Curing Doggy Depression

We received bad news last night. Our friend Sunny had her foot operated on yesterday and although her family is still waiting for the final results of the lab work, it looks like probable cancer. It's still too soon to know exactly what they're dealing with, but they could sure use your good thoughts and wishes for full recovery. Sunny was very lucky that she had alert owners and a doctor with great instincts, so that this was caught before it got a chance to spread even further.



In a multi dog family it seems that medical problems come in groups. We've had a pretty healthy summer. There have been the seasonal itchies and scrapes and bruises from overly energetic play and those sorts of usual and easily treatable problems. But this week we got hit with a bunch of things that need professional attention.


I scheduled Fudge to get a haircut so that he looks presentable for the trial next week. I may have jinxed things by making that call to the vet's office, but immediately after that I noticed that Sky had chipped the tip off his reconstructed tooth that he had the root canal on. Tsar's root canal tooth looks ugly, too, so I scheduled them to see Dr B today. I have a feeling I know what he's going to say and it doesn't make me happy. I think both boys will need some major dental work to fix things.

We've noticed that Morgan has been limping a little at night and we thought it was probably her arthritis acting up after a day of play, but then she started licking her right front foot a lot. Morgan is OCD, so licking isn't unusual for her, but yesterday I decided to check that foot and when I touched it she pulled it away and didn't want me to see it.

A trip to Dr Nicki showed that she had broken her dew claw and was chewing up the foot around it. With a local they were able to cut the nail back to the skin and put some soothing meds on the damaged skin. She has to take antibiotics for a few days and since she won't leave the toe alone, she's forced to wear an e-collar.


She's feeling very depressed. Fudge came back from the groomers thinking he's the most beautiful dog in the world and also the greatest stud. All evening he was trying to impress this on the other dogs, especially poor Morgan. He's been getting in everyone's face and there was a lot of growling and snapping going on.

I did two practice sessions with him last night to try to redirect his attention and he did great, but that only seemed to encourage his high opinion of himself. Finally, a little crate time then a run in the cold rain calmed him enough to get thru the night.

It poured all night and the yard is one big puddle. The dogs are all damp and unhappy and Morgan is showing signs of major depression. It's time to do somthing to change the mood in here.


We pulled out the bag of stuffed toys we bought last week at the thrift shops. There's nothing like a new toy to improve a dog's mood.


Everybody chose a toy. These were toys they hadn't seen yet. We were saving them for just such an occasion.


This seems to get everyone's attention off their problems.


Of course after playing with a toy for awhile, they each traded toys.


They threw them around a little and pounced on them.


They carried them around showing them off.


Fudge and Sky, who play well together, started a game of tug.


These two are pretty well matched in size so the game is fair.


The toy sometimes suffers, but this sturdy teddy bear held up to some rough tugging.


This is good for Fudge who really likes to get his own way. With Sky as a partner, Fudge has learned that he doesn't always win.


This game ended in a tie. Both dogs laid down and neither would let go of the toy. Eventually they got tired and the game was over.


Morgan perked up. A new toy can make a girl feel like a new dog.

I started a baby blanket last night. Don't forget about the challenge on my last post. The preemies need your help.