Good News: Follow Up Visit at the Vet

Happy smiling Cairn terrier sitting next to flowers.

Today was Geordie’s first follow up visit after getting his C diagnoses a couple of months ago. He had a new vet this time because his long-time doctor recently left for an other practice.

The news the new doctor gave us was just what I had been hoping for. She said that despite the cancer, he is in excellent health! I was afraid it was wishful thinking on my part and that I was only seeing what I wanted to, but no, Geordie is strong and “healthy” and happy. She said that whatever we’ve been doing, keep it up. And, not to get our hopes up, but…if he keeps up the way that he is, Geordie could live one to two more years.

On top of the good news, today was a beautiful, warm, sunny day. It was perfect for lifting one’s spirits. I hope everyone reading this had something equally wonderful happen for them too.

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To learn more of what Bitey (Geordie) and his little brother have been up to, pick up a copy of their illustrated adventures: Poopiter . The book would make a fun, playful gift for a new grad or for a father who loves pups.

Poopiter is available at Amazon.

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More wonderful gifts are available at my store Needful Things of Salem.

Dog Fight or Aggressive Flirting?

Smiling Cairn terrier boy.

Come on…I can take ya!

As Toby and I were going for a walk, a little boy was walking his dog. Toby and I have met the pup before. She is small and full of bluster until she gets close to you, then she is sweet and shy. Yesterday, though, the little girl pup broke free from her human and came barrelling toward Toby. She ran into his side with furious growls, and Toby answered her back with equally furious growls. They spun and twisted and to human eye appeared to be locked in a vicious battle.

I grabbed the little girl’s leash, pulled her back from my pup and handed the leash to her boy. I looked over at Toby to see how he was handling the situation since this was his first encounter like this. He was panting, had a huge grin on his face and wanted to go back to the little girl dog.

Something similar happened on two other occasions with Geordie and a different girl dog. Both times after the two were separated, Geordie kept asking for the little girl to come back and “play” with him. (For days he pestered me.)

I am curious if I am reading these situations properly. Is there such a thing as noisy dog-flirting or are my dogs actually caught in fights? Each time my boys have come away without so much as a scratch.

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Want to see what Bitey and Toby are up to when not flirting or fighting? Then pick up a copy of Poopiter. It covers the illustrated adventures of my two naughty Cairn terriers.

Poopiter along with the prequel A Tired Mommy Is a Good Mommy are available at Amazon.

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Formaldehyde in Wrinkle Resistant Fabrics

Two Cairn terriers sitting in the grass.

This year for Mother’s Day, my boys very thoughtfully got me a pretty, new set of sheets for the bed. As I opened the plastic to remove the sheets, I quickly had to set them down because of the itchy red rash I got from touching them. Not only did they cause redness and itching, but they had a very strong chemical odor to them.

Not sure of what was going on, I checked the packaging and saw that these were “wrinkle resistant” sheets. I Googled the term and found that what makes a fabric, in this case cotton, wrinkle resistant isn’t the way it is woven (as I had thought) but that the fibers are infused with formaldehyde to cause them to swell and not bend as easily.

I know that formaldehyde can be used in the sizing on fabrics to make them appear crisp when displayed, but I hadn’t known it was bonded to the fibers over something as unimportant as wrinkling. Formaldehyde can cause skin irritation, breathing difficulties and of course it is a carcinogen. Since formaldehyde is absorbed through the skin, every time you lie on treated sheets or wear wrinkle resistant clothing, you are exposing yourself to this poison. Sadly, there is no government regulation requiring disclosure for formaldehyde use.

A big concern should be our children and grandchildren being exposed this chemical. As a parent, I would not have given a second thought to the term “wrinkle resistant” on my child’s sheets – I would have chosen a print he/she would enjoy. I would be horrified to find that I had exposed someone I love to something so dangerous. And don’t forget our furkids. If your pup or kitty sleeps in the bed with you, they are also breathing and touching carcinogens.

Fortunately there are a number of companies who still sell regular cotton sheets at pretty reasonable prices. Cotton can be treated with a lot of pesticides as it is grown, so if this a concern look for organic sheets manufactured in the US. Organic regulations are more strictly enforced for domestic products than foreign ones.

So, if you are making a purchase of bedding or clothing, please be aware of what might be coming home with you uninvited.

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Looking for something to take your mind off of formaldehyde and other yucky things? Then pick up a copy of Poopiter! Poopiter follows the illustrated adventures of my two pups. It would also make a great Fathers’ Day gift!

Poopiter is available at Amazon.

For more gift ideas, visit the Gentlemen’s Shop at my store Needful Things of Salem.

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The Spirit of Cooperation

Two Cairn terriers refuse to look at the camera for their portraits.

Two Cairn terrier brothers turn their backs to the camera as Mom tries to take a picture.

As you can see, my two are nothing if not cooperative when it comes to having their pictures taken. I just gave the two little monsters a very itchy pair of fur cuts, but neither of them would look at me so that I could capture their new do’s. Thanks guys. I’ll remember this next time you decide that you want some of my dinner!.

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Care to read more about what Bitey and Toby do when they are not refusing to pose for their pictures? Then pick up a copy of Poopiter!

Or you could read the prequel A Tired Mommy Is a Good Mommy which deals with time B.T. (Before Toby).

Both are available from Amazon.

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Life Gold

Go away.

For some reason, my favorite pictures are the bad ones.

When Geordie got sick, a neighbor told us about Life Gold – Dog Cancer Support . Her dog had been diagnosed several months before and has been taking it ever since. At his latest check up, the vet said that the dog is doing great and to keep doing whatever it is the family has been doing.

I started Geordie on Life Gold as soon as I could have it delivered. At this point, I can’t testify to it altering the length of his life yet, but I feel confident in saying that it has significantly improved his quality of life.

Before his diagnosis, Geordie had been kind of laid back with lots of napping. The clue we had that something was wrong was that he would cough from time to time. Since giving him Life Gold, though, it is as if he is 5 years younger! He has taken up playing with toys again, and he even invites me to play chase with him. In the evenings, after Toby has gone to sleep, he drags his little brother out of bed and insists Toby play with him. This goes on every night! Plus, he barely coughs now.

I realize that Geordie’s cancer isn’t cured, but it is wonderful to see him living such a full and happy life. I wanted to share this in case someone reading has had a pet diagnosed with the dreaded “C” word. Life Gold isn’t expensive, and it might just help your dog to feel better and you both to be happier.

I forgot to mention one other thing I noticed about Geordie and Life Gold. Whenever he went for his chest X ray, the vet was a tiny bit concerned that he had lost 3/4 of a pound. For a while, he simply hadn’t been very interested in his food. After starting Life Gold, however, he developed a healthy appetite and has gained enough weight that he looks like a healthy terrier again.

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If you are curious about the illustrated adventures that Geordie and his little brother then pick up a copy of Poopiter!

Also there is the prequel A Tired Mommy Is a Good Mommy which tells of Bitey’s life before Toby.

Both are available from Amazon.

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Looking for a gift for that special someone? Consider having a custom pet portrait created for them. Please visit my shop Needful Things of Salem or the Pet Portrait page for more information.

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Flashback Friday

Tiny Cairn terrier puppy tucked into his kennel with his toys.

I was looking for a photo today when I stumbled across this picture of itty bitty, teeny tiny Bitey. Sometimes it is hard to believe he was really that little puppy. Back then he didn’t like to go to sleep without his toys around him.

What you can’t see in this picture is that I used to put his brush on top of his kennel so that he couldn’t get to it and chew on it. He managed to thwart me by jiggling the kennel until the handle fell through the bars then attacking the brush from the inside.

Why do pups only solve problems for evil and not for good?

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To learn mover of Bitey’s (and Toby’s) evil, order a copy of Poopiter. It is a fun read of the illustrated antics of these pups.

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Toby Tells a Joke

Why did the tofu cross the road? I don't know. Why?

To prove that it wasn't chicken!

Grrroooaaannn, right?

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If you would like to find out more of what these stinky little Cairn terriers have been up to…No, whatever you do, don’t buy a copy of Poopiter! Don’t do it! I am pretty sure the world will end. Don’t even click the link, just to be safe!!!

Although the book is available from Amazon, I strongly suggest that you don’t tempt fate and read it.

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Shipping is free.

This and other fine gifts are available from my store: Needful Things of Salem.

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