Mom spent the past few weeks attending several pet and vet conferences. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) in Long Beach, CA, Humane Society of the United States in Anaheim, CA, and the Global Pet Expo in San Diego, CA. She says she learned a lot about new treatments for MVD, but that I'm already on all the meds recommended at the moment. Bummer! Dad was hoping for a magic pill. Mom attends these as a member of the press thanks to her msnbc.com column Creature Comforts (the url changes every month, but it's under msnbc.com/health/pethealth/ . She also gets to bring home new treats from the Global Pet Expo which I think is great! Of course, I'm just as happy getting carrots or tangerine slices.

A woman on the MVDincavaliers Yahoo! group had a problem getting her last order from GlobalDrug.tv. I hope Dad doesn't. He says he has enough to last until he knows whether or not he need to order from B&B Pharmacy. Luckily we can drive there to pick them up if we need, but it must be maddening to order and not know if you'll receive the medication.

Dad and Mom have to read all food labels very closely now. When Dr. Barrett took me off all sodium, they examined all my supplements for sodium. Almost none of the supplements listed the amount of sodium. They then looked for ingredients with sodium. None of the food items, e.g., the raw food and/or kibble listed any ingredients with sodium. One of the supplements didn't list any sodium, BUT IT HAD KELP which can be quite high in salt, so of course I can't have that any more. Be careful of anything with sea food, kelp, anything from the ocean.

The moral is to pay attention to ALL ingredients, not just look for ingredients starting with or containing sodium in their name.

No changes with my medications or condition and that's as good as it can be. Dad says we'll take this any day.

Mom and Dad went to San Francisco for a few days and we stayed home with a new pet sitter, Dakota. She's our kind of pet sitter; sits on the sofa watching TV with us all day and gives us LOTS of treats. She even got Twyla to like her right away, and that's unusual.

Of course, it rained every day. Carried down the stairs and back up the stairs, down and up, down and up. Cabin fever and wet paws. No running or sunning. Neighbors staying indoors because of the rain. BORING! Thank goodness there's always Bella to annoy/hump!

I had a VERY good report from Dr. Barrett. She was extremely pleased with my lung xrays, the way my lungs sounded, and my entire demeaner. She had a second doctor review the results, and when he heard my appetite was quite good, he remarked, "Excellent!" So no changes to my meds for now. I need a blood panel done in about three or four weeks, but I'm happy, happy, happy (and driving Mom and Dad crazy with my new found energy!).

I haven't been posting every day. Maybe I should change the name to Darcy's Whenever. Ha!

I have a cardiologist appointment tomorrow with Dr. Barrett. I think she'll be pleased with my status: stable, no wet sounds, and almost no coughing for days at a time. Let's keep our paws crossed.

Dad was gone for a few days to Orlando for business. Wow! I do my business in the yard, and he has to go all the way to Florida! Glad I'm not Dad!

Mom and Dad entered my med schedule (listed below) into something called a PDA. It sounds an alarm whenever my meds are due, and I know from the sound that if I go into the kitchen I'll get a treat. Dad thinks it's great because now he doesn't have to call me; I'm already right there when the treat's ready.

This newspaper in Scotland claims that owning a dog costs as much as buying a new Mercedes. Yes, but will the Mercedes lick your face and hands and wiggle its butt to show you how happy you make it? I will, so I think I'm the better deal.
PS: I'm doing really well on my current med schedule. I'll get a recheck with the vet next week.