Recently, Finley started scratching herself, a lot to the point where her normally pale pink skin is quite pink and noticeable through the fur. No, she doesn’t have fleas. It was the first thing I checked for…obsessively. When it wasn’t getting better, the next conclusion I reached was that she was allergic to something she was eating. We had changed her food not that long ago and the scratching started soon after the change, but I had gotten a kind that was grain-free and somewhat hypoallergenic, so I couldn’t be sure. The only real difference between the two foods, other than the grains, was turkey and potatoes, instead of chicken and small amounts of corn. I had been giving her some yogurt and new peanut butter treats. So maybe she’s allergic to one of those.

We finished up that food and went back to the one she was eating at the shelter. We got a free big bag of it from the neighbour since her dog can’t eat it (allergies), so she was getting a slightly different version. They had schnauzer so it was for that breed but the ingredients varied little from the poodle version we had been giving her and I wasn’t about to pass up a $50 bag of food.

All that aside, her skin was getting a little raw from the scratching and nibbling so I wanted to get shampoo or something that would help to ease the itch. She also has a couple of spots on her back where her fur feels very dry and coarse. This happens to me in the winter, to my hair and skin that is, but I couldn’t very well slather her up with moisturizer. Or I could but that would be awfully messy.  Shampoo that moisturizers or helps with the itching is probably the best bet.

I ended up getting two kinds, something expensive and hypoallergenic – didn’t help in the least. I ended up using an oatmeal shampoo that I bought at Wal-Mart. This seemed to work rather well. Although by then I wasn’t sure if it was the food, the lack of giving her yogurt and peanut butter treats or the shampoo itself.  For a couple days, she scratched herself less and then a little bit more over the next three days. Then I gave her another bath with the shampoo.

Which had me wondering, am I bathing her too often? I had read online that bathing your dog frequently was no longer the big no-no it used to be and you can do it as often as necessary. I used a mild shampoo so I figured it was alright and it doesn’t seem to be making the situation worse. But then there are those people who think it’s a sin to do it that often. Some “helpful” store employee at the pet store thinks it’s wrong to do it more than once every three months.

Wait, I can only give them a bath every three months? I felt like asking her how insane she was.  Then I just figured if she wants to give her dog (assuming she has one) a bath only 4 times a year, it’s her choice if she wants a dirty dog.

My question is, how often to do you bathe your dog? Is it better to rarely do it or is it safe to shampoo and clean away?

"Mommy, stop taking my picture and dry me please" - Finley

The other week, Finley’s tummy wasn’t in a good mood. She was acting normal, her usual happy self, except when it came to potty time. At times it’s the only way you’ll know that something is wrong and in this case her poop definitely wasn’t normal. I became somewhat of a poop aficionado that week, too bad that’s not something I can put on my resume during this job hunt, although I’m sure it would get a chuckle out of someone along the line.

After a couple days, she wasn’t getting much better so we called the vet’s office for their help. At first, I had thought that maybe it was the leaves that she played in and accidently ate a few or she got into something and I didn’t notice and that it was just working its way through her system but after two days, I was worried. The suggestion we got from the veterinary technician was to skip one of the meals (since she’s small) and give her some Pepto Bismol. Next time I’m going to suggest she come over to do it herself - who would have thunk that dogs don’t like Pepto.  We were supposed to give her a little over a tablespoon up to three times in a day. I gave up after the second time and I don’t wish to repeat that anytime soon.

I had never tasted Pepto, so after going to the store to get some, I tried it. Tastes pretty much like those pink mint things that I loved as a kid, I’m not so sure I’d like them today cause that Pepto was gross. I put some on my finger to see if Finley would lick it. She sniffed it and took a small lick and then stuck her nose up at it. It was then I knew this was not going to be easy.

I was able to force her mouth open and get a tablespoon of it down...or most of it. Some of it ended up in the fur around her mouth. Overall, I’d call it a success. We had called the vet in the evening, so the second dose would fall at bedtime since Fin and I go to bed late, around 2-3am.

Trust me, 2am forced Pepto feedings don’t go well, especially when the dog wises up.  So I go about getting it measured out and put it in this little cup thing I had used previously, the results weren’t so bad so I figured I’d just do the same thing again. Oh how wrong I was.

I sit down with her in my lap and I have the Pepto all ready to go on the counter next to me. She knows what’s going on now, so getting and keeping her mouth open nearly causes me to lose a finger. After fighting her, I start pouring it down her gullet. I think I’m having some success and that’s when I notice the pink nightmare.  She started twisting and flaying while I was pouring and it ended up all over her. I didn’t get much on me but it was on her snout fur, a little on her chest but most of it ended up on her back. Yes, her back.

Now anyone who thinks cleanup would be quick is sadly mistaken. Getting Pepto Bismol out of dog fur is darn near impossible and made worse by the late hour. Using a wet paper towel doesn’t work and neither does dumping water over the spot in hopes that it will wash out. Scrubbing the fur with shampoo, not once but twice, was the only way to get it out. This results in a very unhappy doggie that almost attacked the hair dryer when I attempted to dry her since we were going to bed. I ended up letting her go to bed wet, it was 3:00 in the morning by that time and I just didn’t care anymore, if my sheets and blankets got wet.

By the way, I did end up feeding her another tablespoon before cleaning her up. Next time maybe I’ll use a needleless syringe for this endeavour.