AP took a picture of it but she said it came out a little fuzzy.
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| HAIL |
I'll See You in My Dreams
10 years ago
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Hail Storm
So tonight I found something worse than rain. AP and I were finishing our walk with Nala and Henry and it started raining and thundering which was bad enough but then frozen water rocks started falling from the sky. AP called it hail and it really hurt and we had to stop at Mr. Bob's and stand under the awning until it stopped. Water - not a fan in any form (except at the beach).
AP took a picture of it but she said it came out a little fuzzy.
AP took a picture of it but she said it came out a little fuzzy.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Time to Get in Your House
AP here:
99.99% of the time Tonka is the best boy you could ever want to live with. He listens very well as demonstrated by this video.
There are times though when he is an onery little brat. I called him to get in his house this past weekend and he absoultely refused. He was stretched out on the landing and just did not want to move. I tried talking to him, I tried bribing him and finally had to resort to picking him up by the scruff of his neck to get him to his feet. He tried to twist and turn to go up the steps and dug in his paws. Now you can't drag a blind dog down the steps, it's just not a nice thing to do so the only option was to go out the front door around the house and through the back door. We marched out the front door and around the house (had to stop to unlock he gate first) and when we made the turn by the ramp to the porch off of the kitchen he tried to bolt up the ramp. I got a better grip on him - thinking I should have slipped on his collar at the start of this little journey -and away we went down the hill and into the back door where I dumped him into his house. Now before I get negative comments about dogs and crates let me tell you that Tonka feels very secure in his house (crate). If he thinks he is home alone and has been left out of his house he gets very agitated and upset. He is smart enough to know that he is safe there and he loves his house and he is never in it with the door closed for more than 4 hours. He was just testing his boundries and being a brat - ah the teenage years....
99.99% of the time Tonka is the best boy you could ever want to live with. He listens very well as demonstrated by this video.
There are times though when he is an onery little brat. I called him to get in his house this past weekend and he absoultely refused. He was stretched out on the landing and just did not want to move. I tried talking to him, I tried bribing him and finally had to resort to picking him up by the scruff of his neck to get him to his feet. He tried to twist and turn to go up the steps and dug in his paws. Now you can't drag a blind dog down the steps, it's just not a nice thing to do so the only option was to go out the front door around the house and through the back door. We marched out the front door and around the house (had to stop to unlock he gate first) and when we made the turn by the ramp to the porch off of the kitchen he tried to bolt up the ramp. I got a better grip on him - thinking I should have slipped on his collar at the start of this little journey -and away we went down the hill and into the back door where I dumped him into his house. Now before I get negative comments about dogs and crates let me tell you that Tonka feels very secure in his house (crate). If he thinks he is home alone and has been left out of his house he gets very agitated and upset. He is smart enough to know that he is safe there and he loves his house and he is never in it with the door closed for more than 4 hours. He was just testing his boundries and being a brat - ah the teenage years....
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Trish Gives Us The 411 on Sylvia and Post Op. Therapy
An update from Sylvia's foster mom Trish Rimo.
I'm really impressed with the canine physical therapists (and yes, my friends, there is such a specialty – and a good one, too!) at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates. They're so kind, compassionate and good at what they do for Sylvia following her hip surgery. They're trying to make sure she doesn't overly tax some other muscle/ligament while this leg is so very weak; she's lost 5 cm. of muscle mass in it already. When they try to rotate her leg, her muscle goes into spasms, so they give her soothing laser therapy. It’s been three weeks and she really doesn’t want to move that leg much at all. No at-home exercises until she gets stronger, and we’re just fine with that!
This is going to be a long, slow rehabilitation process for Sylvia, and I'm really glad we have professionals to help. The surgery (FHO) is particularly difficult for big dogs to recover from, as there’s so much weight borne by that new false “joint.” Without PT, I fear Sylvia would end up with a limp, not to mention joint problems elsewhere, which is the real issue. I’m so glad we advocated for the best level of care for her within reason – and that the generous people who donated to Sylvia’s fund enabled her to get this care!
I'm really impressed with the canine physical therapists (and yes, my friends, there is such a specialty – and a good one, too!) at VCA Veterinary Referral Associates. They're so kind, compassionate and good at what they do for Sylvia following her hip surgery. They're trying to make sure she doesn't overly tax some other muscle/ligament while this leg is so very weak; she's lost 5 cm. of muscle mass in it already. When they try to rotate her leg, her muscle goes into spasms, so they give her soothing laser therapy. It’s been three weeks and she really doesn’t want to move that leg much at all. No at-home exercises until she gets stronger, and we’re just fine with that!
This is going to be a long, slow rehabilitation process for Sylvia, and I'm really glad we have professionals to help. The surgery (FHO) is particularly difficult for big dogs to recover from, as there’s so much weight borne by that new false “joint.” Without PT, I fear Sylvia would end up with a limp, not to mention joint problems elsewhere, which is the real issue. I’m so glad we advocated for the best level of care for her within reason – and that the generous people who donated to Sylvia’s fund enabled her to get this care!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
In This Corner - AP's MVP
I am so excited AP said I got honorable mention in week 9 of the Bissell MVP contest.
Check out number 5 at this link - Handsome devil isn't he :)
http://tinyurl.com/4qeb92a
Now at the end of the contest in April I will be among the winners in the Judging Phase.
Judging Phase: During the Judging Phase, a panel of qualified judges determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion will select the five (5) entrants with the highest-scoring Submissions from among the sixty (60) Finalists based on the following criteria (“Judging Criteria”):
Condition of Pet's Coat (33%); Expression of Pet (33%); and Overall Appearance (34%)
The top 5 all win money for the pet charity of their choice. So I am trying to win for my rescue Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue http://www.agprescue.com/
Cross your fingers for us.
Check out number 5 at this link - Handsome devil isn't he :)
http://tinyurl.com/4qeb92a
Now at the end of the contest in April I will be among the winners in the Judging Phase.
Judging Phase: During the Judging Phase, a panel of qualified judges determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion will select the five (5) entrants with the highest-scoring Submissions from among the sixty (60) Finalists based on the following criteria (“Judging Criteria”):
Condition of Pet's Coat (33%); Expression of Pet (33%); and Overall Appearance (34%)
The top 5 all win money for the pet charity of their choice. So I am trying to win for my rescue Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue http://www.agprescue.com/
Cross your fingers for us.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
After the Rainy Walk
AP here:
People think I am a bit nuts since Tonka and I walk no matter what the weather and this morning in the rain was no exception. Tonka is confined to short walks right now but even with a short walk it did not take long to get soaked.
So what do you do with a Tonka Dog that is soaking wet?
First you towel him off real well making sure to get his paws and belly and then you let him in the house. Next you break out the hair dryer and try to keep him still while you dry him a little more thoroughly.
Here is a video of Tonka and the drying process - notice how hard it is to keep him still.
He is such a lazy lump-
Now if I could just get him to flip over!
People think I am a bit nuts since Tonka and I walk no matter what the weather and this morning in the rain was no exception. Tonka is confined to short walks right now but even with a short walk it did not take long to get soaked.
So what do you do with a Tonka Dog that is soaking wet?
First you towel him off real well making sure to get his paws and belly and then you let him in the house. Next you break out the hair dryer and try to keep him still while you dry him a little more thoroughly.
Here is a video of Tonka and the drying process - notice how hard it is to keep him still.
He is such a lazy lump-
Now if I could just get him to flip over!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Here we limp again!
AP here:
So with no official diagnosis we started him on an anti-inflammatory and a prescription of no-playing or running. Since this is his fourth bout with this lameness issue in the past year Dr. Woodburn suggested we go see an Orthopedic Dr. that specializes in sports injuries in animals. So we are going to see Dr. Canapp http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/about/staff_scanapp.html at VOSM http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/ . Those of you that follow the blog regularly know that Tonka lives for his walks and so if he has something wrong in his shoulder we need to get it fixed ASAP.
A Tonka dog without his walks and his blippity blopping with his friends is a very depressed boy! If you are not familiar with the Blippity Blop be sure to watch any of his videos where he is running. Tonka steps really high when he is running - he sort of blippity blops along. He is allowed to go for short walks but no blippity blopping or wrestling and so far he is not depressed just mad... This boy has the entire neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods in a 4 mile radius completely mapped out in his head. He knows when you shorten his walk or deviate from his normal route. He is such a good boy that when he wants to keep going or turn the other way he does not pull to get his way. He simply stops, and sits. He has done this little routine since he was a puppy and back then I would just pick him up and carry him a few feet and put him down and continue you on. He has long since outgrown the ability for me to pull that off, at 125lbs I can only lift him down and out of a truck I cannot lift him up. The trick to get him to move is not pulling him or jerking the leash but to have a talk with him. I am sure the neighbors think I am very odd. I walk a blind dog 2x a day rain or shine he wears sunglasses on windy days and I have on occasion held an umbrella over him. Then then the crazy lady is squatted in front of him whispering in his ear.
It works though, I get down on his level and whisper that we can't go that way today and I tell him why he needs to come with me and he will just get up and willingly come along as if he understands. I am sure a behaviorist will tell you it is just the break in the situation that changes the pattern he was in or something like that but I like to think it is because he is just a good boy that needs to know why.
A week ago Tonka got up from a nap and he was limping on his right front paw. It went away by the time we got to the vet (of course) and they had a hard time making him react to range of motion -or anything for that matter -with his foot, elbow or shoulder. He pretty much started to fall asleep while Dr. Anderson was examining him (such a laid back boy).
So with no official diagnosis we started him on an anti-inflammatory and a prescription of no-playing or running. Since this is his fourth bout with this lameness issue in the past year Dr. Woodburn suggested we go see an Orthopedic Dr. that specializes in sports injuries in animals. So we are going to see Dr. Canapp http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/about/staff_scanapp.html at VOSM http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/ . Those of you that follow the blog regularly know that Tonka lives for his walks and so if he has something wrong in his shoulder we need to get it fixed ASAP. A Tonka dog without his walks and his blippity blopping with his friends is a very depressed boy! If you are not familiar with the Blippity Blop be sure to watch any of his videos where he is running. Tonka steps really high when he is running - he sort of blippity blops along. He is allowed to go for short walks but no blippity blopping or wrestling and so far he is not depressed just mad... This boy has the entire neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods in a 4 mile radius completely mapped out in his head. He knows when you shorten his walk or deviate from his normal route. He is such a good boy that when he wants to keep going or turn the other way he does not pull to get his way. He simply stops, and sits. He has done this little routine since he was a puppy and back then I would just pick him up and carry him a few feet and put him down and continue you on. He has long since outgrown the ability for me to pull that off, at 125lbs I can only lift him down and out of a truck I cannot lift him up. The trick to get him to move is not pulling him or jerking the leash but to have a talk with him. I am sure the neighbors think I am very odd. I walk a blind dog 2x a day rain or shine he wears sunglasses on windy days and I have on occasion held an umbrella over him. Then then the crazy lady is squatted in front of him whispering in his ear.
It works though, I get down on his level and whisper that we can't go that way today and I tell him why he needs to come with me and he will just get up and willingly come along as if he understands. I am sure a behaviorist will tell you it is just the break in the situation that changes the pattern he was in or something like that but I like to think it is because he is just a good boy that needs to know why.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sylvia One Week Update
AP here: I saw Sylvia this weekend, she looks great and Trish was kind enough to give us a one week update.
It’s been a little more than a week since Sylvia’s surgery and she’s recovering well. Her fur is already growing back, the incision is healing, and she’s gradually putting more weight on the surgical leg. Still, she has to stay confined (a little boring for her) until at least Friday. That’s when we go back to the surgeon to get her opinion of the progress and to see when Sylvia can start physical therapy, which is even more important for a large dog such as a Pyr. She’s still on pain meds — as much to keep her calm as to help with the pain!
Kaiser has been gallant enough to give up his bed to Sylvia!
It’s been a little more than a week since Sylvia’s surgery and she’s recovering well. Her fur is already growing back, the incision is healing, and she’s gradually putting more weight on the surgical leg. Still, she has to stay confined (a little boring for her) until at least Friday. That’s when we go back to the surgeon to get her opinion of the progress and to see when Sylvia can start physical therapy, which is even more important for a large dog such as a Pyr. She’s still on pain meds — as much to keep her calm as to help with the pain!
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| FHO leg 1 week Post Op. |
Tonka is very happy that Sylvia is on the mend and will get to see her for PyrFest in May.
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