Old Bones

A quick update on the pack's random health issues.  "When we last left the Stumpf pack.."

Henry has been diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma..so occasionally he gets skin tumors that literally won't stop bleeding.  Now some people think I mean a 'bleeding mole'..no..he has those.  They clot eventually.  The most recent ones he had were actually on the small side.  They are about the size of a marble.  The top one in this photo has 'popped' but I can put a pressure bandage on it to get it to clot temporarily.  But once it is removed..it starts to bleed again...and it drips constantly.

 Also..since most likely they are malignant..we really have no choice but to remove them.  Now..the kicker is that last time we did that ..he almost died from the anesthesia (malignant hyperthermia)..SO...this time..we got smart.  We had them removed without anesthesia. They used a local only..and he recovered SOOOO WELL!!!!  Post surgery..he always bruises so badly (you can see bruising pre-surgery..).

 But luckily..10 days later..sutures removed and he is doing great!!!  He is going to soon look like Joan Rivers with all these 'tummy tucks' (4 total so far)

 Now..Shiloh...Her hair started to fall out a few weeks ago and she stopped eating.  So after blood work, xrays and finally an ultrasound...she ended up a little more bald then when we started!!!  We also had a skin biopsy done ..so she had a boo boo foot too...

 The ultrasound/xrays showed no tumors..which is good news.  Didnt' explain her symptoms..however.  We have to wait 14 days for the skin biopsy results.  That should be this week.  She has started to eat a little..but the list of what she will eat is very short.  But her back legs are still loosing hair

  And her ears/muzzle and front legs also have bald spots..(the blood work showed mild anemia, mild kidney failure..nothing to cause significant symptoms..she is over 14)

 I don't know what is going one with her..but she is at least eating enough to keep us both sane.
But for now..we are all staying warm and enjoying life..

 Our friend came over with her greyhounds and her Yorkie, Tank.  He was pretty cute.

Now, my kids got wind of Gyeong's recent blog post concerning the marrow bones we received with the half-cow we shared with them.  Since we only had our dogs this weekend..we thawed a few and let them have at it. 
Cali knew just what to do...

 Shiloh wasn't as good at it but she enjoyed it (with her bald spot between her eyes..)

 Cali nibbles the good stuff

 Dante has historically been EXTREMELY aggressive with 'good bones'..so we put him in a greyhound crate with a fluffy bed and he was able to enjoy his bone with no growling, biting, or fuss. 

 Henry tried..but he didn't get it.  He prefers his steaks medium rare cut in to bite size cubes.

 So eventually he gave up and to my surprise walked away..

 Which inevitably led to this..hold one down while chewing on the other..

 Group chew.

 Synchronized chewing

 

 And yes..I am a germ-a-phobe of sorts so I let the dogs enjoy their bloody, greasy bones until they were passed out from chewing exhaustion.  then all beds were washed and the carpet steam-cleaned (and the 'bone day' was planned on a 'steam clean' day on purpose!)  Henry hates steam clean day!

Now Shiloh found a more creative way to make steam clean days more comfortable.  (and another prime photo of her bald hind legs...)

Dana and Cali just realized the beds in the kitchen were the best option on days like this..