Cognac 16-136

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Sponsored by:

Dave and Jean Chaudoir, Reed Point, Montana

 

"Best wishes." -Anonymous friend

 

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Date Posted Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
Aug. 10, 2016  Not Required  5+  Optional  Yes 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

 

Please welcome Cognac to the RAGOM family. She is a 9-year-old Golden sweetheart. She lived happily with her owner for many years. She was tearfully surrendered to RAGOM by her owner when she needed to move for reasons of age and health and could no longer keep her.

It was obvious to us from the first minute she came into our house that Cognac came from a loving family and environment. She is very well socialized, loves people, gets along with other dogs and cats, and is just a friendly, happy girl.

She met our Resident Dog (RD) Beau with no problems and happily shares attention and pets with him.

Lately they have given each other tentative “play bows” so we think that playtime will start soon. She likes to take her walks but we need to work at building up her stamina. She weighs 73 lbs. and needs to lose a little bit of weight. Our goal is 69 lbs. We are up to walking a mile at a time and she is pretty bushed when we get home. She pulls like a horse on a regular leash and collar so we have started using an Easy Walk Harness and she is much, much better. We’ve met other dogs on our walks and she does just fine. She gets along with our two dog-savvy cats (she mostly ignores them). They are quite comfortable with her.

This week we took Cognac for her first Vet appointment. We had been told that she had been treated for Lyme’s Disease about four years ago and still showed up as positive on tests. Dr. Jean confirmed that the test came back positive but the T6 blood work showed that no further treatment is required. Her joints, heart, lungs, ears, and eyes look fine and she has a ton of energy for a nine-year-old girl. Cognac (or Conie as we sometimes call her) is hypothyroid which means that she has to take a pill with her two meals every day. The condition can be controlled by the medication and all that is required is periodic blood testing. The cost of the pills is less than fifty cents per day. There was one anomaly with her spleen which caused Dr. Jean some concern. X-rays were taken and we will be scheduling her for an ultrasound scan to see if we can understand if there is a problem or not. Cognac will be “unavailable” for adoption until this issue is resolved.

This past weekend Conie passed the “kid test” with flying colors. Our four grandkids and their parents spent the weekend and she loved all of the activity and attention. She would stand, sit, or lie down for all of the pets that she could get!

Our only concern is that she might accidentally knock down little ones so we’re listing her as ok for dog savvy kids five years and older.

Stay tuned for more about this wonderful girl.

At a Glance #16-136

Golden Retriever Born: July 2007
Female Weight not specified

Status: Deceased

Profile

Sponsored by:

Dave and Jean Chaudoir, Reed Point, Montana

 

"Best wishes." -Anonymous friend

 

In addition to LOVE this dog has the following requirements:
Date Posted Fence Kid Friendly Another Dog Cat Friendly
Aug. 10, 2016  Not Required  5+  Optional  Yes 
This is the most recent information available; however, it may change as we learn more about the dog.

 

Please welcome Cognac to the RAGOM family. She is a 9-year-old Golden sweetheart. She lived happily with her owner for many years. She was tearfully surrendered to RAGOM by her owner when she needed to move for reasons of age and health and could no longer keep her.

It was obvious to us from the first minute she came into our house that Cognac came from a loving family and environment. She is very well socialized, loves people, gets along with other dogs and cats, and is just a friendly, happy girl.

She met our Resident Dog (RD) Beau with no problems and happily shares attention and pets with him.

Lately they have given each other tentative “play bows” so we think that playtime will start soon. She likes to take her walks but we need to work at building up her stamina. She weighs 73 lbs. and needs to lose a little bit of weight. Our goal is 69 lbs. We are up to walking a mile at a time and she is pretty bushed when we get home. She pulls like a horse on a regular leash and collar so we have started using an Easy Walk Harness and she is much, much better. We’ve met other dogs on our walks and she does just fine. She gets along with our two dog-savvy cats (she mostly ignores them). They are quite comfortable with her.

This week we took Cognac for her first Vet appointment. We had been told that she had been treated for Lyme’s Disease about four years ago and still showed up as positive on tests. Dr. Jean confirmed that the test came back positive but the T6 blood work showed that no further treatment is required. Her joints, heart, lungs, ears, and eyes look fine and she has a ton of energy for a nine-year-old girl. Cognac (or Conie as we sometimes call her) is hypothyroid which means that she has to take a pill with her two meals every day. The condition can be controlled by the medication and all that is required is periodic blood testing. The cost of the pills is less than fifty cents per day. There was one anomaly with her spleen which caused Dr. Jean some concern. X-rays were taken and we will be scheduling her for an ultrasound scan to see if we can understand if there is a problem or not. Cognac will be “unavailable” for adoption until this issue is resolved.

This past weekend Conie passed the “kid test” with flying colors. Our four grandkids and their parents spent the weekend and she loved all of the activity and attention. She would stand, sit, or lie down for all of the pets that she could get!

Our only concern is that she might accidentally knock down little ones so we’re listing her as ok for dog savvy kids five years and older.

Stay tuned for more about this wonderful girl.

Updates

Friday, October 21, 2016

 

Sweet Cognac went to the Rainbow Bridge last Monday. After 12 weeks of being completely symptom free, the cancer finally revealed itself and she went swiftly downhill. We’re so glad that she didn’t suffer and that she was her typically happy self almost to the end.

Like every dog she had her own unique personality but what a personality she had! Cognac went through life at full speed. She never walked when she could run – even in the house. She loved her food and treats most of all but she also loved walks, being with her foster brother and foster feline sisters, and all of the attention she could get from her people.

Our favorite day spent with her was at Goldzilla this past September. She was really in her element. She LOVED being with people, meeting new people and dogs, and generally reveling in all of the attention. Here is a picture of her at the Foster Tent waiting for the next person to come up to meet her.

While we’re sad to see her go and will miss her terribly we know that she is free of her cancer and is probably running somewhere at full tilt right now – on to her next adventure.

 

Monday, October 10, 2016

Hi everyone, this is Cognac again. I wanted you all to know that things are fine with me here out in the country by the lake. I know that people see me listed as “Hospice” and will worry about me but I’m doing just fine. My foster brother Beau and I are just back from a long walk with FD. I was hoping to see some more deer today (which I would love to chase) but no luck. We’ve both been resting since we got back home. As the weather has cooled off I’m letting everyone know how much I like dog beds! We have four of them here so there is always room for both of us.

The only change in my life since RAGOM started to call me a Hospice Dog is that I get to go to the Vet every three weeks. My good friend Dr. Jean is donating acupuncture treatments for me to help my body fight the cancer. She calls it “coming in for a tune-up”. They don’t hurt at all and I get 30 minutes of constant attention and then treats when everything is done. A girl could get used to that!

Speaking of attention, I love it when the grandkids come to visit. Here I am with Abbie and her friend Lizzie. They make me laugh and give wonderful tummy rubs.

Life is certainly good. I have two wonderful sponsors, Dave and Jean, who live a long way from here (in Montana wherever that is) but wanted to help RAGOM with my medical expenses. I also got a great Icon from someone called Anonymous.

I should probably go now. I need to get some shut-eye this afternoon. There’s probably another walk in store later as well as supper and then going downstairs to watch videos after the dishes are done. Before I go I’ll share one last picture. FD calls this my “pensive” look. I think I look great – don’t you?

Good bye for now – I’ll write again soon.

– Your friend Cognac 

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

We had just a wonderful day at Goldzilla on Sunday! Cognac was in her element. She probably personally greeted over a hundred people and at least that many dogs. We bet she snagged at least 25 treats. Thanks to all of the potential adopters who came to the Foster Showcase area to meet Coney and ask about how she is doing. As you saw, she is one happy girl who seems to get along with any dog she meets and loves every human she encounters.

Here she is with her favorite foster brother Beau. We call this pose the two-headed dog position.

Well, we got the test results back that we have been waiting for. Unfortunately, they were not the results that we had been hoping to hear. After consulting with the specialist, our vet told us that she has masses on not only her spleen, but also both adrenal glands. The odds are extremely high that, at a minimum, at least one is cancerous. Surgery is complex, and the typical prognosis after surgery is 3 – 6 months.

Based on this information and after discussion with RAGOM’s Foster Help team, we have concluded that the best option for Cognac is to not attempt any heroic measures, but to do everything possible to keep her happy and pain-free for as long as we can. We are changing her status from “Unavailable” to “Hospice.”

As many of you saw at Goldzilla, she is wholeheartedly enjoying her life as part of the RAGOM family.

It will be our pleasure and privilege to take care of her for the rest of her life. We greatly appreciate the good vet care that RAGOM has been able to give Coney. Specialist care is expensive, so any help that you can give by sponsoring our sweet girl or buying an icon would be greatly appreciated.

Meanwhile, we’ll continue to update all the Cognac fans out there as to how she is doing. We can already imagine the wheels turning as she plots how to convert this “hospice opportunity” into a chance to now be allowed up on the bed or onto the couch! More to come.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Hi Everybody, Cognac here! I wanted to let you all know how things are going. All in all, things are pretty much the same everyday here (which is just the way I like it). We get up in the morning and take our walk and then come back to eat breakfast. Beau, my foster brother, likes to go out again right after breakfast and I go with him. Would you believe, we get treats when we come back in even though we’ve just had breakfast – what a life! I’d like to play with Beau after breakfast and am working to convince him to try it.

After a few naps we usually go out for our longer walk, followed by another nap or two. Of course we are both on guard for visitors at the door, squirrels and chipmunks on the deck, and neighbor kids being noisy next door. I always give a bark or two but quit when foster mom or dad (FM and FD) tell me to stop. At five o’clock on the nose (we make sure we tell FM and FD when it’s time) we take another walk and come back just in time for supper. The evenings are a nice mix of short walks to do our jobs, and a nap or two while FM and FD are reading or watching videos. Then it’s time to go to bed and get my beauty sleep.

I got to go to the Vet again last week along with Beau and Twinkle the cat. We took over the waiting room at the clinic! FM says that I’m scheduled for an ultra sound on the 26th. They will be checking something they call my “spleen” for any problems. Hopefully, when that is done I’ll be able to start looking for my forever family.

FD says that we will be going to something called Goldzilla next month. There are supposed to be hundreds of dogs there. I think that will be a blast as I love other dogs. You can see me at the Foster Showcase from 10:00 to 11:30 on Sunday, September 11th. I’ll be looking for you! goldzilla.ragom.org

Finally, I want to report on my first experience of thunder and lightning at my foster home. I get pretty nervous during storms. FD says I wasn’t shaking but I was very nervous and trotted around the house carrying a bone or a toy. I just can’t seem to stop myself. Luckily my former mom had sent along my thundershirt and FM and FD decided to put it on me. It really works well and calms me right down. It was funny to see them trying to figure out how it fit – they said they’d never used one before. They finally got it pretty much right – they’ll get better with practice I’m sure. Here’s a picture – I look pretty good though don’t I !?!

Well that’s about all for now. Thanks for reading about me. See you at Goldzilla!!!

Your friend,

Cognac