'Joey' and 'Maggie' on canvas in front of Frankenmuth Dachshund
Continuing on with yesterday's theme of being taken back by the kindness of people, one day last April we got a package in the mail from our good pals 'Turbo' and 'Lily,' two long dogs who work closely with and volunteer a lot of their time for MidWest Dachshund Rescue. We had no idea a package was coming from them, and when we opened it, we were absolutely shocked at the beauty inside: itty bitty paintings of your 'Long and Short of it All' hosts 'Joey' and 'Maggie,' complete with itty bitty easels to display them on. Apparently Turbo and Lily had a relative (we apologize that we can't read the artist's name on the back), paint several small paintings to be sold at MWDR's big "Cross Town Bark Around" Fundraiser in May. In the process, two special paintings were created for Joey and Maggie, and they are just beautiful. Joey's is great, and Maggie's is just awesome - the artist really captured Maggie's "look" - that wonderful "glare" that she gave Dad when she was tired of getting her photo taken, or any time her dinner was a few minutes late. Again, these will be something we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Thank you so much Turbo and Lily!
Sometimes we're a bit taken back by the kindness of people. Take for example this awesome "Wiener Wagon." We got a note in January from a reader of the blog, Grace Liesa, who asked us for our address and said she had something special to send us. And boy, did she! It was Maggie and Joey's very own Wiener Wagon! Grace hand-crafted and sent this to us solely out of the kindness of her heart, in honor of Joey making it through his surgery last year, and Maggie and Joey's birthday, which was last December 23rd. We tried to get photos of Maggie and Joey beside it to post on the blog, but we could never get a good photo of both of them that also detailed this wonderful sculpture. As time moves along so quickly, we never got the chance to post it to the blog, even after several more photo session attempts with Maggie and Joey.
We would like to rectify that situation, as something so special, especially after Maggie's passing, must be shared with everyone. It means more now than it ever did, and will be something we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Thank you so much Grace.
Grace noted to us: I know you all had a rough one in 2010 (I realize that was an understatement), so I hope this cheery sculpture will bring smile to your face. May Joey and Maggie have a much smoother ride in their Wiener Wagon in 2011. Take care, and send our doxie kisses to Joey and Maggie, and tell them although we've never met in person, we surely love them in our hearts, and think loving thoughts of them all the time. That was how this special sculpture was created.
Living the High Life with a Good Looking Man About Town
Thank you for all the wonderful comments, emails, photos, cards and remembrances in the loss of our beloved Maggie, your Long and Short of it All hostess. Each was read, appreciated, and loved. Such kind words mean more than you could know. It's been two weeks now since we lost her, the house is incredibly lonely, but each day gets better, at least that is what they say. And it does...somewhat.
Maggie had such an extraordinary presence - when she walked into a room, heads would turn - and it was no different than the large yet calming presence she had in her own home. So it's a bit empty, and you think that you keep seeing her here and there (and everywhere!).
Having Joey, Maggie's littermate brother, around has provided great comfort. He's doing OK. He seems to sniff around for Maggie sometimes, but he's mostly adjusted. For several days after Maggie was gone, Joey would come to the head of the big bed (which he hates, he'd rather be at the foot or in the center), and would just stand there while staring at the wall while dad would pet and talk to him. He seemed to want and need the consolation, standing there still in silence for a good ten minutes or so each night for several nights.
Joey did get to go out for lunch with friends at a local restaurant a few days after Maggie's passing (see photo above) and provided great comic relief with his sly smile and clever ways. He was such a good boy sitting in his own chair and waiting patiently for little bites of BBQ and sweet potato fries. He also got to have a playdate with 8 of his Dachshund friends which he greatly enjoyed.
There's a message on the answering machine we haven't checked yet, but coming from the vet's office, it most likely means that Maggie's ashes are back. We still have to order her permanent urn, which will come from atpeace.com and will be similar to Louie's, which we got there some 11 years ago. They provided the urn, and the beautiful white Dachshund statue came from a little antique shop in Amsterdam. We were happy to find that the website was still in business after all these years. A fine vintage bronze longhair Dachshund will sit proudly atop Maggie's urn.
There are rumors that another Dachshund may soon come into our lives. We weren't searching for another, but there he was, we fell in love with his eyes, he can help fill this hole in our heart, and we can give him a great home. It seems incredibly soon after Maggie's passing, which we are really struggling with. When is too soon? Days, weeks, months, years? How soon is now? We've learned after Louie's passing that it can take many years to fully come to terms with the passing of a beloved furry friend. But that furry friend will never leave your heart, and would never want you to be sad, crying, and moping around the house. Dogs live in the present as they say, and they want you to as well. So, as you never know what life is going to send your way, there may be a new Dachshund in our lives in the next few weeks. Joey needs another buddy. So does Dad.
As far as the "state of the blog," Dad has always said that if anything ever happened to Joey or Maggie, that the blog would cease to exist - it's their blog after all. We're not so sure of that at the moment, maybe we'll be back soon - there have been some great Dachshund stories recently that we felt an urgent need to post. Whatever would we do without this site and our wonderful friends here?
Our hearts are overflowing with unbearable pain and sadness as we relay the passing of our sweet baby Maggie, your Long and Short of it All hostess. We're hoping to be able to write something to honor our beautiful girl in the next few days, but for now...we just can't, and nothing would ever be good enough, so how do we even proceed? Suffice to say that you may not hear from us for some time. Maggie's ultrasound today showed that she had liver cancer - unrelated to the Cushing's disease, and not treatable. The tumors were "too numerous to count" and did not exist just 4 short months ago when she had her last ultrasound. She was put to rest just a few hours after the ultrasound results with friends and her Dad at her side on the floor with her, as she lay comfortably and content on a warm blanket. We were hoping to have Joey by her side as well, but sometimes things just don't go as you would like them to. We've got a good feeling that "Joey knows." We spent a lot of time reminiscing with her, loving her, stroking her, hugging her, kissing her, caressing her, and telling her of how special and beautiful she was and how all her friends - both near and far, loved her very much. She passed quietly in our arms.
Now if only the pain would pass - oh God, the pain. Our home is empty and cold. Please hug your little ones tight.
I wandered today to the hill, Maggie
To watch the scene below
The creek and the old rusty mill, Maggie
Where we sat in the long, long ago.
The green grove is gone from the hill, Maggie
Where first the daisies had sprung
The old rusty mill is now still, Maggie
Since you and I were young.
And now we are aged and grey, Maggie
The trials of life nearly done
Let us sing of the days that are gone, Maggie
When you and I were young.
A city so silent and lone, Maggie
Where the young and the gay and the best
In polished white mansions of stone, Maggie
Have each found a place of rest
Is built where the birds used to play, Maggie
And join in the songs that were sung
For we sang just as gay as did they, Maggie
When you and I were young.
They say I am feeble with age, Maggie
My steps are less sprightly than then
My face is a well written page, Maggie
And time, time alone was the pen.
They say we are aged and grey, Maggie
As spray by the white breakers flung
But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie
When you and I were young.
It's unfortunate that the original video we posted here, a beautiful acapella version of When You and I Were Young, Maggie, was removed from youtube, but this version by Donna Stewart and Ron Andrico is also quite beautiful.
Your Long and Short of it All hostess 'Maggie,' photo taken a few weeks ago
Tears are streaming down our face, and it's hard to compose ourselves as we read all the beautiful comments and e-mails from all over the world for our sweet little Maggie Thank you so much. We printed them out and read them to her last night. It's painful to write that she is still not eating on her own - she is actually being force-fed as of yesterday to give her some nutrients to allow her pancreas just a little more time to turn around. We're not so sure how we feel about that, but she is keeping the food down, and her pain is being controlled on pain meds. Dad doesn't want a tube feed for her, or any TPN's, or any sort of surgery for her, she has just too many medical complications stacked up against her due to the Cushing's. The veterinarian agrees with this. We discussed a PPN with the vet yesterday, which would be partial parenteral nutrition in an IV, but he decided that at least if we force feed her she is getting complete nutrition. We are no longer giving her the trilostane to control her Cushing's in hopes that, as Cushing's dogs are ravenously hungry, it will help her to eat. The extra steroids she would produce may also help her. She gets visits with Dad and Joey and some of her favorite friends every 12 hours. On Monday morning the vet was positive that Maggie may still turn around, but with each passing hour that hope diminishes.
Dad is going to work just a half day today and then take her to a veterinary specialty center this afternoon for an ultrasound so we can see exactly what we are dealing with, and hopefully have an answer as to whether or not she will be able to turn around. Maybe a tumor has grown since she had her last ultrasound in May, or who knows really, but hoping that the ultrasound will provide some clues as to what exactly we are dealing with - liver, adrenal, pancreas, or gallbladder issues.
She is getting the best medical care that she can, and all the wonderful vets and technicians love her, and are making sure she is comfortable - even putting a little blanket over her when she sleeps. Sweet little girl.
Yeah, we posted this version of one of our favorite songs in May, the last time Maggie was quite serious with a pancreatitis attack, but we'd give absolutely ANYTHING IN THE WORLD just to have her mess our bed, and in the morning kick us in the head just one more time. Please, sweet, sweet Maggie. Please pull through sweet baby.
Thanks so much for all the kind comments and emails for your Long and Short of it All hostess 'Maggie.' She is still in the hospital dealing with her most recent bout of pancreatitis. Dad and Joey have gone to visit her every 12 hours this weekend. She seems to have declined a little while in the hospital, she wouldn't pee last night for us, and no longer sits up and acts excited when we come to visit. She is on pain meds, anti-nauseants, and IV hydration. She did poop this morning, it was firm, so that was good, and there was no blood in her stools or anything which happened last time she was in for pancreatitis.
As far as her lab values go, her liver is messed up pretty bad, and when she is discharged the good veterinarian wants to start her on a neutraceutical with SAM-e in it, says he has seen good results. Another liver value is pointing to a blockage somewhere, possibly in the gallbladder, so she will also be started on ursodiol for that (Joey is also on ursodiol for his "gallbladder sludge"). And finally, since her pancreatitis has become chronic, we're going to try an antibiotic for 6 weeks that they give humans with chronic pancreatitis. There are no guarantees that it will do anything, you really can't treat pancreatitis, but we will try.
The plan was to bring her home on Monday morning, which would be 72 hours in the hospital. We were to trial her with a few bites of food today, and if she was eating well Monday morning, then she could come home. She wouldn't eat any of her food this morning though, so she probably won't be home tomorrow.
We're hoping and praying that she turns around quickly.
Your Long and Short of it All hostess 'Maggie' is in the hospital again, took her in yesterday morning. Her appetite has been decreasing for several months, she often won't eat a meal, or will eat just half a meal; she is fed twice a day. The last few weeks have been worse, she will skip a meal, and then hardly eat any of the next meal, but then sometimes she would eat a whole meal. She didn't eat anything at all Wednesday or Thursday - her raw meat, tried plain raw turkey from the grocery store which she likes, tried cooking it, and that seemed to help, and then added some cooked fat free eggs, and she would like that, but only maybe 5 or 6 very small bites - and chewing it instead of gulping it. Even tried kibble and canned dog food - she wouldn't touch it.
With her Cushing's disease, you would think that maybe she is being overdosed on her meds, which would cause her to not be hungry, but she was also drinking lots of water the last week like a Cushing's dog would do, and even had a few accidents in the house because of it, which is totally not like her.
So took her in for an ACTH stimulation test to see where her levels are for Cushing's, and also a blood panel. It turns out that her pancreatitis is back, which Cushing's predisposes her to. This is bad news because now it seems that her pancreas is becoming a chronic issue. Her diet hasn't varied at all, she gets her low-fat raw food, and low-fat snacks, that's all.
Not sure how long she'll be in the hospital - her amylase and lipase values are very high, and the vet usually keeps pancreatitis cases in for 4 days with no food, just IV hydration, to let the pancreas rest and hopefully get better. She was drinking water at home this week though, so maybe she can come home early since she was doing that, and continue her on the no-food for a few more days and then look at her amylase and lipase values again. Will know more by tomorrow probably.
Her pancreas simply must get better. Damn Cushing's Disease.
One of the premier Dachshund events of the world took place on Saturday, September 4th in Kraków, Poland: the 2011 Marsz Jamników, or March of the Dachshunds. A band led hundreds if not thousands of Dachshunds through Kraków streets to the main square where contests, including a costume contest was held. The spectators were obviosly delighted to see such a spectacle. As are we!
Boy is this holiday week whizzing by - can you believe it's Wednesday already? Wirehair Wednesday?! Thanks so much to Sue Fell for writing in all the way from the UK with an awesome pic of her boy 'Pepsi.' She writes:
Hi Maggie and Joey
I still love reading your blog, it's great to have a place to go to read all about Dachshunds with others who love them as much as me! I thought I would share this photo of Pepsi. I went into my bedroom the other night and saw a small lump wriggling up under the bedspread from the bottom to the top and out popped Pepsi's head! I had to grab my phone and take a photo as he looked so cute with that sweet "can I stay?" look on his face. He definitely has me wrapped round his little paw .
See more photos of this handsome guy in the archives.
Thanks so much to Doug Tricarico for sending in this hilarious video - boy did we laugh and laugh! He writes:
Dear Joey and Maggie,
I've made a couple videos featured Dachshunds over the years you might like. Despite the fact that I made it, and years ago at that, this Ralphie one never fails to crack me up.
If you enjoy flyball, and you haven't seen the Dachshund Dream Team video featuring our local friends Peaches and Piper, don't miss it!
The "Woman Punches Bear To Save Dog" story has gone viral - with news agencies all over the world reporting the tale. Dachshund Lover Brooke Collins, of Juneau, Alaska, has received offers for interviews, appearances, and even a visit to The Late Show With David Letterman. Excerpt from the Juneau Empire:
Brooke Collins of Juneau made headlines this week after she punched a black bear in her yard to save her dachshund Fudge from the bear’s grip. Collins’ name has been on newspapers and websites. ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, Huffington Post and NPR are just a few examples. Radio stations from Anchorage, Seattle, Chicago and others have been asking to interview her. Even large metro papers like the Miami Herald and The Washington Post have picked this up. Besides news sites, several dog-themed websites have been on the story as well. The next stop could be national television. CBS has contacted Collins about bringing her to New York with Fudge and her boyfriend, Regan O’Toole, who was at the house when the incident took place. In fact, the network is interested in this story with more than its news shows. “The Late Show with David Letterman” has also contacted Collins. She’s returned the inquiry and is awaiting a response.
We certainly hope she brings her handsome boy 'Fudge' with her! Read more at the Juneau Empire.
If you've got some extra cash and need to start looking at sprucing up your home for the holidays - they will be here sooner than you think - you may want to head over to Naked Decor and check out the new Dachshund goods.
On the top of the couch we spy the colorful new Dachshund Silhouette Pillow, which is a whopping 19"L, 10"T, 3"D. Reminiscent of Waldi, the First Olympic Mascot, this new version will brighten up your home, and won't cost as much at $45.
Next - add some humor to your couch with the Little Dachshund Balloon Pillow. Measuring in at 18' x 18", the print is both sides as shown. We're guessing that means you gotta purchase two @ 49.95 each for the full effect.
And finally - retro lovers like us can't resist the fun new Dachshund USA Wall Clock. 13" wide by 8" tall, this acrylic beauty could be the conversation piece in any room in your home.
