I love her

I've been too busy looking after Zoey to sit down, gather my thoughts and all the facts and write a proper post here.

Today we go for her four week check with our holistic vet and I'm anxious. I think she's improved and improving, finally, but she's lost so much fur and is still itchy. I'll write about it properly when I get a moment or two or thousand.

Meanwhile, Friday will mark two months since Zoey came home. Her settling-in period has been marred by her condition and the endless treatment for it but despite it all she is an absolute treasure. I love her so much and I feel our relationship strengthening everyday. I'm so thankful that she's ours and we are so very definitely hers.

Last night, during her post-bath cuddle, I noticed on her furless chest that her pigmentation (totally natural) makes a very special 'birthmark'. I can't think of anything more perfect for her. She's my little hound of love.

It's a hard life

Unimpressed by the christmas octopus

and the allocation of sofa space.

Not now, Ollie!

Holistically happy

We have Malaseb shampoo from Vet#1 because it's anti-bacterial and anti-fungal but it also has these potential side effects. It has also been known to put dogs into a coma. Uh huh. Now I know that listed side effects are always worst case scenarios but see, Zoey is beautifully pug-faced. She has prominent eyes and a short nose. If something can cause respiratory problems and is harmful to eyes, it's going to be more likely with her. That's before we even start on the other stuff.

Yesterday I did some research and found the Hilton Herbs range and specifically this shampoo. Which I happened to have in my cupboard. I'd bought it recently to help Nell with her itchy skin but hadn't used much. So I'm going to give Zoey twice weekly baths with this and see how it goes. She hates being bathed. Hates it. Tries to escape all the time and man, she's a wriggly fast little monkey! But she smells good and her skin feels soft.

I've made an appointment for January 5th with Nick Thompson. I've emailed and spoken on the phone to him and his assistant and ohmygod I'm in love with my vet practice. Anyone who talks about the energy of pills and recommends homeopathic remedies over the phone before we've even met...JOY. In the meantime, ZoZo is settling in and happy and looking good and getting lots of Reiki from me and I have high hopes we'll get this beaten soon.

Bathtime can be exhausting. Thank goodness for fireside armchairs (with Welsh tapestry cushion for Welsh dog).

ZoZo the fu dog

Zoey Bean is a Pug x Shih Tzu I adopted from a sanctuary in South Wales at the beginning of December 2011, on her third birthday.

She looks like a fu dog and, as fu in Chinese has lucky associations, that seems right to me. I’m lucky to have found her.

When ZoZo came to me she’d recently had puppies (maybe not her first litter if my vet is correct), been spayed, been left at the sanctuary by her family and lived with some 30 other dogs in strange surroundings.

Despite all this she is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met.

Because of all this (probably) she has demodectic mange. With a secondary bacterial infection (pyoderma) and a yeast infection (malessezia) on top. Nice. She is ITCHY.

I’ve spoken with my vet this week about a traditional drug-based, symptom-treating approach and frankly it’s so counter-intuitive to me that I can’t do it. Demodex takes hold when the immune system is suppressed or run down so why would you ‘treat’ it by dosing your dog with poisons inside and out? Instead I’m taking Zoey to see a holistic vet and talk about building her up into full health with a strong immune system.

Anyway, this is where I’ll write about ZoZo, her progress, her gorgeousness and her new life with us. More about that later.