Wiley Dog's Health Update and Fundraiser Info

Greetings my two-legged creatures and furry friends. Wiley Dog here with an update on my health. I promise to update you with more of that statistical and factual stuff after the holidays, but for now, here's the skinny:

I found out that I do not have canine cough and all that other jazz my earlier research on my own came up with, but it's worse. I have something called Conjestive Heart Failure. I didn't think it was any big deal until that Doctor W. lady showed my aunts the picture of my heart squooze up tightly against my rib cage. It's nothin' to play around with. I mean serious weiners, Man!! Here's more on CHF, as the vet people call it. I also found out from the X-Ray that I broke my back. When that happened, I don't know, but for whatever reason, I'm da' man and my back has healed and sealed itself. I wish I had the picture to show you, but you could tell real well that a bone or two was out of place, right where I hear Doxies have trouble when they mess up their backs.

I also swallowed some foreign object that was pretty much unidentifiable. Dr. W. said that I need to eat rice and it's will help it flow on through the washer. I'm like, "kewl". I like rice. uhh humm! But without salt I overheard them say.

No salt??? Who ever came up with that way of solutions to heart problems needs to be shot with a B.B gun. Oh well, they said if I have salty foods, I might as well be adding a nail to my coffin in Rainbow Bridge.

Now, I have to take my chocolate bars every 3-4 weeks, take this Lasix stuff, and some other kind of medicine I can't remember what they called it for the rest of my natural born life. What a bummer man! But, I understand, that helps me not cough so much and keep my Mom up at night and I might just make it to 30 by next July.

So, that leads me to my fund raiser my Aunt Maryee finally got up and running. She's got like 4 phases to it, so for sure, I know of two of them. The first is some stuff she's selling for me to get my medicine and food taken care of and to get me through this cold blustery winter here in Central Texas.

You can find it all at Maryee's Store, which is her store on Ebay. The stuff she has for me is “fundraiser” priced, so don’t go comparing to see what similar items are selling for. It’s a FUNDRAISER OK??? The listing explain what I need which is help paying for all my medical bills, my medicine and my H/D , AP and T/D dog food. I'm not that kind of beggin' dog. I believe if you ask somebody for help, you ought to give em' something in return.

Here’s the link to the store: http://stores.ebay.com/MsMaryee

So far all that she’s listed for my fundraiser are “doggie” stuff by my request. If any of the other stuff interests you, put in a good word for me after you buy it and it might count towards my fund (crossing my paw toes). Anywho…

So, who will be my first FUNDRAISER participant?

The second phase of the fundraiser is pictures she’s selling of MOI!! Yes, you will have your very own picture of ME, the Wile’ster! It will also come with a holiday background. Neat huh? How do you like those apples?

So, If you want to purchase any of those pictures, you can pay via PayPal or email My Aunt Maryee so she can get a mailing address out to you. Email her at callmeruth at sbcglobal.net. I learned to separate the email address and not put the @ so the internet spiders don’t send my aunt’s email address to cyber smutville. I believe there are at least 4 different poses to choose from. I’ll add samples of the photos and each photo is a minimum donation of $5. I think that’s fair. But give as generously as your heart leads you. I promise to add something special for big doners. You can also just send your donations to my vet, Dr. W. She'll know what to do.

Listen, who knows, they may be worth much more one day. You never know…

Well, I need to go vacuum up, I mean check on Mom in the kitchen. She cooked a big turkey, dressing, and broccoli corn cornbread for tomorrow. Hey, no one said I couldn't help keep the kitchen tidy as a Christmas present to my mama!

Signing off with much barking love,

Wiley Dog

Ps
Thank you for everyone who’s been checking in on me and praying for me. I really really appreciate your thinking of me.

Merry Christmas!!

Where's Wiley Dog been??

Hey my furry friends and two-legged creatures. Wiley dog here, with a quick hello. It's getting late and my Aunt Maryee's kind of tired. I have a lot of updates to give you but I can't tonight. Hopefully if she does not go to work tomorrow I can have her all to myself to type my update for me. For now I'm gonna add a picture that you might find quite amusing. You see, in the dachshund yahoo group several weeks ago, I heard my Aunt Maryee talking about how the two-legged creatures had doxies singing to them. Well, this old dog might still hunt, but he don't sing. Anyway, Aunt Maryee had the bright idea to start singing some "Sunshine" song in a voice that sounded like squawking birds or something. Mom had the camera and so I thought I'd humor them a bit and act like I was singing along. Looking pretty debonair huh?? Well, that's all for tonight. If I don't get an update to you tomorrow, it will be sometime this week. I have plenty of updates and pictures as well to share. Also, my dang fundraiser should be up and running too! Christmas is coming and the goose is gettin' fat!!!

Signing out with much barkin' love,

Wiley dog

All about Dachshunds

This is for all you two-legged creatures and furry friends who may not know about the nobility and rich history of my breed! Although my original smooth red color is what we are most recongnized as, Doxies come in all hair types, sizes and colors. We are a really cool breed and anyone who has had the pleasure of being owned by us know how obedient and sedate and docile and submissive we are, right? Not!!!! We are the creme de la creme when it comes to brains, brawns, wit, and humor. Ask anyone who knows anything about us and they will tell you we are far from having the personality or brains of a toothpick. We are sharp as a tack in every area. I heard someone crack a joke one time saying that we were Doberman Pinscher's trapped in a Dachshund's body. I say, we can hold our own, with no need to be compared to anyone else. Doberman's are nice and all, but I enjoy being who I am, which is a hound dog!

So what you'll be learning is complinents of the American Kennel Club, who by the way is supposed to be getting back with my Aunt Maryee to find the Leslie person who was my breeder, if he/she is still alive. I hope so, cause that's holding us up with the Guiness Book stuff!

All about Dachshunds!

Much barking love,

Wiley dog

ps
I'll be back tomorrow with my health update and pictures!

Update from my last visit to the Doctor

Greetings two-legged creatures and furry friends,

Wiley dog here with an update from my visit to the doctor last Monday. My aunt Maryee videotaped my doing my coughing hacking thing and left the video for Dr. W. to check out. I think I'd do well in movies if you ask me. They could cast me as an elderly dog who develops this rare coughing disease that sounds like a human cough, hack, gag who then miraculously recovers with a special medication made in an underground blackmarket lab. Hey, that sounds like a role I'd fit right into. Though I digress....

Well, after viewing the videotape, Dr. W. gave my aunt some green chopped up pills. They are called Temaril PSpans. I had to take em' for about a week and my last one was last night. They mashed the pills into my K/D and that's how they snuck em' to me. They think I didn't know, but that will be yours and my lil' secret, ok?

The doctor wanted to know if there was any change in the coughing, but unfortunately, I'd say it is about the same, if not worse. So, until my mom can round up the money for an X-Ray or Aunt Maryee starts my fundraiser to pay for this stuff, I will be just suffering day in and day out with this heart wrenching medical condition soon to wither away into nothingness never to blog to you all my dear furry friends and two-legged creatures again... You see I'm laying in on thick right?

So what I did this morning, with the help of Aunt Maryee, is I decided to do some research on my own. This is what I came up with. When I go to the doctor and they do my testing, I'll already be one up on them and kinda have an idea of what's wrong with me. Because I'm not so cranky today, I'll be nice and share with you the research I came up with. Make sure you share my blog with others who may have small dogs because from what I came up with, this may be quite common in older small dogs, you know the heart problems, coughing and all. I will rule out kennel cough, but I have a sneaky suspicion by my own observation and suffering that I may have Canine Cough Syndrome. The only problem with that is, the links I find say the Canine Cough Syndrome is Kennel Cough! For the love of St. Crox!!! This dog coughin' business is sooooooooo confusing!!

Other links I found that may shed some light on my situation are here:

Vet Info- Dog Cough

Dog Cough-Canines

Prevention -Dog cough info

Check em out and let me know what you think.

Well, I'm out. Mornings are usually hard because I wake up coughing. I'm gonna take a nap.

Much barking love,

Wiley dog

Wiley Dog's Going to the Doctor again

Greetings all my two-legged creatures and furry friends. I just wanted to give you guys an update on my health. Well, you know that cough hacking thing came back and it's been giving everyone in the house grief, including me. I see out the corner of my eye my Mom and Aunts looking at me all weird when I make this heeking hacking haucking sound and heeve and hoove the whole time. I have no control over it, especially when I end it with this really nasty sounding haaaicckk sound! Ugh! My mom said I sound like an old man coughing up flim. But nothing comes out. It just sounds disgusting. Oh, well.

So, today at 4pm Aunt Maryee's taking me by Dr. W.'s so she can listen to my chest to see if I have any fluid in my lungs. I tell you getting old is no fun ride.

This is where the problem comes in. I don't feel old. If it wasn't for that nasty cough and those dern heartworms, I'd be foot loose and fancy free. I still love everything I enjoyed before these health issues came up. I like to run, jump, play, hunt, dumpster dive, bark, and chase cats. But this "be quiet" and "do nothing" stuff they are trying to make me submit to is getting really old!

Well, enough of my complaining that will get me no where. I guess I just have to go with the flow and do what they say and hopefully, all this stuff will slow down and things will get back to normal.

Please pray for me!!!

Much barking love,

Wiley dog

Old Dog, New Tricks

Hey two-legged creatures and furry friends,

Good Saturday morning to you. I wanted to talk about this trick I've come up with the ladies in the house. Well, remember how I told you I like that K/D food? Well, you know how that can get boring after a while. At least for me anyway. This past week, I've been taking my sweet time in eating my food. Well, I heard Aunt Maryee mention to everyone else that I had to have someone watching me while I ate in order for me to eat. Well, I don't know where she got that from, but I figured that was a novel idea. So, when they'd put food in the tray for me, I'd go and sniff it and then turn around and head to my bed and just look at them.

They'd start speaking in that high pitched voice that is really starting to irritate me these days as well as that "baby" talk, like I'm some puppy. I slowly wander off the bed and give them this, "Yes, may I help you?" look on my face, wagging my tail 100 miles an hour. "Here, Wiley, eat your food," they begin chimming in. Then Aunt Jen starting singing some "weiner dog" song she made up on the spot. It was like an ode to me. I got excited and started eating the food, thinking to myself, "I gottem' now." So needless to say, if I want to hear music to my ears and if they want me to eat...they better start singing.

Ha!

Signing off with

Much barking love,


Wiley Dog

Confessions of a 29 year-old dog

Greetings two-legged creatures. Wiley Dog here with an update on my health and other stuff that comes to mind.

First off, I'd like to thank my Aunt Maryee for allowing me to sleep in her room with her. I know she tolerates it when I groom (lick) myself incessantly. I guess I'd have to chalk it up to perhaps a nervous condition I have. I mean I lick my chest, my private parts, my butt, my paws; wherever my tongue can reach, I lick.






Another "issue" I guess I'd say is me and this itching business. It never fails, I always seem to feel like some pesky flea is biting me. I then get to scratching and scratching and scratching. My Aunt Maryee gives me a once over and occasionally finds a flea or two but that hasn't been since around August. I guess I've been doing it so long, I just do it out of habit. My equilibrium is starting to get off a bit so, sometimes when I get up to scratch; I topple right over onto the ground. But I'm smooth, cause if anyone sees me, I play it off like I was doing that on purpose. Never let em' see you sweat, I always say.

Along the lines with this itching problem I have, is I have had a few episodes where I had an itch on my back. Since I can't scratch, I bite. And yes I must admit, a couple a weeks ago after I had that heartworm shot, I got a little nervous and started knawing at my back until blood was drawn. Everyone in the house was freaking out. I was like, "What's the big deal?" Of course I couldn't see what they saw. Needless to say, I got quite a bit of hollerin' at by Mom and both my aunts about poking my nose towards my back. They put some pink lotion stuff on my back and I then decided to leave well enough alone.

I guess another confession I must make concerns my eating habits. In case you didn't know, dogs have the tendency to peruse outside and partake in dog made delicacies. OK, I've ate my own crap! Now, I said it. I know that's "gross" as you two-legged creatures call it, but I was under the impression if it was good at first going in, surely it might still have a "kick" after it's gone through the runner.

My aunts saw me chewing on my crap and both about barffed! I guess it's clear now why they won't dare let me give them a lick kiss as all doxies love to do. I do manage to get away with giving kisses to unsuspecting strangers who are unaware of my "issues". Come on, don't sit there and tell me you don't have issues, too! I know you do. Admit it!! Those who want grace and mercy must give it!

And my last confession for the day: as old as I am, I am still spoiled rotten. I demand to be picked up and placed in my Aunt Maryee's lap while she's on the computer. Hey, I need to know that she's saying exactly what I told her to say in this blog thing. She knows I want up because I start barking at her. I heard Aunt Jen tell Aunt Maryee that she's spoiled me rotten. Back in the day my old Mom, Clara Bush always had me in her lap. I always enjoyed that back then and I still do try to have my way today. Well, I gotta go.

Please pray for me. I had my chocolate bar last Friday, but last night I had a hard night. That coughing thing has returned. I haven't done my fundraiser yet, but will get my Aunt Maryee to get off her duff and get my photos printed up. It's gonna cost a few hundred after all this is said and done. So I hope all who are following my blog will support my endeavors.

One last thing. I have been praying for all the two-legged creatures and my furry friends who lost their lives on the gulf coast. Hopefully if I make some money on my fundraiser, I can help the survivors. Hey, every little bit counts right?

Much barking love,

Wiley Dog

Wiley Dog's Hunger Strike Is Over

OK, Here's the deal. I was trying to fake that I was alergic to dog food and for a minute there, it worked. Mom gave me pancakes on Sunday with sweet sweet syrup and Aunt Jen gave me a piece of white chicken meat from HEB as well. I thought to myself, "Hey, this refusing to eat dog food get up just might get me squared away with a la carte." That long big eyed begging look thing I do while they are eating two-legged creature food seems to wear em' down, too. I was too happy...

Then Aunt Maryee figured out that I was trying to pull the wool or shall I say, "towel" over everyone's head.

She grabbed that bag of T/D and left out with it. I was like, "Yes! No more horse biscuits!" I later found out that she called that Hill's Pet place and they told her that that had Small Bites in the T/D and not the dog biscuit size for little pooches like me. Sooooo, she's planning on getting those ordered for me some time next week.

She tried to feed me some of the Advanced Protection, but I did my famous "turn my back on you trick." Doxies with attitudes like me are nortorious for those kinds of tricks. Well it didn't phase her much cause when she came back home, she had a whole bucket full of that K/D.

I guess the gig was up, because she poured half a can in my bowl and heated it up in the big white hot box on the cabinet. It smelled like some kind of chicken meatloaf concoction, so she tricked me. Well, I was pretty hungry so I decided to stop with the shenanagans and go ahead and eat. One good indicator that I needed to stop was the fact that for the past several days I'd been going outside to do the #2 and nothing was coming out. Quite an embarrassing sight. Aunt Maryee was just shaking her head at me each time. Go figure.

Anywho, Aunt Maryee caught a shot of me eating the K/D for your viewing pleasure.

Keep praying for me, cause I really need it! I have started back with a slight cough again, but nothing like it was in the past. I can be a lil' hard headed, so pray that I take it easy. Remember, This Old Dog Still Can Hunt.

Signing off with much barking love,

Wiley Dog

Wiley Dog's On strike from eating

Ever since they gave me that slurpy juice, I just haven't had an appetite for what they've been putting in my bowl. Those big T/D biscuits are clearly unattractive. I appreciate my Aunt Maryee's concern for my teeth and all, but I'm too old to be trying to chew on those rock bars. More than likely I'll eat the Advance Protection. Who knows. I may eat today, but I know they are gonna tell the Vet lady I'm not eating.

Put me a steak or anything two-legged creatures eat, and I'll show you what eating is all about. I did like the K/D the first time they gave it to me, but refused to eat that yesterday, too. Maybe if they put it out this morning, I might give it another try. For now, I'll just day dream about getting steak, potatoes and eggs. Jim's Crispy Chicken would do just fine, too.

Oh well. Thought I'd do some wishful thinking. Maybe when they get my fundraiser up and running I can have a better choice of food.

By the way, did I tell you I'M HUNGRY????? I'll keep ya posted.

Wiley Dog signing off....

barking with all my love!

Wiley Dog's Update- 2nd day at the Vet for Heartworm shot

Hey folks,

Good evening! I need to give you my update now cause I'm getting really sleepy. This morning my Mom and Aunt Jen took me back to the nice Vet lady's place for that second shot in my back hip. The problem was, after taking that slurpy juice yesterday, I forgot I was in for another shot with the horse needle. Well, good news mates! When I trotted through the Vet's door, Dr. W. was hanging out with her staff ladies when she saw me strutting in. I was looking good! Mom and Aunt Jen were pretty cool, cause they knew I had been handling all this sick and medicine business like a champ. Dr. W. immediately declared that I did not need to have another shot quite yet. I was like "Yippie Ya Hooo, Bark, Whoof" or whatever.

They did have to tell the Dr. about my few puking spells, and that confirmed to the Dr. lady that I didn't need to have another shot for a minute, you know with me being a "special needs" dog at my age and all. Anywho, I got some more slurpy juice. They said it was for pain, but I thought it was quite tasty if you ask me. I thought they were trying to be funny putting that straw in my mouth, treating me like a baby and all. Now ya'll know I'm too old for all that. They were nice enough to cut my nails. They seem to grow faster in my old age. I wonder if humans experience the same trouble?

I also was able to get some dog food for my teeth today. They are really in bad shape, but I don't complain. I'll show you pictures later. The family knows I'm having trouble when I either don't eat, or swallow the regular kibbles whole. I think they called it "whiffing it down". Hey, who ever said you had to waste time chewing anyway? The dog food is called Prescription Diet T/D and it's by a company called Hill's Pet Nutrition. My aunt Maryee used to work for that company before she moved back home to Texas, so that's why I know it's good food. As a matter of fact, until I got a lil' sick with these heartworms and all, I was eating Advanced Protection for Seniors. That's one reason why I have soooo much energy and look so youthful. Wouldn't you agree? Don't let my Aunt Maryee know, but it will take me a while to warm up to those big ole' T/D biscuits. They are like big beige rocks. I don't know. We'll have to see. For now, I'll stick to Advanced Protection and the K/D pate. I enjoyed eating that the other day.

---

I am a lil' underweight which is what the Doctor explained to my aunt Maryee the other day because of the heart trouble situation. I weigh right at ten pounds. Dr. V. said after I get my appetite back and get healed, I probably will go back to eating all I can get my paws on. You know doxies are into dumpster diving, right? Yeah, I got caught a few times ripping into trash bags that were carelessly left on the kitchen floor the night before garbage pick-up day. He-he.

OK, that slurpy has me a lil' whoosy. What was I talking about? Oh, yeah, I have to go back and get another one of those Heartguard chocolate bars around the 9^th of September. I heard the Vet lady say it would kill more of the baby worms that may have hatched since I ate the last bars. I'm kind of hoping the shot took care of all of them. My instructions are for me to be still and quiet. I have to not get excited so my heart will heal safely. So far so good. They said I have to take it easy for a whole month. I don't know about that cause I am a spry ole' man you know. I'll do my best.

I'll be back later to educate you on all the stuff I've learned since this heartworm business came up. I love to learn, and regardless of what any two-legged creature might say, You can teach an old dog new tricks!

Much barking love,

Wiley Dog

Picture of me and Aunt Maryee taken back in April. I'm too sexy!

After the first injection for heartworms

I thought I'd let you see how well I did after shot number one. Remember to please think of me and pray for me this morning.

Barking love,

Wiley Dog

Pictures of Me and My family

Here's a picture of me and my Mom, my Aunt Jen and my Aunt Maryee.

Greetings from the Wiley Dog

Hey Everybody! Wiley dog here. As far as I know, I'm the oldest living dachshund to date. My birthday is July 17, 1976. Yes, that's 29 in human years!I will have my story up later in the week, so please be patient with my typing paws.

My Aunt Maryee told me that she asked folks to pray for me concerning my situation. I told her I wanted to leave updates for people as I saw fit, so she set up this blogger for me to communicate to nice doxie lovers. Always check back so you can learn more about my story and me. You’ll be pleased.

I found out I had something called Heartworms. Click here to learn more about this disease. Here's a picture the Vet lady let my Aunt Maryee take so we'd all know and understand what's going on with my heart:





First, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been praying for me. I had the first of two injections this morning at the vet’s. When my Mom took me in, I was shaking like a leaf while she was holding me in her arms. I don’t know why, probably because the last time I was in that joint, they stuck me with a needle and stole my blood without my permission. Criminals I say! I later found out it was it was to find out why I was coughing and driving myself and the family crazy. I know Aunt Maryee told you, I have heartworms. The nice Dr. lady gave me last week a chewy tablet called Heartguard plus, I think. I thought it was some forbidden chocolate so I took advantage of the opportunity and downed it in two or three big chews. Little did I know it was the key to killing those nasty baby heartworms that were doing major damage to my heart.

The horse needle shot I got today in my back was a doozy! That was, as I was told, to begin the process of killing the adult heartworms. Let me tell you, I was ready for the needle this time. I didn’t even flinch! Ha! Well, actually, I got a pain killer in my mouth which I was deceived again to believe I was getting some type of slurpy juice treat. Sooo, that may have been the reason for the numbness during the shot procedure. I still handled it like I man, I say! The Vet told my Aunt Maryee my back would be sore but I walked right out that office with my head held high! I even did my business to show my appreciation for the Vet’s services on their lawn. One act of kindness deserves another, I always say.

After I arrived home with Mom, I guess the pain killer hadn’t worn off, cause I treated my trip to the Vet like any other day, you know nosing around in the yard and then trotting in the house to take a midday nap.

Mom had to leave which left Aunt Jen in charge. She has a weak stomach so wasn’t too happy when she found a puddle of some slimy mucous stuff by the computer. Yep, I had a, what do they call it, diverse reaction to the shot. I can't seem to remember which end it came out of. Humm?? I managed to puke by the doorway of her room for emphasis. Aunt Jen will be just fine.

After that, I was tuckered as all get out. I found my way to my bed and there I remained for the rest of the day. I whimpered inwardly (can let em’ see a grown man cry) and just laid around all day to see if I could get past the pain. The pain reliever had worn off by late evening. All I could do was sleep and lie still so as to not make it any worse. When Mom returned she tried to get me to go out to do my business, but man, I just couldn’t do it. I got up and made it as far as the front door and then changed my mind. I turned around and went back to bed.

When Aunt Mary and Jen came in after 9:30pm, I was back to normal and happy to see Aunt Maryee because she had been gone all day. I know she was thinking about me and praying for me like everyone else who said they would. I could feel it. My senses are just that keen. I haven’t been doing that hacking coughing stuff since the injection, so I hope and pray myself that that doesn’t ever return. I was in pain and could not control all that. I kept Aunt Maryee and myself up for a few nights too many with all that noise. I am thankful she endured it.

Well, Mom will be taking me to the Vet to get shot number two in the morning. The appointment is at 9:30am, so prayer warriors, start your praying now, please. I am heading to bed and am pretty tired from the day’s events. Thanks again for your prayers and support.

When my Aunt Maryee lists the beautiful pictures of me to help with my fundraiser, please help out and buy a couple of pictures. Who knows, they may be worth a lot of money one day!

Much barking love,

Wiley Dog

Wiley Dog: They said I need to brush my teeth! UGh!!!!