Bosco Dog Blog

Nose, bad.

2008-05-10T04:28:56Z

Joan says my nose is bad again. I have another sore on it. Now I guess she's gonna drag me up north to see this other special doctor someone who does dermatology. She says she can't believe there's such a thing , but there is. She also sat on the computer for a long time and she thinks she knows what my problem is - at least one of three choices from a website that lists all sorts of dog-related skin lesion problems. She thinks I need a longer course of antibiotics as the website said to do 4 weeks or at until you think it is cured and then 10 MORE days beyond that. Well, I only had 30 days of eating peanut butter 2x day, so I guess that was not enough. I'm delighted to eat more peanut butter anytime. Yeah for PB. She says the derm doctor costs $105 just to see her. We better have a good time up there!

I would like to say something about the cats. All the CATS. In Austin, there are CATS everywhere. They roam loose - not fair, how come they don't have leashes and people? I guess cuz they're CATS and do their own thing. I guess I would rather be with my person than crouched under a car or alone on a doorstep which is where I see most of the cats around town. Sometimes they are fine and I don't care. Today, I had a stare-down with one on a doorstep and then I pulled really hard to attack. (no, not really, but just a show you know). But Joan wouldn't let me put the show on! She's no fun.

Today was super-duper hot. I'm all for my walk in the evening but nowadays I'm a slow molasses dog since it is 94 out. Joan doesn't seem much faster especially since she arrives home on her bike, dripping sweat off her head. She's a mess but I don't care. It's a walk!

CONE!

2008-05-06T15:20:29Z

Joan put that cone back on me last night. She took off my collar and gave me some great petting around my neck. mmm, that felt good. But THEN I saw her pull out the cone. No way! I got up and went to the other side of the room. No way!

But it happened. She put it back on me. She was talking on the phone and saying that I have a sore on my nose again - some of it is healing but there's this one spot that I guess is a sore and then it was getting bigger everyday.

Oh well. It's not that big of a deal - I remember how this all works.

Creatures freak me out

2008-05-05T14:51:02Z

Well, this morning something odd happened that drove me pitter pattering into Joan's bedroom with great fear. There was a creature - great or small I don't know - in the house. Luckily for me and Joan it was not IN the house but IN the WALLS of the house. It was still dark out and I heard it. FREEZE! I scampered into Joan's room with great fear. I was whining and looking at her like "Let me up on that bed with you this minute! I'm afraid!" I'm embarrassed to even admit my fear, but dogs can't always be courageous.

She didn't let me up on the bed though she looked, first, a little confused and sleepy, and then second, very intent on listening. She closed the closet door (hopefully in case the animal somehow made it through the wall, she didn't want to greet it). Then she got up and went into the bathroom and listened to claws clawing at the bathtub and wall. Sometimes it sounded like a snake slithering. Other times, it sounded like a huge clawed animal.

Then Joan got the long stick that has a light on the end from under the sink and put her sandals on and went out the front door in her pajamas, and she made me stay inside. She was out there for maybe 3 minutes and then returned. Then she went back into the bathroom and was shining the light on the end of the stick out the window.

Then she let me outside finally to pee and then gave me my breakfast. Then she got back into her bed with that light on the end of the stick with her but not me. She kept the light on in the hallway and I stayed in the living room. I don't want to be near any strange animal except myself!

Life is good again

2008-05-02T16:20:06Z

Life is great now that I don't have my cone on. I'm glad to be rid of that thing! Joan still sprays my nose with stuff that makes my tongue instantly go into licking action. She says i still need fur on my nose but at least it is not a bloody mess. It never bothered me much beyond itching but I guess it looked really bad.

Lately I've been hanging out on Joan's bed or the extra bed while Joan is gone. This is cool cuz I can lounge really really comfortable (why do the humans get better comfyness than we do?) while also looking out the window to check on squirrels and such. As you might imagine, I got caught almost the first day I tried this.

Joan came home and oops, I was so comfortably asleep that I didn't hear her bike roll up, so when she opened the door, it took me a really long time to get out there to greet her. I guess this tipped her off and she was walking around and then was in the bedroom and noticed not only fur on the bed but I had been licking my foot (allergies bothering me again) and in the process of that, I had slobbered all over the sheets and pillow so it was kinda wet. (oops) Damn, why do I always give my sneakiness away through slobber or relocation of shoes etc.?! Joan was kinda mifted cuz she had to change her sheets and remake the bed which she had just done a few days before.

Guess what? She closes the door to the bedroom now. But once she forgot, and I took full advantage again! And yesterday she only closed the door to her room, so I went on the bed in the extra bedroom. Ha! She noticed again because I left my fur there and again, it took me a long time to greet her. That time during her investigation, she pointed at the bed so I just jumped up on it. OHHHHHH, that was not right! I got some reprimanding!

Of course, Joan knows this is all her doing because sometimes she is really lazy in the morning and to quell my cries to go out for a walk, she'll invite me up on the bed instead which makes me happy. BUT it makes me, logically!, think that it is okay to go on the bed.

Cone Off Cone Off Cone Off Cone Off

2008-04-25T19:26:09Z

I got my cone off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, Joan took my cone off and not only that, she took me for at least a 4 mile run where I got to go swimming. I cannot tell you how HAPPY I WAS!!!!!!!!

Then we got back home and she decided to put me out front and wash me. I didn't like that too much, but she really massaged my neck and back and ears, so that was nice. Now I smell clean and she didn't put my collar back on the entire night. I was free, free, free, free!

My nose is looking great and so far, I'm not scratching or rubbing it. If I keep that up, I think i'm done with that cone. FOREVER I hope.

Sleeping with the cone

2008-04-21T04:51:57Z

Joan caught me sleeping and took a picture of me since she thinks I look funny. Do you? I'm just sleeping.

Joan can't wait for me to get better and get rid of the cone cuz sometimes I run into her legs and she gets mmmmaaaaaaaddddddd. I guess it hurts her a bit. I can't help it when there's something I need to quickly attend to like a squirrel or a drink of water or escaping from the house. I just gotta go and too bad for anyone or thing in the way. And that is kinda also the reason why Joan thinks we might even have to retire this cone cuz I've battered it up quite a bit through my antics.

She says I also have wring around the collar .... cuz I guess I'm kinda dirty and now there is brown layer on the inside of the cone where it rubs along my fur.

The good news is that my nose IS healing and she's hoping that within another week I'll get out of it. She did let me out for just enough time to thoroughly clean my ears the other night and then I started to paw at my nose and guess what? The cone went back on.

I'm also quite the looker in the neighborhood. People smile at me and they also chat with us to find out what happened and why I have a cone on. Kids, though, laugh at me a lot!

Got this thing down.

2008-04-14T18:44:42Z

I have totally figured out this cone thing. I'm totally fine with it. Joan doesn't take it off anymore for walks - I guess cuz I was always trying to rub my nose on her leg and that's not allowed. So now I'm walking around the neighborhood with this cone on! I get all sorts of comments. Lots of people smile. One person told me that her dog wouldn't allow it. Another man stopped to tell us another way to do it (using a sock) but then he looked at my bloody nose and realized the problem was my nose, not me licking or biting another part of my body. It was a nice idea ....

Lee said I look like the "Dog from Outerspace." Also a floating head and other not very supportive names and comments! Come on!

I've found that Joan will do a few things for me. For example, I tried to scratch my ear, but instead I just made a lot of racket with my nails scratching the plastic. So Joan came over and scratched my ears for me. She's so great! Then another time I even got her to rub my butt for me. I tried to lick my butt but you know it didn't work with this cone on. Joan saw and she took a paper towel and rubbed my butt for me! Wow, isn't that nice. I know a lot of people wouldn't do that for a dog!

They think the wound is starting to heal - at least it is scabbing. But it could be a while - it is slow. Plus, they realized I've had this since at least March 26 so it's already been a lonnnnnggggg time with it on my nose.

One thing I haven't tried yet is swimming with my cone on. That should be interesting. I still occasionally bump into some things out on walks but I'm totally good at home. Except when I get really excited and bang my cone into Joan's legs. She's not so happy about that.

Regal Dog, Here I am!

2008-04-12T17:29:43Z

Well, all those threats have come to pass. Yesterday, Joan got a phone call and the next thing I knew we were in the car. Dog park? No. Vet? Yes. She opened the door at the vet (I know where we are when we are there, now), and I didn't immediately get out. I thought I'd just stay in the car for a change. Joan had to call me out. Geez. Didn't work. I started shaking and did not want to go in. Worse, when we went in, the guy tried to put this e-collar on me (elizabethan collar, thus, my regalness). Instead, Joan took the collar and some new medicine and we got back in the car. I was thinking, okay so maybe I won't have to wear that.

And I didn't for a while. Joan left the house for several hours and, however, when she returned she put the e-collar on me! It is ghastly. It is hard and when I knock into things, it makes a loud noise that I do not like. Plus, I can't see anything. I have to turn my head all the way around all the time to what's going on.

But it was kinda late and we needed to go to bed.

Joan let me sleep on her bed, though, which was very thoughtful of her. I was knocking into the walls and doors, so she helped me up on the bed cuz she (and I) thought I might catch the collar on the bedcovers and knock myself back down. I was panting a lot cuz this thing is WEIRD and STRANGE. I moved around a lot on the bed the whole night, which I don't think made Joan all that happy but I had to get comfortable. I did manage to sleep a bit and wasn't too ornery to Joan except that she had to sleep around me.

I guess this all happened cuz I would use my paws to rub my nose/snout and then the scabs would come off and bleed and essentially not it heal. Plus, the vet gave Joan a spray to put on my nose, too, and it will only help if it doesn't get rubbed off!

This morning, I wouldn't go to the bathroom outside and just stood around even though Joan went out there with me and told me to go. And then she gave me my breakfast but I didn't want to eat that either cuz the collar would bump the floor or something else. So, Joan took off my collar and I ate my food quickly, shook my ear a lot (she cleaned my ear too), and then we went for a long walk sans collar (yeah!!!! jump for joy!!!!) though I could tell she wasn't gonna let me roll around in the grass or do anything else with my nose except sniff.

Now, I'm back home and the collar is back on again. However, I'm proud to say that I'm gonna master this thing. I already learned how to walk through the house without bumping the doors, even when I'm walking right beside Joan. And I learned how to walk down the porch steps without bumping it. And I'm enjoying the sun and yard again - though not exactly super relaxed.

But of course, this thing isn't gonna kill me and who knows, maybe my nose infection would! So we gotta get rid of it and soon!

Hair is agrowin'

2008-04-07T19:58:42Z

Joan says she sees hair growing on my infected nose. That is a good sign, she thinks!

Of course, you know me, whatever! as long as I get a walk.

McKinney State Park

2008-04-07T02:37:56Z

Today, Joan took off on her bike early this morning and left me in the house. But Lee is visiting us, so he took me on a sorta short / long run/jog. It wasn't Joan's 6 mile run that I know she went on and that I have been on before with her, but I got out. Plus then I got to sit outside protecting my backyard against squirrels and walkers with dogs (the worst!).

This afternoon, we took a drive out on the highway and went to the park, McKinney State Park. By the time we got there, my nose was bleeding because I kept smooshing my nose under Joan's seatbelt to see what was going on, and then my scabs pulled off and then my nose was bleeding. I don't really care about this, but Joan seems to. She tried to wipe it off and then we got back in the car and continued down the road.

We went on a nice walk but it was really really hot out there! She said something like 85 or 87. HOT. I drank lots of water she brought for me, and one time I rolled around in the grass and then smooshed my nose in the grass, and guess what? pulled more scabs off and then my nose was positively totally bloody! I tasted it a bit when I licked my chops once or twice. They tried to put water on it but I move too fast for the humans. hee hee hee.

We finally made it back to the river and we set up downriver of the kids swimming etc. and I got to go in the river. I would just SOAK in there - boy was it nice. That's the way to cool d-o-w-n. In the process, I also cleaned off my bloody nose while swimming around.

Joan thinks my nose isn't any better. Well, it just looks different but still really bad. She keeps threatening the CONE HEAD. She said she's gonna talk to the vet about me pulling off all my scabs ....

Tonight I also couldn't help it and threw up a couple times in the dining room. I had eaten a bunch of grass on our park walk and my stomach didn't like it so much. OOPS. Joan didn't even find it right away.

Rudolph (aka Bosco) the Red Nose Dog

2008-04-02T04:35:02Z

Joan took me to the vet. I liked the vet the first time I went to her but now I go in and shake all over. Today while we waited to go in, another yellow lab came out and I sniffed him and I felt kinda better and didn't shake so much. But then I started shaking again.

Joan put me on this pad and told me I was 58.5 lbs and told me, wooowza, I need to go on a diet! I gained 2.5 lbs. in the last 3 months. Oops. I did get a lot of treats over at Heidi's house ... and speaking of Heidi's house, well, that cactus probably did me in. Remember the cactus mouse house? I ran after the mice and got prickled by cactus. Well, my nose was really bad - it wasn't bothering me, but it was bothering Joan. She came home yesterday and freaked out cuz I guess the sore was getting bigger and overtaking my wet, fleshy nose area. She called the vet and set us up to go today.

So we went.

So I have staph pyoderma which is essentially a staph infection on my skin. There was bacteria on the cells they took from my nose and my huge pimple under her chin. I have to take big pills for two weeks, plus Joan is cleaning it with a moist pad. Dr. Baker said my nose might lose pigment (thus, not end up with brown skin again) and it will take a while for it to heal and for hair to grow back. This is no good.

Cone dog

2008-03-29T19:37:26Z

Joan is threatening me ... she says if I don't stop rubbing my nose with my paw (and thus, scraping off the developing scab) ... that I'm gonna become a cone dog. And that's not a coon dog who has a great sense of smell ... but a cone dog where I have to wear a big cone on me.

That happened before when I was bitten by the poodles. NOT GOOD.

Luckily then, Joan figured out how to use a t-shirt instead but there's no other good way to cover up my nose! In fact, I'm not sure the cone would actually prevent me from rubbing. I bet I could get a nice paw up and in there!

Texas Sun

2008-03-28T00:53:57Z

First, I want to tell you how the sun down here made me get sunburned. I'm sure all my Minnesota friends are gonna laugh at that cuz it is pretty funny that a dog can get sunburned but it happened. Look at these pictures and you'll see the bridge of my nose is sunburned! There are also some pictures of what Joan thinks is cactus spear inflammation under my chin. (TEXAS!)

Well, Joan just returned late last night. She was gone (AGAIN) for a couple days - she said she went to the Big Apple which sounds like a great place to me, cuz I love apples. YUM YUM. But she said, NO, I would not like the Big Apple, just like I would not like that place, Vegas. At least Joan returned happier than from Vegas. She actually likes the Big Apple. I'm telling her, I really think I'd like the Big Apple. Anything edible and big sounds good to me!

It is getting warmer here which makes our afternoon walks a bit tougher. I pant more. But heck, I don't care - it is still lovely.

Swimming in the pool

2008-03-17T18:02:13Z

At Heidi's house they have a big pool in the back. So far, I didn't go in it. But then all the humans went into the small pool that has lots of water blowing in it and it is really loud. As much as I'd like to go in there, I decided I'd try the pool, so I stepped down on the first step into the pool. Oh, the water felt great! I didn't want to go any further, so I decided to just sit and roll around on the first step to get all nice and wet. I mean, the humans were all wet, so couldn't I do it, too?

Eating the Easter Bunny

2008-03-17T17:57:07Z

Yep, I ate the easter bunny ... or at least a descendant, perhaps. I didn't really EAT him but I KILLED him, or at least that is what I was accused of over at Heidi's house. Here was the explanation to Joan:

"We found a dead bunny in the back. Bosco and Kona had definitely been chasing the bunnies around. We found the bunny dead; I'm sure it was one of the dogs and it wasn't Kona...."

So you are left with this riddle ... who did it?

NOT ME!

;-)

Renata, the mom, gave me pets and said I was a good dog, though. She said her plants thanked me! WOWO, good dog.