Funky Fungus

Adriel looked so peaceful curled into a ball on the couch.  Her tongue hung lazily out to the side.  Little did we know that there was about to be a war waged on her tiny little body.

Not one to shy away from attention, Adriel always greets me when I come home from work.  I pick her up and cover her furry head in kisses before placing her back on the floor.  She then zooms over to the large pet bed and grabs her favorite toy:  the chef hedgehog.

I plopped onto the couch after a particularly trying day.  Adriel raced up the pet stairs and sat on my lap.  My hand gently petted her fur.  She eagerly lay on her side for a tummy rub.  As I began rubbing, my hand felt something rough.

I leaned in for a closer look, then immediately drew back in horror.

"MATT!"  I yelled.

My husband raced into the living room.  I told him to carefully pick up Adriel so that I could look at her belly.  With Adriel in the air, I was able to see that her stomach was covered in large, crusty scabs.  We were completely shocked.  Adriel never gave us any indication that anything was wrong. She was eating, drinking and playing like normal.

To make matters worse, Matt and I were scheduled to promote our new children's book, Priceless Penny, at a two day pet expo in St. Charles, Missouri.  I quickly called my mom to see if she could take Adriel to our vet.  She raced over and sped off like an Indy 500 racer.

We soon got the call that Adriel had a skin infection.  She was given two shots and told that she would be better in two weeks.  One month later, the scabs became a faded memory.  That's when her fur started falling out.

When I say "falling out," I mean in chunks.  The cute white strip on her head disappeared.  She became completely bald on her left side.  Her pink and black spotted skin was becoming more visible every day.  Matt and I even started saving the fur in a sandwich bag to take to our vet.

We were scheduled an appointment to see our favorite vet the day after she returned from vacation.  My mom accompanied me and we were promptly told by a receptionist that I had missed our appointment.  They could still see Adriel, but it would be with my least favorite vet.  I was livid.  I had waited four days for this very appointment.  We made it for 7:30 p.m., not 1:30 p.m. like the receptionist claimed.

The vet took one look at Adriel and said, "I don't know what's wrong.  I've never seen anything like it before."

How could she stand there and tell me that she had no clue what was wrong with my baby?  And what's worse, she acted as if she didn't care (That's why she is my least favorite.).  I presented the bag of collected fur in which she placed a piece under a microscope.  She then had a vet technician take photos of Adriel with an iPad to send to a doggy dermatologist over in St. Louis, MO.

Wanting to be proactive, we called the Animal Skin Clinic and set up an appointment for the following Tuesday.  I was not going to wait around and waste precious time.  The vet called my husband the next day.  She said that Adriel could have any number of issues including:  fungal infection, bacterial infection or cancer.  My heart dropped.  Cancer?  I was inconsolable.

Adriel was taken back to the vet the next day for blood work and a skin scrape.  My husband returned from the appointment with a smile on his face.  The lab work and skin scrape came back negative for cancer!  I was beyond overjoyed.

Matt then told me that the vet was insisting on scheduling a biopsy.  A biopsy in which Adriel would be placed under anesthesia.  My family has had horrible experiences involving anesthesia that resulted in the needless deaths of two wonderful dogs.  I was NOT eager to have my eight year old Chihuahua put under.  We decided to wait until after the dermatology appointment.

So what exactly was going on with Adriel?  My husband texted me on Tuesday afternoon while I was at work.  He informed me that a transformer blew outside of the Animal Skin Clinic and they had no power.  I could not believe it!  We had waited so long for this appointment.

He asked if I wanted him to wait to see if the power returned.  My answer was YES!  I had a feeling that the moment he left, the power would magically be restored.  He sat in the waiting room for almost 30 minutes.  Dr. Clear decided to see Adriel regardless of the lack of power.

She was a bit upset that she would not have the microscope available to her.  Matt did leave the bag of fur with her for further investigating purposes.  I suddenly received a test:  "CALL ME!"  I hurriedly excused myself from my desk.

"What is going on?"  I asked.

"Adriel is having three punch biopsies done...right now," Matt whispered.

"NOW?  They put her under?  I breathed.

I was then informed that the doctor was able to give Adriel a local and keep her anesthesia free.  What was even more impressive was the fact that Dr. Clear felt confident enough to perform the biopsies via the sunlight that was streaming in the patient room window.  We were finally going to get some answers!

I raced home from work that night.  Adriel was sleeping peacefully on the couch.  Her biopsy spots were visible  due to the bright blue thread that the doctor used.  She had one by her neck, one on her side and one near her rump.  The doctor also prescribed an anti-fungal medication along with medicated shampoo and Omega Tri-V caps to encourage hair growth.  Matt told me that it would take four weeks for the actual biopsy results to come back, but that Dr. Clear was leaning heavily towards a fungal infection.

Adriel loved getting the peanut butter flavored pill pockets twice a day.  She did not love getting bathed twice a week.  Her least favorite part?  Waiting ten full minutes for the shampoo to set before being rinsed off.

Slowly but surely, Adriel began to stop losing her fur!  At our follow up appointment four weeks later, we learned that she had had an allergic reaction to one of the shots that our vet had given her for the skin infection.  Her hair follicles were not damaged, which means her fur may be able to grow back.

I was very impressed by Dr. Clear and the entire Animal Skin Clinic staff.  They treated Adriel like one of their own.  And they even have an office dog that was rocking a sweater!  Dr. Clear took pictures of Adriel's bald spots with her phone to monitor her fur growth.  She then disappeared stating that she would be right back.

Several minutes later, the door burst open and Dr. Clear was laughing.  "I had to do it," she said as she showed us her phone.  On the screen was a photo of Adriel.  Dr. Clear pushed the play button and Adriel said, "Mom, Dad, you might want to start investing in some sweaters."

I have never met such a down to earth, friendly doctor (aside from our favorite vet).  Dr. Clear took her time with Adriel and was not going to stop until she figured out what was wrong.  We had gotten several check up calls from her as late as 7:00 p.m.

Adriel just completed her final round of Prednisone and a topical solution called Dermoscent Essential 6.  The doctor was right, it made Adriel smell like an herb garden but also restored moisture to her skin that had been striped from the multiple bathing.

Adriel's fur may never grow back, but I don't mind at all.  I would rather have her bald and healthy then furry and sick.  She can now continue her work as a certified therapy dog, bringing smiles to all she meets.

ASPCA Giveaway Winner Announced

How did it become March so quickly?  My sincerest apologies for not posting the winner on February 28th as originally promised.  The Theuerkauf household has been a bit crazy lately.  My husband recently had nasal surgery, Adriel came down with a doggy cold and we thought that Theo was having back issues.

Now that everyone is back on the mend, I would like to announce the winner of the ASPCA Giveaway!  The winner is....Deanna Watson for her totally touching story about meeting the furry love of her life, Day-Z.  Check out her winning story here:


"My friend suggested I look at the dogs at the Humane Society. I wasn't ready to have a dog, but I went. There was a Jack Russell Terrier. I watch Wishbone on tv when I was younger and fell in love with Jack Russells. I met this dog and took her for a walk and she did not want to go back in her kennel. It was closing time for the shelter so I left.

I couldn't stop thinking about that dog. I went back to see her again. I asked about adopting her and the shelter staff told me she wouldn't get along with cats that I had at home and discouraged me from adopting her so I went home. I still couldn't stop thinking about this dog. I went to the shelter and adopted her the next day.

This sweet pooch was hit by a car and only has one eye. I love her. She has taught me to not judge people by their appearance. Kids in the neighborhood yell hello to her as we walk or drive by them. Everyone who meets her loves her (even the kitty in our house). She was with me during difficult times such as my brother passing, my boyfriend breaking up with me, my mother having a heart attack, and so much more.

She is my constant friend and I am hers. My sweet pooch had had two other owners before me who both kept her for two years each. Day-Z has been with me for 4 years now and she is at her forever home."

Deanna and her furry love, Day-Z!

Congratulations, Deanna and Day-Z!  Thank you for sharing your wonderful love story with Theuerkauf's Tails!  Please send me an e-mail at: theuerkaufstails@gmail.com containing your mailing address so that I can send you your prizes.

Dog Book Review: Priceless Penny

ASPCA Giveaway

I am beyond excited to announce that Theuerkauf's Tails has teamed up with the ASPCA to bring you the first ever giveaway on my blog!  The first prize up for grabs is an Alex and Ani bracelet that features a golden paw print.  The second prize is a pet pack that includes all kinds of goodies from the ASPCA.

How do you enter to win these fabulous prizes?  Comment on this blog post and tell me your pet's love story.  How did you meet?  Was it love at first sight?  What are your favorite things to do together?  I want to know all of the wonderful details about how you met and fell in love with your pet.

Be sure to mention in the comment which prize you would like to win.  I will be selecting two winners on February 28th.  Good luck!

Prize #1  Alex and Ani Paw Print Bracelet

Prize #2  ASPCA Prize Pack

The BEST Kid's Picture Books of 2016

Muffin's Halo Product Review

Living in the Midwest, allergies are quite common.  We were not at all surprised when our long-haired Chihuahua, Theo, was diagnosed with an allergy issue.  I had noticed that his left eye had become red and watery.  A lovely yellow discharge was also emanating from the corner of his eye.

Our vet prescribed eye drops and an oral medication.  Thankfully, his symptoms decreased.  His eye was back to normal in about a week.

The following year around the beginning of March, Theo's eye began to bother him again.  I quickly made an appointment with his vet expecting more eye drops and pills.  What happened next would change Theo's life forever.

When our vet looked at Theo's eye, she was less than pleased.  She grabbed what looked like a tiny suitcase and pulled forth a device reminiscent of a thermometer.  Immediately, she touched the device directly on Theo's eyeball.  I had to turn away.

The device actually measures the pressure in an animal's eyes.  She shook her head and began talking about how dangerously high the pressure was.  Her diagnosis?  Theo had glaucoma.

According to www.webmd.com, "Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. This nerve carries information from the eye to the brain. When the nerve is damaged, you can lose your vision."  Theo was now blind in his left eye.

I soon learned from my vet that there is only a 24 hour window from the onset of glaucoma in which the vision on the affected eye can be saved.  Since we thought Theo's allergies were kicking up again, we missed the window by an additional 24 hours.  Our vet's next concern was Theo's right eye.  She stated that if the pressure in the left eye continued to rise, it could affect his right eye as well.  Her recommendation was to remove Theo's left eye.

I felt as if my whole world was crashing down around me.  I had no problem with owning a one-eyed dog.  We already own a one-eyed cat, three-legged dog and a dog born without eyes who is also completely deaf.  What concerned me most is the fact that Theo is 13 years old.  I know that anesthesia can be hard on an animal at any age, but I know that it can be especially deadly to elderly animals.

When I questioned my vet about Theo's age and the possible surgery, she became cold and indifferent.  I was basically told that death is always a possible outcome.  (Don't worry, we have since changed veterinarians.)  Luckily, I knew of an animal ophthalmologist in St. Louis, Missouri.  Adriel, has the option of having a free eye exam every year since she is a part of the Therapy Dog program through Therapy Dogs International (T.D.I.).  I had taken her several times and absolutely love the doctor and office staff.  I immediately requested a referral.

I made sure to bring all of the medications that Theo was currently taking to his appointment.  The doctor was phenomenal.  He listened to everything that I had to say.  I stated that my vet was adamant about having Theo's left eye removed.  He examined Theo's eye thoroughly and then looked at the assorted medications I had brought.

The doctor soon explained that Theo only needed one of the four eye drops that we had been giving him daily.  In fact, one of the drops could actually make his condition worse!  He then said that there was no need to remove Theo's eye unless he was in pain.  I assured him that Theo was not acting like a dog in pain.  He was eating and playing like normal.  Feeling relieved, I snuggled Theo the entire ride home.

Over the course of two weeks, we noticed a definite change in Theo's attitude.  He had become more grumpy towards his furry siblings.  If they happened to brush against him on his blind side, he would immediately snap at them.  His fierce growl served as enough of a deterrent...to everyone but Hope.

Hope is our double dapple Dachshund that was born without eyes and is completely deaf.  Theo took out most of his fearful aggression on her.  There were several near fights and one instance in which Hope actually pinned Theo down when he instigated a tussle.  We were forced to leave him in our bedroom with the door closed to prevent any future fights.

Theo had also begun to get underfoot, tripping me and my husband daily.  We started stomping our feet in hopes that he would hear us coming.  Most of the time, Theo just stood as still as a statue and waited for us to step over him.

My heart was breaking as I watched his spirit deteriorate.  I had wanted him to live a happy, vibrant life.  Not the life of an unhappy hermit like the Lorax.  That is when I remembered reading about Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs.

Silvie Bordeaux created Muffin's Halo when her 13 1/2 year old toy poodle, Muffin, went blind due to cataracts.  The halo consists of a harness that is secured around the dog's neck and stomach.  The wings are then attached to the harness directly behind the dog's head.  Finally, the halo is secured with Velcro onto the wings.

There are numerous styles and colors to choose from.  I chose the grey wings that say "BLIND DOG" to alert others to Theo's condition.  The halo extends outward away from the dog's face, thus creating a "bumper bar."  This prevents the dog from bumping directly into walls, furniture and other obstacles that he/she may encounter on a daily basis.

I was very surprised at how easy the halo was to put together.  Theo was wearing his halo in five minutes.  At first, he seemed a bit apprehensive.  He did not want to walk at all.  But once I began to slowly walk around the room, he soon followed suit.

Easy to follow directions make assembly a breeze!

After wearing the halo for just one day, we saw an immediate difference in his behavior.  Theo appeared to be more confident when he walked.  He actually wanted to get out of his pet bed and walk around the house.  He was no longer grumpy and did not growl at his furry siblings.

Theo takes his first steps while wearing his Muffin's Halo!

We are so thankful for Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs!  Theo's spirit seems to be re-energized.  He is no longer fearful and depressed.  The spring in his step has returned along with the smile on his face.  I highly recommend Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs to anyone who has a dog suffering from sight issues.  Be on the lookout for Muffin's Halo for Blind Cats as well as Blind Farm Animals coming soon!

Theo is all smiles while wearing his new Muffin's Halo.

To learn more about Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs, please visit:  muffinshalo.com.

Celebrity Priceless Penny Book Reading

I am so touched by this awesome celebrity reading of Priceless Penny by friends Deirdre Franklin from Pinups for Pitbulls and Alyona DelaCoeur from Why Does My Dog? And a special thanks to cutie pie Baxter Bean!