Where to begin.... Apache is having on and off issues, but I do have a 'new' connection for getting his rabbit & it's already ground!! YAY!! I don't care how much you love your dog, it's still a bit freaky to watch him gnawing on a carcass (not to mention messy). He's actually doing pretty ok though.
Chip had a minor/major issue on Valentines Day. He spent the night (& $600) at the emergency clinic. Horrific diahrrea that was pure blood by the next day. Little bugger almost died. Then, on the way to pick him up, I actually rear ended someone (at a low rate of speed on an on ramp), so it was a VERY expensive weekend all the way around. The funny part was, the night I called to check on him, they told me how sweet and wonderful he was - I immediately knew he was really sick. When I went to pick him up, they couldn't get him out fast enough. I could hear him squalling in the waiting room, so I was pretty sure he was feeling better.
Chey went through something similiar to Chip, but not a severe. She recovered well, but it is a bit scary since she's so blasted OLD. What's up with that, they're not supposed to get old (neither are we!).
Common denominator on all my dog's sicknesses (repeating sicknesses), has been my new neighbors demonic children. They are apparently too lazy to through food away from their bedrooms, so they just open the window and throw it into my yard. I've found everything from pizza crusts, to gum, to chocolate donuts... Chey will eat ANYTHING she finds, so I have to walk the yard (at night, with a flashlight) and look to see what lovely 'presents' I can find before the dogs do. Luckily, since so MANY foods make Apache sick, he will rarely actually eat anything. He just picks it up and walks towards me, and spits it out as soon as I ask him. It just SUCKS - the kids are rotten, and they race along the outside of my fence, and if the dog's don't react or bark, they BARK AT THE DOGS!! And people wonder why I say I don't like kids....
Trio at the park
My 'Fur Kids', I wouldn't trade them for the world - today anyway
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
It's been a while
CHIP DID IT!!! Much fanfair and joy!! He got his CD in Youngstown All Breed Obedience Training Club in November!! His scores got steadily higher (which is what you hope for), and he finished in 3 shows. He got highest scoring Silky Terrier (only one there) and highest scoring Toy Group both days (all other Toy dogs failed to qualify). I also found out that Chip was the 'Highest Scoring Silky Terrier in Rally Novice B' for 2007 (ranked according to Front and Finish magazine). I'm so very proud of him again!
I've had people comment on all of my dogs and their response time and reliability, and often ask about it. Truth be told, I train balanced obedience training - I use food, toys, whatever to get the dog 'up', but I use collar, or verbal corrections to redirect/stop certain things. Some dogs require a stern/serious correction (i.e. Apache, Roxie, and Lady all did at different points in their lives), some require a quick/redirecting correction with a lot of talking and quick praise when they're right (Chip), and some require almost no physical correction and a harsh word can actually crush her (Cheyenne). The trick is knowing what you are doing and what dog you are dealing with. These are the important things, and there are several tools, training methods out there, don't get stuck on just one. A proper correction is fast/fair and geared to the specific dog you are working with. It should not be done out of frustration or anger, but in an effort to teach - my favorite explanation for this is using 'correction to give direction' is the fairest approach. It's best to supply your dog with all the information it needs, when it does well (praise, treat, etc..) or when it does wrong (correct and show them what you were looking for). It has always seemed ridiculous to me that someone can say 'this works on all dogs' anymore than this works on all kids. Everyone/Everything learns differently, even when you are talking about the same species. You're selling them short if you try to generalize your approach. I may get into my training beliefs and techniques more later, but since I don't take the time to post enough now, who knows!?!
Apache... Well, he's not doing as well as I had hoped or as he had in past winters. He is still struggling with ear issues (mild infections/odor), and has a couple of histocytes on various parts of his body (one on his ear, and a couple along his spine), but he seems to feel just fine. He is still a happy guy, thrilled to do whatever I ask whenever I'm prepared to ask it. I'm considering going for his Rally Advanced (Chip's too) this year, but haven't decided just yet.
Cheyenne... What can I say about Cheyenne. She'll be 12 this year, but still looks rather young to the unknowing people who have seen her. She appears in great shape, and just looks old when she is tired or just wakes up. She is the last dog I would have picked for myself, but she is the easiest dog that I live with!
I've had people comment on all of my dogs and their response time and reliability, and often ask about it. Truth be told, I train balanced obedience training - I use food, toys, whatever to get the dog 'up', but I use collar, or verbal corrections to redirect/stop certain things. Some dogs require a stern/serious correction (i.e. Apache, Roxie, and Lady all did at different points in their lives), some require a quick/redirecting correction with a lot of talking and quick praise when they're right (Chip), and some require almost no physical correction and a harsh word can actually crush her (Cheyenne). The trick is knowing what you are doing and what dog you are dealing with. These are the important things, and there are several tools, training methods out there, don't get stuck on just one. A proper correction is fast/fair and geared to the specific dog you are working with. It should not be done out of frustration or anger, but in an effort to teach - my favorite explanation for this is using 'correction to give direction' is the fairest approach. It's best to supply your dog with all the information it needs, when it does well (praise, treat, etc..) or when it does wrong (correct and show them what you were looking for). It has always seemed ridiculous to me that someone can say 'this works on all dogs' anymore than this works on all kids. Everyone/Everything learns differently, even when you are talking about the same species. You're selling them short if you try to generalize your approach. I may get into my training beliefs and techniques more later, but since I don't take the time to post enough now, who knows!?!
Apache... Well, he's not doing as well as I had hoped or as he had in past winters. He is still struggling with ear issues (mild infections/odor), and has a couple of histocytes on various parts of his body (one on his ear, and a couple along his spine), but he seems to feel just fine. He is still a happy guy, thrilled to do whatever I ask whenever I'm prepared to ask it. I'm considering going for his Rally Advanced (Chip's too) this year, but haven't decided just yet.
Cheyenne... What can I say about Cheyenne. She'll be 12 this year, but still looks rather young to the unknowing people who have seen her. She appears in great shape, and just looks old when she is tired or just wakes up. She is the last dog I would have picked for myself, but she is the easiest dog that I live with!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Updates
I paint dog stuff, I don't know if I mentioned that before, but I do. I'll put a couple pictures of my 'creations' on this page. I make them for friends, and for people who order them on occasion.
Ok, here we go again.... The good news is Chip got his first 'leg' towards his CD, that's also the bad news as it wasn't pretty. Classically my fault, of course. I don't seem to practice what I preach - i.e. PRACTICE with my dog before trialing! I'm quite stupid about that actually. You'd think I'd know better right, WRONG! Oh well, he passed, it wasn't particularly pretty, but the ribbon was green!
The UGLY - Fall is here. Apache's issues are mounting & I'm kind of praying that he will find his way back into remission. His lips (in the front this time) are quite raw and he almost looks like he has herpes. His eyes are starting to swell, I'm guessing the lovely little histocytes are coming back. I had the windows open for about a week, as it was cool at night and comfortable, but obviously I can't do that. I have turned the air conditioning back on as of today, I have rabbit on order from a new source, I have also made some tea concoctions my sister has recommended to try and ease the issues he's having (I told someone at work today that I really am beginning to feel a bit like an actual witch). The really scary part this time is that his face is obviously quite itchy, and his scratching it is NOT a good thing. His issues change slightly each time, but are getting harder and harder to get him past. I love him so much, but if it appears he's actually suffering, I will not allow it to continue (I just don't know how I will if I lose him)......
Ok, here we go again.... The good news is Chip got his first 'leg' towards his CD, that's also the bad news as it wasn't pretty. Classically my fault, of course. I don't seem to practice what I preach - i.e. PRACTICE with my dog before trialing! I'm quite stupid about that actually. You'd think I'd know better right, WRONG! Oh well, he passed, it wasn't particularly pretty, but the ribbon was green!
The UGLY - Fall is here. Apache's issues are mounting & I'm kind of praying that he will find his way back into remission. His lips (in the front this time) are quite raw and he almost looks like he has herpes. His eyes are starting to swell, I'm guessing the lovely little histocytes are coming back. I had the windows open for about a week, as it was cool at night and comfortable, but obviously I can't do that. I have turned the air conditioning back on as of today, I have rabbit on order from a new source, I have also made some tea concoctions my sister has recommended to try and ease the issues he's having (I told someone at work today that I really am beginning to feel a bit like an actual witch). The really scary part this time is that his face is obviously quite itchy, and his scratching it is NOT a good thing. His issues change slightly each time, but are getting harder and harder to get him past. I love him so much, but if it appears he's actually suffering, I will not allow it to continue (I just don't know how I will if I lose him)......
Cutaneous Histioctosis...
Since this is the primary reason for this blog, I think it bears repeating.....
Cutaneous Histiocytosis is often abbreviated as CH - no it doesn't stand for Champion LOL! It's a vile & insidious Auto Immune Disease. It's also referred to as the 'button disease', as it manefests as small 'button' like lumps just under the skin. It is not breed specific, or age specific - although when some get it under 4 years old it often goes into remission never to return, the older the dog is when diagnosed, the less likely the remission will be very permanent. It's a hyper or hypo (sorry I forget which) response to an allergic reaction, and it can sort of build on itself. It is triggered by stress, allergies, etc.. It is a recessive gene so breeders can't really screen for it, because breeding to a different dog will often not produce puppies with this problem. It occurs in mixed breeds too, there is little rhyme or reason as far as figuring out who/what will likely end up with it. Most people assume it's cancer and euthanize immediately. Others do the biopsy, get the results and run into a brick wall as far as vets or are daunted by the fact that it can't be cured and euthanize. A few follow vet recommendations to treat with steriods by massive doses, & I only found 1 person on the web who's dog went into remission, the other 4 listing I found stated the dogs died of organ failure due to the steroids... I did not chose that route...
I can only speak for myself (which I do often), but vaccines/medications tend to make it much much worse - so.........Apache is being seen by a holistic vet and has not had ANY shots in the past 3 years no, and will not be getting any (refer to your states guidelines regarding Rabies vaccines). Also, to combat the food allergies (he's allergic to beef, pork, chicken, turkey, venison - so far), he eats Solid Gold dog food on his good days (when his inhallent allergies aren't likely to be triggered - i.e. winter in Western PA), and raw rabbit and/or lamb on his not so good days. I suppliment with brown rice, raw carrots, occasionally yams and sweet potatoes (yep, he eats better than I do), along with 2 Chinese Herbs I can't remember the name of right this second, and 1/3 of a capsule of Red Rasberry Leaf, Eyebright, Pau D'Arco, Milk Thistle, Cat's Claw, & Echinacea... I have it down to a pretty good science now, it takes me about 10 minutes to get the food together for his 2x day feedings. He appears the picture of health, does demonstrations with me & is one of the happiest/self assured dogs you would ever have the pleasure of meeting. No one would know he was not well spending time with him.
I'm trying to give you a reference point, at least a little, so you can maybe help you vet if your dog is diagnosed, or at least make a more informed decision in his treatment. REPEAT AFTER ME - My Vet is not GOD, He DOES NOT know EVERYTHING! It is MY job to make an informed/intelligent decision on my dog's health!! Most vet's HAVE NEVER seen this disease first hand (ask them if they've ever actually treated a dog with this exact disease), but are highly willing to TRY and treat your dog based on limited research. I honestly think some are just looking to get published somewhere/anywhere. Do all of your homework FIRST and stick to your guns - even when your vet is telling you that they don't recommend something - if you truly believe/know it's the right choice, stick with it - even it you have to dump your vet.... Like I warned you, just my honest opinion....scary thought!
Cutaneous Histiocytosis is often abbreviated as CH - no it doesn't stand for Champion LOL! It's a vile & insidious Auto Immune Disease. It's also referred to as the 'button disease', as it manefests as small 'button' like lumps just under the skin. It is not breed specific, or age specific - although when some get it under 4 years old it often goes into remission never to return, the older the dog is when diagnosed, the less likely the remission will be very permanent. It's a hyper or hypo (sorry I forget which) response to an allergic reaction, and it can sort of build on itself. It is triggered by stress, allergies, etc.. It is a recessive gene so breeders can't really screen for it, because breeding to a different dog will often not produce puppies with this problem. It occurs in mixed breeds too, there is little rhyme or reason as far as figuring out who/what will likely end up with it. Most people assume it's cancer and euthanize immediately. Others do the biopsy, get the results and run into a brick wall as far as vets or are daunted by the fact that it can't be cured and euthanize. A few follow vet recommendations to treat with steriods by massive doses, & I only found 1 person on the web who's dog went into remission, the other 4 listing I found stated the dogs died of organ failure due to the steroids... I did not chose that route...
I can only speak for myself (which I do often), but vaccines/medications tend to make it much much worse - so.........Apache is being seen by a holistic vet and has not had ANY shots in the past 3 years no, and will not be getting any (refer to your states guidelines regarding Rabies vaccines). Also, to combat the food allergies (he's allergic to beef, pork, chicken, turkey, venison - so far), he eats Solid Gold dog food on his good days (when his inhallent allergies aren't likely to be triggered - i.e. winter in Western PA), and raw rabbit and/or lamb on his not so good days. I suppliment with brown rice, raw carrots, occasionally yams and sweet potatoes (yep, he eats better than I do), along with 2 Chinese Herbs I can't remember the name of right this second, and 1/3 of a capsule of Red Rasberry Leaf, Eyebright, Pau D'Arco, Milk Thistle, Cat's Claw, & Echinacea... I have it down to a pretty good science now, it takes me about 10 minutes to get the food together for his 2x day feedings. He appears the picture of health, does demonstrations with me & is one of the happiest/self assured dogs you would ever have the pleasure of meeting. No one would know he was not well spending time with him.
I'm trying to give you a reference point, at least a little, so you can maybe help you vet if your dog is diagnosed, or at least make a more informed decision in his treatment. REPEAT AFTER ME - My Vet is not GOD, He DOES NOT know EVERYTHING! It is MY job to make an informed/intelligent decision on my dog's health!! Most vet's HAVE NEVER seen this disease first hand (ask them if they've ever actually treated a dog with this exact disease), but are highly willing to TRY and treat your dog based on limited research. I honestly think some are just looking to get published somewhere/anywhere. Do all of your homework FIRST and stick to your guns - even when your vet is telling you that they don't recommend something - if you truly believe/know it's the right choice, stick with it - even it you have to dump your vet.... Like I warned you, just my honest opinion....scary thought!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Busy, busy, busy
Ok, life hasn't been grand, but it's cost me many of them... My retaining wall in front has been replaced - good news, it looks amazing!! The contractor that put it in/up is a great guy who's honest/reliable, etc.. He is, however, not cheap, but I guess you get what you pay for. The wall changes the look of the whole house, it's pretty cool actually. Next we moved on to a much larger fence, it's now 6 feet instead of 3 (which Apache would just scoff at). Again, it looks great, sturdy, secure, etc., but not cheap. Oh yeah, did I mention I accidentally had my freezer unplugged, so I lost all of Apache's rabbit (not to mention my food) & had a horrid mess to clean up and cart away. So I've been working A LOT, at anything I can fit in to my schedule. On top of that, I had the benefit of a infection in my jaw, resulting in my needing to have a tooth pulled - I bet you all envy me! Needless to say, the dogs have been great through this whole thing, sticking close to my side in this unbearable heat & wondering why I haven't been that much fun. That being said, the dogs are doing well, I think I will be sending an entry in for Chip to attempt to get his CD...but I'm saving those details for another day.
Hope everyone else is doing better than I have been (wouldn't take much, would it)
Hope everyone else is doing better than I have been (wouldn't take much, would it)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Horray
Ok, Apache is FINALLY better, no lip issues, nothing. Spring is NOT his friend, but then again, fall is not that much fun for him either. I have to avoid letting him overheat, but other than that, he's doing much better. I have GOT to stip coat out of both him and Cheyenne. They're both wooly mammoths right now. I'm actually home tonight after an 11 hour day at work, so I guess I'll groom them while I bake some pumpkin cookies for him (I should really try and do laundry or something exciting for me - sigh). He's in remission at the moment, so primarily eating Solid Gold with rice cooked with lamb, rabbit, and all his lovely herbs (it looks disgusting), his favorite raw carrots too.
I think I'm taking Apache to the Humane Society this weekend. The vet from Beaver Animal Clinic that has been supporting my decisions is having a book release party on Sunday at 1pm. I can honestly say Holistic has changed my dogs' lives for the better. Apache is definitely a good example of that!
Cheyenne still looks great. Every once in a while she looks a bit old. She's going to be 11 this year. Most people (including several vets) still think she's about 7, which is cool. Personally, she doesn't care what anyone thinks. She's a sweetie, but only with people she's always known, she prefers to avoid the limelight and hide behind Apache.
I think I'm taking Apache to the Humane Society this weekend. The vet from Beaver Animal Clinic that has been supporting my decisions is having a book release party on Sunday at 1pm. I can honestly say Holistic has changed my dogs' lives for the better. Apache is definitely a good example of that!
Cheyenne still looks great. Every once in a while she looks a bit old. She's going to be 11 this year. Most people (including several vets) still think she's about 7, which is cool. Personally, she doesn't care what anyone thinks. She's a sweetie, but only with people she's always known, she prefers to avoid the limelight and hide behind Apache.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Dogs
They really do drive me nuts. Apache's issues are continuing, on and off diahrrea, and his lips just won't heal. It's annoying and frightening all at the same time. I keep hoping something causes him to improve.
The weather here is getting warmer, then cooler again. There's no rhyme or reason to it, and the dog's not the only one feeling ill. I've got my own allergy issues going wild right about now.
Chip on the other hand, continues to improve. He's slowly starting to 'get' the idea of the stand stay. I worked so hard to make him interested in other people, but not snappy, that he wiggles all over the place. Wiggling, while cute, is not an acceptable 'Stand Stay'. It's fun to train your dog, and competition lets you get an unbiased opinion of your success, but it really can be frustrating at times LOL!
Cheyenne is fine. She's such a sweet old girl. One of her many fears is thunderstorms, she'll seek me out HOURS before the stupid things hit. It's a bit typical, but she's much more accurate than watching the news.
The weather here is getting warmer, then cooler again. There's no rhyme or reason to it, and the dog's not the only one feeling ill. I've got my own allergy issues going wild right about now.
Chip on the other hand, continues to improve. He's slowly starting to 'get' the idea of the stand stay. I worked so hard to make him interested in other people, but not snappy, that he wiggles all over the place. Wiggling, while cute, is not an acceptable 'Stand Stay'. It's fun to train your dog, and competition lets you get an unbiased opinion of your success, but it really can be frustrating at times LOL!
Cheyenne is fine. She's such a sweet old girl. One of her many fears is thunderstorms, she'll seek me out HOURS before the stupid things hit. It's a bit typical, but she's much more accurate than watching the news.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sigh...
I have to keep repeating to myself that I love the big dumb dog. Apache is having all sorts of assorted issues right now. The lip thing I can't seem to get to stop completely & is now around the front part of his mouth, now he's had diahrrea for days.... He loses weight every spring and fall due to allergies and all, so I am always thrilled when I can get him up over 70lbs, which is quite rare. I always try very hard to get extra weight on him in the winter, but I've never been able to get him over 75lbs. Most people that see him think he weighs much more than that, but he doesn't. It's mainly fur and the fact that he's always on his toes and his bold personality shines (yes, I said my dog has personality, better than a lot of people I know). He stops eating when his stomach is upset or when he's full (I wish I could learn THAT trick). Every time something happens with him, I'm afraid it will be his 'last' relapse. I do so love him, but occasionally wonder how I can afford to keep him & if he'll survive regardless of how much effort I put in it. So yep, a deep sigh about sums it up right now...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Progress
Apache is making some progress. Not as quickly as I would like, but progress none the less. He's happy and obnoxious as always, but I let him be. He's been doing the whole raw feeding thing for over a week now, but I only started the whole benedryl a couple of days ago. He is still improving, but with the weather steadily getting warmer, I expect a lot more 'interesting' problems to crop up. I'll try and remember to track them & hopefully my 'successful' attempts at cutting them off and putting him back towards remission. He does worry me so.
Chip is doing well while practicing obedience, but every dog is 'perfect' in their own yard. I'm thinking of entering him in a trial in June, but haven't made up my mind yet. I really should get him to more matches/run thrus before then (practice dog shows, much cheaper, and lets you know where your dog is at). I am so not serious enough about these things. I should be practicing daily, but am often too tired to care (not stellar as far as competitive prep is concerned). I need to devote more time to training my own dogs.
Chip is doing well while practicing obedience, but every dog is 'perfect' in their own yard. I'm thinking of entering him in a trial in June, but haven't made up my mind yet. I really should get him to more matches/run thrus before then (practice dog shows, much cheaper, and lets you know where your dog is at). I am so not serious enough about these things. I should be practicing daily, but am often too tired to care (not stellar as far as competitive prep is concerned). I need to devote more time to training my own dogs.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Why I track this
I guess for myself as well as others... I forgot that last year around this time Apache got sick, not the whole lip thing (as he never seems to have the same reaction twice), but diahrrea and loss of appetite. I finally remembered that I had given him Benedryl (extremely small dose for his size) for about a month. I have been giving him a tablet at each meal - with all of his other pills - for the past 7 days. His lips are again sealed, but still very pink in the corners. I am also going back to strictly raw feeding schedule for now. He is an expensive boy, I started totaling all his medications and suppliments, and made myself stop - it was rather depressing & I hadn't even taken his food/feeding into consideration. Jeez, what am I doing.
As I said, this is just to possibly help others, and primarily for me to track his progress and declines...
He's such a sweetie though, hates the pills, but a really great dog.
As I said, this is just to possibly help others, and primarily for me to track his progress and declines...
He's such a sweetie though, hates the pills, but a really great dog.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
UGH!!
It's never easy with this stupid disease. It was a beautiful/sunny 70 degree day here in Pittsburgh yesterday and today. Of course, yesterday Apache went to the vet and it was uneventful. This morning I notice the corners of his mouth/his lips are drying up and flaking off again!! UGH!! I REALLY hate spring. His inhallent allergies have always been off of the charts, & I've been struggling with whatever reaction he has every year, but fearing this particular allergy response could be his last...which would break my heart.
I could take another day off work and take him to the vet, but honestly, I don't think it would make a difference. They are kindly and try to be helpful, but this is really out of everyone's league (including mine). I'm switching to raw food, keeping him inside and out of the 'pollen' etc.. and hoping/praying for the best...
He does make me crazy, but I love him. This is another example of when I have to stay calm around him when I want to jump up and down and scream at the top of my lungs! Oh well, pray for him (& me too LOL).
I could take another day off work and take him to the vet, but honestly, I don't think it would make a difference. They are kindly and try to be helpful, but this is really out of everyone's league (including mine). I'm switching to raw food, keeping him inside and out of the 'pollen' etc.. and hoping/praying for the best...
He does make me crazy, but I love him. This is another example of when I have to stay calm around him when I want to jump up and down and scream at the top of my lungs! Oh well, pray for him (& me too LOL).
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Good Vet Visit
Apache's visit to Beaver Animal Clinic went well this morning. It's a bit of a drive for me, but the vet there is willing to work with me and is hopefully tracking all we're learning about CH in a manner that MAY help other vets if they encounter this disease. Apace is doing better than anyone could have hoped or would have guessed. He did crack a tooth on a cooked bone I was quite stupid to give him, since cooked bones are harder and more brittle than raw ones. I've thrown all of them out now, but the damage is done. At some point he's going to need it removed, but both vets hesitate to put him under to do it when it's not bothering him. Before I forget, STRESS can also trigger CH... The most difficult thing I had to do when this whole thing started was not to stress about it around him. If I was crying, which I did a lot in the beginning, he would stress pant & yawn around me, so I was actually making it worse. When I find a lump on him, I just make a mental note, and remember to check there a week later. They occasionally flair up, then disappear again depending what is going on. He does have one CH lump on his ear, but it is one from the original outbreak that never did reabsorb. I know exactly where it is, the vets can never find it without my help, but they know I'm watching it.
Apache sees a lot of vets, obviously, but for different reasons. I do make sure he gets a check up at the holistic vet at least once a year so they can continue to document the progress of this disease and his remission - which I hope will continue forever LOL!!
Side note, these guys are filthy and need a bath. I'm a big fan of those 'self dog washes' that have been cropping up. You go there with your dog, you bathe them, use their tubs, towels, etc... and they clean up - How Great is That?!?!?! Two of my three blow so much coat after a bath I do feel bad leaving the place like that, but I guess that's what they're there for & thank goodness for that!
Apache sees a lot of vets, obviously, but for different reasons. I do make sure he gets a check up at the holistic vet at least once a year so they can continue to document the progress of this disease and his remission - which I hope will continue forever LOL!!
Side note, these guys are filthy and need a bath. I'm a big fan of those 'self dog washes' that have been cropping up. You go there with your dog, you bathe them, use their tubs, towels, etc... and they clean up - How Great is That?!?!?! Two of my three blow so much coat after a bath I do feel bad leaving the place like that, but I guess that's what they're there for & thank goodness for that!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Allergies
Since it is allergy season & CH is a royal pain during this season, I thought I'd make a post on my experience with my dog's allergies - I have them too, but we're talking dogs LOL.
There are degrees of allergies. Dogs get sneezy, weeping eye type allergies just like we do based on the inhalant type allergies. Food allergies are normally identified as: recurring ear infections, raw/itchy feet, & stomach upset. Apache's problem (ok, one of Apache's problems) is that he has both inhalant and food allergies. Talk to your vet if you think you're looking at food allergies - it's normally grain based (corn meal, etc..), and/or protein based. Protein based (in order of most common to cause reaction in my experience) start with beef, then go to chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, etc.. Apache has allergies to the first 4 every time he even accidentally encounters them, but the lamb depends on where it's from & if there are hormones, etc.. involved. Any food based allergy response should move to food 'trials', but you have to be extremely patient, as the switch to a new food should be gradual and then monitored for at least 3 weeks once the dog is entirely on a new food. Your vet can help you with that though, as food allergies are actually becoming pretty common in dogs. Inhalant allergies are trickier actually, as you have to find out what it is - most dogs are like people - dust, mold spores, certain plants, etc... Lots of dogs have runny eyes, and sneezing & reverse sneezing as a reaction. I'm not a steroid fan personally, and I know vet's love to prescribe it, but I often reach for a benedryl type allergy product and give the lowest dose imaginable. I know Apache has issues every single spring and the thing with CH is that once he has a reaction and histiocytes start to appear, his body starts to have a reaction to the histiocytes themselves. It can grow exponentially... I have been lucky, as when I switch to an all natural and raw diet for even a week, it tends to allow his body to stop over reacting & recover. I do feed him the most premium and natural dog food I can find on the market when he is in remission, but use the raw to attempt and snap him out of a reaction. Some people ask me why I don't just feed him raw rabbit all the time.... Well, I am afraid if he has a reaction when he's on the raw rabbit that I won't know what to switch him to to try and get him out of it... It's kind of reassuring that I can use it in emergencies, but I'm running out of options & never running out of emergencies with him.
BTW: Apache's lips have healed over and are no longer raw and scabbing over. He ate raw rabbit, rice boiled with vitamins, sweet potatoes, lamb lung, & celery for about 7 full days. His lips are still quite red, but have sealed anyway. We are going to the Holistic vet on Tuesday just to have another set of eyes and to fish for ideas. Unfortunately this disease has resorted me to doing a lot of my own research, weighing what the vet says, and then making a decision (and then praying it's the right one). I have found the holistic vet most responsive to alternative treatments, obviously, but he has also prescibed things to help the dog's immune system (CH does havoc on their immune system, as it is an auto immune disease). I don't recommend discounting your vet entirely, but if it's something they've never treated or seen, make sure you also do your own research and come armed with any information you think may be helpful for them and your dog (and potentially any dog they may see after)...
There are degrees of allergies. Dogs get sneezy, weeping eye type allergies just like we do based on the inhalant type allergies. Food allergies are normally identified as: recurring ear infections, raw/itchy feet, & stomach upset. Apache's problem (ok, one of Apache's problems) is that he has both inhalant and food allergies. Talk to your vet if you think you're looking at food allergies - it's normally grain based (corn meal, etc..), and/or protein based. Protein based (in order of most common to cause reaction in my experience) start with beef, then go to chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, etc.. Apache has allergies to the first 4 every time he even accidentally encounters them, but the lamb depends on where it's from & if there are hormones, etc.. involved. Any food based allergy response should move to food 'trials', but you have to be extremely patient, as the switch to a new food should be gradual and then monitored for at least 3 weeks once the dog is entirely on a new food. Your vet can help you with that though, as food allergies are actually becoming pretty common in dogs. Inhalant allergies are trickier actually, as you have to find out what it is - most dogs are like people - dust, mold spores, certain plants, etc... Lots of dogs have runny eyes, and sneezing & reverse sneezing as a reaction. I'm not a steroid fan personally, and I know vet's love to prescribe it, but I often reach for a benedryl type allergy product and give the lowest dose imaginable. I know Apache has issues every single spring and the thing with CH is that once he has a reaction and histiocytes start to appear, his body starts to have a reaction to the histiocytes themselves. It can grow exponentially... I have been lucky, as when I switch to an all natural and raw diet for even a week, it tends to allow his body to stop over reacting & recover. I do feed him the most premium and natural dog food I can find on the market when he is in remission, but use the raw to attempt and snap him out of a reaction. Some people ask me why I don't just feed him raw rabbit all the time.... Well, I am afraid if he has a reaction when he's on the raw rabbit that I won't know what to switch him to to try and get him out of it... It's kind of reassuring that I can use it in emergencies, but I'm running out of options & never running out of emergencies with him.
BTW: Apache's lips have healed over and are no longer raw and scabbing over. He ate raw rabbit, rice boiled with vitamins, sweet potatoes, lamb lung, & celery for about 7 full days. His lips are still quite red, but have sealed anyway. We are going to the Holistic vet on Tuesday just to have another set of eyes and to fish for ideas. Unfortunately this disease has resorted me to doing a lot of my own research, weighing what the vet says, and then making a decision (and then praying it's the right one). I have found the holistic vet most responsive to alternative treatments, obviously, but he has also prescibed things to help the dog's immune system (CH does havoc on their immune system, as it is an auto immune disease). I don't recommend discounting your vet entirely, but if it's something they've never treated or seen, make sure you also do your own research and come armed with any information you think may be helpful for them and your dog (and potentially any dog they may see after)...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Spring
Ok, you think I'd be thrilled it's warming up, but I'm not. Apache's allergies are kicking in right now. Corners of his mouth are drying up, and peeling off. I'd imagine it's allergies, it normally is, and it's never been the same thing 2 years in a row... I bleached any moss or mold in the yard since it's been so rainy. I've defrosted a rabbit (yep, I know it sounds disgusting, but....), so I'm HOPING to get him back on track again soon. I hate when he starts this yearly thing, but I have to stop myself from getting too upset. When I get upset, he gets upset then refuses to eat and gets very sick... Sigh, it's bad when you have to fake being thrilled for the sake of the dog LOL!!
Side note, made more pumpkin treats, added some ground flax seed to them too. The dogs don't even notice, but they're still good for them & they love them!
Side note, made more pumpkin treats, added some ground flax seed to them too. The dogs don't even notice, but they're still good for them & they love them!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Animals!
Chey has been having some little issues lately. Sometimes she seems like she's having bladder issues, but I've run her to the vet a couple of times, and they say there's nothing that the can find (ran urine sample, palpated for stones and the like). Still, sometimes it seems like she's trying to go and can't. I opted to add some celery to her food (it's a natural diuretic), and give her a cranberry supplement 2x a day. Her favorite is the plain yogurt I've been adding, but it really doesn't appeal to me at all! It seems to be improving her situation though, but at her age, it still makes me nervous. She may not look 11 years old, but she is. I'm hoping nothing more serious develops, she's such an 'easy' dog to live with (compared to the other two anyway).
Side note, the Collie puppy has grown and is a sweet, but hard headed boy. Hormones seem to be coming into play, but hopefully, we'll stay on top of him enough that it won't be too dramatic of an issue. Conformation training for the show ring is really different, but it's fun and I'm learning a lot from the not so little wild man!
Chip is improving slightly on his regular obedience. I still hope to get his CD this year. Friends I trust tell me he'll be fine, but I'm still not so confident or sure. They can make you crazy (or crazier)...
Side note, the Collie puppy has grown and is a sweet, but hard headed boy. Hormones seem to be coming into play, but hopefully, we'll stay on top of him enough that it won't be too dramatic of an issue. Conformation training for the show ring is really different, but it's fun and I'm learning a lot from the not so little wild man!
Chip is improving slightly on his regular obedience. I still hope to get his CD this year. Friends I trust tell me he'll be fine, but I'm still not so confident or sure. They can make you crazy (or crazier)...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Feral Cats
Ok, it's not a surprise, I'm not a cat person. I never have been. There have been dogs in my life which make it impossible for me to be a cat person EVER. HOWEVER, I do not wish any harm to any animal... People that feed feral cats make me CRAZY! The cat's loose about 10 years off their lives, house cats can live into their teens, but feral cats are lucky to make it to 5 years old. There's cars, dogs, poison, cold, disease, etc.... Feeding them, allowing them to breed and wander is not helping them!!
Why am I frustrated???? Tonight I came home to find a 4 month old kitten huddled in the corner of my yard - Chip of course wanted to kill it, but Apache (THANK GOD) didn't notice it right away. I wondered why said kitten didn't take off when Chip was trying to bite him as he was huddled against my fence, & once I got the dogs in the house, I saw why. This poor little terrified kitten had it's head wedged/trapped inside a can!!! It must have been fighting it most of the day because it barely moved when I approached it. I even touched it and it didn't move. With some help from another neighbor, I got this into one of Chip's carriers and over to the Western PA Humane Society. They got the can off of it's head, and it took of like it was shot out of a cannon...they caught it in a net and put it in a cage over night. If it calms down, they'll put it up for adoption....but it would have starved to death or been killed by another animal - HOW IS THAT HELPING!?!??! Spay and Neuter your pets - and for crying out loud, keep them inside & be responsible! Sorry, had to vent. Thank God for open door shelters!!
Why am I frustrated???? Tonight I came home to find a 4 month old kitten huddled in the corner of my yard - Chip of course wanted to kill it, but Apache (THANK GOD) didn't notice it right away. I wondered why said kitten didn't take off when Chip was trying to bite him as he was huddled against my fence, & once I got the dogs in the house, I saw why. This poor little terrified kitten had it's head wedged/trapped inside a can!!! It must have been fighting it most of the day because it barely moved when I approached it. I even touched it and it didn't move. With some help from another neighbor, I got this into one of Chip's carriers and over to the Western PA Humane Society. They got the can off of it's head, and it took of like it was shot out of a cannon...they caught it in a net and put it in a cage over night. If it calms down, they'll put it up for adoption....but it would have starved to death or been killed by another animal - HOW IS THAT HELPING!?!??! Spay and Neuter your pets - and for crying out loud, keep them inside & be responsible! Sorry, had to vent. Thank God for open door shelters!!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merrry Christmas
Merry Christmas to everyone & best wishes for a Happy & Healthy New Year.
I've had an expensive year with home repairs, but the 'important things' remain ok. Cheyenne remains here, pretty healthy & happy at 10 years old. The vet's who have seen her over this past year still guess her age at around 7, which is a bonus. Apache remains in remission - currently dining on 1/4 or so of a whole rabbit 2x a day with rice/lamb boiled together to add his vitamins & suppliments to & about 3 of the baby carrots. Very little grey on this dog yet & no one would ever think he was ill because he remains such a wild and happy boy. Chippewa is healthy, happy, and wild. He's improved so much in the past couple of years, no one would ever guess he ever had the issues he did when I adopted him. These guys make me laugh (& occasionally scream) almost daily.
We've already documented Apache getting his RN title, but there's another one I should mention. Here's a the address for Rally information if you're curious -> http://www.akc.org/events/rally/faqs.cfm
Chip finished his Rally Title at the Cleveland shows with a 95 out of 100. I was very proud of him, as it is a VERY loud show site, and he did pretty well with all the distractions. I was actually more proud that he walked through the vendors with me for almost 2 hours and did not growl, snap, complain about any dog that he encountered & there were tons. He let people pet him, even hug him, and that's been a pretty ongoing issue for him. He's gotten to be a delight to take places (once we get there - he still DOES NOT enjoy car rides). So this year Chip got his CGC early in the year, and now he has his Rally title, and hopefully will get through his CD next year. It is really cute to see a little dog work!
My friend got a new Tri Colored Smooth Collie puppy to replace one that didn't work out (don't worry, don't egg her house, she found Sting a perfect home). A Smooth Collie is one with short hair, looks like she washed him with NAIR by mistake, but he's supposed to look like that! Here's an address for Smooth Collies if you were curious about them -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_Collie
He's adorable, wild, outgoing, confident, and cute, pretty much all you could hope for in a conformation dog. He's funny, but a bit dominant, not aggressive, just snotty. He's learning to work with me, and I will likely begin showing him in the 'breed ring' next year'. It's something pretty new to me, but it's just another type of training & I appreciate the vote of confidence in allowing me to show him.
So, like I said, while the house has me broke, the important things are going well & I hope you can say the same (except for the house making you broke).
~~Merry Christmas!!~~
I've had an expensive year with home repairs, but the 'important things' remain ok. Cheyenne remains here, pretty healthy & happy at 10 years old. The vet's who have seen her over this past year still guess her age at around 7, which is a bonus. Apache remains in remission - currently dining on 1/4 or so of a whole rabbit 2x a day with rice/lamb boiled together to add his vitamins & suppliments to & about 3 of the baby carrots. Very little grey on this dog yet & no one would ever think he was ill because he remains such a wild and happy boy. Chippewa is healthy, happy, and wild. He's improved so much in the past couple of years, no one would ever guess he ever had the issues he did when I adopted him. These guys make me laugh (& occasionally scream) almost daily.
We've already documented Apache getting his RN title, but there's another one I should mention. Here's a the address for Rally information if you're curious -> http://www.akc.org/events/rally/faqs.cfm
Chip finished his Rally Title at the Cleveland shows with a 95 out of 100. I was very proud of him, as it is a VERY loud show site, and he did pretty well with all the distractions. I was actually more proud that he walked through the vendors with me for almost 2 hours and did not growl, snap, complain about any dog that he encountered & there were tons. He let people pet him, even hug him, and that's been a pretty ongoing issue for him. He's gotten to be a delight to take places (once we get there - he still DOES NOT enjoy car rides). So this year Chip got his CGC early in the year, and now he has his Rally title, and hopefully will get through his CD next year. It is really cute to see a little dog work!
My friend got a new Tri Colored Smooth Collie puppy to replace one that didn't work out (don't worry, don't egg her house, she found Sting a perfect home). A Smooth Collie is one with short hair, looks like she washed him with NAIR by mistake, but he's supposed to look like that! Here's an address for Smooth Collies if you were curious about them -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_Collie
He's adorable, wild, outgoing, confident, and cute, pretty much all you could hope for in a conformation dog. He's funny, but a bit dominant, not aggressive, just snotty. He's learning to work with me, and I will likely begin showing him in the 'breed ring' next year'. It's something pretty new to me, but it's just another type of training & I appreciate the vote of confidence in allowing me to show him.
So, like I said, while the house has me broke, the important things are going well & I hope you can say the same (except for the house making you broke).
~~Merry Christmas!!~~
Monday, December 10, 2007
Ta Dah!!
Ok, I did it - which makes me one of those insane dog people I know, but I did it. I made Apache his own special home made dog biscuits. After all the money I've spent on 'natural' treats, only to find out they weren't natural, it was my only real option!
They smell fantastic, and are completely safe for people (since I know everything in them). No major protein, since he's allergic to most of it. It's a large can of pumpkin, 1 c applesauce, 2 t cinnamon, 2 t ginger, 2t nutmeg, 1 1/2 c rice flour (for his sensitive little stomach), 2 eggs, 1 c oatmeal, 1/4 c yogurt, 1 t baking soda, & a dash of baking powder (although I'm not sure why, they don't really rise) - throw all ingredients together and beat until completely mixed. Plop them down on a baking sheet (if you want to try and shape them into something, knock yourself out), cook at 325 for about 30 minutes, then turn the oven down to 300, and bake until they dry out. It's kind of like making biscotti (you can cook a thin layer in a cake pan, then dump out and cut up to throw back in to dry if you want too). The dogs LOVE them, it makes a lot, but they don't last that long. The house smells pretty good too (unlike the whole liver brownie thing). The rice flour my mother found on a clearance rack somewhere, but I guess I'll need to locate more soon. It seems to dry the bones out really well (I don't think I'd bake regular cookies with it - it's too fine). I'd imagine that they're fine for human consumption, but I make mine VERY VERY hard, and my dentist would kill me for trying them. They work really well in the Kongs, since they don't really break that easily. They even keep Cheyenne busy, and she's a MASTER at busting stuff out of the Kongs!
Anyway, Apache remains in remission (hooray), Chip is still a wild man, Cheyenne is still moving before I can say a command, everything is pretty normal. Since Apache's in remission, he's doing the Solid Gold dog food, with suppliments prescribed and made up. I'm happy they're all just annoying & healthy!
On a slightly personal note, I had my 4th private training session with a Shar Pei client (ok, the owner's my client). The dog is improving by leaps and bounds. She had aggression problems with people and other animals (the dog, not the owner), and we've been working on it alot. She's still not thrilled with other animals, but they seem to be working as a team, and the dog is starting to trust the handler YAY!! I asked the owner if she was pleased as she was leaving, and she said it was the best money she had ever spent...that's pretty rewarding for me. We're not done, in fact just beginning, but the improvement is obvious & makes the owner happy/gives her confidence, which is key. I think everyone should have a dog they can live with & enjoy, plus I think training helps the dog so much.
They smell fantastic, and are completely safe for people (since I know everything in them). No major protein, since he's allergic to most of it. It's a large can of pumpkin, 1 c applesauce, 2 t cinnamon, 2 t ginger, 2t nutmeg, 1 1/2 c rice flour (for his sensitive little stomach), 2 eggs, 1 c oatmeal, 1/4 c yogurt, 1 t baking soda, & a dash of baking powder (although I'm not sure why, they don't really rise) - throw all ingredients together and beat until completely mixed. Plop them down on a baking sheet (if you want to try and shape them into something, knock yourself out), cook at 325 for about 30 minutes, then turn the oven down to 300, and bake until they dry out. It's kind of like making biscotti (you can cook a thin layer in a cake pan, then dump out and cut up to throw back in to dry if you want too). The dogs LOVE them, it makes a lot, but they don't last that long. The house smells pretty good too (unlike the whole liver brownie thing). The rice flour my mother found on a clearance rack somewhere, but I guess I'll need to locate more soon. It seems to dry the bones out really well (I don't think I'd bake regular cookies with it - it's too fine). I'd imagine that they're fine for human consumption, but I make mine VERY VERY hard, and my dentist would kill me for trying them. They work really well in the Kongs, since they don't really break that easily. They even keep Cheyenne busy, and she's a MASTER at busting stuff out of the Kongs!
Anyway, Apache remains in remission (hooray), Chip is still a wild man, Cheyenne is still moving before I can say a command, everything is pretty normal. Since Apache's in remission, he's doing the Solid Gold dog food, with suppliments prescribed and made up. I'm happy they're all just annoying & healthy!
On a slightly personal note, I had my 4th private training session with a Shar Pei client (ok, the owner's my client). The dog is improving by leaps and bounds. She had aggression problems with people and other animals (the dog, not the owner), and we've been working on it alot. She's still not thrilled with other animals, but they seem to be working as a team, and the dog is starting to trust the handler YAY!! I asked the owner if she was pleased as she was leaving, and she said it was the best money she had ever spent...that's pretty rewarding for me. We're not done, in fact just beginning, but the improvement is obvious & makes the owner happy/gives her confidence, which is key. I think everyone should have a dog they can live with & enjoy, plus I think training helps the dog so much.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Whew
While I admitt it's a bit obessive, I'm relieved that I watch Apache so closely. I made that Eyebright tea to use as a compress last night as well. This morning the lump by his eye was about 1/2 the size it was & by this evening, you would never have known it was there.
I think what I'm learning (& I'm always learning) about this CH disease is to watch and catch the allergic reactions before it blows out of control. Since it's like an overactive allergy response, I try so hard to make sure I catch it early. That way, hopefully, he'll remain in remission...
I think what I'm learning (& I'm always learning) about this CH disease is to watch and catch the allergic reactions before it blows out of control. Since it's like an overactive allergy response, I try so hard to make sure I catch it early. That way, hopefully, he'll remain in remission...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Here we go again
I love Apache to death, obviously, but day's like this make me a bit crazy.
He was fine most of the day - I was in and out, shopping, having lunch with friends, etc.. Tonight, while I was doing dishes, he walked into the kitchen and over towards me, and I noticed something seemed a bit off on his face. I shrugged it off and finished washing dishes. He walked back over and I dried my hands and touched his face..... In the corner of his left eye along his muzzle is a very large lump... It's way bigger than I'd like - personally, I wish I would never see another one on him.
The only thing strange or different he did to day, is that he wandered around through high weeds today, briefly. We're talking about less than 15 minutes here. Apparently, it may have been long enough to trigger an allergic reaction... I gave him 2 allergy tablets, and am defrosting a rabbit from the freezer. I'm HOPING that this will help, just maybe...
I gotta get out and pull the f*@king weeds from the side yard! In all my spare time of course!
He was fine most of the day - I was in and out, shopping, having lunch with friends, etc.. Tonight, while I was doing dishes, he walked into the kitchen and over towards me, and I noticed something seemed a bit off on his face. I shrugged it off and finished washing dishes. He walked back over and I dried my hands and touched his face..... In the corner of his left eye along his muzzle is a very large lump... It's way bigger than I'd like - personally, I wish I would never see another one on him.
The only thing strange or different he did to day, is that he wandered around through high weeds today, briefly. We're talking about less than 15 minutes here. Apparently, it may have been long enough to trigger an allergic reaction... I gave him 2 allergy tablets, and am defrosting a rabbit from the freezer. I'm HOPING that this will help, just maybe...
I gotta get out and pull the f*@king weeds from the side yard! In all my spare time of course!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Hooray!
Apache did it!! His 'registered' name is now Annette's Apache CD, CGC, TDI, and now RN! Apache & Chippewa were entered in Youngstown OH's Rally Trial on Friday, and both qualified - giving Apache his 3rd leg and his title. I never understood why dogs need 3 legs for a performance title - they have 4 legs after all.... Anyway, I digress - Apache's score on Friday was 94 out of 100, due to me calling for a 'do over' for a front that his by-passed to go straight to heel position. (a Do Over lets you 'do over' whatever exercise you had issue with, but costs you 3 points).
Chip got 98 out of 100 - impressive little guy when he wants to be! I have it on tape, and, honestly, he is really cute (but I am a bit biased)!
Anyway, it was a good weekend for the most part. Apache has been eating raw rabbit (literally, a quarter of a rabbit 2x a day) for the past 5 days and his lips are no longer red/raw or irritated. Cheyenne has a small skin irritation on her back, but that's not as unusual as I would like to say it is. Apache's allergic to anything that goes 'in' him and Cheyenne has always had allergies for anything that goes 'on' her. They both went to the vet early Friday morning to just verify there was nothing else up with Apache's lip, and get Chey some antibiotics. My vet is always so surprised at how easy it is to work with/on my dogs. I guess that's why he refers people to me for training, which is a compliment in itself.
Chip got 98 out of 100 - impressive little guy when he wants to be! I have it on tape, and, honestly, he is really cute (but I am a bit biased)!
Anyway, it was a good weekend for the most part. Apache has been eating raw rabbit (literally, a quarter of a rabbit 2x a day) for the past 5 days and his lips are no longer red/raw or irritated. Cheyenne has a small skin irritation on her back, but that's not as unusual as I would like to say it is. Apache's allergic to anything that goes 'in' him and Cheyenne has always had allergies for anything that goes 'on' her. They both went to the vet early Friday morning to just verify there was nothing else up with Apache's lip, and get Chey some antibiotics. My vet is always so surprised at how easy it is to work with/on my dogs. I guess that's why he refers people to me for training, which is a compliment in itself.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Good & the Bad
Well a few weeks ago the 'boys' were entered in a Rally Trial. Apache got a steady 98 out of 100 both Friday and Saturday (that's my BOY). Chip got an amazing 100 out of 100 on Friday - I couldn't believe it either! He then got a little car sick on the road up Saturday, promptly threw up some water in the ring and got disqualified. The little stinker! Chip actually got 4th place on Friday - after they do the scores (since there were 5 dogs with 100s), they go by times in getting completed. They are great, and are entered at the end of this month, to, hopefully, get Apache his RN (Rally Novice) title and Chip will hopefully get one more leg. To get any performance title, the dog has to compete under 3 different judges, at 3 different trials, and get a qualifying score each time..
The bad, however, is Apache seems to be having a reaction to something... I have no idea what, the only change I made was some treats someone told me were wonderful & natural, etc... Apparently that was not the case. He has some lesions on his lips right under his nose. There are red bumps, and while they don't appear all that attractive, but they don't appear to be bothering him (thank goodness for small favors). Time to switch to an exclusively raw diet for a while and pray...a lot. I know his time with me will be short, but I hope it's not that short... I've made yet another tea type wash, and wiped his little mouth today. Between all of that and the food changes, I'm really hoping for the best - which is all I can do with this stupid disease. Keep your fingers crossed for us both please...
The bad, however, is Apache seems to be having a reaction to something... I have no idea what, the only change I made was some treats someone told me were wonderful & natural, etc... Apparently that was not the case. He has some lesions on his lips right under his nose. There are red bumps, and while they don't appear all that attractive, but they don't appear to be bothering him (thank goodness for small favors). Time to switch to an exclusively raw diet for a while and pray...a lot. I know his time with me will be short, but I hope it's not that short... I've made yet another tea type wash, and wiped his little mouth today. Between all of that and the food changes, I'm really hoping for the best - which is all I can do with this stupid disease. Keep your fingers crossed for us both please...
Friday, September 14, 2007
How could I forget!
The pigmy of the group, and the 'latest' addition. Chippewa is the little Silky Terrier (no, he is not a Yorkie on steriods). A Silky Terrier was developed by crossing a Yorkshire Terrier with a Australian Terrier, to get a larger, more aggressive & hardier Terrier, that still had a soft coat.
He's a monster and a wild man, but cute. Chip is also a rescue (notice a theme here??). He is what I used to call (when I worked at a shelter) a "Petland reject". He was purchased at Petland for over $1,000 as a pet for a 6 year old. They kept him for about 3 months, during which time the child dislocated his shoulder and broke his foot, & the puppy started biting anything that touched him, so they then dumped at the shelter. He started out with me with the typical terrier reaction, if it scares you - bite it, if it excites you - bite it, if it startles you - bite it! It's been a while (3 years now) and I've been working with him a lot. He now has his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and we're working on a Rally title - hopefully soon a CD obedience title. He's also been introduced to Agility, didn't care much for the whole Earthdog/ratting thing though. He'll be busy, and I think he likes/needs that the most.
He is, however, amazing comic relief and truly adorable. He still has a dislike of children, if they're too excited/loud, but generally, if I have kids over, he will only greet them with a toy in his mouth, as I've taught him that's a guaranteed way to stay out of trouble. He can't bite with a mouth that's already full! He is also jealous of the other dogs, the phone and even the computer. When I finish typing this, there will be EVERY toy in the house lying at my feet, as he tries to entice me to stop whatever it is I'm doing and play with him. He also 'talks' when he wants attention - which is whenever he's not getting it LOL!!
Apache has learned not to pick him up and shake him (which was a close call the first time I tried to cut Chip's nails and he tried to bite me). When Apache tires of him, he picks him up by his collar, carries him into the kitchen, & unceremoniously dumps him right on his butt and walks away!
He's a monster and a wild man, but cute. Chip is also a rescue (notice a theme here??). He is what I used to call (when I worked at a shelter) a "Petland reject". He was purchased at Petland for over $1,000 as a pet for a 6 year old. They kept him for about 3 months, during which time the child dislocated his shoulder and broke his foot, & the puppy started biting anything that touched him, so they then dumped at the shelter. He started out with me with the typical terrier reaction, if it scares you - bite it, if it excites you - bite it, if it startles you - bite it! It's been a while (3 years now) and I've been working with him a lot. He now has his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and we're working on a Rally title - hopefully soon a CD obedience title. He's also been introduced to Agility, didn't care much for the whole Earthdog/ratting thing though. He'll be busy, and I think he likes/needs that the most.
He is, however, amazing comic relief and truly adorable. He still has a dislike of children, if they're too excited/loud, but generally, if I have kids over, he will only greet them with a toy in his mouth, as I've taught him that's a guaranteed way to stay out of trouble. He can't bite with a mouth that's already full! He is also jealous of the other dogs, the phone and even the computer. When I finish typing this, there will be EVERY toy in the house lying at my feet, as he tries to entice me to stop whatever it is I'm doing and play with him. He also 'talks' when he wants attention - which is whenever he's not getting it LOL!!
Apache has learned not to pick him up and shake him (which was a close call the first time I tried to cut Chip's nails and he tried to bite me). When Apache tires of him, he picks him up by his collar, carries him into the kitchen, & unceremoniously dumps him right on his butt and walks away!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
C H
Cutaneous Histiocytosis is often abbreviated as CH - no it doesn't stand for Champion LOL! It's a vile & insidious Auto Immune Disease. It's also referred to as the 'button disease', as it manefests as small 'button' like lumps just under the skin. It is not breed specific, or age specific - although when some get it under 4 years old it often goes into remission never to return, the older the dog is when diagnosed, the less likely the remission will be very permanent. It's a hyper or hypo (sorry I forget which) response to an allergic reaction, and it can sort of build on itself. It is triggered by stress, allergies, etc.. It is a recessive gene so breeders can't really screen for it, because breeding to a different dog will often not produce puppies with this problem. It occurs in mixed breeds too, there is little rhyme or reason as far as figuring out who/what will likely end up with it. Most people assume it's cancer and euthanize immediately. Others do the biopsy, get the results and run into a brick wall as far as vets or are daunted by the fact that it can't be cured and euthanize. A few follow vet recommendations to treat with steriods by massive doses, & I only found 1 person on the web who's dog went into remission, the other 4 listing I found stated the dogs died of organ failure due to the steroids... I did not chose that route...
I can only speak for myself (which I do often), but vaccines/medications tend to make it much much worse - so.........Apache is being seen by a holistic vet and has not had ANY shots in the past 3 years no, and will not be getting any (refer to your states guidelines regarding Rabies vaccines). Also, to combat the food allergies (he's allergic to beef, pork, chicken, turkey, venison - so far), he eats Solid Gold dog food on his good days (when his inhallent allergies aren't likely to be triggered - i.e. winter in Western PA), and raw rabbit and/or lamb on his not so good days. I suppliment with brown rice, raw carrots, occasionally yams and sweet potatoes (yep, he eats better than I do), along with 2 Chinese Herbs I can't remember the name of right this second, and 1/3 of a capsule of Red Rasberry Leaf, Eyebright, Pau D'Arco, Milk Thistle, Cat's Claw, & Echinacea... I have it down to a pretty good science now, it takes me about 10 minutes to get the food together for his 2x day feedings. He appears the picture of health, does demonstrations with me & is one of the happiest/self assured dogs you would ever have the pleasure of meeting. No one would know he was not well spending time with him.
I'm trying to give you a reference point, at least a little, so you can maybe help you vet if your dog is diagnosed, or at least make a more informed decision in his treatment. REPEAT AFTER ME - My Vet is not GOD, He DOES NOT know EVERYTHING! It is MY job to make an informed/intelligent decision on my dog's health!! Most vet's HAVE NEVER seen this disease first hand (ask them if they've ever actually treated a dog with this exact disease), but are highly willing to TRY and treat your dog based on limited research. I honestly think some are just looking to get published somewhere/anywhere. Do all of your homework FIRST and stick to your guns - even when your vet is telling you that they don't recommend something - if you truly believe/know it's the right choice, stick with it - even it you have to dump your vet.... Like I warned you, just my honest opinion....scary thought!
I can only speak for myself (which I do often), but vaccines/medications tend to make it much much worse - so.........Apache is being seen by a holistic vet and has not had ANY shots in the past 3 years no, and will not be getting any (refer to your states guidelines regarding Rabies vaccines). Also, to combat the food allergies (he's allergic to beef, pork, chicken, turkey, venison - so far), he eats Solid Gold dog food on his good days (when his inhallent allergies aren't likely to be triggered - i.e. winter in Western PA), and raw rabbit and/or lamb on his not so good days. I suppliment with brown rice, raw carrots, occasionally yams and sweet potatoes (yep, he eats better than I do), along with 2 Chinese Herbs I can't remember the name of right this second, and 1/3 of a capsule of Red Rasberry Leaf, Eyebright, Pau D'Arco, Milk Thistle, Cat's Claw, & Echinacea... I have it down to a pretty good science now, it takes me about 10 minutes to get the food together for his 2x day feedings. He appears the picture of health, does demonstrations with me & is one of the happiest/self assured dogs you would ever have the pleasure of meeting. No one would know he was not well spending time with him.
I'm trying to give you a reference point, at least a little, so you can maybe help you vet if your dog is diagnosed, or at least make a more informed decision in his treatment. REPEAT AFTER ME - My Vet is not GOD, He DOES NOT know EVERYTHING! It is MY job to make an informed/intelligent decision on my dog's health!! Most vet's HAVE NEVER seen this disease first hand (ask them if they've ever actually treated a dog with this exact disease), but are highly willing to TRY and treat your dog based on limited research. I honestly think some are just looking to get published somewhere/anywhere. Do all of your homework FIRST and stick to your guns - even when your vet is telling you that they don't recommend something - if you truly believe/know it's the right choice, stick with it - even it you have to dump your vet.... Like I warned you, just my honest opinion....scary thought!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Apache
Well, one of the primary reasons for me trying this whole blog thing is this dog. Apache is my best/worst/most expensive dog by far. He's the large male black with white Belgian Sheepdog in the trio picture... (Sorry, I haven't figured out how to put pictures in the middle of my posts yet..)
Apache is a rescue too, all of mine are. He was returned to the shelter on 3 occasions by the time he was 7 months old, labeled untrainable, too big, & needs a farm. A LOT of work and time and effort later and he now has his AKC CD. He has never let me down, I didn't exactly take him to classes to prepare (bad idea if thinking about competing), with only 1 match (pretend competition), training him primarily on my own, but when I asked him to 'work' for me, he always did/does. He got qualifying scores 3x, under 3 different judges, which is what is required to get a CD on a dog.. He's a big entension of me, often in motion before I can give him a hand signal. As WILD as he was, is as amazing as he is..
He's a rough one though, he has cost me a fortune!! He ate the entire contents of my bathroom garbage once, and ended up with a 3 day stay at an emergency clinic. He has terrible food & inhallent allergies, that cause strange bouts of diahrrea and refusing to eat. And he also has a bizarre disease called Cutaneous Histiocytosis (that's a mouth full!). He was diagnosed a couple of years ago now, after he broke out in lumps everywhere, and they just spread and multiplied. He was truly breaking my heart, and we ran from vet's office to vet's office, until one decided to biopsy the lumps. The biopsy results took WEEKS, and came in around Thanksgiving. That's when we got the diagnosis, and mass confusion. No one had ever seen the disease first hand and a lot of vet's had never even heard of it. In the mean time, the lumps kept spreading all over his body. They were like tiny M&M candies just under the skin, but they were rapidly covering everything. The only 'approved' treatment is very high doses of seriods...ridiculously high doses. I poured over the minor information available on the web, and everything I found said the steriods would likely kill him...this was not an option. The cure shouldn't be worse than the disease. I found one person who switched the diet to all raw foods and some suppliments and her dog improved/went into remission. Around Christmas time, he began to get lumps/lesions on his eyes and actually couldn't see one night! I couldn't take it anymore, and he was confused/scared. I thought about putting him to sleep, but just couldn't. He was only 5 at the time... I was selfish, called family crying and begging for any input possible. My sister (a herb fanatic in her own right) told me to make tea out of Eyebright herb, soak a cotton ball, and put it over his eyes as a warm compress. I didn't think anything would work, but figured it couldn't hurt, so I tried it. The next morning his eyes were starting to clear, it was unbelievable.
After that terrible night, I figured I was running out of options. I was still thinking of putting him to sleep as the lumps kept spreading, and I couldn't get an appointment with a holistic vet for another month.. I opted to run to a local wholesale meat type outlet and buy him rabbit. Did I mention he also has terrible allergies?? He had eaten it before and enjoyed it, and more importantly, had not had any (bad) reaction to it & he would eat it. I started giving it to him cooked, along with yams, and some herbs my sister recommended. After about 2 weeks, the lumps were not only not spreading, but some were being reabsorbed!! It was amazing.
This is the primary reason I am trying to blog.. So that someone searching for Cutaneous Histiocytosis, might stumble upon this blog and find some hope. I'll try to keep it light, and post about the silliness that I deal with every day with these guys, but I'm also trying to journal somewhere Apache's cures/treatments and all...
Apache is a rescue too, all of mine are. He was returned to the shelter on 3 occasions by the time he was 7 months old, labeled untrainable, too big, & needs a farm. A LOT of work and time and effort later and he now has his AKC CD. He has never let me down, I didn't exactly take him to classes to prepare (bad idea if thinking about competing), with only 1 match (pretend competition), training him primarily on my own, but when I asked him to 'work' for me, he always did/does. He got qualifying scores 3x, under 3 different judges, which is what is required to get a CD on a dog.. He's a big entension of me, often in motion before I can give him a hand signal. As WILD as he was, is as amazing as he is..
He's a rough one though, he has cost me a fortune!! He ate the entire contents of my bathroom garbage once, and ended up with a 3 day stay at an emergency clinic. He has terrible food & inhallent allergies, that cause strange bouts of diahrrea and refusing to eat. And he also has a bizarre disease called Cutaneous Histiocytosis (that's a mouth full!). He was diagnosed a couple of years ago now, after he broke out in lumps everywhere, and they just spread and multiplied. He was truly breaking my heart, and we ran from vet's office to vet's office, until one decided to biopsy the lumps. The biopsy results took WEEKS, and came in around Thanksgiving. That's when we got the diagnosis, and mass confusion. No one had ever seen the disease first hand and a lot of vet's had never even heard of it. In the mean time, the lumps kept spreading all over his body. They were like tiny M&M candies just under the skin, but they were rapidly covering everything. The only 'approved' treatment is very high doses of seriods...ridiculously high doses. I poured over the minor information available on the web, and everything I found said the steriods would likely kill him...this was not an option. The cure shouldn't be worse than the disease. I found one person who switched the diet to all raw foods and some suppliments and her dog improved/went into remission. Around Christmas time, he began to get lumps/lesions on his eyes and actually couldn't see one night! I couldn't take it anymore, and he was confused/scared. I thought about putting him to sleep, but just couldn't. He was only 5 at the time... I was selfish, called family crying and begging for any input possible. My sister (a herb fanatic in her own right) told me to make tea out of Eyebright herb, soak a cotton ball, and put it over his eyes as a warm compress. I didn't think anything would work, but figured it couldn't hurt, so I tried it. The next morning his eyes were starting to clear, it was unbelievable.
After that terrible night, I figured I was running out of options. I was still thinking of putting him to sleep as the lumps kept spreading, and I couldn't get an appointment with a holistic vet for another month.. I opted to run to a local wholesale meat type outlet and buy him rabbit. Did I mention he also has terrible allergies?? He had eaten it before and enjoyed it, and more importantly, had not had any (bad) reaction to it & he would eat it. I started giving it to him cooked, along with yams, and some herbs my sister recommended. After about 2 weeks, the lumps were not only not spreading, but some were being reabsorbed!! It was amazing.
This is the primary reason I am trying to blog.. So that someone searching for Cutaneous Histiocytosis, might stumble upon this blog and find some hope. I'll try to keep it light, and post about the silliness that I deal with every day with these guys, but I'm also trying to journal somewhere Apache's cures/treatments and all...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Cheyenne
I had to euthanize my dear Roxie at around 9 years of age. When I rescued her, I knew she had severe hip & elbow displaysia... I was the assistant manager at an animal shelter, and knew she wouldn't get adopted, so I took her and we had 9 long years together. She got her CD/CGC/TDI - CD Companion Dog obedience title, and she passed the CGC Canine Good Citizen, & Therapy Dogs International test. She was a sweet dog, but was starting to cry out in pain, and this was a dog the vet put a staple in without any anesthesia. I had to let her go, we had had a good run and after all she did for me, I owed it to her not to allow her to hurt.
During that time, I was going back to the shelter I no longer worked at (I had to get a 'real' job to pay the bills), and worked with dogs that were 'difficult'. It's then that I met Cheyenne, but she was 'Beauty' when I saw her. A terrified heap in the corner of a cage. She wouldn't even look at you, she had her head jammed into that concrete wall for dear life. When I rattled the cage door and I saw that beautiful face, I was hooked. I worked with her for about 20 minutes, she was heeling, doing automatic sits...she was an amazing dog, with no future. She was terrified and overwhelmed at the shelter. I left a message for the manager, who was a friend of mine, telling her if she was stuck, to call me about this dog (don't EVER do that!!). The day I had Roxie scheduled to be euthanized, I got the call. I originally took Cheyenne to foster home her, but it didn't work out like that! Honestly, I'm kind of glad it didn't, she's, by far, my easiest dog!
I tried to foster her, but when she was stressed she'd make a break for her crate, my van, or to hide 'under' my Beauceron Lady. She was completely housebroken, silent always, and would never eat if I walked out of the room (BOY has that changed). I tried to place her once. She slipped out of the collar (they switched collars after I drove off) within about 20 minutes of their visit with her, and they called me on my cell phone to tell me that she had left... Left!! I asked how they could lose her, & they again said they didn't lose her, she left! I asked them if she called a cab, left?!?!? I was at the park with Lady, I packed her back into the car, drove back there and wandered around the neighborhood until I saw those cute little 'Teddy Bear' ears of hers. I got her back in the van, and the rest, they say, is history... She's 9 now, wonderfully trained, but still has little or NO use for other people (hey, she & I do have a lot in common).
During that time, I was going back to the shelter I no longer worked at (I had to get a 'real' job to pay the bills), and worked with dogs that were 'difficult'. It's then that I met Cheyenne, but she was 'Beauty' when I saw her. A terrified heap in the corner of a cage. She wouldn't even look at you, she had her head jammed into that concrete wall for dear life. When I rattled the cage door and I saw that beautiful face, I was hooked. I worked with her for about 20 minutes, she was heeling, doing automatic sits...she was an amazing dog, with no future. She was terrified and overwhelmed at the shelter. I left a message for the manager, who was a friend of mine, telling her if she was stuck, to call me about this dog (don't EVER do that!!). The day I had Roxie scheduled to be euthanized, I got the call. I originally took Cheyenne to foster home her, but it didn't work out like that! Honestly, I'm kind of glad it didn't, she's, by far, my easiest dog!
I tried to foster her, but when she was stressed she'd make a break for her crate, my van, or to hide 'under' my Beauceron Lady. She was completely housebroken, silent always, and would never eat if I walked out of the room (BOY has that changed). I tried to place her once. She slipped out of the collar (they switched collars after I drove off) within about 20 minutes of their visit with her, and they called me on my cell phone to tell me that she had left... Left!! I asked how they could lose her, & they again said they didn't lose her, she left! I asked them if she called a cab, left?!?!? I was at the park with Lady, I packed her back into the car, drove back there and wandered around the neighborhood until I saw those cute little 'Teddy Bear' ears of hers. I got her back in the van, and the rest, they say, is history... She's 9 now, wonderfully trained, but still has little or NO use for other people (hey, she & I do have a lot in common).
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Why exactly.....
Why do people blog?? Is it because they have time? Or do they think people are interested in their lives? Hmmmm...
I think people blog to remember things, both good and bad. I remember my dogs, people not so much, but definitely my dogs. I have more than my share that I miss terribly, some that I shake my head at getting in the first place, and some that I pray I never lose, but know I'm going to...
I had dogs my whole childhood... Usually large ones, by most people's standards. Tied outside during the day, and locked in the kitchen at night. We had little interaction with them then. My 'first' Lady was a huge German Shepherd/Collie cross that was amazingly patient with children - which was a good thing for her, because I came from a large family... She was great with us, and seemed to think I was her puppy. Her job was to watch over me and guard me from anything and everything. She lived to a ripe old age of 16 and I remember her well.
As an alleged 'grown up', I got married in my teens and got my second 'Lady'. She was a far cry from the first, but named because of her great desire to watch over me. She was a rescued Beauceron from an animal shelter who had 7 broken ribs, and cigarette burns all over her. Teaching her to trust me taught me a lot. However, teaching her not to eat people taught me even more. She honestly hated everyone but me...deeply. She was an amazing dog, and I can still cry missing her today. She was joined by the comic relief Rottweiler 'Roxie'. She was also a rescue from a shelter, but had been used as bait for dog fighting. She was an amazing coward, but sweet as any animal you could ever meet.. She taught me about patience, and dog training more than I think she could have realized.. While the 2 'girls' are long gone, but not forgotten, I now have a relatively small pack that amuse & frustrate me regularly.
I think people blog to remember things, both good and bad. I remember my dogs, people not so much, but definitely my dogs. I have more than my share that I miss terribly, some that I shake my head at getting in the first place, and some that I pray I never lose, but know I'm going to...
I had dogs my whole childhood... Usually large ones, by most people's standards. Tied outside during the day, and locked in the kitchen at night. We had little interaction with them then. My 'first' Lady was a huge German Shepherd/Collie cross that was amazingly patient with children - which was a good thing for her, because I came from a large family... She was great with us, and seemed to think I was her puppy. Her job was to watch over me and guard me from anything and everything. She lived to a ripe old age of 16 and I remember her well.
As an alleged 'grown up', I got married in my teens and got my second 'Lady'. She was a far cry from the first, but named because of her great desire to watch over me. She was a rescued Beauceron from an animal shelter who had 7 broken ribs, and cigarette burns all over her. Teaching her to trust me taught me a lot. However, teaching her not to eat people taught me even more. She honestly hated everyone but me...deeply. She was an amazing dog, and I can still cry missing her today. She was joined by the comic relief Rottweiler 'Roxie'. She was also a rescue from a shelter, but had been used as bait for dog fighting. She was an amazing coward, but sweet as any animal you could ever meet.. She taught me about patience, and dog training more than I think she could have realized.. While the 2 'girls' are long gone, but not forgotten, I now have a relatively small pack that amuse & frustrate me regularly.
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