The Noon Howl

From bad knees and bad backs to allergies in dogs, Cortisone is a miracle drug. I would like to stock pile a gallon of the stuff. Otto, at least for the past two days is 100% back to his old self. He slept across my legs early this morning something he hasn't done in 29 days. He renewed his skid marks by the front door. He howled at the 12:00 noon siren. I have missed that howl. You can hear the dogs throughout the village of Elkhart howl at noon. Otto didn't start out howling, he started out barking at the siren, probably thinking the flashing red fire truck was coming fast as it usually did in Chicago whenever the alarm sounded. It wasn't until I tossed my head back and howled at him like a wolf that he got the general idea to sing along. It must be something that affects a dogs ears. We used to have a German Shepherd dog that would howl every time I played the piano.

Poor Otto has been in the downstairs retreat during the August itch so when he came double stepping up the stairs for his daily 15 second howl, I was thrilled that he is finally feeling better, even it if it just for a day.

Poor dog, why does he...come to think of it, why do I have allergies? My husband, who has never had an allergy in his life is convinced that they come from a weakened immune system. (His multiple sinus infections which have resulted in IMMEDIATE TRIPS TO THE URGENT CARE FACILITY don't count.) When he discusses Otto's allergies or mine, he has the same look on his face as if someone has sneezed on his dinner plate.

So, August is the official month that Otto and I would like to eliminate from the year. We both live on Benadral, both break out and generally don't feel well. Otto lost 5 lbs. due to his non stop itching, I gained 5 due to lack of exercise in the extreme heat or what ever other excuse I can muster up. It just isn't our favorite month.

Thank heavens September is here and we both howling!

Waiting for the fall...

We went back to see the vet today for the second time in 29 days and poor Otto has lost 5 lbs. The vet said that this has been the worst season for animal allergy cases. She gave Otto his second $50.00 shot of cortisone and within three hours he was up barking at the joggers outside our house and gnawing on his bone. Those shots are like miracle drugs!

When we were at the vet's office, a beautiful German Shepherd came in while we were waiting to pay our bill. Somewhere between the moment when Otto was gnawing at his foot and staring at imaginary flies above his head (Otto's new insane favorite summer past time) he lunged with all of his might at the German Shepherd. His owner said one word to his dog and his dog sat down, oblivious to my growling, scratching, fly swatting, deranged Anatolian.

You would think that there would be some sort of unwritten code of respect amongst Shepherd dogs. I told that to Otto when I was taking him to the Ottowagon. You would think that from one shepherd type to another that there would be an unspoken, no bark rule. You would think that both breeds know that they are tough, smart, loyal, fierce animals that never need to flex their muscles unless provoked... Otto told me that I have been watching too many episodes of the Dog Whisperer and that was just simply not true and it was never going to be true for him.

Glad he is feeling better.

Otto's least favorite month

August is coming to an end and not soon enough for Otto. Otto is horribly allergic to August. Like clockwork, on August 1st, he starts gnawing on his feet. Like clockwork, 30 days later, a $350.00 trip to the vets office, 2 weeks of antibiotics and 18 benydral a day later....he is still gnawing on his beet red feet. It is hard to imagine that this hearty and fierce dog can get reduced to such ruins. He is thin, tired and joyless. He lives on the couch downstairs, in the corner of a dark cool room and only comes up when he needs to go outside. He doesn't even bark at the trailers and boats rattling by. Very sad. His eyes look so drawn and red.

"This will pass" I told him tonight when he came up to greet some labor day dinner guests then quickly retreated back downstairs to his couch to gnaw his feet in private. Poor Otto, he is too miserable to even consider being naughty.