Well, fall is well upon us and along with the fall comes allergies. For people and for dogs too. Charlie started licking, chewing and scratching and he was making everyone crazy. Then we realized that he'd actually chewed into his skin and that's when we called the vet. Who told us it's not uncommon for dogs to develop allergies at about age 4 and also, they can have allergies one year and not the next. It's got to do with what is or isn't growing, how much rain, how much sun, fungus in the grass, blah, blah, blah.
So we treated him with a special salve, Benedryl, and a haircut. The poor little guy had licked himself bare in a few spots and little tiny tufts of his fur were all over the house. The vet suggested a shortie haircut so he could heal, and so off to the groomer we went. He looks like a different dog. His coat is as short as Bella's, but with a sheen and curl like Persian Lamb. He's still beautiful, of course, but he's extra cuddly now.
And who knew, under all that fur, that he was so much smaller than Bella? Really, I got out the measuring tape, and from neck to base of tail, she's an inch and a half longer. And her chest is two inches larger in circumference.
Both of them are exhausted from being "on duty" all the time. We have a mouse in the house and they will sit and stare into a corner for an hour if they see it scoot. Who knew that Spike was protecting us all those years -- he must have been, we've never had mice before. Time for another cat, sometime after Thanksgiving because I'm traveling several times over the next month. Hey maybe Charlie and Bella would want one for Christmas! |