Since Macho gives us the hardest time when trying to clip his nails, or giving him a bath, or we make him do any activity he just doesn't want to do, the vet gave us Xanax to give him. Usually Xanax is used to cure anxiety, yet in Macho it turns him into a puppy.
After giving Macho the pill, I let him chill out for a little bit. Usually he has no interest in leaving the apartment and doesn't go within 10 feet of the front door. But when I came back from checking the mail, Macho was waiting right behind the door for me. Next I began to realize that he was loosing his ability to walk. He was walking towards me and his back legs gave out. Then he kept falling over on the couch and looked like he couldn't get comfortable. This worried me a little bit, but I talked to the vet and she said that clumsiness is a common side effect of giving Xanax to a dog. I literally felt like I had a puppy. He was sniffing things he never had an interest in, chewing on things, and sniffing open air. He also had no fear and was jumping from the couch to the ottoman and sitting on the part of the couch that he usually never goes to. Nick was in Indiana to visit his parents for Thanksgiving while I stayed home with Macho. I wanted him to see how Macho was acting, so I shot a video to send to him. I posted it below. If you don't know Macho, this probably doesn't look any different than any other dog, but this is pretty active for him!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Macho's First Vet Visit!
Today was the day that I have been fearing for quite some time. I knew that Macho would need to see a vet sometime soon as he hasn't been checked out since his rescue in 2009. I thought it was going to be awful, and all morning I had a knot in my stomach just thinking about how terrified he was going to be.
Our dog trainer recommended a vet that comes to your home, so I decided to give it a shot. I told the vet on the phone that Macho is very timid and that this might not be a pleasant visit. We were all surprised when Macho was as calm as he was. He hopped up on the couch, let the vet and her assistant pet him, and didn't even flinch while he was getting his body check. As the vet lined up three vaccines, I got more nervous, but Macho just sat there and let her give all three without a fight. We also asked for some kind of drug that we can give him when we know he will be stressed out (going to the vet, getting his nails clipped, etc.). In order to give him the drug, they have to do a blood test. Once again, Macho just sat there and let her take a vile of blood! I was in shock, I couldn't believe it was that easy.
Of course he had a little moment when he saw the nail clippers. She tried to clip one of his nails and he ran away. That didn't surprise me, I know that he hates it. Hopefully he is healthy enough to take the pills so that we can get them done soon! Maybe I should just clip them now, as this is how he is sleeping right next to me right now. I guess the vet and vaccinations made him sleepy :)
Our dog trainer recommended a vet that comes to your home, so I decided to give it a shot. I told the vet on the phone that Macho is very timid and that this might not be a pleasant visit. We were all surprised when Macho was as calm as he was. He hopped up on the couch, let the vet and her assistant pet him, and didn't even flinch while he was getting his body check. As the vet lined up three vaccines, I got more nervous, but Macho just sat there and let her give all three without a fight. We also asked for some kind of drug that we can give him when we know he will be stressed out (going to the vet, getting his nails clipped, etc.). In order to give him the drug, they have to do a blood test. Once again, Macho just sat there and let her take a vile of blood! I was in shock, I couldn't believe it was that easy.
Of course he had a little moment when he saw the nail clippers. She tried to clip one of his nails and he ran away. That didn't surprise me, I know that he hates it. Hopefully he is healthy enough to take the pills so that we can get them done soon! Maybe I should just clip them now, as this is how he is sleeping right next to me right now. I guess the vet and vaccinations made him sleepy :)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Little Dog, Big Little Bed
How is it that such a small dog takes up so much of the bed? This is how Macho sleeps every night, curled up in a ball between both of us. Can you imagine two normal sized people on each side of him? Sometimes I don't even have covers because he balls them up underneath him! I feel like I should not have to buy a bigger bed just because a 15 pound dog started sleeping on it. He should be concerned about my comfort :)
Other than that, Macho is still doing great. I think he knows that it is getting colder outside because he likes to cuddle a lot more during the day and at night now. He's starting to seem like such a normal pup, I love it! I can't wait until it snows and I can take him outside since I don't think he has ever seen snow before. I have been taking knitting classes to learn how to knit (especially since Sara at Posh Pooch Designs sent me a pattern to make Macho a hat!). I'm excited not only to make the hat, but also a little sweater for those cold winter days. I'm not sure how Macho will like wearing clothing, but right now I'm more worried about actually making the hat and sweater before winter is over!
Other than that, Macho is still doing great. I think he knows that it is getting colder outside because he likes to cuddle a lot more during the day and at night now. He's starting to seem like such a normal pup, I love it! I can't wait until it snows and I can take him outside since I don't think he has ever seen snow before. I have been taking knitting classes to learn how to knit (especially since Sara at Posh Pooch Designs sent me a pattern to make Macho a hat!). I'm excited not only to make the hat, but also a little sweater for those cold winter days. I'm not sure how Macho will like wearing clothing, but right now I'm more worried about actually making the hat and sweater before winter is over!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Lazy Day for Macho Poochu
Yesterday was quite the lazy day for Macho. He enjoyed himself while playing in a blanket, getting all tangled up, and then trying to find his way out. Apparently the 5 minutes of doing this tired him so much that he just passed out on the couch for a few hours. As the day went by, he was more and more comfortable, which means I became less and less comfortable as I got to lay halfway off the couch while we took up the whole corner! He's a few pics of the day- oh, the life of a dog!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
We're back!
It has been quite some time since I last posted! I hate being a slacker. Between busy work schedules and a recent vacation, we've been running around quite a bit. Macho seems to not mind, especially when he just did great while we were on vacation and had a friend stay at our house to watch him.
Since we adopted Macho, I've only wanted to make him comfortable in his home. Lately I really see that this is starting to happen. When he sits on the couch with us, he is totally relaxed, as you can see in the picture below. It's pretty dark, but I didn't want to turn the flash on and startle him. He has also been excited about certain things when he usually would just lay in bed even if we dangled cheese in front of his face. Whenever we open the bedroom door, he runs into the bedroom to hop on the bed in hopes that it is time to go to sleep with us. Sometimes it's hard to tell him that it's not bedtime just yet! I made him a fleece blanket a couple weeks ago, and it seems like he loves it. Sometimes when he won't come lay on the couch with me I will hold up the blanket and he comes right over. It's nice to see him act like a normal dog, not a scared one all the time.
He just looks comfy, doesn't he?
Since we adopted Macho, I've only wanted to make him comfortable in his home. Lately I really see that this is starting to happen. When he sits on the couch with us, he is totally relaxed, as you can see in the picture below. It's pretty dark, but I didn't want to turn the flash on and startle him. He has also been excited about certain things when he usually would just lay in bed even if we dangled cheese in front of his face. Whenever we open the bedroom door, he runs into the bedroom to hop on the bed in hopes that it is time to go to sleep with us. Sometimes it's hard to tell him that it's not bedtime just yet! I made him a fleece blanket a couple weeks ago, and it seems like he loves it. Sometimes when he won't come lay on the couch with me I will hold up the blanket and he comes right over. It's nice to see him act like a normal dog, not a scared one all the time.
He just looks comfy, doesn't he?
Friday, September 17, 2010
Cute Book and Quick Macho Update
Got an e-mail today from the ASPCA about a cute book. It's all about the dogs that were rescued from the Michael Vick case and an update on their lives. Was a little hesitant at first because I wasn't sure if I could read a book about the abuse these poor dogs went through, but the link says that it is a great book for animal lovers. I'm going to check it out, you should too! And if you purchase through the link on this page, http://www.aspca.org/news/national/09-17-10.html#1 they give a portion of your purchase to the ASPCA.
Anyway, I've been a slacker again with my Macho blogging. But he's been doing GREAT! I say that in all caps because he really has been doing awesome lately. We were taking him on walks in the hallway of our apartment complex, and he was doing very well on the leash. One day I came home from the store only to find the apartment empty- no Nick and no Macho. I got a little nervous when I called down the hallway and didn't hear Nick. So I went to the back door only to see Nick walking Macho on the sidewalk behind our building! I couldn't believe it. Now we take him for walks every day outside. He does so great on the leash, it's surreal. Sometimes when a stranger is walking by, Macho will get nervous and will cry. But the rest of the time he just walks right next to me or Nick like he's been doing it all his life. Here's a video of him on one of his first walks outside:
In addition to his walks outside, Macho's been doing great inside still. He still likes to cuddle on the couch, and now he sleeps in bed with us at night! He cuddles in between me and Nick, it's very cute. He's still getting used to going to the bathroom outside, so of course he is still using his pee pads. He was on a streak of not having an accident, but then yesterday he peed on our bed. But about 90% of the time he is using the pee pads, which is a great improvement. We hope the progress continues as it seems that Macho seems happier in his home :)
Anyway, I've been a slacker again with my Macho blogging. But he's been doing GREAT! I say that in all caps because he really has been doing awesome lately. We were taking him on walks in the hallway of our apartment complex, and he was doing very well on the leash. One day I came home from the store only to find the apartment empty- no Nick and no Macho. I got a little nervous when I called down the hallway and didn't hear Nick. So I went to the back door only to see Nick walking Macho on the sidewalk behind our building! I couldn't believe it. Now we take him for walks every day outside. He does so great on the leash, it's surreal. Sometimes when a stranger is walking by, Macho will get nervous and will cry. But the rest of the time he just walks right next to me or Nick like he's been doing it all his life. Here's a video of him on one of his first walks outside:
In addition to his walks outside, Macho's been doing great inside still. He still likes to cuddle on the couch, and now he sleeps in bed with us at night! He cuddles in between me and Nick, it's very cute. He's still getting used to going to the bathroom outside, so of course he is still using his pee pads. He was on a streak of not having an accident, but then yesterday he peed on our bed. But about 90% of the time he is using the pee pads, which is a great improvement. We hope the progress continues as it seems that Macho seems happier in his home :)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
10 Followers!
When I first created this blog, I really didn't think anyone would read it. I wanted a way to track Macho's progress and thought this would be a good way to do so. I had hoped that maybe I could reach people by sharing our joys of rescuing a pet so that when they are ready to bring home a dog or cat, they would consider adopting from a shelter instead of from a breeder. Of course Macho's case is a bit more extreme than others, but there are thousands of animals out there in shelters just waiting to be adopted who don't have any behavioral problems. Maybe their previous owners moved out of state and couldn't take their pet with them, or they lost their job and couldn't afford their pet, or maybe, like a blog I follow here, the owner was forced to give up their pet just because of rules and restrictions in their subdivision or neighborhood. Not all shelter animals have had a rough past that might make them a little different than other animals that you might adopt from a breeder. That's the word that I hoped I might get out through my little blog about Macho.
I noticed today that I have 10 followers to Macho's blog! One is my mother, but I'm still counting her :) I just wanted to thank everyone who follows Macho's blog and has kept in touch with his progress. I'm hoping that my message about adopting shelter animals is also coming through to any readers. Hopefully my following continues to grow, and maybe by the end of the year I'll have 20 or 30! It's a wish, but you never know!
I noticed today that I have 10 followers to Macho's blog! One is my mother, but I'm still counting her :) I just wanted to thank everyone who follows Macho's blog and has kept in touch with his progress. I'm hoping that my message about adopting shelter animals is also coming through to any readers. Hopefully my following continues to grow, and maybe by the end of the year I'll have 20 or 30! It's a wish, but you never know!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
