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Just For The Lick Of It

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Just For The Lick Of It Part 3

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Editors Note: This will have you laughing and nodding agreement but it also contains some very practical advice.

JUST FOR THE ~ LICK ~ OF IT
PART THREE
By
Robbie Lee

People send me funny stories all of the time about their loved fur family members. They ask me if I can use these stories, in some of my article, and you know, I do! Although I have a wealth of antidotal of things that have happened in my own life with my animal family, some of YOUR stories are just too funny to pass up. So, if you have one that you would like me to use, please send it on. 

I know that I promised that I would cover "Why Dogs Howl", and "Why Dogs Lift Their Legs" this time, but something happened to a friend of mine, and she asked me, "why do they do that?" That reminded me of a story that I thought that you would enjoy.

WHY DO DOGS PASS GAS?

It was Thanksgiving time and my husband, my two children and I were spending five days with my husband's mother in Arkansas. They had had an early snow, and it was just beautiful outside. It was what everyone sees on those beautiful cards that we all send at that time of the year. And was it ever cold outside. Being a native Californian, I have to admit that I like looking at it and maybe spending a day in it skiing, but don't put me there for any length of time. My bones just don't understand it at all. Of course on this trip, we took Spunky our jet black Labrador family member. He rode in the back seat with the two kids, and was just as happy as a bug in a rug. This was a real treat for him. 

We had a beautiful 30 pound turkey, all of the trimmings, and we were all stuffed, just like you are supposed to be after eating more than is consumed by the entire world in one day. When it was time to clean up the table and put away the left overs, we discovered that we didn't have room for the turkey in the refrigerator. So, because it was way below freezing, we decided that a good place for the left over turkey was outside in the storage shed that was in the car port. You know, easy to get to, but out of the way. 

The following morning, as we were leaving for our return trip home that day, I was busy packing when Spunky came to let me know that he wanted to go outside for some fresh air. So, I called to one of the children to let him out. Because we were in the woods, in unknown territory, we had brought a long chain for him, and my son took him out and hooked him up. That was that. When it was time for him to come in, he gave us his usual, "Woof, woof." 

Just before we were ready to load up in the car, I went to make us some turkey sandwiches for the road. I went out to the shed to get ol' Mr. Tom, and I couldn't find him. Knowing that he was to far gone to fly away, I asked, "Who put the turkey in the shed?" I got my answer, and I said, "Well he's gone!" 
"No, way mom." My son came running
So, we both went out for him to show mom, how blind she was, and just where he had put Tom, and low and behold, no Tom!

Now this was a real mystery to all of us. Where in the world was that turkey? There were only five of us, and we knew that although we put a huge dent into that old bird, we hadn't eaten it all. But, search as we would, we couldn't find any part of him. Well, it was past time when we had to get on the road and get home. We had at least 14 hours drive ahead of us, and we all had to report to business the following day. 
We kissed mom good by, and off we started. About 2 hours into our trip, I heard this horrible howl from the back seat. 
"Oh mom……….." "Oh yuck………….." "Mommmmmmm."
Then from the other side of the back seat, "Gollllllyyyyy Mom."
I turned around to see what in the world was going on, and all I could see were two pair of eyes looking at me from under the blanket and Spunky's brown eyes and hear this tail thumping.
"What in the world is wrong with the two of you?"
"Mom, Spunky poooooed." My daughter said trying to hold her breath as she said it.
"Well, it isn't the first time and it won't be the last, so don't make so much noise and go back to sleep." Was my firm reply, and then…., and then……Oh my, and then it hit the front seat. It was the most horrible smell that I have ever smelled. My husband opened his window, and all of us in unison said, "Spunkkkkky." But Spunky just smiled at us, and kept that tail thumping with joy.

Then it hit me. THAT'S where the turkey had gone. Every last bit of it. No bone, no meat, not even tidbits of dressing. Spunky had eaten it when he had been let out on that long chain.. 

The remainder of that trip was made with four windows opened, even though it was below freezing, and the kids howling each and every time Spunky reminded us, that he had had his Thanksgiving dinner too. Needles to say that it was a very long trip, but each of us remember it until this day. We laughed and told jokes and held our breath. We kidded Spunky and he just ate up the attention (just as he had the turkey) every bit of it. We remember the trip in our family now as the "Spunky Trip."

How many times in your household have you noticed that odoriferous indication that someone had eaten too much, and everyone always blames it on the dog? Or you have company and the dog is lying at your feet, conversation is moving smoothly and then….. you try to find a polite unnoticeable way to fan the air? Yep, our four legged family members are totally uninhibited. It seems that their motto is, "If it feels good, do it!" And they do, generally in the most inconvenient of circumstances. WHY DO DOGS DO THAT?

Gas is generated from what your dog eats and how he eats it. Did he eat too much? Did he gulp his food and take in too much air? Could be. Did he get that dead rabbit in the woods? Maybe. Or, are you feeding him a food too rich in grains, is he lactose intolerant? Or have you started giving him vitamins recently? These are all things that will cause flatulence, (gas). 

WHAT IN THE WORLD DO I DO?

Don't panic. Under normal circumstances you can find a cure for that excuse your husband always uses. "But honey it was the dog!" "Right dear."

What has to be done is to find what will calm the digestive tract for your particular dog. Will he eat yogurt? That is great if he will. It adds the necessary bacterium to the stomach and digestive tract to eliminate the gas. Or there are other things that you can try if he refuses the yogurt. Feed smaller portions. Cut that vitamin in half, and give it twice a day. If that doesn't do the trick, check to see if the dog food is loaded with soy. If so, try switching. If all the above fails, then try an anti-gas medication. And, if that doesn't work, well, just hold your breath, and love that dog anyway, for all of the hours of enjoyment that he brings to your home. 

"There is no joy, like the joy of being loved unconditionally, as only our pets can do."

NEXT TIME: I PROMISE.
Why dogs howl.

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