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Dolittle's got nothin' on me

Another Story By Tweed

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(He doesn’t tell stories very often, but when he does, they generally disparage Mr. Woo.)

The Food Lady says that my little brother Mr. Woo is not stupid, it’s just that his smart is hidden under a layer of lard.  But I think she’s almost as stupid as he is, because she keeps thinking he will grow a brain.

It’s been FOUR YEARS since she first got him a toy like this, and he _still_ hasn’t figure out how it works!

And he likes it soooo much and wants it so bad, and he can’t even figure out what to do with it when he gets it!

The Food Lady says I should be fair, as not everybody else understands the toy either; it’s not just Woo.

But Needle Nose is just a baby, she’s SUPPOSED to be stupid, so it doesn’t count.

Yeah, yeah – Kieren also didn’t really get it at first.

But Kieren is also stupid!  Stupid enough to try and steal the toy from Piper.  

Probably nobody wants to adopt him because he has a deathwish.

Another stupid sibling, although he at least brought it back this way and didn’t just stand there chewing on it.  The Food Lady says he is an Idiot Savant. That means he has a brain the size of a walnut, and can’t play agility.

I am the only smart dog in the whole family.  I’m so smart, they had to put this big cone on my head to keep my brains in, cuz there’s too many for my skull.  That’s what The Food Lady told me, and she has thumbs, so it must be true.

She also said that I have to wear a sock because something called cancer might be eating my feet.  Do you think that’s true?

Nah, it can’t be true.  If there’s eating going on, I’M going to be the one doing it!

Hey look!  Numb Nuts figured out the toy.  I guess he’s not so stupid after all.

Yeah, look how “stupid” I am Tweed.

Thanks for the story Tweed.  You are a super genius indeed.  And we’re all hoping you don’t have cancer.

Our Facebook fans know that this week I found another tumor on Tweed’s foot, on the toe next door to the original growth.  This laid to rest the plans to chop off his bulgy digit, as while he may not “need” that out toe, he definitely needs the one next to it.  And Dr. Bowra wasn’t about to start slicing him into pieces one toe at a time.

So yesterday Tweed went under sedation and Dr. B. removed as much of each growth as he could, and sent the samples off to Histovet in Ontario to see what they are made of.  His lymph node on the same side was swollen :( so they did a fine needle aspirate of that as well and sent it off.  Now we play the waiting game until the results come back.

Dr. Bowra didn’t want to say it IS cancer, but he couldn’t with any confidence say that it’s not either.  At this point, what we are hoping for is of course that they are benign, but if they aren’t our next big wish is that it’s a slow growing kind of cancer that he could live with for some time to come.  Because the Doc couldn’t get it all without cutting off his toes.  And quite frankly, even if it is something dire, I don’t think I want to chop off any more parts of him.

I’m not sure how to play this yet … but whatever the lab results say, I’m determined not to be sad.  When I am sad, Tweed is worried – and Tweed has been making me laugh for a good many years, too many years to make him worried at his end.  He’s a damn good dog, and I owe it to him.  We’ll celebrate him while he’s here, and I’ll mourn like fuck when he’s gone, but I’m not going to make him sad or scared.

Keep him in your thoughts, friends.

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Comments

  3. I’m going through the same thing (cancer scare) with my 12-1/2 yr old dog. We are sending a sample off to Colorado to find out what kind of growth she has. There’s this feeling of dread and wanting to make every moment a good one.

  5. All we can do is make them as comfortable as we can for however long they can still be happy. It’s when they stop wagging their tails and look at you with sad eyes for relief is when you know it’s time…longtime dog owner here saying they need not suffer needlessly and the end is sometimes a blessing. But cheers to Tweed and many sun filled dog days ahead of him :-)

  8. Aw, Tweed, you are loved! I still remember the ode to Tweed post. May you have many more happy days together.

  10. I wish many happy days full of lots of happy moments for you and Tweed. And someday–far in the future–when the moments are over, the memories and love will stay with you always. Be well, Tweed, and stay fab.

  11. I will cross my fingers and toes for good news for you and Tweed. Cancer snatched my beloved ACD Monty away quite suddenly this summer, two months before his 11th birthday – far too soon, although isn’t it always? So many little things make me sad now with a piece of my heart missing. I wish you much more time with Tweed, even with lumpy toes…

  15. Sending no-cancer vibes to you and Tweed. Please keep us posted and keep smiling for your sake and for Tweed’s.

  17. All the love and good mojo in the world for handsome Mr. Tweed. My Jasper’s toe seems to be better, so we’re sending Tweed good vibes too.

    Signed,
    The Tweed Fan Club of North Georgia

  18. I am also hoping it is not cancer Sheena. But if it is, you are right to celebrate Tweed and to keep sad far away from him. They can read us so well, being worried never, ever helps. I learned this lesson as well. FYI and in case you don’t know this already (or your readers) there are Yahoo groups for every type of canine cancer, for example (http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/) and dogs who are receiving chemo for lymphoma (http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/LymphomaHeartDogs/). My own 11 year old dog, Skye, was diagnosed with lymphoma in February 2011 and after six months of chemo, she remains in remission. Hugs to Tweed, the handsome and beloved.

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