I took Ellie to a neurologist today to have her seizures evaluated since they're getting progressively worse despite continuing to increase her medication. General practice vets had previously diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy; the neurologist said that's unlikely given the results of Ellie's neurological exam. Their diagnosis is an autoimmune brain disease.

Ellie has been started on prednisone. We'll know within the month if she is responding to treatment, but the prognosis is not good.…

I've been a silent lurker for awhile, not because Ellie gives me nothing to talk about, but because I've settled into my role as a Corgi parent and handle things as they come up with minimal panicking. I'm quick to take Ellie to the vet, even the emergency vet once, so I get most of the advice I need straight from him. I came online today and read some posts about Corgis who hate heat, and it reminded me of the value of participating more actively in this community.

Ellie has been…

I've been letting Ellie sleep outside of her crate for about two months, and she's been doing great.  She wakes me up way too early (5am), but no accidents or anything in the night.  Well, that all changed last week when my mom came to stay with us.

Ellie has never shared the apartment with anyone but me. I expected her to be upset that someone was in our "den", even if she loves that person to death. And she does adore my mom.  But I was shocked when she pooped in my bedroom on…

It finally happened this morning.  Ellie got underfoot, and I stepped on her.  She was pulling on her leash trying to get to some other dogs on a walk too, and she switched sides on me while I was in mid-step. Thinking about her scream makes me want to cry.  

I think she's okay.  I stepped on her toes with the side of my shoe. I heard a cracking type sound when it happened, but I think it was only her nails on the blacktop.  She's not limping and it didn't seem to hurt her when I…

Back in February when Ellie got spayed, the vet found a spot on her tummy when he shaved her. It looked like a really angry bug bite. They told me to use Benadryl and Neosporin and keep an eye on it. Over the last couple months, the spot got better slowly. It turned the color of her skin and got smaller. Then this week it quadrupled in size (dime-sized to quarter-sized), turned angry red again, and started swelling.

I took Ellie in today to have the vet take a look. She diagnosed it…

Ellie is just about 8.5 months now and so well-behaved that I've started giving her free run of the apartment when I go to work.  She's been a marvelous little angel, but she always has been. 

The first week she was home, she tried to chew on the entertainment center and desk, but a firm "no" put a stop to that right away and she hasn't touched the furniture since.  Then she tried to chew on cords, but again a "no" nipped it in the bud.  She was housebroken in a week (at four months)…

I noticed Ellie herding for the first time last week. Usually, it’s just me and Ellie alone in my apartment, and she knows better than to try and herd her “alpha” so it’s never been an issue. We stayed with my mom last week, and it’s unbelievable how quickly that herding instinct appeared when there were two people in the house with Ellie.

Every time my mom would move off the couch, Ellie chased after her, lunging and barking and nipping at her heels. My mom said it felt like a lick,…

I dropped Ellie off at the vet this morning to get spayed.  I'm not sure which one of us is the bigger wreck.  Ellie hates new people/places.  I hate putting her through something painful and scary.  I tried not to show it because the Alpha dog is supposed to be strong, but I might have failed there.  The vet tech could definitely tell I didn't want to leave her.

I know it's healthier for Ellie.  I know this is routine.  I know dogs bounce back quickly.  But I'm worried for my girl,…

Before I got Ellie, I did a lot of research on owning corgis.  One thing I read repeatedly was that you shouldn’t bathe corgis very often.  Most people suggested every couple months.  Have these people ever lived with a corgi?  Dirt might fall out of the coat when it dries, but it still stains white fur, and corgis are as stinky as every other dog out there.

I have a very sensitive nose, so I prepared in advance before bringing Ellie home.  The air fresheners are working overtime, I…

For my first post on this site, I just want to give a hearty Thank You! to everyone who has posted before me.

Growing up, I had two dogs.  My family has a long tradition of outside dogs (which I never liked, but I was the kid). Nothing is difficult about having an outside dog in the country.  They run, play, bark, potty, chew whatever and wherever they want on the acres of land they have free range to explore.  You play with and walk them when you feel like it and ignore them when you…