In response to the oppressive heat wave we've been having here lately, I thought I'd post some of our favorite pictures of dogs trying to stay cool. (Yes, Texas friends, the weather people post excessive heat warnings up here when the temperature is expected to hit 90 degrees!) Some of these doggies we have known and others belong to friends. There's also a couple of cat pictures for you dual-species households. Enjoy and try to stay cool!

Rowdy in the Tank


Launching


Abby on Float


Sharky in the Sprinkler


Kitty Sunbathers


Kitty in the Pool

So many doggies to care for lately that it's been hard to find time to  blog. Everyone has been having a great time in the sunshine and warm temperatures this summer. When it gets too warm, we all retreat to the air conditioned playrooms and house for a much-needed afternoon nap!

Some of the dogs staying with us over the summer have had really bad allergy issues. We have one poor guy right now, Sam, who has chewed his skin raw near the base of his tail because of allergy itching (and anxiety). Max the Chug was miserable with itchiness a couple of weeks ago. Even our Velvet gets allergy-related skin trouble this time of year. I often find myself talking to people lately about how to make their dogs more comfortable during flare ups.

Fish oil capsules are a great way to start giving your dog some relief from skin woes. Omega 3 fatty acids (found in fish oil) are "the most important supplement you can use for allergic skin disease" (The Complete Holistic Dog Book, Dr. Katy Summers). Dr. Summers was Scooter's and Velvet's vet when we lived in California and I go to her excellent book many times per week for help with some issue. She prescribed fish oil and vitamin E for both girls when their skin allergies flared up in the summer due to the lush grape-growing area we lived in. It sure did help, too. Due to the severity of the problem, I kept both dogs on the supplement year-round. I buy the fish oil capsules I give at Costco in the pharmacy department. It's the same stuff they sell for humans and I take it daily, too. For dogs, the recommended dosage is one capsule (1200 mg) per 10-15 pounds of body weight.

Another solution to consider with dogs who have skin allergies is their food source. Some dogs can actually have a continual allergic reaction to the food they are eating. This reaction doesn't necessarily show up as a stomach problem, but as a skin and/or ear condition. Any dog food you buy, unless you are extremely careful to check the ingredients, contains grain. Many veterinarians believe that the high amount of grain in most commercially produced dog food is the leading contributing factor in many dogs' allergy-related skin conditions. There are a few grain-free pet foods available now, and I've switched Velvet and Harvey to one called Taste of The Wild. It's made a huge difference in Velvet's itchy skin in just the few weeks she's been eating it. Her beautiful coat had become dull and flaky, but she's looking velvety again!

I'm always happy to talk about how to make your dog more comfortable and share what I know. Just ask!

Pensive Sam

Dave had a vehicle full of very tired doggies to take home this evening after a fun day at Scooter's for daycare. The usual two Tuesday dogs, Goodie and Blue, were joined by new guy, Sam, and Blue's cousin, Daisy Duke. Daisy is staying at Blue's house for a little while, so she came along today for the fun. Sam will be a new addition to the Tuesday crowd. Also here today were Mojo, Roscoe and Chewy, and Suzy. Chloe and Cooper went home with their Dad at mid-day. Lots of dogginess here today! Good thing it was a pretty day outside and they all could do lots of running around. It's much quieter here now with only three boarding dogs for the evening. Good time to catch up on blogging!
 

Harvey here! As a special birthday treat, Mom let me do the blog tonight. As you might have heard, I turned three years-old today. Mom and Sissy helped me celebrate all day, especially tonight (see the picture). Although we couldn't find the Scooby-Doo party hats and the real birthday candles, we had a fun party anyway. Dad kept muttering something about "no more terrible twos", but I don't know what he was talking about.

You might wonder how I got into this family in the first place. Well, my first family had some changes in their lives last year and didn't feel like they could take care of me properly anymore because of working and going to school. My then-mom called my now-mom and asked for advice about what to do. I had been coming to stay at Scooter's since I was just five months-old, so they knew me really well here. Anyway, without even asking my now-Dad, Now-Mom said "Harvey can live with us!"

Not being little dog people before, I had to teach them a few things about us guys in the smaller packages. Now-Mom loved learning how cozy it is in the bed every night when I sleep next to her under the covers. Now-Dad likes having a pint-sized little buddy to help with chores. I think my sissy, Velvet, likes it when I jump on her head when I want to play. I love living out in the country where there are lots of distractions to keep me occupied, like squirrels, chickens and rabbits. Plus, I'm an excellent security monitor and my family always yells my name when I start my shrieking bark to alert to danger. I'm sure they are thanking me for my service! More soon....

There's still time to get to your veterinarian to make sure you have whatever you need to make your skittish dog comfortable over the Fourth of July weekend. The fireworks have already started going off here in the evenings. That reminded me to make a quick post about those poor doggies who are not fans of the booms. Safe sedatives are available to get your pup through the festivities without too much stress. But, don't wait til the last minute to seek help. I'm positive, at least around our house, that the scary noises will be going for the foreseeable future, so I've already got supplies on hand to help the doggies staying with us for the holiday weekend. If you absolutely cannot contact your dog's vet and need help quick, Benadryl is a safe alternative to prescription sedatives. But, you should only give the drug unmixed with any other symptom reliever. In other words, the only ingredient listed on the package should be "Diphenhydramine", which is an antihistamine. You don't want any other medications for cough, fever, etc. mixed in with it. The normally prescribed dose of Benadryl for dogs is 1 mg. per pound of body weight every 4-6 hours. So, a dog weighing 25 pounds should take 25 mg. Do not exceed more than 4 doses in 24 hours. Benadryl comes in several strengths, from 10 mg to 25 mg and there is even liquid. Read the box carefully to determine the strength of the medication. The liquid form is really good for dogs who are small and those who don't like pills. However, be careful to read the label thoroughly. With liquid Benadryl you'll have to convert the strength from mls. to mgs. Usually, 5 ml = 1 tablespoon = 12.5 mg. If you need help figuring it out, call me and I'll be happy to help. Benadryl will make your dog very sleepy if given ahead of the anxiety. Don't wait until she is freaked out because of the fireworks. Give it to her early in the day and keep it going every 4-6 hours so that she doesn't have to get worked up at all. Adrenalin can cause the drug to have a much less satisfying effect! Also, try to mask the sounds of the fireworks with a loud radio and floor fans turned up high. If your dog has trouble with the flashes of light from the fireworks, try turning on the television and keep all the lights on in the room and close the blinds or drapes. Above all, do not put your dog outside in the yard or in the garage away from you. She will need the reassurance of your presence to make it through the scary stuff. Finally, even if your girl normally has no problem with fireworks, don't risk it. Leave her at home (safely INSIDE) if you are going to a display or party where fireworks will be lighted. We still have room this weekend for boarders if you have no other alternative!

This is for our friends Vanessa and Kevin. We will miss Theo, too.

"...Grieve not,
  Nor speak of me with tears,
   but laugh and talk of me
   as if I were beside you.

I loved you so --
   'twas Heaven here with you!"
                        ~Isla Paschal Richardson





photographs: http://haleypoulos.com/

This weekend, we welcomed a new member to our family! Meet, Hank, my new bunny. 
        
He is a French Lop rabbit and his birthday is January 7, 2010 (3 days before my b-day!). At four months-old he already weighs about 6-7 pounds (guessing) and will probably mature to approximately 12 pounds. Yes, he's going to be a big, big boy! Hank is a very sweet, affectionate rabbit and loves to have his long ears stroked while sitting on my lap. He's also a good snuggler. I flip him over and cradle him like a baby and stroke his cheeks and he closes his eyes and relaxes. He has the softest fur and his coloring is called Chinchilla.

I had a pet rabbit for a few years when I worked at the Humane Society of North Texas. Hunny Bunny was my education rabbit and I'd take her to classrooms to talk to kids about homeless pets. She died in 2001 and I've wanted another pet bunny ever since because she was so loving and gentle.

The plan is to house Hank with the chickens in their outdoor run during the day and he'll have his own hutch to sleep in at night. Lots of people keep rabbits and chickens together and I think Hank will enjoy having the chickens for company. More on Hank as he grows!

My beautiful horse is four years old today. His registered name is DCA Toby's Picasso and he is a foundation bred Appaloosa gelding. What's all that mean? Well, he is registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club, which means at least one of his parents had to be registered with the same club. To be eligible for registration, the horse has to display the coat, skin or hoof characteristics  of an Appaloosa horse. The other parent has to also be registered with a purebred horse club, but doesn't have to be an Appaloosa.

When his breeder, Dream Catcher Appaloosa  (DCA) registered him at birth, she chose the name Toby's Picasso. "Toby" is for the famous Toby line of Appaloosas coming from the Palouse  Indian tribe of Washington/Idaho/Oregon. "Picasso" is because he is a work of art.

The term "foundation bred" used when describing an Appaloosa horse is a very special designation. To qualify, the horse must  be 7/8ths Appaloosa, by pedigree, in the fourth generation, and 75% Appaloosa in the fifth generation. My guy is even more Appy than that. He has nothing but the breed in his pedigree. His sire, Toby's Nootka (http://dreamcatcherappy.tripod.com/id116.htm, and his dam, Krystal Moon , have the famous Toby line all the way back to the beginning. (Oh, and "gelding" means he has been castrated.)

My Toby is a goofy, inquisitive, affectionate and calm sweetie who loves to eat! His best friend is Dave's 35 year-old horse, Sonny, and Hamish, our 12 year-old sheep, is his favorite playmate. They chase each other around the pasture every chance they get. I'm really looking forward to having a chance to ride Toby this summer and getting some good trail miles on him. I've included a couple of pictures of him below.

The weather was lovely for the MD weekend and we got so much done outside! My chickens have a new play yard courtesy of Dave and we got some fencing done in the horse pasture. I also had time to do some gardening, finally getting our vegetables in the ground. Sunday started with nice presents for me from all the four-legged kids, including Max, Duncan and Charly, who are all staying with us at the moment. I'm the substitute mom for them until they go home.
The mom I like to honor on Mother's Day is a beautiful girl with 27 babies. Velvet whelped three litters of service dog puppies for Canine Companions for Independence and was a devoted mama dog to each one of them. Now one of her daughters is a mom herself and Velvet is a grandmother! Time sure flies in the lives of our dogs, doesn't it? Much too quickly, I think. Here's wishing every mama dog out there an extra helping of love on Mother Dog's Day! The pictures below are of each of Vel's litters.
 

It's Tuesday, so that means it's Goodie and Blue day! Fun-loving girl and very serious guy. He's in charge, scoping out the play ground for intruders and she's free as a bird, no cares in the world. I've often thought that if Blue wanted to change his name it should be Scout, because that's exactly what he looks like he's doing...scouting the horizon for trouble. Goodie might change hers to Daisy...flower child, blowing in the wind. It's definitely a case of opposites attracting. Normally when these two come for daycare  we have more dogs here, but today it was just them. Although, it doesn't matter who is here. These two only have eyes for each other. Oh, Blue tries to act all cool and detached, living up to his "Fonzie" nickname. But, he's smitten. Goodie likes to flirt and try to get him to play and be silly with her and to not be so serious. Today it worked and they were nutty with each other. Goodie can fly like the wind across the yard. She can be there and back before you even blink! It's fun to watch Blue calculate her distance and trajectory so that he can spring just at the right moment to catch her as she flies by. They wrestle and play fight for a while and then settle down for a short nap together, content and satisfied. We'll definitely do all we can to keep this friendship going. Sometimes Blue's daycare day has to change because of his Mom's school schedule and Goodie's Mom is always happy to have her girl's day change, too, just so the two friends can see each other. I love how our clients really want to make their dogs happy. I'm sure it's apparent who is who in the pictures below, but Blue is the cattle dog mix with the red coat and Goodie is the sleek black labby girl.