Spoiled doggie alert! Local dog sleeps in owner's bed

We had a Halloween party Friday night. Skeletor was having fun mingling until Calamity Jane showed up with her cap guns. She didn't scare him on purpose, but skeletor hates scary, noise making hand-held devices. He decided to hang out in the back yard for the rest of the evening.

Mel and I went back periodically to check on him. Skelly was happy to see us but had no interest in rejoining the party!

Having not used his dog house since early spring, skeletor was just laying in the wet grass in a very pitiful fashion. We couldn't bear to leave him out there and he was way too scared to hang out inside. So we dragged the nervous hound into the Holy Grail of doggydom... My bedroom!

Skeletor was totally excited once he got past the commotion. He amazed Mel and I with his ability to take up the entire king sized bed!

Needless to say, it took quite a bit of convincing to get him into his own sleeping quarters the following night :)

Makeshift pill pockets

I ran out of pill pockets and tried some alternatives. First, I tried wrapping the pill with cheese. This wasn't so great. The cheese wasn't really pliable enough. Next time I tried wadding the pills up in bread. The bread was easy to mold around the pill, but it wasn't gooey enough. Skeletor chewed it instead of swallowing and the crafty jerk ended up spitting out the pill. Finally I tried cooking some oatmeal with less water than normal. I tossed it in the freezer for a while and when I pulled it out it was rather gooey indeed. To my amazement, it worked rather well. Whodathought the world's pickiest dog would be such a fan of plain oatmeal!?

That's skeletor for ya!

Skeletor needs help getting heart meds

I have created a new bloggy button in hopes of garnering support for Skeletor's meds.

I'm trying to cover all the cost myself, but business has been slow lately, and I'm slipping into debt in the process.

He will need another bottle of Vetmedin in 2 days!

To make it easy, just copy the code below, then paste it into your webpage or blog. Thank you for all of your support!

Heart Meds Code

<p><a href="http://helpskeletor.org/" imageanchor="1" title="Skeletor needs heart medicine. Please donate or spread the word if you can."><img alt="Skeletor needs heart medicine. Please donate or spread the word if you can." border="0" src="http://fuelmultimedia.com/skeletor/heart-meds.jpg" /><br /> </a><p></p>

Skelly Threads Heart and Crossbones Shirt on eBay - Size XL

Place your bids on this fabulous tee shirt featuring the adorable Skelly Threads logo.
Size XL (I also have large available if you prefer. Just let me know when you check out)

Click here and place your bid!
Proceeds will go towards paying off Skeletor's credit card.

I got him a care credit card when he needed the emergency echocardiogram.
It's a nice enough card as long as I can pay it off quickly enough. Zero interest for 6 months.
After that... yowza... let's just say I need to pay it off before then :)

Skeletor's coughing comes and goes

Last week when we got back from the vet's office, I noticed that Skelly's coughing had become more frequent. It was cause of concern throughout the whole weekend. However, it seems that it's now down to a nominal level.

I just spoke with Dr. Chick about the coughing issues. He prescribed a cough suppressant that I can go pick up and keep on hand in case Skelly has another bad spell.

I also asked Dr. Chick is he thought the elusive Viagra might help with Skelly's coughing. He said that since the Viagra treats the pulmonary hypertension, which is contributing to the cough, that it could indirectly treat his coughing.

I double-checked to see if the Viagra was safe to give him with his current regiment of meds and the doc says it's ok.

If anybody has a rich uncle or grandpa with a few viagra to spare, send 'em Skelly's way :)
You can email me skeletor (at) fuelmultimedia.com to request our mailing address.

Since he does have a bona-fide prescription for the stuff, I don't see any legal issues with helping a puppy out.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention... the nice folks at San Juan Animal Hospital gave Skelly a cool tag that says "San Juan loves you." Thanks for taking such good care of him! :)

Home from the Vet - Skelly's condition update

We're home from what I considered to be a positive visit to the doc. (despite some of the hard truths that the doctor brought up)

On the way to the Vet, Skeletor was saying hi in a very loud fashion to the lady next to us at the stop light. She seemed to get a kick out of it. 

Within seconds, the bed sheet I spread across the back seat was wadded up in a ball. Nice work Skelly :)

"Be patient" is a trick Skeletor has yet to master!

He was very interested in a wiener dog he met in the waiting room. She was NOT interested in him :)

Skelly was determined to be heard by every person and pet in the building.

He was practicing his monkey impressions as well. 

"Jeez, can we go back already!?"

"I'm sick of waiting!"

Sit Skeletor! 

 Good Boy!

The Good News is that this monster of a dog weighed in at over 64lbs! I have not been trying to put any more weight on him, but it seems that he has other ideas. 

The Even Better News is that his blood is looking GREAT! His red cell count is up to a whopping 48.46%. This is well within the normal range of 37-55. Way to go Skelly! 

The Other News

Dr. Chick said that he had a chance to hear Skelly's heart during the brief moments when he was not panting from excitement. Dr. Chick explained that his heavy breathing is due not only to excitement, but also to the deteriorated state of Skelly's heart and lungs. Skeletor's heart murmur was noticeable.  I would hypothesize that the heavy breathing is also due in part to his pulmonary hypertension. (the constricting of blood vessels between his heart and lungs that is apparently only treatable by the ever-elusive Viagra)

Dr. Chick explained that the damage that has been and continues to be caused to Skeletor's heart is most likely irreparable. (meaning that his heart will never heal completely) The heart medication he is on is intended to slow down the rate at which he heart takes damage from the parasites. 

Skelly was prescribed an additional heart medication (Enalapril) to take along with his Vetmedin. His prednisone dose has been cut in half. 

He's scheduled for another checkup in 2 weeks. Let's hope that his blood remains stabilized during the prednisone weening period! That lousy recurring anemia is the major thing preventing Skelly from beginning heartworm treatment. 

I asked Dr. Chick if I could take Skelly out for the occasional walk. He said that it was OK provided that I keep them short and cool. He assured me that with heart problems like Skeletor's, too much excitement could literally cause him to collapse and never get back up. 

With the permanent damage to his heart and lungs, Skeletor may never run in dog marathons or swim across the English Channel, but I'm going to continue doing whatever I can to prolong and improve his time on earth. 

Go Skelly! 

Home from the Vet - Skelly's condition update

We're home from what I considered to be a positive visit to the doc. (despite some of the hard truths that the doctor brought up)

On the way to the Vet, Skeletor was saying hi in a very loud fashion to the lady next to us at the stop light. She seemed to get a kick out of it. 

Within seconds, the bed sheet I spread across the back seat was wadded up in a ball. Nice work Skelly :)

"Be patient" is a trick Skeletor has yet to master!

He was very interested in a wiener dog he met in the waiting room. She was NOT interested in him :)

Skelly was determined to be heard by every person and pet in the building.

He was practicing his monkey impressions as well. 

"Jeez, can we go back already!?"

"I'm sick of waiting!"

Sit Skeletor! 

 Good Boy!

The Good News is that this monster of a dog weighed in at over 64lbs! I have not been trying to put any more weight on him, but it seems that he has other ideas. 

The Even Better News is that his blood is looking GREAT! His red cell count is up to a whopping 48.46%. This is well within the normal range of 37-55. Way to go Skelly! 

The Other News

Dr. Chick said that he had a chance to hear Skelly's heart during the brief moments when he was not panting from excitement. Dr. Chick explained that his heavy breathing is due not only to excitement, but also to the deteriorated state of Skelly's heart and lungs. Skeletor's heart murmur was noticeable.  I would hypothesize that the heavy breathing is also due in part to his pulmonary hypertension. (the constricting of blood vessels between his heart and lungs that is apparently only treatable by the ever-elusive Viagra)

Dr. Chick explained that the damage that has been and continues to be caused to Skeletor's heart is most likely irreparable. (meaning that the damage is most likely permanent) The heart medication he is on is intended to slow down the rate at which he heart takes damage from the parasites. 

Skelly was prescribed an additional heart medication (Enalapril) to take along with his Vetmedin. His prednisone dose has been cut in half. 

He's scheduled for another checkup in 2 weeks. Let's hope that his blood remains stabilized during the prednisone weening period! That lousy recurring anemia is the major thing preventing Skelly from beginning heartworm treatment. 

I asked Dr. Chick if I could take Skelly out for the occasional walk. He said that it was OK provided that I keep them short and cool. He assured me that with heart problems like Skeletor's, too much excitement could literally cause him to collapse and never get back up. 

With the permanent damage to his heart and lungs, Skeletor may never run in dog marathons or swim across the English Channel, but I'm going to continue doing whatever I can to prolong and improve his time on earth. 

Go Skelly! 

64 lbs!?

At the vet

Hoping for good news... Let's find out!

Today's the big day! Off to the vet.

It's been a whole month since Skelly's last visit. Judging from his unwavering appetite, bright pink gums, and astronomical energy levels, I really think this will be a good one!

Skeletor's been doing incredibly well with his training. We're working on a new trick that is sure to blow your mind! I'll post a video when Skelly gets it down.

I'll post an update when we hear from Dr. Chick. Go Skelly!

Fun in the Fall

Skeletor has been enjoying short little visits to the front yard. He's got a cool new orange tie that affords him the opportunity to urinate on not one but TWO different trees, as well as a few different bushes :)

Here are some photos of Skelly and Mel having fun in the grass!

Good Morning Skeletor!!!

Mine and Skelly's morning routine...

He makes weird noises, he sees me, he gets all excited, I let him out, he starts coughing, I try (in vain) to calm him down :)

Skeletor displays his awesome willpower (and stubbornness)

You can't see it in the video, but there are streams of drool pouring from both sides of his mouth while he's sitting there waiting. It's weird how he hesitates so long to lay down. When I have the treat in my hand, he lays down instantly. He's focusing so intently on that delicious biscuit!!

On silent haunches...

Insano was sitting behind me in my chair, studying Skeletor's habits.

I snapped this photo and thought that maybe I could help them become buddies by giving them equal attention at the same time.

I started petting Insano and Skeletor. Skeletor was liking the idea just fine. Insano, on the other hand, took the opportunity to try and perform a little eye surgery on the unsuspecting hound.

Fortunately, he didn't cause any real damage, but I suppose it's going to be a while before these two curl up together.

He usually gets along with other animals... well he used to anyways. Insano has never been a fan of children. He's been known to sink his claws into many unsuspecting little kids, resulting in many shrieks of terror.

Speaking of which... when Insano was much younger, a friend came to visit and brought her child of maybe 3 or 4 years old. The kid was playing with Insano in the next room and next thing you know, we hear the poor kid screaming bloody murder. It was no surprise that Insano had introduced her to his claws, but what was surprising was how it went down.

We walked into the other room to survey the scene, and the poor child was running across the hardwood floors with insano "chasing" her on hind legs. Apparently he had sunk his claws right into the small of her back and they had become stuck. Here's an artists interpretation of the grizzly attack...

That's a bad kitty!

More drugs for Skelly

Today I had to make a run for my favorite pill poppin' pal, Skeletor.

Thanks to Greenie's Pill Pockets, he's become quite the little hypochondriac! He struggles to sit absolutely still while trembling and panting with anticipation every time I walk over to his "pill station."

He's got quite a little boneyard of empty bottles going here. What am I saving them for? I don't know. Maybe I'll tie them together one day and create a life raft?

At the vet's office, I couldn't help to chuckle at what a wicked cool name this dog has. He seems like he should be the frontman for a heavy metal band or something!

You would think he was a rock star if you saw how much he pays for his little drug habit :)
But hey, seeing him happy, full of energy, and maintaining a healthy appetite is totally worth it! Your donations and t-shirt purchases certainly help as well! THANK YOU! I really can't say it enough.

Hoping for great news at his next visit. (Oct 15) Go Skelly!