"Petey Goes to Paris"

Did I catch your attention? Did you think I went to Paris, France? I visited Paris, Texas. France would have been a long way from home. Although I wasn't in Paris, France, I explored new surroundings, met new people, and sniffed new ground in Paris, Texas. 

Paris, Texas, is located in northeast Texas in Lamar County. It was named after Paris, France. It even has an Eiffel Tower, not quite as big as the one in France. I didn't go see that on this trip. The population is approximately 24K, not counting dogs. Here is a picture of me in front of a fountain in the center of downtown. I stay put and smile when I am told.

While I was in the downtown area, I visited the historical theater. The theater hosts live shows by the Paris Community Theater at various times. It would be fun to see a show. I did not see one. I do not think I would be allowed inside. I bark way too much, and it would disturb others. I am working on my barking problem. Unfortunately, it is hard to control my squeaky, high-pitched bark when I am excited.  I got my picture taken in front of the historic theater.

Here I am in front of the box office at the historical theater, standing still and looking attentive. No one inside to buy a ticket. It must not be time for a show. I wondered if  I would be going in? Nope, I moved across the street to sniff more green grass.

I enjoyed the park area across from the theater. The grass was cool to my paws, and there was shade. It was a hot day, 95 degrees. Next time, I'll wear my doggy boots incase I need to walk on cement. Luckily, if the ground is too hot and there is no shade, I am small and easy for my Master to carry. 

Can you find me in the picture above? The small black and white spot in the bottom right-hand corner is me. The historical theater is in the background, where I was posing in front of the box office.

Also, while I was in town, I got to stop by a park located across from a church. The church is called the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. It looked historical. I didn't walk around the grounds of the church. Just got a picture of part of it from the back side before I crossed the street to go to the park. The back side of the church offers closer access to the park. The church is a beautiful building.

The park across from the church is called Bywaters Park. I got to walk around. I do not know much about the park, but it had shade. I like that since it can get hot in Texas. It was a nice, quiet park where dogs were allowed to walk around. Here is a picture of me at the park, where I visited what appeared to be a memorial. The stone structure looked historical. I need to look into this to gather more information. Do you know any info on the park or the memorial?

Well, that was my weekend adventure in Paris, Texas. Visiting the small town was fun. It has friendly folks. People always smiled at me when they passed by. Maybe I'll visit another small town in Texas and discover something new. Where should I go next on my adventures?

"Million-Dollar Smile"

Well, not precisely a million dollars, but sure a pretty penny. I am using figurative language, or idioms, as English teachers might call my choice of words. 😄

Anyway, back on topic...

I survived the trip to the doggy dentist. As previously mentioned, I had to go in for a vital pulp therapy because my lower canine teeth were pressing into the roof of my mouth. Ouch...

Let me tell you about my day...

First, I awoke and thought it was just a typical day, but then I realized something was different when I didn't get my breakfast. What were these people planning? 😕

Well, I loaded in the car and I was excited, thinking I was headed to the park to see my duck buddies. Soon, I realized we were not going in the right direction. We must be headed somewhere else. The traffic was horrible and took a considerable amount of time, so I started to get impatient. 

Soon enough, we arrived at our destination. I know this place, we've been here before. I like these folks. They are dog people. 😍

I was soon going to get my teeth worked on. I was given something and fell into a deep sleep in my usual position with my belly facing upward and tongue sticking out. I slept peacefully, and the doctor worked on my "million-dollar smile". 😁

The dentist discovered additional issues with my teeth. In addition to the two lower canines getting a vital pulp therapy and cap, I needed four teeth pulled; for my best interest and to prevent future complications. I am no expert on teeth, so I won't try to explain it thoroughly, but as I understand, two hadn't erupted, and two were chipped, possibly due to my malocclusion. I didn't really need these teeth, so they were pulled. I am not sure if I explained it correctly, but I hope you get the picture.

Long story short. That same day, I got home feeling sleepy, but I managed to do well. I even had an appetite, which surprised my Master. Fortunately, I didn't get sick, despite the warning that it could occur post-surgery.

I have to eat soft food for a few days, but this is a treat. I like Caesar's grilled chicken. I'm doing well, with minimal pain. The tricky thing is, I can't have my chew toys. They were put away as my teeth recover. I keep trying to find them.  They are not in the usual place. 😟

I surely wouldn't want to damage my "million-dollar smile" by chewing something. Not having my toy friends is hard. I hope they come out of hiding soon. For now, I try to entertain myself by looking out the window and dreaming about when I can go play ball and pull grass, one of my favorite pastimes. 

Pistol Pete Gets Ready For The Dentist

I had no idea that there are dentists just for dogs. I have a condition called malocclusion.

Malocclusion is a big word; it basically means my upper and lower teeth do not align properly. In my case, it is my canine teeth. These are vital teeth for the canine jaw structure. 

My lower canine teeth press against my palate, the roof of my mouth. This can cause pain. To ease my pain, I chew a lot. I also drool, which might be caused by the pain. I don't know. 

The expert veterinarians recommend correcting the issue before the canine teeth can cause additional problems, such as puncturing my palate and going into my nasal cavity. That sounds terrible and always has a potential for an infection, which could cause a whole other set of problems. 

I am a lucky dog, as my condition was identified early in my life, and my Master is taking me to a specialized doggy dentist to get a vital pulp therapy procedure performed. I am not an expert on the procedure, but I understand that it involves removing or shortening my canines. Then drill to the pulp and feel it with fillings, such as when you have a cavity. The end is to cap the tooth. This should prevent my canines from pressing against the roof of my mouth and causing pain and additional issues. 

I hear it is a less invasive surgery than pulling my canines, and it helps protect the tooth and structure of my mouth. There is always a possibility that removing the canine teeth could break my jaw. I am thankful we will see if the vital pulp therapy works. The veterinarians report high positive results. I pray it does.

Stay tuned, and I will let you know how I do in surgery and after my trip to the dentist. 

Nothing Like A Country Drive

At first, I was always nervous riding in the car. I never knew where I was headed, but as I took more car rides, I started to enjoy the experience. 

Most of the time, it was to go for an adventure. Only a few times have I landed at a place I prefer not to be, like the doctor's office or the barbershop. Even though those weren't bad experiences, I'd rather take a drive to somewhere fun, where I do not have to stress and wonder what is going on.

I love a good country drive, where the window can be down and the wind blows my face as I travel along. I can relax and smell the fresh country air.

During the drive, I sometimes stop to look at these large critters. Wonder if they'd be friendly to a miniature schnauzer. 

They seem to just stand there and every now and then make a MOO sound. I would let out a squeaky bark to try to get them to notice me. No luck.🙁

 I'd better just look as they're pretty big compared to me. 

Stay tuned for more of my adventure!