Straydog UPDATE posted TUESDAY 1/21/03 at ~7:47 p.m. CT

Pat Arnold's Daily Dog Log

TUESDAY JANUARY 21 2003

Davey sees the doctor

     Guy and I took Davey to see Dr. Morton this morning, and after Davey's checkup the doctor wanted us to take the fellow to see another doctor for an ultra-sound to see if there is any trouble with Davey's prostate. The ultrasound will show us if Davey has other problems too, I think. The problem could also be colitis, tho, or perhaps a food allergy. In any case, we are trying to get to the bottom of this and cure whatever the problem may be.

     I spoke with the new doctor, and he wants Davey there this coming Monday at 9:30 a.m. His office is in another town--about a 45-minute-drive from us. Davey will be there for several days the doctor said, because for this type of test the dog needs to fast for a certain amount of time before the test is given, and the doctor wants the dog to stay at his clinic throughout this whole procedure. For now both doctors have prescribed several medications, one of which is "the pink stuff," which Davey takes very well when Guy gives it to him.

     Little blind Puppy Chubs and his sister, Cassie, are learning how to go outside to their puppy kennel. Chubs and Cassie's indoor kennel is in our kitchen, very near the kitchen door. We have a ramp from the door to the yard, and after a 10' distance of yard is the kennel gate and directly across from "our yard" gate is the puppy kennel. [We'll add some photos.]

     For the last several days I've been trying to teach the pups how to go outside, by themselves. I open the pups gate in the kitchen and slide open the glass kitchen door calling to the puppies, "come on, lets go outside." The fat little pups hurriedly tumble over each other as they scramble to go "outside!" (Photos to come)

     Cassie is always in the lead, but her little blind brother, Chubs, is right at her heels. The pups do very well scooching down the "big step" (maybe 4" high) from the kitchen floor to the ramp, and then Cassie scampers down the ramp. Chubs does very well too, but he is much more cautious. I continually call to him, "come on Chubs, come on," as I tap the floor of the ramp, and he walks down slowly, feeling each little step he takes as he goes, occasionally stopping, then begins to walk again, as I talk to him and tap the ramp.

     Cassie knows the way to walk the short distance through our yard thru the open gate to the puppy kennel, and she gets there before her brother, but the little fellow manages to find his way to the puppy kennel with the help of the sound of my voice and clapping of my hands. Soon Chubs will learn the way and will be able to trot along right beside his sister. They are learning, and we're really proud of both little pups, especially little Chubs. He isn't frightened one bit! (Stills and videos to come)

Big Boy is doing just fine

     When we were at the clinic with Davey today, I asked the doctor again about the necessity of giving the medication to Davey for the seizure he had yesterday, because if Big Boy's kennel companion, Lisa, was not trying to be aggressive with Big Boy, then would it still be necessary to give Big Boy the medication, and the doctor said that because of the length of time this recent seizure lasted, he felt it was in the best interest of Big Boy that he take the medication. Big Boy is doing just fine on it, and is a happy fellow today.