My mom started to worry one day about me as I woke up with a limp in my back leg. Then I got a sore on my chest. Off to Dr. Scott we went and he tooks some tests. We found out the reason I had been sleeping SO MUCH was that I have a disease called Valley Fever. This is a disease that you can get over, with the right medication. It is a disease that affects animals (except cats) and people that live in desert regions of the world. There is a fungus that is in the soil that if you breathe you can get it. Mom figures since I lived in the desert for a gazillion days I may have gotten it while I was out.

Don't you worry about me, I have had it a little while and am now starting to feel much better, the first few weeks of this VF was awful, I limped around and my chest hurt and I didn't want to eat. My big brother Jessie was all behind me though, letting me know it would be ok, see, he had VF a few years ago and you can see that he made it OK! He is my inspiration!

Mom and I visited Dr. Scott January 13 for my 6th month checkup. I let him poke me to see if my blood is all better! I don't like it much, but least we can tell that my health is 100%! Besides Dr. Scott is a nice guy, he always gives me a treat! Over the weekend I got a fever again and wasn't feeling well... tired, don't want to eat (much) and my sore on my chest came back again... no good...

The results came back one positive one negative, but my titar count was much lower, so I will get my medicine until May 25 and be checked again one month from that date. Mom says this is just a little setback, one we had hoped wouldn't happen, but it did so a few more months of treats and cheese with my pill! Can't be that bad I guess. After 4 days of not feeling up to it, the lesion has busted open and my fever has gone away, today I feel good again! The whole family is happy about that, but no one more than me!!!

I took my (hopefully last) blood test, June 25, 1999. I knew when I walked in to see Dr. Scott, that this day would be my last of getting my little arm poked! I was so happy even as he pulled the vial of blood from my arm, I wagged my tail, and slurped Dr. Scott's face. I gave all the vet technician's a big old kiss too and told them "see ya later alligator's, only once a year from now on... I love ya, but, I'm OUT A HERE!"

My test came back and said we have to wait another 2 months... so pray for me, for now I'm doing OK, but I couldn't scream the GREAT news to the world... yet

Update August 26, 1999: Well folks mom received the word today from the vet. My titer has risen to 1:16, positive/negative. Vet feels that my immune system was compromised as a little guy and that is why the whole year on the meds hasn't cleaned this "thing" up.

Last Sunday I scared my mom cause I started licking my chest. She found I had a open sore on my chest (we thought was surely a VF Lesion) but turned out it wasn't but I'll tell you my heart was racing.

Mom took me to see Dr. Scott and the girls at the clinic and I had to do my VF test again... I wiggled butt for the girlees and they giggled... I was real happy until I saw Dr. Scott reach for that "needle", :-(

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers to get this nasty bug out of me....

The ONE piece of good news that I have put on some weight, now I'm a whopping 57 lbs.... When I was picked up out of the desert one year ago in March, I weighed only 43.

I'll always be a little guy, but let me tell ya I got the spunk!

GILBERT UPDATE: On February 4, 2000, I took Gilbert down for more tests. Well just wanted to let you all know that I got the call late this afternoon. GG's liver function is PERFECT, no abnormalities, no problems, perfect condition! I can't tell you how much this means to me as the nizoral affects liver!

His titer count for VF came back negative/positive, positive 1:2. Now I need to discuss this thoroughly with my vet and a few experts... He feels very good about this as last time it was 1:16 positive positive!!!

I will be testing in two months, if we get a negative titer count, we can go off meds, then test in one month and if negative again, we can actually say, THIS IS DONE, it's GONE, I've kicked the bug man!

UPDATE: May 2000....... How can we say GRIN? We got the good news today, I KICKED IT!!!!! It's done, no more medications, no more feeling lousy, no more silly blood tests, poking and proding! I'M FREE!!!!!! Thank you to all who said prayers for me throughout my disease process, thank you, thank you! With your help and mom and dad's pocketbooks, we made it through!!!!!

Isn't this the most FANTASTIC news!

Guess what? I'm a STAR!!! The Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace invited a lot of us rescue doggies to send their photos and stories in to be judged and they are making note cards up for benefitting all the rescue golden doggies like me! Well I was one of the fortunate ones to win along with Comet, Duke, Sprocket and April. April, Sprocket, Duke and Comet and I are PROUD to say that we stand up and will do our part to help all those other beautiful goldens in need!

Gosh, one thing ya need to know is that my head isn't really big over all this stuff, I just am a very proud boy, helping other rescue doggies like myself... which is one reason I grin all the time!

Guess What! Thanks for everyone for voting for me!!!

Yo-yo the terribly conceited Cockatiel who loves doggies!

You'all come back and visit us! We will always have more stories and things to say and new pictures to see.

Purina Dog Chow hosts a site with lots of doggies stories. I also decided I needed to be there too, please check this site out and see my smilin' mug. You can also add yours IF you are a doggie!

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This will make my tail wag!

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