Dealing with Pets???

I couldn't resist responding to this post! I am just a huge doggie lover

Anyway I also have two dogs. One weighs 90-100 pounds and the other is 8 months old and over 100 pounds!

Usually the puppy has a race to see who can get to the back door first and plays hard with the older one in the front room here. But when I came home from the castle he seemed to be just fine walking slowly behind me. They never played once in the front room either. The older dog (he's 3yrs old) would come to me and sit and lay his head on my lap and just look up at me! AAAWWWW!!!!

I really believe dogs just seem to know. My older dog, I believe knows exactly what I'm saying most of the time, he's just too smart. Hopefully some will rub off on the pup too!

Take care,

BeatlesCrzy

GREAT points about the feeding/watering issue.....I usually do that, so need to put it on DH's list of "honey-do" stuff. My neighbor's son is 8, and we pay him to scoop for us (he gets to earn a little $$ of his own that way), and he could probably walk the dogs, too.

Both of my dogs are very much "Mom's", and stick to me like glue. I bet they figure out quickly that I'm feeling poorly. As long as no one jumps on my belly for a few weeks, we should be fine.

Just amazing how much there is to think about; so many little details that are part of everyday life that someone else will need to take over for a while. I think I'll carry a little notebook and make a "diary" of all my daily tasks so I make sure I've got everything covered.

Keep the words of wisdom coming!

Peg

Of course, you can tell I'm a cat lover.....

I was worried too, since my kitty has a ritual of sitting on my belly when I lay down in bed to sleep.

Well, my dear boyfriend, snuck her into the hospital on day 2 and she sat by my side, never uttering a word!!! (and she's very vocal when she dislikes something!!) She hasn't been in a car in over 12 years, so I'm amazed at her behavior!! (vet comes to the house)

Since being home, she's only gotton on my tummy once, after double checking that the pillow was down there, and some reassurance from me it was ok.

She's been a dear - sleeping by my side, kisses, purrss...

I swear all pets know and care....I couldn't imagine not having my little one (yeah- all 16 pounds of her) with me.

Good luck!

the cat maid

I am boarding my three dogs only for the time I am in the hospital. I broke my ribs about 6 weeks ago and they were perfect Angels. Even Sadie the 65 lb. Malamute that sleeps in the bed with us slept instead on the floor on her doggy bed.

Somehow they know. Besides mine are a great comfort to have around.

Loree

My 40 lb dynamo lab mix and 15 lb snuggly cocker mix were both very careful with me. I kept a pillow on my tummy just in case, but somehow they knew I was "fragile" for a while. They would carefully edge their way to me and snuggle against my leg or sit with a chin on my knee, but they didn't do their normal "here I come" leaps.

s
Cat

I have two dogs - one 77 lbs and the other 88ish lbs. Last year when I had my laparscopy (sp?) they were the best! They stayed in the room with me anytime my DH left, they did not leave my side. We have a dog door with a fenced in yard so I didn't have to worry about walking them (and DH even did my thankless job of poop scooping!). They did inspire me to get up and walk around the house and watch them outside. Both were really good about leaning on me or waiting when I did stairs or got unsteady - it's like they know they need to support at times really weird. The puppy, the 88ish lbs., went to daycare once a week to burn off energy and it worked out fine. We'll have the same routine again this time. Only change will be that we'll have a neighbor coming to feed the dogs while I'm in the hospital. They really are great companions and motivators for movement!

I'll board my little (22 pounds), female dog the day before I go in for surgery. I -hate- that she won't be with me, curled against me, my last night. :`( The kennel is -very- near the hospital and the friend who will take me and pick me up plans to load me, head straight for the kennel and get Lucy. :-)

As I should be in only two or three days, my teeny (five pounds), 15+ year old cat will stay home with extra food and water bowls and two litter boxes. If there are complications, I have a couple friends with house keys who will check on Spike until I return.

Final, interesting note... I've had Lucy three years. She's always curled up on the recliner footrest or wedged herself between the armrest and my butt. Ever since the surgery was scheduled, she stretches across my abdomen, nose on one hip, tail on the other! Ladies...I swear I believe she knows and is trying to protect me and/or tell me it will be okay. :-)

The only thing I can add is there are supplements to calm dogs down you can get in online or some of your bigger petstores. IT is called CALMS people use it for dog shows one hour before the dog is shown in the ring, it is not a drug. I have two big dogs, one is very hyper and when I give him the calms he is very queit for sure. It has Valerian root, passion flower,celery seed, catnip, hopes, and ginger that's it. I too worry about my animal when I go to the castle. Last night Dh forgot to but two 4 foot parrots away before he went to church left them on the play gym I was trying to sleep as I have bronchitis now and waiting on a surgery date sometime this month, so they were out by themselves for 2 hours. He sacres me more then the surgery, I am disable and all I have to live with are my animals and if something would happen to one of them while I was gone I think he will be to find another home. He does not have to try and care for me I hired a nurse for the day time and some at night, All he has to do is take care of the animals and light cleaning. He won't cook either, I have found wonderful gourmet food from QVC with easy cooking for the nurses. Good luck with all your animal babies they truley understand our pain. Aloha Ellie