't doubt if her instinct is attuned to the rain approaching and that triggers her fear. My Trixie used to only be afraid of the thunder storms but now all she needs is a drizzle approaching and she's cowering in the bathroom, sometimes even a windy day will send her into hiding.
No wonder that shrub is called a Beauty Berry, it is the most beautiful color! I'm curious does the syrup come out in that beautiful shade of violet??

Barbara

The syrup is a very pretty deep pink, almost purple.

Leslie:
Sounds sort of like the color of the elderberry jelly I made. Bet it is good!