Just a general update on how things are going if anyone cared to know :)
Aki is doing well on his medication. So well, in fact, that he now thinks every time I come out of the kitchen he's supposed to have a pill. There are worse things than a dog who takes his medicine without having to be convinced in the slightest! I count myself so very lucky that all my dogs are like this. I've been on the other side of the spectrum in which the dog in question would rather remove my face with his teeth than even think about letting me feed him a pill no matter what said pill was coated, covered, or crushed into....I love my babies!
Kahlia is getting a new massage routine that seems to be working for her back and hips. This change was triggered by a failed attempt to jump from an ottoman to halfway up the stairs. She didn't suffer any major injuries except to her pride but she did have some stiffness in her back end for a couple of days. I had been giving her just a general full body massage with focus to her back but am now giving focus to her back and her hips including the entire haunch. She seems to be walking much easier and is now even taking part in the zoom parties the other dogs tend to have in the yard. Thank goodness they usually do keep those parties in the yard though they do occassionally like to do zoom laps around our bed. I want to say I am -not- a professional. I do these massages by instinct and what seems to feel good to her. I do intend to become a certified animal massage therapist but I just can't afford the schooling right now. So far though I've yet to have a critter complain over my massages...except when I stop hehe.
Faline is her usual happy go lucky self. I'm guessing she just needed a little more structure and maturity because she has -finally- almost completely stopped trying to crush the joints of the other dogs.
We still have all four of the foster puppies including Liberty. They're doing well and should soon be ready for adoption to new homes pending the all clear from the veterinarian (we had a bit of a setback when he thought he heard a heart murmur with both Justice and Freedom but theyre okay. Yay!). I am still debating whether to keep Libby. On the one hand I can't stand the thought of her being elsewhere and she seems to feel the same. On the other hand we already have 3 medium-large dogs, 10 cats, a ferret, and a rabbit. She won't be a tiny dog and it does mean more vet bills. I actually dissolved into wracking sobs for several hours at the thought of letting her go but I want to do the right thing for her no matter what. So I guess we'll see how this plays out.
The cats are all well though we did have a slight scare with Pen and Quill when we found out that they cannot have the topical flea and tick treatments. They both had very bad reactions to it so I'm going to see if I can find some sort of natural repellent that hopefully includes mosquito repellent. If anyone knows of anything pleeeeeeeeeeease let me know.
Ouzo the rabbit has become absolutely enraptured with baths. I don't know what brought it on but I think it washed the evilness right out of him. If I'd known that then I would have been the one to give him baths instead of Eric! Would've avoided many attempted bites and clawings and kicks.
Requin the ferret is amazingly healthy and happy. He and Lapiz (our 5 mnth old kitten) have become best friends and are hilarious to watch. I'm hoping Santa brings me a camcorder for Christmas so I can videotape some of the things they do!
We humans are hanging in there like everyone else these days. The critters make us laugh and feel good whether we want to or not. We wouldn't know what to do without them. Our wedding day grows closer and we've been discussing adopting an older (say age 12-16) two-legged child within a couple of years. That, however, is just yet another chapter that will have to play out how it will for now.
I hope all of you and your families, two and four legged members alike, are happy, healthy, and fortunate. Congratulations to all those with new additions and my condolences to those who have felt the pangs of loss.