ARGH!

Okay, I am totally frustrated with the Veterinary world right now.

In the human world, if there is an "emergency" and you go to the ER, they have to see you and treat you. If you don't have insurance or a way to pay, they cannot refuse treatment in the ER (they can refuse to admit you, and transfer you to an hospital that will treat "indigent" patients). And in human hospitals, you can make payments, you don't have to pay the entire thing up front. I should know. I worked insurance billing while going to nursing school!

But in the vet world, if you don't have any money no one will see your pet no matter what. They can refuse to see you in the emergency clinic if you can't pay right then and there.

Then there is pet health insurance. Fine, I looked it up and there are some pretty reasonable plans around. But I have called six vets in my area and NOT A SINGLE ONE bills the insurance company. I have to pay, then they give me the statement and I send it to the insurance company for reimbursement.

Ummm, if I had the freaking money right at this moment, I wouldn't need to bill the insurance.

One place has a "hold check" agreement, but I do not have a checking account. If you are a poor student, unless someone is putting money into the account for you, you avoid checking accounts. A recipe for disaster, hot checks flying everywhere and the poor college student is now in more debt than before! So, I don't have a checking account. I have a savings account, and a debit card for the savings account. No checking. So I can't leave a check. The person answering the phone at this clinic said that sometimes people "borrow" checks from someone for them to hold, while they make the payments. Anyone want to loan me a check??? I didn't think so.

So, my dog is in pain, she limps and favors her right forepaw. Either she has sprained it or she has cut her paw or gotten a foreign body in her webbing. I can't see anything. She is confined to her kennel and I can't get anyone to actually look at her that knows what the heck they are doing! I can do humans, but I don't do dogs. I mean, I can handle the basics, but this is beyond my ken.

I am not a deadbeat, I am not trying to get medical services for my dog for free. I am not going to run out on the bill. Oh well. Time to take her out on the leash and let her walk around a bit.

Extra Mommy Time!

My mom has been off this past week. No school, no work, so I have gotten lots of time with her.

She was really sad last week, and I got to be there to cheer her up. I just knew she was down, so I would just lay next to her and put my head in her lap. I don't know why, but apparently she didn't pass her final exam for nursing school (something humans do to help other humans) and didn't get to graduate. And there were other humans who came to visit last week, expecting to see her graduate. But they were really cool humans, they hugged her lots and petted me and threw the ball for me.

Since she has been home, I have gotten to have more time with her. This is really nice cuz in the morning she gets her coffee and goes in the backyard for "ball time." We aren't going to be moving to any apartments anytime soon, since she has to go back to school in the fall, repeat this last class or something so she can graduate and become an RN.

I got in big trouble a few weeks ago. I thought I was really in for it. I had found this new game - put the ball under the furniture and figure out how to get it out. At first it was okay, because the furniture I was playing with was high enough off the ground. But then I put my ball under some really important chair that didn't have very much room between it and the floor. And I was so intent on getting that ball out, I ended up chewing and digging at the chair, even got to stuffing in a few places and pulled out a couple of staples. Boy! Mom was really, really, really mad. First she put jalapeno juice on it, took my ball away and wouldn't let me have it, and then put some sour apple on the chair.

But now I have learned that if she says "No" when I am playing with the furniture, I know that I can't use that as a toy. There are some pieces that are okay, though, and I am figuring them out.

Last week, since we were expecting company, Mom took me over to get groomed. She decided to get me "Furminated." The people at the Dirty Dog were really nice, they had treats and my mom had brought treats. And my mom is really happy with it. She still combs me and stuff, but I am really not shedding very much at all. I even got a little "skinnier" and mom had to tighten my collar just a bit because they took so much off of my ruff I was able to get out of my collar. Scared my mom to death, she thinks I need to learn not to dash off and run into the middle of the street. I don't know why, those big things will just go around me, right?

Mom won't take me to the park and let me run until she knows I will come back. She is really worried that I will run out in front of a car or something. She wants to take me to training or something. We will see. She hopes she can get my CGC sometime too. If I can do those things, then I can go to bullcreek park and be completly off the leash! Woohoo!

You can run, but you can't hide...

I have found a really fun new game! My mom loves to watch me do it too, so it is entertainment for both of us.

I LOVE puzzles - not human puzzles, but other doggie puzzles, like hiding the ball and then spending time pushing it with my nose or pulling it out from the other side. My favorite place is under the sofa, which is just too much fun. All of my buds should try it.

You just nose your ball under the sofa and see how far it went. Then you run around to the other side, and try to burrow under the sofa for a few minutes. Then you run back to the front, and stick your paws in really far (or your nose). Then you push the ball and it rolls towards the other end of the sofa. Sometimes it hits a leg or something and rolls back to the other side, but that just makes it more fun.

But since I like puzzles, my mom has started hiding things for me to find on purpose. Right now she is loving my new purple ball. She takes it from me, gives me a treat (sneaky humans) and hides the ball while I am not looking. And guess what? I found it. Silly, she just put it on the sofa and put a pillow over it.

My "bubba," AKA the human son of my human, tries to throw the ball sometimes. But I really like to have my mom throw the ball. So I always bring it to her.

My mom says I am spoiled rotten. Well, I am a princess, and a princess should be spoiled, right? Of course, I can't tell her that if I am spoiled it is all her fault. I have her trained pretty well. Now I just pick up my ball and throw it at her until she picks it up and throws it.

My mom wants to take me to Bullcreek park, where I could run and splash in the water. But she still thinks I won't come back when she calls. I know when she says "come" and makes her special whistle, but sometimes chewing the ball/bone or sniffing around is too distracting. We are going to start obedience classes soon, but my mom is trying to find a Canine Good Citizen class.

Well, mom made me a treat, and I think it is time for her to get it out for me. I don't understand how it all works, but it is this thing called a "Kong" and my mom puts a treat inside, then some of the peanut butter filling, rolls it up and freezes it. Man, is it fun to lick all of that out and get to the crunchy center!

It should have been a lollipop

Mom took me to the vet the other day. It was okay, lots of new things to smell and see. I didn't have to get any shots or anything, but mom knew there was something wrong with my eyes (she is a nurse for humans, after all). And she was right! So now I get to sit still and have drops put in my eye three times a day. Mom makes that pretty cool, I have figured that if I am real still and don't fight, I get treats or extra squeaky-toy time!

I found this really cool squeaky toy, but I can't play with it. It squeaks and squeaks and smells kind of different. Actually, there were a bunch of them in this box made of metal, with a top. I couldn't get my paw in to play with the squeaky toys, and everytime I tried to get close my mom would say "NO!" Apparently they aren't really toys, but someone needs to put a label on them or something. They are something called "guinea pigs" and my mom's friend raises them.

Anyway, all was well at the vet's. My mom wants to take me to "school" or something, she has heard of the Canine Good Citizen, but has to find out where to go for the classes. I like other dogs, they are just big toys made for me. I just don't understand it when they don't like me, so of course I have to growl back, which means we just have to argue for a bit.

I'm not used to being brushed very often. I don't remember my other human brushing me that much. But my mom brushes me every day and uses a comb. I have a lot of hair, it is nice and pretty and blonde. I am getting used to being combed and brushed. Since we live in Texas, mom is thinking about getting me trimmed down for the summer. That might be nice, except I really don't like loud noises.

It is supposed to start raining here tonight, and then get cold and rain more all of the weekend. No outside ball playing for me! But this means I get to play my new game. I really like to hide my ball, and then work to get it out. There is this cool thing that has hard metal rods on it (coffee table bottom), and I like to take my ball and drop it through the bars. Then I use my paws to get it out - like a puzzle. But I figured out how to do this in some room my mom calls the "sewing room," that has these really cool drawers and shelves that I can see through (if they weren't full of fabric). Anyway, I like to roll my ball back there, then go crazy trying to figure out how to get it out. And guess what? Last night I figured out that I could push one of the basket drawers with my nose away from the wall, and I could get to my ball!

Mom says I am a genius. I don't know what that means, but it must be good. I have learned how to drop my ball right into the launcher, if she holds it still for me. The first time I did it, mom was so happy I got lots of hugs and ear scratches. Even better, mom could throw the ball right away without having to chase it or reach to pick it up, so I could run back and forth and back and forth with no waiting! Yeah, I am training my human pretty good.

Yippee! Mom is going to play ball with me some! TTFN!

Toys, toys and more toys!

Well, since my mom pulled ligaments in her shoulder throwing the ball for me, she went and got a "ball launcher." This thing is FUN!!!!! She just sits in her chair with her iced tea, flicks her arm and that ball goes clear across the yard! Woohoo!

Tomorrow is my first vet visit since I came to live with my new mom. But I'm not nervous, all my shots and tests are up to date and Mom has all the paperwork. We are going to get my monthly heartworm dose, and get some more of that stuff called "Frontline" to keep the ticks off me. Mom is also going to ask about allergies and mosquitos. So a vet visit with no needles! Weeeee! That means treats!

Mom is taking me to doggie classes starting next Saturday. She won't let me go to one of the cool dog parks and go off the leash until she knows that I will come when I am called. I do eventually come, I just like to take my time and smell the roses. But you all know how moms worry, they think you won't come back or something. I am also getting my microchip re-registered at this vet office, so if I get lost or something they know where to send me.

But my mom found this great chewie, it is a PetVantage, and it is rolled up really tight. It tastes really good, and it got my teeth all nice and clean. Plus it lasted five days! Wow!

She also got this ball that I love. She likes it because it doesn't make much noise. It is a big hard ball with holes in it, and inside is another ball that rolls around. It drives me nuts, trying to get that ball out of there. I will get it out someday! Then the victory will be sweet!

I am such a lucky girl. Mom wishes she could get more dogs, but she just can't right now. Maybe later I will get a permanent playmate. But so far, mom and the human boy are pretty good. I like to sneak up on mom's bed when she gets out in the morning, get up in the spot she was sleeping in. She thinks it is funny, but I always make room for her.

I also get to go and see somethings called "guinea pigs" in a few weeks. My mom's friend has some that just had babies. If I don't try to eat them, my mom might get one. I think it could be fun, play with a ball that has a guinea pig in it! But mom wouldn't let me do that, she says it is rude.

Well, that is all for now. Off to play with mom in the bed before nighty night time!

Toys, toys and more toys!

Well, since my mom pulled ligaments in her shoulder throwing the ball for me, she went and got a "ball launcher." This thing is FUN!!!!! She just sits in her chair with her iced tea, flicks her arm and that ball goes clear across the yard! Woohoo!

Tomorrow is my first vet visit since I came to live with my new mom. But I'm not nervous, all my shots and tests are up to date and Mom has all the paperwork. We are going to get my monthly heartworm dose, and get some more of that stuff called "Frontline" to keep the ticks off me. Mom is also going to ask about allergies and mosquitos. So a vet visit with no needles! Weeeee! That means treats!

Mom is taking me to doggie classes starting next Saturday. She won't let me go to one of the cool dog parks and go off the leash until she knows that I will come when I am called. I do eventually come, I just like to take my time and smell the roses. But you all know how moms worry, they think you won't come back or something. I am also getting my microchip re-registered at this vet office, so if I get lost or something they know where to send me.

But my mom found this great chewie, it is a PetVantage, and it is rolled up really tight. It tastes really good, and it got my teeth all nice and clean. Plus it lasted five days! Wow!

She also got this ball that I love. She likes it because it doesn't make much noise. It is a big hard ball with holes in it, and inside is another ball that rolls around. It drives me nuts, trying to get that ball out of there. I will get it out someday! Then the victory will be sweet!

I am such a lucky girl. Mom wishes she could get more dogs, but she just can't right now. Maybe later I will get a permanent playmate. But so far, mom and the human boy are pretty good. I like to sneak up on mom's bed when she gets out in the morning, get up in the spot she was sleeping in. She thinks it is funny, but I always make room for her.

I also get to go and see somethings called "guinea pigs" in a few weeks. My mom's friend has some that just had babies. If I don't try to eat them, my mom might get one. I think it could be fun, play with a ball that has a guinea pig in it! But mom wouldn't let me do that, she says it is rude.

Well, that is all for now. Off to play with mom in the bed before nighty night time!

Ouch!

Well, today my mom pulled a muscle in her shoulder and back! She was helping a patient, who suddenly got weak and fell down. My mom is so cool, she is going to be a RN soon (a nurse), and really likes to help people as well as dogs.

But she can't really throw the ball for me or take me for a walk because her shoulder hurts too bad. I am sad, but I just lay with her on her bed, letting her pet me while she has the heating pad on. She gave me a fresh Kong today too, since she couldn't play.

Hopefully, when the boy gets home he will throw the ball some. Mom says that this weekend we will get to go to the park and maybe see my friend Bella, a labrador who loves to play with me.

I don't mind being inside though. It is so green and pretty outside, I just want to go and roll around. But then my eyes get all itchy and watery, and mom has to put special drops in. My mom says I have allergies. Now if I can just figure out how to get my kong to bounce and roll all by itself!

Oh where oh where can the perfect toy be?

My mom is getting a bit flustered. She knows I LOVE those plushie toys that squeak, but she takes them away after only 20 minutes or so. I guess she doesn't like it when I start pulling out the stuffing.

My mom got me one toy that I love. She calls it "doggie crack," because it is addicting. I like to chew my toys up, so I go through toys fast. So she went looking for relatively indestructable toys.

She found one too, but she had to take it away and hide it. It was a nice, thick rubber orange octopus thing called "cuz" or something. When I first got it, I couldn't stop. I took it outside, brought it back inside, and took it outside again. My mom didn't have to throw the ball or anything, I was totally amused and playing.

Then apparently the people that live next door called to say there was a hurt or injured animal in the back yard. The squeaking sounded like a hurt animal. So my mom brought it inside, but it got too noisy. My mom complained that she couldn't sleep for all the squeaking.

And while I loved that toy, I really like the soft, plushie toys. I particularly liked the one shaped like a jack, because I could hold it in my paws, lay on my back and throw it up and catch it to get a squeak. I got to the stuffing real soon, so my mom had to take it away.

Now my mom is trying to find a plush squeaky toy that I can love without getting to the stuffing. She found this company that makes the uber plush toy, Tuffies. They are really strong. Apparently a tiger in a zoo got to play with one for about 9 hours before it got holes in it, so it is a really good toy. So, my mom ordered some for me. But the toys got lost, and now I am without a nice, plush squeaky toy. My mom went and got me something called a "giggle ball" that was extra tough. I broke the squeaker and the rattle/giggler in less than an hour. My mom wants a toy that I can play with by myself sometimes. She likes to throw the ball and take me on walks, but her shoulder is hurting from all the ball throwing. And I don't like it when my mommy hurts.

So, my fellow canine companions, have any of your humans found soft, plushie toys that don't fall apart so fast? If you do, please send me a message so I can tell my mom what to get.

Where are my manners?

My human mom tells me it is good manners to introduce yourself before you start licking someone's hand or sniffing a tail.

I am Xena and I am a rescue dog. I was first rescued while wandering down the road in the country with two of my apparent litter mates. We were 8 months old, or at least that is what the nice doggie doctor said. Now I am three years old, and my new mom has given me a birthday (we knew the month and year) which happened to be the day I came to adopt her.

One of my doggie parents was a corgi, probably the pembroke because I am one color with just the white markings. My other dog parent was a labrador retriever. I am really a lab trapped in a corgi body, but that doesn't stop me, or even slow me down. Some nosy person accosted my human mom on a walk recently to tell her how bad it was for dogs to be bred for certain traits - she thought I was some sort of new breed of dwarf labrador! My mom set her straight though, I have a pretty cool human.

I lived with another human first, a very nice lady who loved me very much. But she had to move somewhere and I couldn't go with her. So that mommy took me back to my original rescue foster mom so I could get another good home. My current mommy only looks at rescue dogs or shelter dogs, she likes mixed breeds more than pure-breds, she thinks we are smarter. And she is right.

I am three years old, and I am a very good girl. At least that is what my new mommy tells me. I have her completely under my control, I am the puppet master. All I have to do is take my ball outside, set it down and sit on the patio looking in the window and my human immediately comes out to throw the ball for me. I haven't had one accident in the house (my mom thinks this is a mark of genius), and my new mommy has this very nice contraption she calls a "doggie door." So I can go outside any time I want, and then come back in whenever I want. I don't have to wait around for a human to open a door. Pretty good life indeed.

The first day I came to live here, it was just supposed to be for the "trial" period. But when my foster mom saw how much my new mommy loved me, she waived the trial period. My foster mom knew my new mom already, so her background check came up clean. I have to share my mom with a boy, but that isn't so bad because the boy throws the ball for me when my mom's arm gets tired. And he doesn't get as much petting as I do.

My mom changed my food. At first it gave me some diarrhea, but mom was cool with that. And the new food is really good stuff, all natural organic dog food with none of that icky cornmeal filler. Even though I look small, I like to chew like my labrador, so mommy gets me the regular size kibble chunks. I really like this, and love it when she fills my bowl up every night. Plus this new food has stuff in it I can't pronounce that helps my coat be all nice and pretty, and cuts down on my shedding. I think they call them omega fats or something. I don't care, it tastes good and I look so pretty.

When my mom is away, she put one of her "dirty" nightgowns in my kennel. So I can go in and smell her and know she will be back, and that she loves me. Sometimes she leaves the kennel door open, and I get to sleep on her bed all day long while she is gone.

My mom is going to take me to some training classes, she says I need to learn to come when she calls me and not to pull on the leash. She got this contraption called a halter. It has padded sleeves so the bands don't cut into my skin. And I don't choke when I pull on the leash, my mom hated that. I don't like the halter that much because when it is on I don't control the walk, my mommy does. But I am happy to just walk, so it will be okay, and the harness doesn't hurt at all.

My mom also went and got me a pretty pink collar with a matching lead, so that everyone will know I am a Princess. I am named after the Warrior Princess, but I am more of a lover than a fighter. Lucky for me my mom doesn't make me where funny clothes or anything. She thinks dogs should look and act like dogs.

I got my first bath the other day. I got all wet playing in the sprinkler (biting water is FUN!!!), and my mom said I smelled of something called "wet dawg," so I got a bath. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. And now I smell pretty too.

Tomorrow I go to the vet to get my monthly heartworm medicine. The vet is pretty nice, for a vet. My mom has used this vet before, so she knows him and likes him.

I just lllluuuuvvvv my new mommy. I like to follow her everywhere, and sit with my nose on her legs while she is using the bathroom (why doesn't she go outside and squat like other dogs?).

My mommy says I am very smart, almost a genius. This is because she taught me how to drop the ball when we play fetch. She is teaching the boy the trick. If you point to the floor and say "ball down" I will come and put the ball down where your finger is. It isn't my fault if the ball rolls away, I did what I was supposed to do. My mom and the boy know this, so they go and get the ball if it rolled away or anything. My mom says I am smart because I learned this really fast. Sometimes I go and put the "ball down" for other humans to play with me, but not all humans like to play ball. I don't know why, how can someone NOT like to play ball. But my mom comes and gets the ball and plays with me. Like I said, I am the Puppet Master!

Anyway, mom says it is time for bed now, which means it is time for her to go to bed. I really hope to meet some other dogs here. I like making friends with dogs, but some dogs don't like me. I have two new friends in the neighborhood that my mom lives in, one is really furry (my mom says she is something called a "chow chow"), and a full labrador who is about my age and loves to play tag. I jump on her, then run away and she chases me.

My mom says she will take me walking on the hike and bike trail more often when I learn to stop pulling on the leash. I see something, a new doggie friend or a squirrel, and I just can't wait to get there. But the trail is so cool, full of all kinds of smells and sights. I also like to go on car rides. I sit quietly in the back (my new mom got this contraption called a "doggie seat belt") and look out the window.

The clock is striking midnight and my mom is mumbling something about pumpkins. I don't know what a pumpkin is, but apparently being one isn't necessarily a good thing.