I have a new little brother!

Last week was really interesting at my house. On Monday and Tuesday, Mom came home with her pants smelling like a dog I'd never smelled before. Then, on Wednesday, she loaded me up into the car and took me to the pound. I was a little nervous about why we were at the pound, until I realized she was taking me to meet the dog I'd been smelling on her jeans. We played for a little bit, and then Mom took me home. Later that day, that same dog came to my house. Mom and Dad told me that his name was Sputnik and that he was my new little brother.

I still don't know what all to think about Sputnik. I feel a little jealous sometimes, but it's good to have another dog here.

Oh yeah, the medicine the vet gave me has been helping my arthritis, so I get to run again!

Mom and Dad keep not taking me running :(

Sigh.

Something has happened to my elbow. I first started noticing it in the morning. I'd try to get off my couch (I have my very own couch -- I just can't sit on any of the other furniture), and my front left leg wouldn't seem to cooperate. It started to get worse and worse, and Mom and Dad just kept looking for stickers in my paw. I tried to tell them that it wasn't the paw that was hurting, but the elbow.

They finally took me to the vet's. This wasn't as much fun as my usual experiences there. The doctor moved me around and kept feeling on me, and then tried to turn me UPSIDE DOWN on this cold metal table. I did NOT want any part of that, so I started panicking and trying to escape. Next thing I know, he's on the phone with Mom, and asking if I could be sedated! I had no idea what this meant, but the next thing I knew, he came over, and it felt like a bee had stung me. I then got very sleepy.

Time passed in a strange way. I slept for what seemed to be an entire week. Then, Mom was back to get me. I jumped up and played with her, but I was still sleepy.

Mom and the doctor went into the back and looked at my x-rays -- I guess that's why he was putting me on that cold table. I overheard him explain to her that I had some mild arthritis (I didn't know I was old! I thought I was just a puppy!) in my elbow and that I needed to take some medicine and NOT RUN FOR A WHOLE MONTH!

This was the worst part of the whole thing -- Mom and Dad and I have been training to run in some races here in Austin -- first 5Ks and then 10 Ks. Now, they leave me at home. It makes me so sad to see them put on their running shoes and stretch, because that used to be my favorite time of the whole day. Now I just get wimpy little walks down the street and back. I hate it!