Shadow's Place in the Sun

Shadow finds a nice warm spot!

We are having a barbecue today with skirt steak and salad. I made homemade noodles the other day and I am going to mix them up with butter and parmesan as a side dish. It's fattening, but I didn't have a roll with my hot dogs at lunch and I'm being very careful about afternoon snacking. I gained a pound but I'm sure I'll take it off fast enough. When I went to get my hair cut at Patty's last Friday (Mike paid for it, as usual!) Tina (the stylist) thought I'd lost 30 pounds. Nope, just a little under 20.

Shadow

Another cute picture of my dog.

Shadow watches TV

I was watching Animal Cops Houston this morning. Shadow perked up when he heard some dogs on TV! I wonder if he thinks they are just beyond a 'window'?

Shadow has this to say to anyone who is mean to a fellow animal:

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!

January 2

 

Here is Shadow in his little house. He never used to use it, but lately has had trouble jumping up on the couch, where he usually buries himself under a pillow. I'm taking him to the vet Wednesday evening as he has been limping too much. He's already been checked for this, but of course when we brought him he wasn't limping. The vet moved his leg, and it didn't bother him, so we though it was just a strain. But this is going on for too long, and I can tell Shadow is not feeling well. 

I looked up his pedigree and was reminded he turned 6 years old last November 28th. So he's middle-aged now. Even so, he will always be my baby.

January 2nd, second photo.

Oh, and my mother is 89 years young today!

Happy Halloween!

 

Shadow is a pretty good sport about 'dressing up.' This year, he was a squirrel!

Fence work

Mike wanted to change the fence so that it swings outward rather than into the yard. The trouble with the outward swing is that we're on a hill, and it leaves a gap big enough for Shadow to escape. So we have to put a piece of wood and some bricks in front of it to cover the gap.

By swinging outward, the fence is over flatter ground and the gap will be much smaller. Mike and Jamie are working hard today to also level the ground near the fence. I just brought them out big glasses of orange juice.

Speaking of Shadow, I took him out for a walk this morning. He is SO FAT that the harness was making him gag--that, along with the fact he wouldn't stop pulling. We both need to get in shape so I will be walking him a little for as often as I can. I might invest in a bigger harness until he loses weight. Half of this is from him being 'fixed.' I almost wish I hadn't had it done.

Shadow, and Nick News

Shadow had his stitches out today. He's ALL DONE! I'm sooo happy, and I bet he is, too. No more stupid cone.

Doesn't seem to miss his cajones at all.

Tonight, Nick is joining a friend for a trip by plane to visit a college friend. It's his first time flying without family (me, I mean) but his friend has made this trip before. It is too bad it is a short trip because he will be just an hour away from his Aunt's house. However, there just won't be any time as it is a weekender.

He's home!

Shadow was SO happy to see us when Mike and I went to pick him up from the vet. He was there from Monday night to this afternoon.

Needless to say, we are SO happy to have our baby home with us!

Shadow update, Part II

Shadow had to go back to the vet, not only for his follow up visit after his surgery, but because he opened up his stitches. He was able to bend his 'cone' backwards and he must have done this when we weren't there to tell him 'no.' He had a horrible open wound on his butt. It didn't seem to bother him much and he was even able to jump on the couch. But, of course, it wasn't supposed to look like that so the vet had to re-sew him.

The good news is that his biopsy came back normal. Thank God and St. Francis of Assisi for that.

He came through his second procedure just fine. There was an infection in the wound so they put a tube in him so they can flush it with medicine.

He's also been neutered. This is supposed to keep this problem with his anal glands from recurring and might even add years to his life. I wish he could live forever.

So he's spending another night with the vet so they can keep an eye on him. I'm praying I can bring him home tomorrow.

Shadow update

Shadow Dante came home Friday afternoon. He is wearing one of those stupid collars. His butt is swollen and he has stitches. Can't count them--it's one long 'whipstitch.'

The gland is out for biopsy. I'm praying it comes back negative. Meantime, he's on a doggie version of ibuprofen and some other meds (antibiotics, I think). He doesn't have much of an appetite but I can get the meds in him with bacon or peanut butter.

He didn't want me to put Neosporin on the boo-boo, but I was able to by smushing a bunch on a paper towel and putting it under him when he sat down. I didn't have the cone on him and he tried to lick it all off.

I don't make him wear it if I'm there to tell him 'no.' He does listen.

He's very mellow and wants to be right near me or Mike all the time. My poor baby.

Poor Shadow

Katherine and I took Shadow to the vet today. It was just for some grooming and they found he has a bad ear infection. I thought that ear looked somewhat red, although he wasn't digging at it. He is on meds now and goes back next week for a follow-up. Right now he is cuddling under a blanket next to me. He seems okay so hopefully the meds will help.

Snow again & pets

Shadow Dante looking cute.


Melody, who thinks she can fit her fat dupa into any basket or box she sees.



What we woke up to this morning.