11/22/23
Sorry for anyone who is following Pippi’s story. She is doing great!!!!! She hasn’t thrown up in months and her digestive system has cleared up. We changed her food and she doesn’t get any treats or table scraps (poor Pippi), but it has worked wonders. Her energy is up and she even went away (only 75 minutes, but to a hotel) last weekend and is going away to the same place for Thanksgiving. She’s going hiking! Yay Pippi!
12:30 AM
Having a lot of trouble sleeping because we are trying to keep Pippi’s weight up and stopping her from throwing up by giving her frequent small meals. Her last one is 1:00 am. She seems to be doing well. Lots of energy and seems happy. She’s been eating well and hasn’t thrown up in quite a while. We are trying to stay optimistic, but it’s hard. Hopefully we’ll know more later today.
12:39 PM
GOOD NEWS!!!!
Pippi does NOT have cancer. Rather, it is probably inflammatory bowel disease which is most likely treatable with a food change. WHEW! I am going to work on Petitations with her today. She need to be put back to work!
Thanks for all your thoughts!
9/12/23
Pippi threw up blood on Saturday and they got a cancellation so they moved up her scope and biopsy to today. Pippi and I are so anxious. She was shaking at the vet and tried to make a run for it on her way into the office (smart pup!). We had to sign all kinds of papers (do we want her to be resuscitated? YES!!!!!) etc. $3000 later (thank goodness we have insurance–yay Healthy Pets), she is now under the knife (or scope) and we are waiting anxiously for the call saying she woke up and then the call later telling what the heck is wrong with the poor baby. I’ll let you know later what they found out. In the meantime, I’m working on my next podcast on an interview with the author of a book called Starfish which will be put up on the website later today. I have to do something to get my mind off all of the horrible things that can be wrong with Pippi and try to stay positive.
UGH! There was a lot of blood in Pippi’s stomach and in her lower intestine which the vet said was either missed on the ultrasound or quickly progressing. But, on a more positive note, at least she woke up.
It’s either Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or the big “C” word. I don’t even want to say it. We’ve lost two Schipperkes to cancer already at around Pippi’s age (11), and it would be heartbreaking for this to be the third. The vet said we should hear back from her on Thursday once they get the results of the biopsy but she’s going to Europe so it’ll be over email. What timing!
I’m trying to stay in the moment and not project the worst case scenario, but it’s tough. I already cried my eyes out and I haven’t even gotten a diagnosis back.
Pippi is the smartest dog I’ve ever had (she knows over 30 words) and has quite the personality. She has 10 stuffed hedgehogs she plays with (pretty much the only toys she likes) and chooses a token hedgehog of the day and refuses to play with any of the others. But, other than the biggest one, she pretty much shares the love. She also, like her brother did, loves to sunbathe.
I hope, wish, pray, that it is IBS which is treatable.
Other than being a bit dazed, she seems fine. That’s what’s so confusing. She was fine until four months ago when she threw up blood. We thought she was our healthy one. Pippi has been eating, drinking, pooing and peeing normally with a high energy level all along. She always wants to go on a long walk, even in the high heat. Let’s hope those are all good signs.
Keep on crossing your fingers, toes and paws for my baby.
Pippi Cuddling in Her Baba
9/4/23
Pumpkin is Only for Pie?
Pippi is eating, but she HATES pumpkin (I don’t blame her, pumpkin puree is actually quite gross when it’s not in a pie). She’s was eating around it but now, if there is any pumpkin in her bowl, she refuses it altogether. The vet did say that we could wean her back to her regular food, so she must have read that in her discharge notes and is taking it literally. So, she is eating enough rice, cottage cheese and her regular canned food to maintain her weight until we figure out what the heck is wrong with her. The only problem is she isn’t drinking enough. We’re hoping that after a long walk tonight (it’s too hot in Sacramento to walk her during the day), she’ll be thirsty. I’m glad that she’s getting some liquids through her wet food. She finally started drinking on her own again….whew…
Pippi’s Walk
9/3/23–The Big Scare
Pippi the Pup gave us a big scare today. All of the sudden, instead of being ravenous, she stopped eating and drinking. We tried her regular with a little canned whitefish and then her normal food (cottage cheese, rice, her regular canned pork and pumpkin)…I know, it sounds disgusting, but she usually loves it–she wouldn’t touch it. A few hours later, in desperation, I put some on my finger and offered it to her and she hesitantly took it and then ate the whole bowlful. Phew! But, she still wasn’t drinking and my partner couldn’t get her to pee.
I took her for a long walk and she pulled me the whole way, taking the intersections catty-corner, as usual. And she peed nine times! She did start limping until I took a thorn out of her paw and then she went back to prancing energetically.
When I got home, we gave her some water in an eyedropper and prayed a bit. Finally, she drank on her own and the next time we went to feed her she ate like her normal self.
We’re hoping (wishing, praying) it was just a fluke and not indicative of a more serious problem. Please keep your fingers and paws crossed for us.
8/31–Pippi’s First Shave
Poor Pippi. After a hard day at the vet, an ultrasound and even more bloodwork, her vet, Ann, still doesn’t know what is wrong with her. I really wish she knew how to talk to us in English! Today just showed us that she has had pancreatitis and her kidneys are aging normally. We will find out more from the bloodwork at the latest early next week and they are taking a look at her esophagus by putting a camera down her throat the week of September 11th. She is probably just an anxious dog like her mother (owner). It’s time to do more Petitations with her to calm down both Pippi and her Mom.
8/28/23
Pippi has been enjoying her homemade meals although with every meal she acts as if she hasn’t eaten in days (in fact, it’s just three hours). She’s kept everything down and although she seemed a bit under the weather this morning, she woke up at around 4pm, her regular time and walked me. It was too hot to go as far as she wanted so we’ll go for a long walk tonight when it cools down. She has an appointment for her ultrasound and follow-up with her internist on Thursday so we’re hoping she keeps it together until then.
8/27/23–Oh No! What is Wrong with Pippi???
We love our pets and when they leave us, all-too-soon, it’s like losing a member of the family. Two close friends lost their dogs in the past few weeks and my heart goes out to them. Both Angel and Molly are featured in the Pets of the Month.
That said, Pippi the Pup scared the heck out of us this weekend. She has been diagnosed with Pancreatitis and we feed her a special diet. However, this weekend she threw up blood…twice. Otherwise, she’s always starving as usual, pooping normally, drinking, peeing and running around like her normal happy-go-lucky self. We took her to the doggy emergency and after what seemed like an eternity, they told us to schedule an ultrasound and possibly a camera down her esophagus and we should know more. She is taking stomach coating and anti-nausea medication and seems to be tolerating it. She’s being spoiled with homemade food–rice, white fish, and cottage cheese and she loves it. I’ve been obsessed with Dr. Google and can’t seem to figure out what is wrong so I always go to the worst case scenario. Please keep your fingers, toes and paws crossed and we’ll keep you updated.
8/28/23
Pippi has been enjoying her homemade meals although with every meal she acts as if she hasn’t eaten in days (in fact, it’s just three hours). She’s kept everything down and although she seemed a bit under the weather this morning, she woke up at around 4pm, her regular time and walked me. It was too hot to go as far as she wanted so we’ll go for a long walk tonight when it cools down. She has an appointment for her ultrasound and follow-up with her internist on Thursday so we’re hoping she keeps it together until then.
Hiking companion, personal trainer, protector.
Eight is not enough in years
and yet each day was a gift.
Joyful, intuitive, & energetic
in her zest to rush outside.
Her paw to my knee signaled needs.
At nap time she’d fall asleep on our feet.
Not always well-behaved,
we were her pack,
she was our guide.
For now we are lost.
– Deb Johnston
“Grief is love with nowhere to go” -Author Unknown
