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Are you kidding? Cami is now a calendar girl! Cami was selected by America’s Top Dog Model to be in the upcoming 2012 ATDM Calendar as Miss June. The theme of that year is “Going Green with Style,” and Cami was an organic gardener. We do grow alot of our own fruits, vegetables and herbs at home, and Cami is a big help. So she posed for her picture with a gardening motif.
Shown is Cami’s June picture or you can log onto www.americastopdogmodel.com to see all of the 2012 models (click on 2010 finalists).

Okay, Cami survived her tragic eye trauma just fine, but we all thought that her career as a supermodel was over. Well, we were wrong! Cami went to a casting call for America’s Top Dog Model on Saturday and finished as a finalist for Tampa. Cami won a gift basket with wine, toys, a book, a calendar, and a doggie spa certificate worth $125. Good job Cam.
Now we have to submit a professional photo with the theme “Go Green” for the national competition. Wish us luck…

OMG, it’s been forever since I wrote here. Not much going on. Dr. Ernest, Charlene and myself worked at the Renaissance Festval’s Pet Fest (that was quite an experience!). My niece came into town for spring break (with her boyfriend- wasn’t quite sure about that, but it turned out well) so that was fun.
This weekend is the Festa Italiana in Ybor City. My mother, Barbara (our past asst) and myself will be stomping grapes for charity on Sunday. Our charity is the ASPCA- wish us luck and join us if you can. There is lots of food, drink, music and fun!

Well, the turkey is all gone (and Cami ate her fair share) and the Christmas Tree is up. I can’t believe we’re in December and 2009 is almost over. Doesn’t it seem like the Y2K thing was just a bit ago? Anyway- here’s the potential trouble spots this time of year- so watch out for them!

1. Candies and Chocolates- We love them and so do our pets. Their GI tracts can’t handle them the the same way as ours, and chocolate can be poisonous. So keep the treats out of reach.

2. Tinsel, ribbons and strings- Adds beauty to trees and packages, but can be deadly to our pets. Swallowing these can lead to tongue lacerations, linear foreign bodies (that then need surgical removal) and potentially death. As alternatives, try “sparkley” larger ornaments on the tree and hand decorated gift tags on boxes (paper usually isn’t a problem).

3. Electrical cords (in new places)- Those extension cords, so very needed for our Christmas lights, represent a new and interesting “snake-toy.” Very bad!!! Try covering cords with painters tape or throw rugs to keep them out of sight.

4. Christmas Tree water resevoir- Okay, so you thought water was harmless. Not if you use tree preservative added in (or aspirin if you’re old school). Both of these things can be very toxic, especially to cats. Remember too- flocking (or snow covering) on trees is also toxic.

5. Small ornaments and toys- Remember, small shiny items are very attractive to dogs and cats. Small parts can be ingested and very often get stuck. This means surgery- so stick to larger, non-breakable ornaments, and try to keep the lower branches sparse.

6. Tasty Holiday Dinner- A taste for your pet is fine (avoid the onions, raisins, and high fat), but keep portions to just a taste.

7. Guests/Family- It’s great to have your loved ones visiting and of course they love our pets, too, but our pets are curious about new people and things- so keep those guest room doors closed. That way their possesions stay safe and so do your pets.

Lastly- the fat man in the red suit can start a fire and steal your pets- keep your eyes peeled!!!!
Happy Holidays from Debbie, Dr. Ernest, Charlene and , of course, Cami the Supermodel!!!

Cami and Maxine wish all of their furry, feathered and fiendish friends a fun and safe Halloween.
Remember- Black Cats- Stay inside, there are scary people loose!

PS- Cami has been officially declared healed. See ya later Dr. Wolf (Woof)!

Good job Cami! Dr. Ernest and Charlene entered the dogs in a photo contest for an Australian doggy catalogue, and Cami was chosen to be one of the models. Can you believe this girl, just back from a tragic eye trauma, and now famous?! No autographs- please…

Our last recheck with Dr. Wolf went very well. He’s very happy with Cami’s progress and she doesn’t have to wear her “party hat” any more. YEA!!!! Dr. Wolf discontinued all of her antibiotic drops, but now added a steroid drop to help decrease scarring (which may help her retain more vision). Cami also now has to work on keeping that eye moist, since all the damage has decreased her ability to produce normal levels of tears. All in all- we are very happy. Thank you for all of your concern.
From now on, I hope that we can write about “funner” stuff.

Today was Cami’s recheck appointment with the ophthalmologist. (She wore her brown gingham puppia today). He says the eye is healing well and if it keeps going this way, in a few weeks it should be healed. Of course, her sight is not going to be normal, but she may be able to see light and shadows, thankfully her eye may outwardly look normal. Considering her attitude, I don’t think anyone will know that she’s compromised in that eye.
Sadly for her, she still has to wear the e-collar (we’ve started calling it her “party hat” so she doesn’t get too depressed) until it’s completely healed.
I’ll post a last photo when we are all done, but hopefully this will be the last post on this subject. Thank heavens!!!!

Cami eye update- The sutures have been removed and the shape of her eye is much more normal, the color of it though is a bit scary- it’s red, very red. The doctors assure me that this is a good thing, it means that it is healing. So hopefully, a corneal graft is no longer necessary. However, her future sight is in question. Keep your fingers crossed!

It’s Monday, and we made it through the weekend. Cami’s eye is still nicely sutured closed, and we’re still doing medications many times a day. Her recheck exam with Dr. Wolf is Thursday- keep your fingers crossed!!!
PS- Fashion dictates the use of something other than that Elizabethan collar (the cone of shame), so we are trying Doggles. Aren’t they cute?!