Thursday, October 25, 2012

Happy Birthday Tess

Blogland seems to be especially full of birthdays and anniversaries lately. Not to be left out of all the celebrations, we have a few of our own. Today is Tess's birthday.


She was born a little before midnight, so she's a day older than the rest of her siblings. That gives us an extra day to celebrate. Tonight Tess will get a special birthday dinner, then tomorrow we'll have our big party when the others turn six years old.
Samba and Sky are holding their own. Samba seems pretty happy these days so I'm guessing she feels better. We're still coping with diarrhea and picky appetites, but we're managing. Sky is not so happy. He seems to feel I'm picking on him because I make him take medicine and go outside on a leash.

We have another mystery symptom to deal with. Both dogs are losing their hair. It's coming out in big patches. When Samba started sporting bald spots we thought it was related to her steroid use, but now Sky is losing his hair, too. The Doc thinks it has more to do with their weight loss and general poor condition. So he's come up with a new torture to try.

Natto! My apologies to any Japanese readers, but this is nasty stuff. Dr B warned me that is smells and tastes bad and that it looks like slime. Great, just what I wanted to play with. However, dogs do like to eat nasty, slimy, bad smelling stuff, so this might be very popular with the canine members of the family.
Natto is fermented soybeans and is apparently very nutritious. Dr B thinks that adding it to their diet along with vitamin D, we may help them recover. Afterall, we've tried some other disgusting, experimental procedures and they've worked out pretty well.

I can't get to the Oriental food store till next week, so I turned to a girl's best friend, Amazon.com, for help. There's a bottle of natto capsules winging it's way to us as I type and by this evening my two sick pups will be getting the benefits without the slime factor.
So now I must get back in the kitchen and start baking  treats for the big party tomorrow. The fun just never ends around here.

20 comments:

Lapdog Creations said...

Happy Birthday Tess! Tut thinks it's super awesome that you are a day older than your siblings and you can celebrate with him!

Ruby said...

Happy Brthday Tess!!!! YEA! A day all to yourselfs! Brilliant.
That is good news about Samba and Sky!! I'm still thinkin' of em' every day,and sendin' lots of AireZens!
Oh, pups, what your Moms will do for ya! That fermented soybean stuffs looks and sounds AWFUL!! Buts, if it works....

Kisses,

Ruby

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

happy Birthday, Tess. How special to have YOUR own day!

Hope the 'stuff' helps the pups. The internet is great for getting stuff that's difficult to buy.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Matilda the Boxer said...

There's a lot lately because all the BEST folks are born in October!! Happy birthday, Tess. You sure were a cute little thing -- and you're still cute now!

SissySees said...

Happy birthday, Tess and early good wishes to the rest of her siblings! Samba, we're sure glad to hear you're happy. That's reason enough to celebrate! Hang in there Sky... and Sue.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Happy Birthday, Tess - how special that you have your own special day!!! Hmmmm, that netta looks like it might be pretty tasty to us:) good luck with this newest adventure.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

Molly the Airedale said...

Happy Birthday, Tess!
Our mom's favorite place to shop is Amazon. We sure hope this stuff works! Gosh, if it's not one thing; it's another!

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

How Sam Sees It said...

Your pups are so lucky to have you. I think the hair loss is related to stress and poor condition - I've seen it in horses. I hope the soybeans work! Ewwww!

Sam

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TESS, the big six, it's most proper for a bigger party at six, no cup cakes, but a real cake with I Scream. Then you get to do it again tomorrow. GROUP HUGS TOMORROW.

That food loks just terrible enough the Bites would love it, ughhhhh!! Hope this works also.

Your Good Furiends
Susie & Bites

Life with Wrigs said...

Happy birthday to Tess! Sorry to hear Sky and Samba are losing their hair! It's great news that Samba is feeling good, though. I'll send you an e-mail about nattokinase.

Susan and Wrigs

Two French Bulldogs said...

Happy Birthday Tess
Benny & Lily

Jo's World said...

Remember when I told you Stella was developing two bald patches on her back. Fish oil and an increased diet really helped her and fast! Her furs are perfect now. I'm sure its not the same as with Samba and Sky but fish oil might be a help. Good luck you Pups and To Tess Happy Birthday, and Happy Birthday to the rest tomorrow!

Cheers,

Stella, Jo and Zkhat

soulbrush said...

Yahoo happy birthday Tess (best name- it's my second name), so have some cake for me gal. As for the medical update- all sounds good. Have a wonderful party. xxx

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday All! Wow! What a wonderful Birthday Bash it will be! Yay for Mom's that cook for us! :D
Kinda hopin that Natto doesn't make it into the cake :O ;) Sendin pawsitive thoughts that Samba and Sky keep gettin better :)

Waggin at ya,
Roo

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Happy Birthday Tess. How grreat to be the oldest of the pack. We know you will get spoilt on your special day. Bet the party tomorrow will be so fab. Paws still crossed here you will all be back to good health soon. Take care and birthday hugs to all. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

Marjie said...

What a tiny baby she was! Hope you have a wonderful weekend of celebrations, now that we can be cautiously optimistic that your two patients may be on the mend.

Jed and Abby in MerryLand said...

We're so late, we've almost missed everypup's birthday! Happy Birthday, Tess and Everypup. And extra congrats to Samba: after all, she did all of the work 6 years ago. Sure hope the new treats and the soy-puke pills help Samba & Sky. Could they stomach fish oil or Vitacaps [Drs. Foster & Smith] containing fish oil and antioxidants and other good stuff? That might help with their balding problem and their overall health. Jed gets 2 Vitacaps a day and it helps him. As always, keeping our paws crossed for you guys.

rottrover said...

Happy Birthday, Tess!!

Bart and Ruby

Dexter said...

Yum, nasty goodness. I think you have a medical oddity going on at your estate. I bet the vets are really scratching their heads. Good news that everybody is holding their own. Hopefully you will hit on a solution.

Mango Momma

Kari in Alaska said...

Happy Birthday!!!

Stop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com