I think since Shilo "asked" for a sibling back on Fathers Day we could have adopted at least two Chinese babies by now... The great folks at Lab Rescue really hung in there with us, coached us and asked us to broaden our horizons. We were very stringent in what we were looking for and determined to wait for the right fit. Well, that came along months later in the opposite direction we were heading and we are SO glad.
After a short period of a "turf war" to establish who this dog was and what was he doing here, Brooks and Shilo are fast becoming friends. Fortunately, the war came in the form of ignoring each other, not fighting. Plus, we had a great scare when we noted a lump on his side, about the size and density of a walnut. While we prayed it was a fatty bump, it was too similar to what eventually ended Jake's life -- cancer. We tried to be calm, to observe and be patient, but that is not our doggie MO. I made a vet appointment as fast as I could the next week. One look and the vet immediately diagnosed it as a reaction to his heart-worm injection site. poor guy got two shots there in the course of a few weeks, deep into the muscle. A few doses of prednisone and the lump is already smaller, but may persist for weeks. Of course in her 30 years of practice, this is our vets first case of a reaction (happens in about 30% of the cases).
Right now Brooks is rocket fast, learning to behave on a leash and very willing to please. Next step is to build up enough trust equity in the bank so he does not need to be crated. He has been sleeping out of it at night and -- fingers crossed -- doing very well.
We know that there will be some joint issues -- with both dogs most likely -- but we are prepared to do what it takes to make them happy and healthy. That means my rides just got a little more personal. Hmmm, maybe it's time for that "4THE DOGS" tattoo across my quads? Relax mom, I'm kidding!
Happy New Year to all.
LABstrong
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