CHEST PHYSIOTHERAPY (CPT) ON A DOG

Today, my dog, Leroy was wheezing, snorting and grunting. I listened to his lungs, and found "rhonchi" (course, rattling sound, like snoring) sounds in his right lobe. I decided to do CPT on him, just like I would a person. I keep Primatine Mist on hand, as my Shepherd, Sunny has had asthmatic type spasms. First I sprayed his nose with some of that, then I started CPT. As soon as I started the cupping and clapping on his side, he seemed to automatically position himself, so that I could reach the proper lobe. I did it for less than 10 minutes, when he suddenly turned on his back, like he does, when he's really felling good! I gave him a little "doggie wipe" bath, and he's now sound asleep. That is, not grunting, wheezing or snoring. I am so happy. This shot was taken several months ago, but that's his most "relaxed" position. The purpose of CPT in humans, is to help the patient cough and expectorate. Of course dogs "can't spit," yet he is sleeping peacefully, with no noise.

Interview and Other Events of Today

My interview with my publisher, went well today. He asked some great questions. It will be aired on Raider Broadcast Networks, June 3rd.

Today I found something I never knew my yellow lab, liked. I rubbed his head and face with a dry wash clothe. He acted like he was enjoying a "facial." He never likes it, when it's wet, but when it was dry, he "lapped it up!"

As it turns out, I'm going to work one more night, at the sleep lab this week, tomorrow (Tuesday). When I turned my keys in, I was told that there was still one patient on the books for the 21st. I checked back, and as they have not hired anyone, (and may not be planning to, for a while) I said I'd fill in.

One last thing. In my interview today, I talked a little about the next book I'm going to write. It is the one dealing with depression, and has a bittersweet ending. I've decided I'm not going to be blogging the book, after all. I may throw out little "tidbits" about my writing, but I've decided the subject is way to dark and deep for me to blog. But it will come out, and hopefully, my "editor" won't move away, then get sick and die on me.... ;o)

Faithful Interview Wth Publisher

Monday, April 20, '09, I will be interviewed by the publisher of my book, Adam Salviani,on Raider Broadcast Network, at 5 PM Eastern




The other good news is, the first print (practice) edition is all sold out, and the 2nd edition should already be completed.

Thank you to all my readers/followers out there, for helping make this happen.

This is part of a letter my husband got from Captain, John Fruen, after the Korean Conflict.

Bono and Leroy, Mutt and Jeff, Goodness and Mercy

Even Yellow Labs can feel sadness. Not to mention, "Sad, Sad, Leroy Brown."

Or maybe Bono's just thinking, "Darn! I have to get up again. Can't he just walk around me?"

How To Treat Depression?

Dog can feel emotions, as you can see so evidently on my boys here. The guy in the white hat below, is a good

friend of Danny's "baby sister," Margie. Danny had never met the guy, "Bunk," until he came to the hospital with Margie . He ended up not only building this ramp for Danny, with other friends Danny had never met before, but also giving Danny a ride home, in his Jazzy, electric wheelchair; which was wheeled up into Bunk's especially equipped van. PLUS, he let him use the chair, as long as he needed it. What a guy! You can also see "Bunk," who sounds exactly like he's doing an impression of Larry The Cable Guy, in an earlier blog, showing Danny with his bloodied face. That was taken a couple of days after Danny ventured down the TEMPORARY ramp the first morning out of the hospital in his JAZZY. I had a difficult time looking him in the face, the first few days after the fall, as he would not let me clean his wound. Once he let me clean it, on the third day, I was fine. Anyway, Bunk was one of my Angels of Mercy on my mission. It was hard work for all of us; even the dogs.

As a respiratory therapist, I'm trained to treat primarily the lungs, and the heart. Cardiopulmonary Therapy. Basically, my training allows me to treat physical ailments, but how does one treat another for depression? This is a lesson I am bound to learn. Depression seems to be the one thing I've not yet been able to treat. But I AM learning. And what I've learned is that you just need to be "present" with the patient/friend, and have a lot of unconditional love for that person. Let them know, you are available for them, at all times, to help them, in any way possible. I learned this way too late to help my dear friend, Danny. He had become extremely depressed, and I did not know how to reach him. Of course, his "unknown" illness, only added to his depression. Lord knows I did try. I tried to get him to go to the doctor for years. Bless his heart, he never would. And I didn't know how to get through to him, to make him want to go.....until the end.

Sunny,My Shepherd. Top dog/Alpha Male

Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me