Happy Pitbull Awareness Day !!!

Shadow is spending her day doing whatever she wants! 

... Wait she does that everyday anyway! Well at least today she has a special excuse! It's her day! 

Some of My Favorite Pics of Spuds

I was looking through some old pics. I know I've posted some of these before, but I love them! Spuds and me often did mini photo-shoots :)

I think this was around winter 2010

 

Spring 2012. Soccer balls were always one of his favorite toys.

 

Spring 2012 again.

 

When the electric went out at the end of June 2012. It was really hot, but Spuds insisted on cuddling.

Just another cuddle session.

Nap time. Just a normal night!

Posing!

My soul dog.

Racism is the pits! Gotta stand up for the Pits!

My comfort blanket.


Just wanted to share some of my favorites!!! Will be looking through pics of Spuds and Shadow together soon.

~Smooches and Tail Wags, -The Pooches (&Anna&Chad)

Spuds has Crossed the Rainbow Bridge

Spuds was taken to the vet last Monday October 7th due to lack of appetite and vomiting that came on, seemingly out of nowhere. That day at the vet, an x-ray revealed some minor intestinal inflammation, a spleen mass, and kidney stones.

Spuds' blood work came back the day after his appointment, and revealed very elevated BUN and Creat, which are kidney labs. His labs overall, and professional opinion by our vet, as well as Medvet animal hospital, pointed towards chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.

 

I miss seeing my family all together in snuggle mode.

The medical opinion was also that this had probably been going on for a while (hence, "chronic kidney disease"), but that Spuds didn't show any signs until now. They found some infection in his labs as well. The infection likely threw his health into a tailspin, causing him to finally show some signs of not feeling well.
The spleen mass was likely benign, but until his labs improved, Spuds wouldn't have been able to tolerate surgery or biopsy of it. The biggest issue was the kidneys.

Beautiful Boy

Spuds received iv fluid, antibiotics, and anti nausea treatment from Tuesday through Saturday. From Thursday evening through Saturday evening, he came home in the evenings, as his temperature began dropping without heat support, and we wanted to be with him in the event that he started to decline more rapidly.  We gave him fluids and anti nausea medication throughout the nights. His temperature dropping without heat support was a sign that his body was trying to shut down.

On Saturday, October 12th, Spuds had labs re-drawn. Spuds had endured a very stressful, and likely painful, week. His labs revealed that absolutely nothing had improved. The only reason we decided to try some treatment, was to see if his kidneys could be "jump started," with the possibility of him having some good quality of life left. We decided to see how he did overnight one more time, so that we could spend time with him, and so that all of his loved ones could see him.
Spuds had continued to have periods of nausea and vomiting despite his treatment. He also began having "kidney failure diarrhea." By Saturday evening, he was leaking liquidy diarrhea like fluid, and didn't even seem to realize it was happening. He hadn't been able to eat since the Monday of his first vet appointment.
Saturday was such a special day for him. He was very perky and happy all day, because about 15 friends and family members came to see him throughout the day. It was the best I'd seen him since all this started. Spuds meant so much to so many people, and had made a big mark in a lot of people's hearts.
By Sunday morning (one week ago today), Spuds had a hard time standing up. The kidney toxins had begun eating the proteins in his body. He was suffering and nothing that we tried had made him any better. The only choices we had were to let him die painfully and slowly in the following few days, or to give him a gift of passing peacefully and without additional pain. We chose to end his suffering on Sunday, October 13, 2013.

It has been one week. Our home, and hearts, feel a little empty. We cannot believe that a dog who has been so relatively healthy would have to leave us so suddenly and unexpectedly. We feel, however, blessed to have had the past 9 1/2 years with such an amazing dog. He taught us lessons about life, like how to treat others better, how to have patience, and how to never judge a book by it's cover. Spuds sparked my interest in Pit Bull advocacy. He changed my life, and will forever be my soul dog.

Shadow is adjusting well, although appears a bit bored and clingy.

I only regret that I didn't take more time to share the past several months with all of you on the blog.

My comfort blanket, my soul dog.

Remembering Spuds, ~The Pooch (&Anna&Chad)

Spuds.

He's in kidney failure. 

He started vomiting and not eating the other day so we went to the vet yesterday. The bloodwork came back today. 

Why do some dogs have to be so stoic? I wish he would've shown signs sooner. 

He's currently at the hospital. I'll keep you all updated. I'm sorry we've been so absent from the blog in recent months :(. 

Power Of The Paw Please, ~The Pooches (&Anna&Chad)

Wordless Wednesday