Hospitals and Dogs

I am behind in my posts due to some surgery and recovery. I do think my dogs have helped in my recovery and would have been able to help more if I had known one thing.
Having surgery is a stress but for me, worrying about my dogs while I'm gone is almost a bigger stress. I was lucky that 2 neighbors offered to watch each dog. One has a medium sized dog that Seymour is pals with and one has a small poodle that Zooey kinda tolerates. Being a recent rescue and having endured abuse by another dog, Zooey is very skittish around almost all dogs - except Seymour. They are a bit of a handful together, as another kind neighbor found out when watching them for 2 days, so separately them was the best way to go. But back to my story.
I was in the hospital for 3 days and feeling pretty bad both mentally and physically. The last night I was there, one of the nurses mentioned that if I had my physician write an order for "pet therapy" my dogs could have come to visit me. They would have had to be in their crate - at least when the door to my room was open, but at least I could have enjoyed their company for a few hours. Unfortunately, I wasn't told this until the night before I was going home so didn't try to get a physician's order. I am not sure hospitals publicize this, but I recommend that if you are ever in the hospital, you ask your physician about it. I do think that I would have been in a much more positive frame of mind, and maybe I wouldn't have been thinking about my pain as much,if I had my dogs to cuddle. Another good thing about seeing your dogs when you are in the hospital is that you don't have to walk them. It's like having grandchildren. You can play with them and love on them and give them back.
Instead, when my dogs came home after my hospitalization, they considered me the same person I was before; the one who walked them, gave them treats, fed them and held them. I'm sure they were wondering who that strange person was who had to just about roll off of the couch and on to the floor to be able to get up to open the back door for them. Maybe if they'd seen me in the hospital, they would have been more prepared for living with a semi-invalid for a little while.
I am hoping to not go in the hospital for a long time, but if I do, I want to add "dog visits" to my advanced directives.

Feeding Two Dogs

It sounds easy. Put out two bowls of dog food. I can't put them beside each other because Seymour will block Zooey's way to either bowl and try to eat them both. So I put out two bowls of food and two bowls of water in different parts of the kitchen. The bigger bowl with the most food goes to the bigger dog, 6 1/2 pound Seymour. The smaller bowl goes to 3 pound Zooey. Same food, different amounts. Invariably Seymour thinks I am giving better food to his sister so he goes for her bowl first. I could probably put a steak in his bowl and he would still think that Zooey had the more gourmet meal and head to her bowl.

Seymour has been with me for over five years, so if he had some problem with favoritism in the past, it shouldn't affect him now. Cesar says that dogs live in the "now". No one told that to my dog! I now have to put Zooey's food in her crate but Seymour eats his food and then lurks outside of Zooey's crate waiting to lick the bowl clean when she is done. Is is a little heart breaking hearing him licking and pushing each bowl around the floors while trying to get the last dried moral of dogfood into his tummy. Anyone who didn't know the situation would think i was starving him. But today they both went to the vets and Seymour has gained 10 ounces, up to a slightly chubby 7 pounds 2 ounces in less than a month. Zooey gained some much needed weight, up to 3 pounds 8 ounces. I am gaining flexibility from moving bowls around so they both get food!

Mutual Admiration Society

A friend sent this and I had to share it. How lucky we are to have our pets, especially when we have little else.




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Seymour and his Surgery

A relatively common small dog issue is a luxating patella. Our vet said that when he started walking on 3 legs about 30% of the time, it meant that he probably would need surgery. He wasn't quite up to 30% but he wanted me to carry him more - and he is 7 1/2 years old, so it was time.

Seymour had his surgery on Monday and since he was going to be sedated, I also had them clean his teeth and clip his nails. I'm sure when he woke up, he was thinking "What the heck hit me?". He is on pain meds and an antibiotic and will go back in 2 weeks to get his stitches removed. Here is a gross picture of his leg - back, driver side :)




He was pretty out of it the first 2 days but would still go to the bathroom outside when I carried him out. I think he is holding "number 2", although I saw him go once, because it is a difficult position to get into with only one back leg. TMI?

The first morning after surgery, Zooey jumped in his bed with him and I heard the worst screech. She has quickly learned that she can sleep beside his bed, but not in it. I do think she is confused. She has only lived with us less than 3 weeks so I hate to see her worrying about him.

Today, Seymour has been whining and I can't figure out what he needs. I have brought him water, fed him his dog food on a spoon (so he wouldn't have to get up), taken him outside and given him his favorite treat, and nothing is working. I took that picture of his wound and sent it to the vet to see if he needs to come in, but I haven't heard back yet. And of course it is almost weekend, so if he needs any medical attention, he will have to go to the expensive emergency vet. I will be happy when he passes the 2 week mark and I can start doing physical therapy on that leg. I am missing my sweet little Seymour. But I was out at my own doctor's appointment yesterday and when I came home both Seymour and Zooey were waiting at the door for me. I was surprised and delighted.

For now, this is Seymour's primary position:




I know that it won't be long before my frisky travel companion is back to normal and ready for another trip - this time with his little pesky sister. I can't wait!

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And Sister Makes Three

I was getting "traveling with one pet" down to a science, so what did I do? I got Seymour a little sister we named Zooey. I saw her picture on www.petfinder.com



I have always looked but never had a plan to get another dog. But I guess when one looks, it is inevitable that a dog will catch your heart. Zooey is a 3 pound 2 ounce rescue from Abilene Texas. I was told that she was an owner surrender with another, more aggressive dog. She was very timid, very underweight and did not walk on a leash. She is what one of my friends call "a cute, ugly dog". Seymour was hoping that she was just visiting.

We have now had her for 10 days and she has already been to the vet twice. The first time for an update on immunizations and ear infections. She is too skinny to get a microchip yet. The second time was for suspected kennel cough, which she received steroid and antibiotic shots. I think she also has hip dysplasia since she is beginning to hop on three legs. BTW, Seymour is getting surgery for his hip dysplasia on Monday.

Everyone thinks that she is between 18 months and 2 years old. She looks like a feminine little girl and barks like Danny DiVito. No one is exactly sure what her "mix" is, but we think chihuahua, yorkie and maybe one or two others. She is fluffy but looks like she could be Benjamin Button's dog with her wispy, need of hair plugs, head.

Zooey has loved Seymour from the first day they met. She is constantly trying to get in his dog bed with him and follows him everywhere. Seymour, on the other hand, is still hoping she is just visiting! He puts up with her. He is used to being an only dog, so it is a big change for him.




I am doing my best to give them both lots of attention. They both love riding in the car so I think it will be easy to go on camping trips with them.

Seymour, Zooey and I have already visited Ace Hardware and the Senior Thrift store in town. I have carried one in the sling and one in my arms but in a pinch, I can actually carry both in one hand. Between the two of them, they weigh less than 10 pounds.

So, I am now going to be traveling with two little ones. Let the adventures continue!

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Thundershirt Review - Update 2/8/12

My dog Seymour was more stressed than ever with the fireworks on New Years Eve. He shook and tried to hide but couldn't find a place to go. I could not calm him down. After that, when he heard something like a car backfire, he would go into his shaking and hiding routine again. A friend told me about the Thundershirt. I found one on Amazon and purchased it. Seymour is about 6 1/2 pounds and I got the X Small and it fits well.

I did have to look at the pictured instructions to be sure I got it on right, but once I figured it out, I could do it again easily. The next time he heard a pop noise that got him shaking, I put the shirt on him. He laid down but didn't look relaxed. We have used it a few times since and he got more and more comfortable and less stressed each time he wore it. It is almost like a cumulative effect on him. We haven't had a bad storm yet - this is Texas, home of the hottest 2011 ever - but I am actually looking forward to seeing how it works for him. I'm not sure why my pictures are so small but the first is the package the shirt came in and the one below is Seymour relaxing in his shirt. I will update when we have a real reason to use the shirt. So far, I am glad I purchased it.


Update - We finally had a big storm and Seymour was put in his Tundershirt. He continued to shake and was stressed so I held him. He slowly quieted down a little. I would say that the shirt helped him get about 20% calmer than he would have been without the shirt. I will continue using it as we (hopefully) get more storms to see if it starts calming him more.


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New Rules for Traveling to the UK with a Pet as of 01/2012

Below is a summary of the new rules for bringing a pet to the UK. Unfortunately, they still haven't let up on the part about a pet having to travel as cargo. It appears that they added "Tapeworm Treatment" to their list that Italy did not require. Having just been to Italy, I have to say that my stress and my dog's stress levels were greatly reduced because he was traveling in a crate under my seat. So, I guess the UK is not on our travel plans for now.

From 1 January 2012 all pet dogs, cats and ferrets (including guide and hearing dogs) can enter or re-enter the UK from any country in the world without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the scheme, which will be different depending on the country or territory the pet is coming from.

Preparing your dog, cat or ferret when traveling from the USA:
• Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
• Step 2 – Have your pet vaccinated – After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the first vaccination date. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.
• Step 3 – Get pet travel documentation – For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate (apart from Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland who also issue pet passports).
• Step 4 – Tapeworm treatment – (dogs only): before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment. No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta).
• Step 5 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.
Approved EU routes and transport companies
The following routes and transport companies may be used to bring pet dogs, cats and ferrets into the UK. On some air routes, registered assistance dogs may travel in the cabin. Other dogs, cats and ferrets will travel as cargo.