HIVES!

Oh poor Otto, sometimes I think the poor dog just can't catch a break. He has ongoing immune problems. (And yes I am considering feeding raw. PITA. )


Twas the day before Thanksgiving and we were walking our usual route thru the woods when all of the sudden he turned towards me and tried to run between my legs! When he didn't fit, he started rubbing his muzzle frantically on my legs...I guess I thought my day had come, he finally noticed that I existed and was attempting to be affectionate for the first time in his 3 years and 10 months....no such luck.

By the time we got home about 5 minutes later, his whole face looked like we had taken a baseball bat to it! He was swollen and itching, the welts on his face were raised, I have never seen anything like it. He had raised bumps all over his face. I stayed as calm as could be, Gordy who has never ever ever been good under any kind of pressure started yelling "this is bad..THIS IS BAD...this is bad" Obviously Otto was in trouble and having a reaction to something, I grabbed a magnum of benadryl and immediately called the vet's office. The receptionist listened while I explained what was happening and said kindly, " One moment, I will connect you to a vet technician."

I am not a rude person, at least I never thought I was...but something came out of my mouth and I don't exactly know who said it. "I don't want to talk to the Technician, NO, No, see, I need to speak to a VET, a Doctor right now, not a Vet Technician! This is an emergency!" and so I did...she connected me to the attending vet who said, bring him over immediately...and so I did...and they were waiting for me as I dragged Otto thru the clinic as he continued to swell and scratch.

A tear might have popped out of my eye but I am certain it was due to a few cat hairs lingering on the waiting room floor....

The Vet was so nice, soft spoken and kind as he examined Otto's face. He pulled out a shot of Cortisone (I think that is the third one in a year) and as he stuck Otto with a long burning needle, saying this wasn't the first case of severe hives he had seen in the last few days. Perhaps Otto got into a ground bee hive, perhaps it was a reaction to the manure being spread in the fields through out the county (for sale sign is going up any moment)..and then he said, maybe Otto is allergic to something that I am feeding him...like a processed grain. I do give him milk bones, or shall I say I used to give milk bones...the over processed reward of champions..

It has been a few days and I am happy to report that Otto appears to be as normal as Otto usually is. A milk bone free, all natural grain free puppy biscuit is his new microscopic treat and all for now seems to be just fine. He remains on his holistic Chicken diet. I am watching everything he takes in to his mouth including the two baby mice and deer poop he snarfed down before I could yank him off..

He seems better but a bit lethargic. The HUGE orange snow plow went by the house at warp speed, grinding and flashing which normally would have led to a foaming growling beast...but instead he stayed quietly asleep on my pillow on the bed.

I hope he isn't aging prematurely or worse, have something terribly wrong with him. You know, I bet mothers who love their kids so much think the same thoughts every time they get sick...or every time they are late coming home...I hope he isn't....I hope he isn't.

Responsibility creates worrywarts.