Hi, Debbie—just a note to catch you up on Aaron and Taschi.  They’re both doing well healthwise and otherwise. Aaron had his teeth cleaned this fall and all is well—no extractions or other problems. (Taschi lost a couple of teeth in the cleaning last spring but he has no problem eating!  He still picks up weight easily and I have to be careful with portion control.)  Coats are in good shape so the diet must suit them (Wellness Senior with a little Spot’s Stew on top, 2x/day).  We walk 2-3 times a day and when I say “Shall we go outside?” Aaron gets hyperalert and practically jumps up.  He does love his walks.  Taschi does, too, once we’re out there, but Aaron is more communicative to the verbal cue.

Taschi’s delightful personality continues to emerge—he is so amusing, and he just looks funny!  He is more playful now and is more attached to me—comes running to get hooked up on the leash, hovers more underfoot with Aaron in the kitchen, and (finally) is responding to “pick you up.”  He must have been developmentally deprived as a puppy, though; now that he’s 10, he has discovered it’s fun to rip up newspapers, and that books left on the coffee table can be made into chew toys.  I hope this stage passes quickly and that he doesn’t decide he likes to dig in plants.  All his new behaviors were characteristic of Chrissie almost her whole life; I wonder if they’re in communication.  Aaron is his usual self-contained, refined, and princely self, and the two of them curl up together regularly.  

 I think I can get out in the car today; the snow is over two feet around where I live and drifts are higher, but the HOA plows out the alleys between garages and then people with 4WD go around packing the snow down for the rest of us, so it shouldn’t be too bad even though the city hasn’t plowed here yet.  Hope all is well with you and your family.  Merry Christmas!  E.

Jigs, bless his heart, developed ulcers (did you know horses can get ulcers?  A very high percentage do.), and I have to give him medicine around 7:30 every morning, and then would have to go home and pick up the dogs before setting out—that’s what produces the 9:15 or so constraint on morning arrival time.

If we can’t work out a time right now, I understand—I know how booked you are.  I just thought it would be nice if you could see them once in a while.  Taschi has developed even further.  He’s figured out that he “counts”—that he’s significant in and of himself.  It’s such fun to watch him emerge.  Aaron continues to be steady as a rock and has developed a taste for being a lap dog. They both got a (another) good review from Dr. Sargeant earlier this month.

 It was so good to see you and visit today, and of course the dogs look beautiful—thank you!

The seizure-prone cat I mentioned was diagnosed (until yesterday) with hyperesthesia.  The latest diagnosis is parasites—the owner took the cat to an alternative vet who does acupuncture and who is familiar with hyperesthesia, and she said the cat didn’t have any of the symptoms she had seen before in cats with that condition. (Here we are again, with vets and their knowledge.)  So her best guess was parasites, and she treated for that (with a dip and Panacur) and said if that didn’t do it, she had some other ideas and avenues to pursue.

The Uckele site is www.Uckele.com, and the e-mail for the person who takes hair analysis orders is mary@uckele.com.  She is Mary Boyko; she is not the nutritionist but she seems very knowledgeable and will know if they do dog hair.  If you want to call her, she’s at 1-800-248-0330 ext 122, M-F 7 a.m.-4 p.m. our time, and usually she actually answers her phone!  Uckele is in Minnesota or Michigan, I forget which.

The two pictures show how A&T sleep—on the couch and on the bed.  Awwww…!

See you in a couple of months—I will look at my calendar and write for an appointment.  E.

Thanks for the beautiful “card,” which I just picked up today.  I spent yesterday at home because of the snowstorm, with one dog curled up on each side of me.  They are so dear!  Thank you so much for trusting me with them.  Hope your Christmas was all you wanted it to be, and Happy New Year!  E.