Christmas is over and I am still reaping the rewards of goodies and toys that are still getting pulled out of my stocking. This was my first year of an actual Christmas and I have to say, it was way cool.
As the New Year fast approaches, I find myself pondering the events of the past year and what a turn my life has taken. I started out this year, heavens knows where, but I found myself a stray, picked up and taken to a shelter. I spent a few days in foster care in Arkansas and then I was off to Wisconsin. My first foster home here turned out to be not so hot. I got fed a lot of pills, some made me sleepy, some made me crazy, but soon, I was off to my new foster home, the place where I am now.
My foster mom has spent many months with me; helping to pin point the right medication that would help me be as normal a dog as possible. She's never been mean to me; never really yelled at me, except when she caught me with things I shouldn't have and then it was just to startle me in to giving it up. She's loved me, held me (and I really have a hard time being held) and told me what a good and sweet girl I am. I've had a warm bed, lots of food, yummy treats and toys, toys, toys.
Sure, I won't lie, I hoped by the end of this year, I would find myself in my own home, but that hasn't happened. 2011 is a new year, full of adventure and endless possibilities and I hope the year I find my very own home. Look, I know I am far from perfect, but you won't find a happier dog than me and I love everyone I meet. Won't you think about adding me to your home for 2011?
Happy New Year!
- Gracie
Gracie
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Happy Howl-a-days
Everyone is talking about this howl-a-day called Christmas.
My foster mom says it's really supposed to be about family and spending time with ones you love, but more and more it's becoming all about presents. Presents? I LOVE presents. So I wondered, will I get any? I didn't have to wonder long, because yesterday, a box came for me. Yup, it had Gracie ResQ on it and everything. My foster mom opened it for me because I'm not allowed to use anything sharp, besides my teeth, and it would be pretty hard to chew through that box. It was from my Secret Santa! All the dogs in ResQ get one while we wait for our forever homes.
I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. As soon as she opened it, my foster brother and sister, Murphy and Baby had to check it out too. Inside were squeaky toys! Oh how I love squeaky toys. I can squeak them all day long. My foster mom says it's a good thing she is good at tuning things out. There was also a new bed inside, just like my brothers, except it was pink. It came with a matching blanket and guess what? A pink squeaky bunny. I know, more squeaky toys. There are also replacement squeakers for a new "spitty bear" except this one is a BIG spitty bear. What's a spitty bear? Well, it's what mom calls these Kong bears that have a Velcro opening inside so you can replace the squeakers because I squeak them so much, I make the fur all slobbery and spitty. The name fits, right?
Here I am in my bed, with some of my new toys, enjoying a bone.
Mom said I will get some more presents. She hung some stockings up by the fireplace. She said most people put up a tree with lights on it and decorate the house, but she explained that she still feels very sad about missing Darby, so she just didn't have it in her this year to do all that. I understand. At least she doesn't cry hardly at all these days, even though I know how much she misses her. She put Darby in a beautiful jar on the mantle. It's all sorts of colors and very fancy. I didn't know how Darby would fit in that jar, but mom said it's just her ashes. She was cre-mated and all that's left of her is a tiny little bag of powder. If that is all that's left of a rat terrier in the end, then that jar will hold about ten of us.
Anyhow, along with this howl-a-day season comes this terrible weather and some really cold and white stuff called "snow" and I hate it. My little paws get so cold and I try and hold up a front and back one at the same time and nearly tip over. Mom says "that wouldn't happen if I would quit dicking around out there; do my business and get my ass in the house." This snow makes it hard to get to the fence and bark at the neighbors dog. The drifts of snow are so big, I am confined to a small area near the house. I hear this will last a few months. Seriously? A few months? This is going to be a long winter. Now where are my presents?
Happy Howl-a-days......
- Gracie
My foster mom says it's really supposed to be about family and spending time with ones you love, but more and more it's becoming all about presents. Presents? I LOVE presents. So I wondered, will I get any? I didn't have to wonder long, because yesterday, a box came for me. Yup, it had Gracie ResQ on it and everything. My foster mom opened it for me because I'm not allowed to use anything sharp, besides my teeth, and it would be pretty hard to chew through that box. It was from my Secret Santa! All the dogs in ResQ get one while we wait for our forever homes.
I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. As soon as she opened it, my foster brother and sister, Murphy and Baby had to check it out too. Inside were squeaky toys! Oh how I love squeaky toys. I can squeak them all day long. My foster mom says it's a good thing she is good at tuning things out. There was also a new bed inside, just like my brothers, except it was pink. It came with a matching blanket and guess what? A pink squeaky bunny. I know, more squeaky toys. There are also replacement squeakers for a new "spitty bear" except this one is a BIG spitty bear. What's a spitty bear? Well, it's what mom calls these Kong bears that have a Velcro opening inside so you can replace the squeakers because I squeak them so much, I make the fur all slobbery and spitty. The name fits, right?
Here I am in my bed, with some of my new toys, enjoying a bone.
Mom said I will get some more presents. She hung some stockings up by the fireplace. She said most people put up a tree with lights on it and decorate the house, but she explained that she still feels very sad about missing Darby, so she just didn't have it in her this year to do all that. I understand. At least she doesn't cry hardly at all these days, even though I know how much she misses her. She put Darby in a beautiful jar on the mantle. It's all sorts of colors and very fancy. I didn't know how Darby would fit in that jar, but mom said it's just her ashes. She was cre-mated and all that's left of her is a tiny little bag of powder. If that is all that's left of a rat terrier in the end, then that jar will hold about ten of us.
Anyhow, along with this howl-a-day season comes this terrible weather and some really cold and white stuff called "snow" and I hate it. My little paws get so cold and I try and hold up a front and back one at the same time and nearly tip over. Mom says "that wouldn't happen if I would quit dicking around out there; do my business and get my ass in the house." This snow makes it hard to get to the fence and bark at the neighbors dog. The drifts of snow are so big, I am confined to a small area near the house. I hear this will last a few months. Seriously? A few months? This is going to be a long winter. Now where are my presents?
Happy Howl-a-days......
- Gracie
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sad news....
My foster mom is heartbroken. She has been crying and crying. My step-sister, the bossy Darby, passed away this weekend.
Darby was diagnosed with a big cancer tumor just three weeks ago and mom was hopeful that she was going to last a couple months, or at least through this thing called Christmas, but she got more and more sick and she was in more pain because of how big the tumor was. It pressed on her insides and made her very uncomfortable. She also stopped eating.
So my foster mom had to make a very hard decision and help her cross to the bridge. She knows she's not in pain anymore, but my foster mom is in a lot of pain right now. She says it will get better, but she cries a lot. I try to help her feel better by licking the tears away and sometimes it works because she laughs. I like it when she laughs because it makes me happy and I wag my tail, a lot.
Darby scared me, because she was the boss, and I know she was sick, but I am glad I get to sleep up on the bed again without worrying that Darby is going to get mad at me. I like to sleep next to mom and Murphy. I really like Murphy, he's my boyfriend, even though he thinks I have girl cooties.
Rest in peace Darby.
Darby was diagnosed with a big cancer tumor just three weeks ago and mom was hopeful that she was going to last a couple months, or at least through this thing called Christmas, but she got more and more sick and she was in more pain because of how big the tumor was. It pressed on her insides and made her very uncomfortable. She also stopped eating.
So my foster mom had to make a very hard decision and help her cross to the bridge. She knows she's not in pain anymore, but my foster mom is in a lot of pain right now. She says it will get better, but she cries a lot. I try to help her feel better by licking the tears away and sometimes it works because she laughs. I like it when she laughs because it makes me happy and I wag my tail, a lot.
Darby scared me, because she was the boss, and I know she was sick, but I am glad I get to sleep up on the bed again without worrying that Darby is going to get mad at me. I like to sleep next to mom and Murphy. I really like Murphy, he's my boyfriend, even though he thinks I have girl cooties.
Rest in peace Darby.
- Gracie
Friday, November 26, 2010
Not the same dog....
I've been on my new medication for over a month now and WOW am I a different dog.
I am much more settled and I like to spend most of my time in my favorite dog bed napping or chewing on a good rawhide. I don't run all over the house anymore, my foster mom says I am a different dog since we upped my meds to 3.25mg twice a day. My shadow watching and fly snapping are 75-85% improved. It's a HUGE change compared to how I was. I am still pretty busy outside, but hey, that's where I can really stretch my legs. It is getting pretty cold, so I don't hang out there much these days except to do my business. I am getting much better at that too. Rarely do I have an accident in the house and if I do, it's on the kitchen floor and it's poop. I have a hard time telling my foster mom when I have to go out. I never bark in the house, so I never bark at the door either. She might try and find me some Christmas bells to see if she can get me to ring those. I sit like a nice girl too when mom feeds me. I don't knock the food out of her hand anymore, I wait nice for her to put it in my dish.
I'm still looking for my home. It's been hard to find someone who wants a very, very sweet girl with a small medical problem. I know someone has to be out there. I've asked Santa Paws to help find someone who might like a rattie for Christmas or the New Year.
- Gracie
I am much more settled and I like to spend most of my time in my favorite dog bed napping or chewing on a good rawhide. I don't run all over the house anymore, my foster mom says I am a different dog since we upped my meds to 3.25mg twice a day. My shadow watching and fly snapping are 75-85% improved. It's a HUGE change compared to how I was. I am still pretty busy outside, but hey, that's where I can really stretch my legs. It is getting pretty cold, so I don't hang out there much these days except to do my business. I am getting much better at that too. Rarely do I have an accident in the house and if I do, it's on the kitchen floor and it's poop. I have a hard time telling my foster mom when I have to go out. I never bark in the house, so I never bark at the door either. She might try and find me some Christmas bells to see if she can get me to ring those. I sit like a nice girl too when mom feeds me. I don't knock the food out of her hand anymore, I wait nice for her to put it in my dish.
I'm still looking for my home. It's been hard to find someone who wants a very, very sweet girl with a small medical problem. I know someone has to be out there. I've asked Santa Paws to help find someone who might like a rattie for Christmas or the New Year.
- Gracie
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Banished....sort of....
No more bed for me. Not that mom doesn't want me up there, she does, but Darby, the alpha of the house is also now sleeping up there and she scares me. So even though mom asks me up, I take one look at Darby and I go the other way.
See Darby is the boss of the dogs and she has cleaned me up more than once when I have gotten a bit out of line. But mom says Darby is very sick. She has a tumor, a big tumor. Mom said it's the size of a tangerine and while I have no idea what that is, mom said it's pretty big for a dog our size.
Darby started losing weight when she kind of stopped eating. We thought it was my fault when I ran her over one day while she was eating, but even though she is eating again, she is still losing weight. Mom took her in and an x-ray, which is where they take a picture of your insides, showed something bad. So the next day, they did an ultrasound, which is a different kind of picture of your insides. There it showed this big thing, the tumor.
Mom has decided not to do anything. She said that Darby has been a loyal and loving companion for 11 1/2 years and it would be unfair to do surgery that will not really extend her life, but for a few months, and be very painful for Darby. Mom says the best thing she can do, it love Darby and make her remaining months happy ones.
I'm glad mom doesn't want to make her suffer with surgery. I don't like the vets office and neither does Darby. Darby said it smells funny, the tables are cold and they poke at her and prod at her. Even though they are very nice to her, it makes her afraid and she just wants to get out of there as soon as she can.
I'm very sad for Darby, even though she's been mean to me, it makes me feel bad when any dog is sick, especially ones I live with. I'm going to try very hard not to make Darby mad at me for the next couple months.
- Gracie
See Darby is the boss of the dogs and she has cleaned me up more than once when I have gotten a bit out of line. But mom says Darby is very sick. She has a tumor, a big tumor. Mom said it's the size of a tangerine and while I have no idea what that is, mom said it's pretty big for a dog our size.
Darby started losing weight when she kind of stopped eating. We thought it was my fault when I ran her over one day while she was eating, but even though she is eating again, she is still losing weight. Mom took her in and an x-ray, which is where they take a picture of your insides, showed something bad. So the next day, they did an ultrasound, which is a different kind of picture of your insides. There it showed this big thing, the tumor.
Mom has decided not to do anything. She said that Darby has been a loyal and loving companion for 11 1/2 years and it would be unfair to do surgery that will not really extend her life, but for a few months, and be very painful for Darby. Mom says the best thing she can do, it love Darby and make her remaining months happy ones.
I'm glad mom doesn't want to make her suffer with surgery. I don't like the vets office and neither does Darby. Darby said it smells funny, the tables are cold and they poke at her and prod at her. Even though they are very nice to her, it makes her afraid and she just wants to get out of there as soon as she can.
I'm very sad for Darby, even though she's been mean to me, it makes me feel bad when any dog is sick, especially ones I live with. I'm going to try very hard not to make Darby mad at me for the next couple months.
- Gracie
Monday, November 8, 2010
It's getting cold.
It's no secret, I'm an outside kind of gal. I hate the thought that I might miss something. Mom says I'm like a cat, always on the wrong side of the door. I'm not sure what she really means by that, I've never seen a cat on either side of our door and if I did, I am sure I would have chased it.
I love running, not in a circle, just around the yard. I like to watch things, like the neighbor kids. One of them chases with me up and down the fence. I am way faster than Nelson is, but I do have four legs compared to his two. The weather is getting pretty chilly especially at night. When mom takes us out at bed time, I hate to get off the deck. The grass is a little crunchy and it prickles my feet, so I would rather just stand on the deck and pretend like I don't have to go. Mom know better. She stands out there for a long time waiting for me and if I still refuse to go, there are no cookies when we go in and I have to sleep in the crate for the night. I don't mind the crate, but I would rather sleep in the big bed.
I have dog coats to help keep me warm. Mom sews. She has racks and racks of them downstairs and she has a table full of ones she is still working on upstairs. I think she works too hard, but she still makes time for me, so I guess it's alright.
I am doing pretty good with my medication. I'm still not perfect, but I am so far from what I once was. In fact, I can't even see where I was way back then. I have been with mom now for seven months. I worry that I may never find a home. I know mom worries too; I've heard her on the phone, but she says she won't panic until it's been a year. I've heard her tell some others that the longest time she has had a dog was 504 days. I guess that dog was very badly injured and had lots of surgery. But mom said she found her home and they love her so much, so I hold out hope.
- Gracie
I love running, not in a circle, just around the yard. I like to watch things, like the neighbor kids. One of them chases with me up and down the fence. I am way faster than Nelson is, but I do have four legs compared to his two. The weather is getting pretty chilly especially at night. When mom takes us out at bed time, I hate to get off the deck. The grass is a little crunchy and it prickles my feet, so I would rather just stand on the deck and pretend like I don't have to go. Mom know better. She stands out there for a long time waiting for me and if I still refuse to go, there are no cookies when we go in and I have to sleep in the crate for the night. I don't mind the crate, but I would rather sleep in the big bed.
I have dog coats to help keep me warm. Mom sews. She has racks and racks of them downstairs and she has a table full of ones she is still working on upstairs. I think she works too hard, but she still makes time for me, so I guess it's alright.
I am doing pretty good with my medication. I'm still not perfect, but I am so far from what I once was. In fact, I can't even see where I was way back then. I have been with mom now for seven months. I worry that I may never find a home. I know mom worries too; I've heard her on the phone, but she says she won't panic until it's been a year. I've heard her tell some others that the longest time she has had a dog was 504 days. I guess that dog was very badly injured and had lots of surgery. But mom said she found her home and they love her so much, so I hold out hope.
- Gracie
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Santa Paws
I know I just blogged yesterday, but I want to tell you about a special holiday program in our rescue group called "SANTA PAWS." This is a special program for dogs in foster care who are still waiting for a home over the holidays.
As fosters, we have to share everything with the other dogs in our house, because we are just a guest for a while (some longer than others) and this program ensures that we get our very own things at Christmas. We even get to make a list of our favorite things! So here is the info from Santa Paws head elf, I think his name is Norman.
Ho ho ho, all!
It's time for some good ol' fashioned Holiday Spirit! Rat Terrier ResQ has wonderful dogs in foster care that can't wait for you to bring them some Winter Cheer. Won't you consider becoming a Santa's helper to a ResQ dog?
Here's how it works:
1) Email santapawsresq@ gmail.com (remove the space) to join! In your email, you can indicate a preference for a particular foster dog, if you'd like. To see some of our foster dogs, please visit the website: http://www.RatTerrierResQ.com -- There are also *quite a few* dogs that are too new to be on the website yet, so check often.
2) You will receive a wish list from the dog you've selected and an address to which you can mail your goodies! Please send your package so that the dogs will receive it by December 13th.
3) Check in for our Rat Terrier ResQ Santa Paws album full of pictures of smiling ResQ dogs!
*Also note: This is not an exchange. It's a bit of warm winter love for homeless Rat Terriers!
Woof, woof!
Head Elf
As fosters, we have to share everything with the other dogs in our house, because we are just a guest for a while (some longer than others) and this program ensures that we get our very own things at Christmas. We even get to make a list of our favorite things! So here is the info from Santa Paws head elf, I think his name is Norman.
Ho ho ho, all!
It's time for some good ol' fashioned Holiday Spirit! Rat Terrier ResQ has wonderful dogs in foster care that can't wait for you to bring them some Winter Cheer. Won't you consider becoming a Santa's helper to a ResQ dog?
Here's how it works:
1) Email santapawsresq@ gmail.com (remove the space) to join! In your email, you can indicate a preference for a particular foster dog, if you'd like. To see some of our foster dogs, please visit the website: http://www.RatTerrierResQ.com -- There are also *quite a few* dogs that are too new to be on the website yet, so check often.
2) You will receive a wish list from the dog you've selected and an address to which you can mail your goodies! Please send your package so that the dogs will receive it by December 13th.
3) Check in for our Rat Terrier ResQ Santa Paws album full of pictures of smiling ResQ dogs!
*Also note: This is not an exchange. It's a bit of warm winter love for homeless Rat Terriers!
Woof, woof!
Head Elf
- Graice
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
What a difference......
Holy cats!! And I don't mean the kind I chase....
Mom upped my medication on Thursday night to 3/4 of a pill twice a day. By Saturday, I had a drastic improvement of my fly snapping and my shadow watching. On Saturday, I didn't have any instances of fly snapping and only minimal shadow watching. I think I was feeling a little "wooky" as I spent a lot of time sleeping in my favorite dog bed. I love that dog bed so much, that if my step-brother, Murphy is laying in it, I will lay next to it to wait for my chance at it.
By Sunday, I was pretty much back to myself, except that my fly snapping and shadow watching was minimal. I got a little crazy when mom put on her shoes, but that was it. I hardly ever fly snap anymore, which is great and it's a lot easier on the teeth too! My shadow watching is also much reduced. It's a real change for me. Mom says she has hope now that someone might want me. My Namenda costs $.66 a day and my Prozac costs $.30 a day, but we are working on getting that cost down a little when we order it from Canada.
I'm really a happy girl, with not a mean cell in her body, so I keep praying my home is out there. If you know of anyone who would like a happy rat terrier with a few problems that aren't her fault, let them know I'm available. I'd really, really like my own home for the holidays 'cause I hear you get presents.
- Gracie
Mom upped my medication on Thursday night to 3/4 of a pill twice a day. By Saturday, I had a drastic improvement of my fly snapping and my shadow watching. On Saturday, I didn't have any instances of fly snapping and only minimal shadow watching. I think I was feeling a little "wooky" as I spent a lot of time sleeping in my favorite dog bed. I love that dog bed so much, that if my step-brother, Murphy is laying in it, I will lay next to it to wait for my chance at it.
By Sunday, I was pretty much back to myself, except that my fly snapping and shadow watching was minimal. I got a little crazy when mom put on her shoes, but that was it. I hardly ever fly snap anymore, which is great and it's a lot easier on the teeth too! My shadow watching is also much reduced. It's a real change for me. Mom says she has hope now that someone might want me. My Namenda costs $.66 a day and my Prozac costs $.30 a day, but we are working on getting that cost down a little when we order it from Canada.
I'm really a happy girl, with not a mean cell in her body, so I keep praying my home is out there. If you know of anyone who would like a happy rat terrier with a few problems that aren't her fault, let them know I'm available. I'd really, really like my own home for the holidays 'cause I hear you get presents.
- Gracie
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Drugs are good...m-kay....
No, I really don't sound like Mr. Macky from South Park, but I know the importance of drugs that can help me.
I've been on Namenda now for about 3 weeks and it has helped me. I've been taking 2.5mg twice a day, which means it's been costing $3.65 per pill (we split a 5mg). After 3 weeks of waiting, my generic came from Canada today. This means mom can now up my medication to 3.75mg or 3/4 of a pill twice a day to see if my symptoms improve even more.
Mom charts my response every day and from day 9-14 she saw a good 25% improvement, but I leveled off after that and that's about the best I got. I still shadow watch quite a bit, but my fly snapping is better. It still can still get pretty significant if I get over-excited.
Mom took me off the Xanax when we started the Namenda and my really wild and erratic behavior hasn't started up. Mom took me off it once before when we tried another medication and I was so bad, mom either had to put me back on it or start taking it herself. She chose to put me back on it. So that's one of the good things that came out of this so far. I also seem to be spending more and more time up in the dog bed rather than out in the yard watching everything so I don't miss a thing. That's a real change for me. I haven't really been one to just "hang out" but that seems to be changing for me. I walk around the house now, more settled, except if someone comes over; then all bets are off. I just can't help but get so excited about new people. I love everyone and I am just so thrilled to meet people. Hopefully as we change my dose, I will be able to control my excitability; then again, that may just be who I am.
- Gracie
Friday, October 15, 2010
Bed Bug
Relax, not that kind of bed bug. I'm referring to myself. All week I've been a bed bug, sleeping in mom's bed. Darby, (she's the nasty alpha bitch of the house) had been sleeping in the bed for the last month and apparently, it was my fault. As you recall, I have this horrible OCD condition and because of that, I can kind of be a bull in a china shop at times. Well, about two months ago, I was kind of naughty, I ran Darby over while she was trying to eat breakfast. See, Darby, or Queen D as mom calls her, rules the house. No one bothers her while she's eating because she's likely to take your face off. I was so excited about more food, that I completely forgot about The Queen, so I kind of just bowled her over and ate her food.
Apparently, she was so stunned by my actions, it really bent her out of shape. She didn't even attack me, she just stood back in total shock. Now the down side to this was that it upset her so much, that she stopped eating. What could be so bad that anyone would stop eating, I don't know. I know I'd never stop eating if something upset my little world. But, Darby did and mom was beside herself. She took to feeding me in another room, but that didn't work. She tried about ten kinds of dog food and that didn't work. She took Darby to the vet when she lost almost two pounds. She has this super model kind of waif look now, but she is eating better these days because mom feeds her in her crate or hand feeds her when she hand feeds me (it's so I learn to focus and not be such a bulldozer when I eat).
Mom pampered Darby for a month, letting her sleep on the bed, but Darby is a kicker and mom never got a good night sleep, so now that Darby is doing better, she is back to sleeping in the dog bed. So this is where I come back in, I got to start sleeping on the bed. Mom wants me to be more social. See, it's not that I'm not friendly, I am very friendly, but I have a little bit of autistic behavior if you try and pick me up or hold me. It stresses me out and I kind of freak. So along with the hand feeding, clicker training (treats come with that thing) and sleeping in the bed, she hoped I would be more likely to seek out companionship. At first, I slept on top of the covers, but now, I sleep under them. I like that a lot and I stretch out, but not so close to mom that I kick mom. I'm learning that being on the bed it a cool thing and I am even starting to climb up there by myself because I know it's a good place to be. Oh, and this thing called an "e-lect-eric blanket?" Whoever invented that was a genius!!
- Gracie
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Oh, Canada.....
Bless those Canucks. Leave it up to them to find the a way around our crazy prescription costs here in the US. My medication is working, but the thought of rescue having to shell out more than $100 a month was downright scary. Sure, I don't personally have to pay for it and even if I did, where is a rat terrier going to keep money? Have you ever seen a pocket on one of us? I think not. Marsupials have it easy with their built in pockets, but us canines weren't so lucky in that department. I mean, I don't even have a belly button to store lint in.
My vet is really a nice lady. Her name is Dr. Mansfield and she is always nice to me when I come to see her. She has been fighting just as hard for me as my mom has been. So it was no surprise that she was more than happy to try the Namenda with me. It is working. I am off the Xanax and I am not crazy wild. I still take my Prozac, but that is a cheap $4 a month. She suggested that my mom try Canada. Mom was ahead of her, but she had checked only the two sites that the State of Wisconsin approved for use by Wisconsin residents and Namenda wasn't there. So, at Dr. Mansfields suggestion, she checked out more sites and you know what? They have my Namenda in GENERIC.
How could this be? There is no generic in the US, mom said so; but I heard her on the phone with one of the Canadian pharmacies and it's because the US has some restrictive laws, called "patents" that they don't have in Canada. Turns out, my drug under a Canadian generic can cost as little as $9 a month. Can you believe it? From over $100 a month down to $9 a month!!! I am so relieved. It means I can stay on my medication and I won't be as likely to scare off someone who might adopt me if my medications are under $20 a month.
Later this week we'll send a prescription to Canada, where it will take 2-3 weeks to fill. In the mean time, we'll pay for the medication here until it arrives. At least we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Heck, I might just take to wearing a maple leaf on my chest.
- Gracie
Friday, October 8, 2010
Cautiously Optimistic
I overheard mom on the phone today saying she was cautiously optimistic about me. See, I've been on this new medication, Namenda for a couple of days and mom thinks she sees some improvement. I like to follow my mom into the bathroom, I don't know why, but the other dogs do too, so I think it's because something important might happen; and when I do, I often get so worked up in that small space, that I fly-snap and shadow watch. Well, I am doing that a lot less now. Mom said she didn't want it to be "wishful thinking" but she said it's not, it really is better. She said I seem to be about 50%-75% better with the fly-snapping and about 25% better with the shadow watching. She even tried to "ramp me up" by playing wild with me. Normally, that makes me just go so crazy that I fly-snap like I am after a hundred flies. Not so much anymore. I even come in from outside better than I have been. Best of all, I am off the Xanax and mom's not wanting to take it herself because I am not driving her crazy.
Now there is a downside to all this. Mom read some book and is trying to help me focus my energy, so she has taken to hand feeding me. I hate it. I would rather just dive into my dish and have it gone in ten seconds. Now it takes me ten minutes just to eat! Do you know what I could do with that other nine minutes and fifty seconds? Even worse, she makes me sit for every piece. You know what? I do and I can. Mom says I can really focus when I want to. Yeah, well I just want to be sure she keeps those kibble pieces coming, you know.
- Gracie
Now there is a downside to all this. Mom read some book and is trying to help me focus my energy, so she has taken to hand feeding me. I hate it. I would rather just dive into my dish and have it gone in ten seconds. Now it takes me ten minutes just to eat! Do you know what I could do with that other nine minutes and fifty seconds? Even worse, she makes me sit for every piece. You know what? I do and I can. Mom says I can really focus when I want to. Yeah, well I just want to be sure she keeps those kibble pieces coming, you know.
- Gracie
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wish Me Luck
Here goes nothing and everything. Mom got my prescription filled for the new medication, Namenda and I started it last night. This is the medication that Tufts Veterinary School recommended as part of their OCD study. Mom is hopeful, but I can tell she is also worried. Worried about what happens if it doesn't work; and worried about how the rescue will pay for it if it does. Me? I don't worry about much. I'm too busy running in the sun and enjoying this wonderful October weather. It's so nice out, mom is leaving the patio door open so I can come and go, I like that. Well, off to explore and make sure the neighborhood is safe.
- Gracie
- Gracie
Sunday, October 3, 2010
My Mommy's Home...Finally
OK, when mommy put me in my crate midweek and said "I love you, see you soon," I though she meant at lunch, like every day, but that didn't happen. Lunch came after what seemed like forever and there was a different mommy. Now don't get excited, I don't live in a two mommy family; I know some do and thats totally cool, but I have one mommy, no daddy.
This new lady was here to take care of me because my mommy went out town for FOUR WHOLE DAYS!! The horror, I tell you. Turns out, she was completely qualified, her credentials showed she was a licensed veterinary technician as well as my babysitter. She was here to take care of my other siblings too. She did a great job. She slept in mommy's bed, so I wasn't alone at night and she made sure I got my medicine.
So mommy is home, but she is sick. She has a cold and her ears are all plugged up from the airplane. So I have to make this short so I can go cuddle with mommy, kiss her and make her feel better. I saved up four days of kisses you know.
- Gracie
This new lady was here to take care of me because my mommy went out town for FOUR WHOLE DAYS!! The horror, I tell you. Turns out, she was completely qualified, her credentials showed she was a licensed veterinary technician as well as my babysitter. She was here to take care of my other siblings too. She did a great job. She slept in mommy's bed, so I wasn't alone at night and she made sure I got my medicine.
So mommy is home, but she is sick. She has a cold and her ears are all plugged up from the airplane. So I have to make this short so I can go cuddle with mommy, kiss her and make her feel better. I saved up four days of kisses you know.
- Gracie
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Mother's Can Be Mean
I had a terrible day yesterday. It's always terrible when mom has to go work at her office for the day. Normally, she works from home, which is great because at lunch I get to go outside and go wild, which as you know, is what I do best. On those days when she has to go to her "big office" it means we are all crated for the day and it is a very, very long day when you are used to a mid-day break. By the time she got home, I was, as she says, "a wild coon with it's tail on fire." It makes my OCD even worse when I have to be crated for that long. Now, I don't mind being crated at night, because I am tired by then and need my beauty sleep, but I really hate it when mom works at her big office.
That leads up to the rest of my bad night. I don't know what I was thinking really. Have you ever done something you know might go badly, but you do it anyway? That was me. I went up on the stairs and for some reason that is still unexplainable, I decided to stick my head through the banister rails. Well, my head fit, so I thought why not try and go through them and walk onto moms nice oak hall table? There are interesting things up there, like a lamp, phone and a really expensive vase by someone called Raku. I was nearly successful in knocking that to the floor before mom grabbed it, but by then, I was securely stuck.
Now don't think I can't hear the laughter, I can. I have dog ears. Let me say, I was in a panic!! I couldn't go forward and I couldn't go backwards. I was crying and screaming, I wasn't hurt, just really scared. This is where mother's can be mean. As I am in this state of panic; my mother starts to laugh. Seriously? This is not a laughing matter from my perspective. I mean, I'm stuck in between two posts and my front feet are on a table; there is no humor in that. Thankfully, she gained enough composure to lift me up a little past the narrow part of the rails and that gave me enough room for her to pull me out.
I confess, I doubt I will ever try that move again.
- Gracie
That leads up to the rest of my bad night. I don't know what I was thinking really. Have you ever done something you know might go badly, but you do it anyway? That was me. I went up on the stairs and for some reason that is still unexplainable, I decided to stick my head through the banister rails. Well, my head fit, so I thought why not try and go through them and walk onto moms nice oak hall table? There are interesting things up there, like a lamp, phone and a really expensive vase by someone called Raku. I was nearly successful in knocking that to the floor before mom grabbed it, but by then, I was securely stuck.
Now don't think I can't hear the laughter, I can. I have dog ears. Let me say, I was in a panic!! I couldn't go forward and I couldn't go backwards. I was crying and screaming, I wasn't hurt, just really scared. This is where mother's can be mean. As I am in this state of panic; my mother starts to laugh. Seriously? This is not a laughing matter from my perspective. I mean, I'm stuck in between two posts and my front feet are on a table; there is no humor in that. Thankfully, she gained enough composure to lift me up a little past the narrow part of the rails and that gave me enough room for her to pull me out.
I confess, I doubt I will ever try that move again.
- Gracie
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Protocol
Today, I learned a new word, PROTOCOL. I didn't know what it meant, so I had to look it up. Let me say that is no easy task when you have paws. I found out that it means "a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure." My first thought was that they were planning to cut open my cute little rat terrier head and go digging around in there looking for the loose wire. Thankfully, my foster mom explained it all to me. See, she read about a Tuft's Veterinary School study where they were studying dogs like me with OCD. She contacted them and after filling out 32 pages of questions on me and my odd behaviors, they sent her this "protocol" of what worked in their study. No cutting of the cute little rat terrier head required. Whew.
In this protocol, they are using a new drug called Namenda. My foster mom says it's a drug for people who have something called Alz-heim-ers. I didn't know what that was either, but rather than make me look up another word, my foster mom said it's a disease that mostly old people get where they can remember things from 50 years ago, but they can't remember things from last week or today; and they can't remember the names and faces of those who love them. How awful!! I can't imagine not knowing that my foster mom loves me. She tells me I'm a good girl; that I'm her sweetie and she pets the spot on my head that she calls "God's finger print." See I have this spot on the top of my head that looks like a big finger print; she says it's where God touched me to make me special. I would hate not being able to remember all those things. So back to the Namenda....apparently, OCD shares some of the same genetic markers as this Alzheimers and with something called Autism and in this study, dogs who got this drug improved by 25%; 50% and even 100%!!!!
Now, the downside is that this drug is very expensive. If I took it and it worked, it would be about $105 a month. My foster mom worries that no one will want to spend that kind of money on me; but she also fears not giving me a chance at a more normal life. What to do? She talked it over with rescue and they decided that it was at least worth a shot, so now we wait for my vet to read the protocol and decide what to do. My foster mom said she would worry about paying for it later if it worked and she'd look for donations to help me. She even called the company that makes it but a vet can't get samples because it's not FDA approved for dogs. Bummer.
What I like best about being here is that my foster mom doesn't yell at me or punish me. She knows I can't help what I do. She does get a little upset with my sisters when they pick on me and she wishes I would stop going potty in the house, but I am trying and I am getting better. I can go a week now before I get so busy and I forget to go outside. Sometimes I forget even when she takes me out every hour.
Last night I got to sleep in the bed with mom. All the other dogs were up there too, so it was a little crowded, but I found my spot, tight to mom, my nose in her ear. My life may not be perfect, but it's pretty close....
- Gracie
In this protocol, they are using a new drug called Namenda. My foster mom says it's a drug for people who have something called Alz-heim-ers. I didn't know what that was either, but rather than make me look up another word, my foster mom said it's a disease that mostly old people get where they can remember things from 50 years ago, but they can't remember things from last week or today; and they can't remember the names and faces of those who love them. How awful!! I can't imagine not knowing that my foster mom loves me. She tells me I'm a good girl; that I'm her sweetie and she pets the spot on my head that she calls "God's finger print." See I have this spot on the top of my head that looks like a big finger print; she says it's where God touched me to make me special. I would hate not being able to remember all those things. So back to the Namenda....apparently, OCD shares some of the same genetic markers as this Alzheimers and with something called Autism and in this study, dogs who got this drug improved by 25%; 50% and even 100%!!!!
Now, the downside is that this drug is very expensive. If I took it and it worked, it would be about $105 a month. My foster mom worries that no one will want to spend that kind of money on me; but she also fears not giving me a chance at a more normal life. What to do? She talked it over with rescue and they decided that it was at least worth a shot, so now we wait for my vet to read the protocol and decide what to do. My foster mom said she would worry about paying for it later if it worked and she'd look for donations to help me. She even called the company that makes it but a vet can't get samples because it's not FDA approved for dogs. Bummer.
What I like best about being here is that my foster mom doesn't yell at me or punish me. She knows I can't help what I do. She does get a little upset with my sisters when they pick on me and she wishes I would stop going potty in the house, but I am trying and I am getting better. I can go a week now before I get so busy and I forget to go outside. Sometimes I forget even when she takes me out every hour.
Last night I got to sleep in the bed with mom. All the other dogs were up there too, so it was a little crowded, but I found my spot, tight to mom, my nose in her ear. My life may not be perfect, but it's pretty close....
- Gracie
Friday, September 24, 2010
Let me introduce myself....
My name is Gracie. Racy Gracie to be exact. I'm a Rat Terrier, mixed with a little Bull Terrier. I can't be sure how old I am, but if I had to guess, I'm probably around 14 months old now.
I was found. I can't tell you how I came to wind up in that shelter in Arkansas, but there I was...in a cage and out of time. A nice woman from Rat Terrier ResQ (www.RatTerrierResQ.com) came to see me and thankfully, she sprung me before I got walked to some back room. I never found out what was in that room, but some of the dogs near my cage said when a dog went in there, they never came back out. I'd like to think there was a back door to the outside in there, but the way they said it, I don't think that was the case.
For two days I lived with this woman and a whole bunch of other rat terriers, who like me, had been sprung from shelters just like the one I had been in. Our story was all the same, all of us were "out of time." Now I'm not sure what "out of time" really means because I seem to have all the time in the world. Every day when I wake up, I have plenty of time to run and play. It's an odd phrase to say the least. After two days, I went on an airplane, some kind of flying car, to Wisconsin to a new lady. She was nice, but she said I was too hyper and took me to her vet. They gave me all kinds of pills. One day I could hardly focus; I was so tired, the next day I felt like I could leap tall buildings. After a few weeks of this, she said she couldn't cope with me and told the nice lady who got me out of the shelter that I had to go.
This is where my new mom came in. She met the other lady who had all the nasty pills and took me in a car for a long ride. When we stopped, it was at a place I recognized by the smell; another vets office. The nice lady vet was sweet to me and she and my new mom laid out all the pill bottles that came with me. I could tell they were really unhappy. They said they had to "flush my system" and I got a needle in my paw with a big bag of fluid attached. I pee'd and pee'd all over that vets floor. Hey, you try holding that much water. No one was mad though, they all loved on me and home we went.
I got two sister ratties, Darby (she is bossy) and Baby (she's bossy in a sneaky way) and a brother rattie named Murphy. Murphy is old, but he's my favorite. I like to try and kiss him. I had a big backyard to run in and lots of toys and boy, did I run. I ran and ran and ran. My new mom watched me for a couple days and knew something was wrong. See, I didn't know it, but I always ran in a counter-clockwise circle, in always the same pattern. Sometimes I would spin and then continue to run and sometimes I would kick off the side of the house and continue to run. After a couple days, I went back to the vet.
I have something they call OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's because my brain is wired funny. It makes me do the same thing over and over, and I can't make myself stop; even when I am exhausted. I also shadow watch and fly-snap. Shadow watching means I look at the wall or ceiling at something that isn't there. It's kinds of funny, because my mom looks to see what I'm looking at even though she knows it's nothing. Silly humans. Fly-snapping means I pretend to try and catch flies that aren't there. I do both of these things a lot. I can't help it.
I've been on a medication called Prozac and it stopped my circle running. I'm glad because I would get so tired and I would want to lay down, but I just couldn't. Now I can sleep, chew on rawhides and lay in bed with my mom at night. I like that. I hated having sore feet and tired legs. I get some Xanax too which helps my other problems a little, but we're still working on that.
Now you know all about me. Check in often to hear how I'm doing as I search for my forever home. After six months here, that is still eluding me.
Gracie
I was found. I can't tell you how I came to wind up in that shelter in Arkansas, but there I was...in a cage and out of time. A nice woman from Rat Terrier ResQ (www.RatTerrierResQ.com) came to see me and thankfully, she sprung me before I got walked to some back room. I never found out what was in that room, but some of the dogs near my cage said when a dog went in there, they never came back out. I'd like to think there was a back door to the outside in there, but the way they said it, I don't think that was the case.
For two days I lived with this woman and a whole bunch of other rat terriers, who like me, had been sprung from shelters just like the one I had been in. Our story was all the same, all of us were "out of time." Now I'm not sure what "out of time" really means because I seem to have all the time in the world. Every day when I wake up, I have plenty of time to run and play. It's an odd phrase to say the least. After two days, I went on an airplane, some kind of flying car, to Wisconsin to a new lady. She was nice, but she said I was too hyper and took me to her vet. They gave me all kinds of pills. One day I could hardly focus; I was so tired, the next day I felt like I could leap tall buildings. After a few weeks of this, she said she couldn't cope with me and told the nice lady who got me out of the shelter that I had to go.
This is where my new mom came in. She met the other lady who had all the nasty pills and took me in a car for a long ride. When we stopped, it was at a place I recognized by the smell; another vets office. The nice lady vet was sweet to me and she and my new mom laid out all the pill bottles that came with me. I could tell they were really unhappy. They said they had to "flush my system" and I got a needle in my paw with a big bag of fluid attached. I pee'd and pee'd all over that vets floor. Hey, you try holding that much water. No one was mad though, they all loved on me and home we went.
I got two sister ratties, Darby (she is bossy) and Baby (she's bossy in a sneaky way) and a brother rattie named Murphy. Murphy is old, but he's my favorite. I like to try and kiss him. I had a big backyard to run in and lots of toys and boy, did I run. I ran and ran and ran. My new mom watched me for a couple days and knew something was wrong. See, I didn't know it, but I always ran in a counter-clockwise circle, in always the same pattern. Sometimes I would spin and then continue to run and sometimes I would kick off the side of the house and continue to run. After a couple days, I went back to the vet.
I have something they call OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's because my brain is wired funny. It makes me do the same thing over and over, and I can't make myself stop; even when I am exhausted. I also shadow watch and fly-snap. Shadow watching means I look at the wall or ceiling at something that isn't there. It's kinds of funny, because my mom looks to see what I'm looking at even though she knows it's nothing. Silly humans. Fly-snapping means I pretend to try and catch flies that aren't there. I do both of these things a lot. I can't help it.
I've been on a medication called Prozac and it stopped my circle running. I'm glad because I would get so tired and I would want to lay down, but I just couldn't. Now I can sleep, chew on rawhides and lay in bed with my mom at night. I like that. I hated having sore feet and tired legs. I get some Xanax too which helps my other problems a little, but we're still working on that.
Now you know all about me. Check in often to hear how I'm doing as I search for my forever home. After six months here, that is still eluding me.
Gracie
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