Alvin Update

I have received a lot of requests for an update on Alvin.  I have avoided updating because then I have to write that my dog Timmie did not make it through the pneumonia and he died.  The loss is huge for me and the grief is nearly smothering.  I will write sometime about Alvin's reaction to the whole ordeal but for now I will leave it.

Alvin has gone back to a lot of circling behavior and we are considering whether a medication like Prozac might be helpful for him.  There are numerous psychotropics that are non-narcotic, non-addictive and it would be nice if we could find one that may help decrease his anxiety.  That little mind is going a mile a minute and I think he needs some relief.  He was such a different dog when sedated and was so much more relaxed.  Obviously he can't be sedated but the hope is that maybe one of the psychotropics could bring his anxiety down a bit.

I don't know how but the potty training magically kicked back in again but he is back to going potty outside.  I don't know how it clicked back in but I am certainly grateful. 

Alvin continues to sleep on the bed with me at night and lets me pet him all over and wrap my arms around him.  There seems to be no threat if I am lying down.  He is better about letting me pet his back when not on the bed but it remains a challenge for him. 

My cat, Maddie is doing her best to be cuddle buddies with Alvin.  She continues so much to want her own dog to cuddle and groom and it seems as though Alvin is as close as she is going to get.  When Alvin is lying on the bed she tends to come and try to get close to him but clearly not as close as she wants to.  Maddie is a dog in a cat's body.  She used to go for walks with us (I moved where I don't want her walking on the street with us), she drinks out of the garden hose, has no fear of any dog, and long ago started to go potty like a dog.  She just squats and goes with no attempt to cover it.  When we used to go on walks she would go up on the lawn when my dog did and would squat on the lawn, go, and then come back to the sidewalk when the dog did. 

My mom's knee surgery was today.  I came home for a few minutes because she is still in recovery.  They did a spinal block and her legs haven't woken up yet and so they are keeping her in recovery longer.  She will be coming to my house on Friday.  Due to the fear of Alvin tripping her, I taught her to hold an arm out extended.  Alvin trips people because he constantly looks up at their faces and doesn't pay any attention to their feet.  So, if she holds her arm out he get so busy looking at it that he stays about a foot away from her feet.  Of course, they both look ridiculous but I very much enjoy the show.