WOW!  We want to say a big “thank you” to everybody who’s contributed to Sid’s Treat Jar! I was a little hesitant when Sid came up with this crazy plan to replenish his “treat fund” after we had to empty it out to cover his big vet bills, but I guess I shouldn’t doubt a pug with a plan.

Wart-free flap-flip!

While Sid is hard at work on the Planet Cool Sid screensaver and other goodies, I want to take a minute to give an update on his health.  It’s been two weeks since he had all of those warts removed, and it’s been three weeks since he had his last dose of prednisone.  When we had big Carl removed from his muzzle back in April, he was still on prednisone and little Carl’s started popping up almost immediately after big Carl was removed.  Fingers crossed, but this time, with his immune system unhampered by the steroids, his muzzle is still wart-free after two weeks.  Amazing!

Also, as Brian mentioned in an earlier post, the skin allergens test uncovered an allergy to a yeast bacteria that naturally grows and lives on skin.  If you’re not allergic to it, you don’t even know it’s there, but if you are allergic to it, it’s basically like being allergic to yourself, and the more you scratch, the more the yeast multiplies, creating a super-itchy cycle of madness.  Sid has been on an anti-yeast medication since the day of his allergy test, along with anti-yeast ear drops, anti-yeast shampoo, and anti-yeast face-flap wipes, and we’ve never seen him so calm and relaxed.  It’s incredible.

Finally, we picked up our first supply of allergy shots on Friday, and the vet techs taught us how to do the shots.  Since he’s allergic to so many things, we have two different serums to administer – one every other day.  After seeing how great he’s been since getting the yeast nonsense under control, we’re feeling really good about the allergy shots’ potential to help out our bubble pug.

Thank you again to everybody who’s helped replenish Sid’s treat fund – I know it’s cliche, but every little bit truly helps.  The vet bills we racked up in the wake of the warts / allergy test were a shock, but the promising results we’ve seen thus far make me hopeful that we’ll be giving Sid a much longer and happier life than he’d have if we just kept him on the prednisone.

Here’s Sid’s run-down of the goodies he’s sending out to anybody who helps replenish his treat fund:

$10.00:

• A special thank-you on the blog

$25.00:

• Planet Cool Sid desktop wallpaper for your computer
• A special thank-you on the blog

$50.00:

• Sid Solves Your Problem – Submit a question to be included in my new Planet Cool Sid advice column.  I can answer questions about anything and everything! I KNOW IT ALL. MY INPUT IS PRICELESS.
• Planet Cool Sid desktop wallpaper
• A special thank-you on the blog

$100.00:

• A limited edition print of my Dad’s awesome painting of me wearing my aviator hat
• Plus all the stuff listed above!

$150.00:

• For those of you who are dogs: a Sid’s Picks Combo Pack featuring your very own confidence shirt and potato toy!
• Or, for those of you who are humans: your very own set of Pug Slope note cards!
• Plus all the stuff listed above!

$200.00:

• Here’s where it gets crazy, guys.  A special VIP access code for the PugSlope.com Treat-bone Live-Cam, good through the end of 2012.  Log in every weekday between 1pm and 2pm ET to see me chillin’ like a villain with my peanut-butter-filled Kong bone. It’s gonna be EPIC.
• Plus all the stuff listed above!  That’s a lot of stuff!

Like the brave trooper that he is, Sid survived another full day at the vet yesterday, this time to see the Dermotologist for a full skin allergy test. This makes for two full days this week at the vet which wasn’t fun for anyone (esp. our flat-faced wonder). He was happy to return home and find solace in his bolster.

As you probably noticed, there is a patch shaved on Sid’s left side where they performed the skin allergy test. The little dots are Sharpie marks indicating where the various allergens were injected. We’ve dubbed this his “Control Panel”.

As you may have guessed, our bubble dog tested high for allergies to many common things: various grasses, trees, pollen, dust mites, fleas, flys, mold, sheep wool, and yeast – his OWN yeast in fact. So basically Sid is allergic to himself. Poor little dude.

Based on the various items Sid is allergic to, the dermotologist will put together a customized allergy shot that Sid will be getting twice a week. His own system will hopefully build up immunity to the various allergens which should desensitize him and basically not make him as allergic to mother nature (and himself) as he is right now. Unfortunately, this process can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months and even then there’s still a chance that the allergy shots won’t help him at all. We’re keeping all our fingers, toes, paws, and tails crossed (or “curled” I suppose) that he responds well to the allergy shots and our little dude will be able to get off the prednisolone train ASAP.

While we’re waiting for the allergy shots to kick in, we’re planning to try some various things to keep his itchiness in check. The main thing is an anti-yeast medication called Fluconazole. The dermatologist said some dogs with yeast allergies have responded really well to it. We also may try some other human drugs such as Zyrtec or Allegra (we’ve tried Benadryl in the past but that doesn’t appear to help him at all).

Thank you all for your positive juju and prayers this week. I know they certainly helped keep our spirits up and allowed Sid to make it through all these tests successfully. The results came back from the papillomas they removed on Monday and the good news is they are just normal papillomas and not the “C” word. Whew!

This weekend, Sid’s getting rewarded by having a sleepover party with Miss Timothy Buttons. I heard rumors that she’ll be wearing her new party dress.

“DID SOMEBODY SAY PARTY DRESS?!”

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Sid’s been at the dermatologist all day today getting his skin allergen test done.  He’s such a trooper.  We’ll be posting an update later tonight once he’s back home.  Brian says the little guy is getting “triple dinner” tonight.  Usually I’d say that’s a little excessive, but today I think he deserves it, don’t you agree?

Thank you for all of the great juju!  Your positive stories and comments really helped us stay sane and semi-relaxed throughout the weekend.  We dropped Sid off at the vet this morning for his teeth cleaning and wart removal, and in a few short hours he’ll be coming home.  He’ll be a little woozy, but his breath will be fresh and his face and mouth will be wart-free!  Perhaps, if he’s feeling up to it, we can get his take on this whole situation sometime tomorrow.  I’m sure he’ll have plenty to say about the fact that he couldn’t have breakfast before we “abandoned him” at the vet…

So, Carls Jr. (son of evil wartlord Carl) has been opening up new wart franchises all over Sid’s face and inside his mouth.  I’m sure you’ve noticed them in some of the photos from our trip – they’re huge.  Just in the past week, about five more began sprouting on the outside of his muzzle, one has begun growing underneath his right eye, and we discovered a few big ones on the roof of his mouth, back near his esophagus.  Like, right in his throat.  They all seem determined to eventually connect with the Carls Jr. flagship location on his chin, turning Sid into one giant wart. Sigh.

It’s the esophagus ones that are freaking us out the most – Sid’s breathing has been a little wheezy lately, and he’s been extra drooly – so we’ve scheduled a teeth cleaning for Sid on Monday.  While he’s under anesthesia, our vet is going to remove the majority of the Carls Jr. locations.  But, what we’ve learned over the past few months is that the Carl family is much, much stronger than Sid’s prednisone-addled immune system.  These warts aren’t gonna be waving a white flag anytime soon.

We have to fight the underlying problem of his weakened immune system in order to banish these warts for good.  He’s on the prednisone to manage his epic allergies (if it’s a carbon-based compound, he’s allergic to it).  The prednisone basically stops his immune system from going haywire whenever Sid comes in contact with an allergen (basically every moment of his existence).  But, the prednisone is also stopping his immune system from fighting back against the papilloma virus.  So, when we say goodbye to the warts, we’ll also have to say goodbye to the one thing that’s guaranteed to tame Sid’s crazy allergies.  (Atopica was a great alternative to prednisone for awhile, but, after a month or two of amazing success, he began vomiting whenever he took it.  Of course.)

So, after Monday’s teeth-cleaning-wart-excision-bonanza, the next step is to go back to the dermatologist, get a skin allergy test done (more accurate than the blood tests, apparently), and start him on allergy shots.  I’ve read that 65-85% of dogs respond well to allergy shots.  A lot of people would consider those odds to be good, or at least “okay,” but considering Sid’s luck, that doesn’t make us feel very hopeful about going down this route.  It is what it is, though.  Right?  And who knows, maybe our little guy will surprise us this time around.

But, in the meantime, Sid could use a little juju for Monday’s procedure.  He’s gone under anesthesia for a teeth cleaning once before and he did fine, but that doesn’t stop us from being a nervous wreck, especially since he’s going to have all of these Carl’s Jr. locations removed from his face (and tongue!) (and eye!) (and throat!!) at the same time.  Blergh.  Google has only increased our anxiety levels, so any positive stories that you can share of pugs undergoing anesthesia, wart removals, and/or allergy shots in the comments section would be much appreciated…

So, in the midst of moving into our new headquarters, the Pug Slope team traveled upstate for a long weekend in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River with Sid’s Grammy Grace, Great Grammy Nanny, Uncle Jay, and Aunt Chiho.

Did you know that they allow pugs to go on boat tours?  Neither did we!  But as soon as we found out, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring Sid on a tour of the mighty St. Lawrence.  Sid insisted on wearing his most nautical apparel, and as we were unpacking after the trip, I discovered that he had kept a “Captain’s Log” of this adventure…

June 23rd, 2012. 1400 hours.  Pops, my first mate, holds me aloft while we wait in line at the port.   From my elevated vantage point, I see that the St. Lawrence river is approx. 3.5 meters above its average level for this time of year. The sun is in my eyes.  Pops did not pack my sunglasses.  Once again consider replacing Pops with a better first mate, but then notice how well our shirts coordinate and remember that he fed me breakfast.

June 23rd, 2012. 1410. On the docks, approaching the gangplank which will lead me onto the vessel, I see that rain is beginning to fall onto the surface of the river.  Since I still don’t buy this whole “depth” thing, I try to walk onto the river.  Pops stops me.  Not sure how I feel about that.

June 23rd, 2012. 1420. After exploring the three decks of this vessel, I’ve determined that deck two – home of the Snack Galley – is the deck on which I’d like to travel.  Popcorn crumbs from earlier excursions line the carpet throughout this awesome deck.  Pops, however, insists on carrying me to the open-air third deck.  I wriggle violently in an attempt to escape back to the popcorn deck, but Pops’s arms are ropey and strong.  Definitely need a new first mate.  Preferably one who’s weak with scurvy.

June 23rd, 2012. 1445.  Escaped Pops’s grip, but was captured by Mom before making it to the popcorn deck.  Oh, yeah – Mom’s here. Mom proceeded to act all mommish.  Asked Mom to please stop embarrassing me while I’m captaining a ship.

June 23rd, 2012.  1532.  Successfully steered ship towards Boldt Castle, only to find out upon disembarking that dogs aren’t allowed on the island.  Attempted to explain to the natives that I’m not a dog, I’m a PUG, but they didn’t care. Tried to explain to the natives that I’m an Internet celebrity, but they didn’t care.  Explained to the natives that I AM THE CAPTAIN OF THIS HERE VESSEL and then ordered them to LET ME ONTO THE ISLAND OR ELSE THEY’D WALK THE PLANK, and they just laughed and scratched my ears.  Posed for a photo with Mom on the top deck instead.  (Still no popcorn)

June 23rd, 2012. 1540.  Back on the open waters.  Mom finally let me stand on the top deck as long as I promised not to jump ship.  Discovered that tongue can be used as a navigational tool.  The wind was traveling south-south-east at 15 knots per hour.  Asked Pops to re-calculate our route using this newly-gained information, but he drew something stupid in his sketchbook instead.  Decided to put ad for new first mate on Craigslist as soon as we were back on land.

June 23rd, 2012. 1630.  Heading back to shore.  Navigating through calm waters.  Still no popcorn.

June 23rd, 2012. 1645.  Mom tells Pops that she needs to use the loo.  Pops says he does too.  The loo is located on deck two…

June 23rd, 2012. 1650.  POPCORN CRUMBS CARPET MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!1!111!!!!

June 23rd, 2012.  1700.  Swabbed deck two with my tongue.  Delicious.