The "Babee"

Monday - November 2, 2009

Are you all going to read or look at the pictures? :):)

GO REDS!!!! That's what I'm suppose to say according to Dad!

Today our world was rocked a little! We were told by Dr. Brown that our "babee" has four vertebrae which are fused together which has allowed arthritis to grab hold of his spin. He is, according to the doctor, in continuous excruciating pain. Toby has always been a "tough man" and his tolerance of pain would put most of us to shame! We all do not want Toby to be in this much pain, after all he is our "babee!"

There are many skeptics in this world, which may include family, friends, and more than likely strangers, who would say, "He is just a dog!" Pardon me, but he is more than "just a dog" to Bill and me! We fell in love with him when we first saw him over thirteen years ago! He became our "babee!" He became our friend, buddy, companion, and a means of helping us release much of our stress! Many health organizations are utilizing the help of "therapy" dogs to help patients of all ages. Stroking the back of a dog or cat has proven to help calm the nerves of many patients and owners of these dogs and cats!

He knew when it was time for us to get home from school and would be looking out the door for the car to come across the railroad crossing! You might ask how I would know this. Simple, when staying home from school due to being sick, I would lay on the couch in the Reds' Room. Toby would hear the buses start their trek toward the school around 3:00. He would then go to the door and sit there patiently looking down the road for the first sight and sound of the car. He knew the sound of our car. He would start to get anxious when he saw and heard it. Then he would start whining when it would pull under the carport. He was ready for his mommy and daddy to get home. He was all over us when we would get in the house, and then it was time for a game outside.

He loves us unconditionally - regardless of the scoldings he might have received for doing things puppies do, or even when we were away from home a little longer than usual. He has given us so much pleasure. When we would have a really bad day at school, he would greet us ready to play. We would play Frisbee with him and before we knew it we were laughing at Toby's antics. He would always try to play keep away and make us chase him all around the back yard! He could make us laugh regardless of how bad our day had been. He never expected anything special, but would show his appreciation when he did receive a new toy, a treat, or even his food and water.

The thought of him being in pain brought tears not only to our eyes this afternoon, but to the vet and his assistants as well! We were told nothing other than pain management would help Toby now. No surgeries - not that that would have been an option for his age - would help his problem!! The plan is to try and get him to be as pain free as possible. Today he was given a steroid shot with some new pain medicine - 1/2 tablet twice a day. We go back in a week to see if this medicine will work. He may have to have a shot every two weeks, which is something we will be administering to him.

These are some of our favorite pictures of Toby - I could have posted hundreds of pictures of him, but that would have taken a long time to upload! :):)

Toby all snuggled under his covers with one of his "new" buddies!

Okay, so he has crooked teeth - but you have to love that smiling face!!!!

One of his favorite games to play now is to chase this big ball around the back yard! He can no longer see the Frisbee flying through the air! :(


He loves "new" toys and is not happy until he finds the noise maker in each one.


Toby had to go to Ohio State for two separate surgeries! The first one was to have his anal sacs removed. He looked so pitiful!

The second surgeries was on his eye. He had to have a skin graft placed over his eyeball to save he eye. He is now almost completely blind due to cataracts.

One of his favorite times of the day is to snuggle under his blankets - especially when the air is on and it's cold!!!!

This picture was taken right after the first time Cora came to visit. He appeared to be peeping out from under the blanket saying, "Are they gone yet?"

As with most of my posting, I don't expect to receive comments. As I was told once, you know people are reading them by looking at the counter. This is true, Today's posting is one that has my heart breaking because I don't know what the future holds for our "babee!"