It’s time Sophie had the spotlight in this blog. After all, it belongs to her—my file name for blog drafts is “SophieBlog.”
Sophie is familiar with the usual people words, though chooses whether to obey sit and stay. Of course she knows breakfast, supper, walk, ride, out. She likes all of those words.
Since her torn ACLs the year before last, she has learned the word UP. Her recovery took two months of being walked with her backend supported by a sling to take the weight off while her hind legs moved. Some fellow dog walkers consider her the “miracle dog” because she recovered so well.
During the time of the sling and ever since, she has been lifted up onto bed and sofa, and most of the time also lifted down. She does take matters into her own paws if people aren’t fast enough to lift her down (though she knows better than to jump off the bed, which is higher).
The Eyes have it
Her latest word is EYES. By that she understands she has to undergo eye ointment. Back in January, we took her to the vet because her eyes were so gummed up she couldn’t see. We were informed that it was “dry eyes,” a condition that would have to be treated for the rest of her life.
We began with ointment twice-a-day and occasional eye drops as well. My normal process is to lift her onto the loveseat, position her so I’m facing her back and can reach her head to pry open her eyes and deposit the bit of ointment on her lower lid, followed by praise for being a “good dog.”
On her next to last checkup, her eyes were producing tears so well that the vet wanted to try reducing her to ointment once a day, with a follow-up to see if that dose would be enough. So for 4 weeks, I applied once-a-day applications, though a few times I forgot and had to do it later in the day.
Alas, she wasn’t producing quite enough tears. We are now back to twice a day, but no need for added eye drops. Talking with the vet, I realized the easiest way for me to remember her meds would be to combine the ointment with her two daily meals.
The vet applauded the idea and said to put the ointment on first, then reward her.
Monday night we did just that.
Tuesday morning Sophie amazed me! I told her we were going to do her eyes and then she would get breakfast. Sophie literally bounced to the loveseat and positioned herself to be lifted up.
She’s one smart dog.
Kate Harrington 