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First Visit to the Nursing Home

Polo allergic to BEES....Rushed to Cornell Hospital in SHOCK

I found out the HARD way that dogs can be very allergic to BEES....

I was doing the rounds of the dog park and having a good time, as usual when something stung me...I think it got me on the left leg because all I wanted to do is lick it to make it go away!

Then ,my "mom" noticed it and came over and checked it out.
She rubbed it a little and it felt better so I ran around for about 20 minutes until I felt REALLY tired and had to lay down, right in the field.

My eyes felt so heavy...they were closing and even when other dogs came up to try and play with me, I wouldn't get up!

Finally, my "mom" had the good sense to check my MOUTH and noticed that my TONGUE was WHITE..not the usual pink color...

She was really worried and knew it was something BAD!

Fortunately, we live in Ithaca, NY and have Cornell University Vet School here and she called them.
They said to RUSH me up to the VET Hospital right away. It was only a 5 minute drive . The nice people at Cornell took over right away and treated me for ANAPHAPHLYTIC SHOCK....that is something REALLY serious and I guess it could have killed me...

I got a shot of Epinephrine and they did an EKG on me...then, my FACE swelled up like a "platypus" which is apparently a sure sign of bee stings in dogs...So they gave me another shot of BENADRYL which made that stop after a little while.

I got better and they let me go home after 3 hours....

I think my "Mom" was more worried than I was because the Cornell staff was so nice to me...

But, now I have to take a Benadryl pill EVERY day before we go out to the dog park...just to lessen the effect just in case I get stung again...

They told us that IF I weighed over 30 lbs. I could use a child's "Epipen" but since I only weigh 15 lbs, it would be too much medicine and could be harmful...But I can't just stay inside all the time....

I wonder how many other dogs have severe BEE allergies....Good thing my "mom" knew what to look for and got help for me right away.

Dogs can take the human BENADRYL and maybe your humans should carry some JUST in CASE you have a reaction....Better safe than sorry....

POLO's First Birthday Party was a Big Success

May 8, 2007 was POLO's big day...He was one year old and we had a big party at his favorite place...the dog park!

Mom had a special "pup cake" made for him that was enjoyed by humans and pups alike (actually a local baker made a special carrot cake with spelt flour and no sugar and cream cheese frosting for all of us). We had 30 dogs and their humans and a beautiful day at the park.

I like everyone so I greeted all my guests. I wanted to make them welcome so I went to each of them as they arrived at the park. My mom gave them their piece of cake so they could share it with their dogs and we all played some games and ran around. Some of us went into to the water but nobody got into any DEAD FISH! Our humans were really happy about that!!!

I have become a real "challenge" recently...My mom was a middle school teacher and she tells people that I remind her of a teen-ager testing the boundries. I guess I just want to see what is happening all around me but I really don't mean to get into trouble.

I am really good about coming back when she calls me and raises her hand and keeps it up so I can see her...That has always been our signal so I know it's time for me to come back to her.

I love going to the Dog Park more than anything and don't want to get grounded. Sometime, if I am naughty, I do get a "time out" but only for a few minutes and then I calm down. I guess it's a good thing and it keeps me safe. I am one of the smaller guys around so it's my mom's job to keep me safe. My "big sister, Skye" also looks out for me and sometimes even growls at another dog if she doesn't like the way it's behaving with me. I guess I am lucky about that. But, I know I couldn't go to the dog park if they didn't look out for me and I just love it there.

I have so many pal there now and everyone calls me a "clown"...I happen to be a big jumper and I am going to start junior agility sometime this summer, too. Skye has done some of that and she liked it but she isn't into jumping the way I am. Everyone tells me that I will be good at it so I will give it a try.

How are all of you doing?

I hope everyone has a SAFE and fun summer...Remember to use FLEA and tick protection and take your Heartworm Pills on schedule....Remind your humans about this....

I now weigh 14.4 pounds and the vet says this is probably my fyull weight. NOT an ounce of fat on me though. I am a muscle man due to all the exercize I get every day, I guess. Good thing for me. I do like keeping busy but I also love to get my beauty sleep in the afternoon!
CHEERS!

POLO

POLO has a girlfriend named PUMPKIN

I am so excited...........I have met my soul mate at the dog park!
She is a cutie, too! Her name is PUMPKIN and she's a 5-month old Corgie...I just loved playing with her from the first moment we met. Even though I am neutered, of course...I really love her cute stubby tail and little legs, too. We are both small, so it is nice to have someone my own size to play with.

We have the same play style and love to roll and romp around. We can go for an hour and it is so much fun...

Everyone remarks how much we love each other.

In fact, Pumpkin's human has rearrnaged her work schedule so she can bring Pumpkin to the park when I am there...

I introduced Pumpkin to swimming yesterday and now we know she can swim...at least we both managed to get out when we fell into the water together!

By the way..........I will be 1 year old on May 7 and plans are bing made for my party at the dog park...complete with "pup cakes" for the pooches...