Brutus and Garth

I wrestled with whether or not I should post our dog news on Elise's blog-- but after much consideration, I decided to. This stems from the fact that Brutus and Garth are as much a part of our family as Elise is. Their health and happiness are intertwined with ours.

As I eluded to, only Garth travelled with us over Christmas. The week prior to Christmas, we had noticed that he began drink more water than usual and then one day, he refused to eat. This obviously is not normal Garth behavior. Prior to his old age, he would have to eat with tennis balls in his food dish to slow down his eating! So, the vet visits began--

After a physical, blood and urine analysis it was determined that Garth had beginning stages of kidney failure. The vet put it more mildly-- he had kidney disease. So, we switched foods to a prescription kidney friendly diet in hopes that this would lower the toxins in his blood. However, with a blood recheck, the toxins were higher. So, even though Garth is in good spirits, back with a healthy appetite, we now supplement his food with medication. In another month, we will once again recheck this. If we are able to keep the toxins in check, he should continue to live a long and healthy life. As long as a thirteen and a half year old lab will.

Now, Brutus. My dear Brutus. Around New Years, he too was starting to drink more water. Assuming that he would be diagnosed with the same problem, we brought him into the vet for the same urinalysis and blood analysis. 

His first blood test came back that he had an extraordinary about of calcium (which the vet later told was the highest she's ever seen during her thirty-four years of practice). Being that calcium is an indicator for cancer, we did an additional blood test that was sent to Michigan State. The day we sent out for the blood test, Brutus stopped eating. He wasn't interested in anything- canned food, peanut butter, homemade chicken and rice. And, he lost his spunk. He spent the next several days sleeping, laying around and no longer following us around the house or jumping on visitors that came over. He was officially very sick. And he began to vomit.

Over the 6 days we waited for the results, he went from losing weight to 2 days of the 'old' Brutus. His appetite returned along with his energy. We had hope.

Then on Monday, it happened again... not eating, vomiting, the sleeping. We feared the worst. It shouldn't have come as a surprise when the vet called on Tuesday afternoon but it was... cancer. Most likely lymphoma. She continued on about going to Michigan to find out what type of cancer so we could begin chemotherapy but Brutus was already giving up the fight. It wouldn't have been fair to subject him to treatment when there is no cure-- when it would have only been for us. He was too good of a best friend to do that to.

So, yesterday, January 10th, we put Brutus down. It was the hardest thing Jeff and I have ever done. He was with us from the very beginning... we adopted him the first week we moved to town... our first week together. He was there for everything-- including adopting Garth and the birth of Elise.

The next hardest thing about yesterday was telling Elise. I had purchased a book when Brutus first stopped eating and we sent the his blood off to Michigan. The book is called Dog Heaven. So, the hour before we took Brutus in, while I waited for Jeff to come from work-- I read her the book.  She had known that our beloved guy was sick... but we were lucky enough to have a vet to send him to Heaven. In heaven, dogs can run, run and run. Dogs can swim and chase geese (bet he's doing that right now). Dogs sleep on clouds. Dogs get to play with angel children and eat dog biscuits in funny shapes like squirrels and ice cream cones. She understood that Brutus had to move away from us so he could feel better. 

Last night when she went to bed, she asked if Brutus could hear us. We said he could. Before naptime today, she said in her sweet voice 'I love you Brutus'. Guess that sums it up...

The Rainbow Bridge inspired by a Norse legend By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill, Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still. Where the friends of man and woman do run, When their time on earth is over and done. For here, between this world and the next, Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest. On this golden land, they wait and they play, Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day. No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness, For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness. Their limbs are restored, their health renewed, Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued. They romp through the grass, without even a care, Until one day they start, and sniff at the air. All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back, Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack. For just at that instant, their eyes have met; Together again, both person and pet. So they run to each other, these friends from long past, The time of their parting is over at last. The sadness they felt while they were apart, Has turned into joy once more in each heart. They embrace with a love that will last forever, And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Brutus We Love You

January 31, 2003- January 10, 2012