Tito's Trauma

It was Christmas Eve. I swear I was a good boy. But something terrible happened anyway. As of right now, no one is talking, so I don't think I will spill the beans on my groomer just yet. If I know Cherry Pie, and I think I do, she will get to the bottom of the eye trauma. For right now, this is the story.

Everyone was a hustling and bustling, getting ready for the big day. Christmas. Head Poodle and Cherry Pie were doing the last minute shopping and we, Lula Mae and me, were off to get a bath and a trim so we could be sociable with the guests. We think we smell just fine, but our humans beg to differ. Especially Cherry Pie. I think I told you before how OCD she is. She hasn't changed.

All was going fine, right up to the last minute before my groomer.....

Head Poodle came in to get us, and things became very frantic....The groomer did not have us ready, so she told Head Poodle it would be another 15 minutes or so. They disappeared then reappeared. I was excited. I was very glad to get out of there. In the car Head Poodle tells Cherry the groomer did not charge for her services. Oh and she mentioned something about "If there is a vet bill, I will be happy to pay it." The Cherry and HP had some conversation about those comments when, Cherry Pie, ever the one to notice anything out of the ordinary-I swear she has ESP-noticed I was having trouble with my right eye.

"We have to get him to the vet IMMEDIATELY." We hurried home and deposited Lula Mae, who by the way was not very happy to be left at home, and then we zoomed to the vet. Thankfully, it was our regular vet, and she knew me.

"Oh, you don't look very comfortable," she croons.

No Shit Sherlock!!!!

"Let me take him back and take a look." She is always so calm and matter of fact.

I go in the back, they put some drops in my eyes, poke around a bit, then bring me back to Head Poodle and Cherry Pie. I can't see anything right now, but I am glad to smell them. I put my head in Cherry's lap and she strokes my head, and tells me I will be okay. I love that.

"I want to show you something." The vet takes out her flashlight and shines it in my eye. "Do you see that cloud over his pupil? He has an ulcerated lens. You will have to give him some ointment four times per day. Let's see how he does with that. The other eye seems okay, but put some in that one too. It is inflamed a bit. Oh, and see this?" She points to the size of my pupil. "Now compare the two sizes of pupils." She shows Cherry the right eye. "They need to be the same size. You will have to put a drop to dilate his eye. Check it in the morning. When they are traumatized like this, they can stay that way. We don't want that."

Gulp.

"I have to say, he was a good boy. He let the technician and I do the work, so he should be a good patient for you. It will be a two person job to get his medication in his eyes. One of you straddle him, the other pull down his eye lid and apply the medication."

"Okay," both Cherry and Head Poodle look at each other with fear in their eyes.

"What in the world happened to him? When we dropped him off his eyes were fine. The groomer said his eye was weeping a bit, but that is all. She swears she did not get anything in his eye. What do you think happened?" Cherry is all worked up.

"I do not know, but I do know his lens has been damaged some how. Now, let's see how he does in the next couple of days. Let's check in again on Monday." The vet looks concerned too. "Oh, and one more thing, do not let him outside in the light. It will be very painful for him. He needs to stay calm."

"Good Lord" is all I heard IN UNISON from both Cherry Pie and Head Poodle.

We get the bill paid, and I am hoisted into the back of the SUV for the ride home. Boy, she was right, it was very painful. I kept trying to rub my eye. Cherry Pie broke land and speed records getting us all back home.

When we got there, they dug out the head cone from the garage. Let me register my complaint right now. I HATE THE CONE.

After getting the beast on, I tried going on strike. Cherry was very gentle with me. She even got my big bed out, and she put it in the middle of the living room floor. Then she helped me lay down on it. I couldn't think straight. That cone is very disorienting. I was afraid to even move a muscle. So I didn't. Thankfully, Cherry Pie realized what was going on, and she helped me sit then lie down. That made me somewhat comfortable.

This went on all night long. Ointment in the eyes every four hours, and try to lay still. Even Lula Mae was right there with me. Well she wandered off a little bit, but she came right back to stay with me.

Christmas day wasn't so much fun. Lula and I spent the day in the bedroom. Just as well, there were too many people in the house. It was very noisy. I was happy to be all cuddled up with my gurly, Lula.

The next day I started feeling better. I could even see a little bit. I got to go outside and pee all by myself. What a relief.

Today, four days after the episode, I am almost back to normal. I still have some cloudiness on the eye according to Cherry, but HOORAY, the conehead is gone....Victory....

I heard Cherry on the phone this morning calling the groomer....let's see what she finds out from her, but we shall have to wait another day. The groomer is not in until tomorrow.

I have forgiven her, but I am not sure Cherry will...stay tuned.

Peanut misses her daddy

Hi, my name is Peanut. I come to visit the Poods frequently, and have gone on lots of walks with them when my daddy, Christian, takes us. Remember the trampoline fiasco? Thankfully, I was spared that trauma. I was at home snug in my kennel, and had no idea they had just had a near death experience on the trail. I am so glad my daddy is a smart guy and kept everyone from getting hurt.

For the past four days, I have been enjoying the hospitality of the Poods. Amy (Cherry Pie's daughter) had to go to the hospital for an operation, so Titus, aka Tidey Whitey, was sent to another foster day care home whilst I came to the Poods house.

Head Poodle and Cherry Pie have been very nice to me. I have enjoyed my food at the right time, and got to go potty outside in the backyard all by myself. That is a biggie. I usually have to be on a leash. Yes, there was snow in the backyard, but it was kinda icey so I did not have to get too wet. Did I mention I am a Southern California girl and have NEVER seen snow? Thank Gawd my daddy got me a sweater. I thought I would freeze my nips off before they figured out that one!!! Then they went and did something even more insane. They bought me snow booties....I can tell you I do not like the snow, but I do not like those darned booties even MORE!!! I feel like something is stuck to my pads and I can't get it off, like gum or other yuckyness . Daddy says I look like I am swimming in slow motion. They take pleasure in my pain. Something is wrong with them if you ask me.

In any event, I am about to go home sometime today. I can't wait to see my daddy. I can't quite help myself. Every now and then I wander aimlessly around the house looking for him. Cherry Pie tries to tell me he will be home soon, but I cry anyway. The Poods keep checking on me too. They are such a bother. Especially that Lula Mae. She won't quit licking my ears. I have told her in no uncertain terms to quit following me around and licking my ears and ESPECIALLY quit nibbling me, but she ignores my requests. I think she is a little dense. I mean, if your friend were in trauma, would you bug the shit out of them? Seriously, I am glad Head Poodle has taken those two out for a walk. It does make me jealous though. Cherry Pie just told me to go lie down, but I am ignoring her too....

I WANT MY DADDY....can't anyone hear me?????

Run Poodles, Run!!!!

It was the fourth day Christian came to take us for a walk. We like Christian. He lets us lick him, and he doesn't even complain. He just laughs. Lula Mae likes him just fine, and we all remember she doesn't like men much. Could be she is shaking off her former traumas in life.

Head poodle calls Christian the "Poodle Whisperer."

Head Poodle was away for a whole week playing a tennis tournament in Florida. Cherry Pie recruited Christian to come take us for walks because she would be gone too long during the day. We were very grateful for that. The kennels are comfy, but not for hours and hours on end. Christian came by everyday and we all went for walks. We even enjoyed playing with Peanut and Titus several days. All was good until the last walk.

Christian showed up just when we thought he had forgotten all about us. It was a beautifully sunny day. We got our leashes on then headed outside. Bam, we were hit with a blast of wind that almost knocked us over. Christian keep saying we would be alright, and we needed to get out and take a walk. It was spooky man. The gusts would hit so hard it flattened our dos and made us hunker down closing our eyes as we trudged ahead. Sometimes we tried to hide behind Christian's legs, but that didn't even work. The wind was coming from every direction ALL AT ONCE. We kept walking figuring if Christian said we could do it, well who could argue with The Poodle Whisperer????

We made it through the wetlands when we heard Christian say something about a weird noise. We looked left. We looked right. It came from behind.....

WHOA, HOLY COW!!!! Christian shouted. He grabbed our leashes so tight I got scared. When he said RUN we RAN...right up the side of a bank of rocks. When I was finally able to turn around and look, there it came. The behemoth was rocking and rolling like a metal tumbleweed down the middle of the marsh. It made a kinda sloop, bam, sloop, bash kinda sound.

It was a HUGE trampoline with the sides still on it, well they were bent pretty badly because of the wild tumbling it was doing.

We waited up on a rocky berm as it rocked and rolled on by. Christian was fumbling around in his pocket trying to find his phone. He took a picture of the trampoline after it quit rolling because he knew no one would believe us if he didn't. Here is the picture he took.



Once that sucker quit rolling around, we got the heck outta there man. It was good to get out of those kennels, but we were taking our lives into our own hands I tell you.

When Cherry Pie came home that night, Christian called to give her the report.

"Good lord Christian!!! the weather reporter said we had winds in excess of 60 miles per hour today. I did not expect you to take them out." She sounded very breathless. I was watching her. Cherry Pie's eyes were as big as a scared cartoon character. You have seen them, Wonk-Wonk goes the music suddenly the eyes pop out of the character's head. That was Cherry Pie. If she thought it was scary hearing about the event, she should have been there. We were lucky we did not end up in the sequel to the Wizard of Oz....

Thanks, Christian, we love you for taking us out of those kennels everyday, but let's forget about it the next time the Washoe Zephyr's act up, Okay?