It's after midnight and I'm just settling down for the day.  I have watched Peanut since yesterday and my heart was breaking for him.  That poor little timid dog was terrified of that halo and wouldn't eat or drink.  He even got out the doggy door this morning and couldn't get back in.  Every time he put his head down to see how to step into the door, the halo would catch on the rim of the bottom of the doggy door and he couldn't come in.  I coaxed and tried to help him til I was convinced he would freeze and came in to get Ice to help me. 

After we got him inside again, he collapsed and didn't move all day, but I never saw him sleep and he trembled constantly.  And he looked so haunted and miserable!

I had been busy with puppies all day because Ice attempted to take them to the City, but ended up having to turn around and come back home with them because the roads were too bad and we heard that the interstate had been closed. 

So, this evening, I went out to give Peanut his medicine in a piece of soft dog food and he woofed it down out of my hand.  I ended up feeding him half a can of soft food, but he still wouldn't move.  I saw no evidence that he had drank any water either, so I scooped some in my hand and he lapped it up immediately.  I had to keep scooping up water for quite a while and he just kept drinking.  But when I put the water bowl up close, he would shy away. 

He smelled so bad that I just couldn't leave him that way any longer.  He was scared, he was miserable, hungry, thirsty and exhausted.  So I decided the halo had to go.  I took that awful thing off him, ran the sink half full of warm soapy water and I gently placed him in it.  I could feel his body relaxing already, and he didn't fight at all, so I started splashing his wounds with the mild soapy water til I felt like at least most of the awful yuk was gone.  Then I shampoo'd the rest of him with baby shampoo and he didn't even seem to mind me washing his head.  I'm sure that awful stench was bothering him as much as us and he was really glad to get most of it off.

I set him on a towel in the floor where the heat would blow on him and slowly started patting him dry.  He buried his head in the towel and rubbed his ears, so I'm sure his ears have been itching and couldn't do anything about it.  I rubbed his ears pretty hard and he loved it.  He licked his wounds while I continued to dry the rest of him, fluffing his hair in the warm blowing air.  I left him there while I cleaned his pen with bleach water, and made him a fresh bed.

When I placed him on his bed, he was shaking and exhausted, so I gently nudged him over on his side and covered him with a dry towel, talked softly to him and pet his head til he promptly fell fast asleep. 

My poor little Peanut was so tired, so glad to be rid of that halo, and obviously glad to be clean.  I'll bandage his wounds before I put that awful thing back on him.  He's been fed and had water and is resting soundly now.  He feels better.

I feel better. 

Please continue to pray for little Peanut for the harsh reality of his open wounds tell me he is in for a long slow recover.  Thank you guys for sending positive energy his way and I love you all for it.

Good night, Peanut.  Sleep well, Sweetheart.

Peanut and the puppies all went to the Vet today.  The pups got their shots and wormed.  Doc says they are all healthy and doing well.  The smallest male weighed 1 lb, 13 oz. and the smallest female (tiny) weighed 1 lb, 15 oz.  The largest puppy weighs 3 lb, 10 oz.  I managed to get three of them groomed last night, including the two little ones.  They were so good about it that they kept falling asleep during the process, lol.  I have to get some pictures in the morning before they leave for good.  We're still not sure if Ice can make the trip or not, since the weather is not cooperating at all.  We're hoping that if we get freezing rain like is predicted that it won't stick to the roads.  It's been so warm lately that I'm counting on the ground being too warm to freeze over. 

Doc said Peanut is still doing better than he expected, but had to put a "halo" on him because he would lick off the ointment as fast as I would put it on him.  He also pulled the chest tube out himself, but Doc said it was okay.  Doc took out some stitches and finished taking out the ones that had already come loose.  Poor Peanut smells as if he died a week ago with all the rotting skin and all, but Doc said that not as much of as he thought would die actually has, so that's a plus.  He also said that all the remaining flesh and skin are getting good blood supply, so there will be no more dying tissue. 

He also said that I can bathe Peanut which was a welcome statement, although it will be very tricky getting him clean without hurting him.  I'll definitely do that tomorrow as soon as I can.  But poor Peanut is so bothered by the halo that he just stands in one spot.  We have to put him on his bed so that he will lay down and I am hand feeding him soft dog food.  He is eating well and taking his medicine.  I feel much better since Doc examined him and was so optimistic.  I'll take him back again next Friday, hopefully smelling much better and healed a whole lot more.  The smell in the examining room was more than Ice or I could take for more than a minute or two and I don't know how Doc and his assistant stayed right over him for so long.  I guess maybe they're more used to it. 

I'll have to groom more puppies in the morning and get pictures if I have time, so I'll post the new pics when I can.  Grooming them brings out the features of their faces and snouts.  The two little ones are so incredibly cute and look so little that I just want to hold them and pet them all the time.  But as runts will be, they are both very scrappy and feisty.  Especially the littlest male. 

Well, I better go wake up my sleeping husband in the recliner and see if he's ready to hit the sack.  Busy day tomorrow, so I need to get some sleep soon.  Today was incredibly busy too, so I'm tired enough to sleep til noon, but can't.  I hope I get caught up enough tomorrow to catch up on everybody's blogs.  Til then, take care and stay warm!

pup

FRIDAY FUN FACTS !!!!

Okay bloggers!! Here are my facts for this week!

1. My Dad worked in Jamaica for ten months about seven years ago and I was able to spend an entire week there.  I had a great time and fell in love with Jamaica.

2. I carry antibodies from my second pregnancy and found out while in the hospital for surgery that I could actually sell my blood.  That's where they get the proper antibodies to make Rhogam.  I've never done it, tho.

3. From the time I was 13 years old and all through my younger years, I would rather dance than eat.  Nothin like a good ole Texas two step or a waltz with good music and a smooth dance partner!

4. I've been a cat lover all my life.  I was constantly picking up strays as a child.  My last cat died ten years ago and was eleven years old.  She was a long haired seal tip that was beautiful, spoiled rotten and her name was Taffy.  I still miss her, but vowed never to have another cat.  Doc says I'm allergic to them, which I'm not totally convinced of.

5. I remember when I was two years old and my footy pajamas were getting too short.  Dad decided to get the scissors and cut the feet out of them while I had them on and I was terrified because I thought he would have to cut my feet off to do it, lol.