Looking out my Backdoor: Hot dog

I’ve had several dogs along these many years but never had one get a hot spot. In July, about the time the storms, pitiful as they have been, began blowing and blustering, Lola started chewing at the base of her backbone, right above where her tail attaches.

It worried me. Leo helped me corral her between my knees and we sprayed her with the purple stuff, you know, the stuff you use on cows and horses when they get a barbed wire cut or some such. I was wearing white pants that first day. Turned my pants polka dotted. Lola got some relief. So, the next two mornings we sprayed her again, along with two more pairs of pants. Could start a trend.

My neighbor Janet saw Lola’s predicament and gave me lavender oil to sooth her. Lola liked that and actually stood still for me to rub it onto her.

I also had a confab with my daughter. She consulted the Google Oracle which told her that hot spots are a sign of boredom or stress or an infection.

We know Lola is not bored. I honed in on stress. After all, storms stress me. Lack of storms stress me.

Stress does not rule my life. However, stress does rent a small cupboard in my head.

I began supplementing Lola’s diet with a large spoonful of coconut oil and an egg, beaten together, every morning. Dogs do grin. Her coat is beautiful. If I thought I could swallow a raw egg with oil, I’d feed me too. I have serious hair envy.

Lola’s back healed, covered over with thick hair, looks great.

Then a couple days ago, Lola didn’t want to go for her morning walk. This was not my dog. Aliens came and stole her soul. I just knew it. While brushing her long lush hair, my hand hovered over her tail bone and I could feel the heat.

No! No! Not again! This time I checked with a vet in town. He said, yes, could be boredom or stress but most likely is an infection, especially since it returned so quickly. He gave me a big pill, an expensive big pill. He said she likely got the infection from mice, birds, squirrels, from some animal.

Lola is a hunter. In the last month, I know she has downed several mice and three birds. That does not take into account the disgusting stuff she rolls in with evident delight.

Giving my dog any kind of medicine generally requires strength, cunning and help. I fed Lola the pill along with a couple doggie cookies and she never even noticed it was medicine.

Two days later, Lola is back to her usual morning excitement. She met me at the door with her morning dance, mooched into my hands for a full body massage, ready for our walk. Her back end feels like a cool dog.

Her owner is much less stressed.

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Sondra Ashton grew up in Harlem but spent most of her adult life out of state. She returned to see the Hi-Line with a perspective of delight. After several years back in Harlem, Ashton is seeking new experiences in Etzatlan, Mexico. Once a Montanan, always. Read Ashton’s essays and other work at http://montanatumbleweed.blogspot.com/. Email [email protected].