November 19, 2006
They’re in cahoots!
This is not a pet blog. That was never my intent. But, ya know, there are just some things that have to be shared.
Buddy, my old guy, has had surgery on one hip and has arthritis in the other. He can’t get up on his hind legs. So when I came home a few days ago and found a chewed-up antacid bottle on the floor, I knew that Lance was the culprit who had stretched up to the third shelf up from the bottom to pull it down. I thought at first that it was the nearly empty bottle, so, while frustrated at Lance’s behavior, I was not concerned. As I cleaned up the mess (there was also a box of tissues involved) I discovered the “sealed-for-your-safety” disc, not quite intact, but recognizable. My initial assumption was proven wrong. Lance had not bothered with the soon-to-be-discarded target, but had nudged it aside and helped himself to the brand new, 96-count bottle of extra-strength, assorted berry-flavored antacid tablets. Not a crumb of the pink or purple chalkiness was to be found in the debris. Why he would have selected a sealed bottle that could not have smelled of anything other than petroleum products remains a mystery.
I did some quick math. 30720 mg of calcium and 960 mg of magnesium goes into 30 lb. canine … oh, not good. Not good at all. The recommended dose (for an average adult human) is less than a tenth of that per day. A google search assures me that poisoning is not a problem, but an impacted gut might be. A quick trip to the drug store assures that I have supplies on hand should things not work out naturally.
Later that evening, while doing some additonal tidying, I did discover the tell-tale pink and purple crumbs. In Buddy’s bed. Buddy’s territory that Lance will not violate under any circumstances. I considered this proof-positive that Lance had supplied the fruits of his labor to his favorite companion. Maybe there’s a dog psychologist who can explain this bizarre act of partnership. I’m baffled. My dogs do not share food. At feeding time, Lance is placed on the lanai while Buddy dines inside. Hostilites would otherwise ensue. Yet neither dog is injured, there are no puddles of blood , no avoidance or agression is in evidence. If sharing was protested, there must have been only a token act of resistance.
The details of the next day are not something you want to read about with your morning coffee. Buddy’s belly was quite firm when compared to Lance’s. I followed them outside and observed their normal canine morning constitutional. Buddy’s demenor and output (output is a good word, yes?) seemed normal. After their evening kibbles, Buddy produced technicolor proof of his unauthorized snack. I took the little bottle from the drug store out of it’s box, twisted on the spiffy little nozzle and proceeded to convince Buddy that there are fates worse than death. Persuading him to test that premise was the hard part. Especially the next morning, the second time around.
Life seems to have returned to normal at the skeet house. Everything labeled “keep out of the reach of children” is now out of the reach of the impish beagle, who is now kenneled during my absences. Buddy is relaxing on Hawaiian-print pillow-bed, tummy suitably relaxed.
Still, my suspicions have been aroused. What exactly goes on in the darkest recesses of their minds when I’m not watching? Do I need to be concerned about future acts of collusion? Can old dogs learn new tricks?
** Blogger doesn’t seem to want me to share photos today. Otherwise you would be looking at Lance’s sad face through chain-link fencing and Buddy in his cushy comfort.
Posted by skeet @ 7:52 pm • Home & Family
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December 31st, 2006 at 9:35 am, Jules Says:
LOL!, poor puppy
Glad it turned out okay. I think my kitty is going to be fine. She’s running around here like a wild animal. Oh wait, she is a wild animal.
February 11th, 2007 at 6:33 pm, Skeet's Stuff Says:
[…] couple of months ago one of my dogs ate a whole bottle of antacid tablets. We love our pets and try so hard to take good care of them, but stupid things happen. Today I was […]