A month later and first vet visit...

Pookie Bear has been with me for almost a month now.  Pookie Bear.  Her given name is still Annie (her tag, vet records all go by Annie) but the nickname "Pookie Bear" was created and stuck the first week she came home with me.  I don't know why but it just fits and she wags her tail like crazy when I call her that. 

Pookie Bear had her first visit with my vet yesterday.  I brought all of her previous records and pictures of when she was found in Jan. 2010 so that my vet had the best background possible.   Charlie fell in love with her and wanted to take her home but that was before she took a big poop on the examination floor and passed gas in front of the Dr.  Her pictures were passed around and several people remarked at how loveable she is and good she looks.  She is such a sweetheart, so friendly to everyone (and a great passenger in the car too!)

Dr. K gave her a full examination including blood work, fecal, bordatella, ear culture, and looked over her skin.  He does not see any evidence of demodex mange and said there were no lesions to even do a skin scraping.  He does see a skin infection (the black spots that I thought was demodex mange is not) and prescribed Cefpodoxime Proxetil.  She also has a yeast infection in her ears (one more than the other) and prescribed Fluconazole and Tresaderm and an ear wash called Glenhaven F 1/0 Itic.  I went home with Pyoben shampoo which is a follicle flushing shampoo to help get rid of that black stuff on her skin.  Top that off with the standard dewormer pyrantel.  I have to go back later this week to pick up some more pills because they ran out of them.  We go back for recheck in two weeks.

She's 11.2 pounds.  Both Charlie & Dr. K believe she is a brussels griffon x shih tzu mix! 

Pookie Bear LOVES Callie.  She loves to play and bark at Callie because Callie is such a happy go lucky and fun dog unlike the DarDar who is a possessive bully.  Oh she will play too and they will all chase each other, but that Dar is so moody!  I wish I knew how to make her stop being so possessive over me and moody with Pookie Bear. 

3 Weeks Later...

 Annie "Pookie Bear" is so cute.

 Annie "Pookie Bear" and Callie on recliner.  They play alot together.

 Doing what she does best... Bella is always in my face and near me.

 Stttrreeeeeetttchiiiingggg.... love it!

 Pookie Bear and Callie.

 Here's Annie "Pookie Bear".  Her coat is looking really good and the hair on her ears is starting to grow back in.  She still has mange though...

 All three of them laying on the couch with me.
Normally it is Bella that claims the spot next to me but Callie wasn't giving it up.

Callie is so pretty.  I ask "do you want to get pretty?" when I bring out the brush and she is the first one to claim the spot in front of me so she can be brushed. 

Annie Day 2

Annie wanting to play with Bella.

Aww... so cute.

One of the demodex mange areas -- lower belly, sanitary, hind legs, tail.

Welcome Home, Annie!

I didn't plan on adopting another dog.  I admit I look through petfinder and the rescue org's website where I got Callie & Bella on a regular basis but not with the intent to adopt another dog.  On Friday, Nov. 12, I received a newsletter from Room For One More that showed a picture of several dogs waiting for fur-ever homes and Annie was one of them.  I thought she was adorable.  She reminded me of Bella's shichi face and Callie's coloring.  Then I read Annie's story.  In early January 2010, Annie and her three puppies were dropped behind the rescue org's 6 foot privacy wall and discovered the next morning.  Annie was skin and bones, infested with fleas and demodex mange.  She was so malnutritioned that she was unable to feed her babies.  Her three babies, cute as can be, were skin and bones too.  Sadly, two of them didn't make it.  Annie was taken in, cared for, and spayed and adopted in late Feb. 2010.  She spent about 8 months with her new family and I can tell they took good care of her.  She's a sweet, well mannered dog and is potty trained too.  From what I know, the demodex mange/vet bills became too much and they returned her to the rescue organization.  She was being fostered by Karron for about three weeks (She is the same woman that fostered and nutured Bella and Callie!) when I saw her face in the newsletter.  I sent Karron an email just to ask a few questions about her and remark on how she reminded me of my girls.  The next day, my mom and I are on our way to Inverness to pick her up!  The 3.5 hour drive is a pleasure.  It is such a different world up there.  The people are nice, the area is lush and green and quaint.  We arrived at the rescue org and met with Karron (while Annie ran around on the floor, staying close to Karron) who went over Annie's background and medicines.  We talked for awhile and then loaded up Annie for the drive home.  We hugged goodbye and made our way back home.  Annie slept most of the drive home.  When I arrived home to introduce her to Bella and Callie they greeted her with barks and growls.  Then they sniffed around.  Bella is very protective, very posessive of me and still growls when she comes near me.  However, she did try to play with Annie this morning -- progress already!  After she arrived home, I let her walk around for a bit before I gave her a bath and changed her into clean booties.  I brushed her out as much as I could but she does need to be clipped to get some knots out.  I noticed that her parts of her belly and all of her sanitary area is black (mange).  Hard to see what else is mangy.  I am reading whatever I can on demodex mange and just going to try to keep her happy and as comfortable as possible in hopes that she is able to fully recover and is a happy little girl with her new family.

Annie is approximately 18mos old, 8-9 pounds.

Yes, Callie, I upset the harmony in the house.  You'll get used to it. :)  Just wait til Mocha meets her.  :)

(Top "before" and after photo credit: Room For One More Pet Rescue)

We're 2!

Bella and Callie turned 2 on October 8, 2010.

GW Little Choke Free Step-in Harness

I've been using a harness from Petsmart for the girls for awhile now.  When I try to put it on them in a hurrt it's frustrating because I have to figure out which end goes over the head and what part goes through the front legs.  A collar and leash is too harsh for the girls because it chokes them instantly and they cough.  Mesh vest type harnesses make them cough and choke as well.  I don't want to risk harming their tracheas so I kept searching.  I googled "step in harness" and came across GW Little's website and purchased two pink Choke Free Step-in Harnesses.  Bella is a size 3 and Callie is a size 4.  It's so easy to put on and the leather is soft and flexible.  There is enough give around the shoulders and back of their legs to make it extra comfortable for them.  Definitely happy with my purchase.

GW Little Choke Free Step-in Harness
http://www.gwlittle.com/product/scrappy_pet_dog_harnesses/dog_harnesses
I ordered online and my order was processed and shipped quickly.  The harnesses came wrapped in paw print tissue paper too.  Check out the costumes and other goodies on this site.

Bella and her new harness.  The red dragon was her prize from a costume contest she won.

Callie laying on top of the recliner with harness on.

New hairdos!

Both girls went to the groomers and vet today.  Got them new hairdos that should last a good 4-6 months.  Bella's body and face was trimmed about a half inch.  Callie's body and ears were trimmed about a half inch as well.  Their nails were trimmed and grinded.  They smell so pretty.

All is well with their health too.  Callie's tummy is a little upset because of the shot though. 

The girls will be 23 months tomorrow!  Big number 2 just around the corner!

New Outfits

Bella in her Target Couture hoodie.

Callie in Target Couture spring dress.

Little hair barrette - falls out easily so I do not use them.

Hangin' Out...

We Got Haircuts!

Could I Love Them More?!

Bella laying on the recliner.

Bella and Callie together on the recliner...

Saw this card in Walgreens and the pup reminded me so much of Bella.

Card by Rachael Hale, Recycled Paper Greetings, Inc.

The girls @ 1 yr 7mos old

It's been a while since I've posted updated pictures and stories about the girls. They are the happiest and most playful little dogs. They are like children who constantly play, wrestle, and play hide and seek. They are so loving too. You cannot be in a sad or bad mood with them around. They love going to the dog park but stick close to my side. They love to play fetch - Callie returns the item and Bella steals and will not bring back unless I ignore her. They love to eat leaves, treats, and rawhides. They have taken a fancy to chewing the cardboard on my game boxes for some bizarre reason so I've had to distract them with rawhides. They are happy and healthy and doing great. :)


Bella aka Dar Dar aka Dizzy aka Dizzybellwee...


Callie's way of saying she wants to play fetch!!


Callie aka Calla-Lily aka Oh really Lily aka Callalayheehoooooo


Dardedardedar...


Always playing...