In Memory of Cooper.....

For months now Karen has shared the story of her Yorkie, Cooper, here with us. You have come to know his posts as "The Scoop on Cooper". Sadly, today I received this email from Karen.......

"Unexpectedly last night, Cooper took a turn for the worst and let me know in his sweet and kind way that it was time to go. He got into his little bag as if to say he was ready, and together we spent the night side by side. I promised him a nice long walk in the morning if he should change his mind, but he never did and so, together we went to the hospital.

Dr B., (my amazing vet) and I spent quite some time discussing the alternative, which was to "flush" his kidneys temporarily, but agreed that he was in pain and even doing so, would not guarantee he would get any better. Dr. B. couldn't have been any more compassionate - walking me thru every step of the way as we cried together.

Sweet little Cooper went into Acute Renal Failure and was put to sleep early this morning surrounded by me, Dr. B. and much of the staff at the Animal Hospital who showered him with love and kisses before it was time to go.

I am grateful that it happened as quickly as it did, and believe that until last night he was not in any pain. He played with his friends up until last week and just last night stole a piece of prosciutto as it fell off the counter. As a close friend said early this morning....he must have thought at that moment - "I have died and gone to heaven".

I am sad, but at the same time relieved as I know that by now he has worked his way over the rainbow bridge, has found Bentley and the two of them are sharing a bone in the sun...probably comparing notes. I hope they realize how much i loved them both and how much joy they, in return, brought me. Love, Karen"

Our thoughts are with Karen at this difficult time. She gave Cooper more love and more life than anyone in her shoes would have. We will miss you, Cooper........

Go Fed Ex!

Just got this email and pic from Karen....

"So.....I think being pet friendly is a Fed Ex requirement (unlike the USPS...ahem....).

We have a substitute Fed Ex lady on Tuesdays who loves Cooper....she freaked out one day when she thought I said "he was no longer with us", but I was talking about something else. If she sees him in the office, she literally gets on the concrete floor and rolls around with him. It's the highlight of his day. Anyway, I hadn't seen her in a while and it happened that she came in today. I told her she'd missed Cooper because he'd been in the office the last couple of days. She asked how he was...if he was eating...sleeping, etc. She then unexpectedly dug deep into those god awful Fed Ex pants...and handed me two tiny dog treats! She said they were all natural, real lamb....etc. I took them but didn't have the heart to tell her that Cooper couldn't have them. I wanted to tell her he can only have shredded carrots as a treat, but was afraid she'd pull one out of her pocket the next time around :) "

I'm telling you, there is a reason Fed Ex has that dog on the side of their truck! And a reason why dogs love them!

The Scoop on Cooper IV

Here's Cooper striking a pose in the "lounge chair" that his aunt Stephanie gave him for Christmas. Karen says she can't believe he stopped dragging it around the house long enough to actually sit in it. This picture will no longer be replicated as he was dragging it around the house at the moment she sent me her email......he kept getting it caught in the door frame, barking for help. Sometimes they just can't tell the difference between what is a toy and what is not!

On the health front........Karen took Cooper for blood work on Friday and his Creatnine keeps rising. That is one thing that can't be controlled with meds. He's sleeping a lot more but otherwise he's doing fine. He's the perfect little companion. Karen just loves him to pieces. Who wouldn't love that face......

Hang in there, Cooper!!

Now with Video!!

Here's Cooper doing his daily routine with mommy Karen while she tries to find a clever way to grab him so she can give him his meds. I think he's got the tossing carrots routine all figured out....

Warning.....you may be little dizzy after this is over :)

The Scoop on Cooper III

Here's an update from Karen on her Cooper......

She took him to the vet last week for his monthly blood work and his Creatnine levels shot up to 5.2 from 4.3 (the norm high is 1.8). The vet called her very concerned and asked how he was doing at home because 5.2 suggests it may be time to hospitalize him, give him IV fluids and try and bring the Creatnine down. Even doing this though, may not bring down the levels because it could just mean this is his new norm...he was at 3.1 for about three months, then 4.3 around August/September/October and now 5.2. They were both on the fence with doing that because at home he's a little firecracker. He is bouncing off the walls and he is so playful you'd never know he was sick. Karen chose not to keep him overnight because she didn't want to traumatize him and since he was doing so well she thought she would take him home where he's comfortable and keep an eye on him. The vet even said, in these rare circumstances you "treat the patient and not the numbers" and she agreed that Karen take him home.

Karen also told the vet that she didn't like the idea of keeping him overnight because he had already spent the whole day in a cage. The vet said.."are you kidding....he spent 1/2 the day in the pharmacy with Alma". And then she told her they took video and pictures of him getting fluids because once they lay the towel down, he just sits and lays down on it till they're done.....Looks like he's become their mascot!! They asked her if they can put a picture of him on their website. Everybody loves Cooper :)

The Scoop on Cooper II

Good news in Cooperville! Karen reports the following:

I was at the vet this morning and she called the UC Davis/Veterinary department and spoke to their nutritionist on staff. She was able to give me three recipes tailored specifically for Coop's blood workup...which get this....are not only fairly easy to make....but have CHICKEN...and one has GROUND BEEF....how f*&%ing amazing is that.....he is going to go thru the roof. Poor little guy - I wouldn't eat either if I had to eat that tasteless crap.... I had to order some supplements tho and have to wait for them to arrive. In the mean time we changed one bland dog food for another - and at least he ate today. I AM SO EXCITED....I couldn't be this excited over a new Balenciaga... :)

Here's a cute picture of Cooper sleeping on the job. Hang in there Cooper!!!

The Scoop on Cooper....

I present to you.....Cooper! Cooper belongs to my friend Karen. I have never, ever, ever met a dog with more energy. Karen would tell me stories of how hyper Cooper was and I believed her but never imagined how bad it really was! That is until I wound up on her couch one night after too many glasses of Pinot Grigio. Cooper was bouncing off the walls. He kept bringing me his toy and if I didn't take it and throw it he would grab it again with his mouth and put it on my chest and then right on my face. He just would not take no for an answer! And this would have gone on for HOURS if Karen hadn't taken him in the bedroom with her!!

Cooper is just over a year old. He has a girlfriend named Lucy, a King Charles. I understand Lucy snuck out of her house one day and came and sat outside of Karen's front door. Cooper was crying and yelping at the front door and Karen couldn't figure out why. Finally she opened the door and there was Lucy. Secret lovers reunite......

As cute, spirited and lively as he is Cooper has a very unfortunate illness - Renal Dyslpasia. Which means his kidnys are small and underdeveloped. There is no cure and a good life expectancy is 21-24 months. Clinically he's getting into a bad place so Karen is having to take him to the vet every day and really keep an eye on him. Physically and mentally he's fine. It's really defeating cause where do you draw the line? Please keep Cooper and Karen in your thoughts.