pets

I have two dogs (Faegan and Junior -- both shelter rescues) and two cats (Travers and Laila -- also rescues).

They're my babies!  I love seeing their little faces when I get home from work.  No matter how the day has been, they give me a reason to smile.

Of course, I just re-read that last paragraph, and I said little faces.  I should say big faces.  Faegan is 70 pounds and Junior is almost 80.  :)

Hi, Question

Do your doggies get upset when you leave.  I noticed my little dog seems to know I am leaving and starts to cry.  I adoped her a few months ago.  What do you do for your dogs to calm them.  I tried putting toys in her crate.  She is too young and small to leave out of her crate.  I had another dog and left home for 1/2 hour came home to chewed up shoes I had just purchased and a very upset dog.  Any suggestions?

Hi,

I adopted a poodle mix from the Michigan Humane Society.

It's very typical for dogs to be upset when you leave.  It's actually better to leave the dog in the crate (it's a safe place for her.)  Also, make sure you don't make a big deal out of it when you leave.  Just leave.  You can give her a kong filled with peanut butter or something in the crate before you leave if you think that might help her.

I have a dog named Bandit.  He's a Chinese Crested Powder Puff possibly with some Schnauzer in him.  I adopted him from a resuce 8 years ago and can't imagine my life without him.  He's getting older and I just had to put him on Rimadyl this week as his back legs aren't working like they should and it breaks my heart.

I also have kitties that have either been feral or needed homes - my family thinks I'm nuts!!

I work as a dog groomer and have found my calling - wish it had called sooner - as I love my job.  I'm so lucky to be able to do what I'm passionate about!

Just in case your vet didn't warn you about Rimadyl, do make sure to get your dog's liver enzymes tested every 6 months or so.  It can have side effects on the liver that can cause liver failure (my sister had a dog that died of that, sadly.)

I've got 4 dogs (I'm allergic to cats, so can't own them.)  I have a golden retriever/lab retriever mix (who doesn't retrieve squat) named Casey, who is a rescue and a former therapy dog (I had to retire him due to bad hips.)  I have a black lab named Hitchcock, who I was allowed to have as long as my husband, a film buff, was allowed to name him.  Hitch was rescued after being at animal control after coming in as a stray.  He had been there for over a month and there were 7 younger black labs there.  I feared for his life, and being the sucker that I am, adopted him.  He is my velcro dog (I can't get him away from me.)  I have a border collie/cocker spaniel mix named Jackie who is a little nutty.  She enjoys lizard hunting in the backyard and is my "small" dog at 30 lbs.  Finally, I have a Chow/Lab mix named Maddy, who was a foster dog who attached herself to me.  She came into the shelter I work at after her family lost their home.  She had heartworm and had to go through treatment (it's a tough 2 month treatment similar to chemotherapy....  it can kill the dog and the dog needs to be kept calm and quiet during treatment.)  She is great and is being trained to do therapy work now.

Because I'm a friek about my dog - I'm having him tested after 30 days!!  My vet also put him on Dusequin for his joints.  It's been a week and he is doing better but I may cut down to a Rimadyl every other day and see how he does with that....

Thanks for the advice!