My family is made up of a puppy dog (ok, really he’s a dog but still acts like a puppy) and two cats (twins, really: a brother and sister). I had the cats first from itty bitty kittens. Oh so cute. They are brother and sister and differ by just a few markings. When they were one I got a puppy. He was six-eight weeks old and just pure spazzy puppy. He is a lab mix and one the small side of lab. Black with a white spot that looks like a star on his chest. Oh, how the cats hated this wild intrusion into their life. What the crap was momma thinking. This stinky thing comes in and takes over the house and all our toys and cat bed. now we get no toys since the dog is around because he eats them. We get no treats or special things anymore because of the dog. Dogs drool; cats rule. We will plot Mom’s death and sleep on her head and face during the night.
Well, finally, after four years the cats have accepted the dog. The cats are now six and the dog is now five. Yep that’s right at the age of five the cats have accepted that the dog is going no where and should welcome him into the family. Well the female cat did. Actually she was cold last winter and found out how much warmth the dog generates and snuggled up beside him. The male cat tolerates him because he can’t seem to be free of the dog. Wherever the male cat is the dog follows his nose up the cats butt. I still think the cats are still plotting my death as they still sleep up around my head.
This past week my dog has been sick. I have no idea from what really I have an idea but I don’t think it’s the main cause of the sickness. Last week I took him to the vet for a check up and yearly shots. I love my vet she has been my vet for all my animals as well as for other family animals. My dog was healthy and in great shape. His heart sounded great he got a clean bill of health took his shots like a champ.
My main concern was his continuous grass eating. I asked the vet about it. Some dogs just need the greens in their system. Try feeding him some green beans see if the grass eating goes down. So we tried green beans with his foods the remaining week and the grass eating kept on going. Over the weekend, my dog found a bag of rawhides that someone gave us that I was going to toss out. I really don’t like to give him rawhides at all. They are not the greatest things for dogs especially if your dog is an enthusiastic eater like mine is and swallows foods whole. Having friends whose dogs have had bloat from this I was very concerned. When he started getting sick puked everywhere ate even more grass and couldn’t poop.
So, after spending the weekend with a sick dog that showed no improvement I took him to one of the emergency animal hospitals. He was dehydrated. After two nights at the hospital an abdominal x-ray and ultrasound and some fluids the little guy was able to come home. I still have no idea what was wrong and is still wrong with him. He has taken all of his meds and has eaten all the special foods they sent home. He was eating his own foods with their food but today he didn’t want to eat his food. He wants to eat grass. When we go for a walk it’s hello grass let me inhale you. His poop is starting to form somewhat. He has a all over body itch thing going on that he didn’t have before.
My aunt and uncle did give me a website to get some really good vitamin and supplemental stuff for the dog. Their dog was having issues with itching and pulling out fur from it and now their dog has no itching issues and all the fur has grown back and stayed. They also make a supplemental thing for cats so I will be getting all the critters here some vitamins. I am worried about the grass eating and not eating of his foods. I am leaning towards making homemade dog food. Take all the processing out of it makes it a bland diet and see if that doesn’t help.
The specialty hospital was wonderful but they really didn’t tell me what was wrong with my dog or why this is happening. I feel just awful not knowing what is wrong with him or being able to help him. I love my dog he is my kid. I just want him to be well and feel better. I’m at a loss of what to do next.
