Heart is breaking

Again, I'm so sorry about Sheba and it must be so very hard to deal with your own loss and sadness and then to see Dakota feeling so heartbroken.  He will likely feel this sadness for a few days or even weeks, but you can comfort each other too. 

My lab smells funky when she's still wet after a bath too, but it usually goes away once she dries.  We try to leave her out (when it's warm) until she's fairly dry but if we can't, I use big beach towels to dry her before I let her in. We've actually used the blow dryer on low a few times in the winter.  There are scented sprays made for dogs too that you can brush in and that might help.  I'm sure he's going to love being inside more with you, so you might want to check into some shampoos or a leave in coat conditioner that have a nice scent to that remains after the dog's dry.

Jackie, I am so sorry. I pray that God speeds your healing and helps you and
Dakota find peace in your hearts.
Run free at the Bridge Sweet Sheba and please come to mommy in her dreams.

God Bless you Jackie. I asked for Angels to embrace you and your family in your time of grief to over come the anguish that attaches itself to your broken heart and spirit.
 
You did the kindest thing for your best friend, an unselfish act of love.
 
Grieve, but take care of yourself too. Take time for yourself as well.
 
Hugs to you and your family.

Your fur child is with others at the Rainbow Bridge, at peace, whole and young once more awaiting you.

Jackie -- I generally use baby shampoo on the dogs or something mild like Dr. Bronners.  But then I typically rinse them in water with 25 drops of tea tree and about 25 drops of lavender.  It makes the coat smell nice and they act as a good bug repellant a bit as well.  But neither of those will attract the dirt that conditioners can (I don't use conditioner on dog coats).

Not feeling all that much better today except dakota and my hubby have gotten each of us through it. He is such a great dog. Hubby is a great man so I think he is a keeper too. I have had Dakota in with me since yesterday and he is beside himself wanting to please us.
 
Now I was so devastated over Sheba that I neglected to tell you what the vet said about Dakota. He has found a few lumps on his chest that he wants to biopsy. Also he has a mole on his snout that is growing and the vet wants to remove it. Today I was finally able to get Kody to let me brush him. He is such a baby. When he was a pup he squealed if I got him wet for a bath. Now he howls so loud and I fear the neighbors will think I am abusing him. That is before I touch him! Anyway I found a few more smaller lumps that are in near his front arm pit as well as several more moles on his legs. He is so big and furry like his daddy, black & white & tanish is places that it is hard to see them.  I will call the vet tomorrow and see what he wants to do.
 
Does cancer run in the family with dogs? Shebas mom had it and now her. The vet said not to think the worst that Kody may just have some kind of sists and the moles may be ok too.
 
Been such a long weekend. Never thought I would be happy to go to work. Maybe it will help take my mind off it.
 
Hope you all have a great week. Thanks again for all your support. I will hopefully be able to lend my support to others soon.
 
Jackie

Sending positive thoughts to you and Kody and your hubby ...I pray the vet gives you good news.  Take care of each other.  

Does cancer run in the family with dogs? Shebas mom had it and now her. The vet said not to think the worst that Kody may just have some kind of sists and the moles may be ok too.

My understanding is that, just as with humans, certain cancers are genetically linked.  It's true for many of the diseases we see in our dogs and even includes allergies.  I agree with your vet though.  There's no reason to become overly concerned until they do the biopsy.  Many dogs have benign cysts, especially as they get older.

I hope you find some relief from all of this at work today.  I know that sometimes it's just nice to have your mind filled with other things, even if it is work related.  Hopefully you have coworkers who understand and can comfort you too.

I just got through reading the posts from beginning to end, Romeo is with me so I am trying very hard not to cry hard for him, although tears are flowing freely down my face.
 
My heart goes out to you, I am so sorry for your loss.  Sheba is now young and healthy again running free at the bridge waiting for you.
 
I am sending positive thoughts so that there is nothing wrong with Dakota. 
 
Have faith.  A big bear hug to you and lots of ear scratches for Dakota.

Jackie, I hope your day was a bit less of a struggle.
I hope all goes well with the lumps on your baby. All I can say is to get them looked after right away. I had just gone through the same thing with Angel, my little rescue. She just had a mammary tumor removed and I got a call on Saturday that the tumor was benign. I had to wait 5 days for the results and I was at my wits end. The sooner you get them and the smaller they are, the better. If it turns out to be cancer(I'm praying hard that it isn't) then the girls on here can tell you how to handle this with a change of diet. Callie is really knowledgeable on this subject.
Good luck and my fingers are crossed.
(((hugs)))

You all are the best. I popped on here today to read a few posts to lift my spirits. It really helped a lot! I felt better this morning before work and I almost called in to stay home and get some work done. Once I got to work I really did not feel like being there. Everyone was nice but when they asked me whats wrong I started to cry. All I got out was sheba is gone and I went to my office. All I wanted to do was come home. Let me say I am NOT a crier so it took them by surprise. Once I got here Cody was just wanting to be at my side. I finally had to put him out a few minutes ago for a short time. I really got to get him trained! Can you really teach an old dog new tricks??? Sit and stay works with him only so long............to me he still has so much puppy in him. I know they dont forget. He is 11 and still when I sit in the floor he runs and jumps in my lap like he did when he was 5-10-15 pounds.
 
Exhausted so in a few I am going to bed. Night all!

You most certainly CAN teach an 'old dog new tricks' and frankly, this is the BEST time to do it.  One thing that will truly help a dog thru grief is to give them something 'new' to do.
 
So call around and enroll in a basic obedience class.  Talk to the trainer and tell them he's 11 but you've recently had a loss and this will give both of you some focus.
 
See, first off, he already KNOWS ***HOW*** to please you.  So it doesn't matter that he doesn't know commands -- he'll be 100% more focused than the 'wild pups' and he will quickly learn "Hey, I can do THAT!!" and they quickly learn to love the "wow, look how fast CODY did that!!".
 
After we lost Muffin the Intrepid (a buffy cocker we lost 2 1/2 years ago to renal failure, LONG illness, much missed by all), I truly thot I'd lose Foxy the MOstlie Sheltie right away.  Those two were SO bonded and actually Muferino was like Foxy's 'child'.  Foxy was 17 then ... I threw his little MOstlie Sheltie butt in BASIC obedience class (he'd been long long ago) and told him that if he'd work with me to get his CGC then HE could go in the big hospitals like Muffin had, cos I'd help him get his therapy dog certification.  But we HAD to get that CGC first. 
 
I worked the old guy's butt off.  Every time we would go out to do some training (try making a 17 year old dog 'sit'  and 'lay down' -- trust me -- you maximize all your efforts cos they get too tired!!) I'd show him Muffin's CGC tag.  HE KNEW what he was working towards -- and he was prouder than punch the day he passed (he flunked it the first time -- he got so excited on the 20 foot 'stay' that those liddle sheltie feets just broke that stay and tried to hurry towards Mom!!).  We re-tested a week later and he passed, got his CGC and right away got his therapy dog certificate. 
 
Foxy lived to be 1 month shy of 19 and he had a BLAST those last two years.  He'd been doing "pet therapy" for years in nursing homes, etc. but getting to go to the big hospitals was a real point of pride to him.  VERY old dog to accomplish what he did, but he LOVED it. 
 
But most of all -- it turned his mind to something productive.  It gave BOTH of us a good direction to go in our grief.  At the same time, David got Ms. Socks HER CGC (she was 16 and an old boxer/pit mix with some serious health issues).  And yes -- we took BOTH those dogs thru the most basic of public basic classes at the local 2 year college.  After about 2 weeks they were sailing rings around the puppies because the basic thing is they KNEW how to please us.  "Oh -- you want me to do THAT?? No biggie!!"
 
Try it -- I recommend it all the time now to people and their dogs who are grieving. 

Thank you. I will look into this asap!