Saturday, March 26, 2011

Therapy Dog

Today Dallas and I volunteered through 'Hands on Charlotte' (a WONDERFUL organization that I've been volunteering with every Tuesday night, teaching adults to read) to do pet therapy at a local retirement and rehabilitation center. What an amazing experience! Most residents were so excited and happy to see any one of the five or six dogs with us, and Dallas was such a pro! I worried that she'd jump or mouth on people playfully, which can be annoying to Chris or myself, but actually dangerous to an elderly or sick person. But she didn't. She behaved so well, and everyone was especially impressed when she began shaking hands, begging and sitting.


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Just Resting Her Head

I've never found it a particularly comfortable pillow, but here's Dallas resting on Chris' foot...


And I spent a good ten minutes looking for her several days ago, when she was actually sleeping inside the discarded grill cover...



Monday, March 21, 2011

Another Tooth...

Oh goodie. Dallas has been home now for about 10 minutes and has lost another tooth. Not to mention the one the worker pulled out as we left the kennel (which we left there)...

Pile O' Teeth

Sunday, March 20, 2011

6 Teeth/3 Days!

We haven't seen Dallas in the past five days, since we've been in Las Vegas, and boarded her at a local kennel. (I'll pick her up tomorrow morning- can't WAIT!) Just prior to leaving, she was losing an average of two teeth per day, for the past three days... THAT I FOUND! (This translates to blood on EVERYTHING which goes into her mouth these days...) AND there were probably more teeth that she lost which I didn't find, or that she swallowed.

Places I've found Dallas teeth:
* her bed
* inside her mouth
* on the stairs where I nearly stepped on one

Seriously, I don't know how she's eating at all these days with her tiny little tooth nubs.



Dallas shows off her nubs and her new chew toy.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Back to the Vet

Yet again we returned to the vet, when Dallas finished her anti-vomiting meds, and began vomiting again. After more tests and x-rays, the officially diagnosis is 'Dallas eats rocks.' As in not just chews on them, swallows and passes them, and they cause problems on the way out the other end. I know this is true, because while we're extremely lucky that this puppy doesn't chew on anything other than her items in the house, the yard IS a whole different matter. And she eats EVERYTHING out there. However, for the past week, she hasn't been allowed to go out there except when on a leash with us. So I think she DOES eat rocks, which DOES upset her digestion, but I get the feeling something more is going on here...

Nonetheless, the past two days (back to boiled chicken and rice) have been pretty good, with no vomiting episodes (save the two hour joy ride Chris took her on Sat morning....) and since we also de-wormed her Thursday night and she still shows no fever, no diarrhea, no parasites in any blood or fecal samples, we're going with this diagnosis. 

But I also changed her food... just in case. From Nutro Lamb to Purina One Chicken (both large puppy dry food.)


The vets got pretty chummy with Dallas in her new home-away-from-home aka: the vet's office, and gave her a new "baby" which she happened to hold exactly right...

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Rachel's Visit

Good friend Rachel came to visit from CA on March 9. She & Dallas got in some good bonding time.




(above) Dallas got a bit carried away with Ash Wednesday.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Health

Dallas is doing much better- thanks for all the well wishes on facebook! We are just starting her third day of proper digestion. She has finished one med and is still on boiled chicken and rice, but at her vet's insistence, last night we introduced her normal (much more nutritious) kibble with the chicken/rice mixture and so far so good.

She loves going outside, but because we still don't know what she ate that originally made her sick in the first place, I've got her trapped on the deck.
I've created a little fence around the BBQ (just in case she was getting into something there there that might be causing her stomach problems.)
Then I built a little fence to block off the gate, so she can't wander and eat anything in the backyard which might be contributing to her issues. This was our previous blockade....
And now it looks like this
I've actually woven a paper through the wires because I used the same fencing to surround me garden and little Dallas has actually plowed into it twice now... anyway, this might make it more visible...

We still have no idea what caused her problem, but as we transition away from the rice, chicken and meds, and toward kibble, we are hesitant to take any chances. At the same time, these aren't long term solutions- she loves her backyard.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sick

This story is all over the news in Charlotte: Animal Shootings at Chesterfield

We're just shocked, a- that this could happen at all, and b- that this is where Dallas came from. Gratitude every single day that she wasn't among them.

Extra gratitude this morning because after two vet visits, 5-6 days, numerous tests including x-rays and 4 medications, Dallas is finally having success at keeping her meals down. Its been a very trying week, she has lost weight and I'm at my wits end with worry about her, so this is really something to celebrate.

Please send prayers and positive energy that her health continues. Thank you.