Progress Report

Duckie has spent the last couple of weeks gaining strength and energy since she was diagnosed with anemia at the end of July. We have started going to the dog park again and took a long walk last night. She scratched her hip running through and around the backyard but it is healing pretty well. As we've said before, not much slows this girl down!

Have we mentioned that she is very birdy (and rabbit-y and squirrel-y)? She is constantly looking for birds and other creatures in the yard and tries her hardest to run and catch them. Its too cute when her ears perk up and she looks around when she thinks there might be a new "friend" in the yard.

She will probably have another vet appointment next week to gauge how her system is dealing with the anemia and if she'll be ready to get spayed and have her tumors removed. Please visit again soon for an update.

July Update

7/01/09
Unfortunately we got some not so great results from the vet this week. Duckie has not been acting her usual peppy self and it turns out she is anemic. So we've got her on some supplements to help boost her system and will try the blood tests again in a month to see how she is faring for surgery.

We also found out that Duckie is going through a false pregnancy. She started making milk and has been nesting inside and out. This poor girl! She is getting the lion's share of tough health issues. Fortunately she's in good hands and seems able to get through through things one at a time. Please consider adopting Duckie or donating even $10 to help with her medical care. She's worth every penny of it and deserves a loving family.

June Update From My Foster Home

The pictures below come from an outting that Madison, WI holds every year. Duckie took to it as with great vigor. This is what her foster home has to say about the event and Duckie.

"6/14/09
These pictures were taken at Dog Fest. Duckie got to be in the adoptable dog parade, and it was so exciting. She did so great! She loved seeing all of the people at Dog Fest and she stole their hearts, too. It was the first hot day of the summer and a long weekend, so she was very tired (and a little cranky) at the end.

Meet Duckie. She is an absolute cutie who adores people. She is one tough cookie who has faced her multiple health issues with courage and heart. Duckie is a fighter who has overcome losing one leg, heartworm, tapeworm, exposure to three tick bourne illnesses and still has at least one surgery ahead of her. She is named after Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq veteran, and we think she has embodied the tough, determined, and courageous attitude of her namesake.

But don’t feel bad for her because nothing stops this little girl from doing or getting what she wants. Duckie has an amazingly positive attitude that wins over anyone who meets her. She’ll wiggle and charm her way into your heart with an undeniably lovable personality and a tail that never stops wagging.

6/21/09
Beyond Dog Fest, Duckie is enjoying the summer. We are learning that the hot summer days and exercise can tire her out pretty fast. She loves to sit in my landscaping while I cut the grass or weed the garden. She has a little bad habit of nesting in the dirt and sometimes comes in the house looking sheepish - but happy! - with a dirt-covered muzzle."

New Outting

'Ya know what? I went on a fundraising outting.
It was a really hot day, so a little break was in order.

Breaks over. Need to watch for people to walk by so I can greet them and tell them all 'bout me.

See Duckie Swim

Duckie started swimming!
Last Sunday we had the most exciting moment at the dog park - Duckie was true to her name and went swimming! I wish that I had a camera. She loves being in the water and explored all through the reeds and shoreline. You'd be amazed how she can manage uneven ground and is starting to get her sea legs - nothing can stop this little girl!

New Update From Foster Family

Duckie is recovering from her heartworm treatment with flying colors. We went for our second walk post-treatment today and she was so excited to be out and meeting new people. She always manages to charm someone new (and old friends all over again) within minutes of meeting them. I think she might have super powers. The spots on her eyes do look like a mask, don't they? And she has amazing healing powers... She would have made a great sidekick for Wonder Woman.

Update From Vet Visit

Duckie went in for tests. The results showed; Ehrlichia POSITIVE 1:25, Lyme POSITIVE 1:200, RMSF POSITIVE 1:200. I had a feeling she had to have something as she was ornery when she came in and had a suspicious past. This poor dog had a leg amputated, HW disease and has Mammary cancer. Hopefully once her body handles the dead worms, she will then fight off the tick borne illnesses and be ready for mammary surgery in a few months. We hope the cancer doesn't spread throughout her body in the mean time. What an amazing stoic dog. She needs your prayers and donations for her upcoming surgery. Please consider a donation for her.