A “Nightcap” from Elli the Norwegian Elkhound
November 22, 2009
Woof!
Been a while so thought before I turn in and start counting squirrels I would give a little “nightcap” on what I have been up to like today for instance….slept very well last nite and on the floor for a change….this is good for my owner, as she has more room to move around on the bed. And, this was good for me, since my breathing seems to be improving.
Took my owner for our morning walk to pick up my messages in the park and found out I was very popular; picked up quite a few messages for me! Of course, I replied back too! The other morning though I was whisked away in the car after our walk and knew we were on our way to my other vet in Los Altos. The Adobe Animal Hospital staff is very nice to me and tell me how sweet I am, um, got them fooled; if they only saw me holding down the fort against the raccoons! Anyway, my mistress was concerned over the quantity of water I have been drinking and of course this meant some tests. My Guardian held me while the vet person inserted a needle into my chest for blood; not my favorite thing, though my owner said how brave I was and how I would make her pay for this later in extra treats…now that part I liked!
Skipping around a little, today my mistress received the test results and sounds like my liver and kidneys need some TLC; evidently I am leaking protein; good thing Tiffany takes such good care of me and checks me out right away. I know next Tuesday we are seeing Dr. Fong again with the San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, and he always helps me to feel much better. It takes me awhile to get used to having tiny needles inserted into my body and I tremble for a little bit; afterwards I breathe so much better; my Guardian says it is the Chi moving around; not too sure what that is so I just say I perk up quite a bit!
Well, time for me to curl up and have a good nite’s snooze so woof back for more later!
All The Comforts of Home by Elli The Norweigen Elkhound
November 2, 2009
Woof!
As I was lying here on the floor of our living room I heard my owner laugh when she saw me. ” I was spread out in my usual regal position on one of “our” large white fur rugs,” and she said “everywhere in this house in an Elli place!” She is most right! The white fur rugs are very soft and feel good against my body.
I do have my own special place, with my very own large pillow bed; sometimes I curl up there and sometimes I spread out or hunker down to chew on one of my large bones. This special place even has one of my owner’s paintings;” Eternity” is hanging right over my pillow bed; kinda like the sound of that; means I may be around longer that I think! And, actually I am improving. Today my master and I trotted down by the railroad tracks under a canopy of reddish and yellow leaves. This is one of my favorite walks with many opportunities to pick up and receive

Getting A Hug In My Special Place!

Major Relax!
my messages. My owner mentioned a couple of times that she had her own personal trainer; me! She was walking fast to keep up with me! So, now that I have shared about my comfy Elli places I am going back to snoozing; before I go I am leaving you with some more pictures of course; of me! Woof back for more on my scene soon!
The Adventures of Elli the Norwegian Elkhound Continues!
October 4, 2009
Woof!
And, yes last time when we “chatted” I was embarking on my favorite tree lined walk, now I remember! I would like to talk about my pet walker who is very special to me. Her name is Carol. We met seven years ago. My owner was back in Virginia at the time and selected the service to walk me long distance.
She has pretty good instincts and I am well taken care of by Carol when my owner cannot walk me. We are very fortunate that Carol lives close by and comes over without much notice to walk me. My owner sometimes has unplanned art site visits and always makes sure I am taken care of when she is going to be late in walking me.
Carol called this morning to ask Tiffany how I am doing. Guess it is time now to bring my health into the conversation. A couple of weeks ago I was taken to Adobe Animal Hospital (most excellent care facility for pets by the way) to check out my recent bladder problems. I was unable to hold it and started peeing on the kitchen floor; not the oriental rug; just the floor so give me some credit.
Anyway, we found out I had a common urinary infection and we came home with pills for me to take daily. Then, my owner noticed I was panting more than usual. Actually, in older dogs it is not uncommon to pant more, however in my case this was not the case. Also, I have pretty much always coughed due to allergies and being a tracker is no fun when your nose is exploring stuff that makes you cough all the time. Tiffany was giving me allergy medication and that had worked in the past, only this time not so much. I was also finding myself very needy and wanting to be as close to my owner on the bed as possible. My heavy panting right next to Tiffany was not so good though for her sleeping, as we would wake up a couple of time throughout the nite. My owner noticed though I was not moving from her side on the bed. Usually, I tend to sleep at the foot of the bed all comfy.
So back to Adobe Animal Hospital we went. Tiffany asked to check my liver level so the techie took my blood and my owner asked for x-rays. I am not so keen on the x-rays as I am picked up (my owner does this and I appreciate that) and placed upsiide down in a heavy soft trough thing. Anyway, when the x-ray came back it showed a mass in my right lung. The blood work showed slight elevations in my liver. Tiffany did her best not to be upset though I could tell she was acting very much on “remote control.” When they suggested a CAT scan to gather more information Tiffany made an appointment at a specialist. Boy, I did not like that appointment. They shaved my belly and to tell the truth I wasn’t sure what my outcome was going to be. Tiffany had to leave me for several hours and when she came to pick me up I was groggy from sedation. No worries I was in good hands with Tiffany and she got me in the car easily. Our results were good news! My tumor did not have any company! I feel most lucky to have Tiffany as my owner and loving care giver.
She listed to the vet and the vet specialist talk about operating on me. The operation is extensive. I am cut open under my rib cage and the pain afterward is awful. I could bleed out during the operation as well. My aftercare would mean three to four days at the hospital on pain medication and then home with no squirrel or raccoon chasing for about a month. Then on top of this how much more time would I have to chase squirrels, raccoons, geese or anything else of my choosing….not much…perhaps a year. So, the decision was made to treat me naturally or holistically.
Now, this is little story is kinda of funny like connecting the dots. My owner spoke with our best friend Misty back in Virginia for a little consult. Misty suggested talking with the owner of Pet Sage in Virginia. Tiffany called and the Pet Sage owner suggested they go “on-line” together and see who would be a good accredited holistic vet. Dr. David Fong popped up with so many letters after his name he must be good. My owner called the San Francisco Veterinary Specialists and started to make an appointment with Dr. Fong. The receptionist asked if we had been there before and Tiffany said no. When the receptionist started entering our information she found out we had been to their old location in 2003….imagine that! We got an appointment.
When it became appointment time I knew it for Tiffany doesn’t feed me when we ride in the car. I have motion sickness. So, when my owner didn’t feed me I knew something was up. The drive into the city was new for me so I was not too happy about getting out of the car and going into a place that smelled of other animals. However, this place was bright and full of smiles.
Dr. Fong asked a lot of questions while looking at the x-ray and reading the previous Adobe vet info. Tiffany was answering and writing at the same time. I was on the floor kinda shaking. Dr. Fong examined me and said my coat is very healthy, though my tongue was on the purple side. He also asked how I slept, curled up or stretched out. He created a plan just for me with the primary goal to halt the tumor’s growth for as long as we can and shrinking it at the top of our list. My diet was to change and I was to take Chinese herbs mixed in with my food and tablets twice a day.
My new diet meant no chicken as chicken feeds cancer; we need to remove things that can heat up my body and feed the tumor. So we are giving me food that builds up my immune system and starves the tumor. Dr. Fong also noticed after the examination I was on the floor with the front part of my body against the wall….a very dark place he said. You see the lungs represent grief. I have been very sad with a lot of stuff that my owner as been and is going through. I love her very much and can’t help myself feeling some of her pain.
Now, Tiffany was delighted to hear I could eat “people food.” Like, lima beans, wild rice,duck, pork, mung beans, broccoli, carrots, red chard, squash, etc. Next thing I knew we were at Whole Foods and out she came with a bag of Wellness dry fish meal base and duck jerky. My owner also got on the internet and ordered some special biscuts from Foster & Smith. That nite “my personal chef” cooked up broccoli, wild rice, carrots, squash and pork mixed in with the Wellness dry…heaven! Hey, the quality of my life has been jacked up about tenfold….not a bad way to go out! I feel much better and love eating twice a day. I am breathing a little better though I still have my moments.

Of course I am loveable!
My energy is good as the six raccoons sitting on the roof of an old building behind our house were my prime targets. I let them know who was boss even though a stone wall separated us. They were not going to run across the top of the wall while I was outside. Then there is my owner with her camera standing on a chair taking a picture of them. They made have thought she was as much trouble as me. Speaking of food I smell a biscut coming my way so woof for now and look for me soon.
Embarking on my new path by Elli the Norwegian Elkhound
October 2, 2009

What You Say!
Woof!
Don’t quite remember where I left off; perhaps celebrating my birthday maybe? Anyway, I’d like to pick up after my history and tell you a little more…ready? I love my “best friend.” Now is the time to let you know I am going to call the human in my life quite a few names and here they are so you can keep up with me…Tiffany, owner, best friend and master.
I had not spent much time in one place before meeting Tiffany. I told you about my initial upbringing which was painful, being on the street and then in a foster home, so by the time I “found” Tiffany, I did not have much hope of this relationship working out either. However, I will have to say from the moment I glanced at her she “smelled” different. She was not too sure about getting close to me even though I could feel she wanted to and was doing her best.
Ok, more info now. Her previous companion of 13 years had passed away…a German Shepard named Kells a short time before me coming into her life. I think what slowed her down in getting close to me was the fact I would attack her….some humor here please! I didn’t mean to. I couldn’t turn my neck because of a previous injury and every time my owner would approach me from the right side I “jumped to it big time!” She was very smart and would tell me it was ok and I was safe. The next smart thing my owner did was to make an appointment with an animal communicator…now don’t make fun of this; if Tiffany had not taken this step of faith there is no way I would have been able to get the right treatment. She set up an appointment with the animal communicator so I could let her know that I was beaten with a shoe on my right side and this is why my vertebrae was out of alignment and I was hurting.
The veterinarian we went to also worked closely with this animal communicator and was able to adjust me properly. Boy, was that a relief. The first relief I had had in a long tiime. Now speaking of time and getting back to the original subject of why I love my owner so much. From the beginning my master studied me to learn my habits; her commands were exact yet with understanding. Although she was not too understanding when I ate the brie wrapper and all right before her party right off the dish. She almost couldn’t believe she had the cheese out in the first place! Pretty good job of search and seizure if I say so my self! However, this movement tipped my owner off to how much I love food, and I think you heard previously about the blue berry pie I ate from the park!
In Virginia we lived by a big lake where my walks were very active. Active because in the beginning I had my “street dog” on. This meant when my owner walked me and I saw another dog no matter how large, like the Rottweiler, I would become as my owner like to say “a real beast.” I prepared myself for battle. This posture became a little tense for my owner as she was walking me with a St. Bernard retrackable lead and my 37 pounds seemed like 137 pounds to her when I got into my attack mode. Needles to say the other dogs usually backed down in wonder…”wonder who this crazy dog is to come after me!”
The reason I have never really been social with my kind is because of having to defend myself on the street, and nearly being killed by two dogs at different times; a big black dog and then a bigger brown dog. Even today I am not too keen on other dogs getting too close; puppies are the worst! Most of the time I strut myself and ignore the mutts.
Now back to walking around the lake. One time I went to investigate some sort of a water shelter made up of branches; my owner yelled the big command “leave it now” at the top of her voice and pulled on my lead hard. Good thing she did as the river house inhabitants were at home and coming out to greet me. This was not a good thing since beavers are known for getting a hold of dogs by the neck and holding them under water till they drown….glad I got away from that scene! One of our neighbors had jumped in the lake to pull his Golden Retreiver out of the water when a beaver submerged him. Now, our walk were not always like that…so again speaking of walks it is about that time for me to go fetch my master and take our long tree lined walk to collect my messages….come back for more again….woof