Ah….just peeked in, hoping for an update and there it was. Thank you. My father suffered with kidney stones – I had the ..um…rare treat once of seeing one of those buggers that he saved, for a while, in a little vial. I think he went for a light Jack Daniels treatment on pain.

Tell the T-pups and the T-Boggs many people are thinking about them.
I haul my husband over the computer just to see the hound pics and stories, all the time and he loves it.

And the political humor, well…let’s just say…Michelle Malkin probably has your likeness on a voodoo doll and she spits M&Ms at it, regularly.

God love ya…

Vicodin – you’ll still be in pain, but you’ll care about it less. (YMMV, of course.)

Speaking as someone who’s going dogless for five days (vacation, no dogs allowed, so Angus is off to stay at the less-luxurious-than-it-sounds Wine Country Pet Resort), I wish health and happiness for everyone’s dogs everywhere, but especially Satchmo the Benevolent.

Oy, poor Satch, poor TBogg. Feel better both of you. Maybe Mrs. TBogg can have a martini with some of that booze you don’t touch, I’m sure she isn’t having a picnic either these days.
But you know Tbogg, just a little Jack & Coke might taste good for you

Tom,

Just wanted to chime in here on a couple of things. I’m mainly a lurker, and I’ve enjoyed your work for some time now, and you’ve given me many laughs. Thanks for that.

I am also dealing with “senior dog” issues with my best buddy, my 12-year old(soon to be 13) black lab, Moose. Moose was diagnosed with diabetes a little over a year ago, and we’re going the whole route. Special diet, insulin shots, day-long visits to the vet for glucose curve blood tests, along with the arthritis and hip issues that are normal for a 120 lb dog. It seems like it happened overnight. While it is sometimes heartbreaking to watch my friend become more and more decrepit, and to watch him slowly slip away from me, he is happy and without pain, as far as I can tell. I will stand by him, and do all I can for him, as long as that is the case. When the time comes when I must meet my final obligation to him. it will be more than I can bear, but I will bear it for him.

This anonymous quote sums it up far better than I ever could:

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.”

I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that Satchmo comes through ok.

Dogs don’t know how long they live, only how well they live. So if we can help them live well, then they are happy.
I’m glad to hear that the diagnosis on Satch is getting clearer — its so difficult with dogs to figure out where they are hurt but they have a great way of springing back once the medicine is right.
And best wishes for Moose too — we also have Labs and they are wonderful dogs.
My vet has a treatment he calls an “Old Dog Cocktail” which is a shot full of steroids and other stuff which he says you would never give to a younger dog but can be very helpful for an older one who has mobility and acuity problems — our old Lab had several of these shots and I credit them with helping her live for an extra two years. She lived to the ripe old age of 17, which is pretty old for a Lab.

Thanks for your thoughtfulness towards your readers, sir. Hope that the stone passes uneventfully and SOON, that Satchmo’s pain responds to the new med schedule, and that Mrs. Tbogg gets a pitcherful of martinis or a triple chocolate mousse or whatever her favorite indulgence is, ‘cuz dealing with dueling alter kackers ain’t no picnic.

I have heard that veterinary geriatrics owes a great deal to the infamous Baby Boomer generation. In the usual reverse-jujitsu of medical experimentation, scientists looking forward to a 21st-century bonanza of aging Boomers with deep wallets and an unlimited sense of entitlement have spent the last 30 years testing new procedures & drugs on animals, including our companion animals. The results have not always been fortunate for the front-line testees, of course, but there is so much more a veterinarian can do today than tell a dog-lover “What do you expect — he’s OLD!”…

Relax, and we hope the “kids” are all better soon.
You made me fall down enough times with just your snark, we demand a You Tube video of you doing the same after a vicodin.
Bw careful and safe. We’ll be here when you return.
Count on it.

Hi TBogg — That Joe Zawinel was from me, me, me! (joint Amazon account with hubby. Your wish list gave me some good anniversary present ideas & I bought a copy for him, too. …)

Get better soon everyone.

Poor Mrs. TBogg must be exhausted.

Take the g-d pain medicine, TBogg. How can you take care of St. Satchmo, Beckham, Fenway, Mrs. TBogg and The Gurl if you can’t move?

Long dogs, long backs, hurties. And it’s almost impossible for them to do any kind of useful stretching exercises.

TBogg:

Faithful lurker/reader here for many years.

Forgive me in advance, and I suspect I’ll be crucified in the comments for asking, but I am curious as to how much $$$$ you have spent so far on Satchmo’s medical care. Is there a dollar amount at which you intend to draw the line?

In your opinion, is there a difference between the amount of medical dollars you are willing to spend on a family member depending on whether they are a human or, you know…a dog?

Thanks.

flypsyde, just wanted to make a point before the Real Dog Lovers chime in with insistence that any dollar amount up to infinity is justified, we should all do whatever it takes, etc.

I can’t, of course, speak for the TBogg clan, but in my own experience with a much beloved yet elderly dog, the issue was not dollars per se so much as quality of life. Our beloved Labrador tore a knee ligament when she was five years old–we paid for very expensive surgery and rehab for her at the time. She had a similar injury at the age of eleven. At that time, since she was becoming a bit more crotchety and confused, we felt that surgery would be too hard for her. We chose to control her pain, and she had a couple more happy years. When it was clear that she was mentally deteriorating, and no longer getting much enjoyment out of life, it was time to say goodbye. I have no idea how much we spent over the years on this (initally) free puppy. I can say that she repaid us many times over.

TBogg, I will be lighting candles in the Basilica of St. Satchmo today. Good thoughts to the TBoggs and TDoggs.

Hugs to you all, you lightweights you.

We lost euthanized (I don’t believe in euphamisms) our sheperd/chou mix “Chucho” a year ago, and I still miss him terribly. But I wanted to echo your point, it was all about quality of life. When he couldn’t stand to go outside to urinate, well, how much pleasure was there left in any of our live’s at that point?

Our pup (3 year old Ceci) is off to Grandma’s house to frolic in the mountains of Noth Carolina while the rest of the family frolics on the beaches of No. California in August. We already miss her terribly.

And, finally, to all the Boggs, hang in there, “this, too, will pass.”

You know, I’ve never posted on your site before – everyone seems to *know* each other and I feel like the dorky kid that always gets picked last for dodgeball sticking a toe in…but I check every Thursday night for the basset blogging. And with that face, Satchmo is the favorite (don’t tell the others).

Don’t even THINK about not updating us. Good news works, too.

And oh yeah – you feel better too. And don’t worry; I have a 42 gram lovebird at home who has cost me thousands in vet bills over the years due to health issues brought on by the abuse in his former home, and I would spend 5 times that for the love I get in return.

thank you for the update. instead of the weekly friday morning check-in, i’ve been making daily stops looking for updates on your boys..

good wishes to all of you…

You’d better register “Court-ordered Mormon” before FOX steals it.

Steals it nothing – McCain chooses Romney, wins election, dies in office and lo, it’s “Court-ordered Mormon” or the camps, baby!

After passing a kidney stone my brother, according to his wife, walked around with the “thousand yard stare” for a couple months. But then he always was a wuss. Hang in there.

Well, at least they’re getting closer to finding out what’s wrong with the dude. Still sending good thoughts your way.

Oh, and you should try a pair of spinal fusions mixed with nearly every conceivable spinal issue (other than scoliosis, so I got that going for me).

When that happens, you get to take 30 MG of morphine 6 times a day.

(Yes, that’s true. No, it doesn’t make me spacey — in fact, I don’t even notice it any more. Ricockulous pain all day, every day, will do that.)

Ann Althouse has her box wine, and now you has yer Vicodin!
Please, please. Video.

oh Mr TBogg, we are the same on drugs and alcohol – but having passed both gall and kidney stones – egawd take the vike! (and this from a woman who gave birth twice with no drugs) and don’t worry, we’ll all come visit you at Promises *g*

thank you and (((Mrs TBogg))) for thinking of us all out here and giving us an update

continuing to pray and sending healing, comforting thoughts to Casa TBogg

It sounds like they’ve at least narrowed down the problem; our dachshund has disc disease and an anti-inflammatory diet (sardines and anchovies are packed with Omega3s) and supplements (glucosamine, chondroitin; also, Nupro products and Vetri-Disc) have been really helpful; we also use acupuncture. He also likes to sit on my lap and get massaged, which the vet has said actually helps. And keep him horizontal! No jumping, going up and down stairs, standing on his hind legs, etc.

Here’s some information on the anti-inflammatory diet:

http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/ne….._Neuro.htm

Also, if you give him vegetables, steer clear of onions (bad for dogs generally) as well as peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and tomatoes, which can exacerbate inflammation.

Since there seems to be more information on disc disease in dachshunds than just about any other breed, you might want to visit some dachshund websites and message boards for more on disc issues.

http://www.thedachshundnetwork.com has tons of information on disc issues. Here is the page specifically about that; you have to register to use the site but they don’t ask for anything invasive — just a username and email address.

http://www.thedachshundnetwork…..y.php?f=66

I hope this is helpful! Love to Satchmo from me, my family and our dachshund!

Mixed news on Satch. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him. As for the kidney stone, I’ve never had the pleasure, but a friend who has tells me that his nurse told him from experience that it’s more painful than giving birth. I hope your stash is sizable.

A female friend gave birth and had a kidney stone at the same time. Birthing was nothing, she said afterward. My husband has had at least a dozen kidney stones in the past 25 years that we’ve been married. He likes to remind me of our friend’s story, as I’ve only delivered 2 babies.

Get well soon, TBogg and Satch.

This is actually mrs. Ronald. Us bipeds in the house have been checking for news on Satchmo several times a day – just in case. Each Thursday bipeds, the St Bernard Loki, Chow Chow Ming Fou, and the 8 felines crowd around the laptop all waiting for Thursday nite blogging. So we are invested and pulling for all of you. The felines – Tuxe Marie, Tansey Elizabeth, Halley Girl, Patches, 57, Sonny, Mama Torti and Aura each have given one extra kitty life to Satchmo – use freely. We are not forgetting Beckam – gentle tummy rub,try not to worry, and Fenway – rustle on the ears and give the bipeds a break.

And Bipeds – we have been there – Do whatever gets you through the night. And don’t be afraid to keep us all up to date – we are all lovingly worried!

Furry Love – Mr and Mrs Ronald

Here’s another wish of wellness for both you and your elderly canine companion. As the owner of an (14-year) old poodle with arthritis and colitis and probably a bunch of other ‘itises that I don’t know about, I can heartily recommend pet acupuncture as an option now that you have a clear diagnosis from the vet. A good acupunturist can use that diagnosis to bring your pet some relief and maybe some more time as an engaged member of the family. It won’t cure fused vertabrae, but it will give some palliative relief.

Good luck with all of it!

Best wishes to both you guys. No apologies needed; those of us who come here regularly seek out the Bassett updates, whatever that says about us all.

I had 2 kidney stones when I was in my 20s. (I’m way old now.) The emergency room wanted to make sure I was “really” passing stones and not just hustling for drugs and made me wait a good 2 hours while they x-rayed, poked and prodded. Even my fetal position whimpering did not convince them.

Finally, when the x-rays proved I had a friggin’ basketball in my tube, they fell over themselves giving me the best of the best of the opiates in vast, refillable quantities. To be honest, I was in so much pain I could have married the woman who gave me that first shot of Darvo-love. Sigh.

Good luck to you and The Wonder Dog, Oh Great And Mighty Tbogg, and take whatever damn drugs they give you. Don’t make me come out there!

I am a new commenter and I really only signed up to offer encouragement about the dogs . I have 3 dogs now and have been thru too many before . I can only offer you all my sympathy and all my hope . Dogs Are my family now , and even when the kids were still home I got way more love back from the dogs . I hope your family gets well , and soon .
w3ski and fuzzy family

Oh man! having sat with someone in the ER for a whole day while he writhed in pain passing a kidney stone — I’ll say this much, this is why we have drugs. Use them.

And so sorry Satchmo is on the disabled list. Hoping he’s feeling better soon, too.

nice touch tho, the dissolving kidney stone ad
lol

Thanks so much for all the links and info and if there is anyone in the San Diego area who knows of a good doggie acupuncturist, we would surely appreciate the referral. Satch is a little more comfortable today and lately seems to be more stable with fewer highs and lows (good for the entire clan) but we still need some long-term relief. Again…all the love right back at you!!!

tbogg,
You gotta stash? Call me.
Just kidding! Those days are behind me — though I did get a tingle up the leg at the mention…..never mind.

I continue to send good thoughts to you and Satch, and your caregiver, Mrs. T.

If Mrs Tbogg isn’t at the Holiday Inn Express by now, she’s a keeper!

Hang in there, y’all..

I love advil ™ and sweet tea.. If I had k-stones, I would definitely take the strong stuff.

It sounds like the elder males of the household are having a craptastic time and is this fair? The golden years should be free of stress and pain, but when pain comes it is a good idea to get rid of it however you can, even if you have to resort to Rush Limbaugh’s favourite medication.

I’m so sorry to hear Satch has spinal problems but bassets are so top heavy it’s not surprising. Humans have to work to fight the effects of gravity on their own spines and bassets are at a disadvantage since they can’t do yoga and Pilates machines aren’t built for bassets. There are water therapy treatments for dogs and, amazingly, cats. A woman in my neck of the woods specializes in healing broken backs of cats and dogs using hydrotherapy. Perhaps once he’s out of the woods, this might be worth looking into. (It might also be ultra cool to get Satch is very own Jacuzzi… Think of the fun, and the jealousy it will stir up!)

Praying for him…he’s such a keeper and it just can’t be his time yet.

Best of luck with the stone. This may help.
http://www.earthclinic.com/CUR…..tones.html

P.S. Spotted this on a site advertising rehabilitative services. Looks professional.

Cutting Edge K9 Rehab
Water Exercise & Therapeutic Massage
San Diego, California area
Phone: 619-227-7802
Fax: 619-223-0267
Website: http://www.CuttingEdgeK9.com
Email – penickpt@cuttingedgek9.com

Perhaps this might help. They should have listings for qualified acupuncturists in your area.
The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
http://www.ivas.org/

Sometimes these societies can be hit and miss but this one has been around for a long time so hopefully it has credibility.

I’m hoping that Satchmo feels better soon, and you too. About pain: pain is information. That’s all it is. It tells us that something is happening, which can be evolutionarily helpful in the “stop pounding your head against the cave wall, you’ll damage yourself” sort of way. In your case, you know why you’re having pain- you have a kidney stone. So you don’t have to figure out what the information means, you know what it means- so it’s okay to shoot that messenger. Take the vicodin! Pain is stressful and exhausting and unhelpful once the diagnosis has been achieved.

I’m dealing with elderly cat issues (compressed vertebra from a recent fall after other falls), but your quote made me cry. Thanks for that–it’s the ups and downs that are so wrenching to watch.

And hope you and Satchmo are feeling better soon, Tbogg. And really, just stick with advil or tylenol for pain–narcotic pain killers just make the rest of you feel so krappy you defocus on the problem. A sharp stick to the eyeball has a similar effect.

Dude, seriously. Lay off the Tylenol. That stuff’ll kill you.

Apparently several of us are dealing with “older animal” issues. Sweet Pea, 17 or 18 (she adopted us when she was full grown), one of the three cats in this house who are purring for Satchmo, has diabetes and arthritis. For the diabetes she gets 2 shots of insulin a day, but for the arthritis the vet says there’s not really anything out there for felines. So she has steps up to the bed, and gets a boost up to the couch for snuggles while we’re watching TV. She and Victoria are too old to spare any, but Hoover has volunteered one of his 9 lives to deposit to Satchmo’s account. And they all continue their purring.

I agree, TBogg, with everyone else regarding taking the damn drugs. The last time I had the serious miseries and was prescribed industrial amounts of codeine I tried to tough it out. Stoopid… When I finally took the damn pills I realized that I was still in just the same amount of pain but it was somehow over on the other side of the room and I didn’t need to pay any attention to it over there. I strongly encourage you to banish your kidney stone pain to the next room, or the garage if possible.

All best wishes and purrs to the TBoggs and the TDogs.

Thanks Lesley…good to have you back!