The Summer Itchies

It's the height of summer here and very hot. We run around the yard when it's cool in the morning, or in the evening when Mom sits on the porch swing. Glynn even play-bowed for the family a few times today. It's been baby steps getting her to open up to people. She's just not too sure about all this snuggling we do, she thinks we're nuts sometimes. But give her some green grass and open yard, and just watch her go!

There's a big tub of water outside for us. Cap and Glynn like to drink from it, but I think it makes a great pool to cool off. I've even tried digging a hole in the bottom to find more water, and that always makes My Boy laugh.

I've been reading several blogs lately that talk about itching and scratching this time of year. Today, two terriers ask me about my secret to staying itch-free, so I'll share it and hope it helps someone else.

Five years ago, my first summer wasn't so fun. I had what some terriers call "The Summer Itchies." The irritation was terrible and about drove me insane. I scratched, I chewed, I rolled, then scratched some more. I had awful raw places and couldn't seem to stop. My hair fell out in patches and my skin was beet red. Dad finally said, "If we're going to have a dog that scratches, let's do something about it." We went to Doc's place and he drew a little blood for a test tube. I'd like to say I was brave about it, but I was just a wee pup back then and Mom had to bear hug me to be still. Doc sent that tube off to a lab and we waited to see what they could find.

About a week later, Doc looked at the test results and said I was the absolute worst case of allergies he'd ever seen. There was a whole page of pollens, weeds, trees, bugs and food ingredients on the bad list. Everything I touched, ate or even sniffed seemed to be on that paper. Everything but cats. I can have all the cats I want and not break out at all. Imagine that.

The lab made up two bottles of medicine especially for me. Has my name printed right on them, too. I get two shots on the first day of every month all year round. At first, there was only a little improvement, but after a few months I wasn't scratching at all, and my hair started growing back. Life was good again, I can tell you!

Mom puts a little sticker on the calender to remind her that it's my "shot day." Now that I'm a grown terrier, I know to stand still for the injections, and I always get a treat afterwards. It's only a tiny needle and I don't feel it at all.

So if there are any dogs out there that think this might help with their own itchies, I'd be glad to tell them more about it. There's also a link at the bottom of my page so you can look at the lab's web site and even write to them. They're always glad to hear from me and ask how I'm doing every time Mom calls to get a refill. They must be dog people there. They always remember my name.

~ Tell