Thank you to our blog hop hosts 2 Brown Dawgs and Ruckus the Eskie. This hop is “a little of this, a little of that, and everything in between”!
Perhaps worry warts shouldn’t get puppies?
I blamed my hubby the other night for not reminding me that one more pet meant one more to worry about when they’re not feeling well. Luke has been here just over 2 weeks now and we’ve already been to the vet 3 times. The first, on the day after he got home, was routine and everything looked good. The next day he started with this awful coughing/hacking sound, and threw up a little. We had been warned by the rescue that kennel cough was common in transported puppies, and even though he’d had a vaccine, he still might get it. Knowing this did not keep me from worrying! Add to that the panic that all the other dogs might get it too. This was Christmas Eve day. I called our vet immediately and he was able to see him that afternoon. Kennel cough was confirmed, antibiotics given, and we were reassured the older dogs were more immune and may not get it, and if they did that they would probably just get over it in 2-3 days. Luke was much better by the next day and the other dogs never got it.
Round two: At the end of his second week home he started getting diarrhea. It was off and on and everything else seemed fine so we didn’t worry too much until he had it all day Sunday. He was eating fine and acting fine, and Monday morning it had let up some. Then Monday night he threw up, and Tuesday morning didn’t eat all of his breakfast. Worry sets in again. In this case we’ve also been warned by the rescue that worms are common with these puppies, even though he’s been wormed! I still worry. Luckily, he was already scheduled for his next vet appointment for shots Tuesday afternoon, so that was good. Yup, it turns out to be worms. He was given wormer and he already seems to be improving. His shots are rescheduled for when he feels better.
Just puppies? Then again….
This is by far not exclusive to puppies. After all, we have 3 dogs and 2 cats getting on in years, and they’ve given me plenty to worry about too. I worry about Conrad every day because he just seems so fragile. Kobi’s back legs seem to be getting weaker and he sleeps longer and harder all the time. Just this morning, he scared the heck out of us. My hubby sometimes has to wake him up in the morning now, and this morning he was not waking up. I jumped out of bed to check him too….we were convinced this was it….but I was able to wake him. Thank God. My wish for Kobi is that when it is his time that he will just go peacefully in his sleep. But we are in no way ready for that to happen yet.
I’m a worrier, and even if logically I know I shouldn’t worry so much, I still do. I think I got that trait from my Mom. I’m sure it’s also a Mom thing….human or fur. I’ll survive.
Back to work
I didn’t mind going back to work after two weeks vacation on Monday. I like my job, even though there are frustrations as in any job, and I’ve started my new shorter schedule so that’s great (I now work M, W, F, 7-1 instead of 7-3). Leaving Luke for over 6 hours for the first time was the tough part.
He has actually done well except for one factor: saving up 6 hours of puppy energy. Yesterday he had me pulling my hair out. He was just into everything after I got home! He had two accidents in the house, even though we went outside numerous times. He has been really good with the housetraining, when we’re home. We take him out often and he pees immediately when he gets out there. But he seems to forget it all when he gets playing.
This is his room when we are at work….the crate goes on that blanket in the center, but it is open so he can wander the room. The other dogs can see him through the gate (I hope they go down and visit him but I can’t really know). We fill a kong toy with kibble when we leave and he usually doesn’t even notice we’re leaving. So far he’s been good in there. I think he probably sleeps most of the time. He’s very excited to see me when I get home, and he’s raring to go.
Funniest thing…..when my hubby got home two hours later, I told him Luke was all his so I could get some things done. Yes, you guessed it, he was a perfect angel after that and he layed down and went to sleep until supper time.
It’s so much easier when I’m home because he can play for a while, then I can put him in his crate for a nap and get some things done. Oh well, I have to work for a living, so I’ll just have to deal with it! I’m just going to enjoy his puppy antics, because I know they won’t last forever. Earlier this afternoon I just watched he and Cricket wrestling on the bed for 10 minutes with a smile on my face.
I couldn’t even get in the door when coming in from outside with him when he ran into the bathroom and came out with this. It’s like he was planning it all along!
Once we get out of this bitter cold weather spell, we’ll be able to spend more time outside playing and burning off that energy too, and that will help!
More cuteness
I just can’t resist sharing some more sweet sleeping photos of Luke and the other pets!
I’m a giant worry wort too, glad to hear I’m not alone! Such sweet pictures of them sleeping, thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos! There will be many more to come. I’m so glad I started the blog because I think that has me taking many more photos than I would have thought of before it.
I’m a total worry wart too! So much to worry about when they are at any age! I can very much relate. It’s a trait I wish I could get rid of, but I’ve been this way my whole life. But the wonderful moments with our pets far outweigh the worrying! Like those sweet pics of Luke sleeping with his siblings… Precious! (His name should be “Luck”! He lucked out with his choice of home.) 🙂
Oh Jackie, what a nice thing to say….thank you so much!!
You are right that the good outweighs the bad. As soon as they get feeling better, we forget all about the worry.
I’m a big worry wort too so I feel ya. My vet isn’t a stranger to my calls! Glad Luke is on the mend! 🙂
It’s always good to not feel alone in these things! Thank you!
Oh I am so with you on the worry front. I joked at the vet’s office the other day if they don’t do “rock, scissors, paper” when my name comes up on the caller ID.
Sampson has had KC quite a few times but despite sharing the same water dish, Delilah has not had it.
And I know what you mean about the deep sleeping, the other day Sampson came in and laid on the floor and made a really strange noise and then was perfectly still. I asked him if he was alright, (no response) I called his name (no response) and then I screamed his name and jumped up and he looked at me like, “WTF?” LOL it is just our lot in life to worry.
Hope little Luke is feeling better!
Ha ha, my vet’s office knows exactly how neurotic I am. There have been many, many phone calls after hours too!
It must be some dogs are just more susceptible to kennel cough then.
Yes, Kobi is always like “what the hell did you wake me up for anyway? I was sleeping very nicely, thank you!”
Luke seems to be feeling well now, thanks! Fingers crossed!
We only worry because we care……so there’s really nothing wrong with doing a bit of worrying. We only have one cat and I worry – mostly because he’s now 14 and as an “only” when we’re away for a day I think he really does miss us like we miss him. Anyway, sounds like you have a good routine with all the animals – worry is just part of life when there are people and animals you love.
Pam
You are so right, Pam. I think it is just as difficult having one animal as having many…things are just a bit different. My sister has an only cat and I know she hates leaving her. Even when I leave the group home together, I still feel bad about leaving them though!
What a nice serene napping photo after all the TP everywhere! Thanks for hopping on to This ‘N That Thursday!
Thank goodness they finally settled down for that nap! 🙂
I think it’s totally normal to be a “worry wart” about our pets. It’s not like they can tell us exactly what’s wrong when they’re not feeling well, right? So instead, super attentive pet parents just pay attention to lots of tiny details. I think you’re doing a great job, your “herd” looks happy, healthy, and absolutely adorable!.
Thank you so much!! You are so right, that is the difficult part…they can’t tell us what’s wrong! We have to be very observant.
Oh, Küster was total hell as a puppy, too! My gosh, I thought I’d go crazy and the teeth, my God, the teeth! And yet, I miss those days when he was a tiny little ball of fuzz. My husband worried about every little problem with him, too, because he was sure every one of them would mean he couldn’t grow up to be a search and rescue dog. He drove me insane! Well, they both did. Thank gosh Morgan was a phenomenal puppy nanny. I’m sure we wouldn’t have survived without her! They’d play bitey face until they were both too tired to do anything besides roll their heads on the carpet.
Since it’s been 9 years since we had a puppy, I think I forgot about a lot of that stuff….lol. I think Sheba is going to turn out to be really good with Luke too. She really wants to play with toys with him, and lets him climb on her more and more all the time. Probably even more so as he gets bigger and closer to her size too.
Not surprised about the worms. Puppies put everything in their mouths. I think we wormed Freighter 3 times so far. lol Its hard not to worry about them. Just part of the deal I guess. 🙂
Oops, I also wanted to say thanks for participating in TNT! 🙂
You’re welcome! Yes, I guess you are right that it’s just part of the deal….I think I conveniently forgot that part! Oh yeah, Luke tries to eat everything!!
Having puppies is worrisome! Everytime we intro a new dog I wonder why! Good luck! Lee and Phod
Thanks, I’m glad to know it’s not just me!
We purr that Luke is feeling better real soon…and will stay healthy after that!
Thank you, Island Cats, we need all the purrs we can get! 🙂
Well, glad Luke is on the mend and that Kobi woke up! I try not to be a worrier and just stay laid-back… I figure if all I did was worry all the time, that would be no fun. My mom’s a worrier, so maybe I try to steer clear of that.
You are so right, Ann, it is really no fun at all! 🙂 I wish I had learned from my Mom NOT to worry, instead of taking after her!
Good luck with the new baby, its a rough start sometimes but everything will get better 🙂
Thanks for reassuring me, Jim! 🙂
OMG!!! I love the pics of them all sleeping, with Conrad half off the dog bed! lol. It looks like everybody is accepting Luke… 🙂 Having a puppy is like having a toddler…that’s for sure. Looks like you’re doing a great job!
Thanks, Sheryl! I know, I just love to see them all sleeping together. It’s not peaceful all the time but at least they have their moments!
Awww what great pics! And I hear ya with the whole worry wart thing….that is me in a nutshell!!!
Sounds like you and your pup have had a wee bit of a rough start! I am Sure things will start looking up!
((Husky hugz))
“Love is being owned by a husky”
Thank you! Hopefully we just get all this stuff out of the way and it’s smooth sailing from here!
Hugz appreciated! 🙂
Crossing my paws as I type this, but so far Bailie has been perfectly healthy and we hope it stays that way. She is almost seven months and still has an accident here and there when she is “too busy” to take time to go out. Boy does Mom get mad about that! As for Kobi sleeping soundly, some mornings Katie sleeps so deeply that she doesn’t react when Mom goes to say good morning and Mom panics, ends up scaring poor Katie. We wish when it is her time that she would just go to sleep in her bed, but it is not her time and I can’t imagine Mom if that happened. We dogs keep our Moms on their toes for sure!
I’m so glad Bailie has been healthy, and I hope Luke has everything out of his system now.
I remember when Cricket was a puppy it really took a long time to feel like she was completely housebroken. I think they just forget themselves when they get playing.
Thanks for letting me know that Katie sleeps that soundly too….it makes me worry less to know that is common in seniors.
Omigoodness. So many things to worry about. Sounds like your concerns were valid and you took care of it. That’s the best result a mom can ask for, huh? Finding out what’s wrong and getting it fixed.
You are so right, Flea, thank you!
haha love puppys and toilet paper. Hopefully the little bugger will get all the stuff out of his system and will be a healthy puppy from here on out.
I sure hope so! At least through it all he has seemed to feel fine, so that is definitely a bonus.