Harper Kingsley blog

I did a bunch of research for my dog, so I’d thought I’d share it for other peoples’ needs:

I noticed he had a swollen elbow which looked like a canine hygroma. And the leg around it was swollen with retained fluid.

The treatment is basically an orthopedic mattress and a compression bandage to keep the fluid from retaining.

My dog had a habit of disdaining dog beds and flopping on the floor itself. I was planning to get him a new bed, and it feels sad but I’m glad I hadn’t ordered him one yet. I was able to cancel my order for vet tape (though now, thinking of it, maybe I should have kept it for the cats. Whoops.) though I’ve now got a package of XL doggy pee pads.

Anyways, I did a bunch of research about fluid retention and dog health. Things that I’m going to keep in mind for any future dogs.

Because of that fluid retention he had, a veterinarian would have prescribed a diuretic like furosemide (Lasik). And it does have some side-effects, but for serious fluid retention more serious drugs are needed.

My dog was almost 15-years old. I noticed his elbow on like Thursday and was planning on changing his diet and getting him a vet appointment for past Monday. But later that night he must have had a stroke. He fell down and hurt his hygroma and his back legs became too weak to hold him up. By today, Friday… He passed away at 5 p.m. Me and my dad nursed him all day long, and we made the decision to let him pass at home.

I think it’s one of those things that people should consider.

I mean, he insisted on being outside, so we helped him get out there and he laid down in a spot near where he liked to mark. Facing the birdfeeder and his birds and bunnies. He watched them all day until he died.

And I gave him water and broth drizzled into his mouth with a glass straw. And it’s lucky for me that the store was out of stock, because I ordered a baster to use to feed him with. And while a baster is always useful, it would have had bad feelings in my mind.

Anyways, we spoke to him, and we soothed him, and he was never alone all day. And he went peacefully of natural causes.

And it’s horrible to say goodbye to someone you love so much. But at the same time, it was kind of beautiful. That he passed away watching his birds and his bunnies, with sun above and the wind in his nose. And it was a kind of perfect day, not too hot, not too cold, sunny with a clear blue sky

And it’s like, what’s the better way to go? In a hospital or in a hospice? In a strange room hooked to loud machines or in your bed? Or in a chair outside watching your last sunset or sunrise? Trapped behind walls, or with the wind on your face?

And if you don’t tell people, how are they ever going to know?

To see the sky from behind a window or on a lawn? To watch it on TV or imagine it through bland walls?

It’s the kind of thing that it’s worth it to think about. Because we all have an expiration date… Though hopefully it’s one that’s very far away after a full and happy life.

And I like to think my dog had a good life. He certainly lived a long time for a dog.

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Homemade dog food should have

• at least 10% lean protein
• up to 50% carbohydrates
• about 2.5-4.5% fiber
• at least 5.5% fat, usually from vegetable oil
• vitamin and mineral supplements for dogs

Most recipes use
* Protein–turkey, chicken, fish, lean beef.
* Carbohydrates–rice, pasta, potatoes.
* Fiber–green beans, peas, carrots.
* Fat–canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil.

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I ordered some produce for my dog this morning, and luckily it’s all stuff that’s good for humans too.

In the course of researching dietary diuretics for dogs, I decided I was going to make him some doggy smoothies to get him back up to health. Because while furosemide is the diuretic vets use, it also requires a prescription.

Meanwhile, a balanced diet will prevent fluid retention, and diuretic foods can help release retained water.

• burdock root
• alfalfa (can have side-effects)
• red clover (can have side-effects)
• raspberry leaves (can have serious side effects)
• dandelion
• okra
• melon
• papaya (moderation)
• peach
• banana
• celery (seeds and plant)
• Brussels sprouts
• carrots

(NOTE: The following is also information I gathered off the Internet. This is a basis from which you can start your own search. I am not a veterinarian.)

I focused my research on burdock, dandelion, and regular food because I saw that alfalfa, red clover, raspberry leaves, and I think papaya all had added notes about them from different websites. Like, they work and they could be used on your dog safely, but some dogs have adverse reactions, and it wasn’t worth the risk for me.

Because burdock root doesn’t taste good to dogs, make a decoction of the root. Add 1 cup cold water and 1 tsp dried herb or 2 Tbsp fresh herb to a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain and let the liquid cool.

Burdock is supposedly a healthy food with no side effects, you shouldn’t have to worry about giving your dog too much. Just mix the decoction in your dog’s food, or even give your dog the fresh herb in their food.

Basically the same recipe for the burdock can be used to make a dandelion tea that can be added to a dog’s drinking water or their food. Boil and simmer the dandelion roots, then strain the tea. If you add it to their water, it can aid digestion, so should be given to them before the main meal.

For adding dried and crushed dandelion leaves and roots to a dog’s food, it’s a ratio of 1 tsp dandelion to 20lbs body weight.

If you’re using fresh dandelions, chop up the stems, stalks, and blossoms, and add a touch of chicken broth. The dog should lick it up.

And, like, humans can enjoy burdock tea and dandelion tea. They’re very healthful with a wealth of benefits.

BUT

If you’re like me and you think you have a yard full of dandelions… you might want to take a second look.

What I thought were dandelions were actually "cat’s ear dandelions," a completely different plant.

Dandelions are T. officinale (the common dandelion) and T. erythrospermum (the red-seeded dandelion). While cat’s ear dandelions are hypochaeris radicata. And while both species are edible, they are different no matter how closely they resemble each other.

So yeah. I have a few dandelions here and there, but for the most part what’s growing in my yard are cat’s ear dandelions.

Like, for the last few years I’ve been getting mad at "the weird dandelions" cropping up. Because the regular dandelions had smooth leaves and they grew close to the ground, and "the weird ones" were growing multiple stalks on one plant and they were getting super tall and the leaves were fuzzy and just gross feeling.

So I’d be out there trying to gather smooth dandelion leaves for my quail, and instead there’d be all these fuzzy leaves that they refused to eat.

And it turns out they weren’t even dandelions at all. Weirdness.

So yeah. Before you just assume those bright yellow blossoms are dandelions… take a closer peek.

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Anyways. I ordered some celery seeds, celery stalks, a watermelon, some peaches, and carrots to make my dog some diuretic smoothies. So, those are all good for humans too, so it’s not a waste, I just feel sad that he didn’t have more time.

But today was such a good day. I mean, the sadness is real. But it was beautiful weather, and there were so many birds hopping around the yard, and I think it was a good way for a dog to pass on. Peaceful and seemingly without any pain.

And for the next dog we get, I have a list of foods they get to eat. Human foods but without all the added salt and black pepper and garlic and onions and other "bad for dogs" things that we humans get to enjoy.

Here’s a partial list:
* plain Greek yogurt
* celery
* celery seeds
* rice
* cooked peeled potato
* peas
* carrots
* okra
* melon
* banana
* Brussels sprouts
* zucchini
* pumpkin
* papaya
* eggs
* green beans
* oatmeal
* barley
* millet
* quinoa
* peanut butter
* cooked peeled sweet potato
* fish
* apples
* cucumbers
* cauliflower (Warning: flatulence)
* broccoli
* coconut
* blueberries
* cabbage
* bok choy
* turnip
* lentils
* radish
* strawberries
* lettuce
* spinach
* lima beans
* black beans
* kidney beans
* most legumes
* nectarines
* Cream of Wheat
* flax seeds

There are so many "human foods" that your dog can enjoy. And because they’re a dog, they don’t need all the added flares and whistles that humans demand.

Like, you can hard boil some eggs, peel and chop them, and mix them up with microwaved potato and sprinkle with celery seeds, dill weed, parsley, and basil.

Dogs love cooked egg yolk. And unless your dog is on a special diet, they can enjoy the yolks while you eat the whites, or vice versa, or all mixed up.

Just because it’s "human food" doesn’t mean it’s bad for your dogs. You just have to leave out the human extras we like to add: salt, black pepper, garlic, onion, paprika, mustard, ketchup, soy sauce, tartar sauce, ranch dressing, grapes, raisins, refried beans, cream of tartar, green onion, chives, nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin pie spice, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, Herbs de Provence, marjoram (NO to marjoram! It’s why Italian seasoning is bad.).

Herbs/spices that are safe or even healthful for dogs, though consider your amounts for your canine pal:
* dill weed
* basil
* cumin
* oregano (only a little)
* parsley
* sage
* vinegar
* red ripe tomato
* chia seeds
* cilantro
* cinnamon
* ginger
* rosemary
* echinacea
* thyme
* coriander
* savory
* ground fennel

It’s kind of a hassle, having to make two kinds of meals–one for humans and one for dogs–but it’s worth it if your buddy gets to live a long and healthy life. Plus they’re always so grateful to be given food; it makes even the most mediocre of chefs feel like a star.

Just remember to limit the salts, and otherwise there’s a whole wealth of spices and fruits and vegetables that your dog can enjoy alongside you. Which can save you money when you consider how expensive canned pet foods are becoming.

So to be able to give your dog a scoop of kibble a day and have pre-made meals stashed in the freezer… You can give your dog a taste of variety without having to worry about by-products and weird additives because you’ll know exactly what’s gone into your dog’s meal: love and real human grade food.

I miss my dog. I’ll probably miss him even more tomorrow when I remember he’s gone.

But all dogs go to Heaven, and he definitely belongs up there. He was a good boy. And I loved him from the moment I met him.

Miss you, buddy. You were a good dog.

~Harper Kingsley
https://www.harperkingsley.net/blog
https://twitter.com/harperkingsley0
https://paypal.me/harperkingsley
https://kimichee.com.
https://patreon.com/harperkingsley.
https://ko-fi.com/harperwck.

THE GRAYby Harper Kingsley

The color drained out of the world on a Thursday. Drips and dabs absorbed into a swirl of gray until there was nothing left of pinks and blue and yellows and LIGHT.

Everything became gray.

Everyone became gray.

The joy and the laughter, slipped and slid, and was washed away by the gray.

It’s hard to laugh when everything is gray. When you look at your skin and it’s lifeless and sad in its hues. When you look at the sky and the trees and the earth, and they’re all gray.

When images on the TV become motions of gray, and the canned laughter rings out, hollow and obvious in its fakery.

The color drained out of the world, and the emotion drained out of the people. Shoulders slumped, mouths tugged down, and it was hard to walk without feeling as though gravity was so much heavier and hard to bear.

And that no one was laughing, no one was joyous, it made it sadder and more real.

Nobody knew how it had happened. Scientists and crackpots alike scrambled to explain the CURSE that had been laid on the Earth, that had sapped the color out of existence and turned everything to gray.

And people tried to go on living, but it was hard. Because those that already struggled with sadness had NOTHING to lighten the mood, and those that were usually happy could no longer taste of the joy that had once sustained them.

People tried to live on. To go about their days and their jobs and their nights were spent sobbing into their pillows, trickles of gray tears that brought no relief from the overwhelemingness of it all.

The world had become gray, every bit of it. More than a lack of color could describe.

It was as though something had been taken from the world. And birds had ceased to sing, and eventually they stopped flying.

And animals and people laid down where they stood, and they never got up again.

The gray was all consuming.

And unforgiving.

=THE END=

~Harper Kingsley
https://www.harperkingsley.net/blog
https://twitter.com/harperkingsley0
https://paypal.me/harperkingsley
https://kimichee.com.
https://patreon.com/harperkingsley.
https://ko-fi.com/harperwck.

Today started out okay then quickly become a downer day… So much drama yesterday and the bad feelings spilled over into today and sometimes I just want to bury my head and not have to take part in any of it.

I’m tired.

I went from enthusiastically planning out segments for "Drive-By Darkstar" (there’s a whole thing where a porn company is making pseudo-Darkstar porn, and Darkstar is like "Wot’s this?" and decides to stick his nose in to see what’s happening, and the fake-Darkstar wears a mask and bodysuit that makes him look like a gaussian blur on film and it seemed like it would be really funny and not super skeezy or dirty) to sitting here with sloped shoulders feeling like it’s the end of the world.

It’s hard to be happy when you’re the emotional punching bag of the people around you. Like, one day you’re going to knock me down and I’m not going to get up again.

So instead of kooky Darkstar stories, you’re all about to get a load of sad shit because that’s all I feel right now.

Sad.

~Harper Kingsley
https://www.harperkingsley.net/blog
https://twitter.com/harperkingsley0
https://paypal.me/harperkingsley
https://kimichee.com.