rich
10-Jul-10, 02:58
I need some advice on a very serious matter.
My wife and I - both medical journalists - tend to shuttle to and fro between Toronto and Palm City in Florida plying our trade.
For 14 years and three months our existence was uplifted by our absolutely wonderful dog, Django, a borderline collie. (Part lab, part collie). He has been chasing squirrels in the happy hunting grounds for a little over a year.
Fran and I decided it was probably the right time to check out the local Florida pound - the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. The pound was full of pit bulls and when we appeared a chorus of barks and attempted escapes ensued.
But in one corner silence reiged. This medium size (58 pounds) all black, lady dog was a brilliant exception; so we took her for a walk - no tugging, no yelping, some sniffing, huge intelligent eyes.
"How old is she?," we asked.
"Two years," came the aswer.
"How is her health?"
"Perfectly healthy," we were told.
We went home and had daquries under the palms and we decided to take her.
She would be my dog! I was really chuffed!!!!!
We went straight to the groomers, we phoned the vet we used for Django to alert him to the new arrival.
This was and is a wonderful dog. Her Pound Name was Layola. We felt that was too rock and roll so we renamed her Jennie - a fine name redolent of quilting bees and organic vegetables.
We have had her now for a week. She is better than ever, the sweetest dog ever...
No now I'll get to the point. (Thank goodness for that, I hear you say...)
Jennie eats next to nothing and drinks lots of water. .
Last night we were sitting in the back yard, the dog was lying down and she suddenly discharged a huge puddle of uriine. There was more on the broadloom in the house.
Today, we went to the vet -our vet.
First finding is Jennie is nearer six than two.
She does not have diabetes or a urinary tract infection.
What Jennie has is urinary incontinece, an increasing problem in the canine population. It cannot be cured but it can be managed with two pills a day.
Trouble is Jennie wont swallow the pills. Maybe we should send her back to the Pound. But that would be a death sentence. And I would be sending her to that death.
But our lifestyle would only suit a fit dog - .
As I said above, Jennie is my dog. It's my decision and she is sitting at my feet.
She has a lot of Chow - purple tongue. Pure bred Chows are notoriousy "grumpy." Chow mixes are the most affectionate dogs there are.
I can vouch for that.
I need advice....
My wife and I - both medical journalists - tend to shuttle to and fro between Toronto and Palm City in Florida plying our trade.
For 14 years and three months our existence was uplifted by our absolutely wonderful dog, Django, a borderline collie. (Part lab, part collie). He has been chasing squirrels in the happy hunting grounds for a little over a year.
Fran and I decided it was probably the right time to check out the local Florida pound - the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. The pound was full of pit bulls and when we appeared a chorus of barks and attempted escapes ensued.
But in one corner silence reiged. This medium size (58 pounds) all black, lady dog was a brilliant exception; so we took her for a walk - no tugging, no yelping, some sniffing, huge intelligent eyes.
"How old is she?," we asked.
"Two years," came the aswer.
"How is her health?"
"Perfectly healthy," we were told.
We went home and had daquries under the palms and we decided to take her.
She would be my dog! I was really chuffed!!!!!
We went straight to the groomers, we phoned the vet we used for Django to alert him to the new arrival.
This was and is a wonderful dog. Her Pound Name was Layola. We felt that was too rock and roll so we renamed her Jennie - a fine name redolent of quilting bees and organic vegetables.
We have had her now for a week. She is better than ever, the sweetest dog ever...
No now I'll get to the point. (Thank goodness for that, I hear you say...)
Jennie eats next to nothing and drinks lots of water. .
Last night we were sitting in the back yard, the dog was lying down and she suddenly discharged a huge puddle of uriine. There was more on the broadloom in the house.
Today, we went to the vet -our vet.
First finding is Jennie is nearer six than two.
She does not have diabetes or a urinary tract infection.
What Jennie has is urinary incontinece, an increasing problem in the canine population. It cannot be cured but it can be managed with two pills a day.
Trouble is Jennie wont swallow the pills. Maybe we should send her back to the Pound. But that would be a death sentence. And I would be sending her to that death.
But our lifestyle would only suit a fit dog - .
As I said above, Jennie is my dog. It's my decision and she is sitting at my feet.
She has a lot of Chow - purple tongue. Pure bred Chows are notoriousy "grumpy." Chow mixes are the most affectionate dogs there are.
I can vouch for that.
I need advice....