Not So Adventurous Adventures with Astrid

We're 6 days out from Astrid's surgery to fix her torn CCL. She's still getting only minimal, very short walks to spare her one functioning back leg. After all, we don't want 2 legs with torn CCLs.

To make up for her almost nonexistent walks, Astrid's getting to spend lots of extra time in our back yard. That said, Astrid can sometimes get a little bored of that. What's more, though our back yard is fully fenced in, most of it is see-through fencing, and one of our neighbors has a dog who dislikes other dogs just as much as Astrid does. Those two love to run up and down the fence screaming and yelling at each other from their respective yards. Though Astrid seems to enjoy the wild interactions, it's really not great for her already malfunctioning legs. So, I've been taking her to my parents' back yard (that being her beloved Gammy and Pawpaw's back yard), since its fencing doesn't allow her to see or wildly interact with the neighbor dogs.

All that rambling to say, here's pup Astrid enjoying a gorgeous day in her Gammy and Pawpaw's back yard.

If you look past her giant tail, in that photo you can see Astrid's back right leg lifted off the ground. That's pretty much her permanent stance these days, whether she's still or moving, because that's the leg with the torn CCL. Astrid's on the pain meds carprofen and gabapentin, and she overall seems completely unbothered about hopping around on 3 legs. She's actually quite a pro at it. Even so, I can't wait for her to be fixed up. Though, as I've mentioned far more than once, the 6-10 weeks of cage rest thereafter is going to be a real battle with this wildly active 9-year-old pup.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle was inspired by the old TV special Garfield's Halloween Adventure, of course starring Garfield and his buddy Odie.

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Tip of the Day

We're just in the early stages of our October-long Halloween tips. Today, how about we get one of the most common Halloween tips out of the way? That's right, today we're talking about candy. The long and short of it is that you should never leave candy sitting out where your furbaby can find it and help themselves. Whether it be candy you're saving for yourself, or the candy dish you've prepared for those trick-or-treaters, always keep it well hidden from the kitties and pups.

As you all certainly know, chocolate can very toxic to our furbabies. Another candy danger includes artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which can be found in sugar-free candy, among other foods and goods. This candy discussion can also include raisins, and the double whammy that is chocolate-covered raisins. After all, raisins are toxic to kitties and pups just like chocolate is. To be on the safe side, no matter what kind of candy you're handing out this Halloween or have around the house, keep it hidden away from curious paws and maws.

In the event that your furbaby finds the candy, know the potential signs of toxicity. These can vary, and might include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or even neurological symptoms. Should you think or know that your furbaby has gotten into your candy stash, or should you observe any signs of toxicity, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance. It also does not hurt to have on hand a poison control number, such as the ASPCA at 1-888-426-4435.