Well, I think it is time to update you on Bear again. He is doing
fantastic. I honestly can't believe this is the same dog.
Let me first start with his weight. This big boy hit the 99 pound
mark. Our vet would like him around 90, so we are trying to cut back
(it can be tough when he starts baying at you because he is still
hungry). He is also a food thief! You cannot leave anything close
to the edge of the counter or he will lean against the counter and eat
it! (I caught him after continually seeing fur on my counters!)
We have also been seeing the vet about his eyes. He has
conjunctivitis in both eyes, but his tear production is amazing. The
vet wanted to take him off the medicine for a week and Bear passed
with flying colors. So now we use drops twice a day just for his
conjunctivitis.
Also, the vet had discussed the tumor on his eye with a specialist,
and they said it could come off without hurting him. So we went ahead
and did the surgery. He had the tumor on his eye, a glandular tumor
on his left side around his rib cage, and a large one hanging on his
lip. The tumor on his eye was on the line between his cornea and the
white of his eye, so there is still a small nodule on his eye that
they just couldn't remove. They were all removed and Bear is happier
than ever. We had the tumor on his eye sent off to be tested so we
can determine what it was and what may have caused it. His
conjunctivitis is clearing up! Also, the ladies at the vet’s office
know him by name and absolutely LOVE when we come in. We have been
going in about once a month for eye testing and follow up visits.
He seems to have an extra pep in his step now that he is tumor free.
We go for long (1 mile to 2 mile) walks every other day. Bear and Rex
(his black & tan coonhound brother) are fantastic walkers. They know
"loose leash," and to be honest, if they didn't I’m not sure I could
walk them (together they weigh 180 pounds)!
I won't lie and say that Bear isn't extra special to me. I have a
feeling that he was abused a bit before your organization rescued him.
I have pampered and babied him. I take him everywhere with me in my
truck. He loves riding with his face out the window. I do all the
cleaning of his ears, all the eye drops, and the vet visits.
Bear has become my shadow when I am home. He loves for me to get down
on my knees and wrap my arms around his chest and lay my head on him.
I often times walk into our bedroom and find Bear sprawled across our
king sized bed napping in the dark. He will sleep with us a lot of
the time (along with his brother Rex - yes it gets crowded), but he
does have a big bed of his own.
He is also amazing with our 6 year old, Jeremiah. He has a special,
gentle way with Jeremiah. It is like he instinctively knows how much
smaller he is. He loves to smooch on Jeremiah, and when Jeremiah
naps, Bear will lay by his door waiting patiently for him to wake up.
We are just one big happy family. I cannot imagine my life without
this big wonderful boy. He makes me smile and laugh every single day.
He has this HUGE personality, a playful spirit, and a big loving
heart. Thank you all! May you all be as blessed as we feel with
Bear!
I honestly can't thank you all enough for bringing this amazing boy
into our lives. We love him so much and we feel so blessed that we
have him.
Cassie
