OMG, FLEAS, nasty!!!

So its been a very busy Sunday morning.  A few days ago, Lucy started scratching and biting her paws. I thought oh no, her allergies are back again. We are heading to a cabin next weekend and was trying to time her baths. I know after we get back from the cabin, Sammy and Lucy will be dirty little dogs.  A day or so went on and Lucy seemed ok. But at night she was itching fiercely. She woke me up and I actually did reiki her and we both fell into slumber. However this morning, I awoke and looked at her belly and I saw them, yes, at least one. YUCK!!!! Horrified, I was in a scramble to find a groomer. Our groomer is off on Sunday and Monday and I needed one ASAP. The one thing I do not understand is that Sammy is fine, Mochi is fine. Why in the heck do these ^&%$ fleas like Lucy. Poor Lucy. I got on the internet looking for a groomer in the LA area. I found one and at 7am he actually answered his phone. His service is the kind that comes to you home. Well, after he asks me a zillion questions, tells me Lucy not responding to Frontline may need weekly bathes, says for $100 he’ll come out. $100??!! No way, there has to be someone else. I do a search for groomers open on Sundays. I find one in Culver City. I leave a msg but decide I better just be at her door and when she sees how cute Lucy is, she’ll take pity and give her a flea bath, flea dip, whatever it is that “they” do. I head out at 830am asking Mark to wish me luck. We get to the groomer 15 min early. As we walk around, Lucy senses that is the place to go, she throws herself at the door as if pleading, let me in and help me. We wait 10 more min, by now, its past opening time and I’m thinking they’re not coming!! I call Centinela Pet and Feed, they have no groomer. Alas, Mark gives me the number for Petco and they have an opening at 1030am. We rush home.  I would prefer a groomer for Lucy and felt bad that she has to go to one of those establishments, but the girl seemed nice. I took Lucy’s collar off and handed her off.  I found this website, http://www.dogchatforum.com/get_rid_of_fleas.htm which had all kinds of information. We have now sprayed, powdered the house. Thank you Gordon for the powder and thank you Mark for vacuuming the whole house!! Exchanged and cleaned all the bedding for us, for the dogs.  Candy on her walk this morning called to tell me people are digging up the earth right behind our houses. This must be the reason for these fleas. The moving of the earth probably has released all kinds of buggers. GROSS! I’ve never had a problem with Mochi or Sammy and they  have been with me for 8-11 years. Never ever once have I had to deal with fleas. EVER. What a nightmare. I think I am itching just writing this.

A Healthy Dog is a Happy Dog!

For the past 2 days at 5am, Sammy Diva has been waking up extremely happy. We can hear her make these AH!, AH!, AH! sounds which means that she is on her back with her legs stretching up into the air. How happy happy she must be.  Seeing her do this one, two sometimes three times a day makes us laugh. Its wonderful to see how good Sammy Diva must be feeling.  She must be pain free. This is actually the happiest I have ever seen her since I had her. And she is 8 years old! She has had plenty of antibiotics etc in the past. I attribute this to the reiki. She must really feel good. And doesn’t that song just play in your head, ” I feel good…Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, by James Brown! ” Yeah, baby!!

 

 She was outside today and again… Sammy Diva was so happy again!!! This is the same day that she woke up at 5am doing the same thing!  I said to Mark, quick, get the camera, who would believe an 8 year old yellow labrador retriever with canine hip dysplasia was this happy?! Yeah, reiki! The Vet said she had extensive damage to her hips. Does this look like a dog with pain? No! I think she has reverted back to puppy mode! All we can say is that we are happy that she is happy. It is great being a dog and having a great life! Nothing is better than this. No more bladder infection, no more pain in my hip. I haven’t had to give her anything for pain since I stopped to Rimadyl. The Vet said once the weather changes I can give her buffered aspirin, but obviously, she is NOT in any pain!

Happy dog, Happy Parents!

Only a few days after Sammy Diva started her antibiotics, non steroidal medications (those were stopped after people alerted me thank you again), glucosamine tablets and getting 3 reiki sessions a day, did I see a HUGE improvement. In fact, I even researched and bought a ramp over the weekend.  And its on it way.  I can save it for the future or use it now to help her ease into the car. But Sammy is running up and down the stairs more than ever! The very next day, my husband Mark sent me a text message, the reiki is working! I was so happy to hear.  Almost too much … she has been following me everywhere. Lays right next to me as I type away. I believe the reiki worked! I gave her consistent reiki sessions both hands on and distant.  We’re going to get her to lose a few more pounds, finish up her antibiotics and closely watch her hips.  The Vet did tell me that Sammy’s thyroid may need to get looked at and may be a sign for something more serious. So we’re bracing for that news. But for now, life is good.

ps. She weighs 74lbs! She has been on her diet and doing well! She loves carrots!

Addendum: I just got the call from the Vet. I told her my concerns about the Rimadyl. I told her I am a pharmacist and concerned about the information I found. She was great and comp’d the medication! She said Sammy could be on buffered aspirin if need be in the future. She also consulted a pathologist and her thyroid function is fine!! All is normal. She’ll go back for a urine test once she is done with the antibiotics!