Next month & close call

Well ...

Sip is doing well and I thought I could have her spayed this week. But while one vet had told me a month following her last heartworm treatment a different one said we needed to wait yet another month because her lungs had been so bad. I was realllly wanting to get that out of the way. With the spay finished, she'll be clear for new advertisement. I'm also concerned because as a result of the oil spill, we think, adoptions are way down at a local no-kill shelter.

Sippi is starting to roll around in the grass now. I don't think she could breathe well enough to do that before. She is also getting perky and wanting to run and jump a bit more. I let her off leash a little this past weekend and she loved skipping for a few feet. She also coughed up a bit of foam. So that activity still has to be closely monitored.

Last Friday the air con guy was at the house. I was closing things up after he left and unbeknownst to me, one of the cats had slipped into the basement. One of my worst fears and the very cat I worry about. Sip went straight for him but the cat was behind a couch which gave him a reprieve. It would've been toast for Ash. I got Sippi back into her cage and then carted his majesty back to safety. I wasn't even sure what she was after at first.

Just another reminder that she needs to go to a home with no cats.

Sippi is doing well

Hey Everyone -

Last Friday was three weeks post the mega dose and Sippi is holding her own. I gave her a last dose of prednisone yesterday and am going to see how she does without it now. Later in the week I'm going to see if we can make an appointment for her spay and then, wow, it will be time to put her back out there again.

I took her to Petsmart on Sunday when the store was quiet. She did pretty well walking around. I kept an eye out for other pets and she behaved herself. Sip did a nice job sitting for a treat at the checkout. She does take those very well. It was actually fun to give her medication.

Thanks Everybody - Sip sends lots of toe licks (-;

Sip has a smile

Not sure if I've mentioned it before or not, but Sippi has a noticeable smile. She really turns on the charm when she is getting a nice rub down or tummy pat. I added up the tentative cost of that smile, $1498.76. This doesn't include her food, collar and leashes, jacket, sweater (heh! It was 25F outside), and the metal cage she is in that I had intended for one of my other dogs. I still have to finish her spay and shots.

Sippi is a good napper. She likes to snuggle up and prop her head on you.

Sippi breathing easier

Well ... Sip spent the weekend at the vet while I visited my nephew's family near Atlanta. We, my Sister-in-law and I, didn't get back in time to pick her up yesterday so I retrieved her this morning. She chewed on her bone a little and then went into an easy sleep in the back of the car. I think there is a lot going on there so she doesn't rest as well. It has been about 11 days since the treatment and she seems to be doing well. Don't want to jinx things, but I think she is breathing easier.

Came home to find a big thunderstorm took out my bedroom TV, computer cable modem and wireless router as well as a phone. Bleh.

So, what's next?

So far so good and Sippi is feeling better since last Friday. She was pretty wiped out but was perking up on Sunday. Right now she is sitting in her cage chewing on her bone. I'm working on the computer and she self selected her cage, occupying herself. Such a good girl. Sippi just doesn't want to be alone.

So I hope she continues to do well over the next few weeks. Then she'll be spayed and we'll start looking for a new home again. ... hint hint hint ... new home.

Sip is back

She is pretty wiped out but so far has handled the treatment well. Sip is eating fine. I let her sleep on the couch in the basement last night. So far she is being a good girl down there. I think she is too tired to get into too much trouble.

Sippi is done with heartworm treatment now. She just has to stay really quiet for at least a month. The vet will test her in six months because that is how long it takes for the antibodies to leave her system.

In about a month Sippi will be spayed and then we'll start looking for that furever home again.

At the vet

So far ... no word from the vet. Sip is there tonight so I'm assuming no news is good news. The mega treatment must be going down. She is handling the treatment well and this is it for her on the heartworm end. She walked in this morning and everyone said hello to her. A tech came out and said, "She's so sweet. She needs her nails cut, can we do that?" No wonder she likes it there (-:

On the other hand, dog number two was incredibly bad last night. It is mostly chalked up to owner error, but sheesh!

The big day. Again.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Again. Sippi is still coughing a little bit. There are no big slugs of blood or nasty stuff coming up but she still coughs. I suppose we'll see what Dr. Bill says. I really want to get on with this but at the same time we can't do anything if she isn't optimum for it.

I took her briefly in Petsmart this weekend. She did well. I made sure she didn't get too up close and personal with any particular dog. A little distance sniffing was okay. She was sweet to all the people and enjoyed herself. One man took his little Pomeranian out of a grocery basket and then proceeded to shew everyone away. He didn't say anything, just used his hands to wave us away. I'd been standing in one place for about ten minutes when he showed up. Ticked me off. If he's worried then don't put your dog down next to mine. Strange people.

Saturday

Sitting here on Sip's couch with her tonight. She had to stay home today and was pretty vocal about that. She likes to be with you. Sippi does a good job of waiting in the car and not yapping about that. But leave her in the basement and she has something to say about it.

Sippi still has her cough. I think she is actually sicker than I originally thought. Apparently, pneumonia can be a secondary problem with heartworms. So we'll just keep up her meds. That is about all we can do.

Took the other two down to Mobile Bay twice today. Soon we won't be able to do that anymore.