The Typhoid Puppy

Well our puppy, Kiba, has been a real hit with the kids. Even the cat is getting use to him hanging around. We have allowed him to sleep inside the house at night due to his injured leg and he has only had 1 accident inside. We have, however, run into a problem. I have at least.

The dog is currently playing the part of typhoid Mary. 2 weeks ago he came up for a little puppy love. He sat between my legs and got his head and hears scratched for a while. The next morning I wake up to poison ivy rash all down my inner thighs. This is the first time I have ever had poison ivy. Luckily it was not a bad enough reaction to go to the doctor for but over the next week it increased in size and depth due to my pant fabric rubbing the area raw and breaking all the blisters. It got to the point that I was walking around work as bow legged as a cowboy to avoid my legs touching the fabric or my other leg. When after a week it finally dried up enough that I felt it was actually healing, Typhoid Mary strikes again.

Tuesday before bed the dog goes down the stairs and lays in my bed. I grab him and carry him to his blanket on the floor and jump into bed. When I awake the next morning my back is covered from bra line to the back of my leg. Even covering my entire backside! Thankfully it is no where near as bad as my legs were the week before. The back of my knees, however, swell up whenever I spend any amount of time on my feet. A small amount of time to do some housework and sit back down was fine and produced only a small amount of swelling. 6 hours at work every day has been leaving my legs unable to bend all the way and in terrible pain. I have been getting home from work and immediatly laying on my bed with an icepack behind both knees.

Before you ask. Yes, the dog did get a bath after the first contact. But he is an outside dog. Now he is an outside dog exclusively until the frost kills all the Ivy. Then a bath and we will consider allowing him back in the house at night.

I did learn a thing or 2 about Poison Ivy.
1. poison ivy rash is caused by the oil of the poison ivy or oak plant
2. Some people are immune to the oil's effects, but not all people stay that way
3. once you get poison ivy rash it will be easier for you to get it again.
4. the blister fluid from poison ivy rash does not spread the rash. I repeat. Blister fluid from poison ivy rash is not contagious!
5. nothing relieves the pain and itching more than peppermint oil and an icepack. Or just peppermint oil and an electric fan. (but that is just my opinion)