Lend Me Your Ears...

[stoutfellow]

I did manage to get Murphy to the vet for his annual checkup last Saturday. Poor fella's getting old... He needs to have his teeth cleaned, but that's going to have to wait until next month. He's also developing some arthritis in his hindquarters - predictable, given his age and the fact that he's half basset. The vet made some recommendations on treating that; miraculously, the main suggestion she made was to pick up some OTC stuff at Walgreen's.

Murphy also had an ear infection going - yeast and bacteria both - so now I have a little bottle of goo I have to put in his ears every day and a big bottle of cleanser I'm supposed to squirt in there every other day. He'll tolerate the goo, but he hates the cleanser. After each ear gets dosed, he shakes his head so hard his ears flap, and when I'm done he growls a little, shakes his head again, and starts tearing around the house, bouncing at me and woofing. Oddly, his tail is wagging all through this little production. The fact that I give him a doggie treat afterwards may be involved...

Poor puppies. I've hired someone to come by and feed and water Murphy and Ben while I'm out of town, but they'll be alone a lot. Still, I'm more comfortable with this arrangement than with kennelling them; they have more room, and they're home. That has to count for something.

Comments

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

You're a good dog daddy, Stoutfellow. And, yes, I can't imagine that your boys would be happier in a kennel than they would be at home, since they have each other's company. If one of them was to be alone all that time, it would be another thing.

I've done the goop in the ear thing with both my cats. I have to say given your description that Murphy is taking it better than either of them did (g).

Have a wonderful trip!

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

It's better for the oldsters too: They're not exposed to so many other germs.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

"After each ear gets dosed, he shakes his head so hard his ears flap, and when I'm done he growls a little, shakes his head again, and starts tearing around the house, bouncing at me and woofing. Oddly, his tail is wagging all through this little production."

I'm sorry for poor Murphy's ear infection, but your description made me giggle. It sounds almost as if he felt obligated to make a big production of his distaste, while his tail is giving away his enjoyment of the attention! I do hope his infection clears soon.

Do you leave tomorrow? If so, have a safe flight and wonderful Christmas visit with your family!

Oh, Those Ears ...

[oilhistorian.livejournal.com]

Webster's also prone to ear infections -- both bacterial and yeast. Strangely enough, none of our other dogs, be they basset or bloodhound, ever had the ear issues Webster does.

He had to be sedated at VT's Vet School once so that they could treat the ear infection and give it a thorough cleansing. He's been positively petrified of vet's offices ever since ...