Month: May 2006

Today I had to put my beloved Cairn Terrier, Jake, down. He had been coughing for about two weeks and I feared the worst. I tried to listen to his heart last night and could not hear it. His breathing seemed off the last few days also.  After visiting my local vet, he sent Jake and me to Angell Memorial for more tests. The doctor there confirmed the worst. Poor Jake had a large mass in his left lung that was pushing his trachea and heart away from where they should be. I wanted to take him home for the last few days, but since he was oxygen deprived, they though we should let him go.  I held his head in my arms and told him he was a “good boy” over and over until he passed away peacefully away by injection. I feel so sad.  He was such a good dog. We got him in 2001 from the Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network. He was so lovable and I will miss him terribly. You can read more about Jake and his rescue here.

Yesterday I had braces installed on my lower teeth! I have been having problems with my TMJ over the past few months.  My front bottom teeth and front top teeth have become almost edge to edge! I believe this all started when I was fitted for a CPAP machine last December. I have always slept with my mouth open, but had to learn to sleep with my mouth closed while wearing the CPAP mask. I am pretty sure my tongue has been pushing on my bottom teeth and over time has moved them forward. My top front teeth did not move because I have been wearing a retainer on them at night  for the past 25 years! I really wish that I had know that keeping my mouth closed at night could move my teeth. I would have had a retainer made for the bottom teeth. As it stands now, I will be about a year and a half in the braces and then will have to wear a retainer on the bottom for the rest of my life.  I was lucky to escape full braces when I was a teenager. My orthodontist worked with me and made removable retainers to position my crooked teeth. At the time I was a beginning actor and couldn’t be locked down to braces. I think I maybe should have paid extra this time and tried the same thing. I really didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to eat and floss! I hope I get used to them…right now I am resisting the temptation to go get wire cutters and solvent remover!!!!