Crazy?

I’ve heard it said pregnant women fall in love with their obstetricians. Well, I’ve fallen in love with my veterinarian! Just look at her! She’s stunning! And as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!

Dr. Smith always tells me how cute I am and gives me treats ... just for being me! No tricks required! When I went in for my check-up, she noticed I’d recently had a bath. (Mom had to tell her, “I’ve always bathed my kids before they see the doctor. Why should Scout be any different?”) She tells me I’m the cutest... you might think she says that to all her patients, but, dang, if she’s pulling my leg, she’s a great actress!

Some might call me crazy, but I absolutely LOVE going to the vet! When we pull into the parking lot, I literally leap across the front console to be the first one out when the car door opens. When we walk through the front doors, we see a big “Welcome!” white board that has my name on it! The receptionists and technicians know me by sight and fuss over me almost like my family. Who wouldn’t love that? It seems to me all the folks at VCA Palo Alto love their jobs, they love us dogs, and they’re not afraid to show it.

As long as I have Dr. Smith to care for me, a visit to the vet is a piece of cake.

Seedpods and Fox tails and Burrs, Oh My!

It’s a lot of fun playing outside, but occasionally, I’ll feel really itchy after I do. Little burrs and fox tails can get stuck in my fur, and I can’t pull them out with my teeth or my paws. Sometimes my family will see me working on one (I’m too proud to ask for help) and come to my rescue. These little stickies can become a really big problem for pups like me, especially if they get stuck between my toes, or somewhere really hard to reach. In some cases, burs can get under the skin and even cause an infection… yikes!

Whenever you go out with your furry pals, make sure you take a minute to check for any seedlings that may have become attached during playtime. Not all dogs can communicate when they have them, like me, and they can become really big problems if left unchecked. If you see your fuzzy buddy picking at something, or trying to shake something loose from their fur, lend a helping hand!

Downward Dog

I try to approach every day as a new opportunity, but nobody can be positive all the time. Some days I really feel aware of my size, that I’m not the top dog, and the world feels really overwhelming. On those days, it’s really important to have a plan for how to pick myself back up.

The first safety net is surrounding myself with people who love me. When I’m feeling low, they pick me up and squeeze me and kiss me. They make me feel loved, which is just what I need, and the physical contact makes me feel better.

I also have a few safe spaces around the house for when I’m feeling moody: under Mom’s bed, in her closet, or on my beanbag, I can take some time for myself to try to calm down. It’s really important that these spaces feel like they’re mine, so my family purposefully tries not to reach in and play with me when I’m in those spots.

Finally, I try to keep a few smells around the house that will cheer me up: the flowers out back, the treats in the treat drawer, or Mom’s perfume on a pillow are some favorites that help make me feel like my usual self again. I’ve even seen Sam try this technique, keeping smelling spices in her purse for when she’s overwhelmed. It works for people too, so maybe give it a try!

Whatever you’re feeling, take the time to put a few safeties in place to keep yourself from being too down. There’s so much fun stuff to do, we shouldn’t spend our time being mopey for too long!

But it Tastes So Good...

Mom has a lot of rules around the house to make sure things stay safe and clean: don’t pee in the house, don’t eat people food, only jump on people’s laps when you’re invited, and most importantly don’t eat the outside plants.

I try my best, but… I just can’t help it! I love the taste so much, but when I eat plants, I get sick and usually end up making a mess… But have you ever tried eating plants? Flowers? Grass? They’re delicious!

Sometimes Mom or Louie will catch me trying to sneak a quick bite on a walk, and I’ll hear the crescendo of caution from a low growl: “Scoooout…” Sometimes they even pull the plants right out of my mouth (how rude!).

My best chance to sneak a bite is when I’m home alone without supervision; I’ll trot into the back yard and start nibbling on the grass. I still have to be careful though; one wrong move and I won’t hear my family come home, and they’ll catch me in the act of snacking!

I know it’s bad for me… but it tastes so good!

Pillow Talk

First of May, first of May, outdoor… something starts today!
Oh! Sorry, I’ve been distracted lately because I’ve been so excited!

May first means spring is in full bloom! The weather is warm, the days are long, flowers are sprouting and animals are getting lovey-dovey; there’s just something in the air! On days like today I like to curl up with a buddy and lounge around in the sun all day…

Unfortunately for me, I’m an only dog, so that kind of companionship is in short supply. Don’t get me wrong, Mom, Louie and Sam are great company, but we have a different kind of relationship—I want to lay down with someone me-sized! Even worse, all the me-sized dogs I do know never want to lie down!

Luckily, I’ve figured out a way to relieve myself when running in a pack of one. It’s not glamorous, so I take my business into another room. What can I say? A doggie’s gotta do what a doggie’s gotta do...

Better Living Through Chemistry

Spring has sprung, and with it, the pollen is flying! The yellow dust is all over the cars parked on our street, and it’s getting to me, too. I’m sneezing, scratching, and generally so uncomfortable I cannot get a decent night’s sleep.

Sometimes I can’t even eat I’m so overcome with itchy discomfort.

But there is a solution — a quick injection that takes all my allergy symptoms away. It’s called Cytopoint. I’m a little sleepy for a couple hours after the shot, but then, life is good again!

My friendly technician Pamela at VCA Palo Alto made the injection pain-free for me. Plus, she’s so nice to me, I like to pop in and visit her from time to time. I love all the people at VCA. 

Now I’m breathing easy and itch-free. Better living through chemistry!

Toothless

Some readers (fans?) have noticed that my smile is a little different from other dogs, and there’s a reason for that: I’m missing like 12 teeth!

I don’t really know how it happened; Mom took me to the vet one day and the next thing I remember, they were gone! Mom wasn’t too happy about it, but I think the lady in the white coat said it was necessary… Honestly I was a little mopey after it first happened. It’s hard to learn how to eat and chew again when you’re a few teeth short. Jack joked for a little bit that we should change my name to Fang, but I don’t think I could handle another name change… But even though it was embarrassing, I practiced and practiced, and now it feels like normal!

Don’t think I’m all bark and no bite either, my teeth are just as good as anyone else’s. I still love to play tug of war, and I can still defend myself, it’s just a little different than it used to be. Change like that can be scary, but I promise, with hard work, you can get through it!

Hunger Games

I suppose it’s a symptom of middle age -- that moment when you tip the scales at the impossibly high number you never thought you could possibly reach.

For me, that number was 19.8 pounds – dangerously close to the 20-pound limit to travel in the cabin of a commercial airplane. One extra treat, one more bite of kibble, and I could be … grounded! Even my vet, the kind and beautiful Dr. Smith, who I like a whole lot, said I needed to lose a few.

This came as a mighty blow. I mean, what does a dog really have to look forward to? A pat on the head, a walk in the park, and chow time! That’s it, at least that’s it if you’ve been neutered, which I have. Food is one of my greatest pleasures.

It’s been a few months on the diet dog food, and I gotta say, it’s been pretty rough. Or roughage. Actually, both. All I can tell you is what goes in one end comes out the other. TMI? Portion control is a whole other story.

Thankfully, my tale has a happy ending. When I got on the scale at Dr. Smith’s today, I weighed in at a svelte, fly-ready 18.6 pounds! That’s seven pounds in dog pounds! Oh, wait. That’s dog years, isn’t it?

Don’t mind me. I’m befuddled by hunger.

But when those black boxes with the little wheels come out of the closet again, I’m in, Baby! I’m in!