Monday, June 4, 2012

Calhoun's Birfday

Well for Calhoun's 6th birthday, he got..... an ear infection! Actually, I'm not sure what we are dealing with but it's not good.

My precious baby Calhoun celebrated his 6th birthday yesterday. We were very lazy but took a trip around the block and ate some cheese.

The day I brought him home!

The day I brought him home!

Sleepy puppy.

Bitey puppy.

Crazy puppy.

4 weeks old!

Lucy and Calhoun: Best Friends

Whatcha doing Ma?

Post Hiking Trip

Riding in the neighborhood with Mamma


So after a great day, I awoke at 2AM to the sound of tags rattling over and over again. I got out of bed and found both dogs freaking out. Calhoun was clearly distressed and Lucy was distressed because he was upset. She was trying to lick him. So sweet but he had heavy breathing, panting and drinking water. I walked up to him and put his head in my hands. I felt it immediately. His ear was red hot, swollen and he was clearly in pain. 

He's never had an ear infection before so I'm still not convinced that is what it is. Nonetheless, I always get a Cephalexin Rx when I go to the vet- just in case! I do the same thing for myself... just to have it for emergencies. I hate taking medicine unless it's absolutely necessary. So I dosed Calhoun up with that and put some Neosporin & Cortizone cream on the ear- not in it. Then I realized I had no Benedryl!! 

So I tossed Calhoun in the back seat and I go to Walmart in my pajamas at 2:30AM and get the last bottle of it off the shelf. I pretty much maxed that dose out too. I called work and told them I'd be late. He got two big doses of medicine before I needed to get to work. So hopefully he'll be feeling a little better when I get home. I'm still leaning towards a bug bite because it came on so suddenly and we've never had ear issues before. But alas, there's always a first! 

I worked in a doctor's office during graduate school and came to the conclusion that we as a society use the doctor WAY too much and overmedicate too much so we can't fight things off. I adhere to this philosophy for myself and my dogs. BUT I cannot stand to see my babies in pain like that!! 

We may need some ear drops but I will wait to see when I get home. Any advice- Do's or Don't's??

11 comments:

  1. Happy barkday, Calhoun! You're sure a good-looking dog. I hope you feel better real soon.

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  2. Oh Calhoun!! YOur momma is taking the bestest care of you! Our mom has a bug bite on her arm right now that's HUGE, red and hot. The benadryl is working great, and we get extra cuddle time cuz it makes her sleepy. Hope you feel better soon!!

    -Bart and Ruby

    OH!! and Happee Birfday!!

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  3. OMD CALHOUN???? You got an EAR INFECTION fur your 6th birfday... THAT is worse then when Puddles got the Nail Clippers fur HER B-Day!!! Holy COW buddy... you are supposed to get stuffs like TREATS and TOYS... NOT an EAR Infection. GIVE IT BACK and DEMAND 87 TREATS and TOYS .

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  4. Sounds like what happened to me just one week before going to Furginia. We nefur knew wot happened coz that has nefur happened to me afore. My ears and belleh turned fire engine red and my paws blew up like balloons! I would not let mom tutch my ears. But the steroids made me all better and the ickies went away. So look at the bright side, I say this means you get to celebrate your birfday all ofur again when you is feeling better! Happy Birfday, Calhoun!

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  5. Bwhahahaha...sorry to laughs at your stressful situation but I sures you blended in well at WalMart at 2;30...did you sees my mum theres?
    Girl, my mum was awake and we has Benadryl, you could has called us. I has to has it fur stuffs likes dat too.
    But dat was a crappy birfday pressie I has to admit.

    Puddles

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  6. Happy Birthday, Calhoun! We're sorry you're feeling so miserable. Kuster sympathizes, he's pretty miserable right now, too!

    Bunny

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  7. Could be a bug bite like when Mango got his big foot. His leg got HUGE and he was panting and very distressed. He did get some antibiotics at the vet which gave him significant relief.

    Mango Momma

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  8. That Shawnee has the khorrekht idea!

    Happy Calhoun Day!!!!!!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: How many years did your mom lose?

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  9. Happy Biwfday Calhoun

    I 'm cwossing my paws that youw ouchie eaw gets all bettew soon and you can get back to celebwating and playing wif youw family
    Smoochie kisses
    Asta

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  10. Thank you for the kind words about Charlotte. They mean the world to us
    Nola and family

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