Baxter

March 9, 2014

Baxter (and Emma) arrived at BAGS on June 15th from our friends at Belly Rubs Basset Rescue as an 11 yr old bonded pair. They were released by their family because they were moving to a place that wouldn’t allow dogs.

Both dogs are very sweet and absolutely adore attention. After several months at BAGS they have adjusted well to the day-to-day routines. With all the other dogs around, they don’t spend much time with each other and for the most part ignore one another. Both dogs seem to enjoy people interaction more so than playing with one another. With a bit of soul searching it was decided, they would probably be happiest in a home with a special someone instead of each other.

Things however, haven’t gone so smoothly for Baxter. After his arrival, he spent a few days in the vet clinic under going tests. Several times an hour he would unload his bladder that would soak 6 large bath towels and continued to drink incredible amounts of water. It was almost obsessive and our immediate reaction was something was wrong. After his initial tests, it was concluded he was producing too much urine and his blood work showed he was anemic and his liver enzymes weren’t normal. Our vet recommended an extensive senior blood panel and an x-ray to rule out any tumors that may be causing Baxter’s incontinent issues. His blood results came back higher than normal, but was still considered normal for his age and weight. There were no masses or abnormalities found with his x-ray results, just normal results once again. At that time our vet recommended that we watch him closely while reducing his food intake, try potty retraining and diapers.

When Baxter tried green beans for the first time to help with his weight loss program you would have thought he was being poisoned. With just one bite, he not only spit them out, he pawed at his mouth trying to remove all trace of the taste. If he could talk he would have said “NO BEANS FOR ME! I’M OUTTA HERE!”

After Baxter’s arrival, he spent a few days in the vet clinic under going tests. Several times an hour he would unload his bladder that would soak 6 large bath towels and continued to drink incredible amounts of water. It was almost obsessive and our immediate reaction was something was wrong. After his initial tests, it was concluded he was producing too much urine and his blood work showed he was anemic and his liver enzymes weren’t normal. Our vet recommended an extensive senior blood panel and an x-ray to rule out any tumors that may be causing Baxter’s incontinent issues. His blood results came back higher than normal, but was still considered normal for his age and weight. There were no masses or abnormalities found with his x-ray results, just normal results once again. At that time our vet recommended that we watch him closely while reducing his food intake, try potty retraining and diapers.

Baxter just LOVES people. There is never a moment that he isn’t following “his person” around. Regardless of where you go Baxter is staring at you with his big brown eyes just letting you know that he is there if you need something. With so many other dogs at BAGS, Baxter wishes he had more people time and would prefer to be in a home that he received more one on one attention.

1/13/2014
Baxter’s incontinent issues have disappeared. He has learned to use the dog door and happily goes in and out to take care of his business.

3/9/2014

Drowning in tears and sadness that my Baxter Boo died this afternoon with me hugging and kissing him and telling him he was my favorite Marshmallow Man. He was a big marshmallow who always wagged his tail. Last night and this morning it seemed hopeful. He ate and had been taking all his meds and wagging his tail. My entire frig was about Baxter Boo. I had cooked him a chicken every day, hamburg and rice, chicken breast, scrambled eggs with cheese, had tried Biljac, anything he might like I cooked or bought, cheeseburgers, you bet! The humans were on their own, no time for that! I’m thankful that he and I had mommy and Boo time all to ourselves early this afternoon for a couple hours, snuggled close and holding the oxygen while he comfortably snoozed, before his lungs gave out. I had been taking him everywhere with me so I could make sure he was ok and never without me. I just had taken him with me to get more antibiotics, he even wanted the window down to have his snouty out for some sun and fresh air. Suddenly he was looking pale and empty, I even pulled off to give him oxygen. I pulled into my vet and they came right to the car. He started struggling and I told him if he was tired it was ok, I promised to take care of his sister Emmy Lou, and I loved him to the moon and back, and was the luckiest mommy in the world to get to love and care for him. I know Debbie had to be waiting for him, showing him the way and they both can breathe again, and she is being his mommy now along with so many others. Baxter Boo was so lucky to be loved by more than myself and my family and my vet family. He was a Debbie’s Dawg, and his Senior Pawtners Auntie Jan Marchlewski and Aunt Susan Davenport made his last weeks more special than ever. I think everyone will remember his picture in his new bed, the biggest dog bed we’ve ever seen, compliments of Auntie Jan . Many thanks to Donna Lindy and so many of Debbie Winchester’s friends who made Debbie’s Dawgs a reality. I’m posting one of my favorite pictures of Baxter Boo when he and several other of my hounds were helping in the kitchen. I love you Baxter Boo, me and Emmy Lou will see you again. As the song goes by country singer Luke Bryan ..So long my friend until we meet again, I’ll remember you and the times we used to sit right here on the edge of this pier (or in our case fluffy beds at BAGS) and drink a beer….(but mommys toasting you with a glass of wine with lots of tears) Many thanks for listening to my post, it helps to heal the heart.