Sick Kitty

Pasht got ill again so I took her to the vet. It was after 5 when I heard that she'd be ok, but there till in the morning. I was fine till I got home (still not knowing her fate) and I realized this is what it would be like to come home to no kitty.

So, the official word with the girls on my lap band forum is that I have a sick critter-and I DO. Prissy's bum needs to be soaked. But there is no way I can make myself look decent in the time I have left to go have coffee and I don't want to start bawling again. And I would.

Pasht is fine (for an old girl) she just has some allergies that are causing her a little grief. And she's slow because, well, she's old. Probably around Bitty's age. But she's never been sick before and it scared me to death. Ok, not to death, but it really scared me.

Except for the time she got out and was gone a few weeks, Pasht has never NOT been here. Here is a relative term-she's always home. Even when the dogs are not. I can't imagine a home without her.

Concessions for the Elderly and Infirm

I'm not a good task master. Bitty is just too old and frail to spend all morning out-so after a romp and a treat, when the crew is ready to go back out again I let her stay behind and sleep on the couch while I work. She is bonding with the gang, and she adores both my parents, so I don't think I'm in danger of setting her apart from the pack.

We did work on a behavior before her nap-she doesn't like to take food from the hand. Cody was like this too. I can understand her not wanting to join the boisterous hand feeding circle yet, but we practiced a whole yummy sticks worth on taking food from my hand and eating it in the same spot-not running off with it. In my household, once I call a dog's name and hand that dog the food, no other dog will take it. Granted, that's the perfect scenario, but we have few issues over food.

I believe hand feeding is a time for training and bonding and I do a little bit each day and whoever goes to see Mom and Dad get hand fed as well from Mom. If I go down before they finish breakfast, Mom will feed her eggwhites to the dogs. I think that's good for both Mom and the dogs.

With the cooler weather I've put Bitty and Dottie and Prissy on a bit of that high calorie paste. The KD has put a little weight on Dottie but Prissy and Bitty are a bit thin. Just a little bitty bit.

Dottie is still on three heart meds a day, Prissy on her antibiotics and butt compresses 2 X daily-she loves that part. This week it's been a little like a MASH unit for dogs and cats. Oh, Pasht is over her hairball problem-finally.

My prayer today is that all the cute fashion accesseroy chihuahuas and yorkies are well taken care of when they are no longer young and fit. Maybe some of them are special angels sent to teach spoiled young girls about caring and compassion.

Letting Go

Oh my gosh-it's hard to do the right thing. I put Bitty out with the pack today for the first time alone-she trotted right out and part of me was happy and part of me wanted her to NEED me. I'm sitting here now typing and the cat is curled around my shoulder like a lovely tortoise shell muffler-yes dahling, I do wear fur.

Our relationships with our animals mirror those with people (well, we ARE human) only maybe more intensely. It is so tempting to keep Bitty for myself, just a little extra attention, a little favor, and she would me MINE, loyal and devoted and loving only me. AND (all caps for emphasis) she's old, so what would it matter? Really, woud it hurt anything?

But, it isn't the best thing for her. She's already bonded with one person, who had the ill fortune to die, leaving her alone an unbonded. I truly hope I outlive this old dog, but what if I didn't? And, she can love me and my parents and the crew, and that has got to be a more secure feeling than having all your heart in one place.

She's crying at the door and has been out for a good hour, so I'm going to let her in, along with the rest of the pack.

Too Good to be True

Ms. Bitty is a quiet, well behaved little old dog. She wants a lap, but doesn't whine or scratch for one. She rides in the car very nicely. My crew is a little overwhelming for her, and the hardest part is not to pick her up or cuddle her excessively. But I know, the sooner she bonds with and becomes a pack member, the more secure she'll be.

Before the crew arrived I took her down to meet my parents-my Mom was rattling around in the kitchen when I got there and it must have been really familiar to the old girl cause she ran in immediately, tail wagging. Of course, the person she was looking for wasn't really there, but Mom gave her a nice treat and then Daddy came in and provided a much longed for Senior lap.

I went and brought home the pack. Vet Bill was huge-Greta had her teeth cleaned and Prissy developed an anal gland abcess and had to have a flush and some antibiotics. The vet is as good as his word-I've told him not to wait to hear from me but to give the dogs anything they need short of a liver transplant. And, if they happen to have a liver and there is a good chance of a good recovery, that's OK too.

I don't feel the least bit worried that anyone there would take advantage of that-but they don't hesitate to treat the dog.

So, Prissy came home with antibiotics and orders to heat pack her bottom twice a day, Dottie came home with her three drugs, Greta came home with clean and shiny teeth and Cody just came home. I let the Spotties go see my folks while the bigguns played in the backyard. I then put the Spots in the backyard and went to get Ms. Bitty.

And the intro was completely uneventful. Prissy wanted to throw her weight around, but backed off immediately when I pointed. We all played then I put them away for a group (in individual kennels) nap. Tonight I put the two old gals in an ex pen and let the youngsters caper around a bit. It was good for Dottie to have someone a little less active.

No drama makes for very slow reading-but it's just the kind of introduction you want. I am looking forward to seeing how Bitty bonds with the pack-she's been an only dog, and probably a sheltered one at that, but doesn't have any of the really bad vices only little dogs get. My prayer for her is to look outside soon and see her lying in the sun with the Spotties, one of the pack.

Cat Fashion

I woke up this morning with the cat draped across my forehead. Apparently the warm forehead was just what her belly ordered. I felt sorry for anyone who has never woken up with a cat draped across their forehead. Pasht is getting older now, so she snores a bit too. So, my headress came equipped with audio as well, nature's own white noise machine.

Cats are not selfless creatures-she was on my forehead because it pleased her. But it also pleased me too-it was warm and cozy and sounded nice. Not all self serving acts are selfish.

Ooops, I've done it again

Ok, I'm going to Houston on Thursday and I'll be coming home with a new little friend. Again. Bitty is 11 years old, 3 pounds or so, former wife's dog-it happens. Lives change. But, I have a little old lady two houses down and I am pretty good at handling little old chihuahuas.

It doesn't help that while we were in Texas the big news story was about a lady who had 41 little chihuahuas seized from her home. My parents are convinced I am becoming a hoarder-but I fulfill my own requirements-I can afford adequate care for this new dog, actually better than adequate. She'll have two other tiny chi's to associate with, a backyard, and a little old lady and a little old man to visit. At 11 years old, we are not talking long term committment either.

Somebody has to love the little old ones too.

Oh, what a kitty slut I am

I cavorted with my niece's kitty in Houston, and fed salmon to wild kitties in Austin. I hand fed deer. I caught a lizard. I've just been out having a big old time. I'm home tonight to wash clothes and then out the door again tomorrow.

Truth be told, I planned this whirlwind so I wouldn't have to take the dogs in twice-it's easier on them this way, but a little tough on my old bones. Truth be told I plan a lot of things around what is best for the dogs.

I am just an animal FREAK. Wherever I go, the resident creatures usually come to greet me because they know I like them and I think I welcome them spiritually because I miss my own crew.

Random thought: Jane Goodall travels so much, I rather doubt she has her own pet. Sitting here tonight, missing my dogs and loving my cat, that makes me very sad. Surely the airlines would allow JANE GOODALL's dog to travel with her. Jane, do you have a dog? If not, I would like to buy you one. Please, take something just for yourself.....