Happy Birthday to me!

On Nov. 11 I turned 7 years old. I am still pretty young though. Mom loves to watch Jack and I rat wrestle and race through the house. I do like my down time, and then I want to snuggle with mom on her lap.

We didn't do anything special for my birthday except go for a nice long walk. The weather was beautiful and lots of smells to sniff in the piles of leaves everywhere. I did get some new chewies for Jack and I to enjoy.

Soon that nasty snow will be here and we won't want to linger outside. For now, I am enjoying the crisp fall air.

Love,
Emmy

Emmy and the Tooth Fairy

Hello, Emmy here again. Just writing to say I should be nicer to mom when she tries to brush my teeth. I recently had to go in to the vet's for a dental cleaning and I had to have some teeth pulled. Mom knew I had a bad one, she has been trying to keep my teeth cleaned but I absolutely hate it, so it is hard for her to do so.

I was at the vet's most of the day. Unlike the first dental cleaning I had, where I sat politely on the vet tech's lap while my teeth were scaled and polished, I had to have general anesthesia. To my mom's surprise (and horror and guilt) I had to have 4 teeth extracted!!!! Oh my. Rat terriers are known for dental caries but mom had no idea 4 of them were bad. Looking back, she noticed I would paw at my muzzle once in awhile...

So, mom picked me up at 3 pm and I was still very woozy. So much so that I had to be carried to the car. Normally I am very hyper and boingy! Mom drove me home and carried me outside to potty. I just sat there with a glazed look on my face so mom took me inside to rest. The vet tech said they carried me out to potty just before mom picked me up, so mom wasn't too worried.

Mom let me lay on a comfy pillow and doze while she watched over me. An hour later she checked me and I had a potty accident and was laying in it. I am sorry I ruined her pillow, but I really didn't know I was "going" as I was still pretty drugged up. I had a lot of IV fluids so that contributed. Mom wasn't mad, she just picked me up, carried me outside in case I had to go more, and when she brought me in she gently washed my backside and legs. After drying me off, she found something called a "bluepad" and lay it over her lap, then let me nod off on top of it. We sat in the chair for a couple hours like that. I love my mom, she took good care of me.

At about 8 pm I awoke and my tummy was growling! I had not eaten since the day before. Mom fed me half a can of solid gold soft food as my kibble is too hard for my sore jaw. That was a yummy treat! Jack has to have some, too, or he feels left out. Mom tries to do everything fair around the house so there won't be any squabbles.

Later the next evening I had one of my little seizures where my back legs give out. At the time I was laying in bed with mom and Jack, resting. I tried to get up to go to mom and tell her, but in my flailing about I actually fell off the bed onto the floor. Poor me! Of course that scared my mom, who tried to catch me, but it happened so fast. She picked me up and held me until I felt better. Thank heavens I wasn't hurt as mom has a bed with one of those high mattresses!

It has been over a week now and I am off the soft food and back on my kibble. Mom says I will have to let her brush my teeth, even though I really detest it. She bought some new meat flavored toothpaste so hopefully I will get used to it. I can't afford to lose any more teeth!
The teeth I lost are big molars in the back, both upper, and the smaller tooth next to it..both sides. Mom sent them to the tooth fairy and I was rewarded with a trip to the park when I felt better. Jack and I got to romp and play and chase tennis balls. We watched little kids play soccer and Jack was good for a change and didn't bark at the youngsters.

Take care, my furfriends, and remember: when your mom or dad brushes your teeth, it is for your well-being, so please cooperate. I am trying to be a braver girl about it. It is easier to put up with that than to have teeth pulled out.

Bees...........AGAIN!

Let's see. It was in April I think or maybe May. Anyway 2008. I snapped at something flying around the house and didn't realise it was a yellow jacket (until Mom found the dead bee a day later...I got it!) Anyway, Mom and Michael were watching tv at around 11 pm and suddenly they noticed my muzzle was swelling up. UtOh! Not again. Mom got the Temovate or whatever that stuff is. Stronger than benadryl. She gave me some in some cheese (Jack was jealous....he had to have cheese, too!) and they watched me for an hour. The swelling was spreading so Mom (being the good worrier Mom she is) called our emergency Vet line. Now Paw Paw Vet Clinic is affiliated with the Southwestern Emergency Vet Clinic on the corner of Burdick and Cork St. in Kalamazoo. Despite the late hour (almost midnight) they were open (24 hours a day!) and Mom and I got in the car and rushed the 14 miles over. They took me back and worked on me, gave me a shot and some prednisone and made me all better. Mom recognised that the vet tech working there that night went to high school in Coldwater with her, so a hearty shout out to Steve Macklin! And thanks for the great care. What a way to reconnect with an old friend.
Anyway, I am all better now and I will try and remember not to eat anymore bees.

Seizure? October 17, 2007

It appears that Emma may have had a grand mal while I was at work yesterday. I came home to a urine-soaked mattress and several smaller wet spots in the bedroom. She never does this in the house so the only explanation I came up with is a GM. Also, she was exceptionally clingy and very laid back. She would not play with her toys and all she wanted to do was lay on me all evening.

I am using this for a diary to keep track of dates, etc. There is a good possibility she may have some unwitnessed seizures and I was hoping they would not progress into GM. Her vet is aware of her petite mal activity that I reported to him a few months ago. I really hope she doesn't end up on meds but if she needs to, so be it.

Keeping fingers crossed....

Big Bad Bees Got Me!

A week ago I was stung several times by some nasty bees that had a nest in the ground. I am telling you all....this was horrible! Please have your people check your property and get rid of these if you have any.

I didn't react immediately to the stings (in fact, my boy didn't realise I was stung as I didn't make a yelp or anything) but in 2-3 hours by the time my mom got home from work, my head was so swollen and my eyes were nothing but slits. She put me in the car and hurried me to my wonderful vet. It was way too late for any benadryl for me. The vet said if mom would have came home later.....it would not have been good for me. I am glad no one got a picture of me because my head looked as big as a soccer ball and I was not at my prettiest. I felt so awful, too. I kept rubbing my muzzle against everything, trying to take the owie away.

My nice vet lady (Dr. Ann-Marie Baker at Paw Paw Veterinary Clinic) immediately gave me some medicine in my vein (which she had to repeat) and they watched me until I felt better. I also got some steroid pills to help if it happens again.

I am happy to report my swelling is all gone and once again, I am the Beautiful Emma.

Please tell your people to be careful out there when walking you. And if they find any nasty bee nests, to move them or get rid of them. Some little dogs dies from these stings. I was lucky!

love,
~Emma

My Tail of Devotion for Emma

This is a special Tail of Devotion

See All Tails of Devotion

Taking time out from my nap schedule to say hello...

and let you all know that I have not had another seizure!! I am doing well and my momma also had my blood work rechecked.....guess what? The abnormal levels went down so it looks like I don't have Addison's disease, either. Momma was so happy and so am I. I don't want to be sick.

Lots of news in our household lately. Momma began a new thing in April where she gets up early, takes us out for our walk, then leaves the house for a long time. She does this Monday through Friday, without fail. She calls it her job but I call it extra long nap time. Jack and I usually go back to sleep after she leaves, then Jack chases his tail, then me, then we nibble on the kibble. Then it's nap time again. After that exhausting morning, I usually try to find a spot to myself in the sun on the livingroom floor. I like to sunbathe. Laying in the sun makes me drowsy so another nap occurs.

Momma got us a huge HUGE box of these very yummy free-range cattle ears. I like to savor mine but Jack is a piggy and scarfs his down as fast as he can. Then he hovers nearby me, hoping I will let him have mine. HAH! Fat chance. Momma says he probably eats his chewies up fast because when he lived on the streets and in the shelters, chewies were most likely not available. So he may still fear if he doesn't enjoy it quickly, it will be gone.

Chewies take up quite a lot of time in the afternoon. Then it is time for the boy Mike to come home. He gets off the big yellow bus and we always know when it arrives. Mike takes us out to potty and for a run out back. He plays with us for a while then starts pulling books and papers out of his backpack. He sits at the table with these. Sometimes he has a snack and gives us half a bluedogbakery biscuit.

After more trips outside, Momma comes home! We miss her being home with us all day but she says we have more money to spend on treats and toys now. Sacrifices must be made for our comfort.

I have to go to the vet's office next friday and have my teeth cleaned. I am not looking forward to that as I will be there all day while Momma is at her job. The vet will give me some medicine to make me sleep while he works on my chompers. Momma says I may feel sleepy most of the day. But after work she will pick me up and bring me home.

Then the following day Momma is taking me and Jack to the fairgrounds to the UKC Premier dog show where we will meet up with some other rat terriers and their friends. I can't wait!!

I have been neglecting my dogster clubs/groups/forums a lot in the past couple months so I better get over there and see what's barking.

Take care and ya'll be good and Bark At Ya Later!

~~~Love and furlicks, Emma~~~

No news is good news

As of today I haven't had another one of those "spells" that mom thinks are seizures. I don't want to jinx it by talking about it too much but I do hope I don't have anymore.....

I am grateful that my big sis Nikki was given a good report. She had some tumors cut from her belly and her side, and the vet said they didn't look good. The aspiration initially was thought to be cancerous cells and she went in and had them all cut out. She has a big nasty looking scar that is just now starting to calm down...but the vet seems to think she will be ok.

I am very happy about that as we all love the Nikkster very much. She was my mom's first rat terrier and she loved Nikki so much that daddy went and found a puppy for my boy Mike....that would be me! I love my family and am so glad that they picked me out of all the others (I heard they originally wanted one that had a black ring around his tail, but mom wanted a girl and I whispered "pick me" in her ear and she did).

If I could wish for anything in the world....I would wish that everyone spayed and neutered their dogs and cats. There are just too many that have puppies and kittens and then not enough homes for them. Mom cries when she hears about all the ones that don't find homes and have to go to the Rainbow Bridge, years before their time. I get so sad, too. So does Jack. He almost ended up that way himself...
So please, tell your friends to stop all this and please get their kitties and dogs "fixed" so they don't add to the pet overpopulation.

Love,
~Emma~

Oh dear...

A couple nights ago I had a seizure. It wasn't a big one, but what is called a petite mal or focal seizure. My mom is understandably worried about me. She is watching me carefully to see if anything happens again. We went to the vet and I was a real good pup while they took blood from me, I guess I was too scared to fuss this time. Anyway, some of my labs are goofy so they will need to be redone in a bit. For now, my vet is saying I probably have epilepsy and there is a question as to whether I may have Addison's Disease on top of that. Mom is hoping maybe the high potassium is a fluke and contributed to the seizure. Who knows? In any event, we hope I will be fine. There are many pups out there with seizure disorders (I just joined "the shakers" and have gotten some very kind emails from a few) so I guess it is just another way to look at life. Like my mom's friend Jacki says, "Welcome to Holland"!

I will keep you updated on how it all comes out.

As far as Mr. Jack and Miss Nikki, both are fine. Jack is his usual PLAYPLAYPLAYful self. Honestly, I don't know where he gets the energy. Give a girlfriend a break once in awhile...really. Just as soon as I settle in for my mid morning after breakfast nap........boing!! He bounces by looking for a ratrace.
Nikki visited recently and soon will be staying with me for a week or 2 while daddy goes snowmobiling "up north". I love it when Nikki stays. It is we girls united against the JackMonster then. BOL.

We are having lots and lots of the cold wet white stuff lately. It is hard to go out and do our business because of it, but Mom and Mike are nice enough to shovel paths for us. Too deep otherwise!

Keep warm and take care!!!

Love,
~Emma~

New and Improved with more Pics!!

Just wanted to let you know that momma put some more pictures up in our photo diary of all of us (Jack, Nikki and Me) so if you are looking at our page, please make sure to click on the link for the photo diary and then go to the upper right of each page and look at all the pages. We have some cute ones you don't want to miss. Jack has a habit of getting ALIEN eyes in some of his pictures...guess Mom had better learn to use that flash correctly!

It has been fun.

Bark at ya later....have a safe Jan. everypup and have fun!!!

~Love, Emma