Off to Anchorage

[Glacier]

We're leaving in the morning with the big dog!

Heyoka has a growth in his larnyx that is affecting his breathing. He gets about a quarter of the air he needs with each breath, so he's constantly panting and sounds like a chainsaw! None of the local vets are equipped to deal with this, so our vet has found a specialist in Anchorage, Alaska who thinks he can help.

Anchorage is about a 15 hour drive from here, if the roads are good. Not sure what shape they are in this time of year and we could still get a winter storm without warning! We're taking two days to do the drive over there; have a pet-friendly room booked in Tok, AK for tomorrow night.


Heyoka sees the surgeon on Wednesday; surgery on Thursday if he decides he can help us and we'll be home Saturday or Sunday. Heyoka will probably enjoy being an only dog for a few days! Hopefully the rest of the pack will behave! Our dogsitter is a brave little soul! Last time he dogsat for us, Founder died without any warning(he appeared perfectly healthy when we left). I'm suprised Todd is still willing to take care of the zoo, but glad he is! The critters all love him!

We're hopeful that Heyoka will get some relief and be able to reduce his dependancy on prednisone! If not, at least, we'll know we checked out every option!

[Grace]

Fingers crossed, and prayers winging North for all of you. He sure is a gorgeous dog

[Randi]

Tamara, I so hope the specialist in Anchorage will be able to help Heyoka - what a long trip for vet visit.

I'm sending lots of good wishes that all goes well!

Take care!

[Karen]

He'll be in our prayers that the surgeon is able to help him! As a lifelong asthmatic, not being able to breathe is no fun at all!

[Louie and me]

Have a safe trip. Heyoka deserves the very best you can give him and I know you will. Thoughts and prayers coming your way.

[kuhio98]

Tamara ~ I can't believe I'm going to be stuck in Prudhoe Bay while you're in Anchorage. I would love the chance to meet you guys.

Drive safely. Heyoka is in my prayers.

[Glacier]

Tamara ~ I can't believe I'm going to be stuck in Prudhoe Bay while you're in Anchorage. I would love the chance to meet you guys.

Oh, I forgot you live there! Too bad you will be at work! Would have been great to meet you! We are hoping to meet a cyber-friend from the malamute rescue world while we are there. He has one of Heyoka's littermates!

[Roxyluvsme13]

Good luck, Heyoka. You sure are a beautiful boy, and I hope that everything goes okay for you! Have a safe trip!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Have a safe trip and I hope that everything goes well for Heyoka. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[kuhio98]

If anyone hears from Glacier -- or sees updates on Facebook, please let us know.

(I'm away at work, and Facbook is blocked.)

Thanks!

[Glacier]

Heyoka's surgery went very well this morning. We were able to take him to the hotel this afternoon. He's sleeping off the dope right now, but has been out to mark the soccer goal at the park across the street! He's even eaten a bit of canned food....no way would I be eating with a 4 inch long incision only hours old in my throat!

The root problem was larnegyal paralysis. I am tempted to go tell off the vet who told me 2 years ago that he didn't have LP! The lumps in his throat are likely granulomas.....a reaction to the long term irration in his throat. The surgeon took a biopsy just to be sure, but he's fairly sure there is no malignancy. I can not say enough good things about the surgeon and the clinic! I hope to never need Dr. Priddy's skills again, but I would not hesitate to put another of my animals in his talented hands if the need arises!

The LP was dealt with through a "tie-back" procedure. We'll need to take some precautions for the rest of Heyoka's life...no collars, raised water and food bowls. The major concern is aspiration pneumonia as his larynx will remain slightly open all the time now and he could inhale food or water into his lungs. He may loose his voice or have a changed sound, but as the doc said....breathing is more important than barking!

On that note......Silence is weird!! Heyoka's breathing is perfectly normal already, quiet, not recuiting his ab muscles to inhale, not panting all the time, not gasping. We've gotten so used to the racket that we both keep getting up to make sure he really is breathing!

[Cookiebaker]

I'm just reading this now, and wanted to say how happy I am that everything went well. Hope you have a good trip back!

[kuhio98]

I can not say enough good things about the surgeon and the clinic! I hope to never need Dr. Priddy's skills again, but I would not hesitate to put another of my animals in his talented hands if the need arises!

Dr. Nelson Priddy !!!! He consulted on Halo's golf-ball sized fatty liver tumor years ago. He is definitely one of the Vet Hero's of the world.

Hope you enjoy your stay in Anchorage -- I'm still in Prudhoe -- Bobcat says the forecast is for snow tonight. But, you know how the inaccurate forecasts can be.

You guys are in our prayers.

[cassiesmom]

Heyoka's surgery went very well this morning. We were able to take him to the hotel this afternoon. He's sleeping off the dope right now, but has been out to mark the soccer goal at the park across the street! He's even eaten a bit of canned food....no way would I be eating with a 4 inch long incision only hours old in my throat!

The root problem was laryngeal paralysis. I am tempted to go tell off the vet who told me 2 years ago that he didn't have LP! The lumps in his throat are likely granulomas.....a reaction to the long term irration in his throat. The surgeon took a biopsy just to be sure, but he's fairly sure there is no malignancy. I can not say enough good things about the surgeon and the clinic! I hope to never need Dr. Priddy's skills again, but I would not hesitate to put another of my animals in his talented hands if the need arises!

The LP was dealt with through a "tie-back" procedure. We'll need to take some precautions for the rest of Heyoka's life...no collars, raised water and food bowls. The major concern is aspiration pneumonia as his larynx will remain slightly open all the time now and he could inhale food or water into his lungs. He may loose his voice or have a changed sound, but as the doc said....breathing is more important than barking!

On that note......Silence is weird!! Heyoka's breathing is perfectly normal already, quiet, not recuiting his ab muscles to inhale, not panting all the time, not gasping. We've gotten so used to the racket that we both keep getting up to make sure he really is breathing!

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY! Good news about the sweet guy! Please give him a huge hug for me .

[dab_20]

I'm so glad to hear surgery went so well! That is the scariest thing, putting someone you love in a professionals hands, relying on them to give you the correct information, only to find out later that it is wrong. Incredibly frustrating. I'm glad in the end it ended up well for Heyoka.

Kisses and positive thoughts for healing to handsome Heyoka.