Friday, March 5, 2010

Itchy and Scratchy

With our newest puppy came something we weren't expecting - ring worm. It was not long after he arrived that he started losing hair in little circle patches. Frankly, for a new puppy, that was a better diagnosis than many of the other diseases and conditions that we imagined. I guess that ability comes from our years of experience with neuroblastoma. Our minds were trained to look for the worst and work our way backward.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I am still mental.

Regardless, our newest member had ring worm. As you might imagine, it was not long before it started appearing on the girls. Sydney was the first with a nickel sized spot appearing on her right cheek. Ainsley, however, bore the brunt of it. Her arms are covered and there are almost too many spots to count. We have slathered her in antifungal but we are still very much fighting from behind. For several days, her condition was hidden by her sleeves and we only noticed as a result her obsessive scratching. Of course, at that point, she had pretty much spread it up and down and from one arm to the other.

It is contagious stuff.

In fact, even Lynley has fallen victim. As usual, so far us boys have stayed immune. Either that or we are just less fungi. Is that even a word? Regardless, us boys have no sign of the stuff.

We are starting to develop a pattern here. I don't know what it is but this is about the tenth diagnosis in a row were the boys have remained unaffected. I don't know what that says about us boys but it sure seems strange.

Perhaps, we are just not as cuddly.

Or, perhaps, girls really do have cooties.

Well, I had best be off. It is time to slather the girls in antifungal and cover them with band aids.

What a beautiful way to start a new day of purpose.

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