Yesterday was Sebastian's first visit with our interim vet here in Pennsylvania. We were very impressed with the clinic and the staff and I feel confident working with them the rest of our stay here. I'll put the clinic info on the links page in case anyone is looking for a good vet way out here!
Anyway, the important news... Sebastian had his first skin scraping since we had the mange flare-up last month. Not surprisingly, all the test sites came back positive for mites. I suppose the silver lining is that while there were 7 or 8 mites per slide, only 1 or two per slide were actually alive. So his treatment is working, it's just going to take some more time.
We refilled our medicine prescription and will continue the treatment plan that we established in Washington. Sebastian has another appointment in two weeks for a skin scraping so we'll see how we're doing then! It's a roller-coaster of mange! Will we ever get him healthy enough for his surgery?
On the home front, Bella and Sebastian are both doing very well in getting accustomed to all the cats. Sebastian still can't turn off his natural chase instinct when the run but we're getting better day by day. I know they are both enjoying having a big house and yard to run around in and Grandma and Grandpa and enjoying having their granddogs around. I'm following up on some promising job leads that would bring us back out to the southwest, so if things fall into place we may be loading up for one more roadtrip soon!
Please send Sebastian good thoughts for fighting the mange again! Thank you for all your support!
Hello everyone! I am happy to be writing to you from Pennsylvania! By car from Washington to Pennsylvania in 17 days!! Of course our journey wasn't as simple as a straight cross country trip. I could write a short novel of all our adventures on the road, but for now I'll try to give a short -but full- summary!
Sebastian, Bella, and I left Washington for San Mateo, California via the Pacific Highway (101). Bella and Sebastian had the back of the car decked out with blankets, toys, pillows and water to travel in luxury! From the coastal beaches to the dense redwoods we took our time stopping to explore as the mood struck! We camped in Oregon along a wooded river bank and the dogs played freely by day and guarded the tent at night.
In California, we stayed in San Mateo for two days visiting my sister. While there the dogs explored the local dog park (not as nice as ours in Washington!), and strolled through the scenic San Mateo garden parks.
Once refreshed we headed for Las Vegas! In the desert the dogs sniffed Joshua trees and chased lizards. Once in the city we stayed with family friends who had their own two dogs. Bella and Sebastian lounged lazily in the yard and played with our host dogs. We grew comfortable and stayed in Sin City for 6 days!! Finally we had to get get back on the road. Our unforeseen length of stay in Las Vegas forced me to edit the rest of the travel route for efficiency.
We headed northeast up toward Utah. We stopped to explore the craggy red rock formations and the dogs delighted in sniffing snake holes in the sand. Toward Salt Lake City we hit a bad storm. Blinding rain turned to hail and close lightning. We were forced to make an early pit-stop to seek shelter for the night.
The snow-capped mountains of northern Utah turned into rolling hills as we crossed into Wyoming. In the middle of nowhere Sebastian and Bella met an antelope and tried desperately to catch the scores of prairie dogs darting around them.
In Nebraska the three of us visited an original Pony Express Station. I think the shopkeep regretted letting Bella and Sebastian into the museum when they attempted to eat the souvenirs for sale! In Lincoln, Nebraska the dogs were kind enough to bring back an infestation of ticks after a romp in the prairie fields. That delightful gift earned me a trip to the emergency room to get one removed from my head! Parasite free, we continued east encountering more stormy weather. Luckily we were only feeling the northern effect from the tornadoes south of us.
Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio passed by in a blur of hotels, and unexciting dog walks. I think by this time we were all just ready to be done and off the road! We made it to Erie, Pennsylvania a few days ago. We're staying with my parents and have been lounging off the road-weariness! Bella and Sebastian are learning to co-exist with my mother's 5 cats. (yes, 5!) Bella is doing better with the adjustment then Sebastian, who's okay...until they move!
On the future agenda is just more family time and taking the dogs to explore the local parks and the peninsula at Lake Erie! After much research, I believe I have found a good interim veterinarian for Sebastian. He goes in Monday for his first skin scraping since we started treating for the mange again. And just in case anyone's worrying, Sebastian (and Bella) did wonderfully throughout the trip. Sebastian had one slip on a curb which seemed to hurt his knee for a day but other than that (and the ticks!), no medical problems! This new round of medications seems to have halted the mange (hopefully our impending skin scraping will confirm that) and the hair loss has stopped along with the irritated skin. As always, I will update after our trip to the vet with all the latest medical info!
If you're wondering where we're going from here... Well, I think we all really grew attached to Nevada. I'm currently exploring rental availabilities and employment opportunities in the Las Vegas area! If everything comes together, the three of us will be back on the road soon!!
Road Trip Fun Facts:
Miles traveled: 3,708
States visited: 13
Most expensive gas: California (~$4.50)
Least expensive gas: Wyoming (~$3.13)
Number of fill-ups: 21
Total gas cost: $776.57
Most expensive hotel: Laramie, WY ($138)
Least expensive hotel: Toldeo, OH ($32)
Number of hotels visited: 8
And below, for your viewing pleasure, the route we took...
