A friend of mine recently had her dog groomed. I am writing this little story as if the dog was doing it on the day she was groomed and just got home.
My Mommy had me groomed today, and wow do I feel good and look very pretty. I have a bow in my hair. How I know it’s a bow is because everybody says bow and then touches it. It really feels funny when they touch it though. Getting groomed must be a big deal. Since I have never been groomed before, I don’t really know. You see, I’m still a puppy and Mommy wanted to wait for me to get bigger. I’m bigger now, so today was the day.
My day started out with me being put in a dog kennel and being carried, by Mommy and her friend, to the place where you get groomed. It was fun riding in the kennel, but I got a little scared when they just left me in the kennel and then left the place and left me by myself. But I didn’t stay scared for very long because everybody was so nice to me. The bath felt so good, just like when Mommy does it. But they even used some stuff that smelled so good. That’s how I know it was special to go to this place.
After they gave me a bath they took me to a table where they put this thing around my neck so I wouldn’t jump off of the table. It scared me a little bit because I have never been tied up before. But it was OK after just a little while. They brushed me really good and it felt soooo good. Next they started clipping my hair, fur, I don’t have hair. Mommy had clipped me some, but they clipped me even more.
The next thing that happened was sort of scary too. There were a lot of scary things that happened, but they all turned out to be good, so I tried not to be too scared. Well, next they turned on this thing that makes a lot of noise and blows out warm air at the same time. It was the noise that was scary, but the warm air sure did feel good. And they were brushing me the whole time that awful noise was going on. So I just paid attention to the nice warm air and not that awful noise.
When they were finished, they put me back in the dog kennel. I was so tired from everything that had happened and being scared. Being scared makes you tired, and I fell asleep.
After a while I was taken back home. The really big deal started after I got home. Everybody wanted to see my haircut. I sure did like everybody wanting to hold me and pet me saying how soft I was and how nice I smelled.
When the people had finished holding me and petting me, Mommy took me to another friend’s house to have some pictures taken to show off my bow. And Mommy knew I wanted to explore this new place. See how surprised Mommy is when I started wiggling to get down.
But Mommy wouldn’t let me down and started hugging me to calm me down, see her smiling. She thought she could hold me. But I was determined to get down and explore.
Well, I guess that’s the end of my story about getting groomed today. It was scary and fun at the same time, but in the end it felt real good. Everybody likes my new look.
This was from several weeks back, yes, I climbed in the crib in hopes to soothe my screaming, teething, blushed faced, and tear soaked little girl. My husband came home to this, and I am re-posting because this captures the essence of my heart, and my “why…” There I was in the heat of this exhausting, beautiful thing we call parenthood, and I remembered a promise I made to her.
One of the first times Matt and I left Luella, was to a worship concert. At that conference, a missionary shared his story, and it shook me to the core. A moment that would forever be burned in my fragile, hormone raging, new mommy heart that had already become 100xs more fragile after meeting her.
That missionary was in an orphanage in Uganda, and he has been in many before, but this one was different. He walked into a nursery with over 100 filled cribs with babes. He listened in amazement and wonder as the only sound he could hear was silence. A sound that is beyond rare in ANY nursery, let alone a nursery where over 100 new babes laid. He turned to his host and asked her why the nursery was silent. Then , her response to him is something I will never, ever forget. EVER. This was my “why” moment.
She looked at him and said, “After about a week of them being here, and crying out for countless hours, they eventually stop when they realize no one is coming for them…”
…They stop crying when they realize no one is coming for them. Not in 10 minutes, not in 4 hours, and maybe, perhaps, not ever…
Broke.
I broke. I literally could have picked up pieces of my heart scattered about the auditorium floor. But instead, it stirred in me a longing, a hunger.. A promise in my spirit.
We came home, and that night as Luella rested her tiny little 10lb body against mine and we rocked, I made a promise to her. A promise that I would always come to her.
Always.
At 2:00am when pitiful desperate squeals come through a baby monitor, I will come to her.
Her first hurt, her first heartbreak, we will come to her. We will be there to hold her, to let her feel, to make decisions on her own, and we will be there. We will show her through our tears and frustrations at times, that it is okay to cry, and it’s ok to feel. That we will always be a safe place, and we will always come to her.
“What is that moose doing in my backyard?” That’s probably what the lady that did the video below was asking herself. The video is amazing. You will be surprised when you see what the reason was for the moose being in the backyard.
Now wasn’t it worth it to watch the video? Not many people get to see what you just saw, and hear the moment by moment narration.
America I am passionate, but you don’t care about your elderly…Your formulas are outdated. …many seniors are in one room dwellings crammed with their lives in 2 drawers…They work for years…pensions and 401K tricked their savings to live life on a tight budget…You discourage seniors marrying, so many shack to keep checks they’ve earned…oh all seniors don’t have cars…mass transit and cab prices still climbing …..So….
****************************************************************************** As with most of the other DIY projects that I post here, this one came from Facebook. The source URL is: http://bit.ly/1uO0Gcj
My obsession with bright colors got me hooked when I saw this tutorial by Brit+Co. I already had a bunch of old crayons on hand from my previous DIY crayon post and I’ve been interested in making candles lately, so this was the perfect project!
Once you’ve gathered your supplies and setup a work space near your microwave, this project is fairly simple and would be a great craft to do with a friend. I loved blending my own colors and experimenting with different color combinations.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
• Old crayons
• Glass votives (I used small juice glasses)
• Wax
• Wicks
• Dixie cups (or any paper cup)
• Popsicle sticks (for stirring)
Additional Tools
• Microwave
• X-acto knife
The first step is to peel the paper off your crayons. You can either use an x-acto knife or soak the crayons in water for easy peeling.
Next, fill a dixie cup with wax and microwave for 1 minute. Give it a stir and microwave again in 30 second intervals until wax is completely melted. Pour a thin layer of wax into the bottom of each votive and place the candle wick in the center. Let harden.
Using one crayon per color, fill a dixie cup with wax and top with a broken up crayon. Microwave for 2 minutes and then in 30 second intervals until completely liquified. Let cool for 30 seconds or so and pour colored wax into the votive. Let the first layer dry for 20-30 minutes.
Repeat this process and continue to pour layers of colored wax into each votive, making sure to let them dry between each layer.
And that’s it!
What other fun crafts have you made with old crayons? We’d love to hear about your projects…
I found the article below on my Facebook. I felt that it was important enough to copy in its’ entirety. The URL of the website is below. I hope that this article is informative for many people and helps with early detection of cancer. If just one person is helped by this article, then my sharing it will have been worth it.
Cancer related fatigue differs from common tiredness as it has no precise cause and effect. Whilst everyone can get tired after activity or a full day, this type of fatigue is not related to activity nor gets better after rest or sleep. It is an unusual full body tiredness which is not relieved by sleep and occurs throughout the day. It is a constant, prolonged and extreme lack of energy where normal day-to-day activities are challenging and even the arms and legs can feel heavy and hard to move. A cancer may cause fatigue as the cancer cells use up the body’s energy supply and change the way the body makes energy from food. It is a common early symptom in some cancers like leukemia or stomach or colon cancers where blood loss occurs but is not obvious and will cause fatigue.
2. Unexplained Weight Loss
Image Credit: medicine net.com
Weight loss for no known reason, not through stress or change in diet or exercise is called unexplained weight loss. It is a common sign in the early stages of some types of cancer. 60% of people with lung cancer and 80% of people with stomach, pancreatic or esophageal cancer have lost a significant amount of weight by the time they are diagnosed. Although it is often characterized by loss of appetite, some people in the early stages of cancer may still be eating normally and yet still lose weight. If you are not dieting and you lose more than 5% of your normal weight in 1 month, or 10% in 6 months, you should ask your doctor to investigate as this can be the first sign of cancer.
3. Feeling Bloated or Swollen Abdomen
Image Credit: thelucyroseclinic.com.au
Persistent bloating or increased size of the abdomen can be typical symptoms of a number of cancers. Feeling bloated can cause you to feel full quickly, even after a small meal or you may have difficulty eating at all. Increased abdominal size or persistent bloating are common signs of ovarian, uterine or stomach cancer. Colon cancer can block the inside of the colon, causing progressive bloating. If the cancer is higher up in the colon, bloating may be the only initial symptom. An enlarged abdomen is common in liver cancer and can be caused by the growing tumor or the build up of fluids. If you have bloating on most days, for 3 weeks or more you need to see your doctor.
4. Thickening or Lump in any Part of the Body
Image Credit: livingwellblack.org
Many cancers can be felt through the skin. These cancer signs occur mostly in the breast, testicles and lymph nodes (glands), such as in the neck, armpits or groin and may also show up as red or thickened skin rather than a lump. The most common symptom of a testicular cancer is a lump or swelling in part of one testicle. It can be as small as a pea or it may be much larger. A lump in the neck is a common symptom of head and neck cancers such as thyroid, larynx and nasopharyngeal cancer? The first symptoms of breast cancer for many women are a lump or change in the size, shape and feel of the breast or nipple. It may be accompanied by a swelling or lump in the armpit. A lump caused by cancer is usually hard, irregularly shaped and firmly attached deep in the soft tissue or under the skin and is usually not painful. If you notice a new lump or one that has grown in size it may be an early sign of cancer and should always be reported to a doctor.
5. Pain
Image Credit: popsci.com
Pain is one of the ways our bodies tell us that something is wrong. Cancer related pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp pain and may start suddenly and be ongoing or may start as a pain that comes and goes. Pain is commonly one of the earliest symptoms of bone cancer. At first, the pain may not be constant and may only worsen with movement. Approximately 20% of men have a sharp pain in the testicle or scrotum as a first symptom of testicular cancer. Lung cancers may press on nerves resulting in pain in the shoulder, chest, back or arm even before they cause any difficulty breathing or coughing. A headache that does not go away, worsens with pressure such as coughing, bending or sneezing, and does not get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumor. You should see a doctor if you experience sudden pain lasting a few days or pain that comes and goes but continues for longer than a month.
6. Shortness of Breath
Image Credit: woolcock.org.au
Shortness of breath, dyspnea ,is characterized by a feeling of inability to get enough air. It can be described as a tightness or feeling of suffocation. Some types of cancer can grow very near the tissue that surrounds your heart. This can interfere with how much blood the heart can pump out and can cause shortness of breath. Cancer in or near the lungs may cause a blockage to the tubes that carry air. Breathlessness is also common with breast cancer tumors. Where there is build up of fluid in the abdomen, such as is common with ovarian or liver cancer, the increased pressure on the diaphragm makes it harder for the lungs to expand when you breathe in. Additionally, many types of cancer may cause anemia, which can make you breathless because your body is carrying less oxygen. Ask your doctors to investigate any feelings of breathlessness.
7. Skin Changes
Image Credit: wisegeekhealth.com
The skin offers a window to what is going on inside the body and skin changes can be the first sign of internal malignancy. Skin discolorations such as yellowing skin or darkening skin are important signs of internal disease. Redness or bruise like coloring of the breast is an early sign for inflammatory breast cancer, as are changes in the texture of the skin such as dimpling. Itching is another common symptom in many types of cancers. Up to 30% of people with Hodgkin lymphoma have itching of the whole body. Itching is often worse on the legs and chest. Sometimes skin changes can be seen on the nail folds and cuticles and even noticing subtle changes can lead to early cancer diagnosis. When it comes to skin cancer, existing moles that develop irregular borders and change in shape or size must be examined. Any new growths or dark spots, dry, scaly or pinkish patches or any sores that change, itch or bleed and won’t heal may also indicate skin cancer, where early treatment is essential.
8. Fever or Night Sweats
Image Credit: newhealthguide.org
A fever is a rise in normal body temperature, generally 36- 37ºC. When you have a fever, your body temperature rises above 38ºC (100.4ºF). When it is between 37ºC and 38ºC, it is called a low grade fever. A fever is the body’s response to infection or illness and if is raised for some time, it can be a sign that something more serious is wrong. Cancer accounts for about 20 to 30 percent of fevers where the origin is unknown. Fever may be a sign of early cancer in the case of blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma. Fever may also reveal colon and kidney cancer at an early stage. Fevers related to cancer are persistent, meaning they last longer than three days or come and go repeatedly. It may occur with or without other symptoms. How high a fever is does not indicate the severity of a condition. A persistent low-grade fever may be an early warning sign even though the fever itself is not high. All such fevers require further investigation.
9. Change in Bowel Habits
Image Credit: curehemorrhoids.link
The term “change in bowel habits” can include any constant change in frequency, consistency (diarrhea or constipation), color, shape or caliber of the stools. Sometimes cancer can block the bowel. This is called a bowel obstruction. The symptoms include constipation and being unable to pass wind. Constipation is defined as having less than three bowel movements in a week. Small, hard stool is also an indicator of constipation. Constant diarrhea, defined, as loose, runny or watery stool should also be investigated. Changes in shape of your stool such as if your stool becomes thin, narrow or ribbon-like could be an indication of changes inside your colon caused by cancer. Likewise, changes in color, such as dark or blackened stool or blood in the stool, may also indicate changes in the colon. A feeling of discomfort or an urge to have a bowel movement, even after opening your bowel or a feeling of not having fully emptied your bowels after going to the toilet can be symptoms of bowel cancer. Any changes lasting three weeks or more should be evaluated.
10. Changes In Bladder Habits
Image Credit: venusbuzz.com
Changes in bladder function can include a variety of symptoms. The need to urinate often, feeling pain or burning when going or a frequent urge to urinate whether or not anything is produced are all possible signs that need investigation. Cancer can develop in the bladder, kidneys, renal pelvis (the part of the kidneys urine is collected) or ureter (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Tumors may also cause incontinence, urinating when you don’t intend to. Needing to pee more often or more urgently than normal can also be a sign of ovarian cancer. Prostrate cancer may also cause a sudden and urgent need to pee, night waking to use the bathroom, dribbling urine after you think you’re finished, beginning to urinate, and more frequent urination day or night. Knowing what changes to look out for can mean finding cancer early enough to have a higher chance of treating it successfully.
11. Nagging Cough
Image Credit: psotmd.com
Many people dismiss or adapt to a chronic cough, attributing it to something else. Since lung cancer is most treatable in the early stages of the disease, finding a cancer as early as possible is extremely important.A persistent cough, defined as a cough that lasts for at least 8 consecutive weeks, should always be investigated. At least half of people diagnosed with lung cancer have a cough that just wouldn’t go away, at the time of diagnosis. Excessive coughing are also common signs of laryngeal and thyroid cancer. Cancer coughs have no specific pattern and may occur during the day only, or continue through the night, interfering with sleep and causing daytime fatigue. The cough may be dry or you may cough up mucous, it may be accompanied by chest pain, or you may notice a change in a cough you have had for a long time.
12. Difficulty Swallowing
Image Credit: steadyhealth.com
Difficulty swallowing, called dysphagia, occurs when a person has trouble getting food or liquid to pass down the mouth or throat. Some people may gag, cough, spit, dribble or choke when trying to swallow, while others may feel like food is sticking on the way down. Mouth or throat cancers can cause the passages to become restricted or narrowed making swallowing difficult. It is a common symptom of a variety of head and neck cancers such as esophageal, oropharyngeal cancer, thyroid and laryngeal cancers. It may also be amongst the symptoms for people with stomach cancer. Initially, the problem may be noticed when large pieces of poorly chewed food are swallowed but can get progressively worse to the point that even liquids become difficult to swallow.
13. Red or White Patches or Sores Inside the Mouth
Image Credit: lohdnowiw.blog.com
Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth) is the most common type of head and neck cancer. Most of these cancers can be cured if discovered early. The most common symptoms include a sore or lump on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal or bleeds easily, and white and/or red patches or coating on the gums, tongue, or cheeks that doesn’t go away. The inside of the mouth may also appear red, shiny or swollen. If you wear dentures, they may become uncomfortable or fit poorly. White patches inside the mouth may be leukoplakia, which is pre-cancerous and if its not treated, can become mouth cancer. Any long-lasting mouth changes should be checked by a doctor or dentist right away.
14. Repeated Infections
Image Credit: lohdnowiw.blog.com
Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth) is the most common type of head and neck cancer. Most of these cancers can be cured if discovered early. The most common symptoms include a sore or lump on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal or bleeds easily, and white and/or red patches or coating on the gums, tongue, or cheeks that doesn’t go away. The inside of the mouth may also appear red, shiny or swollen. If you wear dentures, they may become uncomfortable or fit poorly. White patches inside the mouth may be leukoplakia, which is pre-cancerous and if its not treated, can become mouth cancer. Any long-lasting mouth changes should be checked by a doctor or dentist right away.
15. Hoarseness
Image Credit: livestrong.com
If your voice is hoarse, you may have a raspy, weak, or airy quality to your voice that prevents you from making smooth vocal sounds. It is defined as an abnormal change to the voice producing a rough, harsh sound. A hoarse voice persisting for longer than three weeks can be a sign of cancer. It may be caused by excessive coughing or due to a tumor pressing nerves that travel to the vocal cords. It is the most common sign of cancer of the larynx-the voice box-where persistent hoarseness is often the earliest sign. It is also a common symptom with other neck and throat cancers such as thyroid cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. If you have persistent hoarseness lasting for more than 10 days, seek prompt medical attention, as it may be a sign of cancer.
16. Unusual Bleed
Image credit: okmedical.ro
Unusual bleeding can happen in early cancer and should always be evaluated. If you experience bleeding with no obvious injury, talk to your doctor. Coughing up blood may be a sign of lung cancer or Laryngeal Cancer. Blood in the urine is usually the first and most common sign of cancer of the bladder or kidneys. If you have blood in your urine, you may see pink, brownish, or red discoloration. Blood in the stool could be a sign of colon or rectal cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple can indicate breast cancer. For women, any abnormal vaginal bleeding should always be checked out. For those after menopause, vaginal bleeding is never normal. For those still getting a period, any changes in the menstruation or spotting in between should be promptly investigated. Contact bleeding, occurring after sexual intercourse, also needs to reported to the doctor. Cervical, ovarian, vaginal, endometrial and uterine cancer can all present with irregular bleeding and are often overlooked by women in the early stages.
After having to go through the loss of my friend’s parents dog last month, I never thought that something like that would happen any too soon again. I was oh so wrong.
My guinea pig, Alisha is now resting in peace. Here is a picture of me holding Alisha, my furry baby, and of her getting ready to give me kisses. I loved her so dearly. My friend had listened with a stethoscope and had heard at least three if not four baby’s heartbeats. I was so excited that we were going to have babies again. This was to be the last time. We never let any of our guinea pigs have more than three litters and this was her third litter.
Wednesday, February 3rd, she seemed to be going into labor to have her babies. When I woke up Wednesday morning, there was every indication that she was in labor and had already had one still born baby. There was a lot of blood covered bedding in the cage. I was a little sad not to see a live baby, but not too concerned because I didn’t know how long it had been since she had had the still born baby.
She was just staying in the corner being very quiet. I tried to pet her, but all she would do was shiver all over. I left her alone to see if she would finish having the babies. After about three or four hours I went to check on her and see how many babies she had had. To my dismay, she had not had any more babies, but was still bleeding. I thought that she was still having babies, but apparently they were all being still born. It was a very sad time not to see any live babies.
On Thursday, February 4th, when I first looked in on her, she was just the same as I had left her the night before. I also noticed that she had not eaten anything and had not had any water either. I had put a piece of tape on the line where the water was to check on her water intake.
Throughout the day I continued to check on her and to pet her. Being scared that she was not going to make it, I had my friend to take some pictures of me holding her, for what could possibly be the last time. They are below.
A few hours later I went back to check on her, but still no more babies. Not knowing anything else to do, I covered her cage up and left her alone for the night hoping to see babies in the morning.
But, that was not to happen. Much to my dismay, in the morning, Friday, February 5th, there still were no live babies to be seen. But Alisha was still very big, so I knew that there were still babies to be born. But she was sitting in the corner differently from what she had been the day before. Now she was pressing her head up against the side of the cage and breathing very quickly. The carrot that I had given her the night before was dried up and still beside her. Obviously she still was not eating or drinking.
My friends and I started trying to force water into her by using a small syringe and giving her a few drops at the time. We were hoping that after doing that, she would have the babies. So once again, we left her alone for three or four hours at the time, in between trying to give her water. At around 7:00 PM I went to check on her, and to hold her and hug her just for a little while. I had my friend to listen to her and to see if he could hear the babies’ heart beats. Unfortunately, he couldn’t hear any and could barely hear her heart beat. He thought that she had a collapsed lung. When I picked her up, she had an accident on me.
I was a little alarmed, but thought that maybe she was getting ready to have her now dead babies. That, she had been in labor too long and the babies had all died. So once again, I went out and left her alone for an hour. My thoughts were that if she had the dead babies, just maybe, then she could rebound and be OK. At least that was what I was hoping.
At 8:00 PM I went back to check on her and her babies. There were no babies, and she was not breathing either. I had my friend to listen again, and he confirmed my worst fears. Alisha had died. She had died from the exhaustion of trying to have her babies. She had apparently been pushing so hard to have them that her lung collapsed and she just could not rebound from that stress. At least she is no longer suffering from her ordeal. I will miss her dearly.
All day Saturday (yesterday), February 6, I was just sort of in shock. I had been counting on watching the last babies grow up and go to loving homes. That was not to happen. Instead, I had to say “Good-Bye” forever to Alisha, my furry baby.
I am sorry that I have been unable to do my blogs during this time, but to me, my furry baby was more important. I loved her so much. I watched her grow up from the day she was born, and I bought her from my friends, when she was old enough to be taken away from her mother. It had been a wonderful time with her, and I certainly was not ready to let her go. I know that at least she will not suffer anymore.
I hope that this is the end of anybody that I know losing a pet to an untimely death. They are having a really bad effect on me lately, and I am sort of befuddled to understand as to why.
This was on Facebook today. Hope you enjoy it. It’s just for laughs.
I think maybe the husband went a little too far in his visits to the strip club. Poor guy. Guess he won’t make that mistake again. LOL. This little story was cute. I’m just trusting that it wasn’t an actual true story.
This little story was on my Facebook today in Kelly Bagnasco’s posts. I thought my readers just might enjoy it. This is so funny. I can almost see an older man asking such a question and being as befuddled as the man in the story was. Whoever came up with this little story can really make up good ones.
A man walked into the ladies department and shyly walked up to
the woman behind the counter and said,
‘I’d like to buy a bra for my wife.’
‘What type of bra?’ asked the clerk.
‘Type?’ inquires the man, ‘There’s more than one type?’
‘Look around,’ said the saleslady, as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, color and material imaginable.
‘Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose from.’
Relieved, the man asked about the types.
The saleslady replied:
‘There are the Catholic, Salvation Army, Presbyterian, and the Baptist types.
Which one would you prefer?’
Now totally befuddled, the man asked about the differences between them.
The Saleslady responded, ‘It is all really quite simple.’
The Catholic type supports the masses;
The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen;
The Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright;
The Baptist type makes mountains out of molehills.
Oh and
Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD , E, F, G, and H are the letters used to define bra sizes?
If you have wondered why, but couldn’t figure out what the letters stood for, it is about time you became informed!
{A} Almost Boobs.
{B} Barely there.
{C} Can’t Complain.
{D} Dang!
{DD} Double dang!
{E} Enormous!
{F} Fake.
{G} Get a Reduction.
{H} Help me, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!
Send this to all that will appreciate it!
oh, they forgot the German bra.
Holtzemfromfloppen!!
This is a very informative article about man’s best friend – his dog. Many things are pointed out in this article dealing with the love and attention that we give our best friend. I thought that it was informative enough for me to copy and share it with my readers.
Life happens. Even the most devoted pet parent can get bogged down with running the kids to afterschool activities, stressing out about work and spending way too much time tapping on smartphones. And when the stresses of life take over, sometimes the family dog is the one who suffers the most.
Watch out for these 6 warnings that may signal you’re not showing your dog enough love.
Dogs need mental stimulation and exercise to live a long, healthy life. The adage that we do not stop playing because we grow old, but we grow old because we stop playing holds true with our canine counterparts. If your dog spends most of the day snoozing, it might mean he just needs more attention. Set aside time every day for a special training session or some indoor playtime to boost his energy and strengthen your bond.
Yes, even dogs can get the blues. Are you addicted to a cell phone, tablet or computer? Does that addiction mean less time for playing, walks or tummy rubs for your dog? Some dog depression symptoms include a disinterest in food or play, destructive behavior, no longer greeting you at the door and suddenly having household accidents. Get outside, go somewhere, and spend some device-free quality time with your dog to brighten your dog’s spirits.
Sometimes a dog that is having emotional stress or feeling depressed will urinate and/or defecate in the house. If your dog suddenly starts having these symptoms, seek veterinary help to rule out any underlying medical condition. Bored dogs might also occupy themselves by chewing on furniture, digging in the garbage can or barking incessantly. If your dog suddenly shows signs of bad behavior, he likely needs some attention.
Even though he might want you to think otherwise, the way to a dog’s heart is definitely not through his stomach. Dogs are not able to freely use the refrigerator or dial a pizza delivery service. If your dog is overweight, it is a definitely a “you caused it” issue. Giving your dog extra treats should never be a substitute for spending quality time together. Monitoring your dog’s daily calorie intake is an essential part of being a good pet parent, so spend time making sure your pooch is getting the nutrition he needs.
If your dog’s nails could give Wolverine a run for his money, you definitely aren’t providing proper care to your pup. A dog who walks often—especially on sidewalks—has nails that file naturally. And trimming your dog’s nails should be part of a regular grooming regimen. If your dog’s paws look more like claws, you’ve probably been slacking on your pet parenting duties.
If a dog stops eating, it’s a red flag that no pet parent should ignore. While a visit to the vet is essential in this instance to rule out physical problems, dogs that stop eating may be exhibiting emotional distress as well. Depression in dogs can lead to reduced appetite and signal that your dog is looking for more love in his life. Make a dinner date a few times a week with your dog and vow to spend an hour or so after your both done eating to catch up, relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Carol Bryant is the PR and marketing manager for BlogPaws, a Pet360 partner company. She also maintains her own canine-centric blog, FidoseofReality.com.
Mommy thinks she’s got me, but just you wait and see.
I try to run for the hills. Just one problem, there aren’t any hill in this house. I keep trying though, in all sorts of directions.
Darn those treats, I just can’t resit them.
Not having any luck getting away.
Maybe if I act nonchalant she’ll let me go.
How do you like my smile for the picture so Mommy could show off the bow in my hair, uh fur, I don’t have hair, I have fur. Sorry.
