Monty's Back

After agonizing weeks of have a very lethargic dog, and fearing the worst, we have our dog back.  He took a nice long walk with me. He's running around the yard and is finally eating again!  He lost a lot of weight and looks way too skinny but he ate a full serving of canned food and a serving of kibble for dinner, and topped it off with a yoguhound!!  His coat is coming back in, his ears are perky.  And I thank God that his eyes are looking normal again.  We're still using the medication but he doesn't need the artificial tears anymore. 

Monty's Health

I haven't posted in awhile because I've been monitoring Monty so much and didn't have the heart to write.   We have not been able to get Monty's energy up or get him to eat.  The vet thinks he ate an animal that was poisoned.  He is suffering from dry eyes.  The meds are beginning to work and he's starting to produce tears but we still are putting in artificial tears.  He's not eating much.and is down to 28 pounds.  We brought him to the beach.... that actually seemed to help but he's slide back once we were home.  We're now worried about blockage because of all the ripe little things that are dropping off trees.  But that would be recent because the original xrays did not show blockage.  Its frustrating and tough to have this not even two year old pup, lie down and sleep almost all day.  We're doing what we can and hope whatever it is passes through his system.

Prayers for Monty

Monty's eye started getting better, then worse, then the other eye and he got more and more lethargic.  What 1.5 year old Brittany sees a rabbit and does NOTHING!! He's at the vets and spending the night.  They are observing him and hydrating him.  They think its chemical poisoning.  Ok, so weeds will now be welcome in my yard and I'll just deal with the poison ivy.  They have seen a spike in dogs with this problem, so I'm wondering if there wasn't some dusting going on that has effected a lot of dogs.  So now we pray.  I'll know more tomorrow.  I can't help but think that this poor dog has gone through so much.  (oh, and x-rays show bone in his system.  Swear its not from us. God only knows what that dog eats when he's in the yard!)

The Risk of Fun in the Yard

As you know, Monty loves being outside. He digs.  He eats little green apples.  He finds bunnies.  He brings in birds.  He runs. He plays. He eats grass.  He's given me poison ivy (thanks so much!).  He trails the fox, who thankfully stays on the other side of the invisible fence, up and down the side yard.  He goes through bushes and brambles to find exciting things to do. Well all of this is great - in spite of having to fill in holes.  Except for the past few days, Monty's right eye was weepy and he wasn't opening it fully.  So this morning I brought him to the vet.  Luckily no ulcers or scratches.  (He got the same yellow stain, I get when I go to the eye Dr.!)  But there is definitely an irritant.   So eye washes and ointment.  If its not "drastically better" by Monday, Monty will be back at the vets.  By end of day today, his first day.  He was holding his eye open better.  I'll know by tomorrow night if he goes back to the vet.  Here's hoping we don't have to go back.

Spots... More Spots

When we rescued Monty he was sooo white.  Yes, he had the traditional Brittany face, but very few dots of color on him.  In fact his back was almost all white.  Not anymore.  Very small dots of orange are showing up on his legs and backside.  Yes, I washed him... but the spots stayed in. He's the same old boy and doing great.  It's just interesting to see new spots come out at 15 months. 

Dog Toys

How long is a dog toy supposed to last?  Well, the indestructible dragon lasted 3 1/2 months.  The Octopus still thrives.  The rope and cloth frisbee - made to last - lasted... a day!  The rope toy is banished to the outside because Monty whips it around  and then tosses it.  A close call with the China cabinet and the rope became an outdoor toy.  He's chewed through a number of balls.  His dent-a-bone and Kong are still good.

So today, we went to the store and replaced his dragon.  Got a 99cent frisbe, some more tennis balls that sqeak ( he loves squeaky toys)  and a longer rope toy so Amy can play tug of war.   

We got home and had a great game of frisbee.  The 99 cent job has a couple of more days left.  Amy played tug of war with Monty.  He hangs on to one end and runs with her (weird way of playing tug of war - but hey, they had fun).    When we went inside, Monty got his new dragon and is a very happy pup!

Monty has been pretty well behaved overall but I have found, he doesn't like going to bed early.  The other day I had an early appointment and went to bed early and brought Monty with me.  His normal routine is to come up with me and when I turn off the lights he curls up on his bed.  He's there until I wake in the morning.  Very uneventful.  So I go to bed early, turn of the lights and Monty starts jumping on me.  Nudging me with his nose.  Jumping on the bed (where he doesn't belong and he knows it).  It was a circus.  I was laughing but soon gave up on trying to quiet him and get him to settle down.  I caved.  I got up, let him out and asked Jay to let him back in.  I went to bed.  Monty didn't.