February 24, 2013

White Dog sniffed at breakfast and climbed back up on the arm of my chair. She pressed against my shoulder and went back to sleep. YoYoMa, sharing my coffee, looked at her and said, "She looks a little off her game, poor thing. Can I have her kibble?"

With those words a domino effect began in the kitchen. First, Quinn's sounds of heaving brought Steve rushing into the room, then Puff tossed her cookies and Oso joined them although he had just awakened and had not yet eaten. Since morning meal is kibble only and not every pup had eaten, we knew it was not the food.

"Sickies attack!" Nuka yipped which started her coughing and hacking. I looked at the beleaguered Steve standing with the roll of paper towels and the disinfectant. White Dog shifted and moaned softly.

"Pepcid for everyone except Yet Another White Dog," I said thinking of Dr. Julia's prescription when Daisy and Maple were under the weather a week or so ago. "10 milligram for 10 lbs of weight."  Steve was already starting to cook rice for some soothing rice and broth. "Maybe we can get every one's tummy's settled and they will sleep."

While rice cooked we held and cuddled the White Dog Army whose pathetic dark eyes clearly said, "We don't feel so good." Plans had already been cancelled with Gregg, Candace and the Honorary White Dogs because Candace has strep throat. Thankful it was a yucky day: cold, windy, overcast and not at all an enticement to do more than just take it easy, daydream, and sleep off the sickies. In the afternoon, Steve and the healthy YoYoMa went out for a long walk.

Just to be on the safe side dinner was rice and broth as well which the WDA ate slowly and with appreciation. I knew they were still not feeling well when there was no surfing each others' bowls after the meal and all six White Ones laid closely around Steve and I totally uninterested in our meal.

Shorter than normal bedtime walks included an insistence on the routine of bedtime cookies, but they were accepted more out of formality than true enjoyment and there were not the usual requests for more. Perhaps a good night's sleep will lead to a tomorrow free of tummy troubles. Dr. Julia did say that the bug tends to hang on 24 to 48 hours so we are not too worried. But there is nothing sadder or more frustrating to a momma than a White Dog in distress.