It's my official last post, but you should know that my dogs are all good. Cooper Doo is his happy little self and Petey Pete continues on in his pursuit of protecting the pack and working out his separation fears.
Sammy D just received a clean bill of health for his 13 year old self, which is great to hear.
Why stop posting about the boys? Because these days, there isn't much to share. The boys continue to give more love than many people I know are capable of giving. They continue to play and destroy and be cute, but I can't write about that every week, can I?
You can catch me at my new blog, which coincides with my Examiner.com gig ... www.apastryaday.blogspot.com.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Three Dog Pack and Saying Farewell to Friends
Dogs understand so much more than we give them credit for.
Example: when we were looking after Winston, the Greyhound, the boys knew right away when he was leaving. I know we had talked it up to Winston that he was headed home soon, but as soon as Pete saw his owners coming down the street, even though he'd never met them, he knew.
And he was pissed. Pete is a dog with a strong pack drive. Winston was now a part of his pack and he was so upset that anyone would dare take a member of his pack away. He barked and howled the whole time.
When Sammy boy comes to stay with us, they know immediately when Sammy is leaving to go back to Pops house.
It's sweet, but it's also really tough. When we leave the boys alone the first few times after the three dog pack returns to two dogs, they act up. They chew things they shouldn't.they poop in the house. They are despondent for a few days and usually clinging to us.
For the last month, our friend Emily was staying in the apartment next door while she geared up to move her life out to LA, including her one year old standard poodle Caesar. Coop, Pete and Caes have been buddies from the get-go, and in the last month or so, the pack mentality was completely solidified. They ran in the field together, they played on the back porch together, they sniffed under each others doors and they had slumber parties together.
But this past Friday, it was time for Caesar and Emily to hit the road for LA. John and I were leaving for Vegas before then, so we said our goodbyes early, we knew it was more of a see you later thing because we were sure to visit LA to see her sometime again. But for Caes and the boys, it was a true goodbye. Caes is unlikely to fly back and we are unlikely to fly the boys there, so it was one member of their new pack officially gone.
The minute we walked back into our house with the boys after Vegas, they knew he was gone. His scent was missing and there reaction was so sad. Pete groaned a little and whined at our door to check out the hallway so he could really look for Caes. When they came to terms with him leaving, they just got lazy and sad. Heck, the last time Caes slept over for a few days and then went back home, they boys chewed a keyless entry remote for John's car and pooped on the floor, twice!
So far, no damage, but I know they know that Caes is gone for good and their three dog pack is back to two.
Example: when we were looking after Winston, the Greyhound, the boys knew right away when he was leaving. I know we had talked it up to Winston that he was headed home soon, but as soon as Pete saw his owners coming down the street, even though he'd never met them, he knew.
And he was pissed. Pete is a dog with a strong pack drive. Winston was now a part of his pack and he was so upset that anyone would dare take a member of his pack away. He barked and howled the whole time.
When Sammy boy comes to stay with us, they know immediately when Sammy is leaving to go back to Pops house.
It's sweet, but it's also really tough. When we leave the boys alone the first few times after the three dog pack returns to two dogs, they act up. They chew things they shouldn't.they poop in the house. They are despondent for a few days and usually clinging to us.
For the last month, our friend Emily was staying in the apartment next door while she geared up to move her life out to LA, including her one year old standard poodle Caesar. Coop, Pete and Caes have been buddies from the get-go, and in the last month or so, the pack mentality was completely solidified. They ran in the field together, they played on the back porch together, they sniffed under each others doors and they had slumber parties together.
But this past Friday, it was time for Caesar and Emily to hit the road for LA. John and I were leaving for Vegas before then, so we said our goodbyes early, we knew it was more of a see you later thing because we were sure to visit LA to see her sometime again. But for Caes and the boys, it was a true goodbye. Caes is unlikely to fly back and we are unlikely to fly the boys there, so it was one member of their new pack officially gone.
The minute we walked back into our house with the boys after Vegas, they knew he was gone. His scent was missing and there reaction was so sad. Pete groaned a little and whined at our door to check out the hallway so he could really look for Caes. When they came to terms with him leaving, they just got lazy and sad. Heck, the last time Caes slept over for a few days and then went back home, they boys chewed a keyless entry remote for John's car and pooped on the floor, twice!
So far, no damage, but I know they know that Caes is gone for good and their three dog pack is back to two.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Petey On Duty
This weekend we took a road warrior trip back to Cincinnati to see my Grandmother, who had suffered a stroke several weeks earlier and was now recuperating in a nursing home. We decided to take both dogs this time to see how things went with Pete being in an unfamiliar home in a new town. It was a tough trip on John and I, but even harder for Coop and Pete.
To begin, Coop is just straight up uncomfortable being in the car. He seems to have imbibed my lack of balance and his own natural distaste for certain surfaces (cardboard, metal) has apparently extended to the upholstery of any car. So 5 hours in the car with Coop means he paces and pants and drools and stalker breathes in your ear.
Petey, on the other hand, loves the car and takes advantage of Coop's weakness by beginning each trip with humping Cooper. Then he's in the front on your lap, then on the floorboard in the front, then in the back.
By the time we arrived at 3 am, John and I were spent. I could only assume the dogs were as well. Cooper went to sleep in my little sister's room, his usual ritual, but we kept Pete with us because we didn't know how Pete would react in a new room with the door closed. Well, he was in a new room with the door closed, but Cooper was in the room next door and he knew it. He stood on the end of our bed and pointed at the door for what seemed like an hour. He might have gotten a few minutes of rest before he spent the rest of the morning standing at the door whining. When John opened the door, Coop must have been waiting to come spend some time with us, because he was standing at the door, wagging his tail.
For the rest of the weekend, Pete was on duty. New smells, new people, new dogs- he was all atwitter. He was simultaneously incredibly happy to see all the sights and smell them as he was suspicious of them. With my stepdad, Chuck (who is very much a dog person), he was happy to see him, lick him and be petted and then he would start his growl and howl routine. It was as if he felt he needed to protect us from Big Bad Chuck. It was funny and strange because all the while he wagged his tail, he was just howling.
Finally on Saturday night, he felt ok to pass out on top of me and get some rest, but it wasn't until our whole family was in the car on the ride home on Sunday night that Pete truly slept. My poor dog felt the need to guard and protect us for over 48 hours and hardly slept at all in Cincinnati, though I suspect he still had a good time.
Hopefully on our next trip home, Pete will feel comfortable enough to take some time off from protecting his pack from Big Bad Chuck and the Cincinnati crew.
To begin, Coop is just straight up uncomfortable being in the car. He seems to have imbibed my lack of balance and his own natural distaste for certain surfaces (cardboard, metal) has apparently extended to the upholstery of any car. So 5 hours in the car with Coop means he paces and pants and drools and stalker breathes in your ear.
Petey, on the other hand, loves the car and takes advantage of Coop's weakness by beginning each trip with humping Cooper. Then he's in the front on your lap, then on the floorboard in the front, then in the back.
By the time we arrived at 3 am, John and I were spent. I could only assume the dogs were as well. Cooper went to sleep in my little sister's room, his usual ritual, but we kept Pete with us because we didn't know how Pete would react in a new room with the door closed. Well, he was in a new room with the door closed, but Cooper was in the room next door and he knew it. He stood on the end of our bed and pointed at the door for what seemed like an hour. He might have gotten a few minutes of rest before he spent the rest of the morning standing at the door whining. When John opened the door, Coop must have been waiting to come spend some time with us, because he was standing at the door, wagging his tail.
For the rest of the weekend, Pete was on duty. New smells, new people, new dogs- he was all atwitter. He was simultaneously incredibly happy to see all the sights and smell them as he was suspicious of them. With my stepdad, Chuck (who is very much a dog person), he was happy to see him, lick him and be petted and then he would start his growl and howl routine. It was as if he felt he needed to protect us from Big Bad Chuck. It was funny and strange because all the while he wagged his tail, he was just howling.
Finally on Saturday night, he felt ok to pass out on top of me and get some rest, but it wasn't until our whole family was in the car on the ride home on Sunday night that Pete truly slept. My poor dog felt the need to guard and protect us for over 48 hours and hardly slept at all in Cincinnati, though I suspect he still had a good time.
Hopefully on our next trip home, Pete will feel comfortable enough to take some time off from protecting his pack from Big Bad Chuck and the Cincinnati crew.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sam and Stanley Return to the 'Burgh
After spending last week with Winston, I was questioning the sanity of having a third dog whenever John and I upgrade to a house with a yard. Coop and Pete just didn't take to Winston the way you would want. They got along with no issues, but they didn't seem to bond very well.
But this week Sammy (John's oldest dog who lives with his parents now) and Stanley (another Riley family dog) returned to Pittsburgh from North Carolina for a visit. Coop and Pete could not have been happier. For Pete, it's just the return of half of his original pack. Stanley and Sammy were part of Petey's pack before Coop was in the picture. From the moment Cooper met Stanley though, Stan was part of Coop's pack.
Sam and Coop took a little more time to get acquainted, but rightfully so- Sam is 13 years old and isn't in to playing very much. He's also the ultimate aloof alpha male dog. If he doesn't want you in his stuff, he'll let you know. But Coop and Sam have come to really like each other over the past year. They are very similar in many ways and Coop has begun to pick up on some of Sammy's traits.
For instance, Cooper, who never used to bark when he wanted things, is far more vocal these days. Cooper is also more willing to spend the night out on the couch instead of in our bed when Sam is around. The two boys also like to cuddle on the couch or bed together and do the lazy dog thing.
It's clear though, how much Sammy boy is beginning to age. He is definitely going a little deaf. Sometimes its selective and sometimes its not, but nonetheless, his hearing is starting to go. He's also become quite the lumpy bumpy boy.
When we stopped by last night to pick up a few things from John's parents, they told us that Sam had a pretty bad little spell. He had tried to get up from his pillow the night before, but it was hurting his back leg and he couldn't move. He was whimpering and immobile. The next morning, Sam was able to walk, but he was still very stiff. By the time we saw him, he was doing much better, but John was clearly worried, as was I.
Today we'll be trying to get Sam dog into the vet's office to make sure that there isn't anything more wrong with him other than him just being the old boy. It could just be stiffness and old boy syndrome, but better safe than sorry. Besides, we'll give the vets office the chance to fawn over Sammy boy and then John and I can take him out to lunch at Point Bruegge on the deck for even more attention.
But this week Sammy (John's oldest dog who lives with his parents now) and Stanley (another Riley family dog) returned to Pittsburgh from North Carolina for a visit. Coop and Pete could not have been happier. For Pete, it's just the return of half of his original pack. Stanley and Sammy were part of Petey's pack before Coop was in the picture. From the moment Cooper met Stanley though, Stan was part of Coop's pack.
Sam and Coop took a little more time to get acquainted, but rightfully so- Sam is 13 years old and isn't in to playing very much. He's also the ultimate aloof alpha male dog. If he doesn't want you in his stuff, he'll let you know. But Coop and Sam have come to really like each other over the past year. They are very similar in many ways and Coop has begun to pick up on some of Sammy's traits.
For instance, Cooper, who never used to bark when he wanted things, is far more vocal these days. Cooper is also more willing to spend the night out on the couch instead of in our bed when Sam is around. The two boys also like to cuddle on the couch or bed together and do the lazy dog thing.
It's clear though, how much Sammy boy is beginning to age. He is definitely going a little deaf. Sometimes its selective and sometimes its not, but nonetheless, his hearing is starting to go. He's also become quite the lumpy bumpy boy.
When we stopped by last night to pick up a few things from John's parents, they told us that Sam had a pretty bad little spell. He had tried to get up from his pillow the night before, but it was hurting his back leg and he couldn't move. He was whimpering and immobile. The next morning, Sam was able to walk, but he was still very stiff. By the time we saw him, he was doing much better, but John was clearly worried, as was I.
Today we'll be trying to get Sam dog into the vet's office to make sure that there isn't anything more wrong with him other than him just being the old boy. It could just be stiffness and old boy syndrome, but better safe than sorry. Besides, we'll give the vets office the chance to fawn over Sammy boy and then John and I can take him out to lunch at Point Bruegge on the deck for even more attention.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Shedzilla and the Great Winston Churchill
This week, while my friends Tara and Diego romped around Germany, John, Coop, Pete and I looked after their Greyhound, Winston. Winston Churchill, that is. Cooper, who is usually the grand host and ever so accepting of all fellow canines, was nice, but standoffish and definitely a little suspicious at the start. Pete seemed not to notice much, though it was funny to watch him walk beneath Winston when he wanted to get around him.
I can only guess that Coop felt that Winston might be here to stay, and he wasn't thrilled at the prospect. They are so alike in many ways. Coop, when he is not with Pete, is calm and relaxed, and truthfully, he is more than just a little lazy. He is often still asleep on the bed when you get home when he is without Pete. Winston is the same. Calm, relaxed, and lazy.
They are cut from the same dog mold (John has a hankering that Cooper is part greyhound)and for that very reason, Cooper just seemed a little nervous that he might be staying for good and oust from his forever-our-best-behaved-boy standing.
But Winston Churchill will be leaving us tomorrow and Coop can resume his place in the house. Though I suspect that that place will not include eating a whole jar of peanut butter and some raisins(damn dogs).
Also leaving us tomorrow? The second dog Coop carries in his undercoat. That's right. Cooper is getting shedzilla'd tomorrow. I used it a little tonight and I am confident that Coop will drop a good 5 pounds of undercoat tomorrow. Shedzilla, $20 bucks at Walmart or the Furminator, $40 bucks at Bed Bath and Beyond. You pick but we unleash the Shedzilla at dawn!
I can only guess that Coop felt that Winston might be here to stay, and he wasn't thrilled at the prospect. They are so alike in many ways. Coop, when he is not with Pete, is calm and relaxed, and truthfully, he is more than just a little lazy. He is often still asleep on the bed when you get home when he is without Pete. Winston is the same. Calm, relaxed, and lazy.
They are cut from the same dog mold (John has a hankering that Cooper is part greyhound)and for that very reason, Cooper just seemed a little nervous that he might be staying for good and oust from his forever-our-best-behaved-boy standing.
But Winston Churchill will be leaving us tomorrow and Coop can resume his place in the house. Though I suspect that that place will not include eating a whole jar of peanut butter and some raisins(damn dogs).
Also leaving us tomorrow? The second dog Coop carries in his undercoat. That's right. Cooper is getting shedzilla'd tomorrow. I used it a little tonight and I am confident that Coop will drop a good 5 pounds of undercoat tomorrow. Shedzilla, $20 bucks at Walmart or the Furminator, $40 bucks at Bed Bath and Beyond. You pick but we unleash the Shedzilla at dawn!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Petey 1, Me 0
I came home to separation anxiety Pete today, with poop right in the middle of the floor and Pete under the desk. So I carefully picked up the poop, flushed it down the toilet, cleaned the floor and readied myself for the shower. I went to the bathroom and flushed the toilet, only to have it suddenly overflow with water and flood the floor.
Now, I have no idea how to fix a toilet, but I know you have to take the lid off of the tank and finagle with one of two gadgets in there. The first was not the right one- more water spilled out. The second one stopped the water.
Now thankfully, this overflow water was clean, and I was only sopping up clean water, but it still took an extra 15 minutes to do. So, I thought, ok, I'm all done with this. I go to get in the shower and suddenly the doorbell rings. I peek out the window to see my soon to be new neighbor and the downstairs tenant.
I'm not dressed.
I pull on a quick dress and run outside to find out that the water had started running down the walls and into the downstairs tenant's store.
Ugh! Petey 1, Me 0 today.
Now, I have no idea how to fix a toilet, but I know you have to take the lid off of the tank and finagle with one of two gadgets in there. The first was not the right one- more water spilled out. The second one stopped the water.
Now thankfully, this overflow water was clean, and I was only sopping up clean water, but it still took an extra 15 minutes to do. So, I thought, ok, I'm all done with this. I go to get in the shower and suddenly the doorbell rings. I peek out the window to see my soon to be new neighbor and the downstairs tenant.
I'm not dressed.
I pull on a quick dress and run outside to find out that the water had started running down the walls and into the downstairs tenant's store.
Ugh! Petey 1, Me 0 today.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Invoice to my Dogs
I'd like to send my two dogs, Pete and Coop, an invoice for everything they've managed to eat that was mine or John's since we've owned them. Here's what the tally is so far:
Gunmetal gray python pumps with suede accents, irreplaceable $75
John's Golf Shoes $100
Shoe polish brush $5
Gray suede wedges, irreplaceable $6
2 pairs aviator sunglasses $17
Raffia clutch $10
Prescription glasses $380
About 5 panties $20
John's black dress shoes $75
Odds, ends, and weird things we have yet to find $100
John's Dad's carpeting/stairs $150
Our door repairs $75
Total: $1,013
Less earned money as talent for dog photo shoot ($800)
_______________________________________________________________________________
$213
Given their earned money, they only owe us $213. That's not too terrible.
But then again, I have to factor in the love element they pay us.
2.5 years of love x $1,000,000 per year = $2,500,000
Ok, so maybe we owe them.
And yes, I do think my dog's love is worth a million bucks.
Gunmetal gray python pumps with suede accents, irreplaceable $75
John's Golf Shoes $100
Shoe polish brush $5
Gray suede wedges, irreplaceable $6
2 pairs aviator sunglasses $17
Raffia clutch $10
Prescription glasses $380
About 5 panties $20
John's black dress shoes $75
Odds, ends, and weird things we have yet to find $100
John's Dad's carpeting/stairs $150
Our door repairs $75
Total: $1,013
Less earned money as talent for dog photo shoot ($800)
_______________________________________________________________________________
$213
Given their earned money, they only owe us $213. That's not too terrible.
But then again, I have to factor in the love element they pay us.
2.5 years of love x $1,000,000 per year = $2,500,000
Ok, so maybe we owe them.
And yes, I do think my dog's love is worth a million bucks.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Speaking of dog food....
This site is really helpful if you are doing research on the kind of dog food you want to buy:
http://dogfoodchat.com/
http://dogfoodchat.com/
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Hunt for Dog Food
You'll get a feel for the great search for a lasting dog food I've been on for 2.5 years. The short version of this dog food round robin I've been on with Coop goes something like this:
1. Organic, expensive food, only available at specialty food stores (can't remember this brand)
2. All-natural, less expensive food, available at specialty pet stores (Natural Balance)
3. High quality, but regular food, available at all stores (Purina One)
4. All-natural cheap food available at the grocery (The Goodlife Recipe)
5. Almost buying bottom shelf dog food spam, but choosing the brand that's on sale instead (Pedigree- they were on sale, not bottom shelf!)
I've done research, I've shopped on price, I've tried switching from the wet food formula to the dry food formula, but Coop has bested me each time. He has liked all of the food I've given him, for a time. But Coop likes to go on hunger strikes. At first, when there was no Pete in the picture, Coop would just neglect to eat for a day or two or three.
I assumed he didn't feel well at first, but he ate his treats, so that clearly wasn't the problem. Over time, I figured it out. Coop gets bored with his food . These days, he can't really full-out hunger strike. If he waits too long, Pete will eat his food, so he'll hold out until Pete goes for the bowl and then eat it while watching him from his one eye. But regardless, he's giving us the message that he's over the food I'm giving him.
As evidenced by number 5 above, I'm not being too picky with my choices these days. A few weeks ago, Pedigree was on sale, so Pedigree was the winner, based purely on price. That made me feel like an irresponsible dog-mom until John did some research.
Pedigree is sold by Mars(R) food company (you know the guys who make Snickers, M&M's, etc?). They also created the Pedigree Foundation, which helps shelter dogs find loving homes. Now a lot of corporate foundations only give a portion of proceeds, but the Pedigree Foundation actually donates 100% of their proceeds after a small budget for maintaining the website.
I am a HUGE proponent of adopting a shelter dog and the Pedigree Foundation goes the extra step by donating a bowl of food to a shelter every time someone becomes a fan of their facebook page and they donate money to shelters in need every time you buy their food.
The most important part is of course that Coop & Pete like the food, which they do, but if the past is any indication, Coop will probably get bored again.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Pollo-Dermatitis....My Poor Little Chicken Feet Pete
It's actually podo-dermatitis, but when the vet said it, I swear she was saying po"y"o-dermatitis, as in two L's that make the "yuh" sound.
Regardless, this little tail of allergies in dogs begins this past winter. Poor Petey Pete, my troubled little soul and now a full time member of my household, has dog allergies. It manifests itself in his feet and in his mouth. We first noticed the issue this winter. Pete's feet got so raw from being outside in the snow and cold that they bled. At one point, John had to carry him the two blocks back to our apartment because he couldn't walk.
During his yearly check up in January, the vet said she thought it was more of an issue related to all the salt and dry air and to just make sure we rinsed his paws off to make sure the salt wasn't sticking in his pads. Then in March, John and I drove down to North Carolina and noticed that Pete's right back paw was hugely swollen. He was limping all around and licking it non-stop. Coop was also licking Pete's paw.
We took him to a vet in North Carolina who said it was likely just an infection picked up from a small cut that he licked too much. On top of that, Petey had picked up whip worm at doggy day camp. We had whip worm food crystals, benzoyl peroxide solution, and 2 kinds of antibiotics to give Pete. Within a few days, the swelling had gone down a lot and Pete seemed to be feeling better. The antibiotics knocked him out, so we tried to give it to him right before we left for work and right before we went to bed to maximize on time when he was already sleeping.
Things seemed to clear up, and then it happened again, except it was in his left back paw this time. This time we were home and went to see our vet. I'll make a recommendation now that if you haven't done it before, go see the Point Breeze Veterinarians. They are wonderful! They really take the time to love on your dogs and talk you through your problems.
Our vet took a look at Petey's feet and determined he still had yeast in his right paw and had a new infection in his left that was likely caused by licking. And, as it turns out, he was licking due to allergies. Like humans, dogs suffer from 1 of 2 types of allergies- contact or inhaled. At this stage, she told me she thought he suffered from Podo-dermatitis (or pollo, whatever). Basically, a contact skin allergy.
We had a new round of antibiotics and this time we had antiseptic cleansing pads for his feet and belly. She also recommended giving him people Benadryl in small doses whenever he seemed particularly itchy It seemed to work again and Pete was fine after he finished his antibiotics. Although the Benadryl really knocked him out, it did work. But, this being a record year for allergies, Pete's paw started getting swollen again. John and I watch for Pete to lick his paws, but as dogs do that naturally to clean themselves, our big sign was when Cooper would start to lick them. Plus, Pete had started randomly peeing in the house, even when we were home.
We took him back to the vet a fourth time and this time the vet said it was likely that Pete had allergies from inhalation. We were back on antibiotics, this time for 6 weeks! She also prescribed an antihistamine that wouldn't knock him out like Benadryl did and gave us a spray to use whenever we saw a hot spot on his feet.
Ultimately, though, we had to think about long term and what Pete might need. Although he hadn't suffered from allergies last year, this has been pretty bad. Pete just finished his antibiotics yesterday, and we'll be waiting to see if he gets an infection again. If he doesn't, we can skip the next step, which is allergy testing. If he is allergy tested, the benefit is that they'll be able to create a special serum for him and we'll just need to give him shots. That's also the disadvantage. He's a young little happy puppy and we'd hate to have to stick him with a shot everyday, you know?
We've always suspected that Pete was a beagle/boxer mix based on his appearance, sounds, and liberal use of his paws. Being from a shelter, it's really hard to know 100% what he's got going on in there, but the allergies confirm that he's probably part boxer.
In any case, we can only hope that our Petey le Poivre gets through the rest of this summer and allergy season unscathed. It's so hard to watch him try to relieve the itching only to have him get an infection.
Once I started sharing his story with fellow dog owners, it turns out that a lot of other dogs suffer from the same issues. My friend Melissa's male boxer has terrible allergies! And my family friend Ginger's dog Windy suffers from food allergies that manifest in a similar manner to Pete's. Fellow allergy-suffering dogs & owners, we feel your pain!
Regardless, this little tail of allergies in dogs begins this past winter. Poor Petey Pete, my troubled little soul and now a full time member of my household, has dog allergies. It manifests itself in his feet and in his mouth. We first noticed the issue this winter. Pete's feet got so raw from being outside in the snow and cold that they bled. At one point, John had to carry him the two blocks back to our apartment because he couldn't walk.
During his yearly check up in January, the vet said she thought it was more of an issue related to all the salt and dry air and to just make sure we rinsed his paws off to make sure the salt wasn't sticking in his pads. Then in March, John and I drove down to North Carolina and noticed that Pete's right back paw was hugely swollen. He was limping all around and licking it non-stop. Coop was also licking Pete's paw.
We took him to a vet in North Carolina who said it was likely just an infection picked up from a small cut that he licked too much. On top of that, Petey had picked up whip worm at doggy day camp. We had whip worm food crystals, benzoyl peroxide solution, and 2 kinds of antibiotics to give Pete. Within a few days, the swelling had gone down a lot and Pete seemed to be feeling better. The antibiotics knocked him out, so we tried to give it to him right before we left for work and right before we went to bed to maximize on time when he was already sleeping.
Things seemed to clear up, and then it happened again, except it was in his left back paw this time. This time we were home and went to see our vet. I'll make a recommendation now that if you haven't done it before, go see the Point Breeze Veterinarians. They are wonderful! They really take the time to love on your dogs and talk you through your problems.
Our vet took a look at Petey's feet and determined he still had yeast in his right paw and had a new infection in his left that was likely caused by licking. And, as it turns out, he was licking due to allergies. Like humans, dogs suffer from 1 of 2 types of allergies- contact or inhaled. At this stage, she told me she thought he suffered from Podo-dermatitis (or pollo, whatever). Basically, a contact skin allergy.
We took him back to the vet a fourth time and this time the vet said it was likely that Pete had allergies from inhalation. We were back on antibiotics, this time for 6 weeks! She also prescribed an antihistamine that wouldn't knock him out like Benadryl did and gave us a spray to use whenever we saw a hot spot on his feet.
Ultimately, though, we had to think about long term and what Pete might need. Although he hadn't suffered from allergies last year, this has been pretty bad. Pete just finished his antibiotics yesterday, and we'll be waiting to see if he gets an infection again. If he doesn't, we can skip the next step, which is allergy testing. If he is allergy tested, the benefit is that they'll be able to create a special serum for him and we'll just need to give him shots. That's also the disadvantage. He's a young little happy puppy and we'd hate to have to stick him with a shot everyday, you know?
We've always suspected that Pete was a beagle/boxer mix based on his appearance, sounds, and liberal use of his paws. Being from a shelter, it's really hard to know 100% what he's got going on in there, but the allergies confirm that he's probably part boxer.
In any case, we can only hope that our Petey le Poivre gets through the rest of this summer and allergy season unscathed. It's so hard to watch him try to relieve the itching only to have him get an infection.
Once I started sharing his story with fellow dog owners, it turns out that a lot of other dogs suffer from the same issues. My friend Melissa's male boxer has terrible allergies! And my family friend Ginger's dog Windy suffers from food allergies that manifest in a similar manner to Pete's. Fellow allergy-suffering dogs & owners, we feel your pain!
Monday, February 8, 2010
snow, Snow, SNOW!
We are buried under nearly 3 ft of snow, with another foot predicted for the next week. At no point this week is the temperature expected to get above freezing. It's week 6 of the marathon training and outside running is nearly impossible. Sidewalks are non-existent, roads are slippery and slushy and full of aggravated drivers.
Oh, and because I live within city limits (oh to live 1 more block south!), my street has yet to see a plow.
On Friday night, the snow started falling, and I was actually pretty happy. It was beautiful! And it guaranteed that John and I would be snowed in for at least a day. As an added bonus, I had to close the bakery 3 hours early and the bakery didn't even open on Saturday. Plus, I had just found out on Friday that Cooper had been selected as to participate in a dog food photo shoot and Petey was to come along as well as a back up.
So Saturday started off nice. We took the dogs out, we ran around in snow up to our thighs and we just played. Then we sat around in comfy clothes and watched TV and baked and hung out. It was great- just relaxing and nice. But by 9pm, we hadn't seen a plow come down our street or even a salt truck. The only dent in the 2.5 feet of snow were the tracks we had made with the dogs. Knowing that those fun union contracts the city had would prevent any plowing to happen on Sunday, and knowing I would have to drive the dogs into the city on Monday for the photo shoot, John and I resigned ourselves to the fact that if we wanted to go anywhere in the cars, we would be shoveling our street by hand.
Sunday, we slept in, but we were out on the street, shoveling by noon. We had a good 100 yards to shovel from my car before we even turned the corner to get onto our street. John and I knew we were going to be shoveling for at least 5 or 6 hours to make a path. And then out of nowhere, came our community.
All plagued by the same knowledge- we weren't going to get a plow truck before Monday- 6 of us shoveled, shoveled, shoveled. 3 hours later, we made it to the corner. I was so inspired by the teamwork and the camaraderie- especially since none of us really knew each other- that my energy continued to boost itself up.
I ran up to get my car and get it out of the gravel lot and onto a paved street. By the 4th hour, John's car was out too, and John was working on making a small dent in our sidewalk. Now that the car was out, I also had to go buy some collars for the dog shoot. I was the assigned dog wrangler for the shoot- and we needed some hero collars. So off in my car I dashed to Petco.
I arrived at 4:30pm to find out they closed at 4 due to inclement weather. What? Are you kidding me?
It wasn't even snowing or supposed to snow. But I kept moving, on to the grocery store.
It was in Giant Eagle that the fatigue struck. Have you ever walked around the grocery store and felt lost? Missed at least 1 to 2 things in every aisle? Felt dizzy? Hot? Uncomfortable? It's terrible! And it's even worse at Giant Eagle- one of the biggest, busiest stores in the area. By the time I arrived home Sunday night, totally wasted and aching, the Superbowl seemed light years away and the thought of doing anything except sitting on my couch in a state of half vegetation was unpalatable.
With the possibility of another foot of snow this week and temperatures below freezing, I have to get creative. John and I need to run this week to stay in shape for the marathon. We are coming up on our 10 mile week next week and if we get behind, we'll regret it. I'm thinking it might be time to consider a last minute getaway....
Oh, and because I live within city limits (oh to live 1 more block south!), my street has yet to see a plow.
On Friday night, the snow started falling, and I was actually pretty happy. It was beautiful! And it guaranteed that John and I would be snowed in for at least a day. As an added bonus, I had to close the bakery 3 hours early and the bakery didn't even open on Saturday. Plus, I had just found out on Friday that Cooper had been selected as to participate in a dog food photo shoot and Petey was to come along as well as a back up.
So Saturday started off nice. We took the dogs out, we ran around in snow up to our thighs and we just played. Then we sat around in comfy clothes and watched TV and baked and hung out. It was great- just relaxing and nice. But by 9pm, we hadn't seen a plow come down our street or even a salt truck. The only dent in the 2.5 feet of snow were the tracks we had made with the dogs. Knowing that those fun union contracts the city had would prevent any plowing to happen on Sunday, and knowing I would have to drive the dogs into the city on Monday for the photo shoot, John and I resigned ourselves to the fact that if we wanted to go anywhere in the cars, we would be shoveling our street by hand.
Sunday, we slept in, but we were out on the street, shoveling by noon. We had a good 100 yards to shovel from my car before we even turned the corner to get onto our street. John and I knew we were going to be shoveling for at least 5 or 6 hours to make a path. And then out of nowhere, came our community.
All plagued by the same knowledge- we weren't going to get a plow truck before Monday- 6 of us shoveled, shoveled, shoveled. 3 hours later, we made it to the corner. I was so inspired by the teamwork and the camaraderie- especially since none of us really knew each other- that my energy continued to boost itself up.
I ran up to get my car and get it out of the gravel lot and onto a paved street. By the 4th hour, John's car was out too, and John was working on making a small dent in our sidewalk. Now that the car was out, I also had to go buy some collars for the dog shoot. I was the assigned dog wrangler for the shoot- and we needed some hero collars. So off in my car I dashed to Petco.
I arrived at 4:30pm to find out they closed at 4 due to inclement weather. What? Are you kidding me?
It wasn't even snowing or supposed to snow. But I kept moving, on to the grocery store.
It was in Giant Eagle that the fatigue struck. Have you ever walked around the grocery store and felt lost? Missed at least 1 to 2 things in every aisle? Felt dizzy? Hot? Uncomfortable? It's terrible! And it's even worse at Giant Eagle- one of the biggest, busiest stores in the area. By the time I arrived home Sunday night, totally wasted and aching, the Superbowl seemed light years away and the thought of doing anything except sitting on my couch in a state of half vegetation was unpalatable.
With the possibility of another foot of snow this week and temperatures below freezing, I have to get creative. John and I need to run this week to stay in shape for the marathon. We are coming up on our 10 mile week next week and if we get behind, we'll regret it. I'm thinking it might be time to consider a last minute getaway....
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Giving Thanks
When it gets really cold outside, I like to spend a lot of time huddling up with coffee and a blanket and Cooper (and John when he's home). This is an essential waste of time that I really can't afford to use these days, but one that I cherish while I'm doing it. So today, I'm going to Thank the Universe for 20 things it has given me and all the things I am visualizing for myself and hope this time of idle cuddling isn't so wasted.
(these are in no particular order)
1. Thank you for bringing Cooper into my life.
2. Thank you for helping Cooper remember he doesn't like to eat poop because it makes him feel bad ( I can't even get into the details right now, but let's just thank the universe here for it being a passing phase).
3. Thank you for showing me the path to meet John and giving me the patience and presence of mind and self to wait for him and recognize him when the time was right.
4. Thank you for my family, who is ever supportive and keeping me on my toes.
5. Thank you for John's family.
6. Thank you for my friends, who never cease to amaze me.
7. Thank you for my optimism. In times like now, it keeps me sane and gives me words on inspiration to share with others. The more I stay positive while others feel sorry for me, the more my universe becomes positive.
8. Thank you for my motivation & focus. It comes from within so I need very little fuel to keep this fire going.
9. Thank you for Saucony running shoes. They cushion my feet and make it feel like I'm running on clouds.
10. Thank you for this body of mine. I appreciate the systems working together that make it possible for me to run and walk and dance and play.
11. Thank you for my talents. I am happy to have something that I can share with others.
12. Thank you for giving me passion.
13. Thank you for my wealth. Not just the monetary kind, but the wealth of love that I am able to give and the love that I receive.
14. Thank you for Pete. Petey is the cookies to the vanilla in the cookies and cream ice cream flavor that is Pete and Coop. Always a surprise and always sweet.
15. Thank you for Sammy Boy.
16. Thank you for Molly Girl. Our relationship has yet to fully develop, but I'm starting to get her.
17. Thank you for my bakery. I love the happiness it brings during the hours I spend visualizing the place I want to be.
18. Thank you for my consulting business & the funding it will bring to achieve my bakery.
19. Thank you for opportunity. The possibilities you have given me by allowing me to work in a bakery are so much broader now.
20. Thank you for good coffee. The fuel that makes me nicer, happier, and more alive every morning.
I'm feeling a little better now.
Time to get this day rolling.
(these are in no particular order)
1. Thank you for bringing Cooper into my life.
2. Thank you for helping Cooper remember he doesn't like to eat poop because it makes him feel bad ( I can't even get into the details right now, but let's just thank the universe here for it being a passing phase).
3. Thank you for showing me the path to meet John and giving me the patience and presence of mind and self to wait for him and recognize him when the time was right.
4. Thank you for my family, who is ever supportive and keeping me on my toes.
5. Thank you for John's family.
6. Thank you for my friends, who never cease to amaze me.
7. Thank you for my optimism. In times like now, it keeps me sane and gives me words on inspiration to share with others. The more I stay positive while others feel sorry for me, the more my universe becomes positive.
8. Thank you for my motivation & focus. It comes from within so I need very little fuel to keep this fire going.
9. Thank you for Saucony running shoes. They cushion my feet and make it feel like I'm running on clouds.
10. Thank you for this body of mine. I appreciate the systems working together that make it possible for me to run and walk and dance and play.
11. Thank you for my talents. I am happy to have something that I can share with others.
12. Thank you for giving me passion.
13. Thank you for my wealth. Not just the monetary kind, but the wealth of love that I am able to give and the love that I receive.
14. Thank you for Pete. Petey is the cookies to the vanilla in the cookies and cream ice cream flavor that is Pete and Coop. Always a surprise and always sweet.
15. Thank you for Sammy Boy.
16. Thank you for Molly Girl. Our relationship has yet to fully develop, but I'm starting to get her.
17. Thank you for my bakery. I love the happiness it brings during the hours I spend visualizing the place I want to be.
18. Thank you for my consulting business & the funding it will bring to achieve my bakery.
19. Thank you for opportunity. The possibilities you have given me by allowing me to work in a bakery are so much broader now.
20. Thank you for good coffee. The fuel that makes me nicer, happier, and more alive every morning.
I'm feeling a little better now.
Time to get this day rolling.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
We're Really a 2 Dog Home
I'll split this post into two unrelated subjects. First, I want to share a recipe I made up the other night because it was really, really good if you like pork tenderloin. Then we'll get down to the business of life with Coop.
So first, I'm going to call this:
Sweet Onion Pork
1 pork roast, 3-5 lbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1/3 cup honey, divided
1/3 cup worcestershire sauce (I use Lea & Perrins), divided
small bunch of fresh thyme
1/2 large onion, diced
3 garlic cloves
2 heaping spoonfuls of apple butter
1 tsp garlic pepper seasoning
1 tsp cinnamon
water
3 Tbsp butter
6 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1. Trim excess fat from pork roast. Place pork roast in large skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 olive oil, 3 Tbsp honey, and 3 Tbsp worcestershire sauce. Turn roast to coat, and place skillet over medium high heat. Brown pork on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. This seals in the juices to keep it tender.
2. In a 4 qt slow cooker, combine remaining ingredients except water, butter, and carrots and stir to blend. Carefully transfer pork roast to slow cooker, making sure to add the juices from the pan into the slow cooker. Add just enough water so that only the very top of the pork roast is visible and stir carefully until everything is well incorporated. Turn slow cooker on low and let it cook for 5 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. After 5 hours, cube the butter and add to the slow cooker, along with the carrots. Let it cook for 1-2 more hours. Your total cook time should be for 6-7 hours.
I think you can also use chicken stock or white wine instead of water, but I didn't have any when I made this. Great with mashed taters!
Ok, onto other business.
I've decided we really are a 2 dog kind of house. Here's my list of reasons why:
1. Cooper is more active and happy
2. Pete is calmer and more happy
3. I don't feel nearly as bad when I leave to go somewhere when they are together
4. Cooper and Pete are more likely to stay on the dog bed on the floor all night
5. John and I each have a dog to cuddle with
6. Taking them outside is more fun and less of uuuughhhhh, "just do your business already!"
7. They have a constant playmate
8. They learn from each other's good habits
9. They sleep longer from playing harder
10. Showdowns and dog play time is really so much more fun when there are 2 dogs
That said, I wish we could keep the Petey Pete all the time, but I realize that Pete is promoting better health, sharper wits, and exercise for Sammy Boy. I wish we could also take Sammy boy, but Sammy is too old to be moving around again.
On a side note, since I'm not sure I've mentioned it, Pete and Sam are John's 2 dogs that live for the most part, at his Dad's house since his Dad is home more often and can give them more attention. I've taken to picking Pete up and keeping him for a couple of days at a time and now I'm convinced that we really need a 2nd dog around. But I can't steal Petey Pete or Sam and I just don't know if a 4th dog is really what John and I need right now.
Also, if you've never seen a showdown between dogs, it's really something awesome to watch. Just think of Animal Planet style prowling on hardwood floors in an apartment. Staring, staring, sloowwwwwlllly creeping towards each other, staring some more, and then.....POUNCE! And because it's also hardwood, scrambling and flailing become a major part of the Coop and Pete showdowns.
I took Pete home this morning and this afternoon, Cooper has been back to his usual weekday self- lethargic and uninterested. I went on an hour run today (thanking the universe for the BEAUTIFUL weather!) and found him in the same spot I left him in. Come to think of it, while I've been cooling down and writing, he's not moved an awful lot either.
On to finish my chili and polenta for tonight. Cheers.
So first, I'm going to call this:
Sweet Onion Pork
1 pork roast, 3-5 lbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1/3 cup honey, divided
1/3 cup worcestershire sauce (I use Lea & Perrins), divided
small bunch of fresh thyme
1/2 large onion, diced
3 garlic cloves
2 heaping spoonfuls of apple butter
1 tsp garlic pepper seasoning
1 tsp cinnamon
water
3 Tbsp butter
6 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1. Trim excess fat from pork roast. Place pork roast in large skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 olive oil, 3 Tbsp honey, and 3 Tbsp worcestershire sauce. Turn roast to coat, and place skillet over medium high heat. Brown pork on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. This seals in the juices to keep it tender.
2. In a 4 qt slow cooker, combine remaining ingredients except water, butter, and carrots and stir to blend. Carefully transfer pork roast to slow cooker, making sure to add the juices from the pan into the slow cooker. Add just enough water so that only the very top of the pork roast is visible and stir carefully until everything is well incorporated. Turn slow cooker on low and let it cook for 5 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. After 5 hours, cube the butter and add to the slow cooker, along with the carrots. Let it cook for 1-2 more hours. Your total cook time should be for 6-7 hours.
I think you can also use chicken stock or white wine instead of water, but I didn't have any when I made this. Great with mashed taters!
Ok, onto other business.
I've decided we really are a 2 dog kind of house. Here's my list of reasons why:
1. Cooper is more active and happy
2. Pete is calmer and more happy
3. I don't feel nearly as bad when I leave to go somewhere when they are together
4. Cooper and Pete are more likely to stay on the dog bed on the floor all night
5. John and I each have a dog to cuddle with
6. Taking them outside is more fun and less of uuuughhhhh, "just do your business already!"
7. They have a constant playmate
8. They learn from each other's good habits
9. They sleep longer from playing harder
10. Showdowns and dog play time is really so much more fun when there are 2 dogs
That said, I wish we could keep the Petey Pete all the time, but I realize that Pete is promoting better health, sharper wits, and exercise for Sammy Boy. I wish we could also take Sammy boy, but Sammy is too old to be moving around again.
On a side note, since I'm not sure I've mentioned it, Pete and Sam are John's 2 dogs that live for the most part, at his Dad's house since his Dad is home more often and can give them more attention. I've taken to picking Pete up and keeping him for a couple of days at a time and now I'm convinced that we really need a 2nd dog around. But I can't steal Petey Pete or Sam and I just don't know if a 4th dog is really what John and I need right now.
Also, if you've never seen a showdown between dogs, it's really something awesome to watch. Just think of Animal Planet style prowling on hardwood floors in an apartment. Staring, staring, sloowwwwwlllly creeping towards each other, staring some more, and then.....POUNCE! And because it's also hardwood, scrambling and flailing become a major part of the Coop and Pete showdowns.
I took Pete home this morning and this afternoon, Cooper has been back to his usual weekday self- lethargic and uninterested. I went on an hour run today (thanking the universe for the BEAUTIFUL weather!) and found him in the same spot I left him in. Come to think of it, while I've been cooling down and writing, he's not moved an awful lot either.
On to finish my chili and polenta for tonight. Cheers.
Friday, January 8, 2010
ROLL TIDE
Yes, I am now one of those girlfriends who adopts their boyfriend's sports team fanship. Although, in my defense, I changed over to Steelers fan-mania before I started dating John. When you live in a city full of rabid Steelers fans, they kind of suck you in. First, they make you re-love football, and then they start to brainwash you. So I started watching the Steelers and quit watching the Bengals.
Then I started dating John. John grew up in Pittsburgh, fell in love with football and played it, and then went to the University of Alabama for college. And I thought Steelers fans were intense. To spend time with a group of Alabama fans is to understand what it means bleed crimson. I'm telling you, it's like magnetic energy. This one girl we met at the Western Pennsylvania Alabama Alumni Association viewing of the SEC Championship game didn't even go to Alabama, but she was so dedicated to it. She has the gear and the routine and the knowledge I thought only men could record in their brains (sports factoids). In any case, you want to be a part of it. So I became a part of it. I think John is still suspicious of my fanship, even when during the SEC championship game I was shouting at the top of my lungs for the Alabama defense to get him, get Tebow!
Last night was the BCS championship game and I was snowed in with Coop. Where was John, you ask? In sunny, balmy, 68 degree Vegas. Alone, Coop and I watched the Tide roll on through Texas. I noticed something...
Not only have I adopted Alabama fanship, but Coop-a-loop seems to have adopted it too. Last night all through the game, Cooper paced in front of the TV. He sat a foot away from the TV at times and stared at the screen. He sat with me and panted and panted and panted and drooled. My dog was stressing out! I took him out a half-time, thinking, ok, maybe he's in need of a bathroom break. But when he came back in, it got worse! So I decided to go digging through John's closet for this handy little t-shirt John has from his collegiate days. It reads F*** AUBURN! Not exactly Texas, but it channels the energy of John and the Tide. Please note, I NEVER dress my dog, except for his rain coat. And I only use that because I can't get him to go outside and go to the bathroom in the rain without it.
That said, I put the t-shirt on Coop. He was confused by the shirt, but decided it wasn't too awfully bad and sat down on the couch with me for a good ten minutes to watch the game. He wasn't panting anymore.
10 minutes later, he was trying to eat it though.
ROLL TIDE.
In other notes, earlier this week I posted 3 goals for myself.
1. Get a job at Pie Place
2. Finish my marathon training, week 1
3. Call Coops Vet about finalizing TDI paperwork
Well, consider number 1 complete! The offered me the job and I start on Tuesday!
I also ran again today. I really wish it would stop snowing. It is so tough to get a good pace going when it's 20 degrees and slippery on the sidewalks. But one more day of week 1, then 16 weeks to go!
Then I started dating John. John grew up in Pittsburgh, fell in love with football and played it, and then went to the University of Alabama for college. And I thought Steelers fans were intense. To spend time with a group of Alabama fans is to understand what it means bleed crimson. I'm telling you, it's like magnetic energy. This one girl we met at the Western Pennsylvania Alabama Alumni Association viewing of the SEC Championship game didn't even go to Alabama, but she was so dedicated to it. She has the gear and the routine and the knowledge I thought only men could record in their brains (sports factoids). In any case, you want to be a part of it. So I became a part of it. I think John is still suspicious of my fanship, even when during the SEC championship game I was shouting at the top of my lungs for the Alabama defense to get him, get Tebow!
Last night was the BCS championship game and I was snowed in with Coop. Where was John, you ask? In sunny, balmy, 68 degree Vegas. Alone, Coop and I watched the Tide roll on through Texas. I noticed something...
Not only have I adopted Alabama fanship, but Coop-a-loop seems to have adopted it too. Last night all through the game, Cooper paced in front of the TV. He sat a foot away from the TV at times and stared at the screen. He sat with me and panted and panted and panted and drooled. My dog was stressing out! I took him out a half-time, thinking, ok, maybe he's in need of a bathroom break. But when he came back in, it got worse! So I decided to go digging through John's closet for this handy little t-shirt John has from his collegiate days. It reads F*** AUBURN! Not exactly Texas, but it channels the energy of John and the Tide. Please note, I NEVER dress my dog, except for his rain coat. And I only use that because I can't get him to go outside and go to the bathroom in the rain without it.
That said, I put the t-shirt on Coop. He was confused by the shirt, but decided it wasn't too awfully bad and sat down on the couch with me for a good ten minutes to watch the game. He wasn't panting anymore.
10 minutes later, he was trying to eat it though.
ROLL TIDE.
In other notes, earlier this week I posted 3 goals for myself.
1. Get a job at Pie Place
2. Finish my marathon training, week 1
3. Call Coops Vet about finalizing TDI paperwork
Well, consider number 1 complete! The offered me the job and I start on Tuesday!
I also ran again today. I really wish it would stop snowing. It is so tough to get a good pace going when it's 20 degrees and slippery on the sidewalks. But one more day of week 1, then 16 weeks to go!
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