Our Losing Shorty Dog

This has been such a long time in writing, but we have had so much going on here lately.  We lost our Shorty dog a couple of months ago. He HAD been doing so well, but one day, he just kept having seizures and he went to bed, and the next morning, he had passed in his sleep. My husband and I were totally devastated.  Our Bella is doing well, although she misses Shorty so much. We had lost our Abbey dog about a month before Shorty so we have had a lot of loss. However, my hubs is now starting to want a companion for Bella, but I don't know if I am ready or not.  How will I know when it's time?

awe, life with a chihuahua is a great thing.  My Bella loves laying right beside me on my favorite chair and looks at me badly every time I get up.  What would we do without such dedicated pets? Bella knows who her momma is !  lol

My Shorty Dog

Shorty is about 9 years old now and is still doing well. Yes, you might be noticing that he has a red thing attached to his back side but that's because it is a belly band. I have had to put these on him during the day time, especially when I am gone due to his loving to mark his (our) territory and since he is not fixed, this is an easy remedy to protect our furniture and keep him out of too much trouble. Shorty has just discovered his favorite wet dog food and has been a little more spunkier since trying it. I still feed him dry dog food and at this time we are using Fromm, but he loves his food topped with a small spoon of wet food and his favorite is Blue's Blue Irish Lamb Stew.  The chunks are a good size and with not too much gravy he is now jumping up and down when he sees me putting his food in his bowl. 

Chihuahuas are hearty little dogs, mostly picky eaters, but finally I have found something that he enjoys!

My Chihuahuas Are Barking !

I happened to have company come over this afternoon and low and behold, my darling chihuahuas decided to act like my bodyguards. Sometimes chihuahuas like to show others that they are big and bad, but the only thing bad about mine are their barks! All the while barking, they are all wagging their tails. I finally got them settled down a bit, but that is one of their true characteristics. Chihuahuas are great little dogs.  They don't seem to like visitors coming over to my home, however, if they are approached correctly, and with time, they warm up fairly quickly. Socialization is very important while they are growing up to get them used to alot of people being around. And no matter how many times I tell them to stop barking, they love to have the last word.

What Does It Take To Make A Chihuahua Happy?

What does it take to make a chihuahua happy?  First of all, it's love and attention.  Chihuahuas are the kind of dogs that love to be with their people. Most of the time, they choose one person out of the family who they cling to most, but not always. In our household, my chi prefers to lay beside me, but also loves the attention of my hubby, my son and my stepson. My hubby's chi prefers to be with him, but will follow me around the house, especially when it's time to eat.(of course) Chis can be more friendly if socialized more so it depends on your situation.
Chihuahuas also need a soft warm spot to lay. Mine prefer to have a blanket large enough for them to snuggle underneath as if to burrow. During the nights, my chis prefer to sleep in their own kennel, as if they needed their privacy (ha!).
Chihuahuas also need to have a good kibble that's small enough for them to eat well, and some like some of the wet dog food as well, but make sure it's a good quality one.  Chi's also need plenty of water. I leave a bowl of water filled at all times.
Chihuahuas love to play, well most of them do. My Bella loves to play, but my hubby's Shorty Dog does not care about any type of play...he likes to just lay around.
Chihuahuas are a hearty little dog, but they act as though they are the biggest dog in the world. My dogs do not understand that they are small. They are actually fearless. They are wonderful barkers and alert you to anything that's not normal activity but they do not make a good guard dog, although my chis just so happen to act like they are ready to jump the person who even gets close to me, and sometimes can act like they are going to ankle bite.
Chi's need a good veterinarian to take of their needs such as keeping them up to date on shots and taking care of their health. These little dogs deserve the best care they can get, so make sure that you like their vet. Along with this, they need some grooming if they have alot of hair, and if not, then a little bit will do with regular nail clipping too!
A place to go to the restroom and do their duties is good and if they are an inside only dog, then doggie pee pads are a must!, along with a patient person to teach them where to go and not go.
Chis also enjoy toys, a nice comfty bed, and sometimes they enjoy clothing and jewelry..lol, but mine do not do well with clothing unless it's cold outside!

Bella enjoying the nice hot dryer clothes

Miss Bella After A Nap

Update On Miss Bella

Hello to everyone and their precious chihuahuas.....we are all doing fine here but have had alot of personal stuff going on that has taken me away from my blogging.  I am hoping to change that and start writing more often. My Bella is doing well. I took her for her yearly rabies and distemper shot last week and everything went well....so much so that since I have kept on a normal routine for her shots that they say that she won't have to have a rabies or distemper for 3 years.  I am thrilled ! I asked about this because I told them if it meant giving her MORE medicine in the shot that I would rather not do that, but they said that it's the same amount but because I have kept up on her shots for the required time, that she wouldn't have to come back next year...so it's all good. I had them give her the shot to keep the bloating and allergies first and she was good.  No problems at all !  She now weighs in at 4.9 pounds., eats very well and has maintained her girl-ish figure.  Has anyone else heard about the 3 yr. rabies shot? Just wondering.

Bella Was A Good Dog This Year

Bella got a present this year, but it was actually a much smaller toy than this one....this big toy belongs to Abbey, our much larger chi/terrier mix, but Bella felt like she needed to break it in for her, I recon.  All the dogs seemed to enjoy their new toys they got for Christmas....will post a few more pics soon.

Bella Enjoying Christmas

Well, the tree is up, with all it's decorations and as of late, I have been doing quite a bit of wrapping.....I wished that I could be like some people who wrap their gifts up as they buy them, but no....not me.  So, with wrapping paper all over the floor, present to wrap and name tags here and there, Bella has been wondering what the heck is going on.  Maybe she doesn't remember this from last year, but she has been really interested in what I have been doing.  The wrapping paper has startled her, and she has been watching me like a hawk.  Crazy Chihuahua!

Holidays And Bella

I am sorry that I have not written in a while...my life has been so busy that I haven't had much time to even sit and rest.  My daughter went to Navy boot camp and finished....after that, she went to her schooling.and so far, it's been crazy around here. I did take Bella to the vet a couple of days ago for a heartworm test because on her last visit, they forgot to give it to her....luckily, she was heartworm negative....which is always good to hear. She weighed in at 4.4 pounds.....doing well.
Hopefully I will get back on track and start posting regularly again.

Steam Cleaning Before The Holidays!

Yesterday, I noticed how my carpets are starting to look dreary and dull, and talk about stink !  My chis have had a few mishaps as of late, something that just happens when you have dogs in the house...What to do about it? There's always the possibility of my pulling out my large, but heavy carpet cleaner and doing it myself, or there's a company out of Austin that will come and do the job for me. I found that  http://thesteamteam.com/austin-cleaning-services seems to have a very wide variety of cleaning available.  What's also good is that because I own pets, they also offer pet odor treatments, leather cleaning and also offer upholstery cleaning, which is something I need because my doggies love laying on my sofas.  With the holidays coming up, what a wonderful way to spruce up my house before company comes!

Our Lazy Days Of Waiting

With each passing day, we wait....Bella, Shorty and Abbey lay around the house along with me, waiting for their "sissy" (my daughter) to walk through the door.  I don't know how dog's minds work and I don't know if they miss her or not....however, I  DO know that if I say "sissy", they head toward the door and look out as if to be looking for her car to pull in the drive.  Chihuahuas are very smart little dogs. From somehow knowing that I am saddened at my daughter's being gone, they cling right by my side at every moment they can. My daughter is in boot camp and she has one more month to go, and I am in hopes that by the time that Christmas comes around, she will get to come home on leave...
One good thing about having a dog is that they are wonderful companions...always here when I need them.

My Suprize Box

Friday was a good and relaxing day for me, and my chis...I didn't have to work, and they were glad that I got to spend the entire day at home with them......however, right in the middle of the day, while we were all taking our little naps, my chis saw the UPS man come up to the door.....barking was what woke me up.  Thank goodness for my little watch dogs....right?  The UPS man brought a box, and immediately, I knew what it was.  I was not expecting this package already, actually I thought it wouldn't come until next week.  I brought it in, tore it open and my little chis started wagging their tails and sniffing away...... it was my daughter's box that came from Navy boot camp.  She enlisted and went into boot camp just last week. They smelled her clothing and shoes, and looked at me, as if to say " where's sissy at"? I was sad, but at the same time, I was glad to get her things, and happy that my dogs were there to comfort me too.  She is going to be gone for several months before she can get the chance to come back home...but I know that once she steps back into the house, they will be happy to see her.

Chihuauhas Are Great Companions

Bella is soooo spoiled rotten. She has the best of all worlds....a window to look out of to see what's going on, and a nice warm blanket to hide underneath when she feels cold. Bella is a great source of comfort to me, and that's what is so wonderful about chihuahuas. Not only are they lap dogs, or at least ones who want to be near their owner, but they can comfort you in times of need....times when you are upset about something....and she is always there when I need her.  She's a picky little eater though, I must admit, and she likes some children (the older ones) but does NOT like younger children as much. She loves the granddaughter who was staying with us all summer (age 10) but does NOT like my granddaughter who lives out of state and comes to visit (age 5)...perhaps it's because the younger one is a little rough at trying to pick her up, or maybe she's used to one more than the other. Bella is nosy, loves her chew toys and thinks that all the toys in the house belong to her and not the other two chis. Bella is now one and a half years old and that is when most chihuahuas mature. She is tiny, very tiny, but weighs 4 pounds and of those 4 pounds, she is stocky and feels solid when picked up, very much UNLIKE my other chi that weighs nearly the same but is very dainy and fragile-feeling when picked up. Bella, Bella, Bella, what am I gonna do with you?  I will definetely need  lots of attention when my daughter (or as we call her, your sis) leaves for the Navy next week.....boo hoo.

What Can I Say Except For "House Of The Laid Back Chihuahuas"

Update On Bella's Elevated Liver Test

Today I called to find out about Bella's elevated liver levels, and to be honest, they told me that they were low a year ago. Here's what it's supposed to be for ALT 10-100, and Bella's were 137.  The ALKP is supposed to be 23-212 and her's her 57....but last year, Bella's alt was only 56 and the alkp was 220, so it seems that the numbers have been reversed. I explained that Bella would not eat the Science Diet and that I was having a problem with giving it to her so the Vet Dr. has prescribed something called Samm-E. and I have to go and pick it up. So, it's not anything heavy duty for me to worry about, but I still have some concern. Thank goodness I don't have to give my poor Bella that nasty food.

Bella And The New LD Food

I am here to tell you that even though Bella had a slightly elevated liver count on her blood test, that she is supposed to be eating that Hill's Science Diet LD food.  She hates it, in fact she did eat a small portion of it and ended up with loose stools. It was not a good thing. I spoke to the Vet and she told me to take her back off of it for a few days and then try and re-introduce it to her again. It is food that comes in a can, but it is not very moist at all. I am not sure how I am going to get her to eat it, or even try it again. And what's worse, there doesn't seem to be ANYTHING else on the market for liver diet. Now, the Vet did NOT say that she had a large problem, only that it was slightly eleveater....what does that mean? Should I go and have another blood test done? Has anyone else ever encountered this problem, and if so, what did you do?

Bella's Slightly Elevated Liver Test.

It was time for Bella to go to the Vet to get her yearly shots, etc....and weighing in at a whopping 4 pounds, she was shaking and terribly upset. Bella doesn't like being somewhere other than home. She got her shot that counteracts any allergic reaction and it seemed like we were in there waiting for a very long time. Blood work came back and the dr. was explaining her results, and suddenly she told me that Bella's liver level was a little bit elevated. I was shocked. Bella always eats well, plays hard and has a beautifully shiny coat. Dr. asked me if she eats people food, and I said no, except for an occasional bit of chicken, and then she wanted to know about her food. I pay top dollar for the dog food, which is supposed to be good food. She prescribed some Hills Science Diet LD for her. I bought 2 cans, of which was dry and yucky looking. Bella doesn't seem to like it well and I mixed it with her regular food and she has eat some of it. The dry bag of food sells for 55.00 but it's nearly a 20 pound bag and my 4 pound chi is NOT going to eat it all. So, now I am on the hunt for the smallest bag. Seems there's nothing even close to it anywhere(other brands). I am now wondering if there is anything that might cause a slightly elevated liver level. No other tell-tale signs of trouble. Anybody with any answers out there?  I would love to hear from you, if you do.

Bella Enjoying Her Chew