Weekend Update
Here are my babies! Tessa on the right and Toby on the left. Tessa came home last night and is so far doing well. Not even too much in the way of side-effects from the medication she's on, which I'm thankful for. Thanks everyone for all the kind words!!
I did have my first shower this weekend, my fiance's side of the family and their friends, and it was very nice.... my mom and a BM came up from NJ, my other two local bridesmaids were there to help, and it was a nice time. The weather held out, so we could sit outside by the river (it even downpoured on my way there, but not at the restaurant) and I got beautiful, generous gifts. There were about 25 of us, so I got to talk to everyone and even meet a few people I'd never met before. I'm not especially comfortable at being the center of attention like that, with people I don't know that well, but I did okay... considering....
The whole shower was over-shadowed because my girl dog is in the hospital. It turns out she has epilepsy, probably the genetic she'll-have-it-forever-and-there's-no-cure epilepsy (all testing for external causes is so far negative). It can be controlled and she can have a very long, happy life, but she's basically going to need medication and special attention forever. As long as she has no relapses today, she'll be discharged tonight (she's been in since Saturday night). We can't wait to bring her home, and her brother misses her a lot.
Sorry to be a downer! It's kind of put everything into perspective for us. We had a healthy dog on Saturday afternoon, and now we have a special needs dog. It's distressing, not only because my dog is sick, but she's sick in a way that's going to impact her and us forever. We've already had to cancel our trip over Labor Day weekend (my birthday, btw, and Amy's soon-to-be wedding anniversary :)) because we can't leave her at a kennel right now. We'll get into a routine, I'm sure, but right now everything seems all shaken up.
Really though, the shower was beautiful, everyone was great, and my baby girl should be coming home tonight, so even though it's Monday, things are looking up right now :)
Thanks! I wanted to post a picture, otherwise I'd just have responded below. Here are my babies, Tessa (our girl, the bigger one, on the right) and Toby (our little boy).
... okay, I tried to post a picture, but it wasn't working right now. I'll try again later.
posted by Cara B. @ 9:40 AM
14 Comments:
Cara,
I am sorry to hear about your dog. However, I am glad that you had a nice shower.
Sarah
BTW, my birthday is Sept 2, what's your's?
Cara,
So happy to hear that you had a great shower. It can be nerve-wracking being the center of attention in a room full of people you don't know. Great practice for the big day!
I'm sorry to hear about Tessa. Pets are part of the family. You can't help but worry about them when they get sick. Let us know when she comes home!
Cara,
Oh, I'm so sorry about your dog! But, you are right, she can live a very long and happy life even with epilepsy. I had two dogs growing up that both had that. An Irish Setter and a Cocker Spaniel (epilepsy is common in both breeds). There were times when they had seizures, but it's like people, you wait it out, and they will be fine. It can be scary, but not now that you know what to expect. Medication can allow them to live very regular doggies lives, and your dear friend will be okay. (I am an AVID animal lover, and was a professional animal trainer) so I've seen it all. Everything will be okay. Congrats on a lovely shower!
Jennifer, Cats can absolutely be trained! (it's more like "conditioning"). It is a lot easier if you start them as kittens. (and they are not as consistant as dogs) But heck, if I can train a tiger to stand on a mark, I can probably do just about anything. I'd love to offer some advice, can you let me know more specifically what Peanut is doing?
Cara,
OMG!! They are so cute. I'm so glad she came home last night.
Jennifer...I have to smile. My cat does something similar, but I blame my fiance. When we got my male kitty, (8 weeks old) he would meow at 4:30 am to be "fed" or loved. The problem always was, he'd have food, but want us to come into the kitchen, and give him fresh. Mostly, it was for the attention. Well, back to my fiance. He would get up, despite my urging for him to "sleep through it". Yes, I know, impossible to do, but we have to be more stubborn than the cat. The problem is, because the cat realized the meowing "works" (getting my finace up to feed him), he continues to do it to this day. Not only will he meow and kneed the pillows, but knock our night stand lamps over. He only does this when my finance is in bed. If he's away on a trip or something, the cat knows better.
Anyways, to make a long story short, because the cat knows it'll work, he'll keep doing it. It's not hopeless, but it will be difficult to break him of this habit. You seem to be doing everything I would suggest. Perhaps this will work. Get him a brand new toy, something "quiet" that he will love, and that is nothing like his regular toys. Give it to him only at night, and take it away in the morning. The idea is to distract him from his normal habit, and give him a new thing to focus on. More than likely this won't work right away, and it won't work at all if you "cave" and get up to give him treats. ;-( I know you already know this. LOL. It is extremely tough, especially with an older animal, to recondition them. But, it can be done. I hope I was able to help somewhat. Keep me posted on Peanut. **for toy ideas, try something that holds cat treats, try to combine his two early morning urges in one.
Cara,
So glad that Tessa is doing better!
Jennifer,
That's too funny. They have some cute toys that hold treats, and it's "hard" for them to get them out, so the idea is to keep kitty occupied. ;) Also, cats are nocturnal, so naturally they are move active in the night (or early morning). In my quest for treat toys before, I found you are limited in the cat section. Check out toys for smaller dogs, they work just fine for cats. My girl kitty (who behaves excellent at night, it's the boy who's a pain), LOVES this treat ball I got her way back when. She carries it around all the time, even when there's no treats inside. Good luck, and let me know if it works!
Jennifer,
I'm convinced they "know" what they are doing. Especially since if I'm in bed by myself, he's the prince among cats, and very well behaved. Only because he "knows" that Mommy won't get up at 4:30am to feed him, because I KNOW he has food and don't play that game. Oh, but they are cute and lovey. I love it when he sleeps next to my head and purrs. My fiance and I call that "catatosis". They make you sleepy.
Cara- I am so glad that you had a good time at your shower! Your dogs are so beautiful. I'd have a dog if my landlord allowed me (thank god my lease is up soon!)! I can just tell that Tessa is in good hands with you and she will be happy. Good luck! But I am really glad that your shower turned out well!
Jennifer,
Sleep better last night?
Cara,
sorry to hear about your little girl, but i know many epiletic dogs that live happy full lives. I have 3 dogs, well really 2, but the 3rd is troy's mom's 11 year old sheltie, and he is more like lamp that you have to feed once a day and let out once in a while. Otherwise you don't even know he is there...LOL good luck I am sure your baby girl will be fine!
Jennifer, Too funny about the gum. I now have an image of a cat chewing bubble gum, and it's so funny. Thanks for the giggle!
I had a dog once with a stamp fettish. No joke. (I think the sticky glue smelled good to her). We had to always hide our stamps so she wouldn't eat them!
I didn't sleep well last night, but not because of the cat. My fiance is a chronic snorer, and man was it bad last night. LOL. Good luck, and keep trying to be more stubborn than the cat.
Jennifer,
I love the gum image! My parent's cat, Felix, loves ribbon, plastic wrapping, tissues, toilet paper, etc. He eats it and gets sick. Every so often he comes trotting down the hall with a tissue hanging out of his mouth. Not so funny when you have to clean up after him though. Ribbon is the worst though, especially if it's the thin kind that's wrapped on a spool. He starts to eat the end, and can't stop swallowing it until it's done (10 yards worth!) because he can't cut it. Now imagine what happens at the other end. We love him, but oh man, the first time that happened...
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