Since they are much more intelligent than most dogs, I have always
treated the ones that live with us much as one
would treat a child. NootkaBear had the intelligence
of a nine-year-old boy. He could even understand the spelling of
many, many words.

They need a diet of at least 30% meat; I prefer deer as there are no
additives or steroids. What you feed as a puppy should be very high in fat
and protein. Throughout their lives, feed them as you did when they were
young. I suggest hand feeding. This works out nicely especially sine you
usually have one come to live with you at a very young age. Around four
weeks old, you should bring the puppy home. The pup will already have a
full set of razor sharp teeth. In order to feed the pup, I usually take
some chicken juice, from a boiled chicken and soak the puppy food. Then
crush the food in your hand and while in your hand, feed the pup.
NootkaBear and HoneyBear have always been hand-fed. They will not eat
unless you hand them each bite. The alternative is missing out on a
wonderful experience and in the end, a possibly an aggressive eater.

The veterinarian you choose will be very important. Dr. Moorehead at
Mainstreet Veterinarians in down town Stone Mountain, GA, whom I did trust,
killed my baby-boy. Make sure that the veterinarian and the office is set
up to handle a large animal. Ideally, you should have a vet that will come
to your house, dart to tranquilize if necessary for blood-work and such
should be a consideration. NootkaBear was 325 pounds. Make sure the vet
you choose will be able to accommodate the animals for X-rays, etc.

NootkaBear began losing weight. His abdomen had begun to swell. He did not
act ill, but he needed tests to determine the problem. He was still walking
two miles a day with no trouble, had a great appetite and seemed to feel
good.
I made an appointment for Doc Moorehead to come to the house to do blood
testing. When Dr. Moorehead arrived, he said that we were not going to do
the blood test. He did not say why. I had paid for the blood test.
Instead, he did this holistic BS and told me that NootkaBear's heartbeat too
slow. Keep in mind, not once did he actually touch NootkaBear. I touched
NootkaBear, held the hand of the assistant, and he checked NootkaBear's
heartbeat by the assistant. He prescribed Lasix for swelling and
prescription vitamins in the tune of 50 pills a day. Yea, right!

We asked Doc Moorehead if we could get the same medications (vitamin B12
complex, iron, vitamin E) and the Lasix in injectible form. He said no.
James explained that NootkaBear, the big stubborn thing, was acting as if he
taken the pills, would walk outside and regurgitate them. The
Kugsha\Amerindian Malamute can regurgitate very easily, they do this hen
they have pups. Anyway, Doc Moorehead said that what we were asking for is
unavailable. Hogwash! I went to the Livestock store and got what I needed
except Lasix, it is prescription only. NootkaBear seemed to be getting much
better. He was even trying to mount HoneyBear. He was doing his little
dance when he was happy, he had energy and ate great! I was very pleased.
Doc Moorehead said that he could come to the house and inject the Lasix. We
advised that I would do it, I have given many shots to animals both
subcutaneously and intramuscular. Doc Moorehead refused to make the
injectible Lasix available to us. Face it, $100.00 a day in 30 days is
$3,000. I had paid for both NootkaBear and HoneyBear's shots, wormers,
tests and medications in the tune of close to $1500.00 in nine months.

I tired to find another vet in time. No one was equipped to handle the
challenge of this extremely large animal. I even called Zoo Atlanta. The
veterinarian at Atlanta is extremely sweet and she suggested taking
NootkaBear to GSU in Athens, GA. Unfortunately, I had run out of time.

It was a money thing. If doc could not make the money for the house call
and giving the shots of Lasix, NootkaBear could die instead.
The weekend before NootkaBear died, he died Monday around noon, NootkaBear's
abdomen had become more swollen. He was still eating good, but after eating
he would not lie down. Sunday night, he did not seem to be doing too good.
I stayed up most of the night watching over him. He would not come into the
house, he would not lie down, he just sat there. After just a couple of
hours sleep, I went and checked on him again. He still had not laid down.
It was as if he knew if he laid down, he would die. I sat, NootkaBear's
head leaning into my chest and I sang to him. That was the only time I saw
him relax.

NootkaBear and I had a promise. "I would never leave him if he promised to
never leave me." That last day, I held him, rocking him back and forth.
I told him: "It's Ok baby-boy, you won't be breaking a promise, Mama's
letting you out of the promise.

As soon as Doc's office opened, I called. I told Doc that NootkaBear had
become worse during the weekend. I gave the phone to James. James asked
Doc about the Lasix. Doc said that it would do no good. That he would not
be able to do a blood test, drain Nootka's abdomen, he would do nothing.
Doc insisted that tranquilizing NootkaBear would kill him. So he did
nothing!?
Then Doc tells James that he has an appoint had to go.
Doc called back about an hour later. James again asked him for the Lasix,
insisting "Let's just try to get Nootka stabilized". Doc said that he had
the injectible Lasix there. When James told Doc that I would do the shots
Doc said that he did not think he had enough there. He said that he would
call us back. Within an hour he died in James and my arms. My NootkaBear
was dead and the vet that I had had to trust refused any treatment. I tried
CPR, the air was going into his lungs, he seemed to come back one last time.
Then he was gone.

Doc had gone to lunch. He never called us back. Not even to say he was
sorry. Not to see if James, HoneyBear and myself were Ok.