Zephyr

We had a scary happening yesterday.

I took the dogs on a long, fun river walk. But when we came home Zephyr started barfing up river grass--not uncommon---but suddenly passed out cold while I was watching. He just tipped over and went DOWN. I grabbed him and he pulled back up. He was having trouble getting the grass up and each time he hurled he fainted. He FINALLY got the grass out--a small hay bale, but the third time he was coughing up scraps he went down hard, couldn't get his head up and was scrambling terribly.

We were having so much fun!

I rushed him to the emergency vet across town--5:15 on a Saturday night! Of course! It was the longest rainy freeway drive EVER. He was ok after that. They wanted to run lots of tests--x-rays, blood work, ECG, etc. Then handed me an estimate that rivaled Trooper's teeth extraction.

On a side note: Universe! SERIOUSLY?!

I LOVE my dogs. LOVE THEM, even when they make me crazy, but we just had in a quick row: my little biopsy scare, Trooper's dental surgery, major car repair and now THIS?! COME ON ALREADY!! 

I called my mom, CRIED on the phone then regrouped. I made the decision to take Zephyr home and go to Trooper's vet today, Sunday, no appointment needed. 

It was a loooooooooonnnggg night. I woke to every peep, bump, snort, sneeze from both dogs. We slept with the bathroom light on. I kept sitting up and watching his breathing. He looked really tired, but ok.

So this morning--so, so tired--we went to the vet (also across town). She confirmed Zephyr's got a new heart murmur and wants him back for an ultrasound.  He may also have something called a vagal response triggered by the barfing that caused him to faint and may have something to do with his heart. :(

It was a really, really long 24 hours and we came home and CRASHED on the couch. He's been curled up next to me for hours, another sign he's not feeling so hot, but he is drinking, eating and peeing. All very good signs.

So, off to bed. Will keep you updated. Trooper's doing good. He came with us. I think it helped.

d, xo

Peeing and Humping: We Just Don't Do That

Trooper got peed on at the dog park tonight. It happens. He didn't seem to mind in the least. Dogs aren't really caught up in our finicky dilemmas--cleanliness, peeing in public, humping in public, whatever in public. Dog owners, I notice, are.

"Sweetums! Don't ROLL on that dirty grass. Ick. OMG, you just had a bath!"

"Charlie! For goodness sakes! Will you get off Petunia! We just don't do that!"

But, Sweetums wants nothing more than to roll in the barfy spot on the lawn. And Charlie can't hump enough, plus he isn't too concerned about who--male, female, large, small, dogs are all-inclusive humpers.

Zephyr peeing on Trooper. Or Trooper getting in the way. You decide. 

Red, a chihuahua mix, the same 9 lbs. as Trooper gives him a romp for his money. She throws him over like a WWF wrestling pro then takes him on like a scene from Showgirls: grind, grind, grind (insert Robert Palmer, "She's Addicted To Love").

Dude, I'm standing right here. Please. (Pee-on-a-bush-at-the-river envy)

Trooper is a humpy dog. Some dogs aren't. Some dogs are. Trooper very much is. And I'd let him carry on with his amorous ways--Hey! Get that heart rate up their, kid!--except for two very important points:

1) Trooper is NOT fixed. He's over 10 years old, off the streets and just underwent surgery, so he's doing better, but is still not at optimal health to undergo another surgery. And I've heard pros and cons about whether I should at all. I'm on the fence.

2) The more interesting of reasons is, the owners of Trooper's inamorata have sometimes looked terribly distraught to see their precious furry loved one's being pounded on by a furry little Ewok with a big glitter in his eyes. (Amorous is too weak a word. When Red leaves the park I have to restrain Trooper until she is long gone. He wants her that badly. Oh, Trooper.

Trooper would not hesitate to pee back on Zephyr, if he could reach.



We already anthropomorphise our dogs as it is. (I'm guilty too!) Shouldn't we let them have these few dogish pleasures?

Next week, well talk about dog barf and other fun dog facts. If you thought this was going to be all cute and cuddly dog stories, you didn't read the title.

d, xo