Changes

....sometimes life throws things at you that are totally unexpected.  Fortunately, with a strong support network, those unexpected moments can just about bearable.  It was quite the week over here.  It took a while, but we realized that Madison has some separation anxiety issues that we are not adequately equipped to handle working full time and living in an apartment.  God is so good though.  The powers that be in the rescue were incredibly supportive and a plan was developed literally in 1 night. We boarded her 1 day and then Madison moved to a foster home with a trainer who can adequately help Madison work through her SA and become a well adjusted little girl.  Hopefully, we'll be able to help another little old one sooner than later....

Madison appears to be settling into her new foster home very well now.  I am pleased that Sandy and her pack will be able to help Madison.

In the Molly world, her eye is bothering her again.  It was slowly doing better until thursday night.  I meant to call Dr. Haver on Friday, but with the madison craziness I forgot.  First thing tomorrow morning we will see what we can get done for her....  It bothers her but it hasn't been stopping her from chewing on bones ALL weekend.   I just don't want her to be in pain.

On a positive note, Monday we were told to stop the trilostane until we can get her diarrhea under control (which can be a side effect of the trilstane.)  The Cushex we ordered before Christmas (an herbal and homeopathic product specifically for Cushings) finally came on Wednesday so we have been using that twice a day.  I'm hoping that it might do it's intended job and keep the Cushing's symptoms under control.  We added slippery elm to her diet as well as more rice and we're using a single protein source instead of 2 as well to help the diarrhea.  Overall we're moving in the right direction....I'm hoping that maybe we don't need to start her back on the trilostane.  If we do though, I know that we will be splitting her dose in 2 as studies have shown lower more frequent dosing cuts down on side effects, which is what we want.  Molly is a bit more bony that I like to see her, but as Linda from the rescue reminded me she's 11 years old.  This just may be how her body is going to look.  She's stopped pooping 8 times a day since I've been giving her just over 1/2 cup of home cooked food twice a day...she's back down to 2 or 3 with no accidents in the house which is just fabulous.

The steam cleaner came last week and we spent the afternoon playing with it, the couch, chair, floor around the couch, corners, the wall, the BATHROOM (holy cow does it look nice), drapes, the linoleum, etc etc....  I love that it disinfects and doesn't use any chemicals... definitely a good buy!!!

I have some pics of Moo chewing on a new bone we gave her a few days ago...it's a compressed rawhide bone from onlynaturalpet.com.  I'm not usually a rawhide fan, but I watched Moo chew 1 at my parents and she did really well with it.  This compressed bone is fabulously tough for her and doesn't get stringy.  She chewed in all afternoon and barely put a dent in it.  When we gave it to her, she literally put it in her mouth and danced around the living room wiggling and frolicking.  It was the cutest thing and definitely worth the $4 in and of itself!!!

Caution: Grossness ahead

Sometimes I feel like a little doggy pill and medication dispenser....  Madison had an impacted anal gland that is beginning to abcess, of course.  I was able to get her to a local vet this morning before work (3rd one's a charm) and it's not bad enough that it can be lynched (yuck!) but we are armed with an antibiotic and a pain killer.  We're also putting a hot compress on it.  It's going to blow though, I can see it already.  The vet wants her back friday morning but I think it's going to do it's thing sooner than that (won't that be fun)! AND she has a small tumor type thing on the pink of her eye so we have drops for that too.  Sheesh.

Collectively Molly and Madison currently have more meds/supplements that the local pharmacy!  You should have seen me tonight trying to organize and keep everything straight.  Dogs' names in big letters on boxes, making sure each dog gets what is needed!

On a good note, Molly continues to do well on her end of things.... at least we only have 1 exploding dog at a time...so far.  I was just thinking she is doing really well, but she is thinner than I would like her to be...ah, one of these days we'll get it right.  I'll up her food just a bit.  We've added slippery elm to her diet so hopefully we can keep a handle on this situation.

Another good note, the steam cleaner came today!!!  Is that sad that I'm so excited about it?  It's going to be another main defense in our war against fleas and keep our carpets (and drapes, and furniture, etc) in tip top shape!

Good thing these 2 little ladies are so cute!  Unfortunately it's so cold and flippin' windy that we go out long enough for them to do their business go to the dumpster and back.  We're getting a routine down over here with meals and potty breaks and certainly sleeping on the couch.  Good luck if you want to sit here.  It's pretty much dog only territory (they let me sit here cause I feed them hotdog!)

We shall see what tomorrow brings for Miss Madison and her hiney.....

We live in a Zoo...

Yeah for Apple Airport express and wireless internet that works : )

So Madison has been slowly acclimating over here.  She's a cutie but skittish.  I make a quick movement and she cowers or runs...poor girl.  Already improvement since saturday though. Oh and according to vet records she's 7.5 rather than 9.5 years.  That makes more sense looking at her and seeing how she acts.  She and Molly are pretty good with each other except in the middle room.  Madison apparently claimed that space as hers (she spent sat afternoon in there with me while I sewed her a coat and a new bed...) and now she doesn't like Molly coming near her in there...

Which now means Molly and Madison are suddenly vying for my attention...I have 2 little shadows following me around now (instead of none...which is weird, but ok).  I've been home sick the past 2 days which has been nice to transition Madison into our home.  Both girls woke up around 5:30am this morning...took them out then we had 2 girls in bed snuggling.  Madison snuggled up in my arms for the next 2 hrs...it was really nice (until I felt incredible sick which wasn't so nice)

I found 2 fleas last night and have declared all out war...complete with chemical warfare (which most of you know how much I hate chemicals!)  I spent a good portion of the day vacuuming, cleaning, spraying, doing laundry in hot water, dusting with DE, etc etc etc.  Molly got a bath and Madison was dusted with DE (she was given a bath late last night and 1 of the 2 fleas found was removed).  All seems better now.  We have a steam cleaner on the way (thank you amazon) so we can continue to clean clean clean more naturally and stop the nastiness!!!

Molly's explosiveness is getting better.  I spent a long time on the phone with NEBTR's resident nutritionist and together we developed a plan to help miss Moo out.  Fortunately her home cooked diet is pretty much right on.  Going to simplify the veggies and add rice or oatmeal to every meal.  I may be feeding her too much, so we're feeding her slightly less and shocking I know, she's pooping less too.  We'll be adding some Slippery Elm (as soon as I get out of the house again) to help her digestive track.  Because of the continuing diarrhea, Dr. Haver has taken Molly off the trilostane until everything settles (without the use of the flagyl I'm assuming...we're slowly taking her off that.)  I have a supplement coming specifically for the Cushings, cushex which I'm hoping helps at least a tiny bit.  We may end up using a lower dose of trilostane 2x/day rather than a larger dose once daily.  Best case scenario this supplement helps enough that she needs even less (or no) drug.  That would be fabulous but I'm not counting on it.

Anyways, all that to say Moo only spent 1 night in the kitchen and has been doing well since Sunday's last explosion...good thing she's cute.

We've realized that Molly is all business.  She has her routine, she knows what to do and when to do it so she does it.  Madison on the other hand is not all business.  She runs around when we try to put her coat on.  Molly stands there, nose to the door ready to go.

They're really cute together and I know that in a few weeks Madison is going to be a very different dog.  She doesn't appear to know any basic obedience (except, Madison, Come!).  Working on sit.  She really likes hotdogs, good thing.  She is a jumpy little girl and can be whiny, but turning away or waiting for her to stop and then produce what she wants (treat or ball) and she is catching on quickly.  Oh the joys of rehabing this little girls. 

Madison is here

Here is our first foster of 2010: Madison.  She's a cute little girl, maybe 15-16lbs, 9.5 years old although she doesn't really look it.  She's currently decompressing in our kitchen, nervous and scared.  But all in all a real sweetie.  She's going to be fun to have around for a while.

 Look at the cute little face!

 

She wanted nothing to do with hard cookies or kibble, but definitely ate the ground turkey!!!

 

When do I get outta here guys?!?!

and one of miss Moo Shoo because she's so dang cute!

Molly is being very patient with Madison in her favorite room of the house, the kitchen!  It won't be long before they can interact, but just want to keep everyone safe and give time to get used to the surroundings.  Poor Maddie keeps whining, I hope she settles soon, she's got to be exhausted with all the days events so far!