Friday P.M. Doctor Visit

Later Friday, I hired a babysitter so I could take Shreve back to the vet's office -- this time to see the doctor. When we walked out of the examination room back into the lobby, this nice retired couple were waiting with their own two Keeshonds — 8-year-old brothers from Rhode Island. I was so excited (more than Shreve) to run into other Keeshonds because you just never do unless you're at a dog show. I chatted them up and even exchanged phone numbers with them. Here's a picture of the three of them, with Shreve in the background being his usual standoffish self. I tried to get him to come closer for a photo but this was as good as I could get. Because the breed markings and other traits are so distinguishing, most Keeshonds look very much alike. I was actually surprised these two guys are brothers since one is so lightly colored. Note how all three have that smile -- one of the traits (a nickname for the breed is the Smiling Dutchman, or something like that, as they originated in Holland).

Shreve's appointment was one I made just yesterday. Shreve has been having some issues with what I thought were his hinds legs. He'll sit down abruptly at times and move his head back and forth toward the back, sometimes sort of growling or moaning, as if very agitated. It always is a very brief episode and there is no limping at all. He can run and easily do stairs, etc. The doctor believes it could be some sort of mild seizure. But first he wants to rule out food allergies, so I'm going to follow his suggested diet changes and we'll reassess in a month or so. The vet doesn't believe it's an orthopedic issue based on his examination and Shreve's history. Last year Shreve was having a similar kind of issue with a hind lameness but there was a bit of limping for a few months whenever he would walk after having been sitting. Back then we were living in New York and took him to Cornell University's Veterinary School which ruled out luxating patellas and hip dysplasia. It was frustrating when even the Ivy League doctors couldn't figure out what his problem was. They ended up putting him on a doggie version of Glucosamine Chondroitin. He took the pill daily for a while. After three months I stopped giving it to him because the issue had disappeared. I figured it may have been some sort of soft tissue problem that took a while to heal.

When we left the vet I decided to keep the babysitter hired for a bit longer, as I knew I sure needed the break. I took Shreve to the doggie park, where I ran into this nice longtime dog lover (a former German Shephard show dog owner who now has only a deformed mini Doberman -- I am not making this stuff up). She saw Shreve doing his little thing and gave me her own opinions as to what it could be. But it involves, uhm, a part of the body I'd prefer not talk about. I'll run it by the doctor just in case. But since the vet had already asked me whether Shreve was having gastrointestinal problems I'm sure this is not the cause of Shreve's issues. Also, I'd video-taped one of Shreve's episodes which I had shown to the doctor. That's why I had my camera at the vet's office — in case you were wondering!