My Paw is Injured

I think injured paws are going around because another one of my doggy blogger friends had an injured paw, I saw two doggies at the vet with injured paws, and now I have one. I started to limp last night for no apparent reason. Mommy and daddy inspected my paw and didn't see any stickers or cuts so they were confused. I wouldn't even walk on the grass to go potty so I had to be carried to the yard.

This morning my limping was gone and it turned into a full fledged hop - on three legs. Mommy took me to the vet where we wound up waiting for an hour. I've never seen the vet's office so crowded. Finally it was our turn and mommy warned the vet assistant that I might bite if my injured paw was touched so they muzzled me just in case. I didn't like that at all. I looked like a racehorse.

The vet and his assistant tried to flip me so they could see my paw better and I liked that even less. I cried but the vet continued to touch my paw. Didn't he know that I was in pain? It turns out that my injured paw has a swollen digit. I don't know what a digit is but I wish it wasn't swollen.

Mommy doesn't know how it happened since I was perfectly fine yesterday but the vet said I probably jumped wrong or something like that. Mommy said it must have been caused by chasing squirrels because that's when I'm most active. I can't help it, it's in my nature.

The vet wanted to take X-rays but the machine is in the same room as the surgical room and a doggy was having an operation in there so we couldn't go in. The vet told mommy to come back later for my X-rays. So we went home, mommy took me on a walk - yes, I can walk, well run actually on three legs. Then I got some awesome treats: eggs and carrots. Finally it was time to return to the vet. We wound up waiting and waiting once again only to be told that there was another doggy in the X-ray room. Ugh!

The doctor apologized and suggested I take some special medication and see how I do over the next week. He told mommy to come back for that X-ray if my paw doesn't get better in a week, but he said I'd most likely heal on my own. Doggies are cool like that.

The good news is that I lucked out because I was supposed to be groomed tomorrow but mommy had to cancel because of my paw. So I guess I have to look a bit scruffy for another week or so but don't worry, mommy is still brushing me at home. I might look a bit "fluffy" but I'm still under 30 pounds so I'm actually perfect. Well, that's what mommy says anyway.

You can see a short video of me trying to hop along. This was before I became comfortable walking on just three legs. Don't worry, I'm much faster now although I think it still breaks mommy's heart to see me hop. Shh! Don't tell her I know.

I'm Switching my Dog Food

Mommy took me with her on a lot of errands which means I got to enjoy one of my favorite activities: ride in the car! Besides our usual drive to the woods for our morning walk, mommy took me to a holistic vet so I could get new food. No one was there but we sure had fun looking around. I was very interested in chicken legs or beaks or something chicken related that I had never seen before.

Since no one seemed to be there, we left and went to a pet store so mommy could return the food I usually eat. It's wheat-free but mommy thinks the synthetic vitamins could be what's causing my tummy problems. Apparently doggies have died due to synthetic vitamins D3, Selenium, and Zinc. That's why some dog food brands had to be recalled....or at least that's what the folks from my new dog food manufacturer told mommy.

While we were at the pet store, we saw another Cocker Spaniel but this cocker was not like me. His owner said he was a field cocker but mommy thought he looked awfully American to her. He was very friendly, sweet and cute, but after I let him sniff me, I walked away. I don't mind being sniffed or sniffing other dogs but I don't really like to "play" like some other doggies do. I was more interested in an open bag of treats. I tried to get some, but I couldn't because mommy kept an eye on me while talking to the other cocker's owner. He was a nice man and was so excited to share cocker stories with mommy. I guess we're a funny breed.

Then mommy took me back to the holistic vet and we were able to buy that special food. Mommy said she wants to give me a little each day until I get used to it, but I'd be happy eating all of it now. I seem to be waking up earlier and earlier with my tummy problems so mommy is hoping this new food will do the trick; if not, I'll have to see the holistic vet to see if my stomach pH is off or if I need some probiotics. In the meantime, I'm stilling taking antacids at night.

Later this evening we stopped by a new park - well, new to us. There was a tennis court and a volleyball court with sand. It looked really neat for humans, and the best part for mommy was the fact that there was no litter. Yeah! I didn't see any other dogs there but that's OK; when they go there tomorrow, they'll know that Euri was there because I marked my spot.

When we got home mommy cleaned my water bowl and I received fresh filtered water. Am I a pampered pooch? So with all of the walking and driving today, I'm worn out. I sure hope I sleep well tonight. I know mommy would like it if I didn't get up at 5 AM again.

P.S. Do you like my photo? It looks like I'm sticking my tongue out at you. Hee-hee!

Heartworm

I went to the vet yesterday so they could test me for heartworm. Mommy makes sure I take a special pill every month so I don't get it, but unfortunately I still have to be poked once a year to make sure the medicine is working. Mommy says it's medicine but it tastes just like a yummy treat to me.

The vet tech tried two times to get my blood to come out but it didn't work. Maybe I'm too furry? He was awfully nice so I didn't mind. Then a different vet tech had to draw my blood and I was a very good boy. I didn't moan, whince, move or anything. I really like the staff there. They are always so nice to me. When it was all over, I got a special bone-shaped treat. And I when I was in the waiting room, one nice man said cockers are great. He told mommy that cocker spaniels are like children, only better. Mommy is always getting compliments about me. I must be one special dog. Well, when I'm not trying to eat poop that is.

I hope all of you doggies out there are on heartworm preventative medicine. If you're not, make sure you tell your owners to get you tested. If your test comes back negative, that's a good thing. Just take your medication - which tastes like a yummy treat - once a month and you're good to go.

Heartworm isn't a good thing so you want to make sure you never get it. It is a yucky worm that you can get from a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes like to bite my mommy. She has big red marks all over her legs. We can't wait until the winter when there won't be as many mosquitoes out.

I Had My First Visit to the Emergency Vet Last Weekend

Last Saturday my parents went to the gym - I'm not sure why my mommy goes when she runs with me twice a day - and when they were gone, I did something very mischievous which led to a trip to the emergency veterinary hospital.

My parents always give me a Kong filled with kibble and treats before they leave so I won't be bored, but last Saturday night I discovered that daddy did something naughty and I got the blame. He not only left the pantry door open, but he forgot to put the lid back on my food container. So what's a dog to do?

After I finished rolling my Kong around, I headed towards the pantry and well....I jumped up onto the food container, stuck my head in the opening, and ate and ate and ate until I couldn't eat anymore. I was very careful not to knock the container over so mommy and daddy wouldn't find out, but unfortunately my big belly gave it away.

I was so full that I had to poo, and even though I've never gone in the house before, I had no choice. At least I was considerate enough to go on the tile floor where it would be easy to clean up.

When my parents got home my dad said something disparaging. "Hi fat boy!" I was a bit insulted but I guess the cat was out of the bag - he could see my bloat. Mommy yelled at daddy for being mean to me because she never even noticed how bloated I was. But moments later when she took a few steps, she saw the poo and knew something was wrong.

Daddy thought I might have been spiteful but I have never been spiteful. I'm a good boy; well, most of the time. But mommy noticed that I was acting funny and she started to get worried. She saw that I was swelling up like a balloon so she started researching bloat on the Internet. She knew it was dangerous and dogs could die, but she wasn't sure if I had the dangerous kind or not. So daddy called the emergency hospital and they said to bring me in to play it safe.

So my parents ran around the house getting ready for our road trip. Oh I love road trips! They're my favorite...next to eating to my heart's content.

Stay tuned for Part II of my emergency vet hospital saga.