I would want to hide too...

...if I had your problems! I spent $200 at the vet getting a second opinion of my dog's problems. It was worth it, because i feel like I can really help him now.

He gets a bath twice a week with medicated shampoo to help his skin feel better from his skin infection. He gets an antibiotic for the next 21 days. He gets an ear cleanser to help with his waxy ears. He gets a pill to help him with his diarrhea. I can't help him with his cataracts, his ataxia, or his neurological problems (either a brain tumor or spinal cord problem) but I can try to make him more comfortable. This new vet thinks he is more than 10 years old. So the rescue group I got him from lied to me or were misinformed. They thought he was 5 to 7 years old.

I guess I sure know how to pick 'em. But I just love him so much, almost from the moment I saw him. I just have to watch my budget now and not spend so much money on stuff. It helps that I didn't spend much on x-mas presents this year (I am Jewish, but I still buy gifts for my parents and nephews and nieces, since they are not Jewish). And I was going to buy my husband an expensive cell phone, but it will have to wait now! :)

Helping an Old Dog

We have had our dog Treif since May. He has so many problems! The latest is a staph skin infection and I have to give him 1/2 a Baytril pill every day. It is not easy. He won't let me push it down his throat so I have to keep coming up with ways for him to take it willingly. I put the pill in hamburger, cheese, sausage, and I used to use peanut butter, but I am thinking he might be allergic to that (which caused him to get a skin infection in the first place).

He also has episodes like alzheimer's and sometimes will pee on the floor before I have a chance to get him outside. I can literally be putting on my coat and reaching down to put his leash on, and he will start to pee.

But God I love him. I can't believe how much. He is so cute!

Going back on meds!

I was ok for awhile, stepping down my dosage. I was in my third week of being on 25mg per day and I realized I was in a very dark place. I just felt so dark and gloomy. It kind of came on gradually. This could have been another "discontinuation syndrome" symptom. But I didn't want to wait around and find out. I hate the idea of being on Zoloft my whole life, but I guess my life is about half-over anyway (I am 40). And now zoloft is available in generic form so it only costs $8 per month for me (it used to be $20).

I guess things could be worse.