The Dalmatian Diaries Blog

Widget's at daycare today - but if Browser didn't have class tonight I would have brought him instead! What a little devil dog he is being!!! Momma isn't getting much work done today.

I'm so behind in emails right now that I figured the most efficient way to get the word out was to post here

Browser was on antibiotics for about 5 days when I decided that they weren't doing a darn thing. So I started to analyze everything he'd consumed, played with, breathed, etc. I realized that a few days before his problems started (maybe 4 days?) I had picked up a new bag of kibble. It was the same brand/flavor he'd been eating for a while with no problems, but just a new bag as we were about out. It was a 40 lb bag vs the 20 lb size I had been buying. I figured since I had finally found a food that worked for him I might as well buy in bulk!

So, I took BOTH dogs off the food and put them on a boiled chicken and rice diet for two days. Browser's problems subsided greatly. He was still peeing soon after drinking water but he wasn't obsessing over how thirsty he was. Then to test my theory I put them both back on the kibble.

Sure enough, he's drinking a ton of water again - and even Widget seems more thirsty than usual.

I don't know if the food was old, rancid, or what but I'm putting them back on the nummy rice meal until I can pick up a new bag. No more 40 lb bags I guess - I have a feeling they might sit at the store too long. Oh, and I had dumped the bag into our food bin and threw out the bag so I don't know if there is a datestamp on there or not. But I'll be looking from now on.

Ugh. Otherwise the pups are doing fantastic. Widget has been a total Daddy's Girl now. She hangs out in his office in the evenings and even sometimes in the morning. I think she's actually a little tired of Browser's increased energy levels. She just wants to play with her toys and do her own thing but he wants to play with HER 24/7. Browser hangs out with me more so that's why she's in Brent's office.

The pups go back to daycare on Monday. I've actually been having a lot of fun having them home, but work has clearly suffered because of it. So, Monday they start their routine again.

EDIT: I just realized that a lot of people who read this doggy blog don't know me very well, if at all! I'm a computer programmer who works from home. Imagine taking two puppies to work with you all day every day - you wouldn't get much done either! They have fun at daycare and it gives me some good, solid worktime

We had houseguests this weekend. These were the same people that were here when Widget first came to us in September. Of course, since she was a mere baby back then, I didn't expect her to remember them. She was, however, pretty good all weekend. She barked a little, but at one point was in Michael's lap while he sat on a chair and at another time when he was on the floor she and Browser competed for his attention. However, the first morning they were here, when she saw him she barked - as if he was an all new person again.

Overall, they were well behaved.

Browser has been having some issues though. Last week he started drinking a ton of water, then peeing excessively. It started after he'd been in his crate for about 6 hours (nothing that unusual). He peed four times in an hour after being let out (he drank an entire bowl of water). I didn't think that much of it at the time. The next day he acted fine - playing and eating, etc but was still doing the water/pee routine. By Friday morning he'd had 3 accidents in the house. So off to the vet we went. They tested his urine and did some blood work. Urine came back fine - pH was normal, no crystals, no infection. Blood work tested liver and kidney function among other things and that all was fine. The vet tried to chalk it up to him just being a puppy and having a little lapse in his housebreaking. I won't be going back to that vet again - that's not a cool response - I'm not an idiot, I know when there is something behavioral with my pup and when there is something physical. He was the only vet available on short notice but I'll let the clinic know I don't want to see him again. (the vet didn't even plan to do blood work, I asked him to do it)

So, I did get Browser on antibiotics just in case. He's been taking them since Friday afternoon and so far I don't see much change. He is good all night in his crate (pees like crazy when he gets out in the morning, but never once asks to go out during the night or during naptimes).

The joys of parenthood... it's always something!

I did get pictures over the weekend so I'll get them uploaded shortly.

It rained today. I think the pictures are evidence enough. Both pups ended up submerged in the pool at some point after the mud fiasco. I swear, I had nothing to do with it.

Both are mud-free for now.

Happy 7 month Birthday to Widget!!!! Yes, my little girl is 7 months old. I was looking back over the photos since we got her in September. She went from a precious puppy to a gorgeous girl. She can be intense, but I love her. The best is in the morning when I go to let the pups out, she acts like she hasn't seen me in forever. I get wiggles and kisses and you can tell she's not just faking it to get some good treats. I can't believe how fast they are growing up. Brent just said that he'd love it if they could stay this age forever. They are great pups - both of them!

Happy 5-month bday Browser Buddy! It's like some switch turned on with him too, he is ACTIVE now!! He went from being my lazy couch potato to a spotted whirlwind. He's still such a good baby, just with double the energy. I'm pretty convinced his food had something to do with the change so I'm glad the new food is working for him (finally!)

Last night we went out (saw Legally Blonde, the musical) so the pups were home for about 7 hours by themselves. I think that was the longest they've gone so far. They were fine, a little miffed at us for leaving them so long, but fine. Browser kinda whimpered for a while after we got home but mostly I think that was because we weren't petting and hugging him fast enough to make up for the 7 hours of lost affection.

Dogs are napping now (mandatory puppy naps) since we'll be outside most the afternoon. They usually sleep pretty good Sunday evenings since we're outside anywhere from 1-5 hours. It's an overcast day, but I might be able to get some good pictures. I missed a great shot yesterday. The dogs were playing a perfect game of tug-of-war and they held their pose for a good couple of minutes! Camera was up in my office (which is too far away to run and grab - thinking of getting a cheap digital to keep in the kitchen drawer)