Lucy: Hi there friends. This is my fifth Gotcha Day and the day we celebrate my sixth birthday! I had a pretty quiet day with my Dad and sisters and Riley. Mom came home from work and gave me an extra bit of meat in my supper bowl. Then I got my present…a brand new treat puzzle! It’s just like Xena’s big one that holds tons of treats. I don’t have to use her little second-hand puzzle anymore. Thanks, Xexe, and you can have it back.
I haven’t had bananas for months, so Mom filled my new treat puzzle with pieces of bananas that I had to get by lifting, sliding and finally licking out since the banana stuck to the inside. She helped me with that part.
Everyone got their treat puzzles filled and we had a party with them.
Guess who got the hand-me-down puzzle…Riley! It kept slipping on the floor, so he picked it up and carried it into the front room onto the rug.
After everyone else finished their puzzles, I was still hard at work on mine. I was taking a bit to get the hang of all the moving parts. Chia has a pointy little nose, so she began flipping it open and taking out the pieces of bananas. Since she doesn’t much care for bananas, she laid them on the floor for me to eat. Eating the snacks is what this game is all about anyhow, right?
Well, I have to go say bye to Mom and Dad now. Dad is all better from that C-19 thing and him and Mom are going dancing tonight. Tomorrow we get to celebrate Dad’s birthday! I hope he gets a nice new treat puzzle, too.
Love, wags and licks from Lucy, the birthday girl.
Xena: One of Mom’s long time clients who have Laila and Louis started bringing two of their offspring, Maggie and Bentley, who live with the client’s sister. Then her sister started bringing them, as well as Tyrian, who is their not-biological brother. Then her sister started also bringing her mother-in-law’s dog, Oreo. This time, Oreo’s brother Chub also came. That’s what this post is about.
Lucy: Thank you, Xena, for that introduction and history on this family of dog grooms. As Xena-Not-Ace-Reporter pointed out, Chub came along with his sister and cousins. That made for a total of five dogs last Monday.
First, Groomer Mom serviced Oreo. Because she’s blind, she moves around a lot, and it’s important to be sure she does not fall off the table! Here are her after pics:
Next up was Chub. Chub is also a 14-year-old shih-tzu, and litter mate with Oreo. When he got on the groom table he looked like this:
His Mom just wanted him to get a winter groom. His ears were very matted. She warned Groomer Mom that he didn’t like his face “messed with,” especially around his mouth. Yep, Groomer Mom should have listened.
Chub was loving on Groomer Mom, giving her nose kisses and wagging his tail. He didn’t even mind her working out all those ear mats. Then she took the curved scissors to trim around his mouth. Let’s just say that if his teeth were sharp, Groomer Mom would have a great big hole in the middle finger of her right hand. At that, she said, and I quote, “We aren’t friends anymore, Chub Chub.” Then she decided to try it with the clippers. She got one swipe on each side before he launched his assault on the running clippers. Groomer Mom just held the clippers there and let him attack them, thinking maybe he would get it out of his system. He kept up his voracious attack on the clippers with voracity, and Groomer Mom gave up. Therefore, here is his “after” picture:
Groomer Mom is thankful today that she still has all her fingers without any holes in any of them. This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with licks and wags from a report on a semi-successful groom.
Lucy, Ace Reporter, with a story about 3 new grooms.
Once again, JoJo’s Mom sent a co-worker to Groomer Mom. This new client has three pups: two yorkies and a yorkie/dachsund mix. I guess if Chia is a Jacksund, then Zeke would be a Yorksund?
Groomer Mom offers what she has named “winter grooms” when the weather gets cold. With a “winter groom,” the pups gets their face and paws groomed, along with their “private” areas and little touchups where needed. Of course it also includes the removal of ear hair, a nail trim and/or filing, and a bath and brushout. Her clients love this option, and I think the pups appreciate it, too.
Why don’t we start with Zeke? He’s 6 1/2 years old, a quiet, gentle soul, and the largest of the three. This is Zeke after his winter groom.
Do you like the manly tie Groomer Mom gave him for Christmas?
Next up is Molly. She came to us right after her 7th birthday. It is noteworthy that she is JoJo’s mother. This is her pre-groom picture.
All three pups were in similar condition, but this is the only pre-groom picture available. Here is sweet Molly after her winter groom.
Last up is Cooper, who is 7 1/2 years old. You may have noticed a pattern here…they are all six months apart in age. Cooper is the smallest and wildest of the three. His Mom said she wanted his hair very short around his eyes. And remember, Groomer Mom did not take hair off anyone’s body and legs. In this shot, Cooper is done and ready to go home.
Their Mom was thrilled with the grooms and the price and included a nice tip. Groomer Mom told her they were all good pups and she would welcome them back. Afterward, the new client texted asking if the pups did ok for her, and asking if she would do them again when the time came. Mom reassured her that all went well and answered absolutely!
Lucy: Hi, and Happy New Year, friends! *wiggles* When last we met, Mom was going to take me to the Smart Pet store for a new sweater. That was great! So many people pet me while I was there! I got a really pretty sweater too, and it even fits me like it was made for me (but not made by Mom, BOL!). Then I found out I had to pose for a picture. I really don’t like getting my picture made.
Chia: C’mon Lucy, you can do this! I just got lots of pictures taken and it doesn’t hurt a bit. Give Mom a good picture and it’ll all be over and you can go back to doing nothing.
Lucy: *gulp* OK, I’ll try. But it’s hard to look happy like Xena does in her pictures when I’m doin’ something I don’t wanna do.
Lucy: There. I hope everyone can see my pretty new sweater. I’m done.
Mom: No you’re not, sweet girl. Chia photo bombed you.
Chia: I was just giving moral support.
Lucy: Are we done yet?
Chia: Yep, it’s my turn. First, you probably noticed I’m wearing my big girl panties. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to wear them.
I managed to get them off during the night and now there’s blood on the bedsheets and Dad’s underwear. I was laying up against him. Hmmm. I didn’t know that would happen. Xena! Are you back there photo bombing my picture? So, what I really wanted to tell you is, I got another present, too. Mom decided I needed a new collar after she put my pretty pink collar on me and I made choking sounds, sorta like, “ghagrk.” I’m a big 1 1/2 years old now and I outgrew it. Off we went to the Smart Pet store!
Can you see it? Instead of a bow it has a pretty sunflower on it. And it’s not pink, yay! No, you can’t see it? Well, that’s ok, there’ll be plenty more pictures of me wearing it other days.
Xena: My turn! I got new stairs to be able to get on the bed without hopping up and down asking Mommy to pick me up. Riley’s bed is always on the side where the rug is, and the floor on Mommy’s side is too slippery for me to try to jump up. I wasn’t too sure about these stairs at first. But when treats suddenly appeared on them, I made it the whole way up to the top.
Now the trick is to get back down. Riley’s sleeping on his bed, so I can’t jump down that way. OK, I’m gonna try this…
OK, I think I can do this. One step at a time.
I’m doing it, Mommy!
Chia: Did you see me run up and down and back up the stairs, Mom? I’m so fast, just like the Flash! You probably missed it. That’s OK, I’ll do it again!
Xena: We all agreed that first I’d tell you what Daddy got last Wednesday, early for Christmas. Sick. After two days of laying in bed with a fever, exhaustion and achy legs, a friend brought over a C-19 test. Yep. He’s got it. Each day he’s feeling a little better. He said he is glad he had his vaccines or it would have been way, way worse. Mommy’s OK, which is a good thing, cause who would take care of us if she was sick too!? If you want to pray for him or send healing thoughts his way, we are all sure it would help.
Next, here are our “selfies.” They are all painted on small round discs of wood. That’s Angel Lexi at the top. We don’t understand why my eyes are painted so big. Mommy finally said it’s because of my wide-eyed innocence. Mommy loves her present and is hanging them “up high” so they last many, many years.
Now, for the fun stuff — mostly. I didn’t get any presents to unwrap. Mommy said I have more stuffies than I need and I got the warm jammies she made for Chia – the ones that didn’t fit Chia. So instead, she made me cookies! Woo hoo! They have pumpkin and almond butter and coconut oil in them. Mmmm.
Lucy: I didn’t get anything to unwrap either. I don’t play with toys. I wouldn’t have minded a nice sweater since I gave mine to Riley for Christmas last year. But Mom made me cookies! They have cranberries and applesauce in them and they’re soft and yummy! Mom said she would take me to the Smart Pet Place today to get a new sweater, too!
Chia: Man, I hit the motherload! If Christmases are always like this, I think I’ll stick around! It’s my first Christmas here (I’m just 1 1/2 years old) and I needed everything. I knew right away what to do when I saw those gift bags! Look what I pulled outa the first one:
Isn’t it great!? It’s got a long body, just like me! I walked around showing it to everyone, which ended up being a bit of a mistake. More on that in a bit.
Do you remember me telling you that Mom took me to the Smart Pet place after her epic fail in making me jammies? She made me try on at least 87 different sweaters and hoodies and coats. I thought she got me one of them. Confirmation!
This is the first one she tried on me, and both of our favorites. Don’t I look pretty wearing it?
Riley: I was polite and waited for Mom Amy to offer me one of the gift bags. I stuck my nose in and pulled out a brand new tug toy! Woo hoo!
Then I pulled out the tissue paper — it was in the bag, so that was mine too, right? I love my new tug toy. I offered to share it with Rainy my reindeer, but he said thanks, he would just watch me play.
Then Mom Amy offered me another present, and I pulled out a long red stuffie. It was just like Chia’s but a different color.
In case you’re wondering, those little bottles back by the tree aren’t mine. Dad Jeff gave Mom Amy her two favorite liquors for Christmas. Anyhow, I was about to deadie the red stuffie when it occured to me that I could deadie the green one that is Chia’s and still have mine to keep or to deadie later. Sometimes I’m brilliant!
Chia: I had to go get a drink or bark at something, and when I did, Riley got ahold of Greenie. Before I could stop him, he had chewed off a lot of its head and removed a squeaker.
I ran quick and told Mom. She got it back for me and put Riley’s red one up so he couldn’t deadie it…at least not right away. Me and Riley spent a lot of time Christmas afternoon growling at each other. I growled at him to keep away from Greenie while I hid under a chair with it. He growled back at me saying to stop growling at him and just give it over. Everyone left us alone to growl at each other. Except Lucy. When it sounded like it was gonna come to blows – or bites – Lucy got between us and looked at us both. She has this thing, I don’t know what you’d call it. But when she’d do that, we both would stop growling and ignore each other – for a while, anyhow.
Xena: I thought you were the next one to get deadied, Chia.
Chia: I run fast and can fit under furniture, so I wasn’t too worried. Later that afternoon while Dad was taking a C-19 nap, Riley stopped growling and started barking at me. So I stopped growling and started squeaking at him! That’s right! There was more than one squeaker in Greenie. Anyhoo, it went something like this: Woof! Squeak! Woof! Squeak! Woof! Squeak! and so on. Then Dad got up and we stopped.
Riley: I got my punishment then. Dad Jeff took me downstairs and put “the stinky dog” as he called me, in the tub. Mom Amy appeared with shampoo, conditioner, Neem oil and towels and bathed me and conditioned my hair and moisterized my skin. In the middle of all this, Mom Amy heard the water running upstairs and realized Dad Jeff was getting in the jetted tub to try to feel better.
Next thing we knew, the water in my tub started cooling off. A lot. To warm me up, I got wrapped up in a blanket after getting towel-dried. I don’t want to admit I feel better, not as itchy. But I do. And my furs are really soft and shiny now.
Chia: It’ my turn again! Guess what! That’s not all I got!! Lucy and Xena both have treat puzzles, and now I do too! I caught on right away. Instead of moving the center pieces one by one – the slow way – I put my nose at the beginning and moved them all together, stopping whenever I came to a treat. It was too easy, really, for a smart pup like me! I hope I get a harder one soon, with lots more places for treats, like Xena’s.
Speaking of Xena’s, Mom got it and Lucy’s puzzle out too and filled them with treats. But, when she put them on the floor, Riley ran in and started working Xena’s! He’s never ever shown interest in a treat puzzle before that. Xena’s Mom’s “baby,” (grrr) but she’s definitely not stupid. She didn’t challenge him for her puzzle.
It only took him a moment to figure out to remove the white pieces in the middle of each row and open the red pieces and move them back and forth. Dad said, “He’s a smart boy and has always had a talent for mechanical things.”
Xena: I went over to Lucy and told her to look at what Riley was doing. Lucy’s puzzle is pretty small – it was my first puzzle. She got it when I got my new one that Riley was now using without my permission. But she’s a sweet sister and offered to let me work her (my old) puzzle with her, so we shared.
Bowsers! It’s become a free-for-all around this house!
Lucy: We gotta sign off now. Mom’s getting ready to take me shopping *wags!*.
Achilles: Is that a Christmas present for me from Lucy?
Dad: No, Achilles, it’s my birthday present from your Mom. Achilles: Are we going to visit Lucy over Christmas? We missed Thanksgiving, you know. Dad: I’m sorry Achilles. Right now, it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to because of your Mom’s work schedule.
Later…
Achilles: I miss my girl so much. It’s seems like 87 months since she was here.
Ella: I miss Lucy too, but I try to not think about it.
Meanwhile…
I sure do miss Achilles. Maybe he can hitch a ride with Santa Paws in his sleigh to come visit me. I think I’ll go to sleep now and dream about my dreamy guy.
Lucy, Ace Reporter here with another episode of Grooming with Mom.
As I stated last Monday, Groomer Mom’s clients are referring their friends, relatives and co-workers so fast that I can barely keep up with the reports. But I am dedicated to furthering my career, so you will get the news as the news happens, or at least not too terribly long afterwards.
Oreo is a 14-year-old shih tzu. He is blind and mostly deaf. He also has bad hips. Even with all that, he was wild on the grooming table, and it took a lot of patience and petting to try to calm him.
His Mom had been referred to us by her sister. She has been here several times before with her other two shih tzus, Maggie and Bentley, as well as their son’s chiweenie, Tyrian.
Groomer Assistant Dad held Oreo while he got the hair pulled out of his ears. It draped out of his ears as long as his face hair. The theory was set forth that no other groomer had been able to remove the hair. Oreo fought his bath like a wild dog. But at least he never tried to bite.
This is the groom Oreo’s mom had asked for. Merry Christmas Oreo, and may Santa Paws bring you a warm sweater.
This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful groom.
We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.
Lucy, Ace Reporter here with another episode of Grooming with Mom.
We had a touchdown with another new groom. Groomer Mom’s clients are referring their friends, relatives and co-workers so fast that I can barely keep up with the reports. Please expect new groom reporting for the next two or three weeks, as well as reporting on Bear today.
Bear is a schnoodle full of personality. Just look at those crazy ears!
It’s a good thing his Mom said she “hates” the schnauzer cut before Groomer Mom got started. Otherwise, that’s what he would have gone home with. Instead, Groomer Mom gave him a scissor cut and poodle feet – as you can see he had from his last groom elsewhere.
Bear still had the crazy ears post-groom but his body and facial hair were all a bit shorter. He had more of a French cut on his face. Unfortunately, the hair on his head wasn’t curly, so it just didn’t give the poodle effect.
Bear waited by the door for his Mom to come get him.
Bye, Bear, and Merry Christmas! We hope to see you back in six to eight weeks.
This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful groom.
Lucy: We thought a flashback to our Thanksgiving weekend this year would be a good Thankful Thursday story. We told y’all about Arty staying with us Thanksgiving week. His Mom and Dad came to get him that Sunday, and it was chaos. Xena kept barking and I *hangs head* kept asking them to pet me. Riley kept pushing his way in to get pet, and Arty’s Mom looked like she was about to turn around and run back out the door. And Chia, well, was Chia.
Arty: Hi Mom!! Hi Dad!! I’ve had so much fun and am so glad to see you! Chia: Play with me Arty!! Why aren’t you paying any attention to me?! Grrrarrr!!
Lucy: In any case, we’re all thankful for a new friend, and would welcome Arty back to stay and play any time. (If his mom will bring him!)
You may also remember on Halloween our brother Adam had to go to the hospital emergency room. Turns out he had an ulcer that had been bleeding for months and no one knew. It took it bleeding out and almost killing him for him to admit to everything that had been going on and agreeing to get help. He had to have surgery. It was one scary Halloween!
Mom lived at the hospital with him for a while, until she knew he was going to recover.
Fast forward a month to the Friday after Thanksgiving. Dad knows Adam’s favorite foods, so he went out and bought him a pound of steak and also some shrimp. He even cooked it for Adam. Riley kept watching and saying no way could one person eat all that, and he would be getting a lot of good leftovers, but there weren’t any! Brother Adam ate it all! We knew right then that he was better.
Then on Saturday our brothers Adam and Andrew took our peeps out to Red Lobster.
Adam (left) and Andrew (right) The bag with leftovers are Andrew’s.
We heard they had a great time and Adam didn’t bring home any leftovers from that meal, either.
The home where Brother Adam lives has lifted it’s visitation restrictions, so Mom will be going up to visit this weekend and taking him all the stuff they ordered from Amazon while he was here! Then he’ll be back to stay with us for a long weekend on Christmas. We’re all so thankful that our Adam is well again!
I’ll be back soon reporting on new grooms, that we are also thankful for.
Arty: Well, I’m still here, so I’m making the best of it. I’ve got my own pack now. Xena’s already explained that she’s in charge. Riley just laughed when she said that. We all ask to go outside a lot. I figured out the doggie door into the dog lot the first day I was here. We go in and out a lot. We all play together, too.
Hey, who’s gonna play with me this time?
Chia: I will! I will! I will!
Arty: OMD! Chia is The Flash! OMD!
Lucy: She’s more like The Blur. C’mon let’s play.
This is Arty, Lucy, and Chia the Flash wishing you a happy weekend.
We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays. Lucy, Ace Reporter her with another episode of Grooming with Mom.
Today you will meet Marley, a multipoo who recently turned one year old. First, Groomer Mom wants to thank both of her clients who referred Marley to us. All three ladies work together at a local elementary school. These are their pups.
Sandy
Izzie
Two months ago puppy Marley went to live with his auntie on her farm. During that time he never got brushed or taken to a groomer. We don’t think he even got a bath. He came to us looking like this.
Now that his folks have their new house, he has gone home to be with them again. When his Mom brought him to be groomed she knew that he had lots and lots of large mats and that he would have to be shaved-down (that’s a technical grooming term). He’s a sweet pup and didn’t even object to getting his long nails cut. He stunk of barn and cigarettes, so, after the shave, Groomer Mom lathered him up twice to be sure he was clean and smelled good.
Post-groom, don’t you just love that puppy face with the little beard? Groomer Mom was able to save his beard and a tuft of hair above those big brown eyes. His Mom understands that this is the jumping off point for a pretty groom, and promised to keep bringing him regularly.
Marley commented, “Thank you Miss Amy. I like my new turkeys-playing-football scarf.”
Thank you Marley for your comment. Moving on. Today I also wanted to share something of concern. Please be sure to check the ingredients in your dog’s (and cat’s) food. You can click the link to read why.
BHA — Does Your Dog’s Food Contain This Cancer-Causing Ingredient? You can find out more here.
This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful groom.
Lucy, Ace Reporter, on the Groom Beat on Awww Monday. This one is sure to have all you schnauzer lovers saying “Awwwwwww.”
Our neighborhood and all the surrounding neighborhoods have an app called “Next Door.” Groomer Mom has had some very good reviews there, and has started getting business through this social media. That’s how her newest client with two schnauzers found her. Groomer Mom had to cancel their first appointment because that’s when my brother Adam was having emergency surgery. At that point, the new client told Groomer Mom that she would only be bringing Fargo when she rescheduled, because she thought she would have to have 10-year-old Zoe “put down.” Less than a week later when Groomer Mom called to reschedule, Fargo’s mom said the vet wanted to try something else he thought would help her, and she already seemed to be doing better, so Zoe would be coming, too.
Today we will focus on Zoe, with hopes she will be coming to get groomed many, many more times. Here is her “before” picture:
Zoe was a very good girl, and got lots of love while she was here.
This is what she looked like just before she went home.
We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.
This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful groom.
Lucy: We all love our Dad, and are thankful he was here to feed us and take care of us and sleep with us. Uh, or let us sleep with him. I guess it’s the same thing. We surrounded him with love both nights Mom spent in the hospital with our brother Adam.
Xena: We are all thankful that our brother Adam made it through the surgery OK and is in a hospital room recovering. Every day he gets a little better. I sure wouldn’t like to have a hole in my stomach letting icky stuff out into my body or something called an ulcer leaking lots of blood into my stomach. *shiver* He had both those things! That was the scariest Halloween ever for Mommy and Adam. But he’s going to be alright. We want to thank everyone for your prayers and POTP and purrayers and good thoughts and wishes. It all helped!
Riley: I will be super thankful next week when I get the stitches out of my ear and hopefully the ear wrap and the cone of honor removed. Right now I’m thankful for good food and my pack.
Chia: Mom has decided I’m way too thin and has started giving me more food. Yay! Thanks, Mom!
Xena: You oughta be thankful Mom even gives you food after you unstuffed Riley’s bed and Mom’s bed quilt and chewed up the zipper on Daddy’s favorite fleece. Chia: *Grrr*. You can’t prove any of that!
Lucy: Girls, this seems like a good time to finish up our post with World Peace Day. I’ll start. I think if everyone could just agree to disagree, and to accept each other’s differences, there would be peace in the world.
Chia: Ummm, let me think…I know! If everyone played nice together, there would be peace. So, who wants to play with me?
Xena: I think life would be more peaceful if little sisters didn’t bug their older sisters; if everyone was held and loved; and if everyone’s tummies were full.
Many thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday.
Xena: We’re still waiting for Mommy to come home. She’s still at the hospital with our brother Adam. We haven’t seen her since Sunday morning. We are all going to be sooooo happy when she walks through that door. It’s true, she sent instructions to Daddy about how to feed each one of us, and what supplements or medicines we get, and how to cut the aloe plant and who gets it rubbed on their poor tummies. He’s trying really hard. We even saw the email she sent him saying, “Now, don’t you wish you had let me teach you how to feed them their raw diets?” And we all curled up tight next to him in bed last night. Anyhoo, I guess — no, I know — we’re all very happy that Daddy is still here with us. Lucy, haven’t you been wanting to introduce a new groom?
Lucy Ace Reporter here with another episode of Grooming with Mom
Today I want to introduce our newest groom, Katie. Katie is a peach-colored miniature poodle. Her 5th birthday is coming up this month. Groomer Mom loves doing the poodle cut, and only has one other pooch she can subject to this, so she was tickled to get this pretty girl in for a groom. Katie’s Mom asked for what Groomer Mom refers to as a modified puppy cut. Groomer Assistant Dad was recruited to hold Katie while she had her front paws shaved and nails cut. Groomer Mom is quoted as saying, “He’s extremely good with the dogs.”
Since Katie was not in bad shape to begin with, there is no “before” picture. Here she is after her groom.
We want to thank Lily Parker’s Mom for the referral! If you missed Lily, you’ll get to see a real before picture by clicking here. I also want to report that Lily has been back twice since her initial groom in August. She was still covered in fleas, but her Mom’s working on that, and ordered the special collar her excellent groomer told her to get after the first visit! After her last groom, her Mom texted Groomer Mom: “Perfect! I really love the way you do her cut. Keeps her looking like a sweet little baby pup!” Groomer Mom said it made fighting all those fleas worth it.
Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with a promise to keep you updated on our brother Adam’s progress.
Xena: Pupdates? Does this mean you have a date with Achilles, Lucy?
Lucy: No, Xe, although I wish I did. There’s just been a lot going on around here, especially with Riley and with our brother Adam.
Chia: Whatcha’ll woofin’ about?
Xena: Everything going on around here. We wanted to do a Halloween post, but this stuff is more important.
Chia: I don’t care what anyone said, it wasn’t me that unstuffed Riley’s dog bed.
Lucy: We all know it was you, so quite your fibbing. Besides, this isn’t about you today. Let’s start with Riley
Riley: I’m trying to get a last pre-food nap in. Leave me alone, will ya?
Lucy: Go back to sleep, Ri. I’ve got this. Ahem. Lucy, Ace Reporter here…
Xena and Chia: *groan*
…reporting on Riley’s ear situation. As many of you know, Riley whacked his ear on something hard while he was shaking his head. It was later determined that the cause of the shaking was both a bacterial and fungal infection in both ears. The ear hit so hard that the Mom heard something go *whack* but didn’t know the source. The next morning, while sitting on the floor next to Riley to put in his eye drops, the Mom saw that his right ear was swollen “like a balloon” and sticking straight out from his head. The vet didn’t have time to do a full aural hematoma (that’s a techinical medical term) repair because of being already booked full with surgeries that day. Instead, they sedated Riley, drained the blood and liquid and put an “ear wrap” (another medical term) on to try to keep it from refilling. Per Murphy’s Law, this occured the day before the folks were going away for their anniversary trip, when they dropped this reporter and her sister Xena at our Uncle Bill and Auntie Jen’s.
This Ace Reporter was told the dog sitter took good care of Riley, yet the ear had swollen back up by Sunday night. Upon our return, the Mom took Riley back to the vet to have the aural hematoma surgery performed. The surgery had been scheduled the week before on a “just in case” contingency. The patient was quite loopy all that evening, but returned to “himself” within a day or two. He kept managing to get one or the other of his ears out of the now-hated wrap.
Another instance of Murphy’s Law then kicked in. A week ago on Saturday afternoon when all except the emergency vet was closed, he managed to drop the full, undisturbed bandage on the floor, with his ear still in the green wrap. The Mom and the Dad worked together to use gauze pads and scotch tape to create what appeared to be a viable alternative. Thatworked for about an hour. The Mom wanted to move to duct tape, but The Dad forbid it. They once again created a new bandage wrap for his ear that didn’t come off until bedtime, when they gave it one last try before turning out the lights for the night.
The next morning the newest bandage came off and out of the ear wrap before the first cup of coffee was drunk. The Dad went to the corner CVS drugstore and stocked up on everything one might want to bandage an ear. This time, after wrapping it with gauze, they laid it flat against Riley’s head and went over his ear and round and round his head with a stretch wrap before placing the expensive green ear wrap back on. That lasted until The Dad got Riley to the vet for his first recheck the next afternoon. They were both feeling pretty good about it, and thought that the vet staff would congratulate them on their ingenuity. *rolls eyes* (Why do I feel like I’m at Nelly and Phenny’s house?)
The ear was examined after looks of horror at what the staff saw upon removing the green ear wrap. They unwound the stretch wrap and the gauze and saw that the ear was healing nicely. They re-wrapped the ear — correctly — and put the green ear wrap back on so tight that it was said that Riley is “so wrinkled on his forehead that he looks like a Shar Pei.” The Dad was told that Riley has to wear a cone at all times to prevent him from rubbing the side of his face on anything, causing the ear to come out or the wrap to come off even when the ear isn’t out. The vet did not want a repeat of home-made ear bandages. The Mom facilitated the cone by borrowing the Reporter’s collar, since Riley’s collar was too small to go all the way around with the green ear wrap on him.
Chia: So that’s why you’ve been running around the house naked all week!
Lucy: *blush* Anyhow so Riley has to go back for recheck #2 this Tuesday and probably another one a week later, at which time the stiches will come out and the expensive green ear wrap will come off. OK, Xena, do you want to tell about what’s happening with our brother Adam? *drops head* You’re his favorite.
Xena: Sure, Luce. First a picture so y’all will know who I’m talking about. This is Adam holding me about 3 years ago when I was only one. He loved Angel Lexi a lot, and he loves me a lot too. He thinks us schnauzers are the best!
Mommy got a call last Monday from Trish who is in charge of the group home where Adam lives. She said that Adam had passed out and fallen in the bathroom. There’s more gross details we won’t mention. He was weak and dizzy when he got up. He said it was ok for her to call 9-1-1, but when the EMT’s got there, he refused to go to the hospital. We know it’s because of the terrible trips to a different kind of a hospital over 20 years ago. Trish handed the phone to Adam, and Mommy tried her best to convince him to go. Nope. I overheard Daddy say the stubborn fruit didn’t fall far from the tree. Hmm, I wonder if that fruit is good to eat…
Anyhoo, that was the same afternoon that Daddy took Riley to the vet for his first post-op recheck. After hanging up with Trish, Mommy called Daddy and asked him if he was on his way home with Riley yet, ’cause they had to go to Cleveland (about a 40 minute drive without a lot of traffic). That’s where brother Adam lives. Thankfully, Daddy was almost home, so Mommy didn’t have to go alone or have to drive the old truck there. It took a lot of people doing a lot of convincing, but they were finally able to call the non-emergency ambulance and get Adam to the hospital. He was too weak to even walk out of his bedroom, and pale like chalk. Our folks had a pretty good idea what was happening, and knew that it was a life and death emergency to get him help right away.
In the E.R., he got all kinds of bloodwork done and a CT scan of his tummy. Our folks were right — he had a hole in his tummy and poisons were leaking into his body. His tummy was also filling up with blood from an ulcer, too. He hadn’t told anyone that he had been throwing up for weeks. Mommy knew something was wrong the first week of August when he was here for his birthday and didn’t eat his steak and shrimp. She saw how much weight he had lost, too. But his next regular checkup didn’t show anything ou of the ordinary.
The nice surgeon came to the E.R. to see Adam around 10 o’clock that night. He had originally planned on taking Adam into surgery right away, but when he looked at the CT scan, he saw the hole was on the far side of the stomach, right next to his colon, and behind his pancreas and something else I don’t remember what. So he gave Adam two more options. Adam picked having the tube run through his nose into his stomach. We won’t go into the black horror that kept coming out of it for a couple of days. He was hooked up to all kinds of other tubes, too, and had to keep getting blood transfusions.
Thursday he got another CT scan, and it seemed that the hole had closed, and things were looking up.
Friday evening the hospital called Mommy and told her that even though the hole had supposedly closed, the ulcer was bleeding into his tummy, and they needed to go in through a vein in his groin to place a “coil” in the ulcer. They said Adam was ok with it, and Mommy gave her permission.
Saturday the surgeon called again. He said Adam’s crit was all matted [hematocrit] and very low. He said that whenever Adam got another blood transfusion, thatt crit thing would go up. Then later when they would check it again, it would have dropped low again. The doctor asked Mommy to meet him up at the hospital this morning (Sunday) around 8 o’clock. More bloodwork would be done, and if the crit was low, he would need to take Adam to the O.R. to repair the ulcer. Mommy knew she was going to have another fight on her hands convincing Adam that this was necessary.
We’re all waiting here for them to come back and tell us how our brother Adam is. In the meantime, please send your prayers, POTP and good thoughts his way. And maybe a few for Mommy, too. She has been what’s called an “emotional wreck.” We’re doing our part with POTP and being on our best behavior. We hope to be able to give you good news later today or tomorrow.
Lambie, please say a prayer for our brother Adam to be OK.
This is Lucy (Ace Reporter) and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess waiting for some good news.
We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.
Xena: Thanks for holding me Auntie Jen. You’ve had a busy day and I’m glad to be here for you. Uh, where’s my Uncle Bill? Did Mommy leave my comb so I could look pretty for him?
Lucy: Mmph, mm, mmph. *pushes up head* Ah, I couldn’t talk with you laying on my head, sister. I want to be next to you, Auntie Jen, and cuddle and let you know I love you, too.
Xena: Is it time to eat yet? Where’s my Uncle Bill? Mommy gave him the instructions for feeding me, um, I mean feeding me and Lucy.
*Later*
Achilles: Ella? Don’t you wanna play with me and Lucy? What’s wrong?
Ella: My back legs hurt. You know, the ones I had surgery on. Mom warned me about running and playing too hard, but I was just so excited that you’re here, Lucy.
Uncle Bill: Yes, well, about that…uh, I think we’re all set with liver treats, and I’ll have them sent to you when they arrive. How about if you just cuddle here on my lap while I work?
*later*
Achilles: I love you, Lucy. I want you to live here.
Lucy: I love you too, Achilles. I would stay here with you and your sister Ella, but I can’t ’cause it would break my Dad’s heart. Why don’t youand Ella come home with me? You’d have fun playing with Chia – if you didn’t mind her hanging off your cheek – and we could be together forever.
Achilles: I can’t, my love. Riley and I don’t get along. I can’t stand the thought that he used to be your boyfriend. Grrr.
Lucy: But I never loved him like I love you, honey.
Both: *sigh*
Lucy: Mom and Dad will be here soon. Please ask Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill to bring you to visit me. And take good care of my BFF Ella, please. Bye bye until next time. *smooch*
I'm Dalton, a Rat terrier mix and I came here in Sept, 2017, I was rescued from Hurricane Harvey. My birthday is 8-20-2016. My Gotcha Day is 8-27-2017. And I am Benji, a terrier mix of unknown origin. MY Birthday is June 6, 2018, and my Gotcha Day is Dec 28, 2018. I also was a rescue from a different part of Texas. We also have Angel MrJackFreckles, (2-5-2018); and also we have Angel Minko, (6-18-2017); and Angel Pipo, (11-3-2020);There are also Angels Groucho, Simba, Suki, & Toki. We meezers used to be known as WeBeesSiameezers. We'e all from Michigan, Dalton and Benji both came here from Texas, as rescues..
Dogtor B, an ex-shelter dog, became a therapy dog in October 2016. He loves to talk about his endeavors, his brother Sky, and life in general as an American expat in New Zealand.
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy, Chia and Riley 