LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, November 14, 2014

We Love Lucy


Much cooler air has swept through the South as it has over much of the US.  Our daytime highs are lower than our typical lows.  At least we did not get snow and the sun is shining.

Poor little Lucy has had a rather bad week.  She had a hot spot and the assistant who shaved the area knicked her skin in several places.  Our veterinarian gave us Prednisone and a topical cream.  The area improved.  Then my husband and I washed the area with Softsoap.  We failed to notice that it was anti-bacterial.  Apparently something in the soap irritated the skin and the next morning the area looked much worse with evidence that she had been scratching and biting it during the night.  We applied topical Benadryl and it seemed to calm things down.  Then, after a romp in the park she developed severe itching.  Back to the veterinarian.  We started her on an antibiotic and oral anti-itch medication along with the ointment and she is improving rapidly.  She hates to be scolded so when we stop her from scratching, she is very sad for a while.  But I try to tell her it's better than a cone.


A very sad pup after being gently scolded
She looks as sad as Harlow   (here)

 A creature of habit, Lucy does not like for things to be disturbed.  She doesn't like it when we decorate the house for holidays, especially if we move any furniture.  And today we have workers pulling off shingles on the outside of the chimney.  They have moved several pieces of furniture and put down mats to protect the floor and rug as they will begin dismantling the hearth in preparation for  a new fireplace insert.


 After today, there will be no hearth for Lucy's head.
Only the large stones covering the hearth will remain and they will be at floor level, making a two-inch hearth.
No longer suitable for a pillow.


Lucy's skin is nearly healed and she is no longer itching.  She really looks forward to her pill sammiches...Laughing Cow cheese spread on little pieces of bread and folded over the pills.  She will be glad (and so will I) when the project is completed, hopefully by next Friday.  I hope she won't miss the taller hearth too much.

The following quote is anonymous but rings true.  It reminds me of the divisive politicians  who now want us to all "come together."  The new Senator who unseated Kay Hagan in the most expensive senatorial race in history is pleased that the threats of ISIL and Ebola kept voters from looking at his dispicable performance as leader of our General Assembly.  [And yes, I AM TOO trying to get over it.]

A man may smile and bid you hail
Yet wish you to the devil.
But when a good dog wags his tail
You know he's on the level.


HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE


16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope Lucy is fully on the mend. Skin irritations are no fun at all. Poor sweet Lucy.

That's a great quote. Interesting how the ebola outbreak and fear-mongering disappeared right after election. Mmmm, how could that have happened?

NanaNor's said...

Hi, Hoping Lucy's itching/allergies clear up quickly. I'm sure she will find another place to rest her head. Our day is a bit warmer; hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs, Noreen

Busy Bee Suz said...

Poor Lucy!!! So glad she is on the mend though. How exciting about the new fireplace; you must share a photo when you have time. Have a great weekend!

Ms. A said...

Hope your vet is careful not to prescribe any fluoroquinolones for Lucy! Pets are floxed, just like humans.


danofloxacin (Advocin, Advocid) (for veterinary use)
difloxacin (Dicural, Vetequinon) (for veterinary use)
enrofloxacin (Baytril) (for veterinary use)
ibafloxacin (Ibaflin) (for veterinary use)
marbofloxacin (Marbocyl, Zenequin) (for veterinary use)
orbifloxacin (Orbax, Victas) (for veterinary use)
sarafloxacin (Floxasol, Saraflox, Sarafin) (for veterinary use)


The Bug said...

Love that quote! I've had some itchy rashes lately so I can relate to Lucy! Glad Mike hasn't had to use the Cone of Shame on me :)

Ginnie said...

I hate to hear of anything that is hard on Lucy ... so glad it's getting better. I love the poem.

troutbirder said...

Oh my when it rains it pours. Glad Lucy is doing better now. The water parted in the Gopher State and my guys Franken and Dayton came thru inspite of the flood of money.

Arkansas Patti said...

So glad she is doing much better. Itching is not fun for man nor beast. Diversion therapy worked with Mighty Dog but it is time consuming.
I will miss those photos of her resting?her head on the hearth. Maybe you could save a couple of stones for her to rest her head on??

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I love the verse! Sorry to hear about your girl and the hot spot. We've dealt with too many of them with our dogs, so I'll give you a tried and true little quick remedy you can use on them that helps, is to pat plain ole corn starch on them. It's the moisture that causes them to become so irritated, and the corn starch helps to dry them out, and relieve the itchiness.

Cheryl said...

How true how true....love that quote.

So pleased to hear that Lucy is on the mend. Must have been so uncomfortable for her.

Hope your plans for the new fireplace work out well.
I am sure dear Lucy will find somewhere else to rest her head.

Carolina Linthead said...

It feels like winter in Xenia...going to be a cold week ahead. Poor Lucy...vexed. I hope she mends and settles in well with the changes. Thank you for your well wishes, dear one!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Add my best wishes to Lucy for feeling better soon. I can understand how she dislikes change because sometimes I feel the same way.

KB said...

Poor itchy, Lucy. I'm so glad she's on the mend. R gets allergies every summer that make him itchy all over, so we know how tough itchiness can be for a dog.

I love your quote. What an election...

How Sam Sees It said...

Baron get's summer allergies and we do the same as Kim - a little corn starch and he doesn't itch himself to death. I hope Lucy is comfortable soon.

Harlow is quite pleased to be mentioned in your post! :)

Monty and Harlow

Vicki Lane said...

Those hot spots are such a pain -- glad she's improving.

Notice how all the scare messages about Ebola and ISIS magically disappeared from the media after the election? Funny thing...

No, I doubt I'll get over it any time soon.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Lucy skin has healed and we are no longer giving the anti-itch medicine. She has four more days of the antibiotic.

Ms. A - Thanks. Lucy is taking a cephalosporin.

Patti - I'm sure Lucy will find an alternative place for her head.

Vicki - In fact we did notice that a simple election could clear up the crisis mode. And like you, I won't get over it any time soon either. Darn SCOTUS.