Monday, June 4, 2012

Good News, Bad News and Corbin

What a day!  We had a nice post planned about Corbin and his Pitty Party, but as often happens, life got in the way.
Samba's tail hasn't healed and needs to be kept wrapped so she doesn't reopen the wound. She suffers from a condition well known to Lab and Dane owners called "Happy Tail Syndrome". Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that Samba is a happy girl, but her pounding her tail on doors and tables and especially my filing cabinet has become a real problem.
She had an appointment with Dr B this morning to get his opinion. I was worried that he was going to suggest docking her tail. He says we're not even close to that point yet. Samba has been wagging her bandage off two or three times a day, but Dr B had some suggestions for keeping the bandage firmly on the tail that didn't involves duct taping it to her body. He shaved the end of her tail, showed me how to do a wet dry bandage and started her on antibiotics. Maybe we can get thru this without losing a portion of the tail.
Morgan was going to go with Samba this morning for moral support, but on the way to the car she spotted a squirrel and started chasing it. Yep, how many of you guessed it? She tore her left cruciate, so now she has a matching pair. We're back to enforced rest, being carried up stairs, pain pills and lots of supervision for six to eight weeks. What a fun summer this is starting out to be.

And now to Corbin. Happy birthday, big guy. He wants to share his birthday with the other Pitties who need some good PR. We have a number of Pitty friends who are all big goofy lap dogs.
 For two days we even had our own Pitty. Someone dropped her off in the country and she found her way to my Aunt's house where we were spending a few days. She was about three months old and the biggest love bug. She spent the whole weekend curled up on someone's lap. I called her Spot.
We were living in a townhouse and already had three dogs, so we knew we couldn't keep her, but my cousin Chuck is a sucker for any lost pup and he took her home with him and changed her name to Cookie.  She was a sweet girl, but to be on the safe side since they had several other dogs, they took her to Cornell University to see a behavior specialist. She was fitted for a special harness that they only used if she showed any signs of aggression with the other dogs. I think they only ever used it twice. She lived with them for her whole life and was a great family member.
Springfield has a breed ban against Pitties, but we've been hearing rumors that it's going to be repealed. As we all know, dogs aren't the problem. Bad owners are the problem. Let's ban them instead.

15 comments:

Lapdog Creations said...

What a wonderful post -- minus the injuries... get well soon pups!
We have been very vocal against BSL. It is ridiculous... how many seen the recent news story of a Golden who dismembered a toddler? NOT many... because it wasn't broadcast 24/7 as it would have been if it were a Pitty. sigh.
With a pitty mix who loves me more than life itself, I proudly support the breed and wear it on my sleeve - literally!

SissySees said...

Oh no!! So sorry for Morgan and for you, and for Samba's on-going tail woes. I hope the new bandaging technique works.

rottrover said...

You have some very spirited girls!! Happee Barkday to Corbin!

-Bart and Ruby

Jo's World said...

If she cannot quit pounding her tail, is amputation of it the very worst thing? It seems to me it would solve a difficult problem. Feel free to set me straight!

Sorry too for little Morgan, that photo of her curled up with the stuffees is the cutest! Thats tough to keep her so quiet. I hope her recovery is fast!

Kisses,
Stella

The Daily Pip said...

Ban bad owners! Yes, that's definitely the answer!!!

Hope Samba's tail heals quickly - I have happy tail, too, but mine is so short that I can't do much damage.

Your pal, Pip

Dexter said...

Oh man! I have heard of Happy Tail and it is very hard to control. Poor dear. And poor Samba!

Thinking of you.

Mango Momma

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Oh dear, we are so sorry. Poor Samba and that tail. Hope this new wrap technique works well. And oh Morgan, not again. So very very sorry for you and for Mom.

One of our sibe friends, Chloe, from Five Sibes, tore both her ACLs yesterday jumping up on the bed:(

Take care and hang in there.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

Two French Bulldogs said...

Happy Pitty Day
Benny & Lily

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Love that poster at the end!

Bad owners...yep...doesn't matter what the breed.

Poor Morgan....hope she heals quickly, enforced 'quiet' is so hard.

You'll have to wrap Samba's tail in bubble wrap.

XXXOOO daisy, Bella & Roxy

Molly the Airedale said...

Oh no - poor Morgan! We sure hope your tail heals soon, Samba!
We are sending both of you lots of AireZen!

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Oh dear, sorry about your sickies. Touch wood, we haven't had the tail problem with any of our Danes but have heard of it. Smoochies to you Samba. And Morgan, you poor sweetheart. We have paws crossed you will get over this knee problem too. Hugs to all. P.S. We love Corbin too. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

Nicki said...

Those tail things are a pain. Hope it heals. A lot of dogs that tear one cruciate tear the other-usually just a matter of time. It's actually a degenerative condition of the ligament, not an actual traumatic tear in the vast majority of cases. So it probably would have happened anyway...squirrel or no squirrel. I'm glad they are thinking of repealing the ban. So stupid. Hope everyone is feeling better soon.

Asta said...

Fiwstly. Big healing smoochies fow Samba's tail and Mowgan's cwooshiate ouchies. I'm sosowwy you have to have those bed wests and bandaged tail. Thank yoo fow that lovely stowy about yoow Pittie expewience
I agwee that it's hoomans who awe the pwoblem, not doggies
Smoochie kisses
Asta

Barbara said...

Oh man, we are so sorry to hear about all the injuries!! Minnie just had her first ACL surgery, so don't be afraid - it does work!

I hope Happy Tail heals quickly!!

love and paws,
barbara

Corbin said...

I have Happy Tail!!! And we're actually pretty close to the amputation part... although it's been almost 1 whole year since I split it open and the momma was thinking maybe we were in the clear! But, luck would have it, Monday I got so excited about my birthday and pitty posts, I split it open again. Wasn't too bad, so momma wrapped it up and hopefully I don't get too excited again and it'll stay healed and we wont even have to mention it to the vet! With all that said, thank you SO much for joining in on Pitty Post Day! It really means a lot that you took time out to mention me and post about pitties with all going on!
-Corbin