It isn't a leg warmer

D is saying Cheddar looks like she should be in "Flash Dance" with her new leg warmer.

This is the "Dog Leggs" product that is essentially wet suit material and big strips of Velcro. Wish I came up with this idea! Well, it definitely changes how she uses her foot. I makes her have to kick the leg out further, but she does place it down straight instead of side ways. So, my m.o. is to have it on her at work or during activity and take it off at night. We will see how it goes. If anybody knows a doggie orthopedist, ask them what I should do. (thanks) My Vet didn't give me an answer.

Just thought I would throw this next shot in because it doesn't get much sweeter...

Sawing LOGS....damn.

Cheddar is snoring so loudly that she is distracting me. I just peeked at her (she works with me everyday...if you can call what she does work) and she is curled up in a ball on my old Bert and Ernie comfortor with her paw over her nose. Sooooooo cute.

We are still working on this darn skin thing, but she is looking great. The antibiotics they prescribed most recently, erythromycin, is upsetting her belly. They wanted her to have it 3x daily at 500mg. That is a lot. She barfed after the first night on the way to work in the back of my car. Hot dog barf. Nice way to start the day. Poor kid. We backed off to 2x daily starting last night. So far so good.

I will get the video of her from this weekend posted. I will. I will.

Just before she settled in for this nap, she was nesting around on her blanket using her paw. Pretty cool stuff!

She is doing so amazingly that I we are relaxed now. I can even shift gears and start getting excited about our big trip to Greece.

Triumphant Return

Before her surgery, we tried to get Cheddar out to her "doggie paradise," Cumberland Island, but it did not work out. Our dear friends live there and we are lucky enough to visit with Cheddar. Cheddar's was practically raised with her best buddy, a Basenji named "Hobbes," who we don't see very often now that he is one the island full time. Over the years we have watched Ched and Hobbes develop goofy little games and behaviors. With this visit, we weren't sure how things would go.

Cheddar knows exactly what is up when we head in the direction of the marina and is a fantastic little traveller. Upon on arrival Cheddar would practically skip around the island. We typically do a lot of relaxing, walking, and eating on our visits. Walks in the woods and playing on the beach are some of Ched's favorite things to do. Since her surgery, we haven't taken any long walks, so this was all uncharted territory.

Well, our trip was perfect and our little inspiration did beautifully. She got extra attention from the other folks on the boat, but other than that, she was the perfect little sailor...even getting so excited as we pulled in to dock that we had to hold her back. Just like the 4-legged days.

Hobbes and Cheddar got along just fine. Now that he is older, Hobbes, is a grumpy old man set in his ways, so we were concerned that he might be extra ornery or pecky with the 3-legged girl.

After a chilly boat ride, we arrived and it was obvious that Cheddar was thrilled to be there and Hobbes was too. It brought tears to my eyes to see my kid so happy and not missing a beat.

I could go on and on about Cheddar chasing an armadillo, eating oysters, walking all the way to the garden and back, but the bottom line is she had a wonderful visit and owned it!

The only accomodation we made for my 3-legged doggie was driving to the beach when we would normally have walked. It was great. She ran around like an idiot, got her tootsies wet, and even attempted to dig. I say attempted. That isn't fair. She did dig...sand was moved. She dug! I will post photos and video.

Dig it!

when is this going to be done

Good god. We went to the dermatologist today. Looks like our little puppy is just baking cakes covered in critters. Today they scraped her crusty bits and ran slides...then determined they needed to grow a culture to find out what nasty little critters are growing on my girl.

NOW, we get to start treated shampoos and leave in conditioners every other day. On top of that, twice everyday, we get to do coochie and footie antibacterial wipes, cooch neosporin application, and an extra treatment goo on her amp incision.

We are going out of town this weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day and Cheddar's first big outing. You know her "My Little Pony" back pack is going to contain treats and vulva wipes. Yeesh...

THANK GOD we jumped on treating her.

So, the deal is on top of being allergic to everything with the trama of all that she has been through her immune system is in the toilet and the normal everyday cooties are taking advantage of that.

D asked how he could help, but I doubt he is going to wanna wipe Cheddar's cooch twice a day.

Give a girl a break....geez

Well, Ched's rash/skin irritation hasn't gotten better. Even being on a high dose of Cephalexin (again) it has gotten worse...so back to the vet yesterday.

So, I had a giant list of areas to point out that were itchified/flaky and some questions. In addition to the skin thing, I am really concerned that her little front dainty-girlie wrist sure gets contorted in weird directions with her movement.

Asside -> Illustration:
1. Hold your hand out palm down.
2. Rotate your fingers 90 degrees clockwise
3. Rotate your palm down, pinky first 10 degrees.

WELL....with each hop Cheddar takes when going a slower pace, this is how her foot lands on the ground. Now you see what I am talking about.

So, I asked the doctor to make some recommendations on what to do...and we ordered a carpal brace fit to her footie. Nothing intense, just something for a little support. Hope it works. :)

That brings me to something else. Why is it that you don't get the information you really need to support your pet ahead of time or even at all? If I did not ask the 8 zillion questions that I do, I would be floundering and my kid would suffer. Thank goodness, once again for my friend, D and her 3-legged Vizsla, Ch Razn the Bar JH "Bart" and the online boards and the REAL advice that has made life smoother.

I think next I will work on a supply list of all the crapola I know of that has helped make life easier....hmmmm....

a new milestone

We have been on such a good train of progress that a minor step back yesterday seemed MAJOR.

As we started our workday, Cheddar fell down some stairs and it was painful to watch. She really did not fall, but her front leg got tucked underneath her body and she kind of slid down. It is hard to see a stumble because she really has been back to our new normal in behavior and activity. Her stumbles really affect my attitude to her progress and probably knock me down when she just gets up and keeps on hopping.

WELL, when we got home another, she kicked my attitude right back up with a huge milestone. I was sitting on my bed talking to D and his whole face changed. Cheddar jumped onto our bed for the first time as a tripod!!! AND I missed it. Before she could easily take a flying leap or even delicately bounce right up. In fact, we would often play fetch with the bed being home base. Evidently she pulled some sideways manoeuver and got right up. Just a little while later, I encouraged her to do it again and she did it! NICE!!!!

Her weird skin stuff is still evident and doesn't seem to be improving. We are headed back in to the Doc on Monday to see what is up. Wish that would away especially since she is still on Cephalexin...ugh. Hate antibiotics. Give the pup a break!