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FREE e-book "8 Things to Know About Veterinary Care"

November 16, 2020

If you need a good giggle about some of the silliest (and, yes, documented by science) ways dogs prove their love for us in every day life, check out our book review You Know Your Dog Loves You Because ... by writer Jeff Parks and illustrator Mark Sean Wilson might make a good gift for your loved ones of all ages. Here's why. [Also, news about our Mr. Stix at the bottom of the page.]

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graphic for book review you know your dog loves you because

5 reasons to give a copy to someone you know

You Know Your Dog Loves You Because ... The Sweet, Silly, and Scientific Ways Our Dogs Show Us How Much They Love Us might just be the perfect gift. Here's why.

  1. It's affordable ($9.99).
  2. The humor works for grown-ups and older kids.
  3. Smaller kids can color in the cartoons.
  4. There really is science behind why dogs do what they do.
  5. You can even order a personalized illustration if there is one cartoon that sums up your puppy pals perfectly. 

For example, we call Mr. Stix the "hamper Houdini" for his ability to fish my socks out of the laundry basket slats. Even when I'm standing right there, I cannot figure out how he does it. 

inside book - laundry page showing dog stealing clothes
wool sock with hole chewed in it by Mr. Stix

Book Review You Know Your Dog Loves You Because Other Thoughts

I also think the illustrations provide opportunities for discussing dog behaviors in a healthier context so that solutions for addressing possible inappropriate or concerning behaviors -- destructive chewing, pulling way too hard on leash, storm phobias, food stealing -- come from a place of science and love (rather than punishment that so many people seem to go to first). [insert sad face]

Here's my crew posing with the book because the weather finally improved for a bit so that they could take part in our book review You Know Your Dog Loves You Because.

book review you know your dog loves you because photo of the 3 pups posing with the book

Quick News Update on Mr. Stix

I mentioned this on our Champion of My Heart Facebook page recently, but Mr. Stix is having a surgical skin biopsy next week, just before Thanksgiving. We've done everything the board-certified veterinary dermatologist has prescribed, starting in early August. No joke ... I have to remember to do like 10 things each day for his skin issues, but they aren't improving enough. 

I had hoped to avoid such an invasive diagnostic -- removal of 2 to 5 hunks of skin (about the size of a pencil eraser each), but we'll send the samples off to a super-specialized, dog-skin pathologist. The goal is to get a precise diagnosis and treatment plan. 

We are not looking for nor expect to find cancer, but they need to look at all layers of the skin and figure out what's what. Poor little dude. He hasn't been sleeping well for a couple of weeks now, and he winced and cried when I applied topical meds earlier this week, so we've added a pain med too, as needed. 

We do NOT think this is allergies (food or otherwise) because he does not itch at all and has no other allergy signs elsewhere on his body. One of the working theories is that it's an ischemic reaction (basically like blood vessel inflammation) to a rabies vaccine he received in January 2020. 

My goal is to get his permanent "nakey spot" back to smooth, pink, perfect skin. He'll never have hair there (because of whatever caused all his injuries before he was rescued), but we know that his skin can still be healthy ... because it was for a long, long time. 

This photo is from May 2019 soon after his hip surgery. The haunch / leg area was shaved for surgery, but you can see the nakey spot on his flank. 

mr stix (a dog) with his prior injuries to skin showing

Click through if you want to see how it looks now. It's kinda graphic, so fair warning. 

People have asked about a possible auto-immune reaction to hardware from his orthopedic surgeries, but he no longer has any hardware in his body. The board-certified veterinary surgeon removed the plates and screws from his left front leg last fall. 

So, more updates as news warrants on the dermatology front.

Don't miss this update on Mr. Stix's skin issues.

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

    1. He’s having a heck of a week. He shredded a $5 bill earlier, and this morning he broke and ate pieces of a plastic knitting needle. Stinker! His skin looks better, though, so the new meds are working.

  1. Liking the look of the book, we could all do with a good giggle.
    Sorry to hear about your poor dog Mr Stix, but sounds as though he’s in excellent hands. I know how worrying these things are for us dog owners, mine had a cancerous lesion removed and now I’m almost paranoid on checking her skin for anything suspicious. Please keep us updated.

  2. If people only loved so unconditionally as our dogs…what a different world this would be. Thanks for the book review. I’m sorry to hear about Mr. Stix. I went through a cancer issue with one of my dogs a few years ago…so heartbreaking to watch them suffer and go through procedures they simply don’t understand. He’s blessed to have someone who loves him and cares for him so well.

  3. I might just buy a copy of the book – it looks like a fun read!

    I’m sorry that poor Mr. Stix has to have that surgery; and that he’s having such a hard time with his skin. Ducky sends tons of POTP and I send lots of love and prayers that the vets find an answer to the mystery that can be treated easily and painlessly.

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