Total Pageviews

Saturday 29 December 2012

The First Week after Amputation ! Part 3

              Fizzly had been home a few hours, before my children arrived back from school, but I was worried that the image of Fizzle's without her leg would have upset them. Even though they knew that Fizzly was having her leg removed and why I still thought that it would either shock or upset them ...... because the image in a lil one's head is one thing,  but seeing it in the Flesh so to speak ..... is another ??

             The Fact that you have children in your life when your family Pet become ill or needs an Amputation is a cause for more worry and sleepless nights of how to tell them and what they will think or how will the adjust to having a dog become very ill and possibly pass .......... Well the younger the child is works for an against but mostly younger children have the same attitude as your dog does they just accept and move onwards !!

               When you have like I did children that were older, Ben was  16 and Emma was 14,  they are older and this means, that you can explain everything regarding your pet. Being older they will realise why,  and what will happen to their beloved pet, and what they will witness and how things will be.  Through talking to friends it seems that the children in between younger and older find this process the hardest and most difficult to comprehend what will,  or what has happened to their pet.

                               Fizzle's and My Daughter Emma <3

                  
             I will be writing about children and amputation in a posting soon, but I will now go back to my little Trolls and my own gorgeous girlie My Fizzles <3 to say that I was worried about how my children would react, to seeing Fizzly without her leg is an understatement,  I was totally panicked ! But I shouldn't have been because, they walked into Fizzly's room like it was any other normal day ....... and just like nothing had changed with Fizzle's in the slightest :)

             I was never more proud of the lil monsters ever !!!

          As they walked into Fizzly's room she opened her eyes and saw my children, she pulled herself up higher and started trying stand up ! I knew exactly why she was trying to get up, she didn't want them to worry about her, she wanted to show them that she was fine ........ that was the sort of Spirit that my Fizzle's had in Spades, and this enduring spirit was why, I fought so hard to keep her with me for as long as possible <3 

         Both Ben and Emma could see what she was trying to do, and without me needing to say anything, they went straight to her bed.  They sat either side of her and told her to stay there, and there was no need for her to get up !  They loved her and for the time being, they would go to her level ........ So there was no need to worry about them ! My Fizzle's looked at them from side to side of her,  with her normal big beaming smile and her lil wagging butt !! 

         Emma lay down next to her and Fizzle's lay her head on Ben's Lap, with that Fizzles sighed completely happy, with her Babies beside her ! She closed her eyes and just relaxed, her whole body content and her children safe and sound. This was when I left the room, and started to cry, as the enormity of everything suddenly hit me. I knew I couldn't show any weakness in front of my children, but I especially couldn't weaken myself,  in front of Fizzle's. 

           Because if I showed worry or upset, then it would all collapse, into a pile of  panic and total hopelessness.  The true extent of what was happening to my Fizzly, but more importantly to my whole family would completely fall apart. I had to be as strong as Fizz was being, and to my wonderment my children's, total strength and acceptance was a sight to see. They were still so young and having to deal with this ..... 

           But the way they had walked into that room, and the natural way they had reacted to the delicate situation, and the instincts that they showed without being told, was a total example for any adult around them :) 


                     Ben and Fizzly, my Brave Babies <3


               This is the most important thing that anyone who is going through this devastating illness, its the fact that you can't show your emotions.  This will instantly affect your dog, and will be more detrimental to your dog's recovery, and your dog's psychological needs, than anything else you could do ! The emotional  part of this illness exactly like dealing with people with Cancer is of higher importance than any Medical Treatment and it will mean dealing or failing ???

               It's also the hardest aspect of the whole world of Cancer, It is this fact that you have to hide how you are feeling and hide it well. Dogs react to subtle body language, that we as humans have lost over the years ! Its why dogs trust children, because they don't hide their feelings, they are naturally true and honest, and its something that Adults seem to loose along the way .......

               The way that Ben and Emma coped with the amputation so far astounded me, but the way Fizzle's had just accepted everything, in her Matter of Fact way was a inspiration to all. It was this attitude and strength of character had shown me, how Fizzle's was going to deal with everything but more importantly was how she expected me to deal with it !! So snivelling in the kitchen was not going to help matters :) 

               Pull yourself together you stupid woman ?!?!  Self taught lesson's are always the cruellest.......... maybe because we don't pull any punches, when dealing with yourself ! Ok pep talk over now we needed to get my Fizzly up and outside and hopefully she would manage to go for a Number 2 as she had only managed to wee before ?? You will find that your dogs bathroom habit's, will take on a whole new meaning after an Amputation ........ 

                So prepare yourself for total Bathroom Madness !!!

              Because your life will remain incomplete until you dog, has gone to the Loo and Done,  A Number 2 !!!

               

           
           

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Charlie Fizzle's Filling Big Shoes !!

                For all of you who have read my previous post's will know about , my Rottweiler Fizz who had Bone Cancer, she finally went, to the Rainbow Bridge on the 20th September 2011, this date is when part of me died. The incredible spirit and courage that my Fizzly showed everyone, who met her no~matter for how short a time, that she was a amazing dog and one that you would never forget. 

             Her total acceptance to her illness, Amputation and Chemotherapy showed everyone, how truly amazing a Rottweiler could be !  My Fizzly and I had this totally unique relationship, and we could talk to each other without saying a word ......... Fizz was my place to go to when I felt sad or upset. She would never need an explanation as to what is wrong and what's upset me, My Fizzly would just sit by my side and put ........

 

Her Right  Foot on top of my  Left  Foot,  and just be there ........

         
         This little boy had a huge void to fill as the Loss of My Fizzle's had and still does,  leave me totally bereft and if I'm honest, I don't think I will ever get over her.  The bond that we shared was a completely symbiotic one, and we lived for each other.  Before she passed I had decided to keep, a little girl from Milly's Litter,  Milly had 2 Beautiful Babies that I could have picked from, and I would have loved either of these precious little Bundles of trouble.

This was Molly one of the 2 Girls <3 

                 But I then decided that because my Fizzly had Bone Cancer, that I would hold off on having a puppy and keep one from another litter. I decided this because I wanted to spend my time with Fizzles,  and to keep a puppy would have taken up my time,  I wanted to devote my whole being to my Fizzles. She had been through so much already with the Amputation, and 3 bouts of Chemotherapy, so having her as my main concern, was of higher importance than a puppy.

           So we found two wonderful homes for Molly and Treacle, and they went to their new home's the first week of September, and I planned to donate my time to Fizzly. This was when this world dealt me it's Cruellest Blow of all, my Fizzly started going down hill rapidly.  Her final battle was one that we couldn't survive, and even though it broke my heart, when she told me that she was too tired to continue fighting.

           I accepted her choice as we had always known, what each other was thinking, and I knew that she was staying alive for me,  and me alone ...........  I was not even closely ready for her to leave me, and I don't think that any time would have worked for me ....... apart from NEVER ......... 

           But when I asked her if she had had enough, and she turned away from me and tried to hide herself,  into the corner of her room avoiding my eye's  ......... I knew that NEVER wouldn't be allowed.

        I just said Ok I understand and if you have had enough then its ok with me .........  She then turned around and started licking my tears, and just lay down next to me and I knew that the day had come.  This is when my Fizzle's had just had enough,  it was the worst day of my life and a moment that I will remember forever.  I don't think I will ever recover from her loss, because she was my heart and soul, and we were totally connected and I miss her more and more each day ........... 


                         

This was My Fizzly and Ben on the day she decided that her Battle,

                                             had come to it's end. 

          
              The love that Fizz had for my children led her, to hide her true feelings of pain, having made the decision that she wanted to end her battle. When Ben and Emma would leave the room,  Fizz would just lie down next to me in obvious pain and tiredness. But when they would come into her room, she would immediately pull herself up,  and would act like she was doing just fine,  as you can see from the film of Ben and Fizz together.

         This show's us just how truly amazing  My Fizzly was, Even when in serious pain her love for my children, was of higher importance to Fizzly than her own suffering.  This was exactly why my Fizzly had such an impression on everyone,  she was just incredible and was a prime example of what a Rottweiler truly is. If more people saw a  TRUE  ROTTWEILER  then they would never be seen as the Dangerous Breed again.

        The loss of Fizz left a deep hole in my life, and the need to fill this void,  this was the real reason why I got my Charlie, it was not so he can become the Stud Dog of all ages !  I got Charlie to help me recover ....... from the devastating Loss of My Fizzle's.  This Huge undertaking of this really small puglet was mountainous, and a job that I'm sure he had no reckoning, when he was picked by me, from his litter of 5 brother's and Sister's. 

               But I knew from the moment that I first picked him up, that he was the Puglet that would be up to this unbelievable Challenge :)  He was the smallest of all the boys, and as I wanted a " Chunky Monkey " he was not the puppy, that I had asked his breeder to keep to one side. Even though he was not the puppy, that we had travelled so far  for,  to become our new family member, once I picked him up I just knew, that he was the one for me !  

             He may have been the smallest boy of the Litter, but this don't affect his character,  and he was probably the most out going of the litter. He also showed the absolute joy of being snuggled, and as he wiggled himself into my neck, he had caught me hook line and Puglet. We had no name for this lil bundle yet, so when we were asked about,  what his Pedigree name should be.  The only thing I knew for certain, was that his name had the word " Fizz "  in it ~ Somewhere .........

                     The hardest thing that I had to do that day, was leaving this little Bundle of Blackness behind, as he was still to young to leave his mummy. We had to wait another 2 weeks before, we could return and pick him up, and I'm not known for my patience, so 14 days is an awfully long time !!    But I was basically dragged out of the house by Dai and Emma,   and after squeezing my Puglet  Goodbye and taking    " Oh just a few more pictures !! "

      I eventually found myself back in the car,  and still  Minus my Puglet ......... :( 

                               Charlie and His Brother's !

          Well the 2 weeks eventually passed and we had picked his name, so his Pedigree name is Charles Fizz , named after my special girl. We travelled up to collect him and Oh My he was Soooo Cute , and I don't think he as any idea of the Big Shoe's that,  he would have to fill.  My main problem was that this little boy was so small,  so small in fact that we had to buy him a Cat Collar ! We also included a bell as I was so scared, I would lose him in the long Grass,  or that a Buzzard may have flown off with him !! 

          I don't know if my Charlie has any idea of the job that he was brought into .......but he has done this job really well !! He is the happiest little boy around and he's a definite Mummies Boy,  and is totally spoilt as Dai and the children will attest too :)  Charlie may not know how much he has helped me,  and how his little personality has helped to take away,  some of the pain of the loss of Fizzly.

        Charlie seems to have in some part, the ability to know,  when I'm feeling low and when I'm not feeling that good,  or hurting more than normal.  He will come and sit with me and just snuggle,  or he will do something funny to make me smile or laugh. He also has some traits of Fizzles he's calm,  and has this ability to make everyone fall in love with him, because he's so cute. 

       Charlie settled in our home as if he had always been here, and the girls accepted him instantly. I don't know if Fizzly had a part in getting Charlie into my life, but he has helped me to recover,  and he has a awful lot of Fizzly's traits,  which is funny when you think that he's a Pug,  and Fizz was a Rottweiler !! But he has had an ulcer,  in one of his eyes which has since recovered, but as he is only 10 months old, he was absolutely brilliant at the vets.

       The treatment and tests for a puppy of his age,  and the amount of Pain he must have been in, he was remarkable and so good,  that they stated that Oh he's just like Fizz. To be honest,  he was he just sat there, and allowed them to do what they wanted, and he just accepted everything calmly, and with a Brilliant attitude just like my Fizzles. Charlie has this way of looking at things, around the place and its like Oh I've seen this or been here before ?? 

                Now I'm not saying that Fizzly has reincarnated herself into a lil Black Slug ~ but he seems to understand how I'm feeling, and when I'm low and he will just sit by me or on my lap, and just be there until I feel better :) 

     But the thing that I cannot understand or explain,  is that when he is standing or sitting by me .......... He will stand or sit next to me and,

His Right front foot will always be found, on top of my Left Foot,


         Now that is something that no~one can explain  or Ignore ...............

       So I can't say that Charlie has filled the Gap left by Fizzly's Passing ....... but he has definitely made me feel a whole lot better. I will never get over losing Fizzly, but I can at least talk about her,  and smile at memories and this,  I feel is down Partly to a Little Black Slug.  Who has just by being himself,  begun to fill some seriously  Huge  Rottweiler  Paw  Prints  and he's done it very well  :)






Sunday 9 December 2012

Our Biggest Protectors !

                 I have been surrounded by animals my entire life with many various sort's from Snail's to ferret's to horse's all types and all sizes ......... but most predominantly were DOG'S. When we were growing up we had many dog's of all types, but mainly working breeds like Labrador's, Spaniels and Jack Russell Terrier's. This was because my dad used to train Gun Dog's for his own use as he was a Game Keeper among his many other Title's !! 

          Not only did he train Gun Dog's for his own use, but he became the person to come to when anyone wanted a Gun Dog Trained !!  He trained some very rich peoples dogs not least the owner of  N.C.P or National Car Parks the multi story Car Parks found all over Britain !!  I learn't my dog training method's by watching him, and just watching how he was around dog's of all type's and temperaments. 

        His ability to get Gun Shy dogs, to become full working dog's was incredible thing to witness. I hope that I am able to instil in my own dog's and puppies a small part of the confidence, that my dad used to inspire in any dog's he worked with. I will go into training and the ability to control a dog by just being a certain way and in my word's  MEAN  WHAT  YOU  SAY  !! which I tell everyone who has a puppy of mine, or whenever anyone  Meet's Our Milly Mooz !

These were my own dog's but they were also either trained by my dad, or puppies from some of his working dog's.


            But I'm not talking about training I'm talking about whether Dog's need to be trained to protect or are some dog's instinct's to protect their immediate family, in some breeds without them being formally trained. ??  I personally have never trained my dog's to protect my family or home they have all just been naturally protective, so I believe that if your dog's love you and your family, they will then protect all instantly without any sort of official  TRAINING !!

         When my sister and I were younger we were lucky enough to live in the middle of the country surrounded by wood's which for young children is a paradise !! Now I have children of my own, I understand  my Dad's point of view, that 2 little blonde haired girls would not have been safe on their own, alone in the Glory Wood's as they were called !! Although these wood's were a children's haven, there are also the Not so NICE  People around the place, no matter how beautiful the woods may have been, in the eye's of a child.

         So we had a " Heidi " it was not a sort of Machine Gun !! It was a yellow Labrador, my Dad trained our protector Heidi, who had 2 job's she was a Brilliant Gun Dog apart from Squirrels !! ( Long Story for another day ! ) 

 But her main  JOB was protecting 2 lil Blonde haired Girls !!! 

              My Dad trained this yellow Labrador as our Bodyguard and she took her job very seriously !
              But whenever we went out anywhere we took Heidi with us and then my family knew we would be safe.  As no~one could get even close to us , without Heidi reacting and she did react very well.  Not violently but she would politely make sure that anyone coming too close would not be greeted with KISSES !!!

           One example of Heidi protection detail, was when we were on our way home through the wood's, and it was getting on towards dusk and in a wood's that means its quite dark ??  We could see ahead of us a Man walking towards us, all you could really see was a outline, and the fact that he was holding a cigarette in his hand. 

             Well my sister and I began to feel a lil anxious as you do when your young ! but before we had a chance to say anything to Heidi she had left us ??? She ran ahead and pinned this man up against a tree, she didn't touch him in any way but she made him stay still. We then walked past him and Heidi and as soon as we had passed by, she promptly left him standing by the tree and ran to catch up with us and safely took us home !!!

            We never once felt any sort of danger no matter when or where we went, as long as we had Heidi with us. But even more than that my parents always knew that no harm would ever come to us, as long as we had Heidi by our side ! Now Heidi was taught to be our Body Guard and she knew, that she would not think twice about giving her own life to protect either me or my sister.
                I believe that Heidi would have protected us instantly without any training, and she would have defended us anyway. But she was also taught with word's which my Dad taught to my sister and I in case something ever happened, we would speak the word's and she would have reacted instantly. So her protective side was always with her, but she was trained to word's to react when needed that I think is the only difference in her training to protect and her natural Instinct's to  PROTECT  !!

           I have always had Big Dog's in my life so I have always relied on the fact that I would be safe, as when a large dog love's you they will protect you. The Picture above show's my Springer Spaniel Jermima , my Westie Hannah and my Chocolate Labrador Coco, now my Dad always said you should always have a lil dog with Big Dog !! As a Lil Dog has better hearing and a Large dog has better teeth !! 

          Well when I had children, the protection Detail became Coco as the other 2 were useless !! But this is an example of the Natural Protector, as I never once Trained Coco to protect, she was a natural. Especially around Ben these 2 were Best Friends and always together in the Garden, Ben would even ride Coco around the Garden like a small Shetland Pony !! But Coco took the care of Ben to a whole other level, she would watch him constantly and would react instantly !
                             
            Now for those of you who know my house, you will know that my dog's have to wait in the Kitchen, until they are allowed to go into the rest of the house ! Well Coco would lie with her nose resting on the edge of the divide between the Kitchen and the Hall to the rest of the house. Ben was playing out the front garden one day, while I was finishing off his lunch. 

           Well Ben has never been the shyest of children ??  He would constantly stand on our little fence that surrounds out front Garden, just checking the world out as you do when your very young ! While Coco would lie with her nose on the edge of the hall and just watch, She would stay there and just WATCH out for Ben for as long as he was out the front.

               Ben would be looking out the garden and start yelling to anyone who he could see around the place !! He would actually Yell  OUT  at the top of his Voice to any man that he saw  " HELLO  DADDY  !!! "   Which everyone who knew me found highly entertaining ....... and left more than a few men with shocked faces !!

Well it was one of these Hello Daddy Moments that Coco went into  PROTECTOR  MODE !
         This poor man had just been trying to deliver a parcel to a neighbours house, while Ben was standing on his Fence as normal, and as this man walked past Ben. He put out his hand to pat Ben on the head as he passed our Fence ?? With that Instant Coco suddenly growled and then  JUMPED  UP  and  RAN  !!   I turn around to see this Chocolate Labrador Jumping over 2 Fences and Pinning this Poor Man up against the wall that runs by the side of our Car Park area !!

        Luckily my dog's listen instantly so I screamed  DOWN  !! and with that she went down straight away , but she remained in front of Ben !  Luckily this man didn't have a heart attack and he understood why she did it, and she hadn't touched him in any bad way.  But she had put her feet on him and held him on the wall, and had listened instantly. Coco's actions showed that the Natural Protectors can show the Control and Restraint,  that a Trained Protector is taught to show when they have been highly trained to protect. 

       Now we talk about the Protector's who are Naturally Protective  BUT  Don't show the same  DEGREE OF  RESTRAINT  !!   Namely Fizz and the Rottweiler Breed !!!

         By the time Fizz was 15 month's she was enormous and absolutely stunning with a lovable personality that made everybody love her ! My savage Rottweiler spent her life watching over my children Ben and Emma like a hawk and God help anyone who upset them ?? 

            She became their Guardian Angel and when we went on walks she would walk beside me, but her head and eye's would constantly change direction's. As she would watch where they were and you could see her thought process " OK mum's next to me ,Ben's over there and Emma's there " , this would be how she spent her entire walk !! Just watching and if someone came close to her Protection Detail then her whole demeanour would change, her chest would come out and if looks could kill, then anybody that was looking at her babies had better close their eye's ??

        She didn't need to show any form of aggression as her size and look was enough to keep anyone at arms length and woe betide anyone who tried to hurt anyone she loved. This Dog would not have only died to save someone she loved without a thought to herself. But more scarily she would have  killed  anything that tried to hurt me or my family and she would do it without thinking TWICE.  These are the most dangerous Protector's of all, and one's that need to be handled hard and you need to have absolute  CONTROL  OVER !!

             Fizz showed my family and I, the extent of the lengths that she would go through to defend in this case Me !  We had these most revolting neighbours that thank goodness have moved !! But to say that Fizz didn't like them would be an understatement, mainly due to the abuse they used to give their young child !! Fizz did not like people who shouted at children !!

            They had a Dog and you know the statement No Bad Dog's Just Bad OWNER'S ? well they mean't them when it was invented !! Well their dog had it been raised by any other person would have in all realities been a really sweet dog ! But when your raised with Violence you become Violent ? 

                  So this Dog had already bitten a few people, but I was outside in my front garden and then the   " Adam's Family ?!? " arrived home and let their dog out of the car !! As usual no lead and definitely NO CONTROL ! 

               Fizz was at this point in the back garden !!! well this dog comes running over to me Barking and Growling, I was quite prepared to give it a good kick up the Butt !! I mean I deal with 10 stone Rottweiler why would I be scared of a Cross Collie !!

             I had no real plan's as I knew this dog would never actually touch me and those people who know me will know why !! I just stood my ground and then  IT  ARRIVED  !! FIZZ 

            Fizz had obviously heard the dog barking at me and she had Broken through 3 GATE'S !! Yes that's correct this Rottweiler Just Smashed her way through 2 Large Gates.  She  then had obviously put her head down and literally lifted the entire  Last  Gate off  its hinges, well she actually Broke the Hinges off the GATE. Fizz had also Smashed the Bolt off and then had ............

 LITERALLY  GONE  THROUGH  THE  LAST  GATE  LIKE  IT  WAS  A  CAT FLAP  !!!

           This happened in second's and by the time I had my head around the fact that she was   OUT !! She had herself on top of this dog and she was planning on making a Hot Dog out of it !!!

             But she wasn't waiting around for the Roll !! 

This is the moment when you find out if your dog has listened to anything you hope you have taught them ............ I just stood there and said  Ok  ENOUGH  and  GET  IN  NOW  !!!

            Luckily for the Cross Collie and the Revolting Neighbours this 10 Stone Rottweiler had been correctly brought up, she got off him and just calmly walked away and back into our Garden ! But this show's that a Aggressive Breeds Reaction is always  MEAN'T  and they don't ever just give a  WARNING and they would  DIE  without thinking  BUT  more than likely they would also ...........  

KILL  TO  PROTECT  THE  ONE'S  THEY  LOVE  !!     Without thinking about it once.
               Some dog's need to be taught to protect people or guard people ......... and some are Naturally Protective and its these one's who would not think twice of dying for anyone they loved ~ My Fizzly was from the latter category and in her mind she would do anything to protect her ward's. In Fizz's case it was not just her immediate family that she would protect, she would have defended any child, person or animal that she decided she liked !!! 

         I have never felt safer than when I had Fizz in my life because I knew that she would never have let anything happen to anyone she loved. Its hard for me to talk about the million's of ways that I miss that dog, but one of the main ones is this that fact that I knew she would have protected my family with the total devotion and selfless Spirit with no thought of the consequence for herself. 

         The Love that Dog's show to their families without any thought for themselves is a thing of wonder and something that if you have not had a dog in your life, it's something that is hard to explain. But it's why there will always be stories around the world with all manner of Dogs.  These stories of  HEROISM  that we can read daily, are of these fearless acts and true life stories of Bravery and amazing selflessness. 

                   You only need to watch the new's or read a paper to find these miraculous stories of Dog's saving people with no thought for themselves with no agenda, they do it  ............ JUST  BECAUSE  THEY  LOVE  YOU  !! 

                          Here are some of those HERO'S 

Roselle

When Michael Hingson found himself on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, it took some unexpected heroics from his yellow labrador to save his life. When the building started to sway and the air filled with choking smoke, Roselle lead Michael to safety, guiding him through the crumbling office toward a stairwell. It wasn't easy for Michael or Roselle, who was panting and extremely thirsty, but the two managed to reach safety just moments before Tower 1 collapsed.

                     



Trakr

Trakr owns arguably the most prestigious rescue on our list. Together with police officer James Symington, Trakr helped dig through some 30 feet of unstable debris at the World Trade Center "ground zero" site and locate the last human survivor of the attack. The dog's bravery was so celebrated that he is going to be cloned for use in other police rescue forces!
Shelby
Shelby became the 45th Skippy Dog Hero of the Year for saving two adults and two children from carbon monoxide poisoning. The dog (with her keen sense of smell) was the first to detect the rising C0 levels while the rest of the family was asleep, nudging each of them out of their sleep and refused to stop barking, scratching, and whining until the family was safely outside. Luckily, each family member was treated at a nearby hospital and made a full recovery.
"In my eyes, and in the eyes of my family, Shelby is more than a hero; she is a lifesaver, a guardian angel," said Joleen Walderbach.
  

Everyone loves those heart-pounding movie scenes where the hero escapes a burning pit seconds before it explodes, but it's not so fun in real life. That's what Kathie, a paralyzed parapalegic, learned when her Rotweiller (Eve)pulled her by the ankles from her burning, smoldering truck. Upon pulling Kathie out, Eve proceeded to drag her to a nearby ditch, just far enough away to avoid the explosion of her vehicle.After firemen cleared the scene, Eve was awarded the Stillman Award for her bravery.

Moti

2007's Dog of the Year winner was Moti, the five year old German Shepherd who literally took a bullet for his human family. When a masked intruder made his way into the Patel household, Moti wasted little time, leaping to his feet and barking to draw the gunman's attention. Faced with the angry pooch, the gunman shot him and ran off without harming any of the Patels. Luckily, this furry hero is making a full recovery!

Kaze


Kaze earned top honors from the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department for saving the life of a woman in her late 20's, reported missing a few days earlier. On his first-ever rescue mission, Kaze located the missing woman under a bridge, in a coma that authorities later reported that would have killed her within the hour if she had not been found. Luckily, the woman was rushed to a hospital, where she recovered after a week's time.


Thursday 6 December 2012

The First Week After Amputation ! Part 2.

              Well,  I know that I was supposed to leave my Fatty alone ........ but I couldn't so I was back in around 10 Minutes, when I pretended that I wanted to go to the Loo !! I was back at Fizzly's door and checking in on my lil girl, and would you have it, she was lying on her bed like Cleopatra and completely asleep !  So I suppose I will have to accept that maybe,  Dai does have a clue sometimes only sometimes though Smile with tongue

            This is a big lesson to us all, please remember that your dog has been through a Huge Operation,  and if they had been a Human they would,  still be inside a hospital for Months ~ let alone Hours. So they do actually deserve to have a good sleep, and just allow them some time to rest and recover. I know this is very easy to say, and unbelievably hard to do ! But they do need time time to sort their head out,  and adjust and the most important thing,  is to find time to just sleep !!

            So I left my Fizzly to sleep and went back to the front room,  hoping that Dai hadn't noticed from which direction I had come from :)  though I knew ~ That he knew ~  that I knew etc  But to his credit he didn't even comment ! I don't think that he even contemplated that,  I wouldn't be checking on her every waking moment, but at least I had realised that Fizzly would be able to fall asleep,  without me watching her 24/7.

           I continued to check on her every few minutes and it was about a couple of hours later before she showed signs of waking, so of course Mission Sort Fizzle's was called into operation ! I called for the cavalry, But as they didn't show up !  I called out for Dai and he arrived ! Complete with our Cot Bumper in hand and a lot of good intentions, we managed to slide the cot bumper under her and my amazing girl and I once again took the lead literally !

          I took off her  Flower  Pot and we got my girl up standing, make sure you allow your dog to steady themselves.  As its the weight difference that is probably, the most unsettling part of the whole amputation, as your dog has more than likely, not used the actual leg properly for ages or in Fizzly's case years ....... but when the leg is removed the entire body, is pushed out of whack as they have lost, almost a quarter of their entire body weight ! 

          So allowing your dog a few moments to get balanced, will prevent them moving too fast and falling over ! Which could also mean that your dog may,  bust open the stitches if they fall down hard enough, if your dog does open stitches then just contact your vet and they will just stitch them up again so don't panic !  Now when your dog does fall over ........

I say WHEN  because there will be a day,  WHEN  THEY  FALL   OVER !!! 

         Do  NOT  try to pick your dog up alone unless they are a Chihuahua !!  because your dog will need to assist in the getting back on their feet business !  They know themselves better than you do no matter how much you love your dog, now don't panic just calmly put your support under their tummy and someone holds the support and another holds the lead .......... Now I did this on my own one time,  and I don't really recommend it,  as my arms are only 2 and you need at least 3 !!!

        But once you know that someone has the support safely in place,  then slowly tell your dog to come on. Then allow your dog to dictate, the when to get up and how fast they want to do it, Dogs aren't stupid and they know their own bodies. So allow them to say when they are ready to move, and when they are ready to get up from the floor ! We were very lucky with Fizzly and her ability, to move very well almost straight away, but I have heard that many other dogs have excelled just as quickly !

                 This was Fizzly and Emma, that 1st Night !

         
             As Fizzly was doing so well, with the walking this helped us so much as I don't think,  I would have liked to have to carry my Fatty, we had fenced off the pond and paths as I said in my previous post. But this was something that Fizzly was definitely unhappy about, we were trying to get her to go to the Loo, and she kept looking down to where she usually went !! Once she realised that we were not going to allow her,  to go anywhere she wanted........... she decided that she would try to make a escape back into her room !!

        We were quicker this time and managed to get her back in order, and we walked around the deck waiting for her to wee or poo ! I basically told her we were not going back,  until she had done something, so we continued waiting, then I had the idea that maybe she would do something,  if the other dogs wee'd somewhere 1st ?? especially Milly as she has no qualms of weeing anywhere ! It worked Milly wee'd on the deck and with Dai holding Fizzly up straight, and using my legs as a balancing pole, my Fizzly did a wee and I was ecstatic :)  

        You will find that you will be so happy with the normally, most ordinary of challenges,  but getting your three legged dog to wee will be one of them !! We could see that she was tired and puffing, so with that Magical moment over we took her back to her room. You will find that the smallest amount of doing something, will tire out your dog immensely so please realise its totally normal, and is nothing to be worried about. I know I said it but I was exactly the same as everyone else I was worried about the most ridiculous things :) 

           Of Course I was scared that she would fall over, or chew her stitches out ........... But I was also afraid that because she had the Flower Pot on that if she drank she may get water in the Flower Pot and Drown herself ............  then the water bowl was too far away as she may fall over ..... then I was worried that if the water bowl was too close she could drown in it .......... !!  Then that she would fall into the pond and drown .......
              
            I had am awful lot of Drowning Worries didn't I ???


Little things like that :) and I'm supposedly the one offering advice !! 

           
              Once we took her back to her bed then I spent ages puffing up her bedding and pushing the duvet so she would have a place to rest her weight on ? Then the cow bag just moved herself over and I had to re ~ puff and re ~ push !! I then tried to get her to drink from the water bowl as I hadn't seen her drinking and I thought that she would drink while the Flower Pot was off !  She decided she didn't want to drink anything, so I was freaking that she would become dehydrated !!

         Now this is where I will tell you to calm, breath and relax your brain !! I wanted her to drink something so I figured I could give her a sloppy dinner !!!     We were lucky once again with our Fizzle's, as she was always a complete Piglet when it came to eating, so her not eating was never a problem. This helps especially when it comes to keeping them hydrated, and getting Pain relief into them, though Fizz if you were not careful would eat, whatever you put her Pill in and then spit the Pill out after eating the goodies !!!

                 We stopped this by squeezing her pill into some cheese or pate, as they are both sticky and will hold the pill inside,  without a Rottweiler being able to figure it out ! It's probably harder with a smaller dog, than when you have a Rottweiler as when they eat, they are rather similar to a Great White Shark !!  Another tip I heard from Tripawds was putting the pill in ice~cream.   Or actually dissolving the whole tablet in water, and spraying it into your dogs mouth, which I think is a really good idea, if you have a real problem getting pills into your dog.

But as you can see My Fizzly didn't have a Small Mouth, so you 

could have shoved the whole Box of Pills not just one or two !!!

              
              So we managed to get her pills into her so her pain was taken care of, and then my lil Piggy Wiggy ate all her dinner, made extra sloppy because I was worried she would dehydrate ...... Once she had eaten her Dinner,  the dreaded Flower Pot was firmly attached to this monster Rottweiler's head,  and I tried pulling it to make sure it stayed on her ! Re ~ Puffed /Pushed her duvet and to be fair to my Fizzly, she just accepted that her Mother is Nuts, and allowed me to fuss around her until I was removed by Dai ??

            Not long after my Fizzly was once again asleep, and even though I checked up on her every 10 minutes, mainly in case she was drowning in her water bowl !  She seemed to be totally at peace, and not in any sort of discomfort apart from hating the Flower Pot ! Not that it stopped her sleeping and all I wanted to do was curl up next to her, and just hold her close because the gaping hole that was left,  for all to see,  was making me feel absolutely awful,  and wondering if I had made the right choice ...............
















Sunday 2 December 2012

The First Week after Amputation ! Part 1.

               The first week after your pet has their limb removed, is full of total panic and worrying moments, and no matter how many people tell you, that your doing a Brilliant Job and everything your doing is Perfect !

       You  will  Still  Doubt  It ............ that is perfectly normal and completely understandable.

               It also show's everyone around you just how much you love your pet. If anyone says to you,  that its a Doddle and your silly worrying,  then they either didn't watch their dog at all, or they slept through the entire week !!!

       I do not claim to be an expert in all things  " Amputated "

       But I have lived it and I did it on my own, and believe me it was  Scary,  Worrying,  Panic  Ridden, Tiring  and  Totally  Emotionally  Draining ............ 

  More than that its is also ........ Awe Inspiring,  Amazing,  Spiritual,  Rewarding,  Life  Bonding,  Humbling  and   A Completely  Profound  Experience,  that will leave with a  Total  Admiration  of  What it means ...........
                   
               To be DOG and how to Live and  LOVE  LIFE  !

        The Courage that your Pet will show you daily will astound you, the acceptance of their Amputation and Illness will enhance your link with this animal, it will be a life transforming experience that you will learn from, never forget and will forever hold this incredible animal in a special part of your heart.


Fizz showed us daily, how Incredible she Truly Was !


             From the moment Fizz walked into our home she proved, that she was going to show all the doubter's wrong,  and she would do it with style !! This does not mean that the first week,  was a bed of Roses, but I suppose it could have gone worse. I have posted already on My Tip's For Amputation, that can be found on the side of the page, but I want to talk to you about my first week, when Fizzle's had her leg removed.

           The First thing I would recommend for anyone, when they embark on this monumental journey, of Life with a 3 Legged dog.  Is to find somewhere that you can talk to " Normal People " and get advice or help with question's, or just a friendly place to just vent out your emotions. I did this on my own and there, is only so much that you can bottle inside yourself,  and only so much help or advice that friends, or family can give you. 

           If you are honest I don't think you really, want to off load on your partner or children, as when you become a parent,  you want to hide your deepest worries, away from your children.  As you try, to be strong so they don't get upset. This then leads you down a very lonely path, of hiding your emotions and keeping those, darkest thoughts pushed back, deep into your mind. 

         So my first advice for coping, is find someone who has been through it, and know's how your feeling. This was the whole idea for starting on this journey of Blogging, to be that place that I had needed, when my Fizzle's first became ill. So if you are going through this alone then I'm here, please just message me on the Bottom and I will try to be that place. The place that I needed when my Fizzle's, was first diagnosed and her following and courageous battle with Bone Cancer.

          Tripawds  http://tripawds.com/   is a Blog which deals with Amputations, Cancers, Accidents and Illnesses of all sorts which mean,  that their beloved Pet has had an Amputation. These are normal people who are going through,  the same trauma as you are now, or have lived it like My Fizzly and I. These people are a fountain of knowledge, and you wouldn't find a nicer bunch of animal lovers, if you looked forever !! I have a few regrets regarding my Fizzle's, and not finding this site before Fizzly passed is one of them  :)  

          The first week with Fizzles was one that I will never forget, the fact that we had set up the garden, and had laid down Carpets,  Everywhere ..... Even outside on the deck much to our Coal man's amusement !! This made the possibility of her slipping less likely, even though she did manage to slip a couple of times, which almost made me have a complete heart attack ! Firstly don't panic if your dog does fall, because if you never fall ....... how will we learn to pick ourselves up again !

My Fizzle's on her 2nd Day after Amputation !!!

           We also had fenced off area's like by our pond, and narrow paths where I thought she may slip,  or become stuck, as she wouldn't be able to turn herself around easily.  This would come back to bite me a couple of times that first week, and would also show me how stubborn a certain Black and Tan girl was !!! We were very lucky with our Fizzle's, because she was so mobile so quickly, as I don't think it would have been easy, for us to have, had to carry that Fatty around the Garden in a Papoose !

           The most scary of all things amputated,  are actually the most Basic, and things like  Walking,  Eating, Pain,  Chewing  Stitches  Out.  Then the most  Basic of all,  and  the  Highest Worry of all,  and something that I hadn't even thought about, which was how would  Fizzle's  manage to  " Go to the Loo  " !!  I hadn't even thought about the concept as to how,  does a Rottweiler go to the Loo ....... when they only have 1 back leg ??                 

        With regards to the falling over and walking , Fizzle's sorted this out for herself, as she was walking virtually unaided, as soon as she was allowed to start moving ! So we made sure that the carpets laying around on, could be slippery surfaces so this made the chance of slipping less, than if we'd left the floors uncovered.  She still needed help to get up and standing, so the cot bumper came into use once again, and I would recommend a Cot Bumper as it worked really well :) 

                      Those of you who have read the previous posts will know, that Fizzly had the Sticky Plaster still half hanging over the incision, as she had made it totally obvious that she wouldn't want it pulling off any time soon !  So I figured for the first night I would leave it on, especially as I knew that Our Fizzle's, was a Chewer of Stitches !!! So for the first night I thought that more protection, would take 1st Place to the possibility of catching shaved skin running at 2nd.

          Once we had caught our breath, it was decided that we would see, if she wanted to go to the loo so to speak ! So with me in the lead as normal and Dai supporting her, with the Cot Bumper we opened the back door, and we made a sort of Grande Entrance into the Garden. Well her look at the fenced in area's and carpeted deck, was met with some serious amusement from our Fizzly, as if to say I hope you didn't pay anyone for this Mess !!

          But she moved onward and of course her beeline was for the Pond, which was out of her reach as I, was so worried she may fall into the pond ........ She looked up at me and just huffed, with that she decided to turn herself around, much to the panic of the 2 humans  IN  CHARGE  !!!! Once we had gained enough control to turn in her direction, she then set off at a Galloping Hop. She hopped over the carpeted deck like a gazelle, and virtually dragged us into her room ( Sun Room on the side of our house !)

         She headed to her room and virtually ran into her space, and promptly decided that she'd had enough, and  jumped onto her bed which we had put a double duvet so that she would be clean and comfy. She then decided to just curled herself around,  and lay down on her NEW DUVET  as if was the most normal thing in the world.  I almost fainted at the obvious lack of worrying about falling over, and opening her stitches and the fact that this dog had run, and then jumped onto the bed, and then had just thrown herself into a lying position  !!!!!

This was the Face that Greeted us right, at that Moment !!! Cow Bag !

                 I have no idea what I expected from Fizzly, when we brought her home but if I'm honest, I already knew she was an incredible dog.  But when your thrown into this fog~like state, when Cancer come's into your world, I don't think anything is ever " NORMAL " again. Right at this moment so many thought's were rushing into my mind ?

Does she need to be lying in a different place and not on her incision ?
Is she hurting and does she need a Pill ? 
Did she want to go to the Loo ? 
Was she hungry as she hadn't eaten ?
Should I Super Glue her Mouth Shut, so she couldn't chew her Stitches !!!  
Should I stay with her watching her 24/7 ................ 

              These were only a few of the thoughts, and I could feel myself getting more and more worked up, this is when that knowledge of anyone, who had been through this would have helped me ! But I didn't have anyone to ask and the panic was rising .........  
              Then Dai said " Ok Put her Flower Pot on her head, and let her have a lil rest, we will feed her in a bit and get her up again for a wee ??? "


Don't you just hate it, when they are Calmer than you, and start talking more sense !! ........

                            Of course I wasn't happy about leaving her, and I had to push her water Bowl Closer,  and puff up her covers,  make sure the Flower Pot was secure,  and then give her kisses and cuddles !!   I was basically dragged, out of the room kicking and screaming ....... maybe a lil over Dramatic,  but I think I put my point across !  Fizzly almost breathed a sigh of relief, when I was forced out of her room ....... Ungrateful Moo Bag that she was  :) 

           So actually I think I acted totally reasonably,  and was totally  Justified in my almost  "  Total  Mental  Break~Down  ! "   Told you I was the perfect place to come to, when your dog is going through these life changing Stages !  All of these thought's that were flooding into my brain right then,  have flooded through any other people's Brain's,  if they have gone through the, Trauma of having a Pet's Limb Removed.  They are totally............. 

Justified Thought's because we all love our Pet's ....... It's as Simple as that :) 

           What you have to realise that its this  LOVE,  that will see you through the first moments of Panic, at the thought of being totally in control of a 3 Legged Dog. Your pet will show you how truly amazing they really are, and I promise that those first few moments of worry,  fright and Panic. Will turn into a total,  and breath~Taking Roller Coaster of a ride, it will be hard, nerve racking and plain exhausting. But the things that you will gain,  from this whole experience will be unmeasurable .........

  You will truly know,  what it means to be dog, and its your Dog's gift to you .........

                            This incredible acceptance and plain courage,  Your Pet will show you what life truly means, and you will be changed forever, and this is the start of this learning curve.  Who better to teach you than your beloved Pet,  who is also your Very Best Friend,  and this Pathway will enhance your life and spirit. It will prove that their is a higher Power, and its shown to you daily, but now you will truly believe. That there is definitely something, out there otherwise why would you be given this GIFT !! 

                 My Fizzly who shared her Gift of Love to every person,

                                  or animal that she ever Met in Life !!