My Life with Dogs

Little Mia

Mia is such a character! I gave the boys a treat of Merrick Flossies (the dried beef tendons…mmm mmm good!).

They are too big (about 8″ long) and hard for Mia to chew on, so I gave her another treat. Well, Shelby immediately started working on his, but Bandit had learned his lesson. He had had his food stolen before, and had a plan. He started to walk around the house with it in his mouth, pausing at the door. I knew he wanted to go out, but it was really cold so I didn’t let him out immediately. So, he wandered around again, and went to the door and looked at me.   I finally gave in and let him out, thinking that he wanted to be alone and eat his prize.  Well, I did some chores, and Bandit started barking to come in.  I don’t exactly know long it was, but I just assumed he had eaten it, as Shelby was nearly done with his.

Well, after a while, they all wanted to go outside as usual, so I let them out.   When I let them back in, Mia whisked by me, but I noticed she had something in her mouth….it was about 8″ long, curly, and covered with snow.   As she took it to her hiding place under the bed, I realized it was Bandit’s Flossie!   Instead of eating it, Bandit had buried it for later, but obviously, did not hide it very well!   Mia was already in hiding, and Bandit was searching outside in the snow for his missing Flossie!

After I got everyone in, I traded Mia the Flossie for a Frosty Paws ice cream treat, gave Bandit back his Flossie, and gave Shelby another small one so that there would be no fighting.   So, the evening ended peacefully…but I won’t forget Mia trotting happily to her cave, with the treat nearly as long as her body in her mouth!

Unfortunately,  Bandit had a series of seizures after I returned from WV.  The seizures started at 7:50 a.m and he actually had the seizure in bed with me.   The other dogs seem to know to stay away.

Baby Bandit

The seizure was short, but it is the recovery that is long.   I helped him out of bed and he stumbled around while I followed him.  He went into the bathroom, then fell down and had a second seizure.   He started to come out of it, then he went into a third seizure.    I called the emergency vet clinic, and they said I should bring him in.    I called Lilia to help me carry him to the car.

When she came over, Bandit had again started recovery.   He paced and stumbled, but he did not have another seizure.  I decided not to take him to the hospital, but I gave him some extra phenobarbital.   The entire episode lasted nearly one hour.

I called the Yorkville Animal Hospital, and they said he did not have any seizures when he was there.   Then, they said something that made sense – they said that after he has been excited or stressed, when an epileptic dog gets back to his calm home situation, that is when they have seizures.   

This has been the pattern – after Bandit has been excited, i.e. he is boarded somewhere while I am on a trip, when he gets home, he has the seizure!   His neurologist did say to give him additional phenobarbital when he is in a stressful situation.   I guess I didn’t think that boarding him at the Yorkville Animal Hospital would stress him.   But, now I know better…

The whole rest of the day, Bandit followed me around – even more than usual.   It was so funny – I would stand up and walk a few steps, with Bandit at my side.  I stop – he stops.   I walk a few steps, Bandit walks a few steps.  I stop, he stops!  It was so funny!

This was my last trip to West Virginia….it is actually kind of sad in a way.    I really grew to love that state and the people in it.   Even though I was there for work, I lived in an apartment there 2-3 weeks out of every month in 2008, so I really got to know the area.

Mia on her new bed in WV

Because I was closing up the apartment, I only took Mia with me this time and I boarded the boys at the Yorkville Animal Hospital.   Mia is such a little sweetheart!   And a great traveller – except when she wanted to sit on my lap, which was the whole trip!   I tried to seatbelt her in for a while, but it was more fun to have her on my lap!

Her leg really seems to be doing well – when she walks around, she uses her leg fine.  When she runs sometimes, she still lifts it.  It is amazing how well it is healing!

Boy, this was the first time in a long time I had only one dog to take care of….I realize what a lot of work having all three really is!    But, though it is a challenge with the boys, I love them all dearly!

Sitting with Mia in the evenings, and just having her follow me around and look at me with that cute little face…I don’t know how anyone cannot love dogs!

Well, it took me much longer than I thought to pack up all my stuff from WV…boy, I sure had a lot of crap there!   But, I finally left late a.m. and got back home around 8:00 p.m.

Mia is doing well after her surgery. I took her to the vet Thursday, and the Dr. said she was doing well. I give her so much credit – she has a lot of spunk for just being a little thing!

Mia's hip out of its socket

The surgery results in her having a “false joint,” since they cut off the head of her femur – gross!   She is not jumping as high as she used to, i.e. she is not jumping on the bed, but, she does jump onto the couch!

For an old girl – she is 11, she is doing great!

Mia's hip with false joint after surgery

Every morning, it is the same thing…the alarm goes off and my day starts off with kisses from my three kids! Then,

The Bathroom Brigade

immediately, it is time to go “peepees.” The whole gang then goes outside – thank goodness for my fenced in yard!

I then use this opportunity for some “private” bathroom time.   Then, I go searching for any presents that Bandit left for me overnight…and there is usually something.

After letting everyone in, it is breakfast time.  I put the boys’ food in their bowls, then fill Mia’s little bowl.  Of course, the boys always have to sample Mia’s food…even though it is the same!

When I am preparing to go into the shower, the “Bathroom Brigade” assembles.   All three park themselves in the doorway and make sure they keep an eye on me!  

When I get out of the shower, usually only Shelby and Bandit are left, but they do not leave until I am finished in the bathroom!

Then, it is time for “pills.”   Really, only Bandit gets his two meds, but Mia and Shelby also get treats along with Bandit.   I have gotten administering meds down to a science – Bandit’s 1-1/2 phenobarbitol pills are wrapped in some wet dog food and he just loves the treat!   For his liquid potassium bromide, rather than forcing it down his throat, I measure the liquid and put it on a 1/4 slice of bread, which I then smother in wet dog food.   Bandit then loves his little sandwich!  Of course, Shelby and Mia get the rest of the bread.

After I get dressed and while I eat breakfast, I let them out for one last time before I go.    The whole ritual takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes.    When I say goodbye, Mia barks her little bark and as I pull out of the driveway, Shelby is on the loveseat, looking out the window.    He will be there when I come home as well.

I love to drive! I mean, I really love to drive! Miles and miles of highways, cruise control – I love it! Thankfully, the dogs love it too!  All the dogs travel well – I usually put Mia in the passenger’s seat,and the boys are in the back of the Subaru – I have a dog guard, so that is their spot!    Of course, we make the appropriate number of rest stops depending upon the length of the journey.

The boys fighting over Mia's dish in WV

As I mentioned before, last year, my job had me travel to West Virginia at least 2-3 weeks out of each month, so driving the 10-12 hour trip became our recurring road trip for 2008.    I returned yesterday after spending a week plus out east.   I returned actually a day early, to avoid a major storm that was forecast to hit the east coast.   So, we went through the traditional routine of me packing everything up, the dogs getting upset because they know I am leaving.    Don’t I always bring them with?   Yes, but they never seem to remember that!   Finally, I put them all in the car and then I do my last minute run-through the apartment to turn off the heat and lights, make sure I took out the garbage, and make sure I didn’t forget anything.

Once on the road, for the most part, the time is mine.   Driving Route 80 through Ohio and Indiana is just a great trip – put the car in cruise and drive!  This time, I had a minivan, so the boys were in the back, and I had Mia in a small cat crate, so she wouldn’t move aroung because of her hip.    We stopped at a rest stop, and I walked the boys.    I love the rest stops along route 80 – the truckers always talk to me when I have the dogs with me.   No matter how burly or surly the truckers look, I always get a smile when they see the dogs.  This time, I got two comments – one from a trucker who started telling me about his jack russell.  He actually had the dog with him and brought him out for a walk too.  Another trucker sporting a mullet asked me if the boys were Aussies.   I replied that they were, and he then proceeded to tell me about his Cardigan Welsh Corgis he had at home.

I really think that dogs bring out the best in people….and, remember never to  judge a book by its cover!