Guiness and thyroid

I dont know if I ever talked about this so I will now.   Guiness was having trouble going on walks that started over a year ago.(maybe even 2 years)   Most of the time he couldnt finish the hike and would just lie down.  The first couple of times this happened , I checked his heart rate and it was 70.  Kinda low for a dog that is hiking up and down hills.  We carried him back to the car. Sometimes I would leave him home because I just couldnt carry him.  He had stopped playing with toys.  When we went to the beach , he could only tolerate one walk a day.  Even though he had the whole day to rest for the second walk, he just refused to go.  If he ran around the yard at home, he would come in the house panting so hard it was scary. He would just lie down breathing very heavy.  I took him to the vet and asked multiple times if it could be his thyroid.  I always got the answer "no". ( He doesnt look low thyroid. Not fat, not loosing his hair)  They did an EKG. Normal except for a low heart rate. They sent us to a internist to have his heart check. He had an ECHO it was normal, except for the low heart rate.  I asked again about thyroid. "no".  His level at the time was 1.4   (there low was .8) .   They started him on Theophyilline to increase his heart rate. It did increase it but didnt help any of his symptoms.  I think I gave for 6 months and then gave up.  The next time he went for his yearly check up his thyroid was 1.   His BUN was up 1  point. They wanted me to bring him in for some follow up test for the BUN.  Ok, one point on a BUN is nothing especially since is Cr was normal.    I lost it. I told them I cant believe they want me to come in for this but will do nothing about his thyroid that just keeps decreasing and he has all these symptoms. I said, "Are you waiting for my dog to die?".    Well, I guess that did it. So they started him on thyroid medication. LOL  So even though his level has only increased to 1.8, he is a new dog.  Plays with toys again. Can run around the yard and bark without  looking like he is going to die.  2 walks a day at the beach, no problem.  And has not stopped on any walks even when hiking.  So when the vet tells you it isnt the thyroid because the number hasnt dropped low enough, keep fighting. 

Ground Hog Day

I feel like Ive been stuck in Ground Hog Day.  Every day feels exactly the same. Im not sure how to break the rut.
Yesterday I was running Java over the contact board. We are suppose to slowly raise the board. This was going to be the last time I ran it like this before I had an up ramp. I had practiced with her before running it, to let her know the board was a little higher. She was doing fine. She had already run the board about 12 times with no problems.  I was just going to do a couple of more runs and then all of a sudden she wouldnt run the board.  I had not given her a direct shot to the board but she got it the first time. So then I went back to straight shot to the board. She still wouldnt get on. So after three times of not getting on the board we stopped. I went inside and looked at the video. I slowed down the time before she stopped getting on the board.



It looks like her back foot hit the edge of the board. I think that is way she wasnt getting on. I feel terrible. I should have added an up ramp this time. Ugh. So we wont run this for a couple of days. Ill add the up ramp and  hopefully she will get back on.

So after that depressing practice, because you know I only see things as "the glass is half empty". All I could think of is she will never get on again, just like Miley with the table. Ive screwed up something else. Well anyway , we went to the park. It was a beautiful , warm , sunny 80 degree day. 
We had a great time down by the river. I set no shots and had nothing in mind to shoot. So you know what, I didnt get much. LOL, that will teach me not to have an action plan for photos. Although it was freeing. But then you get home and look at the shots. You see some shots that could have been awesome if you would have been paying attention. oh well. I did get a few that I like. But I wont tell you how many pictures were taken except it was a lot.

I like this picture even though it isnt a great shot of a dog. It just look interesting to me. Java had fallen off a log, and this was her after she got back on the log and is running off.

Walking in the river with the dogs helped get rid of that Ground Hog Day feeling. Nothing better then walking through the water, peace and quit. Dogs having a good time. Taking pictures. Very relaxing.

Java has been in heat for two weeks.  She hasnt wanted to play at all. Ive been worried but I know being in heat can effect them. Well last night she played with toys agian. WhooHoo, I was so happy.  I dont think her heat cycle is completely over but its on the tail end. She didnt mark last night when I took her to the park and Guinees isnt in her butt all the time. And she isnt cleaning herself all the time.

Last week we started Guiness on Thyroid medication. His Thyroid levels have dropped every year. This last time it was 1.0  , their range is 0.8-3.6 (I think) .  So they said they didnt have a problem trying  him on it. I really havent seen any changes yet. But will see.  Maybe he will have more energy and his hair will stop breaking off of his chest which is why it always looks chopped.

I bought the new Kathy Keats book, "Success from the inside".  Its deep. LOL  You have to write your life story and what has effected you.  A lot of my life story is depressing and I really dont want to think about all that garbage. And this isnt a good time to delve into that part of my life.Then you have to list 15 people who have influenced you. I cant think of 15 people who have influenced me.  Im me because of me and not anyone else. Uh yea, maybe thats my whole problem. LOL So I may read through the book and then come back and do the exercises later when thinings have gotten back on track at home.