Bosco Dog Blog

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!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, that's what I had in my poop, the vet said. They look at it really really closely - kinda like, we dogs do when we're smelling stuff on the street I bet. In any case, Dr. Lee said there was lots of clostridium in there so then she gave me a shot in my back (I didn't even feel it but I know Joan paid $22 for it) - penicillin. Now she's giving me more pills in the morning but I'm glad to say that I'm almost all better! Joan is really happy too. I feel SO much better to not have to go out every 3 hours.

Today Joan got this thing out of a box and brought it to the backyard and starting blowing leaves around. It was like a windstorm. I always ended up being in front it, and Joan had to yell at me to move out of the way. Then later on, Joan used the same thing to suck all the leaves up and into a bag. It was like magic. Personally, I don't mind leaves at all - they are nice and soft.

Our neighbor dog, Luna, should really be called Loco.
She spends all her time barking her head off at Joan and me. I just saunter around minding my own business and all I hear is: ruff, ruff ruff. Joan sprayed Luna with the water hose and that shut her up for a few minutes. That was funny! I think she is a show-off - she just wants to be boss - when she isn't. And/Or she doesn't get walked so she has lots of energy to burn (that is more the reason, I think). As for that, Joan and I went running yesterday and on a long walk today after she did all that blowing so I'm just fine.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Okay, I think we need to take that literally and not figuratively. I probably did eat some crap and got some nasty bug in my stomach. Joan thought I was better because on our afternoon walk, I did not even go to the bathroom. Then she left to teach her class ... and was gone and gone and gone. Well, it was only 8 hours but to a canine with stomach problems, that is too long (I know, she didn't know). Well, I felt bad but I really had to go and go I did. I went in the kitchen and the dining room (the farthest away from my sleeping areas!

Joan got home and I was really happy to see her - I don't think she was so happy herself but she did not get mad at me or anything. I was a bit ashamed. She just looked concerned. She didn't right away take me for a walk but she cleaned up my mess, started a load of laundry for the kitchen rugs, and then washed the floors with smelly stuff (smells better than it did before, though!). She opened the window, too! I was happy she cleaned it all up because even though I did it, I HATED it.

Then we went on a walk around 11:15 PM and we saw the nice Australian Shepherd (with his human) and I wanted to play but it was late. We greeted each other and then went on our separate ways.

Joan was up really late on the computer doing some "work" so she let me out a few times, but I had to wake Joan up around 5:30 - so I was making about 3.5 hours between bathroom needs. I think we are going to the VET today.

I also have 3 out of 4 paws red and raw from allergies. This is ridiculous! I hope I get lots of drugs to get me back into good shape.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

When Joan got home yesterday, I was very happy because I had to go to the bathroom so bad. And I'm not talking pee. It ends up I have what Joan calls diarrhea, which by the way I have never ever had since I've lived with her (5 years). Last night she wanted to go to bed early but I kept pacing around. Finally she let me out around 10:50 PM, then I woke her up at 3:00 AM and then again at 5:25 AM because I needed to go out! This morning's relief on our walk was not much different than yesterday.

I bet she's thinking: the vet.
I'm thinking: just wait. It was probably some crap I ate off the street when I'm too fast for Joan to stop me.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, I do not recommend getting this bladder problem. I told you how I peed in the vet's house. I felt bad but I couldn't control myself. Then we got home and lucky for me, Joan stayed home with me. She let me in and out of the house over and over again all day. I'd go outside and literally squat for 10 seconds, then get up and then squat again, and over and over. I had to pee all the time (or at least I felt that way).

Joan said walking me was not very pleasant because it was mostly like: walk, walk, walk, squat ----, walk, walk, walk, squat ----------. over and over again. I think you get it.

On Monday night I could only last about 2.5 hours so I woke Joan up at 3am to let me out. She did!! Actually, she kinda jumped out of her bed when she heard me whining next to the bed. After that I made it until 7am. And she did leave me in the morning but came back within 3 hours so we were safe again. I'm definitely getting better - Joan left me for almost 7 hours yesterday and I was fine. And I'm not squatting as much on walks. These big wads of peanut butter that Joan gives me are good, I'll say. I love peanut butter. YYYYUUUUUUMMMMMMMM.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This morning I had to wake Joan up really early. I put my paws up on her bed and whined. It was still dark out but I really REALLY had to go. Joan got up and, bleary-eyed as she was, let me out. I took care of business and came back in. I knew I was gonna need to go again soon but Joan didn't look like she was going to take me on a walk. Instead, she went back to her bed!

So a couple hours later (I tried to let her sleep), I barked and told Joan to let me out again! Just to get her moving, I also threw up the grass I ate yesterday when we played ball at the school field nearby. (I played ball and ate grass.) Of course, I peed some more outside. Then we went running but I just kept having to pee so I'd squat, squat, squat. At least 50 times, Joan thinks. I don't know I wasn't counting. Maybe it was more like 30 times. But more than usual, that is for sure! I got the sense Joan started to figure out that I had a pee emergency going on!

After she showered, I let her know again that I had to go out. I was standing there at the bathroom door, waiting. Again, this is not usual. Usually, I'm relaxing on my bed or on the floor, napping. I got to go out some more and then she had my leash and we got in the car. I love the car! Dog park?!

No dog park, instead an office with women at the front. They took Joan's papers and I was a little nervous. Then we sat down and another lady came over and dropped treats on the ground. I was worried about eating them. Then she bent down and gave me a few - that was better. Joan was doing stuff so I just laid on the ground. A bit later, Joan put me on this mat and said I was 54.5 lbs.

We went into the back with the nice lady who gave me treats. She gave me more while we were in a small room. Then this guy came in and he and the nice lady held me while someone put something in my butt! Not okay. Then he said something like 101 degrees. Then they both left, and I felt a lot better. Joan had me jump up onto a big desk in the middle of the room. That was cool. And when the lady returned, she was surprised to see me up there but was really happy about it, and was petting me. Joan was also petting me and then another woman came in and she started petting me and giving me a tummy massage while I was standing up. What heaven ... well, temporary.

Then, the two women took me away from Joan and put a needle in me - that was not fun. But then they gave me back to Joan in the room. At this point, it had been a LONG time and I'm talking more than 30 mins and I really had to go so I just went right there in the room. I know I'm not supposed to go and never do, but I just can't handle this peeing feeling. And, then I went again! After that, Joan took me outside and I just kept squatting over and over on the grass trying to go and going a little bit.

We went back to the room and both ladies came back in and one told Joan I have a bladder infection. That's what Joan thought cuz I had that last year once. Same thing- gotta squat constantly. Now I have to take really big peanut butter pills and at least for today I gotta go outside a LOT - I'm talking every 20 mins or so. Luckily we have wireless in our backyard so I can tell ya all about this.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I'm getting the shaft - only a couple block walks. But it is understandable, I guess. Joan spent all day Sunday sick in the bathroom - she really was a mess - and didn't even walk me at all. Our neighbor, Tim, took me for a walk on Sunday morning and then Eileen, Joan's sister, came over in the afternoon. She took me out as well as did a bunch of things for Joan. She came over again on Monday morning. Joan just laid there ...forever and forever. But the benefit was I got to join her on the couch or bed. She finally took me for a short walk today but she is sooooo slow, not her usual self at all.

There was also another peculiar incident on Sunday night. Joan had gotten sick again and was on the couch again...exhausted. I was on my bed. All of a sudden, something started flying around the living and dining room really fast. Joan started screaming and put her head under the covers and called someone on the phone. She was screaming describing this thing she called a "bat". Next thing I knew, Joan dragged me (since she was screaming, I was a little scared) upstairs and closed the door. Then someone else called us back called "Animal Control" but they told Joan she had to deal with it herself since it was in our house (why would we call if it was outside?) and she owned the house. A few more phone calls and then Joan left me upstairs with the door closed and there was much discussion on a speaker phone about getting this bat out of the house. All I know is that it is gone. A while later, Joan came up and got me and I could go out to do my business before bed.

We do not like other animals flying around our house uninvited! We know that bats are really good animals because they eat mosquitos ....but they also can have rabies so it is not that great of an idea to get near them. We like them to be outside, eating mosquitos, not inside trapped.

So much has gone on since Friday that I forgot to mention that Joan did take me to the vet on Friday and I guess my teeth are clean now. They put me in a cage and then I was shaking a lot because I don't like cages. They put me to sleep and then I woke up in the cage and was kind of silly. A while later, they let me out and Joan was there! My back legs didn't work exactly right when going downstairs but they got back to normal later on.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The other day on our morning walk Joan took me to the vet. I don't like going there but this time, we went in and the nice lady gave me lots of treats. Yummy treats. And then we left.

Later that night Tim, my favorite neighbor, came over to our house which is really cool!!! He gives me treats so I really like him. I guess Joan is weak and couldn't get a cork out of her wine bottle so he came to help. But the important thing is I heard them talking about me getting my teeth cleaned. I don't know at all what they are talking about - I like my teeth just the way they are - nice to eat my food with.

Yesterday morning, after a fantastic run on the golf course while Joan skied, I got to thinking that maybe the teeth cleaning and the vet might be related. So I got really needy and instead of resting on my bed while Joan read her book, I tried to get up on the chair with her ... she told me I was not a lap dog and couldn't fit on the chair with her. I stood there and stared at her. Then I'd try to get on again or lick Joan. She told me to lie on my bed so I did that...for a while. I'm worried about this teeth cleaning ... is it like getting a bath? My last bath wasn't that bad at all.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 4:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This morning it was very cold - Joan got up very early and left but when she returned we went for a walk. It was cold like 7 or 8 degrees plus wind but I don't mind (I have my fur coat). But the surprise was that Joan brought me to that place, THE VET. I started shaking like a leaf (literally!). They poke and prod me there and I remember it!

Joan weighed me and guess what? I'm plenty heavy - at 57.3 lbs. (Do you remember when I weighed 42 lbs after returning from the kennel last year?? I was skin and bones then- truly.) So I bet that means that Joan won't be feeding me 4 cups of food anymore and all those treats. I love treats.

The trip was pretty quick and not soooo bad. We were in that room with no windows and I was REALLY shaking then. The man came in and then another woman. The woman held me around the neck and the man poked something into my hind quarters - kind of a pinch. I didn't say anything. Then we got out of that room and Joan gave me treats which I gobbled up as if I hadn't been fed for days!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Joan came home with quite a story that I couldn't believe - actually I wish it were not true because it only portrays poodles in a continuing bad light (sorry Isabella). I guess Aaron's dog, Reggie, who is a nice loafing black lab had to go to the vet for his tooth. Reggie's other human, Cassie, took him there and while they were waiting to see the VET a poodle attacked Reggie and BIT him, JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!!!! I really cannot believe it! Maybe it is the same poodle - that would make me feel better - except it probably isn't and that is further data for me to not hang out with poodles. I'm sorry Reggie. Hey, I just got a picture of Reggie in email. Here he is, poor guy:

He also has to have his tooth pulled. I hope that never happens to me.

This morning, I pulled a 3-poop run with Joan. That really has never happened before and Joan was out of bags. Luckily (for her - it didn't matter to me since there's no stopping a dog who needs to go...), I went right next to a garbage can. So Joan just walked over, opened the garbage can, pulled out someone else's poop bag and added to it. She's so resourceful when I mess up.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As you all probably knew, Joan took me to the vet today -- for my toes! Yikes. Last night she was touching my toes and nails while lounging on the couch, and I did not growl at her. I thought that might have persuaded her to NOT take me to the vet. But no bones.

This morning we went for a run - things looking great. But THEN, she put me on the leash again, which was fantastic of course, until we walked in front of the vet building and then she took me inside. The last time I was there was for a bladder infection in July (besides of course, my dog bite but that was at a different place). I started shaking and jumping up on the chairs and couches. Joan did weigh me and it said 55.7 lbs. Joan says her ex-boyfriend, Jay, (I barely remember that guy but Joan says I loved him) would be happy about my weight because he always thought I was a bit skinny. Joan has been feeding me tons and I love it!

In any case, back to the vet - the lady showed us into a room. I hate those rooms and I started to jump around like a bouncing ball. Jump on Joan, jump on wall, jump on bench, jump on Joan, jump on table, jump on wall - all the while, whining and shaking of course. Then the man and woman come in. They talk about my nails and the man directs the woman to get a muzzle. Then the next thing I know, I'm muzzled and up on the table and the man is looking at my toes and nails with a light and I'M NOT HAPPY! Then they put me on my side and the man CUT MY NAILS. I'M STILL NOT HAPPY. Then after the woman stopped holding me down, I practically jumped off the table.

The man said I had an infection in my nailbed - where the nail goes into my toe. He said it is mighty painful. He gave pills to Joan (more peanut butter for me!). He also checked out my dog bite wound and said it looked fine but that my fur wouldn't grow back there. I'm marred. I should get compensation for the permanent damage to my fur.

Anyway, it's time for a nap. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've had to yelp and even growl at Joan. I feel bad but she's hurting me. She tries to dry my paws off and when she puts the towel on my back paw, I yelp and jump. OUCH - my paw hurts me - especially my toenail. Of course, those yelping antics then brought upon great scrutiny on my body parts. Joan started trying to look at my paw and my toenail. I then had to growl at her to warn her, No NO NO, please don't touch.

I guess she didn't like it - she reprimanded ME for growling at her! Let's just say there was a stare-down. I think I ended it by licking her. hee hee hee. I think she had managed to look at it enough, IMHO. I wonder what she'll do about it????

I hope NOT THE VET.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 6:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have been lax in my blogging. Joan and I have been doing a lot of work around the house. Actually she has and I lie around and wait for her to emerge from the basement. There are a lot of smells coming from down there - I never go down there so I doubt I'll ever know what she is doing. She wears a mask sometimes down there and she looks kinda funny. So now I'll get back to my daily life in the city.

Today was not so great. I have a bad story to tell you. Joan and I went out for our usual morning walk. I think she had lots of things to do today since tomorrow she start working in ernest! She took me on our shortish loop - 1 mile. As we came around from the river road back into the neighborhood, we passed by this house that has 2 black standards poodles. They are nasty. They always bark at all the dogs as they pass by and they scare me, so I high-tail it out of there. I pick up the pace and Joan follows suit.

Today was different - not in my fast pace - we were already past them and down the block a house. But then they got out of their yard. They opened the fence and came running after us. Joan started screaming "GO HOME!" She was really screaming but they didn't listen to her and then they attacked me! I tried to fight them but there were two of them (off-leash) and me (on-leash). Meanwhile, Joan is screaming even louder (if that's possible). Finally, they backed down and retreated to their driveway. Joan yelled at them some more and then she heard a person call for them. I was shaking. Joan was shaking. SHOCK.

Then - two women who were out on the river road cut through a person's yard to ask if we were okay (they said that Joan has a loud voice!). Then two other neighbors came out - one guy who saw the whole thing happen and another who just had heard Joan. The man was very concerned because this is not the first time the dogs have been out (we know that because we've seen them out before - and Joan yelled at them that time too but they went home.) Joan said she was going to call animal control. The other neighbor lady said that Joan should just talk to the woman. The woman who recalled her dogs and didn't even have the decency to see if they did any harm? And shall we talk about harm -- I was bitten by those nasty dogs. Here are the pictures of me before, during, and after my visit to the UM Vet Emergency (it was Labor Day no less.)

They drugged me at the doctor's so when I got back home, I was a different dog. I didn't even get up to say hi to Tim, our neighbor who gives me treats.

Anyway, back to the scene of the crime --- this young woman comes out of the house and is going to leave when the neighbor tells her to talk with me. She even acknowledges that they can't keep the dogs in, that they are "very smart" (if they are so smart, why can't they be trained?), and how they've already been visited by animal control. Get ready for trip #2!!!! Joan told her that they needed to pay for a vet visit to check me out, and she said "My mom is out of town." In any case, she gave Joan her phone number. (At this point, Joan hadn't seen my wound.) In the remaining 2 blocks to our house, Joan saw my bloody wound and freaked out!

We got home, she called the people's house and told them about my bloody gash. Then called animal control (closed - holiday). Then called UM Vet Emergency to get an appointment. Then we were in the car and gone for several hours. It was okay there - they treated me right (drugs always help, I guess). Although they made me throw up when we left. When we got back home, I was very s-l-o-w. Joan called the people and left a message that they owe us $247.

Meanwhile both of our days were pretty much ruined. Joan did not get her work done and I was sick and tired. Plus -- I can't go in the water until this wound completely heals - that could be 2 weeks or worse?! That means no big dog park - I'm very sad.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

(Sorry I haven't gotten our trip photos up --soon!!). On Sunday, I woke up having to pee like crazy. Joan let me out and then we went on a walk. It was so weird. I felt like I had to go all the time, so I squatted about 20 times on our 1 mile loop. Then we went to my favorite place, the dog park, and there, I squatted about 60 times - seriously it was like every 10 seconds - 1 minute. I just really felt like I had to go but nothing would come out. Joan kept saying things like, "Bosco - again?", "What are you doing?" "There must be something wrong with you." That's not very nice.

In any case, this continued on the whole day - I had to keep asking Joan to let me out of the house so eventually she just left me outside. I managed to hold it overnight but we were up the next day and I had to go, go, go, go, go, go, go.... Joan left and a bit later, Alyssa (the daugher of Tim, my favorite guy and neighbor), came over and let me out in the yard. She's so sweet. She came over again later on and then, not long after, Joan came home. We went on another strange walk because everytime I squatted, Joan pushed a plastic container under me. She's weird.

BUT then we ended up at the VET! I don't like that place. There was a cat in a box there, and I was panting. Then there was another cat and weird smells. They made me get on this black pad and announced 48.5 lbs. Okay. Then we went into the room. The room with two doors, no windows, a bench (that I got up on), and a silvery high table/countertop (no food on it - nothing on it!). Despite this sparcity, you could HEAR a lot - too much. I heard people outside both doors and I would pace around the room. Then I'd jump on Joan's lap. Then I'd jump up on the bench. Then I'd jump down. Meanwhile, panting, dripping saliva, panting, shaking.

Then a woman came in. She picked me up and put me on the silvery table. She started feeling me everywhere which is like petting so it was okay - sort of - I still had my tail between my legs as I was a bit scared. She looked at my paws which I don't like especially because they are itching me like crazy. She put something in my butt (eeks!!) and then said 100.6 or something like that. Okay. Normal. Okay. All these numbers. She looked at my back paw and said that it was bad - because I have been licking it a lot. Then she left us in there. We were in there forever - like 40 minutes or more. More panting, pacing, jumping, licking, shaking, pacing, listening, whining. Finally, the woman returned and had a long discussion with Joan that pretty much said, they don't know what's wrong based on the examination of my urine that Joan collected on our walk. She gave us pills for my foot and we left (of course paid our big bill!).

I started to feel a bit better - not feeling like I had to go so much. The next day, Joan got a call and they said that I have what's called a "bladder infection" and that the pills I got for my foot will also fix my bladder. Yeah! That was the worst feeling because I know I'm not suppose to go in the house but then you feel like you have to go so you really have to distract yourself so that you don't think about it - especially when Joan is gone and I'm alone in the house.

All I know now is that I'm getting to eat a lot of peanut butter!!!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I can tell it is spring. Not because it is sunnier and warmer, but because my ears have started itching me a lot. I shake my ears back and forth and Joan then knows that I have brown gunk in my ears that needs to be cleaned out. I don't like having my ears cleaned but I let Joan do it because I know I'll feel better if she has. Sometimes it gets so bad that all my sensitive parts are hurting and itching - like my ears, my eyes, in between my toes, and my butt. That happened once and Joan took me to the vet, and he said "this is a classic case of allergies." So now, if it gets bad, Joan starts putting a pill in my breakfast. She thinks I don't know about it, but I see that it is a pink pill - I mean, it doesn't look like my brown food! But I'm cooperative and I eat it along with my food.

At some point, I gashed my leg. Joan saw it when she returned from her trip. It was only a small scab, but now I've been licking it a lot, so I think Joan is getting concerned. Last night she put some smelly goop on it and then tied a bandana around my leg - I think in desperate hope that I would not lick it. Of course, this morning I jumped up next to her on the bed and guess what, no bandana on my leg!

Yesterday, I got to play with my friend, Chloe, the yellow lab around the corner. She was out while her human was working on his fence and the kids were playing on bikes. I like Chloe a lot. Joan let me off leash and we ran around a bit in Chloe's yard. Chloe is younger than I am but I still like playing with her.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yesterday morning Joan tricked me on our morning walk and took me to the Vet. I entered the building and there was a cat on the couch. I said hi to him by sniffing his nose. He was a good guy and liked me. Then Joan made me sit on a black pad and said I was 46.6 lbs. I've noticed that Joan has been giving me more food lately - maybe she thinks I'm too skinny. I love food, so I willingly take it! The vet says I'm in good shape but Joan thinks I could fatten up a bit.
Anyway, then we went into a room - that's when I get scared. I can hear the sounds of people outside the room and I was wondering what they were going to do to me. Sometimes they put me on that slippery metal table and poke me with things or look in my ears...or worse. This time, the woman and man came in. The woman came over to me, hiding in the corner. I started shaking. The man then came over and covered my eyes with his hand and then I felt something in my nose and a whif of something and then again, in the second nostril. How weird! Then they let me go - yeah. That wasn't that bad! Joan says it is something called a vaccine for bordatella or kennel cough. Ok - whatever she says, I'll do it. I know that she has also given me a rabies vaccine and says that those awful squirrels in my backyard might have that disease...and that the raccoon that visited us probably had it too! She says that I'm protected in some way now.

The day got better because after we came out of the room, the woman gave me lots of treats and then the other woman out there gave me some more! I used to soooo scared of the Vet that I would not even eat treats there, but now I'm okay with it because they are usually nice to me. There was another dog - black lab - that came in while I was eating treats. Heeehee, he had to go into one of those rooms, too! And he didn't get any treats - maybe he did later I don't know because we were already out of there and walking down Lake Street for a continuation of my morning walk.

It's getting warmer now. That means it's not -7 anymore like on Tuesday when my feet were frozen and I had to limp a little because something froze on my foot. Now it's more like 15 or 20 - I don't want to sit outside for too long, but I'm okay going on walks in this weather.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In case you are interested in what my seroma looked like after it appeared as a result of my collision with a tree branch, I found this picture that Joan took of me. If you can't tell, the seroma is on the top of my right leg/chest -- so on the left as you look at it.

I'm happy to report that is pretty much gone. I never really paid any attention to it - which is a good thing because Joan was threatening the "cone".

Posted by Joan Hughes at 8:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Joan took me into the vet this morning. I do not like that place. The only saving grace is that they have treats there for me. I had 5 or 6!

The vet heard my tree collision story and then looked at my leg. He stuck a needle in my protruding bump and drew out a lot of reddish pus etc. (I know it is gross!). I didn't feel a thing. He then said that I have a "seroma" which is liquid that develops in the space behind the skin - or something like that - and it will take some time to go away, maybe even a month. Joan has to put hot compresses on it until it goes away.

He also is making me take antibiotics for 2 weeks. He said that if I lick it a lot, I will open it up and then I'll have to have anesthesia (read: $$$) for them to fix it. Therefore, he warned that if I lick it, I will have to wear a cone. So far, I have not licked it since I got home from the vet. I'm going to take a nap now since it has already been a busy day.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For all of you who are concerned about me (probably 2 people), I wanted to update you about my health after my collision with the tree branch on Friday. I am doing much better! I am acting pretty much back to normal with no limping. However, Joan keeps trying to look at my injury and I consistently push her hand away with my snout - I am very strong that way. On Sunday, she did look at it and found that I have a lot of redness and a scrape under my fur near my leg, so that is what hurt me. She washed my leg on Sunday with soapy water, as the 30 degree weather and snow was too cold for her to wash my whole body!

Re: The accident: I think I did not anticipate how the mud would not allow me to jump as high as normal and that is why I ran into the branch. I'll have to keep that in mind for the future. I'm not sure Joan will take me to the dog park again - well, I hope she does....

Posted by Joan Hughes at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This morning, Joan got up and ready for work and then we went for a walk. I thought this would be any normal walk like we usually do, but it wasn't. We walked a few blocks and then backtracked and then went out to Lake Street and crossed the parking lot near the vet. I was trying to hurry by the vet shop in my usual way, but Joan made me go in there. Sometimes we just go in there to get a treat and weigh me, but today it was different.

Well, first she did weight me. 46.7 lbs! But then Joan was talking with the woman behind the desk and then we went into a smaller room. I don't like these small rooms. I can hear all sorts of noises. Then two people came in - a man and woman. The woman bent down and was friendly to me. The man was talking to Joan.

Then the woman put me up on the table and the man checked me over. He told Joan that I was in great shape and that my weight was just perfect. The woman complimented my soft fur. The man told Joan I should get my teeth cleaned. Then OUCH he gave me a shot and then OUCH he took blood from my leg! Then Joan told the man that I eat bunny poop in the backyard. That Joan! She revealed my secret. The woman said, "oh, yum, yum." See, she knows! So then after Joan paid the $100 bill for about 10 minutes of interaction, we left and continued our walk.

Tonight Joan and I went on an hour-long walk again. I love that! I get to smell things all along the river. Now I'm sitting in her office while she works, but the window to the backyard is open and I can hear Tim, the neighbor, and his family talking out on their patio. I like Tim - he gives me treats out of his pocket and pets me a bunch. Anyway, that's it for now.

Oh - the only thing is on Sunday we went over to one of Joan's swimming buddies' house - Ellen. I'm not sure why we went over there. But we hung out in her apartment - I saw she has a cat - and I saw a bowl full of chocolate Easter eggs and then we left. Maybe we'll go there again.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wow, I almost might have needed to go to the vet today. I was happy as a clam, lounging in the sun in the backyard (it was 60 degrees today in March in Minneapolis!!!) Since most of the snow has melted away, I found myself a good stick and started munching on it. The next thing I knew, it broke and I had a piece of stick lodged in the roof of my mouth between my either side of my teeth. OUCHHHH!
Lucky for me, since I learned to escape from the yard, Joan keeps a pretty watchful eye on me when I'm outside. She must have seen me kind of staggering around with sad eyes because she came outside and called to me to come. I walked slowly up to her, and then I willingly opened my mouth when she put her fingers in to pry my mouth open. To her surprise, she saw the stick lodged in my mouth and pulled it out. What a relief! Then I nuzzled up to her because she is so nice and caring for me. She told me (again) that I should not play with sticks. It is true I've had other run-ins with sticks in the past.

The only other fun thing that happened was that I got to see Martha and Miguel, Joan's friends, today as well as her sister, Eileen, who was visiting someone in Minneapolis. I love visitors, but even though I like Miguel a lot, I was a little afraid of him when he first came into the house. Well, it's off to bed for me!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Joan went out after my dinner last night. Since she had left, I was compelled to snuggle up on the velvet daybed with the blankets that she left. I like it much better than my own bed on the floor. As usual, I usually know that I won't get caught because I jump down before she comes into the room (unless she surprises me by coming through the front door). In any case, last night she returned home and, after letting me out in the backyard, headed to the living room and went to sit down on the daybed/couch. What she immediately realized was that I had warmed it up for her. The spot where she usually sits, was all warm from me having been there. Shoot, I got caught again! She would never have known had she just made her dinner and let the couch "cool off."

On another note, she took me to the vet on my walk last night. I hate that place so much I try to pull my hardest by it (never works). And then, as soon as I enter, I start shaking all over. There was a cat in a cage and two scary people sitting in chairs and that nurse who seems pleasant but.... Luckily, she just made me sit on this black floor area, and then she told me I was 45.8 lbs. Some people think I'm too skinny. Joan feeds me this really good food and even gives me extra now because some people think I'm skinny, but the vet says I am just fine. I prefer to be slim like I am as compared to the pure-bred labs that get to be 100 lbs! I can tell you, though, that I'm always on the lookout for food - a very lab-like characteristic! The other day I tried my hardest to get a half hot-dog bun that was in someone's yard behind a fence. Joan got me to continue walking but I would have appreciated the extra snack. I can tell you that I always know when Joan gets ham out to make a sandwich. Instantly, I'm in the kitchen, up on hind legs, seeing what going on on the countertop!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 1:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Chocolate is very bad for dogs because it has a chemical much like caffeine that makes our hearts race and we essentially can have a heart attack. But in the past few months, for some reason I've been interested in chocolate - or perhaps I am just up to no good and it happens that Joan has chocolate around when I'm up to no good.

First, there was the time when Joan was painting to the door to the spice cabinet so it was gone. I was bored and decided to drag out a bag of cocoa from Joan's favorite Spice Company, Penzeys spices. So this is GOOD cocoa. Joan came home and saw that all my water was gone from my dish and knew something was up (I usually don't drink while she is gone). Then, she found it - cocoa all over the rug! The vacuum still smells like cocoa when she uses it. Anyway, she called the vet but he said that I was doing okay based on the fact that I wasn't lethargic or panting heavily. Phew! Now, Joan bought a safety fence and doesn't let me go into the kitchen when she's gone. ....but....

While her parents were here, Joan and her mom left to go shopping. They had left part of a cookie on the counter for Joan's dad who decided to stay home with me and take a nap. Well, while he was sleeping, I smelled to chocolate bar cookie and went and got it from on the counter. Then, the funny part is that when Joan and her mom returned, her dad said, "Why did you two eat my cookie?" Then, they looked at me, but I just acted innocently.

Then --- there was the day when Joan unfortunately saw evidence of foil in my dog waste. She was wondering, "what did you eat that had foil on it?" Then she remembered that she had recently unpacked some boxes (during remodel) and one had a glass dish with a couple Belgian chocolates in it. She put the dish on her bookshelf - she even saw me sniff it once. Sure enough, she came home from the walk and confirmed that the dish was empty. But the most amusing thing about it - is that she asked her mom if they had eaten the chocolates and her mom said that she saw that the chocolates were gone and the dish was about to fall off the shelf - and SHE wondered why Joan would have left the dish like that! Boy, I make everyone confused because they never expect that I would do these things.

Well, those are my chocolate adventures. I really should stop eating that stuff!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)