Daisy at the Veterinarian's

Daisy the Puppy had an interesting week, visiting the vet's office (Howdershell Animal Clinic) three times in 5 days. It all started innocently enough with a routine visit and puppy shot. Her stool specimen showed an organism called "coccidia", which the doctor explained was fairly common in puppies raised in kennels, and was spread through feces. He started Daisy on a sulfa-drug, gave her a parvo-distemper booster shot, and sent us on our way. Everything was hunky-dory until the next morning.
On one of our trips outside, Daisy stopped to pee, then stopped to squat again, and again, and again. We figure this isn't normal, and call the vet. The office is concerned it might be a bladder infection, and asks us to bring poor puppy in.
The vet asks a few questions, does a quick exam, and diagnoses a case of simple vaginitis, a condition she says female puppies are especially susceptible to. We get an ointment to put on Daisy's... uhhh... affected area. At the same time, she recommends we bring in a urine sample to confirm the diagnosis. We leave reassured,but also a little bewildered. How do you get a urine sample from a puppy that squats down within an inch of the ground? And exactly what makes the dog stand still while you do this?
We finally come up with the lid from a coffee can, and Mrs MercMan trots behind Daisy and slides the lid under her backside just as she squats down. Eureka! Success! Mrs MM gets the sample into a small glass bottle and hurries off to the vet's in order to get the sample analyzed. Thankfully, the UA is negative.
Friday morning, a new problem. Daisy's stools are getting soupy, and blood is mixed in. Another call, another trip to the vet. Fortunately, the stool is now clear of coccidia, and there are no other pathogens found. Diagnosis: colitis, an irritation of the colon. This time Daisy gets a shot of antibiotics, a pill to soothe her intestines, special food (canned), and a form of Maalox! The vet starts joking that they're going to open a "Kyle" wing of the clinic.
Relieved that everything is going to be OK, we decide to celebrate by going out to lunch. Unfortunately, after the vet bills, all we can afford is a $6.52 tab at the local McDonald's.
Thank goodness the week's almost over. Daisy is going to be fine. It's Mrs MercMan and I that I'm worried about!

Ahhhh....the Puppy Life

During recovery from eye surgery, the antics of our new puppy have kept me from going a little bonkers after being cooped up in the house since September 7. As you can see by the picture with this post, taking care of me has had an exhausting effect on Daisy the Puppy.
Luckily, Gimlet, FroggieGirl, and Grandma Gimlet came by on Saturday to visit and break bread, and Gimlet and I went to Schnucks to pick up some stuff for dinner. It was my first real trip out since my surgery, and I started things off by climbing out of the Gimlet/FroggieGirl-mobile and stepping in a big wad of pink bubble gum! I was able to navigate around the store, although I sort of listed to one side like a one-eyed pirate due to my bionic eye.
Mrs MercMan has been handling most of the household/home improvement/yardwork chores since my illness, and is developing a knack for using all my assorted power tools. She's really enjoyed the ability to saw. drill, mow, cut, etc, etc, using various high-powered Craftsman tools, and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll have to struggle to get them back once I've recuperated. Still, there's something very appealing about a pretty girl wielding a high-rpm reciprocating saw or cordless drill!