Our toy dachshund, Missy, is spending her first Christmas without her big brother Patches!! He kept her warm no matter where he was, even if little sister was a pest sometimes!! We took Missy for an outing to find a little jacket for extra warmth. She only weighs 8 pounds and shivers when it is 70 degrees outside!

After patiently letting us try on several different jackets, we treated her to a Pupoccino.

Our jack-russell terrior, Patches, has been my best friend, comforter, and playmate for more than 15 years. He traveled to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Lake Chelan, and often local farmers’ markets. He was always the sweetest and smartest little dog I have known. When we rescued our little 8 pound toy Dachshund, he welcomed her and was very patient with his new ‘little sister’ – Missy. He let her be mother hen, allowed her to annoyingly just park herself on him for body heat, and allowed her to think she was a ‘queen’. She is half blind, doesn’t hear, and was rescued from a puppy mill. When she came home, she had no idea what grass was or that she could run and play. Patches made sure she had a better life.

Patches suffered from an inherited neruological issue all his life. Until two years ago, it never affected his quality of life. He ran, jumped, and chased many a squirrel, managing to actually catch one at one point. The last two years, it became really bad. He no longer could really run and play. The last 6 months, he could barely stand, go up/down stairs nor hop on a chair to cuddle. He cried all day and night – never comfortable. We had to say good-bye to him Monday. There is such a huge hole in my heart and Missy seems lost with out him.

Good bye my sweet puppie, be careful catching squirrels this time – you don’t want to be a corncob again.

Well Patches survived his ordeal yesterday.  Ten teeth pulled!  Apparently they all began to rot at the root level below his gums.  I am told this is a ‘cat’ thing and not a ‘dog’ thing. We were able to pick him up at 6:30 and he was definitely feeling no pain.  White glassy look, the silliest smile ever, and drooling.  He came home with antibiotics and pain meds.  We had him try to eat when we got home…which he inhaled and thankfully did not puke!  So…we were able to give him a full meals worth.

The pill was a little tricky.  Fortunately they are chewable, so we crushed and mixed into his dog food.  He was never the wiser.  This is good because he needs to take twice a day (every 12 hours).  I did the same thing this morning and he gobbled it up, wanting more.  Tonight we will give him his first pain med – that is how doped up he was, 24 hours until his first pill at home for pain.  This morning he thankfully drank lots of water.  We actually call it his ‘camel’ drinking because he won’t drink at all.  Next thing you know, he will drink the bowl completely dry, then usually one more full bowl.  We aren’t sure where he stores all the liquid.

Today he is content to rest and watch over his ‘squirrel’ kingdom!