Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Puppy Formerly Known as Zoey

I took my puppy to the vet for a check-up today (poor little thing had a few rounds of mild diarrhea, which, considering what happened to my last puppy, scared the life out of me). This time, I went with a different vet, since I still think the last one misdiagnosed my dog. The new vet is much nicer, speaks passable English, and is actually cheaper.

I thought that I had purchased a perfect little female Shih Tzu. Turns out I bought a MALE Shih Tzu with a slightly weak pelvis and ear mites. He's going to be a bit more work than I planned, but I decided that he's worth it. I love him too much already to trade him for another dog or return him. I've decided that this little guy's new name is Jasper.

The vet said that if I keep blankets and towels down on the floor for him to walk on, my little boy's pelvis will get stronger eventually. As for the ear mites and diarrhea, the puppy-formerly-known-as-Zoey is on medication and had his ears cleaned out today. In addition, I bathed him and thoroughly disinfected his area of the apartment. He's very lively and active, his eyes are clear and alert, and he eats extremely well, so the vet said he should be better in about three days.

I'm actually already seeing an improvement after the treatment he received at the animal hospital. He ate all the food I left for him while I was at work, had a good dinner, and hasn't had any diarrhea since early this morning (about thirteen hours ago). He played a lot for about an hour after I got home (he was happily running around, chasing anything he could find), and is just now settling down for a nap on my foot.

No comments:

"Passage—immediate passage! the blood burns in my veins! Away, O soul! hoist instantly the anchor!
Cut the hawsers—haul out—shake out every sail!
Have we not stood here like trees in the ground long enough?
Have we not grovell’d here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?
Have we not darken’d and dazed ourselves with books long enough?

Sail forth! steer for the deep waters only!
Reckless, O soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me;
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go, And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.

O my brave soul!
O farther, farther sail!
O daring joy, but safe! Are they not all the seas of God?
O farther, farther, farther sail!"

~Walt Whitman, "Passage to India"