Life with the Puggies - pugzrule's Blog

Life with the Puggies - pugzrule's Blog - SacPaws.com http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule I'll be blogging about sharing my days with two lovable chunky puglets: Amie and Ruby I'll be blogging about sharing my days with two lovable chunky puglets: Amie and Ruby en-us When Amie disappears.......... http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/424 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/424 We woke up to a rainy morning and that means one thing......Amie and Ruby won't budge when I attempt to take them outside for a bathroom break.  Amie surprised me though and found a dry corner on the patio and went pee but I knew that was only half of it.  It's like clockwork: within several minutes of finishing a meal she's headed outside to do #2.  I reluctantly fed them breakfast and sat down to study (I have step 2 board exam coming up).  The rain had turned to a light drizzle so I thought I'd study for a bit then head out for a walk.  I was a bit preoccupied but noticed that Amie had been MIA so I went looking for her.  She was sauntering out of the bedroom with what looked like a contented smile on her face and immediately I knew!  She had decided my bedroom floor was far more appealing than wet grass!!!  Fortunately my apartment has all tile floor so clean up is easy.  At least she's predictable!  Ruby on the other hand will hold EVERYTHING in until she literally bursts.  Mother Nature cooperated and while it was still drizzling the girls actually went for a walk.  To add to the pug herd? http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/404 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/404 Haven't visited in a while but I was entrenched in an intensive review course for my step 2 boards which I'll be taking Sept. 11.  I have the next three weeks to tweak my brain for all it's worth!  Got an urgent SOS email from the local pug rescue organization (midwestpugrescue.com) last week that there are a load of pugs needing forever homes.  I think they've taken in well over 60 pugs since the beginning of the year most likely because of the unstable economy and home foreclosures.  I suspect this is the case for ALL animal rescue organizations across the country.  If I could I'd probably have 10 acres of rescued pugs but being that I live in an apartment, my "herd" currently consists of two: Amie and Ruby.  However, I spotted a sweet little girl on the rescue site named Wiggles.  She's older and the seniors are always more difficult to place but I thought she might be a good fit with my other older lady, Amie.  I expressed interest but I haven't heard back from the organization just yet.  They may decline thinking that I have my hands full with two puggies but I would love to add to the herd...........I'll keep ya posted! Pug elixir http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/397 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/397 For the past two weeks I've had my head buried in a review course for my second round of board exams.....step 2.  It's an exam taken by all 4th year med students.  It's 350 questions or 8 hours of mental torture depending on how you choose to look at it!!!  Today I had a meltdown and went home after lunch.  My mind was beginning to implode under the weight of all the information that I'm trying to keep straight and when that happens I have to step back and take a deep breath.  And a nap!  Even though I had downed a diet coke and a Mountain Dew (fully leaded) me, Ruby and Amie all climbed into bed and were fast asleep for the next two hours.  That tends to be my coping mechanism.....sleep.  And because I wasn't ready to face my books I took the girls to our favorite park to get some fresh air and exercise.  I can always count on Ruby and Amie to be my anchors.....whenever my mind becomes clustered with anxiety these two little furballs can always ground me.  One look into their bubble eyes and sweet expressions and suddenly aortic stenosis and DVTs become temporarily unimportant.  I can say without a shred of doubt that my furballs have kept me sane since day 1 of medical school not to mention all the other trials and tribulations :-)  Pug Elixir!! Dog days of summer http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/377 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/377 Holy cow!!!  Kansas City has been an oven these past few days so we've been hibernating inside.  We only make appearances at the crack of dawn and at dusk.  Have to be very careful with the puggies especially with Amie because her black fur absorbs the heat instantaneously.  Fortunately my apartment has tile flooring so the girls splay themselves out after we get back from walking to cool off.  Met a new addition to our neighborhood this evening on our walk: Clarence the bulldog puppy.  He's only a puppy and was as wide as a tank!  Also met a lab/german shepard puppy who attempted to give Ruby a few kisses but she wasn't interested.  Playing hard to get. Finished another good book for the readers in the crowd:  Water for Elephants.  Interesting story based on the circuses of the 1920s and 30s.    Fleas if you please http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/362 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/362 It all started with a few red, itchy spots on my thigh.  I had taken the girls "offroading" at the local park....we spent most of our time running around in the grass rather than sticking to the paved path.  A couple of days later is when the spots appeared so I blamed it on chiggers until more spots began to appear nearly every morning....on my thighs, stomach, back.  It was getting creepy.  Then, as I was lying in bed reading the other night, I noticed something jump out of the corner of my eye.....I had seen that before when Ruby picked up fleas.  FLEAS!!!!!!!  Oh no!  I jumped out of bed, immediately took a flashlight and started looking over every inch of Ruby.  Because she's fawn-colored, it's much easier to find things.....like fleas.  Sure enough, I found a big fat flea on Ruby's tail!  Neither girl had shown any of the telltale signs like scratching so I never thought to look them over very closely.  And then it dawned on me....those weren't chigger bites.....I had flea bites!!!!!!!!!!!!  I immediately gave the girls their dose of Frontline then stripped the bed and washed nearly every article of clothing, towels, etc.  I vacuumed my apartment until every speck and fleck was gone.  Not sure where the girls would have picked up fleas but you can bet I'll be far more attentive to monthly doses of Frontline.  And I'll stop placing blame on the poor chiggers! Never a dull moment with the puggies! Gaseous pugs http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/351 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/351 I was at the vet on Thursday stocking up on Frontline (fleas paid Ruby a visit....I'll be blogging about that) and noticed freeze-dried liver chunks.  I'd read that liver is a canine crowd favorite so I bought some.  Ruby and Amie devoured them!!  I'm always looking for ways to reinforce good behavior so I thought I'd struck gold.....until something became rotten in Denmark as they say.  That night as I was reading in bed, Ruby jumped up and with her came a waft of very foul air.  At first I thought one of the girls had had an accident but there was no evidence.  Ruby seemed to be oblivous to the nasal carnage as she scouted her favorite spot on the bed.  A few minutes later I heard an ominous "sound" from Ruby's back end which caused my nose hairs to split!  She snoozed through the entire ordeal.  Guess we'll save the liver treats for when I'm leaving in the morning for work.......    Operation Pug Delivery http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/341 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/341 Turns out I only transported one puggie today:  Arnie.  Originally I was supposed to take two 6-month old pug puppies plus Arnie to St. Louis but when the puppies were picked up it was clear they needed vet attention.  Lisa, the coordinator for Midwest Pug Rescue said both had round bellies (i.e. possible worms) and had scabs behind their ears from scratching at them.  Thankfully the owners realized they couldn't provide the necessary care and opted to give them up for adoption.  So it was just Arnie and I.  He was a bit scared but settled himself in his leopard-print bed in the front seat and sort of snoozed on and off.  About halfway to St. Louis he became a little restless so we stopped to stretch our legs and take a bathroom break.  Whoa!  Within minutes, Arnie squatted and let's just say he was clearly nervous!  Poor little fella.  It must have done the trick because he settled in nicely and slept until we arrived for the "pass off".  Next, Arnie climbed into Melissa car and they were off to Springfield, Illinois where they would be connecting with Arnie's new forever mom who had driven down from Chicago.  He's going to be one tired puggie but he has a pug sister waiting for him at his new home.    Making the world a better place one puggie at a time!  Roadtrip! http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/340 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/340 Tomorrow morning I'm headed to St. Louis with some precious cargo: 3 pugs!  Unfortunately not my own but two puppies and a 2-yr old who are going to their forever homes.  I'm a volunteer transporter for the Midwest Pug Rescue organization and St. Louis is my first "assignment".  We had a lot of rain today so I'm hoping the weather cooperates since St. Louis is a healthy 3+ hours away.  I'd love to bring Amie and Ruby but I think 5 pugs and only one chaperone would be a bit crazy! Did anyone watch the latest in animal-related TV shows on Thursday night:  Greatest American Dog?  I caught the last 30 minutes and it leaves a bit to be desired...... The eyes have it http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/332 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/332 Amie's left eye has off and on been a problem.  Last summer it became very red and inflammed literally overnight.  And with as precarious as pug's eyes can be I was fearing it was an ulcer.  Luckily it turned out to be an irritation due to an already healed ulcer that must have happened before I adopted her.  I was given a tube of ointment which seemed to do the trick whenever her eye became irritated but this past week her eye wasn't responding even with twice a day applications.  After a quick look the vet was concerned the eye was developing glaucoma which is a medical emergency so he referred us to a dog ophthalmologist.  After an incredibly thorough exam, I was relieved to find out it was a more a case of inflammation/infection due to dry eye or keratonconjunctivitis sicca.  When your eyes stick out of your head like marbles, there are bound to be some unpleasant consequences as evidence by the number of bug-eyed dogs that suffer from this.  I was sent home with two types of ointment and three types of drops which have already made a big difference.  And of course having gone to a specialist it made a big difference in my checking account but my puggies are worth it!!!! Greased watermelon http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/328 http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/pugzrule/328 Had the girls at the dog park and for whatever reason a herd of gnats seemed to follow Amie whenever she went.  They would swarm all around her if she sat still for a minute.  Unfortunately at Amie's age she does a lot of sitting!  One of the other dog owners noticed and, trying to be helpful, sprayed some sort of natural concoction of oil that smelled like a citronella candle.  The gnats instantly stopped....because they were sliding down Amie's back on the big oil slick!!  Amie was no longer a pug but a greased watermelon!   I was already picturing her sliding around in the back seat of the car on the drive home.  I politely thanked the woman and hustled the girls to the car.   We had a major bath to take!  Amie's not a fan of getting bathed -- she usually stands catatonically -- but after some vigorous scrubbing I was able to get most of the oil out.  Always some sort of adventure with the puggies!