I realize it’s only April and way too early to start complaining about the heat, but it was seriously 96 degrees yesterday. NINETY-SIX DEGREES.
It was so hot that when I got in my car yesterday afternoon wearing shorts, I felt the back of my legs begin to sizzle on the leather seats. All of a sudden I was filled with empathy for Ariel and her hot-glued bottom.
In other news, this is our dog Bruiser.
About two weeks ago I had to take him to the vet. Apparently he has very sensitive skin and also a possible flea allergy, which isn’t really convenient when you’re a dog.
We tried to help him out by giving him some Benadryl and slathering him in hydrocortisone, but it didn’t seem to help. He appeared to need something stronger, like perhaps Valium or a shot of tequila; both of which are clinically proven to either help with flea allergies or just make sure that you don’t really care that your back is itchy.
They sent him home with a bottle of shampoo that’s supposed to help with all his skin issues. So while I’m using Pantene in an effort to save money, my dog that came from humble trailer park beginnings is using shampoo that costs more than the Biolage I gave up for the sake of thriftiness.
I believe that’s called irony.
Then, yesterday, I had to go to HEB to pick up a few things I’d forgotten earlier in the week and when I went to check out the cashier asked me if I’d like a free light bulb in celebration of Earth Day. Well, I’m no fool. Who would turn down a free light bulb?
Plus, I used the money I theoretically saved on buying a lightbulb to treat myself to a new bottle of Biolage.
Math has never really been my strong suit.
But in my defense, I can’t have a dog with more shine and volume than me. That would just be wrong.
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Life’s short – - – go for the Biolage.
It’s definitely a dog’s life. If reincarnation were a reality, I would come back as my dog… I really would. (except the licking the butt thing.. not so sure about that).
I absolutely agree! And…here in Indiana, we LONG to feel summer-like weather, so…no complaining! Although 96 is a little overboard!
Yeah, def. go for the Biolage….I can send you 99 creative recipes using Ramen Noodles if that helps soften the blow.
xox
*~Michelle~*
96??? I’m sweating for you just reading the words!
Casey is also allergic to fleas and mosquitos (Scarlet was, too!). It is a total pain in the neck. Every couple of months I have to take her to get a cortisone shot, but that always clears it right up. In the summer we also give her those pills that kill fleas (and somethimes do the drops that you put on their ears).
i love my biolage….
its the best thing out there!!!
96? wow…i would want to be swimming!!!
Love Biolage! Too funny about your dog, we have an English Bulldog who also has hyper-sensitive skin.. You can’t even look at the dog because he gets red!
A rescue dog joined our family and immediately developed a skin allergy from me over-bathing him. Oops! My father-in-law is a vet and told us to feed the dog fish oil tablets. Cleared up that dog’s skin right away! Maybe fish oil tablets are cheaper than expensive doggy shampoo?
I don’t know, you better watch out. Brusier may get jealous of your gorgeous locks!
Gosh I love the smell of Biolage! It was 94 degrees in OKC yesterday too – I hate to think what it might be in July if that’s how we’re starting out.
I’m having a little bitty Target card giveaway over on my blog – it’s enough for at least one bottle of great shampoo! Come on over.
I have a dog with sensitive skin too. It gets really dry and flaky. (which means that along with all the dog hair floating around are some nasty flakes of skin) Anyway, we switched her food to Nutro Natural Selections Lamb and Rice formula. It really helped her skin a lot.
I’ve also heard that fish oil can work wonders so that might be a good option too. Good luck!
Our sweet little Jack Russell,Ginger (the wonder dog) has itchy skin allergies and a shot of “depo” cures her in a wink. We give them to her every 3-4 months and it’s a miracle –no more scratching her back under the patio table supports!!
We had snow flurries yesterday… I long for shorts weather. I do not, however, envy the San Antonio summer temps.
Another reason I don’t have a dog!
My dog quit eating dog food. Went on a hunger strike until the vet told me to make her scrambled eggs. When she ate that he said to make her chicken and rice. The dog started eating better than my family and still would not touch the dog food.
So I called the vet back and told him the dog would only eat the “good stuff.”
And the vet told me I was being manipulated by my dog.
First the kids, then the dog. I can’t win for losing!
Ha ha ha ha!!!! Good post. I laughed hard (as usual).
Pretty sad when our kids and pets look better than us!
I know you’ve seen Legally Blonde. Do you remember the fate that awaited Bruiser Woods only to be discovered in Legally Blonde 2? Yes indeed, Bruiser swung the other way. And apparently had a knack for the “finer things in life” (not to be confused with the “finer things club” from The Office).
I do hope for the sake of Caroline and explaining the birds and the bess that’s a bridge you don’t have to cross.
I’m trying very hard not to hate you and your glorious heat. We’re freezing in sleety rain up here in Michigan, where Nature laughs at the idea of planting anything earlier than Memorial Day Weekend.
Of course, when in due time we skip through a handful of weeks of actual Spring and head into the scorching heat of Summer, I’ll be complaining again about that.
So funny!!!
BTW, I live in MS and I woke up in a sweat this morning. I am BURNING UP already and its only 7:40 AM!
Wow! 96 is hot! And here I was going to complain because we’ve gone from a high of 50 on Monday to 85 on Thursday.
I feel your pain. My dog has $18 shampoo–that my freakin’ husband bought!!! Yet when I buy salon shampoo, omg, MORTAL SIN!!!
I skipped out on the Biolage and went to Sally’s and bought Biotera…the knock off stuff. Love. IT! And it’s so concentrated, I only need a tiny bit vs a bigger glob of the ‘cheap stuff’ from Walmart. So it might actually be cheaper than the cheap stuff!
But I hear ya… I clip coupons for *our* food and my cat eats PRESCRIPTION cat food that costs like thirty dollars a bag. LOL
Bruiser could do infomercials on having a slick, shiny and soft coat! I know a girl who does infomercials because of her beautiful and long hair, I’ll mention Bruiser to her!
)
I love your math skillz, they resemble mine and I wish that I had thought of doing what you did because yesterday Walgreens gave us 2 recylable shopping bags to celebrate earth day and I needed some shampoo.
Sometimes after bathing our white lab mix, Daisy, I put Finesse conditioner on her to soften her fur. Plus, she smells good but there is no way I would let her out do me on better hair products! lol
My dog is recovering from encephalitis. Her prescription dog food costs SEVENTEEN DOLLARS A DAY and I am eating rice and beans to counter balance the cost.
If it makes you feel any better, it was 86 here in Washington, the State of. 86! In April! So I am not surprised that in the ouch-hot-South it was worse. But 96, yikes.
On the dog front, I feel your pain. Ours has so many skin allergies I don’t know where to start. Also, it seems our little guy is actually allergic to himself! Kid you not, that was the way the vet explained it to me. So besides all of the meds, we too have special shampoos. And yes, I am also using Pantene. The good news, the gal that does my hair always exclaims how soft my hair is and that she loves the smell. Go figure.
Cheers, Kiy
P.S. Oh, and here’s for odd …. it was supposed to get into the 30′s last night (not sure if it did, I was asleep!) and it’s only supposed to be in the low 60′s today. Odd odd weather!
I just have to tell you how much I look forward to reading your blog. I have a coffee shop and am on my laptop off & on all day; but I sit here & pull up your blog and absolutely laugh out loud! It’s the highlight of my morning. Yep, I have no life! LOL!!
When I go to fancy pants salon twice a year they always say “wow your hair is so soft and shiny, what shampoo do you use?” Then when I say “head n shoulders” they always frown and I can feel their judgement. I always wonder if they are just buttering me up to get me to spill the truth and then try to sell me their product.
By the way, my dad’s dog had skin allergies and it was the food he was feeding her. Mostly table scraps but I bet certain dog foods could cause it too.
Oh my goodness! That would just be WRONG to have a dog with better shine and lovely locks…
And I loved the shoeboxes from yesterday! Great job!
96 degrees? That’s insane! Where do you live, the equator??
Okay, I’ll stop. This is probably why my husband laughs in my face when I tell him that maybe I’d like to live in Texas someday.
Seriously. 96?
My daughter called me at 3pm yesterday from my DH’s truck to tell me that the thermostat in there said 101!!!!!! When I got in my truck at 5pm it said 96, so I feel you’re pain. Or should I say heat??!!??
BTW — we 120 miles south in CC!!!
I agree. Dog gets expensive shampoo, you should get expensive shampoo. Makes perfect sense.
96 degrees, huh? I think I need to move to Texas.
-FringeGirl
96 degrees!! Wow! We are looking hopefully toward 80s this weekend…
Carol in NC
I am a first time commenter! Love your blog and just started following a few months ago! I just couldn’t get past the temperatures you had yesterday! We’re currently at 4 degrees here – which is celsius… which translates to 39 farenheit!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish we were having your weather!!!!
Love your writing! Laughed and laughed and laughed at your recent posting on your daughter’s parade float! We are both cursed with the same disease!
Okay, Brusier is a blue heeler (Australian cattle dog, depending on who you ask), right? I have a blue heeler also, and she has horrible skin! She is so itchy, so much so that she will gnaw her butt raw and has bald spots to show for it. It’s repulsive. If you find something that will help, PLEASE PLEASE let me know!!
Yes, blue heeler. We had one growing up. Horrible skin and bald spots too. Gosh Lacy, we have lived the same life. It IS repulsive. Plus, ours had nasty ears. But he was so good. His name was Mac (like the truck) and he died the week I got married. Anyway, I feel you. They gave us some kind of salve to put on his “bad spots”.
Melanie it’s a common condition for Blue Heelers. My first heeler, Daisy, ended up on steroids for her skin plus special soaps and food. Our current heeler, Hannah Montana, is 2 yrs old and starting to show signs of the same condition.
Amazing isn’t it how we’ll sacrifice for the children and the pets
I’m feeling for ya… It’s been over 100 twice this week… hello, we’re still in April? But typical to Cali we’ll be lucky is we hit 70 today. The sinus issues should start by Saturday.
Hmmm… perhaps the pup could use the Pantene…
haha.. I had a heeler with the same problem. Just keep him treated with flea protection and he should make it
You are absolutely right!
I KNOW! The 90′s? It was just in the 50′s last weekend. Layering is essential these days!
Recently had a “doggie 911″ after our crazy critter ate a BUNCH of chocolate from a b-day party goodie bag my son brought home. They had to induce vomiting, keep the dog for a few hours – almost $100 later they tell me to give her pepcid, cook her some rice and keep an eye on her – she would be “tired and queezy” – well, this dog did not look fazed AT ALL! Shaking fist to the sky! I can barely cook for the family and I’m cooking for the DOG?! Oh, sweet irony!
Our dog had an allergy to grass, of all things, and had to take these pills to alleviate the severe itchng because she scratched herself so hard, even rubbing her back on the lower branches of bushes, that her skin would bleed. She LOVED those pills and would actually beg for them!!! Our cat takes daily thyroid pills that cost more per month than I pay for my own prescriptions….what we won’t do for our kids and our pets!!!
Wow, 96 degrees!!! It has been raining with temps in the 40′s all week here in Ohio, but the sun is shining today and it might reach the upper 50′s today, and get into the 70′s by the weekend!! I can’t wait!! I am so tired of rain and cold.
It’s official. This economy has gone to the dogs.
Yeah, your math is spot on…ha ha! I would have done the same exact thing! haha But, then again, I am NO GOOD at math either.
Sorry about your dog, though. Hopefully that expensive shampoo will work out!
Poor doggie! We have a black Lab with chronic skin problems and allergies, and amongst all the other things we tried, what has worked the best is apple cider vinegar! Give ‘im a squirt (in a kid’s-type syringe) cut with water or beef broth, one squirt a day, and you will be amazed at how his coat will improve. Now if I could figure out a way to get ‘em to eat garlic, that might take care of the flea problem (apparently, there are no Italian fleas, per se)…Patty
You do realize this is payback for Bruiser getting green paint on himself.
LOVE IT!
Big Mama – Please make sure that you’re dog doesn’t have an allergy to protein. We were told the same about our dog (allergic to fleas), well, it turned out that she is allergic to protein. There is a special food you can by that will make all the difference in the world. email me if you need more info.
Okay- here’s an easy and cheap way to cure the skin ailment- we had an Irish Setter with the exact same thing- spent hundreds at a veterinary dermatologist (don’t even go there) and then we moved. Our new vet told us to feed her lamb & rice food (I buy the dog chow brand for $11.99 at the grocery) and in two weeks she was totally cleared up- and you can buy your good shampoo again!
My dog has the same problem. I give him 2 fish oil capsules every day. He also eats lamb & rice food. The vet recommended we try this special food made from anchovies, salmon and sardines (stinky). We tried it for 3 months and then decided the astronomical cost wasn’t worth the apparent lack of benefit.
When his skin gets especially itchy, I give him 4 Benadryl (he weighs 90 lbs) and spray the itchy spots (usually the back of his tail or his front paws) with a Tea Tree oil spray that I found at Petsmart. It really seems to help.
We have tried Cortisone injections and given him vials of Prednisone, with minimal change. I decided that all those steroids were probably more harmful than good, so we have decided to stop using them.
My neighbor had a dog that had similar issues. They tried everything with no luck. Eventually their vet suggested a low dose of Prozac (she said it costs about $5/month to fill the prescription). It worked perfectly.
No fair “dogging” the warm weather. It has been raining and cold here since Monday. Last night was in the 30′s! Not being a dog owner, I find it amusing the lengths people will go to for their dogs when their kids eat boxed food. At least buy the good shampoo and live as well as your pooch! Hope he feels better soon.
The big plus is that I use Biolage and I have never had fleas. I’m sure you can claim it as a preventive measure.
Ha! So funny. I too love Biolage and have thought about using something cheaper to save money. I just can’t do it.
Well you did the right thing. They say dogs look like their owners and while I don’t agree that there is a resemblance between you & Bruiser, at least when people see him and compliment him on his shiny coat, they’ll look at you and know where he gets it from!
PANTENE is my splurge… LOL
It was in the 90s in Monterey 2 days this week. In general, no A.C. on the peninsula, so it was a bit miserable. My friend suggested walking around the mall- it’s outdoors. At least it wasn’t humid!
Your pup looks a lot like mine! Bruiser looks like she has a lot of blue heeler in her. Mine has a lot of red heeler. My little Rookie has the same problem. Maybe a heeler thing? The vet has instructed two benadryl in the morning and 2 at night. She’s gotten really bad the past couple days. It’s so sad!
Along with all the other “doggie help” …
My dog had terrible skin allergies and I tried everything! Finally I got his teeth cleaned and he’s been clear ever since.
Weird, but maybe a helpful long shot??
Poor Bruiser. I have a lab-mix and she would constantly chew. The vet said she was allergic to fleas and grass!! I was talking to a guy at our local feed store and he said his dog had skin problems but it was the dog food, apparently soy is bad for dogs. I switched to the dog food he recommended, Red River because it has no soy. They sell it at the feed store, anyway it’s cheaper than what I was buying and my dog is doing great!
Great post!
Amy
My dog is allergic to grass. Seriously!!! He is a shih-tzu and very pampered. He has to take allergy medicine that cost more than my kids medicines. We just love that dog.
This is totally off topic, but when I was at a thrift store today I saw a “Hunting and Fishing Trivia game” that was definatly an “I’m-trying-to-be-the-new-Trivial-Pursuit”. I sooo wanted to buy it for P but I wasn’t sure you could handle that!
What is it with dogs having allergies. Are you kidding me? (mine does too, by the way… just paid over $200 the other day to treat infected hot spots that developed overnight, literally. Needed a shot, an antibiotic, and a salve. Seriously?)
Also, I consider Pantene a splurge. Yikes, is biolage that much better? I am pretty attached to my Pantene b/c of their curly hair formula. It makes a BIG difference from Suave. I’m at the bottom of the shampoo-ed chain.
My dog has the SAME condition and it is so annoying. We spent the crazy amount of money for the shampoo and special spray….and here we are….it’s not better yet. So all I can say is, good luck!
Our german shepherd had allergies to flea saliva… yep, you read it correctly. Apparently, when the little things bit him, he got almost uncontrollably itchy — everywhere, not just the bite spot. Anyway, I realize that it’s not going to make you feel better, but he had issues for the rest of his days, from that allergy. We spent a LOT of money to try to comfort the itchiness. He was worth it, but DANG! Anyway, I will pray that your dog’s allergies aren’t as severe as my poor Mosey’s were.
Love from Michigan,
Laura
Biolage is one of nature’s best smells.
You are absolutely toooo funny!
Hi Big Mama! Delurking to say how much I love your blog and to comment on your dog issues.
Our fur babies also have skin allergies. It’s pretty common and is FREQUENTLY resolved by a higher quality food and a fish oil pill daily. We feed ours Canidae kibble, available at the feed store. I also cook a chicken stew (chicken, veges, brown rice) and mix into the kibble. Good stuff and they love it. Regular, run of the mill dog food is so full of chemicals and preservatives, not to mention plain “crap”, it’s no wonder it makes them sick. Ours are both much better since changing their diet. However, don’t get crazy with the fish oil pills as I thought if one was good then two was better. They began to stink of fish. Not good. Stick to one pill per day. We also bathe them regularly with oatmeal shampoo from Dr. Foster catalog. With food, pills and shampoo, they are doing well. They are Labs and about the same size as your Bruiser. BTW, I cook their food in huge quantity and freeze it in individual portions so it’s not a big deal. One day every month or so is devoted to dog food prep and that’s it. Something to think about.
I’m a new reader and love your writing and humor. Each one brings a smile.
I’ll trade you your 96 degrees for the snow on my lawn this morning. Spring has been trying to arrive… but without much success. I can’t imagine living in Texas.
Signed,
Cara the frozen Canadian
I will NOT complain when/if we reach 96 degrees….
Actually I don’t think I will ever thaw out from this winter.
My toes are frostbit as we speak!
OH man…it was 90+ here too early this week. So, I promptly turned my A/C on in celebration of Earth Day. I guess I should feel bad, but I figure that if I stopped using plastic bags for Mama Earth the least she could do is not boil me alive in April. I guess we had a misunderstanding!
So lucky, it was snowing here yesterday and today and it was -10C with the wind chill. Yes, I just said wind chill. May I please wear shorts and burn the backs of my legs on your car seats?
FASHION FRIDAY TOMORROW!! Just in case you forgot, you know, as if the title was not enough of a reminder.
and that had nothing to do with your post!
I was just excited!
Bruiser is adorable. I must run out and get some Biolage. Is it actually that good? If so…Mel go back to it. Life is short and if you don’t feel cute you can’t be all that you can be.
Trish
LOL! This is too funny. Love your blog. I have been reading for a little while.
Oh my goodness, I haven’t used biolage in years! I think thats borderline sin right there. I wonder where I can get it around here?
My puppy is allergic to her shots. Her face swelled up like a baloon. Her eyes were lost in all of the rolls of her nose. She was pitiful. We now have a bottle of Benadryl with our puppy’s name on it. There are some things people just never tell you about owning a dog.
I bought a very expensive bottle of fish oil for my grandmothers dog. And I got him some Omega 3 capsules.
He hates the taste of them but his hot spots are gone.
Amen.
This is my first visit to your blog… its really funny and well written! Speaking of compliments-
You have been nominated for Awesome Blog 2009! Stop by and see what category someone thought you rocked!
http://awesomestblogs2009.blogspot.com/
God bless-Amanda
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