Ruby had a reaction to flea bites this summer - her skin became very itchy and flaky. She spent quite a bit of time rubbing her back on the carpet or pavement trying to get some relief. And she had baths with various shampoos to help her skin get better. I also tried cortisone ointment, but that made her fur greasy. So I bought a fish oil supplement and have been mixing it in food every day. She loves the way it tastes (her mantra: "The stinkier, the better!") and it has definitely given her some relief from the itching. I no longer catch her upside down, flailing around like a dying cockroach.

So now that I have started feeding her once a day in the evening, I have made some observations about her (uh, stop here if you don't like scatalogical discussions) pooping. Since it is cold outside in the mornings, she doesn't like to go outside to do her business. Every morning before work, I have to go outside with her and MAKE her pee and poop. She'll usually do one and then try to run inside without doing the other. That's when I point at her and say, WEEWEE! in a forceful tone, and she runs back out to finish her job. Battle of wills? I WILL win this battle. Rest assured.

What I've discovered now that she is eating once a day at the same time every day, is that (1) more poop comes out than food goes in, and (2) she poops twice a day, on one meal a day. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE????