“Out of the Blue” Charlie Bear with LAA #21
July 5, 2011 at 2:41 pm 20 comments
Right around the seven to seven-and-a-half month mark the big dog began to really slow down. Rex left more food in his bowl than he ate and every once in a while I got out the back, snuck around through the side garage door, and scarfed it up before anyone saw me. Rex didn’t seem to care, he just laid there on his big pile of cushy blankets and watched me.
Female peep noticed though. She knew Rex wasn’t eating. He began vomiting off and on, keeping things down for a few days, then throwing up. Every time she was going to take him to the vet, he got better. But one day, after he had all kinds of problems with vomiting and diarrhea, they both took a hard look at him and realized he was getting all kinds of skinny. It was like it came on like lightning. Funny how things like that can creep up on you.
They took him to the vet and came home with a fistful of pills for him to swallow and others to put in his food to get him better. Problem was, he didn’t get better.
FEMALE PEEP: “I’m really worried about him. What are we going to do? He won’t take his pills, even in a pill pocket.”
MALE PEEP: “Not even in peanut butter?”
FEMALE PEEP: “No. Even if I make him take it, he throws them up.”
How can a dog not want peanut butter? They called in a special lady, someone who always took care of Rex and the cats when the peeps went out of town. This girl knew Rex really well, and she was a vet tech. She told them to get weight on him any way they could. So female peep went out and bought all kinds of soft food, canned food (different kinds than she’d been trying), and all sorts of yummy treats. But still he wouldn’t eat. After I greeted Dad at the door one day, I heard him say this:
MALE PEEP: “How was he today? Did he eat?”
FEMALE PEEP: “I gave him some bread and I made him a hamburger and hand-fed it to him. He’s very listless. And I’m very worried.”
She was right to be concerned. Rex limped along on bread and hamburger and cooked chicken for a while, but he just couldn’t keep things down. And Dad’s and Female Peep’s hearts were breaking.
* * *
LIKE FREE STUFF? Me too, and I have a secret to share with you. Female peep is writing a book about me and she’s going to give away free copies when it’s released later this year. Want to be a lucky winner? Just comment DIRECTLY on this BLOG SITE and you’ll receive one chance in the drawing for EVERY comment you’ve made since I started posting the “Something to Chew On” series. It won’t be long before my posts on LAA will be finished, so the more comments you make, the more chances you’ll have. Woof!
Entry filed under: Charlie Chat, Dogs.
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Taylor's Tips 
1.
Beaugie | July 6, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Oh Rex & Peep mom & dad, i feel your pain, looks as if Rex might be reaching his time if he does not improve soon. It is a very hard decision to have to make, and hope he gets better soon so you have him for a long time to come yet. You be good now charlie Bear and don’t give peep mom a hard time and be jealous of Rex while he is sick. Woofs to all, & tell Rex i hope he gets well soon.
Beaugie.
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2.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Beaugie,
I hate to think of my mentor big dog Rex being gone. He’s pretty awesome around here. I’m going to think him well and try positive imaging. Maybe if I think it hard enough it will come true.
Woofs to you, Beaugie!
Charlie Bear
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3.
Julie Garmon | July 6, 2011 at 11:20 am
I know this is hard for you. I’m so proud of you for writing about tough stuff. It hurts when they get sick.
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4.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 11:37 am
Julie,
It really does hurt the whole family when a dog gets sick. I feel like one of the family now, and big dog Rex has been here WAYYYY longer than me. And I know when I don’t feel good, they’re all over me trying to make me better. Like just the other day I ate some grass and threw it up on the throw rug outside. But I was fine after that, no worries. Thanks for thinking of all of us.
Woofs,
Charlie Bear
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5.
Julie Garmon | July 6, 2011 at 11:18 am
I know this is tough for you. I’m so proud of you. Keep writing, my sweet friend.
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6.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 11:35 am
Julie,
Charlie Bear here. Female peep is so emotional when she writes. I know you understand. Thanks for being there for her.
Wiggles and sniffs to Clyde,
Charlie Bear
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7.
Jean Stewart | July 5, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Oh, BJ, how difficult to write, even with Charlie Bear’s perspective keeping the banter going. I’m hurting with you, friend. Luv, Jean
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8.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 8:17 am
Dear Jean,
You know how hard this is on female peep. You’re a good friend. She needs all the friends she can get right now. Thanks for being there for her. I try to keep her happy by making her laugh, but there’s not much of that going on around here lately. Hopefully, big dog Rex gets better soon.
Woofs and wiggly-bums,
Charlie Bear
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9.
writerheart1 | July 5, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I did a lot to keep my last dog eating — especially because when I got him from the shelter he was so pathetically malnourished the vet became very emotional. I got weight on him with special vet food and lots of treats but then he went downhill several years later the same way and wouldn’t eat. It was so hard to let him go. Sending prayers to Rex and you and the family.
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10.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 8:15 am
Writer Heart,
Thanks for the kind words for big dog Rex. I’m hoping he rallies through this and gets better. I still have lots to learn from him!
Woofs and wiggles from a young whippersnapper,
Charlie Bear
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11.
Kimi | July 5, 2011 at 4:37 pm
I was expecting to read another silly Charlie Bear post. My thoughts are with you and your family hoping that Rex will be feeling better soon. Take comfort in knowing that you’re doing all that you can for him. It’s hard when you don’t know what’s “wrong”.
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12.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 8:13 am
Kimi,
Female Peep is doing all she can to help big dog Rex get better. Dad is too. Sometimes people and dogs get sick and don’t get better. I’m hoping that isn’t the case with Rex. He’s a great role model for me and I’m having fun learning from him. He’s like that old guy in that Kung Fu movie where the youngin learns from “the Master.”
Woofs to you, Kimi,
Charlie Bear
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13.
generalkatgeneralkathy | July 5, 2011 at 3:34 pm
I enjoy the commentary on life with the male and female “peeps” that Charlie Bear gives. His view on the health of Rex is very concerning and hope that soon there will be a positive outcome.
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14.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 8:01 am
General Kat,
Thanks for commenting on my commentary. That makes me feel good. I hope there’s a positive turn around for big dog Rex too.
Licks and wiggles,
Charlie Bear
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15.
Debi Murray | July 5, 2011 at 3:17 pm
My heart is breaking for you. It is so hard when the furry kids can’t tell you how they feel. I hope Rex starts eating and keeping the food down.
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16.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 7:59 am
Debi,
Thanks for the well wishes for big dog Rex. I hope he eats soon and keeps it down. I do like following him around the yard. He’s like a King and I’m like the Prince or something.
Thanks again,
Woofs,
Charlie Bear
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17.
Marsha Hubler | July 5, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Oh, Charlie Bear, I feel so bad about Rex. Things don’t sound good. My lady’s best friend’s dog, Blaze, went the same way about six months ago, and finally they had to send him over the rainbow.
Love your peeps, Charlie. They’ll need you now more than ever.
Yours truly, Honey Bunny
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18.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 7:57 am
Honey Bunny,
That’s what I’m dong — loving my peeps. They’re really sad right now and really worried. Makes me worried too. Thanks for the kind words.
Wiggles,
Charlie Bear
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19.
Susan | July 5, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I hope Rex gets better.
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20.
bjtaylorblog | July 6, 2011 at 7:54 am
Dear Susan,
Thank you for the well wishes for Rex. I’m hoping he gets better too.
Woofs,
Charlie Bear
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