The upside to surgery? Millie spends her first night sharing our bed!

Thank you so much to all of the good thoughts for Millie! She is feeling as good as I can imagine you would feel after having had surgery. And on the upside, Millie got to spend her first night in the bed with us last night. That’s right, Millie doesn’t sleep in the bed. I know that seems hard to believe, seeing as she is such a sweet, snuggly, real-life teddy bear. She normally sleeps in her crate, which she loves, but last night, she got a taste of the bed, and now I have a feeling there is no going back. I think she liked sleeping on the bed, but unfortunately, Mama got zero sleep. Why? Because I had 9.7 pounds of fur sleeping directly on my neck, with a cone smushed into my face. When she finally seemed comfortable (which turned out to be in that position), I didn’t have the heart to move her. 

"Mom, not the best time for photos, please."

Poor Millie gets the cone of shame.

To add insult to injury, Millie has to wear a plastic
bag to go out in the rain to protect the stitches.

Millie vs. the Cone of Shame, Part 2...

Today is a big day for Millie. And Mama is anxious. Millie has an umbilical hernia, and today, she has surgery to repair it.

According to VetInfo.com, an umbilical hernia occurs when the contents of the abdomen extend beyond the belly button.  It appears as a soft mass that protrudes from what you would consider to be your pup’s abdomen. Some sources say that this isn’t dangerous, but the risk comes when, if the opening is large enough, the intestinal loop can slip through. If trapped, the result can be life-threatening intestinal loop strangulation (where the blood supply to the herniated tissue is cut off).

But that’s about as much black-and-white information as I can find on the condition. We know that it’s usually an inherited condition (Millie’s had it since she was little – we discovered shortly after her spay procedure), but what I cannot discern is whether or not treatment is required.

• VetInfo.com says that umbilical hernia surgery is meant only for severe cases, and that in most cases, the hernia is not life-threatening.
• PetPlace.com recommends elective repair of a larger hernia because of the risk of intestinal loop strangulation.
• PetEducation.com says that in many cases, a hernia that goes untreated can have a fatal outcome. “As an owner, do not take a hernia in your pet lightly. In many cases, they are disasters just waiting to happen.”

Since hernia surgery of course is done under anesthesia, vets recommend that you have the surgery at the same time your dog is spayed or neutered. Unfortunately for us, we took Millie to a spay/neuter clinic. And while this clinic is reputable, and very good at their specialty, they do not perform any other procedures. If only we had known Millie had a hernia at the time she was spayed.

While hernias can spontaneously close in young animals under about six months, Millie wasn’t as fortunate. Our vet recommended we close Millie’s hernia (rather than let it “run its course”) so that means Millie will be having umbilical hernia surgery to repair it. During the procedure, the vet will make a small incision below the hernia and then push back the protruding tissue into its normal position.

I’ve been told that umbilical hernia surgery is fairly routine (“fairly” doesn’t calm my nerves though). There are risks, of course, with the surgery that are true of any procedure, infection and anesthesia complications being the main two. Also, after surgery, be on the lookout for potential problems such as redness, swelling or discharge, and go back to your vet if these occur.

EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS OF INTESTINAL STRANGULATION

If your dog has a hernia and any of the following occur, call your vet ASAP:

Hernia is warm to the touch

Zero appetite

Abdominal pain or discomfort

Vomiting

Hernia has grown in size

Depression

Fever

Lethargy

IF UNTREATED, INTESTINAL STRANGULATION CAN RESULT IN DEATH IN AS LITTLE AS 24-48 HOURS.

I worry about putting Millie through something that may not be necessary, but the risk of intestinal strangulation scare me half to death. I hope that I have made the right decision in choosing to treat her hernia. 

Millie's Dirty Little Secret

CafePress.com

A few months ago, I noticed Millie had some rather foul breath and couldn't figure out why. And that's when I saw her munching on something something very, very naughty. That's right, Millie's got it bad for poop. So gross! The accepted term for poop-eating is technically called coprophagia, and it's a very disgusting habit that many dog-owners (myself included) struggle with. It turns out, there are several reasons why they do this:

• Boredom
• Hunger
• Stress
• Attention
• Illness
• Nutrient deficiency
• It just tastes good
• Or they be sneaky little delinquents trying to hide evidence!

When I learned of the causes, I could rule out hunger (because Millie would eat poop even if her bowl was full). I could rule out illness and probably nutrient deficiency, because she's on a strict regimen and has regular vet checkups that gave her a clean bill of health. I could discount the evidence hiding, because I've never known Millie to be concerned with misbehaving. In fact, I think that's her MO. And I could rule out attention, because this dog certainly gets more than her fair share. So that left boredom and stress. Maybe. And then there's the fact that some dogs actually think it just tastes good (!?!?). Bingo. I had some leads. So what to do? I consulted the web's wealth of information, and here are a few options it suggests trying to curb coprophagia:

1. Talk to your vet to rule out any health issues.
2. Supervise potty time. Closely. And remove any poop from your yard immediately to eliminate the opportunity for mischief.
3. A vet can prescribe an additive for your dog's food that is supposed to curb the nasty habit, or you could try a similar over-the-counter product from PetSmart or the like.
4. Try a higher grade dog food. The lower-grade foods may not provide the nutrients your dog needs, and as gross as it sounds, experts say that for your dog, it tastes pretty much the same going in as it does coming out.
5. Keep your dog busy with puzzle toys that make them work for a treat. It will keep their energy focused on anything but poop, and then they might be too exhausted to get into mischief.
6. And last, but not least, try putting pineapple in their food at every meal. Most dogs love the flavor of it in their meals, but it's not as tasty on the other end.

CafePress.com

I can say I have tried all of these options, and thus far, there's really only one that has worked for us so far - crushed pineapple. It's a simple solution, and has worked so far in the 2 weeks we have been adding it to Millie's meals. And it helps that Millie LOVES pineapple. Her breath now smells like pineapple (thank goodness) and we haven't had an incident in 2 weeks. Hooray!

For more information about coprophagia, check out Animal Planet's Victoria Stillwell (of It's Me or the Dog) take on the behavior. 

A Little Friday Inspiration!

Happy Friday, everyone! Here are some fun prints from another Etsy seller, Art by Manda, that offer up some good Friday inspiration! Not to mention, the three prints at the bottom, well, I just can't help myself. She does custom pet portraits. Hop on over to check out her other work!

Puppies Make the World Go Round

In honor of National Puppy Day, I thought I would share some photos of Millie as a wee pup! I can't believe how much she has grown, but she will always be a puppy in my eyes. I love looking back at these photos of her and her siblings and to think about how much joy she has brought into my life. I can't believe there was ever life before Millie. 

Now, if only I had some photos of baby Banjo. 

Eat Your Veggies!

To continue my Etsy kick, today I'm crushing on Etsy shop Wags and Wiggles and their super cute handmade chew toys! The shop owner creates these fun, fresh toys out of her very own little backyard studio, where she says she finds quiet time from her very busy household of 4 kids and 4 dogs! I think Millie would really love the carrot!

Puppy Paper Goodness!

Ok, I seriously can't help myself. I'm an Etsy addict, and I have recently discovered a little shop called African Grey, and now I am a woman obsessed. The shop sells fun greeting cards, prints, gift tags, calendars, custom portraits, and even paper doll pups. See for yourself. Irresistible, right?

Millie Does a Potty Dance

I captured what we call Millie’s “Potty Dance” on camera this morning. Only problem is, I was so focused on the dance, I forgot about what the dance MEANT. Ooops. That was totally, my fault, Millie…

Millie Does the Potty Dance (And Mom Doesn't Pick Up On It) from Banjo and Millie on Vimeo.

Ninth Annual Dog Jog!

Banjo and Millie had a great time at the ninth annual Richmond SPCA Dog Jog! We have never participated before and were not expecting as many people and pups as there were. It was a dog lovers dream! Here are just a few of the pics from our fun Saturday.

Banjo is after me Lucky Charms!

Ok, really, Banjo is after anything that is edible, including Lucky Charms. And how handsome is the little man all dressed up for St. Patrick's Day?! 

Kiss me, I'm Irish!  XOXO, Banjo (and Millie!)

Going Somewhere?

Meet Wally and Brie, Millie's brother and sister who live with Millie's Aunt (i.e. my sister) in North Carolina! You can tell they're siblings, especially when you look at Wally! They love their Mom's suitcase - it serves as the perfect bed for two little snugglers to share. Remember the Atomic Attic vintage suitcase beds I posted about in February? I think I know what to get these two for their birthday! But they have to promise to pack up the suitcase for a little trip up to visit Millie and me!

Banjo & Millie Adopt the Internet!

In honor of Petfinder.com's 15th birthday, they're asking pet bloggers to "Adopt the Internet." More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com, and we want to help Petfinder Adopt the Internet today, and find forever homes for as many as possible! In order to do that, we want to share with you a pup on Petfinder.com that we just adore, and hope that we can help him find a home. 


One of the dogs we want to help find a home is one of our favorite breeds, and just happens to share a name with one of the stars of Banjo & Millie - a shih tzu named Banjo! 


Here's a description of the little man:
"Banjo is a handsome little Shih Tzu.  He is a little timid but does like to snuggle with you.  He gets along great with other dogs and would do best in a home with another dog.  Banjo is up to date on vaccines and is neutered.  He will be microchipped prior to adoption.  Banjo will need a home with a secure fence.  If you are interested in possible adoption please go to www.DelawareRescue.com."
If you want to know how you can help Petfinder find homes for these wonderful pets, check out how to "Adopt the Internet" today! 

Banjo & Millie have joined the Richmond Pet Lovers Pack!

Banjo and Millie are so stoked to be part of the Richmond Pet Lovers Strut Your Mutt pack!

Strut Your Mutt is a half mile walk that kicks off “Woofstock,” the Richmond Animal League’s big fundraising festival! The festival includes the Strut Your Mutt Walk, music, canine contests, food (for both people and pups alike!) and local vendors. It all takes place on Saturday, April 16^th, and we will be out there proudly wearing our Richmond Pet Lovers shirts in order to help RAL raise money for homeless animals. Since Banjo spent several years of his life in a shelter, it’s very near and dear to us that we give back to the people and organizations who care so much about finding forever homes for these sweet animals who otherwise may not have second chances.

Not to mention, Millie seriously loves to strut her stuff. Banjo, well, he won’t strut, per se, maybe more of a beagle saunter, but he will be thrilled to be out in the warm spring air on beautiful Monument Avenue!

If you live in the area, we encourage you to participate, and if you don’t, you can still help by donating to the RAL via our event page.

Hope to see you all there!

Nite IZE SpotLit LED Collar Light - Revisited!

In early January I wrote a review of the Nite Ize SpotLit LED Collar Light. In my review, I actually liked the product but was disappointed that one of the two lights that I bought had broken within two days of using. Well, after my review, the second light broke too, about a month later. I was disappointed because I really did like the product. It was perfect for our needs. So yesterday I decided to finally email Nite Ize and let them know my disappointment, and I am absolutely pleased with my experience. Not only did I get a response within a couple of hours, but Nite Ize is sending two new collar lights right away.

If you are looking for a safety light for your dog's collar, then I highly recommend doing business with Nite Ize. The inconvenience of the lights breaking is far offset by the fact that they were so pleasant and stand behind their product, so much so that they will send us two new ones at no cost. A good product and good customer service - somewhat of a rarity these days!

Banjo's Romp in the Monkey Grass

Just look at this wise little beagle face. He's our Buddha Banjo!  You can just see the sweetness. He just might be as excited as I am that spring is right around the corner... hence the romp in the monkey grass!

And on another note, I should have some more content coming next week! Banjo & Millie's Mom has been quite busy this week but should be back in full force soon!

Millie Takes a Shower

I always knew Millie was a special little dog, but when I walked in on her taking a shower this morning, it was confirmed that she must not in fact be a shih tzu. Shih tzus HATE water, but when I turned the shower on this morning to warm up and walked out of the bathroom for a second, I came back in to find Millie taking full advantage of the shower. What does your dog think of water? Or better yet, taking a bath or shower?!

Millie Takes a Shower from Banjo and Millie on Vimeo.

Millie's Famous Face. And Her Proud Mama.

I have to say, I am one proud Mama this morning. Why? Because little Mildred is Dog of the Day on DogTipper.com! This means nothing to Millie, of course, but it’s fun for me to see her sweet little face on the homepage this morning! Good job being cute, Millie. I know it must have been hard work.

Happy Birthday Banjo!

Since Banjo came to us from the pound, we don't actually know how old he is, or when his real birthday is. So we chose March 7th (so he can celebrate with his Dad, who turned 30 today!) and we celebrate every year. In order to celebrate, Banjo got to try out the Original Birthday Pup Pie that I have blogged about in the past. I fell in love with the adorable packaging - which Banjo couldn't care any less about - and Banjo fell in love with the delicious Birthday Pup Pie! He went nuts over the yummy Oatmeal-Pumpkin-Peanutbutter-Cinnamon-flavored treat! Not a bad birthday treat for the world's best beagle! Happy Birthday little man!

Millie the Thief!

Slippers are so delicious, Millie snuck into the closet to steal one!!! Thief!

Millie Steals a Slipper! from Banjo and Millie on Vimeo.

Frisbee Love

Millie loves her Richmond Pet Lovers frisbee! And yes, she's very lazy. I think she expects the world to stop and rub her tummy whenever she pleases!

Annual Richmond SPCA Dog Jog & 5k Run!

Banjo & Millie have just signed up to participate in the Richmond SPCA's annual Dog Jog event! The event is two-fold - a 1 mile walk (with your dog) and a 5k run (without your dog). We will of course be participating in the portion that Banjo & Millie can both walk in, a whopping 1 mile! I encourage anyone who lives nearby to participate. It's going to be a great time, and hopefully it will be just in time for some nice spring morning weather!

Hop on over to our event page to learn more!