Alivia was recently diagnosed with Cushing's - Alivia has passed

Well, to clarify...one level is the basement where my laundry room is and although the third floor is finished and furnished, I rarely go up there! I don't know how long ago it was since you moved away Patti, but you may have been in my house....about 8 years ago my house was on the Dormont Library House Tour.

Still waiting to hear if my niece is willing to come to Pittsburgh for a few days. I also do not have a bathroom on my first floor so steps could be an issue....although my doctor says I can walk them as soon as I am released! :confused: My back up plan will be to find a local pet friendly hotel. This whole thing is complicated and STRESSFUL!! :eek:

I know MB, I can only imagine the stress for you and I feel so badly you have to go through it right now.

Your house sounds beautiful. I love older homes, they have so much charm and character.

I have a brother in law and sister in law in Pittsburgh. Unfortunetly, we have not seen them since hubby's mom died. It is his older brother and he had a stroke and is pretty much an invalid for quite a few years now. I think they live on Wellseley wherever that is, I'm not sure.

Saying prayers your niece can come for Maxwell. When Zoe lost her hearing a few years back, I was shocked too as it seemed to be so sudden as well. But at least she stopped being afraid of thunder storms.:)

Mary Beth:
Unfortunately I was gone from there by the time your house was on tour. I am hoping you are able to get your operation and have your niece come to watch Max. Hope it all works out and that you have a speedy recovery. Blessings
Patti

I took Max to see the vet on Monday. It was hard, as it was the first time there since Ali passed away. It didn't help matters any that we ended up in the exact same examine room. It was impossible not to tear up. Max was an angel. The vet thinks his itching is allergies (new for Max, but Ali had them!). He gave him an injection to settle things down and ear drops for 2 weeks. That has helped a lot and he seems MUCH more comfortable. He also thinks that his hearing loss is not surprising, given he will be 14 soon. He said it was probably not as sudden as I thought and thinks that I am noticing it more now that it seems to be completely gone. In hindsight, I think he is right and there were subtle indications that it was going for quite awhile. He said the changes in his behavior are also not unusual. He said he is missing Ali and trying to adjust to life without her and that changes were very common. His eyes are cloudy, but he said they looked okay. I have been putting moisturizing drops in them 3-4 times a day. Overall, he said he was doing really good for his age. :) Such a relief!!

Well, we are off for a ride in the car - Max's favorite thing - and a trip to the pet store. He loves going there and I try to take him as often as possible, since I am not able to walk a lot right now. We have 7 different pets stores we go to!

MaryBeth:
Glad to hear Max is doing better. That sounds like my kind of day 7 pet stores what fun you two will have! Hope you are doing well. Blessings
Patti

Wow, you have 7 pet stores to choose from! awesome fun for Maxwell.

Any word on if your neice can come stay with Max or did you end up postponing your surgery?

Glad Ma got a good report form the vet and that the shot helped with his allergies. It really can make them miserable. :( My golden had terrible allergies, which is how she ended up on prednisone for so long. :( I'd never do that again if I had any other choice.

hugs
sharlene and molly muffin

I think Maxwell had a good report and the vet's comments about his hearing are the same we were told about Zoe; that most of us think it is "sudden" but it was just the pup learning how to compensate as the hearing diminished. It makes sense.


I am so happy you and Maxwell go to pet stores, what fun:D:D:D:D:D We are taking Koko for more rides as well and now that he gets to be top dog and sit on mama's lap he is a happy camper. we take him to see my mom and he knows now that it is her building and how to find her room. So cute.

Oh MB, I hope you are doing ok but I suspect it is rather like me. Up and down and the downs are pretty bad - still. We are quite the pair actually, bum knee, bum arm and we both lost our girls that meant everything to us and they both had beautiful black rimmed eyes.

I imagine Alivia and Zoe are turning all the heads in heaven they were both so beautiful. Our girls:):):):)

Love you tons

Patti, not 7 in one day! :D We just vary which one (or 2) we go to.

Sharlene, I actually left a few out! There are at least 11 or 12 pet stores within a 15 minute radius of my house! We definitely have a good selection!

I feel better that Max got a good report from the vet. It is bizarre how soundly he sleeps, though. The other morning I tried to wake him so he could go out before I left for work. I started by gently shaking the bed, then shaking it harder, then petting him, then rubbing his ears....then I lifted his head and it flopped to the side like a wet noodle!! Fortunately, I could see him breathing but it was almost like he was unconscious! I was going to video it, but the flash from my camera FINALLY made him wake up!

Addy, you are exactly right. I am okay, but there are still a lot of downs. I cannot talk about Ali without crying and I still see those last moments over and over and over in my mind. I miss her terribly, but never could have let her suffer. We were fortunate to have our beautiful girls for the time we did.

I still have not gotten a definitive answer from my niece about watching Max when I am in the hospital. I have friends and family that are willing to stop in to take care of him. I may end up doing an elaborate schedule of home visits. Certainly not ideal, but it may be the best I can manage...and certainly better than a kennel (not even a consideration!).

Mary Beth if we did not have Koko and Maxwell I don't know how we would have coped.


Is Maxwell sleeping so soundly because he cannot hear? You should video it, that is a good idea.:):):)

I know you will figure it out and lots of friends and families stopping by for Maxwell may work out just fine.:) I am crossing all fingers and toes.

Have a wonderful weekend

I was thinking the same thing, that Maxwell sleeps better and more deeply as he doesn't have as many external noises to bother him and he use to. They stay on a bit of alert when they hear other things going on.
Molly likes her sleep and some mornings, (in winter when it's dark out or rainy) she doesn't want to get up and I have to convince her but she will usually open an eye and look at me with that message of, yea, mum, I don't think so, it's not even light out yet. LOL Of course then there are the weekends when I want to sleep in (like today) and she is huffing and puffing around the room trying to get me up because she is ready to go. She only does the limp flop when she doesn't want to do something, like have her leash put on to go out side, or stand up to go to bed and rather be carried, then she is just a limp noodle. LOL

Anything that works would be good including an schedule of people in and out to take care of Max as needed. We will be doing something similar with our daughters cats while she is away this summer.

hugs,
Sharlene and molly muffin