Kodiak's Third Birthday

Today is Kodiak's 3rd Birthday. Happy Birthday my beloved boy.

"Just Checking"

Yesterday, I had to make a trip to the Emergency Room. I've been coughing, feverish and achy for days, but over the weekend things took a turn for the worst.

Many years ago, when I was in first grade, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. I spent two weeks in the hospital, the first in an oxygen tent.

This past weekend, I thought that I was going to repeat that experience.

The coughing was so bad, my throat so raw that drinking or eating was painful. I coughed so hard that I vomited. I was having trouble breathing, having to sit up at night, if I got four hours of sleep a night that would be a generous estimate.

I called my family physician yesterday and asked if there was any way they could fit me in. They told me there were three other people on the list ahead of me, waiting for a cancellation, so they could get in to see the doctor. They told me to go to the Emergency Room seeing as how they could hear me wheezing and were afraid my asthma was effected.

I spent 4 hours out of the house yesterday as I sat in the ER waiting room, then finally getting to see a Nurse Practitioner. I received a breathing treatment by a Respiratory Therapist and was sent home with a handful of prescriptions.

When I got home I was excitedly greeted by Kodi. I knew he would have to go potty, so I didn't take my coat off, I put his collar on to take him outside.

As we walked around the corner of the porch he stopped and looked back over his shoulder at me. I told him I was okay and he could go ahead. He took a few steps and stopped again, looking back over his shoulder at me. I reassured him again and we started toward the ramp. This went on several more times, until he stopped and looked back over his shoulder at me, turned to face me and without taking his eyes away from mine, came back to me.

I asked him what was wrong and bent down as he stretched up. He sniffed all over my face, he licked my nose and chin. When I kissed him back and told him I was okay, he then waited for me to straighten back up and turned toward the ramp, bouncing down to the bottom where he went into the yard and went 'potty'.

It was very clear to me that Kodi knew I was in trouble earlier in the day, that he missed me while I was gone, as he always does when I leave the house and that he was concerned as to whether I was okay or not as I was breathing heavily as we rounded the corner toward the ramp. Once he was secure in the knowledge that I was okay, he was willing to go about his business.

He was "Just Checking" on me to make sure I was okay.

I LOVE this incredible, adorable creature so much more than words can express.

Appreciation

Recently, while in the grocery store, a woman I'd never seen before came up behind me, put her hand on my shoulder and said, "You're that little lady that walks the Husky, aren't you?" I said yes, that I was. She went on, "I walk over near the park and I've seen you out together a lot. I just mentioned to my daughter the other day that it was obvious how much you love him, how much he means to you, since you're clearly out there in the cold for his benefit."

I wasn't sure what to say. I told her he needed a lot of exercise and he's truly 'saved' me, given me a reason to be outside, get fresh air. She said, "He loves you, anyone can see that, the way he walks along beside you. It's an inspiration to see." She patted my shoulder and walked away.

Earlier this week as Kodiak and I were walking, a car pulled up next to us and an older woman rolled down the window and called out, "Excuse me, Ma'am?" I thought she was going to ask for directions. She said, "I just wanted to tell you that your dog and you are just wonderful. It's wonderful seeing you out walking together." I thanked her, not knowing what else to say and we all went on our way.

I realized that other people 'get it'. They understand what he does for me, the companion he is to me, how he's liberated me, gotten me out and about and that I probably wouldn't be out if not for him.

People are always stopping me to tell me how beautiful he is, rolling down their car windows to yell that he's gorgeous, etc. If we haven't been out for a few days because of rain or cold weather, people will ask us if we're alright. It's comforting for me to know that people keep their eye out for us, that they know when they see us and notice when we're not out and about.

I really appreciate that people are watchful, that they feel 'protective' of us.

Filling Out

During our last annual physical the Vet informed me that Kodiak was a little under weight. I was a little shocked by her assessment, as her husband and partner told me previously that Kodiak was a 'lean husky', that some are more stout and some more lean, there was nothing to worry about, he didn't see a reason to change anything.

When the Vet told me she rated him at a 2 out of 5, 3 being healthy weight, 2 being significantly under weight, I was stunned.

The breed standard for a male Siberian Husky is between 55-65 lbs. by most accounts. Kodiak weighed 54.6 lbs. She had recommended that I find some sort of food to supplement his diet, whether it be canned cat food if he was wiling to eat that, peanut butter or unseasoned roasted chicken breast, anything that would inspire him to eat a little more, more regularly.

I'd asked if we could go back on the liquid vitamins Kodiak was on when he was a puppy, but each time I've asked, they said we could but they don't really think we need to.

Kodiak was eating sporadically, pigging out one day and not eating for 2 or 3 days, though he is high energy and exercises a great deal. The Vet said she thought his metabolism was exceptionally high, so he's burning off everything he is eating.

I tried canned cat food, but he would eat it one time and turn his nose up at it the next. I tried peanut butter, but that wasn't palatable when mixed with lamb and rice kibble. I started roasting chicken breast, shredding it and putting a handful in his dish with his kibble and that did the trick. He began eating twice a day.

I'm pleased to report that Kodiak now weighs 58.6 lbs.

Recently, when we went back into the bank for the first time in months, the tellers all commented about how he'd 'filled out' and how well behaved he was. We're playing outside 4 times a day, usually once after walking, then three other times throughout the day.

He's become a 'big boy'.