OK, so I'm naughty in this photo.. that's not what I'm showing you. People have been asking how I'm doing with my allergy. The new medication is really helping. I hardly scratch at all. The only problem is that I have to be on steroids for a awhile and they cause my hair to fall out.  See the light part of my leg and chest, that's where my hair has fallen out.

Still hiding til Mom picks all the Kleenex up that I chewed.

I'm still a happy guy, the hair loss doesn't hurt, it just looks strange.

 

My doctor says it will probably come back in when I'm off the steroids. I hope so, my back legs and butt are bald and it's cold when the wind hits me. Mom says that we're gonna have to put sunscreen on me so I don't get sunburn on our walks. Thanks for asking about me, I'm doing really well - Mom says it's not how you look on the outside, but how wonderful you are on the inside. I like that.

Working on stuff for the shop.

I'm up late tonight. Mom and I folded fat quarters and made packs. Actually, I don't do much of the folding, I'm more of the silent type that just observes. I give support when she gets tired of doing them. And of course there's that reward for helping... two little milkbones all for me.

Tomorrow night she says she's going to bring home some little bag kits to fold. I will probably offer my services again. Mom and I make a good team.

Time for bed, hope everyone sleeps well. 

Good Night,

Quahog

I'm a happy boy!!!

I am a happy boy. My face is all cleared up. No more red swollen eyes, not scratching or rubbing and my ears and cheeks are back to normal. The only thing left to figure out is why my hair is so thin in spots. I'm going to look at it as my "Summer" hair... some dogs get shaved when the weather turns warm - mine just thinned all on it's own.

I don't know how long I'll have to be on the steroids or other medications but for now, I'll take them. Mom is still making me the ground sirloin and rice, I hope that lasts a long time - it's really good.

You should see how happy my parents are. They were so upset because I was a mess and  my face was in pain. You should never underestimate the power of a good Mom and Dad - they didn't stop until they got me relief.

On the road to recovery?

I'm looking pretty serious in this photo. Well, this allergy thing is making me sad. Yesterday, my Mom got another medication to add to the two I'm already taking and it may be helping. This morning my face was less red, my eye lids weren't swollen and I didn't feel as itchy as I had been.

 Another change my Mom made - she threw out all the crispy dry dog food.  She went to Von Hanson's and had them grind up a Sirloin for me. She boiled it til any grease was out then added it to rice. She says she doesn't want me to eat corn, wheat or any thing that ends in chloride. Once my system is cleaned out we can try adding back the crispy brown things. Personally, breakfast and dinner are really good and I don't miss the dog food.   (Another thing that's helping me feel better - I got new toys. This allergy could actually be working to my advantage, but please don't tell my Mom)

We went to the dermatologist..

Look at the size of that treat. My dermatologist, Dr. McKeever gave it to me for being such a good boy. He told my Mom that I have an allergy and it would probably be forever. We go back in a month to see how the medications are doing. I can't wait... Look at the size of that treat!!!!

A little better today

I'm sleeping in the sun. You can see my ear is all scratched up and raw. My nose and cheeks are alot less red and itchy since my Mom tried a new gel on me.

This is Mary Ellen's "Made by Hand" therapy gel. It's for quilters. It says on the tube that it has White Willow Bark in it, which is proven to relieve pain and is an anti-inflammatory.

Mom put it on her hand where she had a scratch to see if it burned. She wouldn't want to put it on my face if it would cause me more pain. It felt good on her hands so she lightly put it on my ear and cheeks.

It felt cool and soothing, and since I can lick my cheeks..
it doesn't taste too bad either. We noticed that it did stop the itching and reduced some of the redness. It didn't take away all the problem, I still have to go to the dermatologist to figure out what's causing this. But I will say, it is giving me some relief.

I think I'm gonna call Mary Ellen and tell her that she may be onto something. Next will be her  Veterinary line of products.. right there on the shelf with her Quilt wash, Best Press and Hand Therapy Gel. All because of one little Boston.

Itchy, scratchy... ouchy

I am having kind of a tough time right now. Since I was a little guy I have had some sort of allergy. My doctor had me on prednisone, but that didn't seem to help. Then they tried adding benadryl.... no luck with that either.  Now my Mom is waiting for a call back to get an appointment with a dermatologist. Not sure what dermatologist means, but I hope it fixes this problem. I feel itchy, scratchy and ouchy.