This Way Up…by Lisa Harmon May 23, 2008

Kenai’s favorite ball, 20 weeks old.

My buddy had himself a good day yesterday, once the ear taping was over. Those ears are heavy and loooonnngggg, poor kid. The taping is far from done, but his head will most definitely grow into them, and way before adulthood. Bless his heart, he looks like a fruit bat when they’re untaped and facing forward! When they’re taped, Kenai’s my little spike buck… 

His poopy troubles seem to be on the mend. What I’m thinking was the antibiotic took care of the bacterial overgrowth, but then proceeded to give him a case of colitis. I broke down waiting for the vet’s medicine and diet remedy to do the trick and gave Kenai one of my Mom’s pills that slows her gut down.

He was pooping right after meals, which is normal, then again 2 hours or less after eating, and nothing was stopping the jet stream. I mean NOTHING. It takes 2 hours to get the food out of the stomach, but going through the intestines that fast wasn’t normal. There’s no way he was getting much nutrient from it either. I wasn’t going to mess around any longer.

So Mom’ Levbid slowed things down the first dose, some 11 days after the diarrhea started. By today’s dose, the stools were normal and the frequency was too. He’s still getting the vet’s meds, but at $2 a pill, that can’t go on long. Hopefully after a few days he won’t need the meds anymore. 

Not having to poop himself silly gave him more playtime, and we enjoyed ourselves until the temps hit 85 F, then came in for a needed nap. Since using the Frontline Plus, I haven’t found a single tick on him. A far cry from 5-10 after each run, and much preferable to both of us! He didn’t have any reaction to the Frontline, thank goodness.

My boy does love his outdoor fun. Can’t imagine why the fresh air and sunshine is so enticing…it’s not like he’s a dog or anything. But then, rhinos live outside too! Kenai is now over 71 pounds, at all of 5 months old. His growth fascinates me, not by its speed but by its evenness.

He has always grown as much in muscle and width as he has height. Not once has Kenai looked lanky or scrawny like most Dane pups. Pictures don’t really do him justice, anymore than they do his sire, Bennie. I can’t wrap my hand around Kenai’s front leg anymore, and haven’t since he was 4 months old. The fingers don’t touch. Those bones are substantial, in ALL CAPS.

We’ve got all day to ourselves, Kenai and I. My big plans are a nap, a little play, and possibly another nap. Mom is heading up to Columbia to see BB and his vets, with our dear friend, Melba. Mike won’t be home until after 4 pm. And everything on the TV tonight is re-runs.

I might be daring enough to watch a movie. But that’s about it, unless Kenai throws a bone in the works, like wanting very much to go someplace. The best he’ll get today though is the nearby mom and pop puppy store for a chew. I refuse to even take a shower. How’s that for lazy?

This holiday weekend is going to be quiet and pleasant, and PEACEFUL for the first time in 5 weeks. Already made up my mind, and I’m ready for the head butting session: Mike and his daughter can leave us alone, in the living room or anywhere else we happen to be, when Mom and I want to be left alone. I will sit in my own recliner, and smoke without having to go outside or hole up in the bathroom and lock the door so Emily doesn’t burst in.

I’ll play with her for awhile, and enjoy it too, but when it’s been long enough, it’s been long enough. That’s why I don’t have children of my own: I can’t physically keep up with them. I can play and have fun for awhile, then I can send them home when it’s not possible or enjoyable anymore.

It’s not that I don’t like kids, I simply can’t withstand long periods with them. Just how it is, whether I like it or not. Whether anyone likes it or not. The day after suffering when I don’t have the option of ending our time together is intense beyond most people’s comprehension. It usually involves blinding headaches, vomiting, severe muscle pain, weakness…you get the idea. Limitations suck, but they’re a reality.

So, as much as I love my neice, and have a ball with her: no more chasing Kenai and I around when her Dad has parked his ass on the couch and doesn’t feel like playing with her. No more howling up the stairs when she’s bored and lonely, waking me up. He’s the parent, not me. Not Mom either. She’s 70, and has a perfect right to say no in her own home.

And I don’t mean I’m hiding upstairs with Kenai for some quiet ever again. They’re the visitors, and when we’ve had enough, Mike gets up and takes her away. Emily’s a normal active 2 year old, and there is no normal 2 year old who can sit quietly on the couch for days at a time. Mike don’t like it, he can get his own place. 5 weeks is long enough for even family to wear holes in a welcome. 

Saturday and Sunday Kenai and I can enjoy a couple hours of yard work/chase the ball, and Monday too, unless I need the rest or we hit 90 degrees Farenheit. Nope, after tonight, we’re gonna hole up and wait for the drunks and the crazies to go back to work Tuesday!

It’s Memorial Day Weekend, by the way, for any non-American’s reading. Officially it’s a national holiday to remember our loved ones who have died and military veterans. Unofficially, it’s the kick off to summer. Around this neck of the woods, it’s the start of drink till you’re blind and drown yourself in the lake season. Those that don’t drown, drive home. I don’t get out much on weekends.

Speaking of memorials, I’ve already let Kenai’s breeder know I really want another pup from his dad, Benicio in about 5 years. That’s when it’s time to start raising and training a new pup so Kenai can retire from public life at 7 or so. 7 years old is when even healthy Danes start showing their age and slowing down, sadly enough.

Bennie is 6 now, so fathering another litter in 5 years is going to require a fancy batch of dry ice! I’m thinking a formal name like Shakira’s Tribute, and calling the new baby, Beno. The wonderful Bennie deserves a tribute, and if he could live forever, I’d never want another sire.

In case you’re wondering, Kenai will be nuetered around 18 months old. That’s the contract, and I’d do it anyway: I don’t show my dogs, so I have no business being a breeder. Conformation shows aren’t just beauty pageants–they make certain that a breeder’s dogs measure up to the ideals of the breed. 

Teri knows what she’s doing! I really have never, ever, in all my life been so completely amazed and impressed with a puppy, as I am with Kenai. He’s a total package: stunning conformation, ideal temperment, and brains out the wazoo. A perfect copy of his daddy, and I’m in love with Bennie too. He wouldn’t fit in my suitcase, though, so I couldn’t sneak him home with us. Drat. 

I don’t recall seeing if Bennie had any white marks, but both our boys do. BB has a tiny little spot on his chest, and Kenai has an arrow. Yes, an arrow. There’s a very thin line about 2 inches long of white on his chest, with an honest to goodness point at the top.

I guess he spends so much time flaked out on his back he needs it to remind him which way’s up. Maybe it’s directions for where to send the food. Perhaps he just lost his “this way to the complaint department” sign. I don’t know, but it is cute having pointy ears and a pointy on his chest too. Uh-oh, I feel a new nickname coming on…”pointy pooch”.

See what a little sleep deprivation can do to a perfectly normal person? Okay, not entirely normal, but close enough…

 

“You’re just jealous because the voices only talk to me…”