The Joys of Owning a Dog with Allergies

OK, so there are few actual joys of owning a dog with allergies.

This time of year, every year, without fail, Charlie becomes overcome with skin allergies, scratching day and night, furiously, like he’s chasing an elusive, aggressive flea. While we try to sleep, he shakes the bed with his infinite scratching. His ears become giant tangles, and his skin turns pink. He’s miserable.

So, I start giving him baby Benadryl twice a day, and special-order some skin spray from the veterinarian. When it gets really bad, I turn him into a lampshade — a minor joy, because he’s so damn cute, like a little daisy flower:

Miraculously, every year, by the end of August, his allergies get better, and cease. Until next year.