Fred Astaire Flair

My son's dog, Brady, spends about three days a week at our house while his dad and mom are out of town for work. 

Brady is a somewhat high maintenance kind of guy. He has terrible skin allergies that literally leave his sides and front feet bare due to him licking and pulling in an effort to make the itching stop. This condition is worse during spring and fall because grass and pollen are two of the biggest triggers.  

Imagine having a dog who is allergic to grass.

I can tell you that Son has probably built a new wing at the vet's office due to all Brady's appointments and medications. Brady has even seen a doggy dermatologist several times for help. When a pet has medical issues, a pocketbook can be quickly depleted. I think Brady is a very lucky dog that his parents are so conscientious. 

But I digress. Brady has another problem which is not very endearing.

He likes to mark his territory. All. Over. My. House.

I used to put down towels in his favorite spots which seemed to deter him. Then I realized my floors had virtually disappeared under terrycloth. Plus I had nothing to use after a shower.

Then I discovered doggy diapers. These are nifty little belly bands that fasten on with velcro. It seemed the perfect solution until I realized Brady doesn't have hips. Therefore, the diapers would slide right off him.

More research and I found another solution...doggy suspenders. Hey, they work. And I think it gives him some Fred Astaire flair, too. 

So how do you like Brady's new look?

A Dog's Life

Last weekend, my son, DIL, their pup Brady, and I participated in Trails for Tails, a fundraising event to benefit Five Acres Animal Shelter. Some of you may remember last year when we caught up with David Backes (team captain of the St. Louis Blues Hockey team) at this event. David and his wife, Kelly serve on Five Acres' Board of Directors. Sadly, we didn't get to see "The Man" this year.

A large and enthusiastic crowd turned out.

Our little group bravely started the 5K together, but Brady quickly grew weary of going the distance. He planted his butt on the trail and refused to move another step. We didn't give up. Instead we decided to carry on to the finish line.

Carry the dog on to the finish line, that is. He rode in style, with each of us taking a turn staggering along the path while carrying 24 pounds of Cairn Terrier. We finished dead last.

I think you can officially call Brady a very pampered pup.

Wee Wee Wee

Son's dog, Brady, often comes to stay at my house. Here he is modeling the latest in doggie fashion, with an expression that clearly says, "It isn't easy being green."

Brady is a Cairn Terrier with more issues than I can count. He's allergic to grass and tears his hair out so methodically that he looks like the poster child for a hair replacement commercial. To keep him from chewing his sides naked, he has his own wardrobe.

When it thunders, Brady barks non-stop. If he's outside, he charges around the yard while barking hysterically as though determined to scare away an evil hobgoblin.

He also has a food obsession and will grab anything edible from your hand, from your plate, or from any other place he can stretch tall enough to reach. Thwarting Brady can make eating dinner a true challenge.

Brady's latest accomplishment is "marking". He will occasionally do this at his house, but by far prefers to do it at other people's homes. Curtains and sofas are his favorite targets. Since this creates numerous problems for all concerned, Brady now has a new piece of wearing apparel.

Yes, it's a doggie diaper. Brady wore his diaper for the first time to Daughter's house on Sunday, since he particularly likes to mark when visiting her. We held our collective breath and discovered...success! Not once did Brady lift his leg. He was a perfect gentleman.

It may sound crazy, but it works. Diaper on when in the house, off when outside. Now the furniture is dry and the curtains remain spot free.

Who'd have thought doggie diapers would become our family's new best friend?

We Are Itching for Advice

Visiting grand-dog, Brady is not having fun. I've posted before about this guy's terrible skin allergies. He's highly reactive to grass (among other things) and spring time makes his itchiness flare to an alarming degree.

By the way, lest you think Brady's "parents" have lost their minds, they keep a shirt on him to discourage licking and chewing. He has one side pretty bare and still tries to chew through the shirt to do even more damage. However, nothing can keep socks on his feet. If you look closely you can see that Brady has chewed all the fur off his front paws. His eyes are dull and matted.

Brady and his regular vet have frequent visits. He also sees a doggie dermatologist and takes a plethora of expensive prescription medications to little avail. According to the docs, the allergies are not related to food.

I think we're willing to try about anything, from holistic remedies to anecdotal reports of success. I found a website for a product called Derma-Paws, but know nothing about it other than what the makers claim.

Help! Does ANYBODY know what to do for a dog with constant skin allergies/itches?