Memoirs of a Dog Walker

pet sitting 101. it's not as easy as it seems.

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Location: Suburbia, New York, United States

Dog Walking and Pet Sitting and dancing my way thru the day.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

It Takes All Kinds

Busy weekend. School is out all next week, so people go away, and leave their pets in my care. I have Murphy, the Neufoundland. He is HUGE, weighs about as much as I do. I am told that when he was younger, he was afraid of stop signs. Walking him is like walking a Wookie.





I have Sketch, and company. Sketch has IBS, so I have to give him his medication.




I have Moose and Miggy. Moose is the big guy, and if you heard him talk, you'd know why they call him Moose.




I have Maui, a 21 year old cat, also on medication.




I have Toby, whose family all went away, except his dad, who had to work this weekend. Toby still has alot of pup in him, so he is probably the hardest one to walk, because he likes to pull.




I have Monet, and sometimes Nellie.

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Thursday, February 15, 2007

Double Whammy



Today I learned of the passing of two of my client's pets. Both have been very special to me.
Abbey, the golden retriver, was put to sleep today after being diagnosed with cancer. She had surgery in December, but the cancer had spread. She was 91 in dog years.
Goldie, the orange tabby, was put to sleep on Tuesday, and I only learned of it today. Goldie was a young thing, only two years old. I am not exactly sure what his problem was, but I think it was a liver ailment that wasn't getting any better. I have a special affinity for all things orange, so this is a sad day indeed.
Goodbye my dear friends, I raise my glass to you tonight, and hope you are both out of pain and playing in the warm sunlight.

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Thursday, February 08, 2007

The Things You Do For Love




Aug. 2, 2006. The Day i brought home George. She's a girl, you know, named after someone that was special to me, as well as another female cat named George.
She moved in with health problems, unbeknownst to me. But it was love at first sight, as she reminded me of the most incredible cat ever (only a tinier version), who passed away last Feb. Regardless of health issues, this little Georgie-girl is with me until death do us part. I hope that is a long time away.

George, whom I also call Mouse, because she is so small, suffers from Irratble Bowel Syndrom (IBS). Because of her soft stool, her colon is raw. Her anal glands fill up, and don't express themselves naturally. I am learning much more about cat butts than i ever wanted to know!

I allergy tested her. Perhaps foods she is allergic to is irrating her digestive tract. I have a list of five things to avoid, so she is on a special diet. I tried several rounds of antibiotics. I add slipper elm for healthy bowels to her food. I add two forms of digestive health aids. I add a little plain yogurt and a little apple cider vinegar to act as pro-biotics. I give her a dose of licorice in the evening to quiet her stomach. I have plug-in pheramones to help keep her calm. Today I am starting a round of another medication with cortizone in it, to see it that may help. The next step would be to try a raw diet, but I am hesitant about that, only because i don't like handeling raw meat. It reminds me too much of death.
I don't want to do too much all at once. I try something new, and we stick with it for awhile to see if there are any changes. Gradually, adding more.
I hope I can get her to a healthy state again. She is such a love! She is a lap cat, of the best kind. She sleep by my side, near my head, and every night, comes to cuddle and purr. Ever notice how relaxing a purr sounds?
Until we get her stools to a healthy consistancy, she will have to go to the vet monthly to have her anal glands expressed. She does not like that very much. Of all the cats I have had in my live, she is by far the smallest one (6 pounds), with the most dangerous personality at the vet's! They have to resort to the heavy suede gloves to handle her. She's a powerfil stick of dynomite, that Mouse!

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Friday, February 02, 2007

Izabelle



Meet Izabelle.
She's vacationing in the area, and I get to walk her this month, once a day, Monday thru Friday.



Look at her eyes, Look deep into her eyes.
You are looking at a very rare Shih Tzu. Only one in 10,000 have blue eyes. That light blue with a black pupil reminds me of a fish eye.



I will probably NEVER see another dog like this for the rest of my life, and You, dear reader, will probably never see another dog like this EVER!

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