Senior Saga

(My elderly brother Claude)

Hi all, Lily the Corgi here.  Obviously, the world usually revolves around me, but sometimes even I have to step aside and let someone else take the spotlight.  This past week has been all about my older brother Claude the Husky.

Claude came to our family in May, 2008.  My parents don't know much about Claude; they adopted him from the shelter.  According to the shelter people, Claude ended up there because his former owner brought him in to the shelter, said "It's not working out" and signed him over.  The SPCA folks tossed Claude (then called Prince) into a carrier and took him to an adoption event planned that weekend at a craft show.  My daddy violated his own No More Dogs policy and adopted Claude on the spot.  I must admit, Claude was indeed a very handsome man in his day.  Our vet estimated that Claude--named after a couple of professional hockey players--was about 4 years old or so.

(Claude in his prime and in his element.)

Claude has never been a real people pleaser; he likes the periodic scratch on the ears or pat on the head, but he's just not crazy about physical contact.  We call Claude the old grouch because no matter what touches him--person, fellow canine, dust bunny, etc--Claude will shout out and growl.  He's never been violent but he just wants everyone to know he doesn't enjoy being touched.   As a result of his aversion to touch, Claude doesn't sit well for grooming, tooth brushing or nail trimming as you can well imagine.  (FYI, if you ignore Claude's griping and do actually touch him, he just gripes more but never nips or bites.  Some of the little kids in the family just go on and wallow on him anyway and he gets over himself.  Claude does actually love the babies in the family and will guard them while they nap.)

Over time, Claude has developed a few health issues.  A few years ago, Claude developed lupus.  Lupus is not common in dogs but Siberian huskies are prone to the disease.  Lupus in dogs can cause their nose to become ulcerated and crusty.  When Claude stays out in the sun too much, his nose gets all ugly and scabbed over.  He rubs his snout on the carpet to get rid of the scabs and he has a hissy if anyone touches his snout.  For the past several years, Claude has had increasing trouble with arthritis in his hind legs.  

A couple of years ago, Claude started to have severe problems with his rear end.  He can no longer jump into the back of the truck and on a couple of occasions has actually had what appears to be paralysis of his hind legs for a couple of days at a time.  Claude has trouble walking around when we go to the dog park; sometimes he tips over because his gait is impaired by his arthritic joints.  The past few months, Claude has become a little incontinent--he drips a little pee while he's sleeping.  Claude takes medicine for his hips and his pee problems.  Claude gets a little confused sometimes; my Aunt Cathy thinks he has dementia.  Sometimes he forgets which side of the door to go to or forgets where the food bowls are kept.

Last week, daddy took Claude for a well-needed teeth cleaning.  The vet gave Claude a sedative to calm him and she did blood work before the procedure.  This showed he was anemic and the doctor couldn't do his cleaning.  Unfortunately, Claude didn't respond well to the sedation and we found he was having another episode of his rear end paralysis.  So mama and daddy have been babying Claude, helping him stand up, carrying him around (no small feat since Claude is a big boy.)  Claude has recovered somewhat but is still having trouble dragging his ample hind end off the floor when he sits down.  He is taking meds for his anemia and for pain and the vet will be doing more diagnosis once the acute problems are better controlled.

I'm sorry to see Claude feeling badly but it does bother me that mama and daddy are all involved in his care so much.  Hello!  I'm not getting the attention due me and that's a problem of epic proportions.  

Claude's problems are pretty typical for an aging dog.  Such things as joint problems, cognitive problems, poor dental health, and incontinence often plague the senior dog.  Since we don't know so much about Claude's history, we don't know exactly how old he is, but believe he is at least 10.  For a large breed dog, this puts him well into his senior years (a small breed dog like a chihuahua would be just reaching seniority.)  If you have a senior dog, you need to be sure to have him/her regularly seen by a good vet who will help manage those declining health issues as long as possible.    

Mama and daddy give special consideration to Claude because of his age and failing health.  He gets fed on a different schedule from the rest of us dogs so we don't annoy him (I'm rolling my eyes about that one.)  My parents have bought special beds for Claude's joint comfort; he enjoys those and also likes to sleep on old quilts my parents put down to keep him from leaking pee on the carpet while he naps.  Claude sees the vet more often than us younger dogs--while I like attention as any corgi should, I'm okay with his getting this extra vet care; the vet sometimes sticks dogs with needles and puts thermometers in unspeakable places so she's not my favorite person!

My mama says caring for Claude and his special needs wears her out.  But she also calls him "my old love" and is gentle with him and makes sure he gets to enjoy squeaky toys before my sister Lucy de-squeakers them.  Even earlier today when Claude accidently head butted mama while she was trying to help him go outside, she didn't hit him or yell at him.  Daddy makes sure Claude gets his medicine as he is prescribed and loads him in the truck for vet visits even though it makes daddy's clothes hairy when he goes to work.  All this makes me feel very safe and loved--I know my human parents will always treat us dogs with love and respect, doing what is best for us.  We don't have to worry about being put out when we get old and sickly and don't function as we did in our youth.  Mama and daddy value the love and appreciation they are given by more mature dogs, even when we don't demonstrate it so well, and we trust them to do what is right for us as long as we live.  

That's it for this week, folks.  Take care of yourselves and make sure you love your family, canine and human, even when it gets difficult.

Love ya, 

Lily the Corgi

(Even old and not so healthy, Claude is still a pretty good brother--and I'll deny I said that if you tell him.)

Happy Mother's Day!

(Mama sharing a kiss with my sister Lucy)

Hi folks, Lily the Corgi here to say "Happy Mother's Day" to all the moms out there.

Mother's Day is a great time to honor all our moms--human and canine.  Now everyone TECHNICALLY only has one mama, but many of us are lucky enough to have lots of heart-mamas--the mamas we gain by love without regard to biology or legality or anything except just love.  And I have several of those!

I personally can't remember much about my canine mama, although sometimes I suck in my sleep and my human mama says I must be dreaming about being a tiny puppy with my canine mama.  I'm sure my canine mama was beautiful--hey, she was a corgi after all!  I had a foster mama once; she was a nice lady who kept me safe for a while until my forever mama could find me. 

I have a human mama who loves me very much.  She feeds me, takes me to the dog park, feeds me, bathes me, feeds me, scratches my ears and belly, feeds me...well, she just does all sorts of nice things for me and for my 3 dog siblings.  

I also have several heart-mamas and I want to talk about them today:

My mama's friend Vicky stays at our house to pet sit when mama and daddy go out of town.  Vicky loves us like our real mama does...and we love her too!  Vicky lets us sleep with her and she gives us lots of special snacks.  (We especially enjoy the peanut butter crackers she brings with her!)

(Our Vicky with my sister Lucy)

Another of my heart mamas is my Aunt Cathy.  Aunt Cathy comes to visit us and lets me sit in her lap, even though she isn't the biggest fan of dogs (besides her own).  She calls me "ridiculous" because I tunnel under her hand and demand to be petted, but she smiles when she says it and always pets me.  When mama and daddy go out of town for just the day, Aunt Cathy comes to our house and lets us out to pee, so we don't get distressed before our parents come home.  Aunt Cathy is a wonderful mama to our cousin Quincy the wiener dog.  Quincy is about a thousand years old, has lost most of his teeth, and has a serious heart disorder--and Aunt Cathy keeps him feeling good and sassy despite all his problems.  Aunt Cathy is a great dog mama!

(Aunt Cathy hates pictures of herself, so here is one of her lap filled with Quincy the ancient wiener dog.)

Our Aunt Christy is another of our heart mamas.  Aunt Christy comes to visit us when she can and she loves to look at pictures of us on Facebook between visits.  Aunt Christy is a great ear scratcher and loves nothing better than to have a warm dog in her lap.  The BEST thing about Aunt Christy, though, is that she named her youngest daughter after me!!  Yep, she named her little girl LILY.  I am so beautiful and sweet, Aunt Christy thought my name would be perfect for her sweet and beautiful baby.  I have never been more honored!  Aunt Christy also has a fur-baby of her own, my cousin dog Bruiser.

(Here's Aunt Christy and my namesake, Lily the Human.)

My cousins Ryan and Chelsea are both dog mamas themselves--Ryan has 2 dogs named Cooper and Minnie while Chelsea is the dog mama of Ellie Mae.  The thing that makes these ladies our heart mamas doesn't really have anything to do with their pets, however.  They are our heart mamas because they bring us little playmates, their own human babies.  These babies are small and low to the ground, just like me, and they always smell like milk!  Oh yeah, the babies do sometimes get carried away and pull on an ear or a tail--well, they don't pull MY tail of course--but most of the time they are very sweet and the perfect height to kiss.  When they are a little more mobile, I'm going to have a blast herding these little people that Ryan and Chelsea bring to see us!

(Here's one of those babies they bring for our enjoyment.  So much fun!)

Mamas come in all shapes and sizes.  They are the original mamas who give birth to us and they are the adoptive mamas who love us.  They are the ones who live with us and care for us but they are also the ones who foster us and dog sit with us and just love us.  I'm awfully glad that I've been blessed with all sorts of these mamas.

Happy Mother's Day to ALL our mamas!

That's it for n...wait a minute...daddy is going into the kitchen to make Nutella waffles for Mother's Day.  Gotta run to the kitchen...

Walking the Dog

(Lucy and I showing off our cute behinds as we take a walk!)

Hi all!  Lily the Corgi here with a few words about walking the dog!

Corgis need exercise. We were developed to be working dogs and, while we look awesome holding down the couch or stretched out on the floor, we are in our element when we are moving! The best way to get us moving is to take us for a nice, long walk.

Walking your dog should be a pleasant experience for you both, but walks can become stressful if human or dog doesn't understand some basic facts. Let's look at some of these, shall we?

First, let's talk about equipment. I would love nothing more than to race free, but my parents are convinced that I'd come to some harm if I did so. That's why they say a collar and leash are essential for a good walk. The collar should be well-fitting and in good condition—a collar is of no use if it slips off your dog or is frayed to the point a good lunge will snap it. Choke collars are meant for training and are not a good choice for a nice walk. Obviously, I also think collars should be attractive—what self-respecting corgi wants to wear an ugly collar? Oh, and my dad says it is a good idea that the collar be reflective if you are going to walk after dark.

The leash should be comfortable for the human's hand. The leash should be long enough to enable movement but short enough so the human maintains control of the dog. Those extendable, retractable type leashes are pretty cool if you are walking in a clear, safe area, but they aren't good for high-traffic areas, areas with lots of brush, or at any other time when maximum human control is needed. Before you select a leash, you should check your local city ordinances—some places actually mandate the length and type of leash you can use on your walks.

If you are planning on a really long walk or if the weather is really hot, you should consider bringing along a bottle of water and perhaps a collapsible water dish. A handful of treats could come in handy if you need to do any training along the way or in case you need to entice your dog out of an inadvisable situation. A supply of poopy bags is always needed—hey, sometimes nature calls while we're on the road and no corgi wants to be a bad citizen by leaving any poop behind. Some dog experts believe it can be useful for a dog to wear a backpack and carry these supplies himself...give the dog a job, they say. I've never tried it myself, but I bet I could be the best hauler you ever met!

Next, let's consider where the walk takes place. We dogs aren't all that choosy. A quick turn around the neighborhood is great; a leisurely stroll in the park is fantastic—any place we can walk, sniff, and enjoy the company of our human is a fine place for us. We ask that you make sure our walk environment is safe—avoid areas where there is excessive car traffic, dogs off-leash, or any hazardous substances within reach of your corgi. And don't forget this: You have on shoes; we don't. Walking on hot pavement, over sharp rocks, or through stickers can hurt our delicate foot pads!

Finally, let's talk about the experience itself. I personally can't recommend it, but the humans believe it is essential that dogs be made to “heel” during walks. They say if we dogs walk out ahead, it gets us thinking we are in control of the walk—I can't see the problem with this way of thinking but it seems to intimidate the humans.

The pace of the walk should be brisk, to give us the level of exercise we need. But we dogs appreciate it if you remember to stop and sniff a little along the way. When deciding on the length of the walk, you must consider your dogs' age, health, and fitness level as well as the external conditions, like the weather. In our family we have some disagreement: Lucy the beagle and I both are short-legged girls in pretty decent condition, but we simply cannot walk at the pace and distance preferred by our big brother Claude, the cranky husky-malamute mix. Our parents have to take this into account when planning our walks.

Oh, yes, I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to talk about the treadmill. Some dogs, especially those who live in an environment that doesn't lend itself well to nice outside walks, have taken the gym-approach by learning to walk on a treadmill. This is a fine alternative to give exercise, but don't forget to add in some sensory stimulation to make up for the outdoor sights, sounds and sniffs that are lacking.

Walks can be one of the best bonding experiences for corgis and their people. With a little planning and effort, dogs and humans alike benefit from the walk experience. I highly recommend you get out with your corgi and take a walk today!

Til next time!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

(I don't always take walks, but when I do, it wears me out!)

MORE Interesting Dog Facts

(That lightning is TOO close!)

Hi everyone.

We are having storms today and my nerves are a bit frayed!  Storms don't usually frighten me much but today I'm having a little trouble with it.  So, since I'm not at the top of my mental game, I thought I'd not try to be quick, sharp, and humorous in my blog and just pull out a few of my dog facts for your reading pleasure.  Hope you enjoy!

‘Frito Feet’ is the name of the phenomenon in which the bacteria on a dog’s paws cause them to smell like corn chips. Because a pup’s feet are in constant contact with the ground, they pick up tons of microorganisms in their paws. When dogs cool off by sweating through the pads of their feet, the combo of moisture and bacteria releaces a nutty, popcorn-like aroma. Basically it’s dog B.O.

          I've heard people say that corgis have intense cases of frito feet, but I don't usually have that problem myself.  My beagle mix sister, Lucy, is the frito footer in our house.  I think she smells, well, tasty!

Last time I shared dog facts, I spoke of the chow chow having a black or blue tongue.  Well, here's another bit of trivia about the chow chow tongue.  The Chinese who first bred the chow chow believed that these dogs licked away the clouds and some of the sky was left on their tongues.

          I haven't tasted sky, but I've rarely passed up the opportunity to taste anything, so I'd be willing to give it a go!

Speaking of the Chinese, In ancient China, people used to keep warm by putting dogs up their sleeves.  Just imagine humans running around with a Pekingese up their sleeve.  Haha!  (Some people said the dogs were up there as defense method instead of a way to keep warm.)

          We aren't Chinese; my mama calls us rednecks or even hillbillies.  She says dogs are to keep the humans warm in bed on cold nights.  When my sisters and I climb on the bed to snuggle, mama says this is a Three Dog Night!.

(Lucy has some thin hair and gets cold even when there is plenty of snuggling going on.)

One last Chinese fact: Kublai Khan, who established the Yuan Dynasty of ancient China, had the possession of 5,000 Mastiffs, the most dogs ever owned by a single person.

          Have you ever known a Mastiff?  5,000 Mastiffs would equal an unimaginable vat of doggie drool!!  

I saw a handsome pit bull fellow at the dog park the other day and, despite the rules against it, he had on a spiked collar.  That brought to mind this fact:  Spiked dog collars were used in ancient Greece to protect dogs' throats from wolf attacks.

Final fact on this stormy day:  The phrase “raining cats and dogs” originated in seventeenth-century England. During heavy rainstorms, many homeless animals would drown and float down the streets, giving the appearance that it had actually rained cats and dogs.

          This is an interesting fact, yet I can't help that it makes me sad.  Imagine those poor doggies (okay, and kitties too) living out on their own and having to fight the elements without a mama or daddy to help keep them safe.   While my human parents sometimes fail to serve me as quickly or efficiently as they should, I am thankful to be part of a family and have MOST of my needs met.  Friends, please remember to give as you are able of your time, supplies, and funds so that stray and abandoned companion animals can have a great life.  Like mine!

Til next time!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

 (The END!)

  NOTE:   All interesting dogs facts listed in this article were taken from material publicly  posted by various sources on the internet.  I did not actually research or write any of this material myself.

Easter Lookback

(Here I am, supervising the backyard egg hunt)

Hi everyone!  This blog post is a day late--yesterday was Easter and I took the day off to relax and enjoy a family celebration.  My human grandparents and some of my human aunts, uncles, and cousins came to visit; my mama's friend and our favorite dog sitter Vicky also showed up!  I got lots of petting and scratching, not to mention the random scrap of Easter ham and some goodies out of the Easter eggs!  I enjoy a good family gathering and this one was quite nice.

Anytime we have a gathering coming up, my mama spends several days in the kitchen.  She loves to cook, and we are all quite grateful for that!  I try to help her as I am able; my short legs and lack of opposible thumbs limit my culinary abilities, but I'm all over the floor clean-up duties.

(Mama is a messy chef; I work hard to keep the area clean and free from spills and dropped items.)

Easter can be a very disappointing holiday for corgis...it seems the main traditions of Easter revolve around chocolate candy.  Mama and daddy insist that chocolate is bad for dogs; I'm always willing to take the risk and eat a little (or a lot) but my parents just won't allow it.  This year, mama said that even the kids were getting too much chocolate and so she filled Easter eggs with other things like animal crackers, marshmallows, and Mickey Mouse stickers.  That was kind of nice since the humans weren't as vigilant about snatching away the animal crackers and marshmallows when we dogs found any dropped on the floor.  

My beagle mix sister Lucy decided to just help herself and not wait for the kids to drop any goodies from their eggs.  Lucy trotted out in the yard and hunted a few eggs herself.

(Look closely; you'll see an Easter egg tucked away in Lucy's mouth!)

(She also thought it was okay to hunt eggs directly out of the short kids' baskets!)

But the best part of the day came after all the cooking was over, the feasting done, and the eggs all hunted. After that came the time for just sitting around, visiting, petting, scratching and enjoying the company of those we love.  What could be better?

(The little girl on the right is my human cousin whose name is also Lily--she is actually named after ME!)

Hope everyone had a great Easter as we did.  Til next time!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

Storm Season

(Joplin MO)

I've lived with some wild weather.  Growing up in Oklahoma, I saw my share of severe thunderstorms and the occasional blizzard.  When we moved to west Texas, I learned about dust storms.  In my Arkansas home, I watched an ice storm take out a batch of our lovely trees.  But everywhere I've lived, we've been located in/near tornado alley.

Tornado alley is an area of the US where tornadoes are most likely to form.  The exact location is a bit nebulous but is generally a swatch right down the middle of the country including OK, KS, NE, and TX.  Luckily, large tornadoes are not common, but violent storms also have other dangers:  lightning, flash floods, and hail.  None of these things are good for corgis!

My daddy is a trained storm spotter.  This means he goes to a designated place and watches building storms, reports back to the Emergency Management authorities, and helps keep us informed about the weather conditions.  (This is not to be confused with a storm chaser; those are the guys who go off down the road trying to intercept a tornado...these guys are somewhat insane.)  I feel safer knowing that my daddy is watching out for us, humans and pets.

Let's talk about the things my human parents do to keep us safe during storm season.

1.  Pay attention to weather reports.  People like my daddy who storm spot feed information to the proper emergency authorities who decide when it is appropriate to issue weather watches and warnings.  In many cities (especially those in tornado alley) there are storm sirens which sound when a tornado is imminent...they do not, however, alert us to the other dangers of severe storms.  You should keep your tv and radio tuned to a local station that has reliable weather reports. 

2.  Heed the warnings!  Okay, here is a bit of tattling on my parents:  they both love to watch the clouds and will stand out in the yard while the sirens wail (not uncommon in tornado alley!)  This is, at best, silly and dangerous behavior.  I must say, however, that they usually store us dogs in our storm shelter area BEFORE they go out to watch.  

(Patiently waiting for the humans to move us to the storm shelter.  You can see I look a bit worried.)

3.  Keep your dogs identified.  In case the worst should happen, separating you and your dogs during a storm, you need to be sure you do everything to be reunited with your pets.  Dogs should have ID tags that show their humans' name and a reliable phone number (a house phone may not be reliable in an emergency; most people keep their cell phones handy.)  It is a good idea to have your dogs microchipped as well.

4.  Plan ahead.  If you are paying attention to the weather forecast and hear that a storm is coming, send the dogs out for one last potty break before it gets here.  Dogs shouldn't be outside during pouring rain, lightning, or hail.  A pre-storm potty break can keep nervous dogs from peeing the floor and causing everyone to be upset. 

Before a storm hits, you should already know where you will go for shelter.  An underground storm cellar or basement is always the best choice.  However, if you can't do that, you should have a designated room on the lowest floor of your home, preferably without windows, as near the center of the house as possible.  The idea is to put as many walls as you can between you and the storm.  Blankets or even small mattresses are good for cover while sheltered and can protect you and your doggies from flying debris.  Storing dogs in crates or carriers may also help keep them contained and safe.

5.  Know your canine.  All dogs react differently to storms.  Some dogs, like my neurotic sister Sadie, get so upset they become absolutely frantic.  These dogs need extra reassurance and support during a storm.  They may feel safest sitting in their crate or wearing a thundershirt.  Other dogs, like me and my brother Claude, sometimes get a bit nervous about storms, but we're usually pretty steady.  Claude tends to be more nervous BEFORE a storm; once the storm hits, he's pretty confident that our parents will keep him safe.  And my little sister Lucy poses yet another problem:  she is an epileptic dog and sometimes the stress of a storm can cause her to have a seizure. Be very observant of your doggie if he/she has medical problems.

6.  After the storm.  Be aware of dangers!  High winds and hail can knock down power lines, fences, and tree limbs which could all be a hazard to your dogs.  If you are in an area where flash flooding is possible, be sure your dogs are kept well away from the water; dogs can be washed away in a flood. 

In the event a pet is lost during a storm, you should immediately contact neighbors, vets, and the local dog catcher or animal shelter.  In times of disaster, like a tornado, many animal rescue agencies set up emergency facilities to house found pets so be sure to check with those if you have lost a pet.  And don't forget the power of social media--post that puppy's picture on the internet so people can help you look!

So that's a little about storms.  Right now, during the months of April and May, my area is at highest risk for a storm and we are expected to get some tonight, in fact.  I'm not worried.  My mama and daddy know what to do and have always managed to keep us safe from harm. 

Til next time!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

(More from Joplin; my mama and daddy were on a weekend trip in a nearby city and drove through the day after the tornado.  I was glad I didn't go on that trip!)

Interesting Dog Facts!

We've been kind of lazy around the old homestead for the past few days so we haven't had any noteworthy adventures.  That has given me a chance to do some surfing on the Internet and I have found some quite interesting dog facts I thought I'd share with everyone.

(Here I am, relaxing and pondering interesting facts.)

The other night I watched the movie "Titanic" with my mama.  Did you know there were actually 12 dogs on the Titanic?  Three of them survived.  (I don't believe any of them were corgis.)

A greyhound can run up to 45 miles per hour.  Obviously, they don't have short little corgi legs.

Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible (Take that, cats!)

Almost all dogs have pink tongues.  Shar-peis and Chow Chows have black tongues.

(My sister Lucy demonstrates the pink tongue.)

Saving us pain and vet bills, dogs do not have an appendix.  (What are those things good for anyway?)

In the US, about 1 million pet owners have named their dog as the primary beneficiary in their will. 

Hmmm...I need to check mama and daddy's important paper drawer.

Ancient Romans believed tail docking prevented rabies.  (So why do I have to get those rabies shots?)

(Corgi butts are especially attractive, don't you think?)

Okay, that's it for this week.  I'm saving the rest of my interesting facts for a later post.  Thanks for stopping by!

Til next time,

Love ya!

Lily the Corgi