Oh, TBogg… The 3 cats are now purring overtime. And you and yours are being held in our thoughts and prayers. Here’s hoping for comfort for St. Satchmo the Just and relief of your kidney stones, and a safe trip back to college for the L&T Casey, and a good night’s sleep for Mrs. TBogg. Y’all are loved, you know.

So hoping for the medication miracle. Love and hugs to Satchmo and family, from me and Tucker (my 12-year-old Lab mix whose back end is also failing).

I’m first again.

And I’m wishing I had some magic words to say…but I don’t. So… all the things I’ve said before, tripled.

And I’m looking forward to the Fenway/Roof story. I could tell the one where my husband was found holding a step ladder up to a cat, who’d been squalling in the high rafters of a porch …as you can tell, perhaps, we’re real saps about animals around here.

All the best to Big Dogs and T Boggs, again. Here’s hoping you all get some rest and healing. And a special prayer for the old boy Sacthmo, the sweet doggie with the wonderful name.

Whoop - not first. Tarried too long!

Your a good man, Mr. Bogg.

I am really sorry. I hope Satchmo rebounds. You know your dog better than anyone and you will know what the right thing to do is.

Your affection for your dogs is one part of what is best and most admirable in you as a human being. Unfortunately your personal pain and impending loss are ultimately not the most important factors in the very difficult decisions you now need to make. In my mind, the only question is related to Satchmo’s quality of life. What’s best for him? To what extent do pain meds reduce (not eliminate) the pain of a serious back injury? Are we talking about chronic pain, or is there a chance for a recovery? How painful or distressing are the treatments?

I apologize if this sounds a little harsh - it is meant in kindness to both you, your family, and all the pooches.

Anyone who has a four-legged family member would agree with you on option 3. You don’t need to be told you’re doing the right thing, but know that the rest of us suckers for a sad pair of eyes or a pitiful meow would do just the same, as some of us have been there. He knows he’s loved, there’s no doubt about that, and that can help get you through a lot. I hope his crib mates are not too stressed out (though the idea of a basset on the roof has me wondering).

I hope the steriods will work for Satchmo. They’ve got to be good for something besides getting Barry Bonds in the record books. Remember to take care of yourselves too!

You and your furry fambly in my heart tonight.

I’m so sorry. Take care.

Sorry to hear this. My best wishes for Satchmo.

Dang! I’m so sorry.

(((TBogg and Mrs TBogg))) you mensch, we know what you are going through and yet have the heart to reach out to all of us with an update

I just wanna hold Satch in my lap and just wrap my arms around him. I know you are both loving on him and seeing to his comfort as I type.
continuing to pray and send healing, comforting vibes your way. we hold you in our hearts.

Aw, man. Virtual hugs and scritches to St. Satchmo. I do not envy the decisions you may have to make, I’ve been there and it is no fun. You’ll do what’s best for the boy, y’all love him too much to do anything else.

This is so sad.

As a lover of long-backed dogs, dachshunds, I’v run into my share of back problems. Confinement, confinement, three weeks at least, with carrying outside for peeznpooz has been extremely successful. One old girl whose hindquarters were completely paralyzed following an extremely painful back injury eventually taught herself to move again over a two year period. I’ve seen the same healing with a cat who appeared to have a stroke. Vet said to put her down but my instinct was to take her home and build a cage for her in the kitchen where she was still a part of the animal family but with a very limited ability to move about. Just enough to change positions, and switch from bottom up to top up with water dish in the enclosure.

Funny thing is that they too sense this is the best thing for them and your boy won’t object after the first day or so. He’ll actually relax and settle right into the new regime. You’ll have more problems trying to keep the other two out of the most special enclosure.

Best of luck.

My and my wife’s hugs , to all of your family . We wish you good luck and strength . May something please work .
w3ski and family

It’s cold comfort, but lots of us know exactly what you are going through. We’ve been through the ‘option 2′ moment with our first two dogs and it’s as close to hell as I ever want to get. Our thoughts are with you tonight.

Here’s hoping that Chum is right about treatment.

Breaks my heart. The best to all of you and yourn.

The meds seem to be at least, giving Satch some comfort. Hopefully we can all get through the night with a wakeup call at 4am to keep those wonderful narcotics flowing through the big dog’s system. And an update on Tbogg (because he won’t)…there is only one stone and we have some meds (MEDS!!!) to help pass it less painfully. It is truly amazing how the comfort of our little community here is easing us through this difficult time. We will get through it…whatever the outcome…as a family…ALL of us. Thank you all more than we can ever say.

The whole Bogg family is in my thoughts now.

I’ve been where you are and know the pain you feel.

Best wishes to Satchmo and keeping fingers crossed for the resting to have positive results.

No need to give advice, you all know your dear boy best and always know what’s right for him. I’m so sorry for your breaking hearts, and I hope the sincere good wishes from all of us actually helps to ease your pain as you alleviate Satchmo’s.

And we’re thinking of you, too, Tbogg. Here’s hoping the meds help you get back to feeling right soon.

My heart goes with Satchmo. My schnauzer had a biopsy yesterday morning and the vet was pretty positive about the outcome. All those positive thoughts now go Satchmo’s way. Well, damn, that’s where I was already sending them.

Jeebus. Just looking at that photo brings me to tears. Best thoughts and wishes to you all.

My best to everyone in Casa Del Tbogg.

Back in January, while I was dealing with my old Australian Shepherd’s escalating health issues, a very good friend gave me some very unwanted advice. What he said gave me a benchmark for making the kinds of hard decisions then that you’re facing now. I pass along his words knowing full well you don’t want to hear them but in the hope they prove as helpful to you as they were for me.

In short, my friend told me to do everything I could for Taz, but don’t do too much. It was in my power to give Taz the gift of knowing, in his last moments, that I was with him, holding him, and telling him what a good dog he was — but only if I was willing to let go of him earlier than I really wanted to.

Just something to think about. I wish the you and Satchmo nothing but the best.

We love you dears.

Our best to you Tbogg. It was sad when my dauschund of 18 years started having the same problems. Hopefully Satchmo reaches 18 too.

In addition to the possibility of acupuncture (which I know you are investigating) and rest/immobilization, turmeric in large doses is supposed to reduce inflamation around joints… and dogs apparently like the taste. This in conjunction with the meds, of course.

Be well, Satchmo.

Hugs to you all.

Been there, done that. A few times. It really sucks cuz they do become part of your family. Option 3 is a no brainer now…but you’ll know when option 2 is best for him. Best to all the T-Boggs.

I know you mentioned acupuncture as a possibility. I must say that I’m a believer in it, even though I started out very doubtfult that it could help what a year of physical therapy hadn’t fixed. Whatever you try, I hope it works quickly, and that Satchmo is feeling better soon. Best wishes to the poor guy.

And as for TBogg’s kidney stone, I recall once reading about Col. Harlan Sanders, he of the “finger lickin’ good” fried chicken, being interviewed on one of those late night God-TV shows, where the Col. revealed that, after praying for relief, he passed a large kidney stone. In the Col.’s own word: “Ker-PLUNK”! Now, some may say that this is powerful testimony to the Lord Almighty’s healing gifts. I say it means that eating KFC gives you kidney stones. Just thought I’d mention it.

My heart sank at the headline. I feel so bad for all of you that you are going through this, and of course, particularly for Satch because no dog (no being) should suffer. I don’t know what’s harder in some circumstances, being the patient or the witness and caregiver, but each of these places is a hell of a place to be; and I know with every fiber of my being that you’re the kind of people who would trade places in a heart beat if it meant sparing your beloved little Satchmo pain.

Don’t hesitate to throw up a Pay Pal button and allow those of us who can, chip in to the Satchmo fund. Although Satch doesn’t know it, you must know that he’s been a ray of sunshine every Thursday for several years…bleak years at that; and even though we don’t know him personally we have come to love the old codger. I think I fell in love with that dog the moment I laid eyes on him for the first time. Well, who wouldn’t be drawn to that special face.

I think the worst part of all of this must be worrying that he is in pain. If the pain can be nipped in the bud, you’ll all breathe a little easier and science has the capability to manage pain very well now. I think it’s the pain that scares us all the most in these situations. Everything else we can kind of adjust to, come to terms with in time.

Know that whatever you decide regarding his treatment and care will be the right decision for your boy.

Will be crossing fingers and toes for Satchmo for a speedy recovery and respect whatever journey awaits him. I just hope he’ll be kicking ass for a long time to come because he’s such a kick ass little character, perfect in every way. Let us know how we can support you beyond comments.

Yours in solidarity as they say…or used to in the old days.

{{{{{{{{{{{{Satchy}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Have you tried glucosamine/chondroiton/MSM? One of my beloved dogs (Daisy, the sweetest pitbull ever who passed about 3 years ago after a wonderful 12 yr long life) benefited greatly from it. Solid Gold makes a good liquid version. And definitely give acupuncture a try as well. Best of luck. I know firsthand how horrible these things can be. I sincerely believe dogs (and cats, and all of our animal friends), are our spiritual guides, basically highly evolved beings that we are blessed to have in our lives. They help us become better and more whole, grounded, patient. Keep the faith.

I’m so sorry to hear of Satchmo’s difficulties. I have one dog, Lucy, that I rescued from severe abuse, who is now the best dog in the whole world. They were going to put her down when I called the vet’s office and asked if I could come and look at her. One look in her eyes and I knew she was in there. Terrified, but she was in there.

I also do dog fostering and rehabilitation. People say nice things about me saving dogs, but it’s not true. The truth is, Lucy saved me. Each of the save me, and teach me something new about life every day. A child (we have one) also can do this, but it’s a vastly more complicated experience.

What a dog gives you, well, it just doesn’t fit into words very well.

I hope Satchmo find some relief from pain, and all of you can rest and recover.

Hang in there. It can tough to know how things are going for the next few days. So keep the faith. We will add you folks and Satchmo to our list and pray for all of you to have peace in this difficult time.

I don’t know why I give a shit about your dog - but I do.

good luck.

All of us who love dogs have been through it. There’s not much good to be said about it, but you’re doing exactly what I would do. I’m thinking of your family and Satchmo.

Having had dogs all my life & having gone through variations of this many times, i know how hard it is. I wish there was something i could say that would help comfort you, but there isn’t. Just know that there are lots of us out here pulling for you & hoping for the best, whatever outcome “the best” turns out to be. Satchmo is lucky to have you.

I am so, so sorry.

I am very, very sorry. I hope the medicine works and I know how hard this must be for you (having been a dog owner and dog lover all my life.) I’m going to go hug my little fuzzy old doggie now and say a prayer…..

I’m sorry, Tbogg family. Been there. It sucks. Strong spirit Satchmo.

{{{satchmo}}} — we’ve got a puppy wearing us out with fun and exuberant energy, and it’s so hard to imagine the other end of that.

My first cat went 19 years. It was so sad to have to say goodbye. I know what you are feeling. I feel as sad for you now. I hope it’s not at that point for Satchmo. We would all miss him dearly. We know you will do what is best for him, though. Good luck to you all.

Satchmo seems a gentleman among dogs, which would make him a saint among people. If wishes were real, your extended trans-species family would be immortal. I’ll add mine anyway. All the best.

Strength and hope flowing your way…hang in there, boggs and dogs.

get well, Satchmo.

Hugs to all of you. My best wishes are all headed your way.

Hard decisions. We all know you will do what is right and best for the Old Gentleman.

Jesus Christ Tom, put that he is alive in the first paragraph. You scared the hell out of me. I have not been reading much, but am really sorry to hear about Satchmo. I had to put down my little girl Hilda a number of months back after she got sick, and not being able to fix her really sucked on all levels. I hope Satch rebounds and continues to share lots of love with your family.

Sorry, but I am not nearly was worried about your stone.

I registered just so I could come and give you my support, as everyone else has - I was a long time reader and occasional commenter at your old site, but it took a Satchmo emergency to get me to register here. I am sniffling as I read all the comments after your post - and I will pass along my own old dog story.

My beloved Geordie - Best Border Terrier EVER - started moving more and more stiffly, at the age of 11, not terribly old for a small dog. I convinced myself it wasn’t serious, but it turned out I - and my vet, actually - was wrong. It wasn’t until I blindly put him through more suffering than he should have had to experience that we found out from a myelogram that it was bone cancer and that his spine had been eaten in two, thus explaining why all of a sudden he couldn’t stand up. I of course had to let him go after that, but not until I spent 45 minutes sobbing and apologizing to him, although he was so sedated for the pain he had no idea I was even there. I am convinced that if there is a hell, or at least a purgatory, I will spend some time there for having turned a blind eye to his suffering, just because I couldn’t bear to think that he was really sick.

I know you will not make the same mistake I did, of wanting to hold on so much that you fool yourself things are better than they are. I am hoping so hard that the steroids and the acupuncture will do the trick, and at least keep Satchmo out of pain - but that’s the hardest thing with dogs, they want to please us so much, I almost think they try to spare us the pain of seeing them in pain. I have had to put several dogs to sleep, and it never gets any less painful - but it is ultimately comforting to hold them and know that they’re comfortable and that they know you love them at the end.

I will hope for the best, and you are all in my thoughts - Ty and Sophie, my current BT’s, send their best tail wags to Satchmo. Oh, and good luck with the stone.

You have to make him not hurt, TBogg. As best there can be, that’s the goal. You’re doing right.

You’re all of you Good Boys. All of you.

Best of luck to you and Satchmo from me and my not quite 10 year old border/gordon mix.

To all the Boggs and Doggs,
Hang in there, I am in the same place as you right now and I know it is not easy.
Time will provide you with the answer.
In the meantime, we offer our love and support.

Well, if that time comes, YOU will know - not your vet and not us…Satch will tell you. While the confinement thing is hard for humans to get their head around, it can do wonders if you are consistent and don’t give in to the voice in your head saying “but he has so much fun doing ___.” I have a horse, and that means lots of experience with nerve/muscle issues, and stall rest - literally not stepping out of the stall, is the cure all for lots of it, along with meds.

Please explore the acupuncture, because this neuromuscular crap is what it is MADE for. My hardass conventional medicine equine vet has actually put an acupuncturinst on his STAFF because the evidence of it’s help in so many areas was just staring him in the face. You don’t need to get into the Eastern mystical/religious side of it to work, either. I have watched horses being treated and it is as close to magic as I’ve seen.

If he can get better - if that is a possibility, and it sounds as though it is, and if you can keep the pain tamped down (and confinement will help that), there is no reason in the world that he can’t enjoy some more of his twilight years. A few weeks of being locked up (and make sure that is nice for him, too - a smelly Tbogg t-shirt in there helps (not that I have any first hand knowledge of how Tbogg smells, oh shit, how do I get out of this now), and keeping him around you as much as you can will too.

Good luck. I roll out of bed at 4AM now and load your site before I even go to make coffee these days. This really does HAVE to work.

Hey Man, best of luck. My dogs are getting up there in years and so far have been in good health, but that’s the thing with these beautiful creatures - They give a lot of love, but their time on this planet is short. I hope he can hang in there and give you a few more good years.

I had a similar situation last year with my Buffet, a yellow Lab. She was in decline, and decisions had to be made. I’d rather vote for McCain than go through that again.

My husband once accidentally ran over a long dog that I was doggy-sitting for a former boyfriend (passive-aggressive much?). Dog became ours. Once the guilt no longer paralyzed me we started her on doggie acupuncture treatments and crated her in the kitchen during the day and by the bed at night. The enforced rest and acupuncture helped her cope with the pain.

Blessings on all your fuzzy heads, T. You doin’ the right thing.

Love and hugs to Satchmo and the other boys.

Willa the Wonder Hound sends her love as well.

As the companion of a 17-year-old dachshund, as well as a former bassett dad, I feel your anguish. My thoughts are with all of you….

On a more concrete note, a co-worker has a Labrador she thought they were going to have to put down- he had trouble with his back legs and barely moved from the bed. They started dosing him with salmon oil and he is much improved.

All the best to all of you.

dude that sucks.

Having had to have put down a few dogs in my time, I know exactly what you’re going through.

poor satchmo. poor little guy…

Satch has the loveliest face, and you and the missus are good people to care so much.
I’m still hoping for the best.

I have been following Satchmo’s story. One week ago we said good-bye to 1 of our 15 year old Burmese boys and I am still quite red-eyed. I truly wish the best for all of you.

Six years ago, I wouldn’t have understood. Now I’m the proud owner of two dogs. One of them recently had a cancerous tumor removed, and I had nightmares of having to put him down. I’m wishing all the TBoggs the best. Love to you all.

De-lurking to second the suggestion for turmeric; it’s an anti-inflammatory and worked very well for me. Another good product is Zyflamend (sp?), which contains turmeric and some other herbals. I don’t know if it’s good for dogs, though.

I’m sure your choice of treatment will work out just fine, but my heart still hurts. I don’t have any dogs but all 4 cats are pulling for you!

Love and kisses to everyone; hang in there.

Me and all my animals are saying prayers for Satchmo. Hang in there.

TBogg, I read the piece last night and just couldn’t comment. Hurt too much.
I wish that I was the kind of person who can write out beautiful, inspiring, poetic things, but I’m not.
I can only say that I am so very sorry for what you, your family and Satchmo are going through. Our friends should never be made to suffer so much and letting them go shouldn’t hurt so much.
As Disney trite as it sounds, I think about the lyrics from the song “For Good” from Wicked.

It well may be
that we may never meet again
in this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend
….
Who can say if I’ve been changed
for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

Donna

You probably know all about these things already, but posting this link will help fulfill my own need to help the hurt doggie.

http://www.handicappedpets.com/Articles/bergins/

While I don’t know the author of the article personally, I do know him as an internet personality, and he’s all about helping animals.

So sorry to hear. We are also dealing with doggie health issues as the wonderful Toby battles cancer: http://bestdogtoby.blogspot.com/

All the best to everyone in Tbogglandia. Peace.

Hang in there Satchmo. My thoughts are with all of you.

You know, upon reflection I remember reading a James Harriet book (I think that it was “All Things Wise and Wonderful”), and hearing a similar story about a dachshund. He became paralyzed due to

They ended up fashioning the dog a little doggie cart to support and carry his hind section. A doggie wheelchair for a longdog, if you will. Have you looked into that at all? It seems like you could make one yourself if the cost is prohibitive. ()

Anything is worth a shot…

I know this is hard to go through. Why can’t dogs talk? But they know we love them. wishing you all the best.

I told Blaze, our 120 lb. Lab/Newfie mix, about this turn of events and she looked sad. Well……… she always looks kinda sad. Still, I still think she understood. That’s just how dogs are. They get it.

Hang in there, all of yez.

Another one sending good thoughts the way of the tbogg/dog collective.

Good luck with the medication option! May it work like magic.

Hang in there, guys! We’re all pulling for you and for Satchmo.

Just want to echo this. If acupuncture can help heal/soothe elephants, it must certainly pack a whomp with smaller critters. The elephant sanctuary in Tennessee has used acupunture on its girls with great success as well as Bach Flower remedies (for emotional distress), massage etc.

Sorry that news is not so good. Best wishes to all.

And remember, when it is Satchmo’s time, this is where he’s going:

“And, of course, all God’s dogs
Sit when the angels say “sit.”
Every dog becomes a good
Dog in Dog Heaven.”

http://www.pekeatzurescue.com/links/dogheaven.htm

There is a ton of strength and hope flowing your way from Michigan.

Hang in there, boggs and dogs

All fingers crossed for Satchmo!

First time comment here. The sign up was pleasantly concluded with a letter from someone at FDL.

I did want to write you though. After scrolling past about one million comments, it became quite clear that you folks have many many supporters. Still, it always comes down to one woman/man who bears the brunt of the heartache.

Hang in there kiddo.

(((((tbogg family)))))

as the poppa of two wonderful mutts, ages 13 and 7, i wish all of you Boggs the very best. I’ve also had some experience with kidney stones and highly recommend taking the pain meds!

I read this post this morning and couldn’t comment, to choked up. Best of luck. Please keep us posted, we’re all rooting for Satchmo. Me and the cats.

*snarff*

Mr and Mrs Ronald and all and every 10 furries send furry love and light! So sorry for everyone’s pain and heartache. We will keep watching - keep us all posted!

WE LOVE YOU SATCHMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tummy rubs and ear scratches to Beckam and Fenway

Tbogg and Mrs - there are no words, accept our hearts!

The best to all at Casa del TBogg.

I wish i had something profound, or better yet helpful to add. I actually feel bad that I don’t.

And TBogg should stop apologizing for these pots. I fell confident in saying that 99% of his regular readers would rather see a Satchmo update than anything else he might post right now. Not that TBogg snark isn’t the best snark, but I can get my fix elsewhere for a while. Nobody else is going to tell me how your dog is doing.

Hear hear!

The Satchmo updates/Thursday Night Basset blogging and accompanying commentary are reflective of our humanity and ain’t that what “liberalism” is supposed to be about. If there’s no room in the world for Satchmo updates, I don’t want to be a part of this world.

Petz are Persons. Period.

My four chows & one cat — and I — all send our positive thoughts and hopes. All of you are in our hearts.

Here’s wishing Satchmo a full and speedy recovery!

TBogg: Two ideas from the mom of a 14 year old basset lady (with an attitude, of course!)

1. A basset is not a basset when the love of food is gone…when my Miss Kify doesn’t want to eat anymore, it will be the sign…

2. Make sure you bend those knees when you pick him up!! All you need is to pull a back muscle or pinch a nerve…

Miss Kify sends Arooos and healing slobber to Satchmo….

Got nothing by sympathy here. It takes courage to share our lives with lives more fragile and more fleeting than our own. Warm thoughts for all.

I’m so sorry your sainted hound is feeling poorly. I haven’t commented before, but I always enjoy the Thursday Basset Blogging. I particularly enjoy seeing the pics of your bassets since I am a currently dogless former hound owner.

Seconding busterjonez’s suggestion of a cart. I suppose you could make one if you’re handy; you could also order one from somewhere like Eddie’s Wheels or K-9 Carts. (I have no personal experience with either of these companies.)

What bystander said, so much more eloquently than anything I could say. Best of luck to all of you.

As evident here - all these lovely, loving responses - TBoggs and TDoggs have touched our hearts. For myself, Thursday is my favorite day. It is my Friday and it’s Basset Blogging. Sublime.

I hope with all my heart that Satchmo is able to overcome this and go on to instruct the youngsters in the “Way of the Woof”.

MrTBogg & MrsTBogg: I know you’re exhausted and sad and anxious and hurting.
You’re also two extraordinary and wonderfully caring people. Don’t beat up on yourselves. You are doing all you can. And the greatest of all -is LOVE.

As someone upthread said: “Let us know if we can do more.” I’m in.

it is truly the bittersweet side of love to do the very worst to a friend while recognizing that it is the best thing to do for him. if you honor that love you know that you will have to the right thing for him even if it hurts you dearly.

i know your feelings, having to have loved several dogs that i had to put down.

i hold both satchmo and the boggs in my prayers.

btw my mom forwarded this just yesterday

A Dog’s Purpose

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ‘I know why.’

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, ‘People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?’ The Six-year-old continued, ‘Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.’

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

TBogg, you might want to know Jim Henley is experiencing something similar…

August 4, 2008
Sic Transit Gloria Puppy

Our mascot has lymphoma…

Dear Tbogg’s: While I’m not a dog owner, I can empathize with your grief about watching a beloved family member suffer. Tbogg, you have brought me such joy and laughter with your wit and insight. I think you are one of the sharpest humor writers on the internets. I also admire your devotion and love for your family, and I am sorry that that you are also. Since I have no experience with dogs, I will not offer any advice or information. You have enough other folks much better equipped to do that. What I can suggest for your kidney stone (in addition, of course, to your meds) is organic apple juice. I’ve heard that if you drink 64 oz of organic apple juice each day for 3 days, it will help soften the stone. I think you also are supposed to fast with that. Of course for you, your family and your beloved Satchmo I offer my prayers and am sending some good mojo your way.

He’s a lucky, loved dog.
So very sorry for your family, TBogg.

True story. We used chiropractic treatments on our 12-year old black lab, Emily. Her rear legs were totally useless. We had to put a towel under her back hips to get her outside to poop and pee. Our vet gave us the same options as yours. My sister-in-law told us her vet had a visiting chiropractic practitioner. After three treatments (some kind of spinal realignment as I recall), Emily could walk on her own and even get up on the couch. Regular treatments every couple of months bought Emily an extra couple of years. She loved getting the treatments and we were glad to do something extra for her.

I am not necessarily a big fan of any kind of chiropractic medicine, all I can give you is this anecdotal evidence that, for our dog, it worked.

Like many others, long time lurker, big fan of the TBoggs and TDogs. I am so sorry to hear that Satchmo is hurting. I noticed my best buddy of 12 years stopped eating one day. I hadn’t noticed, because his sister had been eating all his food plus her own (in retrospect, no wonder she got so chunky). I took him to the vet, never expecting the diagnosis of cancer. I had a choice, surgery (which would buy him a few precious months) or option 2. I agonized (as I am sure you all are doing) and I cried and I cursed fate as I loved that boy more than anything. Ultimately, I brought him home for a few days and just sat with him, watching him and talking to him, just being with him. Somehow, after spending that quiet time with him, I just knew he was ready to go. I felt it in my soul. I could keep him with me, for me, but I knew his quality of life would not be great. Or I could choose to let him go. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I think I made the right choice.

I know you love your dogs. I know you will know what the right thing to do is when it comes. Satchmo is truly a sweet-faced and sweet-natured dog. I know he knows, as dogs always do, that he is loved and he has had a great life with the Boggs. I hope you have many more years of his companionship, and this turns out to be just a blip. Best of luck.

The Satchmo updates/Thursday Night Basset blogging and accompanying commentary are reflective of our humanity and ain’t that what “liberalism” is supposed to be about.

How true!

Of course, my brand of liberalism also involve Bill Kristol…… and pie.

Best wishes to your whole family from another Thursday lurker.

If the vet thinks he would be okay in surgery and that an operation would work, and you cannot afford it, I will put it on my credit card. Seriously.

After nine months of unemployment in Bush’s crappy, I recently got a new job and paid off my credit card bills, and I can’t think of a more worthy cause than Satchmo. (My last big credit-card purchase was back surgery for my dachshund, and I was grateful to be able to do it.)

In the meantime, try anti-inflammatory supplements as well as the steroids, as well as acupuncture and massage.

Love and prayers to your family and your pups, from mine.

Janet

And yes, salmon oil (loaded with anti-inflammatory Omega3s) and turmeric are definitely worthwhile.

Y’all are people any dog would be proud to own.

Good Satchmo - part and parcel of The Good Dog. As are they all.

I cannot possibly improve on the good wishes that have already been offered by so many of your readers, but want to add mine to the list just the same.

We went through this same thing with Kona, our first Basset. The steroids/crate approach did extend his lifetime (with good quality). Our prayers are with you.

Having had to part with our beloved shih tzu one week ago today, at the tender age of 7, I literally feel your pain. Like everyone else’s, she was the best dog in the world. Some of our problems were similar to yours - trouble at the “back end” and such. Since the breed’s prone to them, vet, then orthopedic veterinary surgeon assumed it was a disc problem, but surgery revealed the worst - extensive cancer. What I wanted to point out was that the ortho charged around $2,000 (we’re in NJ, not known for bargains), so my hope is that someone like that could help your pup in CA for a lot less than $8,000, if that becomes the best option. All the luck to you guys and thanks for all your incomparable posts.

The confinement to a crate isn’t pleasant, but I do believe it’s harder on the human than the animal. Our 16-year-old cat is in week 3 of a minimum of 4 weeks of constant confinement for her compressed vertebra, also on steroids to control swelling. She’s very vocal, but hasn’t complained about being in the cage…until yesterday, when I took her out, put her on a thick rug to see how she could walk. And she didn’t tip over. She isn’t walking normally, but she’s doing much better, and has been insistent about getting out ever since. But it took nearly 3 weeks for her to feel like she wanted to be out.

Of course, this afternoon she jumped for the string we had tied in there for her to play with, and aggravated the injury a bit (purred when I put the ice pack on her back). But the way we knew she hurt was she didn’t want to get out of the crate. I suspect Satchmo will also know that he’s there to heal and be accepting of it. As one of the librarians I work with who also has done kitty physical therapy for her cats after injuries put it: Animals don’t overthink things. That’s what people do.

Hope the medication route goes well; it really can do wonders.