Yo-Yo-ing with Max!

MAX HAS RALLIED!

To those who have been following this chronicle of Max, he's having a GOOD Day!

Another night of wondering if he would make it through, and guess what? He has not given up the fight yet! Nor have we! Just as we have been beginning to get our heads around the idea of his imminent demise, he has got us all fooled! This spunky little guy (always was spunky, stubborn, sprightly, and spoiled - how's that for alliteration - or is that consonance?) Anyway, I digress!

After the removal of all that fluid/blood from his chest cavity, he has been able to eat and drink a little, rest quite comfortably, and use his voice! He is wagging his tail, peeing and pooping appropriately OUTSIDE, getting excited over going for a ride, and much more alert and perky today.

While I was getting dressed earlier today, I heard him barking like a maniac - his usual greeting - at the service guy who had pulled into our driveway. He was RUNNING around out there! Just now he gave my husband a kiss - on command like he always would do. This is a remarkable turnaround!

Because we can't seem to get him to take his antibiotic by mouth (this was a dog who would eat just about anything, but since his decline last week, he has shunned most everything), we called the vet to see if they could give it to him in injection form. The receptionist called back and said that they could give him one that would be effective for TWO weeks, but she said it would cost $80. I laughed out loud, saying that we were SOOOOOOOOOOOO deep into this now that $80 for two-weeks' protection was just fine!

So.......Max is not ready to throw in the towel. We are realistic about his prognosis, but for now we are content to have him back to a few of his old tricks. And we are grateful!

Max and Marley (our daughter's Cockerpoo)

Max and Bailey (our other daughter's Havanese)

Monday Update on Max!

It's been a L O N G few days, but Max prevails! So far anyway! He is one sick puppy - if you can call an 11 and a half year old a puppy! Yesterday and again this morning, we got the devastating news that he has what appears to be a large malignant tumor on his heart with some nodules on his liver and spleen. NOT GOOD! However, after draining fluid from his pericardium yesterday, he is able to breathe better, rest better, and he had a very good night.

I thought he wouldn't make it through the night, however. But in fact, he did and rebounded this morning. How do we know? He licked my spoon and oatmeal bowl when offered. He perked right up and almost ran to the door when asked if he wanted to go for a ride. I thought perhaps this could be his last ride, but not for this little guy! He sat up the whole way to the vet, looking out the window, alert and perky. When we just picked him up, he RAN into the room, wagging his tail, and making NOISES!!!! This was astonishing, for this dog that had the vocal range of a cat, a baby, and a grizzly bear combined had been absolutely silent for too many days! He sat up the whole way home, smiling, and eager to come in. Then he ate some real food, drank some water, and now has been sleeping well.





He is not long-term, and we are adjusting to that. If the fluid builds up again tonight or tomorrow or this week for that matter, we will end his journey and relieve his suffering. But the vet doesn't know - it could be two months or so! So.....we are in limbo!

So I took some photos this morning of our little guy! And I am including photos of a sculpture my husband did several years ago that so captures the essence of Max - even if it is quarter-size.

Remembering Max!

The First Photo of Max 11.5 Years Ago!

Perhaps this is premature, because Max is still with us. But on a gut level, I know his time is very short now. He hasn't eaten in more than three days, his breathing is labored, his personality and entire vocal range are gone, and I already miss the sweet friend that he was. The prognosis is poor: his heart is twice the normal size; his pericardium is filled with fluid; there's a tumor on his heart. It seems so hard to believe that he has failed so suddenly and that the slope has been so precipitous. Two weeks ago he was running around, playing with his rope and ball, up to his normal tricks. Today he is a mere shadow of his former self.

He's never been a quiet dog! PBGVs have an extraordinary range of sounds, from very deep guttural groans and grunts, to very high pitched squeals and whines. In between there's this hound-like howl, AKA bark, (after all, he IS a hound!) and what we familiarly call "talking." He would talk on command - these long howls that had us all howling every time. I joked about having him appear on Leno or Letterman, but alas, that's not our style or in the cards.

Tomorrow or Tuesday (when they can arrange for a specialist to do this procedure), the vet will aspirate fluid in the pericardium, be able to examine the fluid, and see if that relieves the pressure on his lungs and esophagus, and maybe spare him this suffering. I am very much in favor of the most humane treatment here and to NOT prolong his life in a needless, selfish way. But truly this is my husband's dog, and so that decision will have to come from him. He and Max are (or I should say, have been) so bonded that I am very worried about the outcome.

It's so quiet here and it's so very sad.

Most everyone goes through this, so most everyone can empathize. We had a cat before Max; she was 20+ when we had to put her down. That was one of the hardest things I've done in my life. This will rank the same - probably worse because Max has been such an interactive dog - NOT cuddly at all - but both dependent (on my husband) and independent at the same time. His presence (and his absence) will resonate for a very long time in our hearts and in our home. He has been such an integral part of our family for such a long time! We will always remember you, sweet boy.

Max - we will always love you!