On early Tuesday morning while I was still asleep, Mercy jumped on me! Apparently Anastasia was playing with her toy on my right side, and Mercy was sleeping in the dog bed on my left side. And she just can't resist a cat in action. My first instinct was to hit whatever got on me, but my other hand felt the fur, so I stopped myself. When I dropped Mercy off at the vet�s this morning, I feel so bad about it, especially after seeing the cage. It's the same concrete cage as they have at the humane society. I thought she would be small enough to fit in one of those stainless steel cages. But they said I could visit her as often as I want. Mercy reminds me so much of Penelope. I think Penelope was probably just like this when she was younger. But Penelope didn't live with me until she was nine! Mercy has so much energy. I hope her new family will love her for who she is, and not get mad at her when she chews on their stuff. Here is Anastasia sleeping in Mercy�s bed while Mercy was hospitalized at the vet�s.
When I dropped off Mercy at the vet's this morning, I told the vet techs that I just got Mercy potty trained, and I asked them how often they take the dogs out potty. They said they usually do it only twice a day, once at 7:30 PM, and once at 4:30 PM. They said they could do it more if I want them to, but I said no, I'd come during the day if it would be okay for them. They said it's okay. So I went in around 1 PM. Mercy already had her injection, and they shaved her injection site, but she was still very active, I couldn't tell any difference of her activity level between 7 AM and 1 PM. I also asked the vet to check her ears when I dropped her off that morning, and the vet tech said they found mild yeast infection in her ears, so they prescribed Tresaderm for her ears.
We also sat in the car for about ten minutes, so I could brush and pet her (and because it was raining pretty much all day). The vet tech said Mercy didn't bark at all when I wasn't there. I went in to see Mercy again at 5:30 PM (they close at 6 PM), and the vet tech said Mercy kept knocking over her water bowl, so they had to change her bedding (I brought in a fleece blanket with her that morning). She said she just changed the water bowl to one of those tip proof kind, and we hoped that she wouldn't knock that over. Again we sat in the car for a few minutes. I also left her lamb ear treat in her cage. I think Mercy is the only dog who was staying over night last night.
I just went in to see her at 7:30 AM this morning (they open at 7 AM). The vet tech was outside walking her. She said yesterday she heard that Mercy just got potty trained, so the first thing in the morning when she came in, she took Mercy out. She said Mercy did her business outside, and her cage stayed very clean over night. Mercy and I sat in the car for a few minutes, and I gave her eye and ear medications (the vet tech asked me and I told her that I would like to do it). They don't think she ate anything overnight, but that's okay, because I fattened her up a little before she went in for treatment. When I was leaving, the vet just came in. He said Mercy would whine for a few minutes each time I come to see her, so he thinks Mercy is getting attached to me. He also asked me if Mercy seems sore this morning when I walk her, and I told him I really couldn't see any difference in activity levels. When I went in to see Mercy again 12:50 PM, she seemed really tired. Actually she was sleeping in her cage when I walked in. Before she was alert and awake and wanted to zoom around the grassy area. But around noon she still wanted to walk around outside, but she also wanted to go to sleep when we sat around in my car. They shaved the other side of her back for the other injection. Also her food and water were all knocked over when I took her out of the cage, but the staff cleaned everything up when I put her back in her cage. When I went in to see her again at 5:30 PM, it wasn't raining anymore, but Mercy still seemed really sleepy.
I gave Mercy another bath this morning after I picked up from the vet (I know they sanitize the cages everyday, but I just don't like any germs from the sick animals at the vet's to be tracked around in my apartment, especially that Anastasia is a bit immune sensitive). But I still washed out a lot of hair when I gave her the bath. I thought she's going to have less dead hair flying around after I brushed her three times a day and bathed her three times since she got here (Dudley had a lot of dead hair washed out from his first bath, but after that the dander became significantly less). Also when I cleaned her ears after bath this morning, she was okay with it. I think she was just too tired to protest. And she was okay with the blow dryer. But she jumped out a couple times when we were in the bathtub. So her adopter should either have the physical ability to catch her when she runs out of the bath tub all soapy, or they should be prepared to have her bathed at the groomer's.
This morning when I went to see her, Mercy was sleeping, and the vet tech said they already took her out, and she knocked everything over during the night. So the vet tech couldn't really tell if she urinated in her cage, but when I asked her, she said she didn't smell any urine smell in her cage either. I walked with her a little bit, and the vet came in. He said I could take Mercy home today anytime I want. So I said I would like to take her home now. He said Mercy did really well with the injections, and he said no walking except to potty for the first two weeks. Then after two weeks, then three-minute walks per day if I couldn't keep her still. But he said absolutely not doing anything that can raise her blood pressure (which can push the dead worms to form clots). He said to watch for soreness on the injection sites (one on each side), because the needle went in about an inch into the muscle. He said if the injection sites seemed to have gotten infected, then bring her in for antibiotic treatment. Also he said to watch for any respiratory distress. He said he also gave her some cortisone (forgot to ask him what it's for). He said at first he didn't think Mercy needed Tresaderm yet, just more cleaning, but the other vet (Dr. Tamblyn, she usually takes care of my Anastasia's exams) convinced him to give it. I told him that I really think her ears are infected, because I had cleaned it twice the week before, but it still started smelling like a yeast infection, and of course a lot of dark wax. He told me that Mercy would howl for about thirty minutes each time after I visit, and he hoped that she doesn't do the same when I leave her at home alone. I told him that she whined a little bit, but not really. I also asked him if she freaked out when he shaved the injection site, and he said she was okay. I told him that she freaked out at the Humane Society when they clipped her ears, and he said she might just not like people doing it to her head. And I told him that must be it, because when I had the clipper near her back end, she was okay, but when I groomed her head, she freaked out.
When Mercy's indoors, she's not interested in anything that's outside of the windows (whereas Dudley, he would spend most of his waking hours looking out of the windows). And I've only heard her bark once, I think it was on the second day after she came. So she's definitely not a watch dog.
The cuddler bed can go with Mercy to her adopter if it's okay with her adopter. She seems to like the imitation lambswool cover of that bed a lot. And I think the IQube and balls can go with her too. Mercy discovered the IQube and its squeaking balls today. She loves squeaking toys. She would bite on the ball over and over again to make the squeaking sound. But she hasn't learned to take the balls out of the IQube yet.
After I gave her a bath after I took her home, I decided that I would leave her in the living room while I go to school to use the computer for two hours. I thought it would be okay since she was so sleepy. Well, when I came back, I saw that Mercy had decided to redecorate the room. There were no chew marks on any of the items, but they were all over the room. I didn't leave her in the bedroom because I put all my papers and stuffed animals on the computer table in the bedroom, and I thought she might chew on them if I leave her in the bedroom. And I was okay leaving her in the living room after I removed anything that's irreplaceable there. But definitely I�m going to leave her in the crate again when I�m not a home for the time being.
I started teaching her basic obedience again this morning. I think she will do well when trained with treats. She loves smoke flavored treats. But I'm not giving her any treats, because I'm trying to get her to eat dry food only (and she's not piggy enough to see dry food as treats for training purpose). So I'm just doing it by praise ("Good Girl!"). We just started "Stay" again, and I think she's learning faster now that she's more confident living here. When I was walking Mercy outside this afternoon, one of the apartment managers hollered at me to come over. At first I thought, "maybe one of my neighbors complained to her about Mercy." But no, she just wanted to pet Mercy. She said they loved Penelope, and she thinks Mercy is a very sweet dog too. Mercy seemed to enjoy the petting.
Mercy and Anastasia. It took about a week for them to get along with each other. If a family with cats wants to adopt Mercy, they have to be prepared to take a month for them to figure things out. Anastasia's more dog-savy than most other cats (she knows that dogs behave differently than cats, but since dogs are bigger, she's willing to compromise a little), so that's why I think Mercy's adoptive parent should prepare for a month, even though it took Anastasia only a week. When I washed the bed that Chris gave Mercy, the fiber inside all clumped up. I put it in the dryer thinking it will fluff it out, but it didn't. Virginia later told me that I should've fluff it by hand before putting it in the dryer. So I had to throw the bed away. She wouldn't sleep on the blanket that I put on the carpet anymore, so I took out one of my Penelope's beds (actually Penelope didn't use it much, because she liked my bed better). Mercy seems to like the imitation lambs wool feel of the bed cover. She can take the bed with her to her new home if her adoptive parents would let her.
Mercy tries to zoom inside the apartment about twice a day, and now the weather is not so hot anymore, I do wish I could walk her for at least a mile each day. But Millie reminded me that Mercy is still in her critical period of heartworm treatment, so she must not do anything that can raise her blood pressure.
I put two boots on Mercy last night. She didn't like them and tried to bite them (whereas Penelope and Dudley just stood there like nothing had happened when I first put the boots on them). Mercy is definitely a spicy girl. I tried to distract her with a ball. Later I had to cut away a sticker on Mercy's paw (I found the oil for after waxing is very good for removing the residue). So maybe the boots would be a good idea (except that I only have two left, and she has four legs).
Her adopter might want to get at least one non-tip bowl, for her water. When they used the non-tip bowl at the vet's, she didn't knock over her water. She also knocked over her food bowl when she was at the vet's, so the adopter might want to get another one for her food. Right now I'm using the heavy Pyrex bowls for her, but if she knocks over the bowl again, I'll buy the non-tip bowl for her, and the adopter is welcome to take the bowl.
Mercy is doing "Sit" and "Stay" very well inside the apartment. I can go 6 FT away at the end of the leash with "Stay". I'll start doing longer distance next week. I just started having her doing obedience when we are outside on potty breaks. She also learned "Stand" and "Off" pretty well. As to "Off", I can't keep her off my bed when I'm not around. I think she just loves to sit and sleep on it too much. If the adopter wants to keep her off the sofa and bed even when they are not around, they might have to invest in one of those Scat Mats or Snappers, or just keep the bedroom door closed. But she would get off my bed and go to her bed when I tell her "Off" and point to her bed. And of course she understands "No". And she's doing "Down" and "Leave it" okay. Not her best commands, but at least she knows what she suppose to do when I say those two commands.
Because Mercy is not interested in the outside when she's inside, if she starts looking out of the windows and stands next to the front door, and pacing back and forth in the livingroom, that means I have to take her out potty within the next five minutes! I learned that the hard way four times this weekend. At first I thought she was just being hyper, because I took her out at most three hours before each time, but it seems like she still wanted to go. Right now I have to take her out potty every two to four hours, but she's able to hold it overnight for six hours. But I don't know if her adopter would be able to let her out every three hours during the day. And judging from her digging ability and curiosity, I don't think it would be a good idea to let her wonder around in the yard without supervision (if the adopter has a backyard and doggie door to the backyard). At first I thought she needed to go so often is because she drinks so much water. Most of the days, she drinks a full bowl of water per day. But yesterday she drank only half a bowl, and she still needed to go every two or three hours. But Mercy now sleeps out of the crate, on her dog bed next to me, and she is able to hold her urine for six hours at night. Millie thought maybe the cortisone shot made Mercy have to urinate more frequently than normal, or it could be the symptom of a urinary tract infection. But I don�t think Mercy has urinary tract infection, because she has no other symptoms. Other possibilities that Millie thought of are that Mercy is not emptying her bladder completely when she goes out and limited physical activity.