Vet Visits

Bella

This week my bagel---half basset/half beagle hybrid---had to visit the vet.  She has seasonal allergies and the new grass is making her go crazy.  Her usual dosage of Benedryl wasn't cutting it, and then the allergies migrated her to right eye.  It made her eye go filmy blue and it kept rolling into the back of her head and finally, she just wouldn't open her eye.  So, off to the vet it was.  Of course as usual, they had to check to see if she had fleas, because she's allergic to them as well.  And as usual, they didn't find any fleas.  Just a very badly irritated heinie and a blue, irritated second eyelid (who knew dogs had a second one?).  The vet changed her medication to Zyrtec (yup, more expensive but still OTC) and gave me a cream to squeeze into her eye twice a day.

Bella, post medication roll....and belly rubs.

I dunno about you, but putting a metal tube near my dog's eye made me nervous.  The first time or two, it was okay.  Bella didn't fight the medication and I didn't have to hold her eye open too much.  And then the medication started to help.....I think.  I don't know what to think, but suddenly she seemed to see the tube coming at her eye and would slam her eyelids shut like Fort Knox.   She didn't paw me, or pull away, she just shut her eyes as if they were super glued shut.  She still has a film across her eye, and she still lets it loll into the back of her head like a half zombie, but I think it's getting better.

Long story short, lots of dogs have allergies and the preventative---such as the flea medication she's on year round----is much easier than clearing up the aftermath of a full blown episode.  If your dog is acting uncomfortable, they probably are.  Just because they don't have words doesn't mean they don't talk.  Whining, loss of appetite, excessive sleeping, chewing at their behinds/paws/legs, or pawing at their ears/eyes are all signs of allergies.  If there is a change in your dog's behavior, please watch and see what they are trying to tell you.  After all, dogs are people too.

Homemade Dog Treats

image from www.browneyed.baker.com

I'm not the type of dog owner who makes their dogs' food and I don't watch every little thing that goes into their mouths (that would be a full time job anyway), but I do make my own dog treats.  Why?  Well honestly, I did it at first because it was a novelty.  Then the dogs really got into Mama's cookies and when I got lazy and bought store bought dog biscuits, well they didn't snub them but they sure didn't wolf them down the way they did with the homemade ones.  I don't claim to be a math wiz, but most of the ingredients were already lying around or were in the pantry, so other than some time and a bit of effort, it really didn't hurt me to whip up a batch.  I shared my recipe with another friend who is a dog lover and suddenly I started getting requests for my "dog cookies."   I thought I'd just share the tried and true recipe.

Mama's Dog Cookies

2 cups of flour---the original recipe called for whole wheat, but all purpose is what I had on hand and it goes over very well

1/2 cup of oatmeal---instant or whole oatmeal, it doesn't seem to make a difference

1 egg

1 beef bouilion cube, crushed---again, the original recipe called for bouillon granules, but I had cubes

1/2 cup hot liquid--I use water, but I've also used leftover soup or broth

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Dissolve the bouillon in the hot water (or whichever liquid you decide to use).  Grease a cookie sheet.  Add remaining ingredients and mix until a stiff dough forms.  Knead the dough until smooth.  Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thick and cut with a cookie cutter....or I just usually make squares with a knife.  Place on the cookie sheet about 1/2 inch apart.  They will slightly poof as they cook.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Cool before storing or feeding to your hounds...if they let you.  Mine like to tackle the first batch and bay at the counter until I can pull them off and toss them across the room like a linebacker.  They will store for about a month.  You can keep them in the fridge or even freeze them for a longer shelf-life.