Post independence day
Monday's excitement was taking Samus to the vet. Although she received a clean bill of health, she was placed on an antibiotic which seems to have immediately resolved the poop issue. She's on a quarter pill of the stuff twice a day, and I was worried about how we'd get the pills into her, but she's so indiscriminate in what she's eating that simply putting it in with her kibbles is enough. I expected to see it by itself in the middle of her dish when she was done, but instead, she just gobbles it up. She was cleared to go to puppy kindergarten, too, so that starts tonight for her. It will certainly be interesting; she loves other dogs (and people!). At the vet's, she was desperate to go meet all the other dogs, straining against the harness. Then, a huge Golden Retriever came through the door. He was gorgeous, and had a very beautiful, stately head. Immediately, Samus calmed down. The other dog (Shadow), lay down, and even lying down, he was taller than Samus. Samus walked up to him and sat in front of him and they sniffed noses, and had a silent conversation for a good 30 seconds. It was so peaceful it was amazing. Awe-inspiring. And everyone in the waiting room noticed. I heard people saying, "WOW." and "Oh my god." It was really something. When we left the building, Samus only wanted to go back in, launching herself from all four feet toward the building. I have never in my life seen a dog who wanted to go back to a vet's office!
So we thought we were all good, but Tuesday morning, when she woke up, she had extremely droopy lower eyelids on both eyes. Imagine the worst hound-dog hangover you can. There was literally a pocket between her eyelid and her eyeball. VERY weird. They didn't seem to bother her, though, and they weren't painful to the touch (she would and could close her eyes completely). They got slightly better after we were awake for a while, but I had to crate her to go to a meeting. Of course, Tuesday was the only day I absolutely had to be in the office in the AM. I came home praying her eyeballs were still in her head. Indeed they were, and looked much better, although about an hour later, I noticed they were droopy again. I had to call the vet anyway to schedule a follow-up visit and check on her poop sample test (result: negative), so I asked about the eyelids. The kid at the desk asked a doctor who, of course, said, "She needs to be seen" stating the cause was "either dehydration or sickness". I knew she wasn't dehydrated, and I doubted the sick thing - she was acting fine, eating, drinking, biting, etc. Okay, I said, when should I come in? They had no available appointments on Tuesday PM. "Bring her to the emergency room," I was told. It would be $80. Thanks, but no, I said. This isn't an emergency. This is in need of a five second look in her eyes. We don't even need a treatment room. "Sorry, but there are no doctors available this afternoon. Please bring her to the ER." I again refused. If we saw things getting worse, we could always bring her to the ER on Wednesday, the holiday, which is what I was trying to avoid, but if I was going to have to bring her to the ER on Tuesday PM anyway... I asked if there was a cancellation list for Tuesday PM. No. Well, write my number down, I said, and if you get an opening, call me. We can be there in half an hour. The guy didn't seem to be too happy I was refusing to bring her in, and sure enough, half an hour later, he called me back - could we be there at 4:20; there was an appt free with another vet. Brought her in, but her eyes were looking reasonably okay by then (of course). In line to check in, her usual vet (in plain clothes, and holding his ~18 month old daughter in one arm) saw us and asked how Samus was so I gave the three second summary and he looked at her eyes briefly and shrugged, seeing nothing. The vet who did see us immediately got down on the floor and would have spent the whole visit playing with Samus ("Golden pups are my favorite!!" she said) if she could have. She did a pretty thorough eye exam, finding nothing that would explain the droop, which was only momentarily visible while we were in the office. So, given all that, and the fact that we'd just been there the day before for $110, she didn't charge us anything. (I had thought it would be the usual $50ish office visit, which, although expensive to be told, "Dunno" was still cheaper than the ER.) So that was cool. And I'm glad that we have a visit next week anyway (for lyme and lepto vaccinations) so we can talk to her usual vet again. Will also be interesting if she has that reaction again next week after the vaccinations, and/or after the next set of the same ones she got on Monday.
Yesterday, her eyes were mostly fine as was her poop. Tuesday and Wednesday nights were our first with her going the entire night without needing to go out at all, too. So that's a big milestone. Granted, her last "out" is around 10:30 and then she's up around 5 AM, but that's still pretty good. We would love for her to sleep until 6, though, when Glen's alarm would usually go off.
She's playing better with (and being played better with by) the 1.5 year old black lab of our neighbors, although Samus usually likes to be chased and then lie down quickly, but they do run around enough to tire each other out, which is good for both of them. Right now, Samus is sleeping on my foot under the table. She still very much likes to be near you at all times. Now if only we could get her not to bite at all times and to come when called, we'd be set!
Samus had her first experience hearing fireworks this week. Verdict: Concerning, but not alarming. She also experienced her first movie in surround sound last night. That was also startling, and she crept under Glen and my legs when things got too jarring, but eventually fell asleep and slept through some of the loudest explosions. (We were watching Batman Begins.)
So in general, things are good!
So we thought we were all good, but Tuesday morning, when she woke up, she had extremely droopy lower eyelids on both eyes. Imagine the worst hound-dog hangover you can. There was literally a pocket between her eyelid and her eyeball. VERY weird. They didn't seem to bother her, though, and they weren't painful to the touch (she would and could close her eyes completely). They got slightly better after we were awake for a while, but I had to crate her to go to a meeting. Of course, Tuesday was the only day I absolutely had to be in the office in the AM. I came home praying her eyeballs were still in her head. Indeed they were, and looked much better, although about an hour later, I noticed they were droopy again. I had to call the vet anyway to schedule a follow-up visit and check on her poop sample test (result: negative), so I asked about the eyelids. The kid at the desk asked a doctor who, of course, said, "She needs to be seen" stating the cause was "either dehydration or sickness". I knew she wasn't dehydrated, and I doubted the sick thing - she was acting fine, eating, drinking, biting, etc. Okay, I said, when should I come in? They had no available appointments on Tuesday PM. "Bring her to the emergency room," I was told. It would be $80. Thanks, but no, I said. This isn't an emergency. This is in need of a five second look in her eyes. We don't even need a treatment room. "Sorry, but there are no doctors available this afternoon. Please bring her to the ER." I again refused. If we saw things getting worse, we could always bring her to the ER on Wednesday, the holiday, which is what I was trying to avoid, but if I was going to have to bring her to the ER on Tuesday PM anyway... I asked if there was a cancellation list for Tuesday PM. No. Well, write my number down, I said, and if you get an opening, call me. We can be there in half an hour. The guy didn't seem to be too happy I was refusing to bring her in, and sure enough, half an hour later, he called me back - could we be there at 4:20; there was an appt free with another vet. Brought her in, but her eyes were looking reasonably okay by then (of course). In line to check in, her usual vet (in plain clothes, and holding his ~18 month old daughter in one arm) saw us and asked how Samus was so I gave the three second summary and he looked at her eyes briefly and shrugged, seeing nothing. The vet who did see us immediately got down on the floor and would have spent the whole visit playing with Samus ("Golden pups are my favorite!!" she said) if she could have. She did a pretty thorough eye exam, finding nothing that would explain the droop, which was only momentarily visible while we were in the office. So, given all that, and the fact that we'd just been there the day before for $110, she didn't charge us anything. (I had thought it would be the usual $50ish office visit, which, although expensive to be told, "Dunno" was still cheaper than the ER.) So that was cool. And I'm glad that we have a visit next week anyway (for lyme and lepto vaccinations) so we can talk to her usual vet again. Will also be interesting if she has that reaction again next week after the vaccinations, and/or after the next set of the same ones she got on Monday.
Yesterday, her eyes were mostly fine as was her poop. Tuesday and Wednesday nights were our first with her going the entire night without needing to go out at all, too. So that's a big milestone. Granted, her last "out" is around 10:30 and then she's up around 5 AM, but that's still pretty good. We would love for her to sleep until 6, though, when Glen's alarm would usually go off.
She's playing better with (and being played better with by) the 1.5 year old black lab of our neighbors, although Samus usually likes to be chased and then lie down quickly, but they do run around enough to tire each other out, which is good for both of them. Right now, Samus is sleeping on my foot under the table. She still very much likes to be near you at all times. Now if only we could get her not to bite at all times and to come when called, we'd be set!
Samus had her first experience hearing fireworks this week. Verdict: Concerning, but not alarming. She also experienced her first movie in surround sound last night. That was also startling, and she crept under Glen and my legs when things got too jarring, but eventually fell asleep and slept through some of the loudest explosions. (We were watching Batman Begins.)
So in general, things are good!