Charles on Charles, literally.
And you thought I was kidding.
Picture by V.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tag Archives: dog rescue
Wonderful Wednesday: When is it too hot to go outside?
Jolie has a lovely neighborhood young lady who walks her during the week. The other day, however, we broke heat records for April here in Annapolis. When walking your dog you need to be very aware of the outside temperature. Little and really big dogs can overheat very quickly. Heat stroke is a real thing and should be avoided at all costs.
I use the 5-second ground test before walking: I place my hand on the pavement for 5 seconds, and if it is too hot for my hand then it is definitely too hot for a paw.
Also, you need to apply this temperature warning before taking your pets in the car. Even with the windows open a car can heat up or freeze very fast. If it is over 70 or under 40 degrees, leave them at home.
Spring is an awesome time to play in the fields and take nice walks. Keep everyone COOL!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo: Charles’ 2d Chance
On February 17, Charles had a grand mal seizure. It was very scary for all of us. We started him on Phenobarbital, a drug that is used to treat seizures. He continued to have what we thought were smaller petite mal seizures every few days after that. The vet gave us Diazepam as a rescue drug for when the seizures happen, this was to try and stop what they call ‘cluster’ seizures (one right after another, which is common). But something continued to not be right. Even the smallest excursion was causing him to collapse. Was it the seizure disorder or something else?
You may not remember but Charles has a heart murmur and an enlarged heart. On March 7 we went back to the vet because of multiple collapsing episodes. She said his chest sounded OK and we should continue with the pheno as prescribed. Pheno can take several weeks to kick in. But…things still did not seem right.
I emailed the vet on March 15 and sent a video of him collapsing. Late afternoon, she prescribed a heart medicine called VetMedIn (pimobendan), which improves the efficiency of each heartbeat so that it doesn’t have to work so hard, in addition to the Pheno. I picked it up after work on March 16. I was worried about getting him to take it because it is a large pill for a little dog, so we decided to wait until the morning.
4 AM, Friday, March 17, before we could even start the VetMedIn, Charles went into congestive heart failure. His little heart was racing a million miles a minute. He was panting and wheezing. Off to the Vet we went as soon as they opened. On X-ray, the lungs showed fluid building up around the heart. The vet asked us if we were ready to make the very hard choice about his quality of life.
But… there was one other medicine that we could add to the mix and see if that could help – Lasix, a diuretic. We opted to give it a try. What was the worse that could happen since he already was so weak. We carried him up and down the stairs in the house; we carried him outside to the bathroom; we did not let him exert himself at all if we could stop him.
March 21 – SPRING – and he seems back to his old self. Hungrier than usual but stubborn and sassy and just being Charles. Now he refuses to be carried and wants to do everything by himself. Prayers are still needed, but right now we are extremely happy that he is still with us. Spring and medical intervention have given Charles a second chance. Bang those healing drums and thank modern science for medicines that work.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Wonderful Wednesday: Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
There is a cat bed on the big bed, which was for Mini to stay warm at night.
But Charles decided he liked to sleep in it during the nite. Which was OK I guess, since Mini went elsewhere and didn’t kick up a fuss.
But then Jolie decided that she liked the bed.
Now someone is always in the bed on the bed.
Have a wonderful Wednesday and beware the Ides of March. You never know what could happen.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Wonderful Wednesday: Waiting Not So Patiently
Mom said that the kids are coming over for lunch today (to Mom they will always be kids, but to us, they are big humans). We are waiting by the open door on the steps to greet them. Mini, the other dog, likes to wait with us too. If you look all the way at the top of the stairs you will also she Noel. She is too scared to come down.
Sometimes Noel will wait at the door, but the slightest movement outside tends to scare her so she doesn’t stay long. We on the other hand, love the steps and can wait, not so patiently, for at least 5 minutes before going to do something else.
How long can you wait for something?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Wonderful Wednesday: Life at the Zoo
Just a normal afternoon of preening and rolling. These two have become best friends and you find them together a great deal of the time. Mini Cooper has always been the other dog anyway. She is the only cat we have ever had that meets everyone at the door and runs with the dogs (instead of running away from them). It is awesome when life at the zoo just happens uneventfully.
Hope your Wednesday is wonderful too. What’s your normal?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Wonderful Wednesday: Photo Fail
We got haircuts and no matter how hard Mom tried, we did not want her to take a good picture of the 2 of us.
Here is the best we let her get. She says we look so pretty.
Do you like to go to the groomer?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Wonderful Wednesday: Nappers
Jolie & Noel 2022
Mini & Jolie 2022
Jolie & Charles 2022
Louise (rip) & Sofie (rip) 2012
Nine (rip) & Mini (Jan 2022)
Muffy (rip) & Gertrude (rip) 2012
Squash (rip) & Louise (rip) 2010
Sometimes, napping with friends is just so much more comfortable, don’t you think? Are you are solo napper? Or do you like to cuddle nap with friends?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Wonderful Wednesday: Let’s Roll
Happiness is rolling with your friends!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Wonderful Wednesday: My Day With Grammie
Jolie here: Mom took me to visit Grammie. She is in a special place that helps her; it is called ‘assisted living.’ Grammie is going to be 98 and can’t get around like she used to. Even though she really is a cat person, she enjoyed my visit with her. I think I was pretty good with the old lady. I sat on her lap and I tried to kiss her.
Mom said if I get good at this old people stuff, maybe when the triple-demic quiets down, she will take me to visit old people more often. There was only one problem though: it was a million degrees in the room and I really started to fall asleep. I jumped on Grammie’s bed and took a nap while Mom did other stuff.
When Charles was a younger man (about 6 years ago when he first came to the Zoo), he visited Grammie too. But Charles is kind of set in his ways and isn’t really a lap guy. Charles is a ‘don’t pick me up’ and ‘don’t make me stay on your lap’ kind of dog.
I could really get into this visiting stuff. Unlike Charles, I love car rides, new people, snuggles, and of course, lots of treats. But turn down the thermostat!!!!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo 