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| All About Shitzus |
| These curious, independent little creatures are one of the most loveable breeds around. Find out more about their habits, needs, wants and how to deal with the infamous "attitude". |
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| The day that Squeaky lost his squeak |
| 2008-05-08 10:44:19 |
Bruiser loves his toys. There is actually a hierarchy of importance as far as the toys go. For the last while, purple Squeaky has been the "toy du jour" and Bruiser takes it everywhere with him. Rocki likes Squeaky when he feels compelled to tease his brother. Otherwise he couldn't give a rip about it.So imagine the horror when Grandma, who is staying with us while she recovers from surgery, accidentally stepped on Squeaky and he lost his squeak.Bruiser was beside himself. After giving Grandma the stink eye, he ran over to his precious little pet and tried to squeak it. Nothing. Grandma got "the look" another time and Bruiser tried to revive Squeaky. No deal. Squeaky squeaked no more.Bruiser then decided to appeal to the "fixer of all things"...that would be me. He brought Squeaky to me an...
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| A quick note on antibiotics.... |
| 2008-05-01 08:16:11 |
I was a bit hesitant in giving antibiotics to my oldest when he had the ear infection because I know from my own experience how antibiotics can affect the body and possibly lead to other problems which, of course, would entail another visit to the vet and more medication to counteract the first one. What had concerned me most is during the time he was taking the medication he didn't have the same spunk. He also didn't eat very much and seemed to sleep a lot. I also did some reading and, not unlike humans, I discovered that yogurt will help bring back the "good" bacteria that the antibiotics kill (along with the "bad" bacteria). So, after Bruiser was finally done taking the antibiotics, I'd give him a little bit of my yogurt when I had it in the morning. From the bottom of the cup, I'd dig...
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| Shih-Tzu hairstyles |
| 2008-04-26 22:46:21 |
I, for one, am fascinated by the hairstyles given to Shih-Tzus. In particular the "top knot" seems to be the thing to do with this breed.Although my boys have short hair, I've found some links for those who are a bit more adventurous and want to give their dog a bit more panache.1. Shih-Tzu top knots - illustrations of how to tie the top knot, show knot and puppy knot.2. A casual Shih-Tzu top knot and the illustrated guide to the Show knot (curling iron required. Really!)3. One of the most fabulous pics I've seen of a Shih-Tzu. I have no idea how they got the dog to look so perfect, but I suspect it took quite a few hours and hairspray was involved....
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| Ear infections |
| 2008-04-12 07:01:37 |
Dogs with long, floppy ears are prone to ear infections, and Shih-Tzus are certainly not immune. My oldest just got treated for one.At first, I didn't even realize he had an infection. When I was growing up, we had a Lhasa Apso and whenever she got the infection, there was a distinct odor that came from her ear so we knew it was time to go to the vet. However, when I checked my oldest, there was no odor so I let it go longer than I should have because I thought that it was just overly itchy and perhaps a bit irritated because of this scratching. I realized something was wrong after my husband told me he got up in the middle of the night and found our oldest scratching his ear and crying. That was enough to convince me something wasn't right. I immediately made an appointment with the vet ...
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| It all comes down to...ice cream |
| 2008-04-05 23:10:59 |
The boys know when they get their "special" treat...vanilla Cream">ice cream.They stand at attention...there is no movement...when that container carrying the luscious commodity known as "ice cream" comes from the freezer. (and just as an aside to all you decorators...isn't my floor hideous, but I digress...)There is absolutely nothing the boys won't do for their special treat. Even sitting still is not a problem! Of course, a precaution - nothing with chocolate because that is toxic. And, although sugar is not good for their teeth, they do deserve a sweet treat once in a while, and vanilla ice cream is their favorite. I usually buy Breyers All Natural. And I'll tell you...you're dishwasher couldn't clean a bowl like two Shih-T...
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| When your dog becomes aggressive |
| 2008-03-19 10:37:09 |
When your sweet little boy starts behaving like a mean old junkyard dog, it's time to consider neutering.Aggression could result from a number of different things such as a new dog (or cat or other pet) entering the home (as a resident or visitor) or tresspassing within the broader boundaries of your dog's "territory", another person moving in, a complete change of residence or a bad experience that perhaps you are unaware of. Although dogs do have a natural instinct to protect their loved ones and their territory which neutering will not affect, aggression in a male dog that appears out of the blue when no real changes have occurred and no "threats" can be discerned may indicate it's time to look into having him neutered. Neutering will make your male dog less aggressive, reduce their ten...
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| The Shih-Tzu Temper Tantrum |
| 2008-03-13 13:37:02 |
While we were away in California for two and a half weeks, my mother-in-law and my nephew were dog sitting. We thought it was the least stressful method of leaving the boys while we went on vacation. How wrong we were!For the first two days, we were told they didn't budge from the door we left from, they cried and refused to eat or drink. On the third day they did start to take some water and a bit of food. By the end of the week they appeared to be "back to normal". Not...During the second week they became the dogs from hell. They peed everywhere they could and pooped on the carpet. They never do this when we're at home, but they were angry that we were not around and all rules went out the door. They tore up their toys, bedding and blankets. They ripped up my plants, books and anything e...
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| Should you take your dogs on vacation? |
| 2008-03-05 11:04:22 |
As I sat outside enjoying yet another beautiful San Diego sunrise, I can't help but think about the little boys. Wouldn't they have loved a break from the harsh, cold winter? We stay with our brother and sister-in-law who have a gated compound. I think of how the dogs would run their hearts out on the lush, green grass. How little Rocki, who we suspect is part pig, would be in his glory digging in the tropical foliage. How Bruiser, our little sun worshipper, would park himself by the pool and sun himself to his heart's content.We have often toyed with bringing them but I have many reservations about putting them in a cage on a plane. My misgivings were given more weight when I saw a woman in the Minneapolis airport with her little white Maltese. The poor thi...
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| The hardest part of a vacation? Leaving. |
| 2008-02-28 20:36:33 |
Last Friday morning we said goodbye to our boys and headed off to the airport. It was one of the hardest things we ever did.My oldest already suspected we were going away when the suitcases came out. He cautiously circled them, sniffed at them, and then flopped to the floor with a big sigh. He knew...the last time the suitcases were out he and his brother lived with our cousin who owned their mother.For two days before we left, he would not allow me to pat him nor would he come and cuddle with me. He would come to where I was, sit exactly a foot away with his back to me, and sigh. His brother knew something was up but hadn't quite figured it out. But, of course, in true brotherly style, Rocki would provide moral support by sighing as well, although he wasn't quite sure why he was doing it....
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| Moody boys |
| 2008-02-13 13:52:25 |
Shih-Tzus, like people, can get moody. Usually our dogs are moody when they're left alone without human contact for too long. However, as I also discovered, they get very moody if they don't get enough sun.In the winter I can't let them out. However, our front window has an eastern exposure and it's bright and sunny in the morning. So it doesn't matter how cold it is outside, we have a little indoor paradise.The dogs love to find a ray of sunshine, stretch out and sun themselves....
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| How to keep your dog active in the winter |
| 2008-02-05 14:10:18 |
In the bitter cold of winter, these little guys absolutely cannot stay out for more than a minute or two. And dogs are like us...they eat more in the winter to build the fat they need to keep warm. So how do we keep them from getting overweight?Although my dogs love to wrestle and chase each other, it's not sustained long enough for them to get a good workout. So I devised a little game where I grab some of their toys, throw them and make them chase the toys throughout the house. I toss it up the stairs, into a different room and across the basement floor. Our oldest loves his toys. God forbid anyone takes one of them because he'll hunt it down until the end of time. Our youngest doesn't give a rip about the toys, unless he's taking one to tease his brothe...
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| What Your Dogs Know That You Don't |
| 2008-01-16 19:03:04 |
My dogs are well trained and do not mess in the house. So imagine my surprise one morning when I woke up and found markings throughout the kitchen. I brought both of them over, made them sniff the offending area, and then scolded them roundly. Bruiser hung his head...Rocki wagged his tail and tried to jump up for me to hug him. I was about to melt and so I walked away and thought that was the end of it.The next morning...the same thing...markings throughout the kitchen and family room. I was at my wits end. I went through the routine again with them, only I spoke louder.Later that day, I went into the basement to do the laundry and saw something scurry in my path. It was too big to be a spider or cricket so I called my husband and he helped me look around. W...
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| Want a healthy dog? Try "people food". |
| 2008-01-05 23:02:53 |
My doctor has a cottage near mine and we often run into each other and chat about our pets. She has a beautiful white Maltese that just had a litter. One day we were talking about food for the dogs and she told me she feeds her dog like I feed mine - they get chicken, pork, beef, liver and whatever other meat we are eating as well as some fresh vegetables. She leaves dog food out as a snack as do I. The reason?She told me she had done a lot of research into the high rate of diabetes in dogs and found that commercial dog food is high in carbohydrates and this is what causes diabetes. We all know people in the area with different types of dogs who are giving them insulin on a regular basis for their diabetes. She believes tha...
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| Singing Shih-Tzus |
| 2007-12-23 09:31:44 |
For Christmas, I bought one of the singing and jiggling figurines from Hallmark. The one that caught my attention was the snowman and his little dog who sang and howled to Jingle Bells. So, I picked it up and brought it home.Well, little did I know that Bruiser was an aspiring chanteur. He is so enraptured by the little ornament, whenever I ask if he wants to "sing", he runs to the couch, perches on the arm over the figurine, and waits for me to turn it on. He then barks and howls as best he can to the tune. He has taught himself how to howl like the little dog figure at the end of the song and is quite proud of his vocal abilities.Rocki doesn't "sing". However, he does jump up on the chair with Bruiser, wag his tail and generally provide moral support....
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| Christmas...not just for humans! |
| 2007-12-12 14:27:36 |
Our festive mood begins as we haul up the Christmas decorations and start the process of decorating our home for the holidays. Of course, our ever-astute pooches pick up on our mood and their excitement translates into tearing around the house, jumping on tables and chairs, and attacking all the new items that appear in their territory.I took a picture of Bruiser, our oldest, guarding the fluffy Xmas decoration against Rocki's sneak attacks on most inanimate objects. Bruiser has appointed himself "big boss" of the house and general security, ensuring his brother doesn't get into anything he himself doesn't feel like getting into. In this case, because Rocki was having so much fun with this toy/ornament, Bruiser has decided to watch over it...that is, un...
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| Should you get a second dog? |
| 2007-12-10 16:21:35 |
Deciding to get Rocki was not something that I did out of the blue...I had read a lot about bringing a second dog into the home and talked to a lot of people who had more than one pet. This is what I learned...The general consensus was to get a second dog while the first was a year old or younger. This was because he had not yet established the home as his "territory". Male dogs are territorial as they get older, but female dogs can also be territorial and, if they are old enough, they can be worse than male dogs.We were approached by someone we knew who had a 7 year old female Cocker Spaniel named Coco. She was a lovely dog and I agreed on the condition that if Bruiser, who was about 8 months old at the time, appeared to be uncomfortable in any way, we would not keep Coco. We brought Coco...
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| Why two are better than one |
| 2007-11-24 20:31:50 |
Two dogs generally equal more work...two to bathe...two to groom...two to feed. But the benefits outweigh the perceived disadvantages.For one thing, bathing two is not too much harder than bathing one. Throw both of them in the tub and you're done in 10 minutes. Feeding? Two don't eat much more than one, especially these little guys. Grooming? So it takes 30 minutes instead of 15 minutes.Our oldest was depressed before Rocki came along. I didn't realize it at the time...how could you? But after we got Rocki, Bruiser realized he had a purpose. He took it upon himself to treat Rocki like his own child...he taught him the rules of the house through body language, growls and barks. Rocki is always clean...Bruiser "washes" his eyes, ears and face every night and Rocki has learned the routine a...
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| The Shih-Tzu "Racetrack" |
| 2007-11-16 23:53:04 |
Anyone that has a Shih-Tzu knows about the racetrack. Even when our oldest was small, he would often get that little gleam in his eye, jump up and start running as fast as he could around the coffee table until he dropped from exhaustion. As time went on, the circles around the table widened to encompass the kitchen island and any other area he could use to create a little "track" where he ran like a wild dog. All you saw was a flash of white...if you blinked, you missed him.When we got his brother, the racetrack continued, except there were two of them running their little hearts out. It's something that's in the breed...they get it into their head that they're going to run and all hell breaks loose! If you start opening doors, all of a sudden the staircase, the living room, the kitchen a...
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| Mats |
| 2007-11-03 20:46:08 |
It's a fact of life when you have Shih-Tzus - they get mats. It doesn't matter how often you wash them or brush them, they're going to have mats. So what do you do?I used to try brushing them out but this is very time consuming and sometimes doesn't really work no matter how hard you try. I did go to the pet store and pay $18 for a little rounded contraption called a "mat remover" that you place in the mat and slowly work up through the fur...the little razor-like insides are supposed to cut through the mat. It works better than a brush, but it's still time consuming and we all know what it's like to get our Shih-Tzus to sit still while we're doing this...next to impossible.This evening I gave the boys a bath. Little Rocki has some mats...his hair is longer since I didn't have him cut afte...
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| How often should you bathe your dog? |
| 2007-10-12 00:15:54 |
For some reason, people seem to think that frequent baths are not good for dogs. Perhaps some poor animal who got washed with laundry detergent and cold water from a hose started the rumor...who knows? In any event, bathing is a good thing. And yes, you can do it once a week. I certainly do...even though my boys are not too happy with me at bath time, it is a different story when they're nice and clean. Their whole attitude changes...they are happier, livelier and far more rambuncious. Always use a shampoo formulated for dogs, however, pay attention after the bath to their reaction. Our oldest dog has always had sensitive skin. After experimenting with a few shampoos, I ended up going back to puppy shampoo which helped a lot. However, my best find, and the shampoo I'm using now, is an Oatm...
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| Man Tries to Drown His Shih-Tzu |
| 2007-10-08 00:11:59 |
"Police say Casey Purser became angry yesterday after one of his two dogs, a Shih Tzu named Toby, defecated on the carpet of his Van Nuys home. Police say he then threw the dog in a bathtub and attempted to drown it."I just read this news story and it really made me wonder why people get dogs if they are afraid that the dog may do something on their carpet. Well, here's the reality check. Even if you bother training them (which some people don't...the dogs are simply expected to know that the carpet is valuable), your pets are still going to slip up from time to time. In the case of a Shih-Tzu, they will inadvertantly pee and poo on your floor or carpet if they are scared or highly stressed, and they will intentionally do their business in the house if you piss them off. In the latter case...
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| Dog days of summer... |
| 2007-10-03 20:55:40 |
The boys love being on the grass, and this is one of the last times they'll be able to romp around as we hear rumors that snow is coming within two weeks.Their favorite spot? Grandma's house, of course, where the grass is lush and the yard was just built for rambuncious dogs to run to their heart's content.Of course, stopping to smell the flowers and dig around the plants is a wonderful passtime, nothing beats running around a wide open yard!...
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| Treats! |
| 2007-09-28 21:43:09 |
Everyone loves treats! For us humans, it's salty chips or sweet goodies like chocolate, cookies and ice cream. As for our dogs, they need treat time too!Although I know it's not vet-approved to feed them ice cream, the truth is...I do it! I buy little cups of vanilla ice cream and give it to each of them in bowl. This is the highlight of their week and I just don't have the heart to cheat them of it.Fruity yogurt? Yes, I'm guilty of giving them little bits from the bottom of the cup when I'm done. So sue me!Crispy plain potato chips? They love them and when I get to treat myself on NFL Sunday, they get a little treat too. Is it good for them? Probably not. Is it good for me? Definitey not. But we all share it anyway. So there!There are a lot of things we should and shouldn't eat and the sa...
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| As the cooler weather comes, don't forget this! |
| 2007-09-25 19:15:10 |
As summer slowly seeps into autumn, the nights cool off and our heaters come on. Our dogs' coat starts to get a bit thicker in preparation for the cold months ahead. So what do you need to do?Have lots of water on hand. Since our heater started coming on intermittently at night, I've noticed the water dish has almost run dry a couple of times. All heaters dry out the house so just a quick tip...make sure your pet has plenty of fresh, cold, clean water at all times.And don't forget as the air gets dryer, there may be more static in your dog's hair. Make sure you also have a good conditioner to use after a bath. Whether it's a liquid that you wash out or, my favorite, an all-natural spray that you leave on, check your dog's coat and condition it according to the dryness....
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| A Day in the Life of the Shih-Tzus |
| 2007-09-20 19:34:11 |
The boys wake up at about 6:15 a.m. when the coffee maker goes on and I plod sleepily down the stairs. Sometimes they are waiting for me after the pre-dawn wrestling match. Other days, they are sprawled amongst their beds and cushions and lazily open an eye to see who disturbs them. When they realize it's just me, they curl back up and continue snoozing. I usually try to get them to go outside, but more often than not they hear the word "outside" and go back to sleep. Some days my nagging and cajoling actually inspires them to rise, saunter slowly to the door, stick their nose out, sniff and then decide they don't feel like it and trot back in.After I'm dressed, I come back down and my husband and I meet for our morning coffee. By this time, the boys are up and they finally will go outside...
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| The Nervous Shih-Tzu |
| 2007-09-18 20:34:48 |
Shih-Tzus, like any dog, particularly a small one, can develop nervous tendencies. One of the things I have noticed that causes nervousness is exposure to sudden, loud noises.Our oldest started getting very nervous when it came time to go outside after the municipality installed some "crackers" by the lake to scare off the geese. It sounds like a shotgun going off, but it's enough to send the geese flying off. Unfortunately, it set my little guy off to the point he wouldn't even go outside to do his business. It was finally removed and now he's slowly making his way out again, albeit warily.The second thing that happened was a carpenter started working on our basement and used an air nailer. Well, I thought our oldest was going to go clear out of his skin. He shook, he wouldn't leave my la...
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| What Shih-Tzus like...and we wish they didn't! |
| 2007-09-15 22:10:45 |
My last post was the top five things that Shih-Tzus love. However, there are other things they really (really!) like that drive me nuts. Here's the list...1. Mud. They love to eat it, roll in it, stick their faces in it and dig it up. And what a mess I end up with when my two little white pooches come tearing proudly into the house after a mud wrestling session. Their favorite mud is wet...but dry mud is okay with them too.2. Poop. They're fascinated with their own and other dogs' droppings. However, we live next to a small, man-made lake that is a favorite gathering place in the spring and fall for Canada geese. Of course, with gaggles of geese come piles of poop, and if I take my dogs walking near the lake, they gobble up the goose poop like it's fine caviar. Not pleasant to watch, and e...
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| Five Things That Shih-Tzus Love! |
| 2007-09-11 19:40:13 |
Have you ever wondered what makes these adorable little creatures really happy? Here's a quick list of what our dogs (and their brothers and sisters) really enjoy.1. A big blanket/comforter/afghan draped off the side of a couch or chair. They love sleeping on it, and often like to hide behind it between the blanket and couch and snooze (so watch where you're stepping!).2. Side scratches. Not unlike the tummy scratch, they will lay on their back and contort themselves slightly sideways so you can scratch the side of their head, ears and body all the way down to their legs.3. A big cushion. I bought a body cushion for the cottage but ended up bringing it home when we redecorated. It's got a velvet like cover and is approximately 4 feet long. They love to sleep...
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| Rocki Returns to his Wild Roots |
| 2007-09-08 23:18:36 |
The boys went tearing outside this evening for the ritual barking when the neighborhood collies passed by the yard. So I didn't think it was too unusual when Rocki went from the patio to the grass. We always joke that Rocki must be part Husky because no matter what the temperature, he wants to frolic around outside.Today was a bit different. He was sitting quietly in the grass chewing. His older brother, Bruiser, wouldn't go near him but seemed quite agitated. Again, not anything too unusual since Bruiser doesn't like Rocki to be too far away, yet he won't join Rocki on the grass because it was a bit damp and Bruiser, being a bit of a primma donna, doesn't like to get his feet wet.After a few minutes, I see the back of Rocki and he is still sitting quietly chewing. I figure he has dragged ...
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| Raw Food Diets - Are They Healthy? |
| 2007-09-05 20:28:12 |
Proponents of the raw food diet basically say that dogs should be fed raw meat, vegetables and bones...basically what they would eat in the wild. In addition, they say that your dogs should never eat grains, rice or other carbohydrates. Why? Apparently, grains are one of the biggest sources of allergies in dogs and, because grains make up the majority of commercial dog food, our pets will be free of allergy-related symptoms once they start the raw food diet (and they won't have flatulence).When can your dog eat chicken bones? Apparently on the raw food diet. I was taught to never give a dog chicken bones, but it seems you can if they're raw because raw bones are not dangerous - they are soft enough to bend easily and break well for the dog to digest.Those in...
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| Grooming the Shih-Tzu's eye area |
| 2007-09-01 20:55:48 |
The eye area, and the face in general, are the hardest parts of grooming simply because you need your dog to sit perfectly still in order to cut away in these delicate areas.The most important tool? Sharp, snub-nosed scissors. I picked mine up at a holistic pet shop where the owners regularly show their dogs so they had a lot of expertise in grooming and actually cater to people who groom their dogs for show, so they had all the right supplies. However, many pet stores carry grooming equipment. The owners explained to me that the snub-nose is most important because if your pet does move, there is no pointed tip to harm them.Now I have trained my boys to sit still by using voice commands...speaking gently to them and raising my voice slowly and adding firmness if they continue to squirm aro...
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| The Boys Go To Grandma's |
| 2007-08-29 19:08:00 |
I can't even say the word "Grandma" around my oldest because he goes goofy! Both boys love when she comes to visit and love it even more when we take the two of them over to her house. She has a huge fenced yard where they can run, dig (well, they try but I stop them!), sniff flowers, bark at the neighbor's dog (who gets into trouble because he barks back and he's been to "no barking" school), chase each other around the apple trees, play hide and seek under the big old spruce, eat leaves, play "get the stick" and generally cause mayhem.But dogs are a lot like people. Sure, we take them for walks...usually the same old boring route. Make no mistake...they are just happy to be out with us in the fresh air, but they too need some variety. Taking them for a visit to a "dog friendly" home is a...
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| Creating a "no pee" zone |
| 2007-08-28 18:30:55 |
Shih-Tzus are stubborn...there's no getting around that one. Even if you train them, there are times where they are going to defy you because they are mad and will pee wherever they feel like it, regardless if you are there watching them.My oldest did that when I first brought Rocki home. He was in such a full-blown snit that he trotted over to the couch, lifted his leg, proceeded to pee on the couch and carpet, and then looked at me as if to say "so what are you going to do about it?". Then he marched away with his held high, sat in the opposite end of the room and turned his back to all of us. When I tried to get his attention, he's turn his head the other way and stick his little snout in the air.Shih-Tzus can also be high strung. When Rocki gets really excited, he often has a slight ac...
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| Do you want to be my dog? |
| 2007-08-24 20:49:14 |
A guy I know asked me today if he could apply to be one of my dogs because he thought they had a better life than a lot of people he knew.I guess in a sense that's true. They are well loved, well groomed and, judging by their somewhat finicky taste, well fed.But owning a Shih-tzu, or any pet for that matter, is a serious commitment. They are not toys to be played with when you feel like it; they are not little dolls that you dress up when the mood hits; they are not ornaments that you just look at. These are living, breathing creatures with feelings, wants, needs and individual personalities. They are relying on you to care for them because, in our world, they can't look after themselves.Some people just don't think when they run out to get a dog. Can you afford all the things they need, i...
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| Can a dog be mentally challenged? |
| 2007-08-23 20:21:11 |
I've wondered about whether a dog can be "slow" and have questioned vets on this matter. The simple answer is yes.When Rocki was born, our breeder told us she had come just come into the room. She ran over to Rocki when she noticed the placenta was covering his face and he was unable to breath. She removed it and began giving the little guy mouth-to-mouth until he started to breathe.Now we know in humans that babies who lose oxygen during the birthing process often have some form of disability (yes...I know...not politically correct!) but the amount of time spent without oxygen will determine the severity of the disability.In our case, we don't know how long Rocki was without oxygen. What we do know is that he did not and does not pick up on things the way his brother does.For example, if ...
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| Who do you believe when it comes to your dog's health? |
| 2007-08-22 12:33:18 |
We all care about the health of our pets and, in particular, keeping them around as long as we can. After all, they are a part of our family. But when it comes down to what you feed them, who do you believe?I've recently talked to many dog owners who tell me they are really cutting down on commercial dog food and dog treats because of the latest poisoning scare. In particular, what is really frightening, is that a handful of dog food manufacturers produce most of the brands. So if one bad supply comes in, it affects many different dog foods and dog treats.People are also telling me that they are starting to feed their dogs more "people food" in an effort to protect them from the risk of tainted dog food. On the other side of the coin, we have the vets. Whe...
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| Can I change my dogs' names? |
| 2007-08-20 20:52:59 |
When we first get our precious little pups, we have so many names we've chosen it's hard to pick just one. Finally, we do make a decision and our pup grows into a healthy dog with it's own distinct personality. And that's when we often find their puppy name just doesn't fit and we come up with all sorts of nicknames for them.For example, our oldest is named Bruiser. Why? Well, he was the runt of the litter and typically had to fight for food, a place to sleep, a toy and just about anything. When all the other puppies were too frightened to venture into the backyard, our little guy took the lead and boldly went to inspect the concrete sidewalk. The other puppies followed hesitantly and, in the end, just dropped onto the concrete too scared to go any further. Our little Bruiser, though, dare...
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| Beware of veterinarian retailers |
| 2007-08-18 20:37:22 |
After bringing Rocki home from the pet hospital, we got a call from the vet saying they forgot to give us a couple of items that we had paid for. So, my husband drove back and picked them up. I wasn't surprised that there was a bottle of antibiotics. What did surprise me was there was a case of canned dog food.When did they decide they had the right to arbitrarily charge me for this and then tell me after the fact?I could see from the can that it was a wet food. Both of my dogs hate wet dog food and have refused to eat every brand I've tried on them. Thankfully, this turned out to be a blessing because of the recent contaminated dog food scare which was mainly in wet food. But, thinking that maybe there was a reason that they gave us this food, I opened it up to give to the dogs. Firstly, ...
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| Shitzus going snakey... |
| 2007-08-18 08:28:06 |
There are some nights where I don't know what has gotten into the little guys but they go completely snakey. Nights like tonight where there is nothing happening outside but they are poised to leap...where no one is in another room but they are dying to get into that room to the point that they leap and jump at closed doors while they cry incessently...where if you are not with them they whine, bark and throw themselves at chairs and other objects that they don't normally go after.It is a weirdness I see on rare occassions and quite frankly, on nights like tonight when I'm home alone, it's kind of creepy.I'd like to blame the full moon but we don't have one tonight. Nor anything close to it. If I could point a finger at a party next door, firecrackers, a loud car, sirens or anything else I...
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| Beware of the Parvo virus |
| 2007-08-18 08:23:39 |
Thought Parvo couldn't happen to you? This blog is about Rocki, our little cinnamon and white Shitzu pictured in the bottom right of the photo. We rushed him to the animal hospital last night where he was diagnosed with Parvo, or Canine Parvovirus.Parvo is a severe infection that causes intestinal damage. This leads to septicemia and severe dehydration that could be fatal. For some reason, certain breeds (Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher and English Springer Spaniel) have a much higher fatality rate that other breeds. It is a highly contagious virus that requires aggressive medical treatment immediately.In our city, there is an epidemic outbreak of Parvo. Clinics are running out of supplies. I read about it in the paper but thought our little guys were very se...
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