One Day at a Time

Oreo is doing fairly well.  She definitely has feeling in her legs but she still can't use them.  We are doing physical therapy a lot more now.  She is much better and the doctor says that we are still early in her recovery.  We are very hopeful, but it is a one-day-at-a-time type thing.

The other animals are doing well.  Oreo's litter mate, Roux, is just as cute as he can be.  He pretty much demands attention.  His mother (my oldest) is over in Finland for the summer at the University of Helsinki and he is staying with us while she is gone.  He likes to sit in front of my computer screen so that he is the center of my attention.  He also likes it when I play World of Warcraft as all the movements on the screen fascinate him.

And then, of course, all the playing of the WoW makes him very sleepy:

Bailey and he play so nicely together!  Dakota wants to eat him.  As does Tip, the other male cat in the house.  Pixie tends to hide from him.

Miracle Kitty

She has some feeling back in her legs - both of them!  And she is making involuntary movements when we bathe her now!  The doctor is very encouraged!  They have stopped the steroid treatments on her and we are starting some basic physical therapy with her legs, helping her muscles feel movement again. 

We are so hopeful!

She is certainly wanting to get better.  She is so bored at not being able to move!

All we can do now is wait.

Bailey plays with her through the bars on the crate.  It's really very cute!

I will keep you updated!

Holding out Hope

We have been in the doctor's office a lot this week.  And for a while, things were looking really grim.  She went from having some feeling to having none at all.  But last night, she started moving.  Her muscles started twitching and her toes spread wide on one foot.  This morning, more muscle movement on her back muscles as I was bathing her and I felt her tail move when I was washing her rear end.

She had some trouble with her IV tube that we were giving her steroids through so we took her back to the doctor today and the doctor said she moved there as well.  Though, she still does not have any deep pain, which is odd with the movement.  We are keeping positive.

She seems to be doing so much better.  It hasn't even been a week since the accident, so these things are giving us hope. 

I will keep you all posted!

Kitten Trouble

Oreo is just not doing much better. She is actually losing her feeling.  The doctors have started her on a steroid treatment, but we aren't sure there is much hope.

We are looking into pet wheelchairs, so if anyone has any hints or sites we can check out, please let me know.  I just don't know if she will be happy in one.  She is so young.  Then again, being young may be a good thing.  Kittens are so resilient. 

The main issue now is to keep her clean.  Although she can pee and poop, she can't control where, so she is having to have several baths a day.  She is extremely unhappy about that.  We may shave her to make the clean up easier.  I don't want her getting sores from feces that I can't get cleaned off well enough.  However, I don't want to torture the poor thing either. 

We go back to the vet today for the second steroid treatment.  There should be a total of four.  I will ask about cat wheelchairs and other options for disabled pets and we will go from there.  I'm trying to still hold out hope ...

Bad Times

The kitten got hurt last night.  She got folded in the couch.  We thought she had broken her back, but the emergency vet says no broken bones.  She can't move her back legs and just drags them along behind her.  She was able to pee on her own last night and she also has feeling in her legs and tail, so those are all good signs.  It's just awful to see her though.

We go back to the doctor today to see what else can be done.  They think it may just be deep bruising, which means she will heal over time.

Bailey is just beside herself with worry.  She is a very maternal dog.  She wants to be close to "her" baby, but we have to keep the kitten in a crate so that she can be kept calm.  Bailey keeps checking on her.

I will update you all as we know more.

A Day in the Life

The animals do add so much to our lives!  Last night, while cooking, I was throwing away the container the stew meat came in and, of course, the dogs were underfoot.  Bailey ended up with meat juice splattered on her back ...

What would we do without our pets?

Keeping me company while I work

You gonna share that with me???

Holy Cow - it's a kitten!  Eeep!

Best Friends

Bailey just loves the new kitten.  She has become her very fierce protector.  When Dakota gets too rough with her, Bailey bounds over and snaps at Dakota's nose.  It is really very cute!

Funny Times

This has got to be one of the best singles ads ever printed. It appeared in The Otago Daily Times.

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE
Seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good looking girl who LOVES to play.
I love long walks in the woods, riding in your Ute, hunting, camping and Duck shooting, cozy nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. Rub me the right way and watch me respond. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Kiss me and I'm yours. Call (03) 475-6420 and ask for Daisy.

Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the Otago branch of the SPCA about an 8-week old black Labrador retriever. Men are so easy.

Things we can learn from a dog

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride. When a loved one comes home, always run to greet them. Take naps, and stretch before rising. Be loyal. Never pretend you're something you're not. When somebody is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. Avoid biting when a growl will do. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. Bond with your pack. Allow the experiences of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Cat's motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it.

When it's raining cats and dogs, be sure not to step in the poodles.

Kitten Fun

The kitten is really the center of attention these days.  She is just so darn cute!

Even Bailey can't help but check up on her - look at her in the background:

Bailey really is very protective of the kitten.  When Dakota comes near her, Baily is very ferocious about keeping her away.  So cute!

Play Time

Oreo's brother came to visit this weekend.  His name is Roux and he is my oldest daughter's cat.  He is from Oreo's litter.

Bailey had fun playing with them:

Otherwise she watched them with avid attention while they played:

Back in the Day

I am going to post some pictures of the animals as babies, but first, I have to post one of Oreo right after her bath this morning.  She is sooooo not happy!

So pitiful!!

Here is Bailey in September 2011:

Here is Pixie in October 2008:

Here is Dakota in Spring of 2004:

Here is Tip in 2002:

Puppies and Kittens

Still enjoying our kitten!

Though Dakota tends to ignore the little menace:

And Bailey constantly wants to know "What's up?"

The New Kitten

The excitement in the house now is all about the new kitten, Oreo.  She really is very cute!

She is having a tough time with the litter box.  She is so small we are using an old pie pan right now.  But she can't manage to go poop without getting the poop all over her. 

Which then leads to daily baths.  One of her least favorite things.

But Bailey just finds her fascinating!

However, if there is a bath going on ... Pixie hides!

Welcome!

We have a house full!  Almost a zoo!

With this many animals there are almost always antics going on!  But I really wouln't have it any other way!

I'll introduce you to them.  Oh, and forget trying to get them all in one picture - never gonna happen!

This is Pixie: (Chihuahua number 1)

This is Dakota: (Miniature Pincher - the one and only)

This is Bailey: (Chihuahua number 2)





This is Oreo: (The newest addition - we just got her two days ago)

This is Tip: (we actually delivered him right here at home)

And we have Allie who is 13 years old and camera shy at the moment.  I'll see if I can get one of her and post it.