Going Away
Jack and I are going away for a week's holiday at our favourite campsite - "SPCA" (a.k.a. Scuba's Pet Care Assoc.) . Poor HC will be alone while we party away with the doggy gang.. hahahaha...
More updates later !
Willy's here - Part II
Besides the Emu and french duck, HC also bought a packet labelled as "Meat Dust for Pets" at the butchery. The packet weighed about 500g and cost only $2!!! According to the butcher, these are balances from their regular meat for humans - and there is a mix of 4 kinds of meat (Chicken, Pork, Beef, Lamb). As HC does not like to feed raw pork, she decided to steam it for me and Willy. Obviously, Jack does not get to eat it as he is allergic to beef and pork.
(HC : the meat dust seems like a really good deal. I don't see any fats in it, and the dogs poop was very nicely formed after. ok... I don't know why but we humans seem to have a fetish over dog poop examination.. lol)
See how big a bowl Willy get to eat? Small dog, big appetite..
Willy told me although he misses his mum and dad, he is enjoying his stay here as he goes out with us every day. In fact, he is the first one to dash out of the house whenever we are going out.
Besides going to the dog park, he also get to visit my friends.
Helios and Willy. I don't know why Helios looked so worried.
Scuba, Helios' human sister (baby S) and Willy. It was a blurred image cos Scuba was shaking his head, baby S was trying to 'sayang' Willy by gently laying her head on Willy. haha
HC wanted another clearer shot but baby S didn't have the patience... thus the sobbing face.
Willy's here for a holiday
Willy's parents went for an overseas trip and decided Willy also need a short holiday from his other siblings and sent him to my home.
Before long, he decided to make himself comfy on Jack's bed even though his parents bring along his bed.
Small dog on a big bed. What a waste of space!
Jack had no choice but to squeeze into Willy's tiny bed. Can you see how unhappy he is?
At night, Willy get to sleep on the human's bed with us.
To celebrate his arrival, HC bought french duck...
and Emu meat!
The emu meat is delicious, and I gobbled it raw without hesitation. But Jack couldn't get used to the taste and keep spitting out the raw meat. So HC had to steam it as Jack prefers the steam version. What a waste, HC should have just given Jack's share to me. I don't mind if it was spitted out by Jack. I am not a fussy dog!
Great News
I have great news to share - I do not have Cushing disease!
The vet called and shared the good news with HC. However, this mean that she doesn't have the answer to my skin problem. She suggested that perhaps I could go for a skin biopsy and/or a skin patch test.
HC said that my skin has improved tremendously.. and for the moment - she doesn't think I should go for any tests as Jack had done a skin biopsy years ago and the result was non-conclusive. In addition, the skin patch test is only available at a clinic that HC doesn't have a good impression of, and thus she is not keen to let me go there. Which to me.. is GREAT NEWS. No more needles!!
In fact, HC suspected that the calcinosis cuties (calcium-like deposits) on my belly area was caused by the prolonged use of steriod cream which had helped with my grass allergies, which then created 'artificial cushing's' . She had stopped using the steriod cream after the initial failed blood test 6 weeks ago, and perhaps my body has time to dispose of these steriods.
So, it may be a blessing in disguise that the first blood test failed, otherwise, I may be wrongly diagnosed and had to take lifelong medication??
Anyways... I am happy. And the calcinosis cuties on my belly seem to have lessen alot!
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Remember I posted the pic of a petedge box in my previous posts?
Well, HC distributed the items accordingly and packed them secretly in her office into several big red plastic bag - hoping I wouldn't know these are toys for dogs!
I am not stupid, ok.
HC walked away for a while - I tore opened the plastic bag and managed to take out half of a toy before she came back and reprimanded me.
(HC : I don't know how Joey knew the bag is filled with dog toys? He doesn't have the habit of tearing up plastic bags at home, and I am amused by the sight of this. A friend said that these toys must have a 'PETEDGE - DOG TOYS' scent on them. I also hereby apologise to HERSHEY as the gecko belongs to him..haha)
HC decided that Jack and I deserved to enjoy a new toy each.
see how I tried to bite off the gecko's head? heehee
Happiness is.....
this!
Calling Huskee/Hershey, Helios, Happy and Willy. Please contact me for collection!
hahahahah.... happy happy
I would also like to update on my suspected Cushing Disease. Well, after waiting for 6 long weeks, I finally did the second LDDS blood test.
It was an eventful day - HC took a day off to personally be in the clinic with me for the 'supposedly' 3 blood tests. She knew that I would be calm and won't struggle if she is around.
True enough, the blood tests went well. I didn't struggle at all, and there was NO bruising. The vet said that there were various reasons why the first blood tests 6 weeks ago couldn't be processed by the lab that day i.e, I struggled too much / too stressed / skill of the vet ( vet not talking about herself, obviously) / blood was not sent to the lab quick enough.
If you noticed, I highlighted the word 'supposedly' 3 blood tests. Well I had 4 blood tests!
I had the first blood drawn at 920a.m., and the vet said to come back at 12.20a.m and 4.20 a.m.
Just before 12noon, HC recalculated the time interval and realised it should be 920a.m, 1.20p.m and 5.20 p.m. So she called the clinic to verify as it should be a 4 hour interval. The vet nurse said "yes... Dr. XX confimed the next test is at 12.20." HC then heed the nurse's advice and took me down for the 2nd test at 12.20 p.m.
After we left the clinic - the nurse called and apologised that they had made a mistake. The 2nd test was at 1.20pm!
So in the end I had 4 tests - 9.20 a.m, 12.20 a.m, 1.20 pm. and 5.20pm.
The vet was very apologetic and was aghast to hear that HC had called and was told she (the vet) confirmed the wrong timing. In reality, the vet received no such message.
*&%&^^%^$$) whoever who handled the call really deserved to be nipped in the butt!
The day my bed got hijacked....
... was the day Scuba came over for daycare.
Scuba's mum was out of town and his caregiver took a day off. So HC was his nanny for the day.
He came in, sniffed around for a minute, and continue his usual all-time activity, "SLEEP".
He found our comfy bed and immediately slept on one of our bed.
After a while he decided he needed to sleep on BOTH beds.
Head on one, body on another's bed. He's such a selfish dog ... grrrr....
Jack, the master of the house asked him to make way, and Scuba relented a little.
Jack found a corner to snooze.
Then I had to find a subsitute, right?
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Folded carton box (we are planning a little move the next few days, thus needed carton boxes, will update later)
HC pitied me and took out one of our temporary beds.
I still look pitiful, right ?
Much much later, Scuba fell so deep asleep and forgot to hog my bed.
And I quickly went to reclaim it.
Other than eat, sleep, scratch - HC said Scuba is an easy dog to take care. The only slight problem she had was to force him out of his deep sleep for pee break.
I have to say Scuba really can sleep... all day long....
Mooncake
ok, I know mooncake festival has come and gone....
This is a belated picture of our own doggie mooncake!
The ingredients are "dog friendly" - none of the sweetened white lotus paste that humans had. And the best part - it comes with lamb/chicken!
I hope we have this again next year.
Baby Jack
Friends who have seen Jack knows what he is like - uptight, grumbly and don't-mess-with-me character.
At home - he is quite different; loving and attention seeking most times. Sometimes, he will act babyish and wants HC to carry him. However, the carrying does not last long, as he is always sits very stiff - and is uncomfortable for both HC and him.
In very very rare occasions (HC : I think less than 5-6 times for the past 9 years!) - he does this...
and soon fell asleep in HC's arm.
I think that particular day, he was feeling really close to HC as she had spent a long weekend with us - and brought us out to wherever she went.
He was acting so babyish that when HC put him back to bed, he quickly went back to her asking to sleep on her arm.
aarghhh..... I cannot stand his babyish ways. Can he behave normally again?
(HC : Joey was jealous and keep giving us irritated glance many times .. hehe)
Long Weekend
We had a wonderful long weekend.
On Sunday, we went to petmovers to replenish our treats and balls! We also met up with Willy - who is getting more and more handsome looking :)
His mum bought me 'recovery' presents ( - recovery from the bruises) - 2 spikey balls and a Cob Corn! Thank you, Willy's pretty mummy!
The next day, HC brought us to a cafe and a pet bakery to get these yummy biscuits!
There is also a shepard pie that was not in the picture cos it is already in our stomach.. hahaha
Updates on Cushing's LDDS test :
The vet called and said to wait for 6 weeks before doing LDDS test again, as they had injected some stuff in my body and it will take 6 weeks for the effects to go off... sigh.. another 6 worrying weeks to go.
P.S. my bruising healed completely.
#%$^@#%
..........
The clinic assistant called and said my blood samples from Sunday cannot be processed by the lab (*&@#@ something to do with hardened blood)! They told me to come by again for the full blood test... which means another 3 rounds of blood drawn every 4 hourly, and I will be stuck in the clinic for an entire day!!!
I cannot believe I have to relive Sunday's traumatic events all over again!!! Arrggghhh....
Day 2 - the bruise area had spread. I wonder if it will be more painful to do blood test on bruise skin?
I need love, kisses and treats now..... sob....
Cushing LDDS Test
HC left us at the clinic early this morning as I had to undergo the Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test (LDDS) for Cushing's disease. In addition, both Jack and I will also have comprehensive blood test to check on our general well-being.
Needless to say, we were abit nervous about being left alone. At 8.45 a.m, I was sent to the 'slaughter table'. I struggled and tried to bite the doc and nurses but was sadly overpowered. A huge vial of blood was taken from my neck region :( . I also had an injection - which I think is called Colvasone. (HC : I remembered the vet said that with this injection, a normal dog will not produce cortisol. That's why blood samples are taken every 4th and 8th hour to check if the body produces cortisol)
At 12.45 p.m. and 4.45 p.m., I was again sent to 'slaughter table' for blood to be drawn. Resigned to my fate, I co-operated and let the humans do whatever they wanted. (HC : the doc said Joey was very co-operative on the next 2 rounds and simply lift up his head so that the vet could have easy access to his neck region. hahaha..)
HC picked us up right after my last blood sample was drawn. We were esctatic to see her.
The vet updated HC on our health status based on the comprehensive blood test:.
Jack - very healthy but dehydrated due to lack of water intake. However, he has very dirty ears. (HC : I went home to check on his ears, even shone a touch light into the ear. I see very little ear wax, and am perplexed why the vet said Jack's ears are dirty. Could he mistake Jack for Joey? mmmm.... )
Joey - that's me - very healthy but dehydrated due to lack of water intake. Ear infection and swollen eye - due to this incident! (HC : I was aware Joey has slight ear infection the night before, but as for the eye - I thought he had recovered.)
As for the LDDS test for Cushing's - vet said it will take about 10 days. *fingers crossed*
The financial damage for this day trip to the vet? Almost $700!!!
After a nerve wrecking day - HC bought us yummy lamb meal from a nearby doggie cafe.
I also have swollen, bruised neck from the countless needle poking.
These two pictures show my calcinosis cuties on my belly region. I have no such skin problem on the rest of my body.
Cushing's ??
For the last 1-2 years, I’ve had some skin problems on my belly area – pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. I’ve been to a few vets, and the advices were usually ‘stay away from grass area’, ‘food allergy’ and sent home with a course of antibiotics. As my skin does not itch, HC usually use natural remedies instead of relying on antibiotics.
Some natural remedies that she has tried included: marigold/yarrow rinse, nettle extract, licorice extract, homeopathy meds, neem cream etc.
To a certain extent, my skin does improved from these herbal remedies but I would still get bouts of pimply breakouts. :(
Yesterday – HC sent us to the vet for a check up and showed the vet my skin condition. The lady vet suspects that I could have Cushing’s Disease – due to the presence of calcinosis cutis and my age.
HC decided to make an appointment for me to undergo LDDS (Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression) test in 3 days time. It will be an 8-hour stay at the vet as I would have to have 1 injection plus 3 blood samples every 4 hour interval. Aarrggghhh….I think I might just die from the loss of blood!!!!
To make me feel better, Jack will come along as well for a blood profile work done – to see how healthy he is.
Please pray for me! I don’t want to have Cushing’s! I don’t want to have blood tests done!
(HC : I’ve read up on Cushing’s disease before, and I’ve never thought Joey might have it. Because besides calcinosis cutis, he does not display the classic symptoms of Cushing's. Ok, he does seem hungry all the time – but he has been like this since puppyhood, and most dogs are greedy, right? Haha..
In any case, it will set my mind at ease (but my pocket empty) to have the LDDS test done. I’ve already sort of decided to let him have homeopathy treatment instead of conventional ones if he does have Cushing’s. But again, it depends on the severity of his condition. But let’s hope it’s just a case of bacterial infection.)
On a happier note -
Old, grumpy Jack has some good news to share from the vet. From his physical examination – the vet exclaimed that she cannot believe he is more than 11 years old as he looks good. There are no signs of cataract and he has good dental health. Jack was diagnosed of having a slight heart murmur 2 years back. But during this examination, the vet said she cannot hear any heart murmur at all!
(HC : I don’t know if the heart supplements helped. But I am happy to hear that Jack does not / no longer has heart murmur.Yay!)
Doggy Couture
.. Doggy Couture "for nice dogs who like stuff".
After sulking for the longest time since HC bought Jack a new collar, she finally find the time to visit Juicy Couture and get me a nice leather collar.
I think green is the new "in" colour. Right?
Death
My human grandpa passed away almost 2 weeks ago. It took the entire family by surprise as he was perfectly healthy. He was only feeling slight unwell and tired the day before, and passed away while taking an afternoon nap the next day. Everyone was sad, but on the other hand they were glad that he passed away peacefully. Everyone in the funeral said that my human grandpa had led a good life, and a good death.
HC was kept busy the past week, and we were sent to the FAT FARM (a.k.a. Scuba’s home) for some love, tender and FOOD. HC claimed that our stomach were bloated when she fetched us home. We’re not telling what Scuba’s human fed us.
Two days ago, we went back to grandpa’s home for a family meal. And, I did something that sorta freaked my human aunt (HC’s sister) out…. heehee
(HC : While the humans gathered in the living room chatting and watching t.v., my sister saw Joey took his ball to my dead dad’s room. She saw Joey playing the ball, and after a while, he put the ball in front of him and laid down on the floor, looking expectedly. She said it is the same way Joey behaved when he wants us to throw the ball for him to fetch. She felt as though my dad’s spirit was in the room, and Joey was asking him to play fetch with him. *goosebumps*)
Happy Birthday
We had a joint birthday celebration last Sat - Auntie V (Scuba's mum), Uncle M (Tommy's dad), Tommy and myself.
Auntie V was holding me otherwise I would have jumped on the table and ate up the human's and dog's cake.
(sometime after this shot, I actually turned and nipped Tommy's face! HC said I was being overly food possessive.)
Auntie V was saying it's not fair that the humans' cake was so much smaller than the dogs! hahaha.
Close-up shot of Tommy's and my cake - made with love from Auntie V and Auntie Sam.
Tommy is 7 years and I'm 8 this year. We both love balls, so Auntie V added 4 balls for us.
This is one of my presents from Helios' mum. A conjoined twin dog!
I was actually rolling on the toy. Not sleeping :)
Charity Doggieshoot
A couple of weeks back, HC booked us a slot for Charity Doggieshoot organised by Helios' M.
Jack and I were excited yet anxious as we were in a strange place with lots of funny smell and hundreds of legs (HC : there were like 20 humans and 4-5 dogs actually!)
Here's me anxiously waiting for the shoot to begin.
(HC : Joey often lift up 1 leg when he is excited or very focus on something. A friend of mine said this is a pointing stance. )
Mirror Image.
Joey: I'm getting a bit worried on a high table, and lots of strange stuff and smell.
Look carefully, and you'll see a tiny eye bag on my left eye. Think it was due to the accident I had.
(HC : All of Joey's pic had him looking like a frightened dog. This is the less frighten look)
Jack pictures came out a lot nicer than mine :(
Handsome Jack *puke* (according to HC)
Bones
Alfie's mum bought bones for us during her trip to Australia some months back. It has been sitting in the fridge until HC finally remembered to let us have it.
See.. the bone is almost as long as my leg!
Jack is enjoying his too.
Thanks for your generosity, Auntie SK!
By the way, we loved the goat tendons too!
Happy Anniversary Willy
We went to Willy's 1st Anniversary to his new home and his brother's Fido's birthday 2 Saturdays ago.
It was quite a distance from the car park to the park, and I had to carry my own bag ***grumbles...***
Willy and us.
Jack and Willy wasn't very co-operative in photo taking.
Jack and Willy wasn't very co-operative in photo taking.
We wanted to take more pics, esp of the birthday boy - Fido. But HC's camera battery went flat as usual. You can visit their blog here www.willythechihuahua.blogspot.com
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