My eye surgery went very well. My challenge now is trying to see with one eye that has the new long distance lense but still has trouble close, and the old eye that still needs glasses for everything and also has a cataract. I thought I would jump right back on the computer, but that work seems the hardest of all to see. The Doctor recommended store-bought readers to help the new eye (can’t use my regular glasses because they are too strong for the new eye). Oh my! If the doctor doesn’t want to fix the other eye soon, I will have to figure out a long term solution. But for now, I am doing my best and feel fine, though I can’t see the way I want to.
While I had surgery, Louise and Sofie went to Sonya’s, the pet sitter. They were there for 3 nights (brought them home a day early because Nine ran away and I was feeling well enough to take care of them). This was the first time since Sofie has been on the Clomicalm and the Melatonin that she has been away for me. She has been sleeping through the night without night terrors for about a month. The first few night’s home she was fine then BAM! – 2 nights in a row the night barking and anxiety behavior returned. Also, while she was gone, Sonya said she had an asthma-like attack. It is allergy season, but the Vet did not want me to give her Benadryl because of all the other stuff. Sonya did say that she thought Sofie was too sleepy and she cut back the Melatonin to 5mg from 7.5mg. Could it have been that? The short separation?
She slept through the night after those 2 events but, my luck, I had to leave on a business trip the following Sunday for 2 nights (so back to Sonya’s for the doggies). Sofie did not have any breathing problems that time. However, 2 days after she got home, she had a night terror. Clearly it wasn’t the smaller dose of Melatonin because I went back to 7.5mg as soon as she came home. Maybe the separation from me or from home? Does she go into a deeper level of sleep at home and that takes her into the terror state?
We went to the vet last week and agreed to 20mg of Zyrtec (a non-drowsy allergy med). She is sleeping and seems her old silly self. She is no longer wheezing or scratching (my other giant fear with an obsessive dog because of the damage she can do to herself). You are a lesson in balance for Mommy, that is for sure, my little Sofie Bear. Now if I can only figure out my eyes.
Someone cannot pass a pile of leaves without a good roll. – That’s my girl!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, dog, dog medicine, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, postaday
Setting the scene: (1) All the cats at the DogDaz Zoo live in the house. We just don’t want to worry about gathering them all up at night and what could happen with the cars, foxes, osprey, etc. (2) Mom had her eye surgery a few Thursday’s ago. The next day was spring warm and sunny, so we had the windows open and the doors screened. Mom was recuperating and mostly sleeping. (Do you sense where this is going?) (3) When Mom is traveling or laid up, the doggies go to Sonya the pet sitter. They were not home.
The scene: V was in the garage in the afternoon and in walked Mini Cooper from the backyard. Mini apparently managed to slide the sliding screen open and V put her back in the house, and that was that.
The panic: But it wasn’t just Mini. Later that day, when Mom went to feed the Zoo, Nine was nowhere to be found!!!! Flash lights, calling, walking the neighborhood. No Nine anywhere. Mom emailed the community and the county website and let them know he was missing (sadly another neighbor’s cat had gone missing the day before).
Saturday: Mom is not allowed to bend down or lift things because they worry about the pressure to her eyes, so she can’t go looking under things for Nine. Though the dogs were supposed to come home Sunday, Mom had Sonya bring them early so that they, especially Sofie, could help her look. Mom talked to all the neighbors and put them on alert. When the dogs got home she started a nose search of neighbors’ yards. Still no Nine.
Everyone was worried as the weather had turned cold and it was raining. Mom did not feel his energy in the yard but knew, with her ‘spidey’ sense, that he was not far. She kept sending Sofie and Louise out to search the yard and call to him in their doggy way.
9 PM Saturday night V hears meowing from the pool area. At first Nine wanted to run, but a nice can of Friskies made him realize he was more hungry than scared and it was time to come home.
Sofie was so happy he returned. Mini wouldn’t let him out of her sight (or the cat bed). He was tired and hungry but no worse for the adventure. He sure knew how to get Mom up and moving before she wanted to be.
– As reported by Noel, the stay at home, I would not leave if you paid me, Christmas Cat
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This is a blog hop. I hopped it from MYBrownNewfies. Check them out for more mischief.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, blog hop, Cat, cats, dog, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, lorian lipton, Mischief Monday, Pet, pets, postaday
5 Facts about Rabbits from Smithsonian: Giant Rabbits
In celebration of the annual spring appearance of the Easter bunny on Sunday, Smithsonian Science offers these facts from Rabbits: The Animal Answer Guide, a new book by John Seidensticker, conservation scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and Susan Lumpkin, freelance writer.
Image: Black-tailed jackrabbit (Photo by Susan E. Adams)
1
Rabbits are not rodents, but lagomorphs (lag–uh-mawrf), a scientific term which means “hare-shaped.” Hares and pikas also are lagomorphs.
2
Image: A reconstruction of a giant Minorcan rabbit is shown next to a modern European rabbit. (Image by Meike Köhler)
Scientists studying the bones of an extinct giant rabbit found on the Mediterranean island of Minorca estimate this prehistoric animal weighed as much as 31 pounds! The largest rabbits alive today– domestic breeds such as the Flemish giant–weigh 22 pounds at most.
3
Thanks to human introductions the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is found throughout Western Europe, Australia, parts of South America, North Africa and on more than 800 islands around the world. Today in Iberia, Spain, the European rabbit’s sole home for many thousands of years, it is threatened.
4
Archaeologists have evidence of people hunting rabbits in the south of France some 120,000 years ago. Scientists suspect even Neanderthals lived on diets made up largely of rabbits
5
A “never fail” Kansas folk remedy for reducing fever recommends making a strong tea from the dung of the wild jackrabbit and drinking it every half-hour.
(via: Smithsonian Insider)
Wishing sunshine to all who celebrate spring, whatever you call it (Purim, Easter, Earth Day…)
Your friends at DogDaz Zoo.
Tags: animal awareness, animals, DogDaz, Easter Bunny, lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, pets, postaday, Rabbit
Sandra Boynton has declared March 23 – Puppy Day!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, boynton, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, postaday, puppy day
Purrrrfection!
Happy 9th Birthday, Noel!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animals, Cat, cat blog, Cat People, cats, DogDaz, lorian lipton, Pet, postaday
Happy Birthday, Mom! You are really old and can’t see anything these days, but we love you anyway.
Louise, Sofie Bear, Noel, Nine, Stella, and Mini Cooper.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, blog hop, Cat, cats, dog, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, postaday
Blog friends –
I have been having trouble seeing for awhile. Sadly, about 2 months ago, my life finally became a total blur. Even with the screen up to 150% of size, it has been hard to blog and especially hard to read your blog posts and comments. The cataracts have won and I will be having the left eye fixed tomorrow. It may take me a week or so to get back to the blog but I hope not to lose much time. I am told that it will be easy and quick. The doctor says he wants to do the other eye in about 2 months. I am LOOKING forward to SEEING you again soon. – Lorian
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: cataracts, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, postaday
Our friends Will, Eko, and Penny, introduced us to this app called What-Dog.net We had great fun figuring out what each animal at the zoo was. Sometimes the app was right on – other times…. well, you be the judge.
At first it thought Louise was a Miniature Schnauzer (that is just so not her). It made me laugh. I do not understand what formula it is using to decide what dog you are (assuming hair or posture), so I tried another pose.
This time it pegged her as a Labrador Retriever, which is much closer since that is what most people thinks she is. Personally, I think she is a plot hound/ lab mix, but who knows.
Sofie was immediately identified as a Shetland Sheepdog. There is no denying the strong resemblance.
Stella was identified for the true princess that she is as a Pekingese.
Nine’s description was exactly on the money: intense and highly intelligent. The ears must make him German.
Noel could purrrfectly be a little American Eskimo Dog, don’t you think. And she definitely is reserved with strangers.
I was rolling on the floor laughing to see that Mini Cooper stumped the machine.
And then there is me. I guess I am a Collie (never really saw myself that way before), but I definitely am independent minded and need to herd others. Oh yeah, I bark a lot too.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Cat, dog, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, nature, pet blog, postaday, what-dog.net
On the first wishish sunny day, Lulu decided she would take a sneeze in the field.
Have a great Sunday!
This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to Dachshund Nola and Sugar for hosting.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Black and White Sunday, blog hop, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday
DogDaz Zoo 