Hi Diana and Scoobster (and everyone else!),
I spoke with the doctor on Monday and the Cushings verdict is
negative. Toto has some kind of severe allergy--to what we do not know. If anyone has any suggestions based on their own Yorkie's experience with skin allergies I'm all ears.
I bathed Toto on Sunday night and even though he
hated every moment of it and spent the majority of the experience trembling like I was murdering him, I think he probably felt better
being clean. I wish I had given him at least one other bath while I was there but my mom has decided to take him to the vet once a week to have them do it since she is not in the physical shape to do it herself.
I flew back to California on Monday night but I'm going back in a few weeks for an indefinite period of time (at least 6 months). I am currently between homes and have been couch surfing for weeks after I had to evacuate my most recent living situation. In the last month and a half I have lost $1700 from two deadbeat landlords and at this time it makes the most sense for me to keep my things in storage and go back to help out my mom. This was both an easy and difficult decision to come to and I'm still having a tough time with it. It's great that I'll be there for my mom (and to bestow much love upon my "babies") but it's also upsetting that I am leaving the life I spent the last five years trying to create here.
As for my little guy, I'll be able to walk him (and his sister, Scoutie) and bathe him regularly once I'm back home. It will allow me to keep a close eye on his daily habits and behaviors. My mom says that since I left he has been eating well and not sleeping constantly like he was doing before I came to visit.
Thank you all again for your support throughout this ordeal. I am truly grateful for the kindness and generosity of this community and I intend to keep coming back and checking in. Sending my love to you all.
Bonus pic: Toto and me just before I left for the airport.