Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Update from Faith�s foster mom, Curtis, �i check in regularly with the Andrews and their reports are glowing. They are delighted with her and apparently she with them.�
Last night, right before I was going to bed, I was petting Tara, who was sleeping, and Oscar ran up to sniff Tara for a brief second and then ran off. I think she's getting brave enough and is testing to see how close she can go up to Tara.
Another thing I noticed about Oscar is that she prefers high places more than Anastasia does. One reason could be that Tara and Anastasia can't jump as high, but overall I think Oscar's just more comfortable sitting up on the cat tree or even just on the livingroom table, rather than walking on the carpet like Anastasia and Tara.
On Sunday when we were on our campus walk, I forgot to slow Tara down when the ground transitioned from grass to cement, and she tripped. It's not much height transition, but I think she was just caught by surprise with the sudden transition, plus she can't see at all. She's like a tanker truck, when she falls, it takes her quite amount of effort (compare to other dogs I've had) for her to get up. She falls flat on her face, with dirt on her muzzle and legs, then wimper, and I would really bad, and then go set her up. Anyways, after the fall, she started limping immediately, so I carried her about 100 feet to a shaded area for her to rest her leg, then continued and finished the rest of the walk, much slower pace of course. This had happened twice before and the first time I think she was okay within a day. The second time I made her rest for two days before she got better. This time, I was worried, because when she got up after her nap on Sunday night, she was limping visibly again, that I had to pick her up and down the stairs to go potty. She got a little better each day, and finally last night's potty walk before going to bed, she did not limp at all. Anyways, I'll just have to watch her very closely on walks.
Tara is old and blind, but she's still smart and can be a bit manipulative too. I usually don't give into things like this, but she's old and blind, so oh well. There are times she wants to be petted, and most of the time I would just pat her head once or twice, and she would go away and go to sleep. But occasionally, she would just be patient and persistent and stand her ground, and just keep in position and whine a little bit; I'm sure this game has worked for her many times before. And once in a while when I do give in because I was just watching TV and not focused on anything in particular, I do give into her cute face.
Oscar hasn't vomited for over a week. I think she's eating slower because I put her supplements onto her kibbles. In the mornings, I put glucosamine and crab apple. Then for dinner, I put fatty acid. Oscar doesn't like supplements on her food as much, so that slows down her eating, thus less vomiting, and I don't even have to put the ping-pong ball in her bowl anymore.
I think Oscar's getting more and more comfortable and bold around Tara. Yesterday, Tara was sleeping in the hallway, and Oscar used the litter box in the bedroom, and they were only about five feet apart. Oscar would only use the litter box when she feels safe, so I think it indicates she's feeling less nervous around Tara. Also, when Oscar wanted to leave the bedroom, but Tara was still sleeping in the hallway. Finally Oscar got up the courage and just jumped right over Tara. But on the other hand, I've also seen Oscar slapping Tara twice in the past week also. Both times I don't think Oscar felt like she was trapped, but more like annoyed, by Tara, because Tara was following me and Oscar was following me too. Anyways, Oscar was on the table one time and on the bathroom counter the second time, when she slapped Tara with her front paw. Both times, Tara did not fight back and just backed away and had this "I got my feeling hurt" look on her face, so I went to pet her.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Photo and update from David, Glory�s dad, �Her ears seem fine now. She still seems a little deaf but I am beginning to think it is a combination of selective hearing / the hell with you I'm busy / Attention Deficit Disorder / Springer Spaniel.
She still doing fine; still a little clingy but I am leaving her on her own with the other dogs for longer periods and she seems pretty happy with that - unless I am taking the car, and then she wants to drive.
She's been off meds now for a little over a week and she seem full of the joys of Spring - being a total puppy. We bought her a pink bandana a couple of days ago and you wouldn't believe how proud she is when she wears it!�
�Busy painting this week; Glory had a white ear and Rex, the shepherd, had to be worked on with paint remover and olive oil last night after he jammed his snout in an empty paint can.�
�Just shot a few photos that show that Glory has settled in well. Here she is this morning on bird watch. She is starting to develop a keen interest in birds which is good,
as this should be almost instinctive in a Springer.�