Rusty update

Rusty tested positive for Lyme disease. This may be old news to some (he was diagnosed over 3 weeks ago). We are 5 days away from completing 30 days of doxycycline, 3 pills a day. It's been pretty easy to give him the pills. It's become a ritual of sorts. He wants cheese. I'll feel bad for him when his pills are gone.

8 days ago, Rusty lost his backyard freedom. It was my birthday, and some vicious howling winds were celebrating a little too hard and blew a whole 4 panel corner section of our 6 foot fence down. Now my landscape looks like it's missing a couple of teeth, and Rusty has no place to run.

Oddly, this situation is not as bad as it appears...apparently we are winning (get the reference?). I have been forced to walk Rusty several times a day. This 'forced' walk is actually quite pleasant and the more we walk the easier it gets. The more we walk the less he sits at my feet and barks at me. The more we walk the more he 'gets it' when we are training. The most recent training accomplishment is Rusty getting his kong and placing it in my open palm without me grabbing for it. I say 'get it' for him to get his kong, and 'give it' for him to give it to me in my hand. If he drops it to the floor, I just say 'get it' and 'give it' again until he gets it right. He's been getting it right frequently. Good boy. And...the more we walk, the more exercise I get. Bonus!

Crappy cell phone pic of Rusty at Bird Park.



Our fence is going to be fixed, hopefully tomorrow. And Rusty will have free range of the back yard once again. The walks will not cease. The walks will continue!

A couple of months after he finishes his medication, Rusty will be tested again for Lyme disease. If his number doesn't drop below 30, he may have to go on another run of antibiotics. At this time his number is 67. He has no symptoms of Lyme, let's hope it stays that way.