A 4-Legged Support System

The other day my daughter’s dog had emergency surgery. The following morning, sweet Lucy passed away. From our own homes, we mourned her passing. Talking to my daughter, she shared that Lucy was her best friend. When my daughter got home from work, Lucy was there waiting for them to be together.

Family

She and Lucy were not only friends, they were family. Some people "puh-puh" at comments like that. Some say that animals can’t be family. I believe they can. Mine are my support system. They are usually with me 24/7. I totally understand where my daughter is coming from. Thinking about my pups, they are family and listen to anything I want to share. Without them, I would be so lonely.

I'm married and my husband works part-time. I encourage him to get out, to celebrate his days, and enjoy his time. He’s a hunter and fisherman like his sons and his friends. He needs to do these things before he ends up house-bound like me. I’m usually content being home and don’t do well out in the environment.

My every thought

Yes, my pups are family, they call me mom. I like to think they can anyway. They can share my every thought. I can tell when I bore them and can even tell if they enjoy my silly jokes. If I fall, they try to pick me up. They make me laugh. They make me get up and move, even though there is a doggy door.

We have four fur babies. The three Shih Tzu’s are seniors, two have heart murmurs. The youngest is a 5-year-old Poochon. These are all non-shedding breeds. Brushing tends to loosen their hair. Actually, I think that I lose more hair when brushing my own hair than they do.

Keeping time

When my husband comes home, they forget I’m supposed to be their favorite. They run to his side and jump up on his lap. It’s fun to tease my husband about who's the favorite human. These four-legged critters are our companions. Even though our pooches aren't really active, they do keep us moving. They keep us safe and even try to remind us when it’s time - time to eat, time to go to bed, and time to get up. They try anyway.

Actually, one of them needs to be listened to more often. He seems to have more of a sense of what I’m needing and I think he picks it up based on how I'm feeling. Fur babies surely fill up our house and lives. When my baby says it’s time for bed, or even time to follow him, there is usually a purpose. If he's tired, I should be tired, or is he saying that he can tell I'm tired, so it's time for bed. If my husband hands him the mail, he will often carry it to me in his little Shih Tzu mouth.

Things to consider

Many who have COPD have vocalized similar things about their pets. I know some have dogs, cats, ferrets, rats, and more. Some even have birds. Some have had to rehome their pets. Pets are often rehomed because of allergies, asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases. Some did because their doctor advised them to do so.

It's often said that fur and feathers aren't good for people with lung issues and allergies. Before getting an animal companion, you should first discuss this with your doctor. It would also be a good idea to let your doctor know if you already have pets. This is something that may affect your healthcare.

Cleaning and grooming

Carpets hold in so many triggers. Vacuum regularly. My allergist told me this and also that I could keep my dogs since I hadn't had a reaction to them. That said, there are some breeds that I have trouble with, especially the shedding type or the musky types. Sadly, I avoid them, even those cute little kittens.

We groom and bathe our furbabies regularly. They are non-shedding breeds, or should I say low-shedding. I was told to use a good air filter in the bedroom and the area where pets are. Brushing them regularly also helps keep them cleaner. My allergist also said to put linoleum or something on floors and to get rid of the carpets. A year ago, we got rid of the carpets and the air is so much nicer without them.