Sir Michael of Barks-A-Lot and Princess Gidget

Mike had a really hard night last night. I could tell he was in pain all evening, because when he had the bladder craps (when he stands really still and pushes on his bladder like it's full) he was groaning. Then when we went to bed, he slept on the bed for about 1/2 hour, jumped off and started panting. The panting lasted for almost two hours. Poor guy... I gave him a second dose of Rescue Remedy hoping it would work. It didn't. Nothing. He was panting from around 11:45 to almost 2 a.m. There was absolutely nothing I could do. I think he finally just passed out from exhaustion when he finally stopped.

I noticed too that lately he's been leaking so much more than he had been in the past. Most of the time it looks like he's just leaking in his diaper, but more and more lately, the diaper is full... especially in the morning. I just thank God for Debbie putting me on to using the diapers and the fact that they have belly bands that fit around him so I could put a baby diaper inside of it. If not for them, I wouldn't be able to keep him going. It's so sad to think of people putting their dogs down because of problems like this, but if I hadn't learned about them (since I had never heard of them before) I may have had to do the same thing.... and that would have been horrible... because even with his bladder the way it is, he still has a wonderful quality of life.

His appetite isn't what it use to be now either. It's almost as if he doesn't care if he eats or not. There have been many times when he'll tell me he's hungry, and when I feed him, he eats very little... just enough to satisfy any hunger pangs. I know that's better than overeating and vomiting, but I have a hard time believing he's getting enough to give him enough nutrition.

Gidget is doing pretty well. She still loves bothering her brother when he's sleeping.... yep... definitely a little sister. Yesterday when Mike came in from outside and was doing his happy dance (rolling all over the living room floor), she decided she wanted in on it too. So, as he rolled around, she was circling him barking that high pitched yip at him. When he didn't pay attention to her, she grabbed his back leg and pulled (while he was on his back mind you).... thank God he had the belly band on... don't know what else she would have considered grabbing. LOL

Other than the incessant barking and an occasional "accident" (not really accidents since she "knows" better)... she's really doing well. I've ordered a bark collar for her. I don't want one with an electric shock... don't want to hurt her, and I considered the one that sprays citrus when she barks, but I figured she'd probably like that too much. They also have one that supposedly emits a high frequency when they bark, but I know that doesn't work because I tried one of those with Mike years ago when Charlie and I moved into an apartment... it didn't work. But.. I found one that has a combination of either a tone or a vibration just to get her attention... also, it has a remote so I can control when it goes off. I'm hoping it will help... especially when we go outside and no one in the neighborhood is safe from her breaking the sound barrier. I'm going to use it on my arm before I put it on her so I will know exactly how it feels. She's a brat, but I wouldn't hurt her for the world (well... I say that now... but when I'm mad at her, I might say something different LOL)

Hey Alex, Thanks for e-mailing me... and especially thanks for stopping by Mike's blog. You asked how to leave a comment here. Just go to the bottom of the last post on the blog, and where it says "comments" click there. It will open up a window and you can leave it there. The comments will show when anyone clicks in that same place, but normally, when I come here... I copy them and paste them on the blog so everyone could read them without clicking there.
I hope Shakespeare is feeling better. Lymes Disease is not good... especially for a little guy like him. Give both the kids some gentle hugs and nose kisses from us.

Hi Michelle... Thanks so much for stopping in. I'm so very sorry about the vet visit for Sydney. It's so hard getting news like that. I'm saying some extra special prayers for her and you. Please give her a huge hug from me and a whole bunch of nose kisses from the kids.

Michelle said...