Furry Friday: Wednesday Edition

So last night Riley was being a bit whiney.  Initially we attributed it to the full moon as lunar cycles tend to affect him, but after further inspection we realized he had a half-dollar sized bump under one of his eyes.  Needless to say I was immediately worried.  Over the past week he had shown signs of what I believed to be allergies (rubbing his face, warm ears, sneezing, runny nose, etc).  Well, now I'm thinking I missed the signs that he was developing a toothache.  At least that's what I'm hoping it is.  After some reading online it appears this isn't entirely uncommon, however if it is an abscess it can lead to infection and possible surgery.

So wish us luck as we're off to the Vet for a 9:00am appointment.  Here's hoping for a simple fix (i.e. draining and antibiotics.) 

Has anyone else gone through this with their dog(s)?  Please share your experience.

Furry Friday: Ho Ho Ho

It's that time of year again that I start making a list of what to get folks for Christmas, my dog included.  Year to year I try to think of something creative for him.  Last year we bought him the Cave Bed, although I can count on one hand how many times he's actually used it.   One other year we bought him a Columbia jacket, which we really have gotten a lot of use out of (hello upstate NY snow!)  Of course we buy him toys too, but it gets harder each year to buy him something he doesn't already have.  Yes, he is spoiled.  And yes he is a dog, so as long as it squeaks he probably won't care what the heck I get him, but you know he is my fur baby.

On more than one occasion I have commented on how smart my dog is.  He is especially witty with his Kong treats (for those of you who don't know, these are tough toys that usually challenge your pet).  He has pretty much figured out how to get the bones out every time.  On more than one occasion he has climbed to the back of the couch with his Kong and dropped it so that the bone would fall out.  It's quite comical.  So this year, I think I will try to get him more items that test his skills.  Doctors Foster and Smith have a lot of toys that fit this category.   I think I'm going to get him the IQ Ball which will make him work for the treats.

As for the "boring" item which he'll care less about, he's getting a dental kit.  Nothing says "I love you" quite like a dental kit, but hey - dental health is important in little dogs.  I don't want him to have to undergo anesthesia to have the veterinarian do it, nor do I want him to have to have teeth pulled due to infection or decay.  He is getting older and as the years go by his chances of having to have a tooth pulled increase exponentially.  I'm just not so sure how good he'll be about having me brush his teeth, but he'll have to get over it.

Do any other pet parents out there brush their dog's teeth?  Any tips or tricks?

Furry Friday: Sleepy Boy

With the onset of Fall, I can honestly say I myself have been sleepier than usual.  Getting up when it's dark out to get ready for work is a total bummer.  By the time I get home and sit down to dinner, it's dark out.  Pretty soon it'll be back to the old routine of driving into work in the dark and driving home from work in the dark.  The days will be severely shortened and I'll start to feel like Al Pacino's character in Insomnia.  Well, maybe not that tired because I am not subjected to the six months of darkness that Alaska experiences, but you get my drift.

There is someone else in our household who is much sleepier lately.  Riley is just about to go into all out hibernation mode here.  It's colder and darker now which means all he wants to do is snuggle and sleep.  It makes it especially hard for me to leave him in the mornings because, likewise, all I want to do is snuggle and sleep.  And he's so cute at it, just look at my sleepy boy:

Furry Friday: Well Groomed

Today Rye-guy is none too happy with Justin and I.  He is at the vet's office getting groomed and having his #2 tested for parasites (standard once a year thing, nothing to get alarmed about.)

The ladies at the vet's office just adore Riley. He always gets an A+ on his report card even though going there is one of his least favorite experiences.  This morning when Justin dropped him off our little love-bug was trembling with his tail tucked and sad eyes on display.  So much for his tough guy reputation.

Anywho, he needed it. He was starting to resemble a stinky little Chewbacca.  It's amazing how different he looks after a haircut.  It seriously takes years off.  Not to mention that today they gave him a necktie. What a little stud muffin.