So meet Benny & Joon, a couple of parakeets that were rescued from a shelter and now enjoying the company of a caring family…and checking in on Daisy and Gretchen of course.

Benny & Joon: Antioch, CA

And then there’s Godzilla.  A territorial love bird that just can’t get enough of Daisy and Gretchen’s antics.  Just check out this great picture of Godzilla reading the latest on D&G’s website!!  Even though she is named after a monster, she does have one great personality and apparently loves the camera.

So what are you waiting for?  Send D&G a picture of your pet, whether furry, feathered, or scaled and we’ll add you to our list and give you a proper hello.

Send your pics, their names, location, and even a short bio to:  Dogs AT daisyandgretchen DOT com  (sorry, trying to avoid spam)

A yelp was followed by a face rubbing on the grass along with a little drooling.  In a few minutes all appeared well and she returned to exploring the yard.  However, when we came inside for the night I noticed Gretchen’s lip was just a little off. The wasp got her good…

As the week moved from Monday to Wednesday, we found Daisy’s appetite had diminished, her diarrhea increased and we were up multiple times per night to let her out in an emergency.  But while Daisy ignored her food, Gretchen found it as the perfect opportunity to try and sneak a few mouthfuls from Daisy’s bowl.  Sneaky little dog!  I imagine she was simply trying to prevent food going to waste (yeah right!).

Thursday not only marked a call to the vet for an appointment on Friday, but a record number of times to let Daisy out.  Each of the six times from mid-night to 4am (Technically Friday morning) was met with the bedroom door opening and Daisy running down the stairs; impatiently waiting for the sliding door to permit her release into the backyard. Her stomach was gurgling and audible from 2 feet away.  

But by 10am, her activity began to return as well as her appetite. However, we continued with the vet appointment just as a precaution. 

After a thorough examination, including some X-rays to make sure she did not have a blockage, Daisy was given a prescription of bland food: low fat cottage cheese and white rice. And as Monday rolled around, so did Daisy in regards to her ‘normal’ routine.

The vet believes Daisy may have picked up a virus, perhaps  during a 3 day stay at a local kennel in the five days prior to her getting sick.  At least she did not swallow anything that required surgery…as determined by the following x-rays…Wheeew!

If this is your first visit, we are all about sharing the lives of Daisy & Gretchen with you and their many antics.  And we also sprinkle the site with information about our world with dogs.

WELCOME BACK and ENJOY!!!

As they sat silently watching, their emotionless faces soon turned to shear excitement as I reached for the garage door.  Just one more action is required before their eyes indeed believe what they are seeing.  And in a moment I signaled them to the truck which sealed the deal.  But it wasn’t a long ride and it did not end at a park or the beach.  In fact, it was a mere parking lot, but to both Daisy and Gretchen this still seemed exhilarating.  They pulled with excitement and finally we entered the Vet’s office.

The smells of an assortment of felines, canines, and a red tailed boa were complemented with the bright yellows and blues of a few tangs in a saltwater aquarium.  In less than 30 seconds of taking our seat the house cat wandered over to take a gander at Daisy and Gretchen, using my wife and I as stepping stones.  All was well in the German Shorthaired Pointer world.

Until…we were called into the ROOM.  At that point all hell broke loose as Daisy realized exactly where she was and all her past experiences proved this place was no fun at all.  As we sat waiting for the vet to make an appearance, both Daisy (especially) and Gretchen pawed at the exit door as if we were at home and we would actually let her outside.  Daisy obviously forgot that she is not in charge, which does seem to be the case at home according to her.

Daisy and Gretchen trying to escape the vet

As the vet kneeled to begin a routine exam of her teeth, Daisy transformed into a bucking bronco and was ultimately escorted to the way back room where her parents could no longer be seen.  Yep, Daisy was quite pathetic that morning and we heard her crying as the needle delivered her rabies booster.  Which by the way was quite surprising considering she is typically thick skinned and has never made a peep when getting previous shots.  And all this time Gretchen sat tilting her head in response to the unseen commotion unaware that she was up next.

And when all was said and done, a clean bill of health, a loss of 4 pounds each (Yay!), the door was opened and they bolted from the confining space. Whew!!! Disaster averted.

Daisy recovering in mother's arms

Thought we’d introduce a new feature for Mondays that highlights a few of the previous week’s news and blog posts we found interesting and pertinent to the world of dogs.  I imagine a few sentences lifted from the piece and a link to the exposition will suffice.

And why not open up the comments  for any recommendations on articles or post you find intriguing (and dog relevant of course). Obviously we can’t catch them all and this might be a great way to get in touch with some blogs of which we are not familiar, news we may have missed, or photos and videos that are a must see.  I’m looking forward to your additions to this week’s The Weekly Poop!

Three genes combine for 7 coat types in dogs (Aug 27)
“From short to shaggy, nearly all the differences in dogs’ coat types result from variations in just three genes, according to researchers studying how genes work together.”

Dog finds psyllids in Sacramento FedEx package (Aug 28)
“The finding this week by a sniff dog in Sacramento is the latest bad news for the state’s $1.6 billion citrus industry, which has seen the Asian citrus psyllid jump quarantines in San Diego and Imperial counties and move into Orange and Los Angeles counties on a march from Mexico.”

Dog’s presence a gift from the heart (Aug 26)
“Dogs don’t have to perform heroic acts or wondrous feats to earn our love. Forget the Westminster Kennel Club “Best in Show” or Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks.” Usually, all it takes for a dog to paw its way into our heart is its mere presence. And that’s just what San Francisco resident, Nancy Lisser enjoys with her Irish terrier, Lois.”

Who’s the Boss? You or Your Dog? (Aug 28)
“100 years ago, most dogs were not even allowed in the house.  They were kept as outside animals and probably slept under the porch or in the barn.”

Posted by d0gl0ver on A Dog Lover’s Blog

Be prepared for emergencies the green way! (Aug 26)
“Emergencies come in many forms and may require anything from taking cover in a safe place in your home or a brief absence from your residence, to temporary or even permanent evacuation. So, what can a green dog do to be prepared for emergencies?”

Posted by JOHANN THE DOG on Raise a Green Dog!

St. Huberts Saves 120 Puppy Mill Dogs (Aug  25)
“St. Huberts in Madison, NJ recently received a truckload of dogs from a puppy mill.”

Posted by Kenn Bell on DogFiles