Oh boy, I'm starting to see some thinning hair along Ralphie's back and a couple of tiny bald spots. I'm hoping it's not the mange coming back. He battled manage as a small puppy and there's a good chance he may have it again. But on the other hand I'm thinking it could be all the mosquito bites he got at the dog park last week. He had small bumps all over his back. The bumps are pretty much gone now, but now it's the thinning hair problem. Vizslas are known to have allergies. So before I take him to the vet, I'm using the Nu-Stock cream that I used last time to see if it helps. Of course he's on HeartGuard...which is a must in Florida. Ralphie loves his outdoors...so it's expected he's going to get some bug bites, nicks, and scratches...a true hunter. Other than this nuisance of a problem, he's a crazy, active, high-energy pup...
and I love him for that!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Top 10 Things I LOVE About My Vizsla
10. I LOVE how Ralphie follows me everywhere ... he'll follow me in the kitchen when I'm cooking, he follows me to the laundry room, he follows me everywhere...he even follows me to the bathroom! Geesh, no privacy! LOL
9. I LOVE that Ralphie put life in little old Ollie. Ollie is a perky old man now...he chews bones, plays, and not anti-social anymore!
8. I LOVE Ralphie keeps the bed warm next to me each night.
7. I LOVE how Ralphie is always in "hunt" mode and seeing his natural instincts come out.
6. I LOVE how Ralphie loves other dogs and seeing how happy he is with his doggy friends at the dog park.
5. I LOVE Ralphie's sweet, cute face...sometimes with a look a innocence and sometimes a look of mischievousness.
4. I LOVE hugging Ralphie and he loves me hugging him. He just molds right into my hug, managing to get in a kiss or two...well maybe even more than two!
3. I LOVE Ralphie's energy; keeping me healthy by pushing and motivating me to walk/run 2 to 5 miles everyday.
2. I LOVE when Ralphie is sleeping...the way he dreams...giving me some rest and 'me' time!
1. I LOVE that Ralphie is my best friend, more than a pet, he's there when I'm happy or when I'm sad. I love that he's my world and I'm his world. LOVE.
9. I LOVE that Ralphie put life in little old Ollie. Ollie is a perky old man now...he chews bones, plays, and not anti-social anymore!
8. I LOVE Ralphie keeps the bed warm next to me each night.
7. I LOVE how Ralphie is always in "hunt" mode and seeing his natural instincts come out.
6. I LOVE how Ralphie loves other dogs and seeing how happy he is with his doggy friends at the dog park.
5. I LOVE Ralphie's sweet, cute face...sometimes with a look a innocence and sometimes a look of mischievousness.
4. I LOVE hugging Ralphie and he loves me hugging him. He just molds right into my hug, managing to get in a kiss or two...well maybe even more than two!
3. I LOVE Ralphie's energy; keeping me healthy by pushing and motivating me to walk/run 2 to 5 miles everyday.
2. I LOVE when Ralphie is sleeping...the way he dreams...giving me some rest and 'me' time!
1. I LOVE that Ralphie is my best friend, more than a pet, he's there when I'm happy or when I'm sad. I love that he's my world and I'm his world. LOVE.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Best Bones Ever!
Normally I'm not drawn to the meat section of the grocery store since I eat minimal meat...chicken and turkey occasionally. But this past weekend something popped out at me that looked very familiar. It was the beef section with packages of raw marrow bones cut perfect for a dog. I remember my mom buying these marrow bones for our dogs when I was a kid. She would boil these bones for a long time on top of the stove...I still can remember that smell. Yum...Not! LOL I thought I would give it a shot and bought a package ... 4 bones for $2.40. I put them in a pot of water and boiled and boiled them until I got THAT smell. I let them cool off, gave a nice size one to Ralphie and a small one for Ollie. OMG...they LOVED it and they are durable, long-lasting, and obviously delicious. Ralphie chewed on that bone (plus Ollie's bone after he gave up on it) for hours, all evening until bedtime. He actually got up in the middle of the night and started chewing and gnawing again on that bone. As I'm writing this, he's chewing one of these bones! Yep, my mom knew exactly what she was doing boiling those smelly bones. PLUS you can never get a 4 bones with no additives, no dyes, all natural for only $2.40!!
Ralphie is so happy, keeps him busy and Ollie as old as he is, loves them too...good for the 'ol guy's teeth!
**Just an added note, the bone does not smell after they are cooked and cooled off.**
Ralphie is so happy, keeps him busy and Ollie as old as he is, loves them too...good for the 'ol guy's teeth!
**Just an added note, the bone does not smell after they are cooked and cooled off.**
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Sweet Dreams
What can Ralphie possibly be dreaming of? Lizards? Birds? Yummy treats? His BFFs? Bones?
Whatever it is...looks like a good dream! :)
Sweet dreams Ralphie!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Seizures
No worries...Ralphie is fine. He's not having seizures!! Thank goodness! The reason I'm blogging today about seizures is I'm just flabbergasted how many dogs have seizures these days. We never heard about seizures years ago when I was a kid. I don't remember my mom ever talking about her dogs having seizures. I wonder why?
Ollie has seizures, but very rarely and they seem to be mild. He's not on any medication. My past Vizsla, Jazz had seizures as well. Again, they were mild.
But the real reason I'm writing about this is Ralphie's pug cousin, Leroy has been having extreme, strong, intense seizures. He never had them before, but the last few days he has experienced multiple huge seizures! It's so heartbreaking to see him go through this ordeal. Just a forewarning, if you have a gut feeling your pet is having a seizure and your vet diagnosed something else...beware of that vet! Leroy was taken into a vet after his first seizure which weakened his legs and disoriented him to an extreme and the doctor said it was hip joint problems...NOT! If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...it's a duck! Needless to say, Leroy was taken home with the wrong meds and began having grand mal seizures one after another. My daughter rushed him into an emergency vet on Sunday and he was given phenobarbital and stayed the night to be watched. He came home on Monday morning with numerous meds to treat his seizures...to bring him back to the life he had. It's going to take awhile for Leroy to bounce back to normal and has a long road ahead...right now he's blind, no strength in his legs, and very confused.
But he WILL get through this with all our love...with all our caring. Leroy...we love you TONS!
Ollie has seizures, but very rarely and they seem to be mild. He's not on any medication. My past Vizsla, Jazz had seizures as well. Again, they were mild.
But the real reason I'm writing about this is Ralphie's pug cousin, Leroy has been having extreme, strong, intense seizures. He never had them before, but the last few days he has experienced multiple huge seizures! It's so heartbreaking to see him go through this ordeal. Just a forewarning, if you have a gut feeling your pet is having a seizure and your vet diagnosed something else...beware of that vet! Leroy was taken into a vet after his first seizure which weakened his legs and disoriented him to an extreme and the doctor said it was hip joint problems...NOT! If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...it's a duck! Needless to say, Leroy was taken home with the wrong meds and began having grand mal seizures one after another. My daughter rushed him into an emergency vet on Sunday and he was given phenobarbital and stayed the night to be watched. He came home on Monday morning with numerous meds to treat his seizures...to bring him back to the life he had. It's going to take awhile for Leroy to bounce back to normal and has a long road ahead...right now he's blind, no strength in his legs, and very confused.
But he WILL get through this with all our love...with all our caring. Leroy...we love you TONS!
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| After Leroy's seizure...confused in a corner. |
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| Leroy doesn't have control over his tongue after these seizures. |
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| Confused and blind, Leroy sometimes get entangled in the wrong areas. |
Friday, July 12, 2013
Puddle Funtime
We're in our rainy season now and it rains almost everyday for about a half hour - just like a rainforest. There are puddles everywhere especially in the dog park! Of course, Ralphie needs to still have his playtime...watch his puddle fun!
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| How does Ralphie cool off during our hot summer days ... yep, find the biggest puddle and just lay in it!! |
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Fourth of July Festivities
Ralphie survived his first 4th of July celebration ... barely! It was not a good situation with the fireworks...yep, my hunting bird dog is afraid of the firework pops and booms! I thought it would be a natural instinct in a gun dog that they can handle loud noises...Not! I tried not to coddle Ralphie when the fireworks were going off outside, but how can I act like nothing is happening when this 56 pound puppy is on my lap, with his head on my shoulder shaking. I wrapped a blanket around him to give him the feel of security and it seemed to calm him down.
Now it seems Ralphie is extra sensitive to any noise. When Ralphie hears a small pop out in the distance, he's scared and doesn't want to continue his walks and drags me home. (sigh) I really need to start on desensitizing him. It would be horrible for him to live a fearful life of sounds.
But other than that, we had a fun-filled day...
Now it seems Ralphie is extra sensitive to any noise. When Ralphie hears a small pop out in the distance, he's scared and doesn't want to continue his walks and drags me home. (sigh) I really need to start on desensitizing him. It would be horrible for him to live a fearful life of sounds.
But other than that, we had a fun-filled day...
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| C'mon Ralphie, you can do it! |
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| Diva the swimming pug! |
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| Such a baby! |
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| Pups, pups everywhere! |
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| My little 'ol man, Ollie |
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| The queen, Diva |
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| Sweet Diva |
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| Ralphie and Rusty catching some rays! |
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| My baby, Ralphie! Isn't he a beauty?! |
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| Leroy snuggling with Ralphie |
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| The end of a fun-filled 4th of July! |
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Irresponsible Pet Owners
Okay, I'm going to step up on my soapbox and write about some recent observations ...
Today when walking Ralphie in the neighborhood I see my neighbor's tiny Yorkie roaming the streets! The pup was in the middle of the street and started following us. I'm thinking, "where is the owner", "why would the owner just leave their dog outside to just wander". I knocked on my neighbor's door, she answers, I tell her that her Yorkie is wandering in the street and can get hit by a car, nonchalantly she says, "oh, okay", she didn't even care...Irresponsible Pet Owner!
People who walk their dogs, dog poops in my yard, owner just leaves it, doesn't pick it up ... Irresponsible Pet Owner!
People who leave their barking dog outside for hours ... Irresponsible Pet Owner!
People who knowingly let their dog loose to roam the neighborhood for exercise...Irresponsible Pet Owner!
The other day I was talking to a lady that had two dogs with her at the dog park. She had a pit bull and a pit bull mix, one female the other male, both not fixed. I look at the female which was obvious she recently had puppies and I asked the owner, "did she have pups recently, are you breeding her?" Pointing at the male dog she said, "awww, he got to her while I was in Tampa one day, it wasn't supposed to happen!" ... Unreal! ... Irresponsible Pet Owner!
What is wrong with these pet owners!? If you can't take care of your pet properly, responsibly, and lovingly ... you should not have a pet!! These behaviors are very upsetting and sad. It makes me just want to love my Ralphie and Ollie that much more! Love.
Today when walking Ralphie in the neighborhood I see my neighbor's tiny Yorkie roaming the streets! The pup was in the middle of the street and started following us. I'm thinking, "where is the owner", "why would the owner just leave their dog outside to just wander". I knocked on my neighbor's door, she answers, I tell her that her Yorkie is wandering in the street and can get hit by a car, nonchalantly she says, "oh, okay", she didn't even care...Irresponsible Pet Owner!
People who walk their dogs, dog poops in my yard, owner just leaves it, doesn't pick it up ... Irresponsible Pet Owner!
People who leave their barking dog outside for hours ... Irresponsible Pet Owner!
People who knowingly let their dog loose to roam the neighborhood for exercise...Irresponsible Pet Owner!
The other day I was talking to a lady that had two dogs with her at the dog park. She had a pit bull and a pit bull mix, one female the other male, both not fixed. I look at the female which was obvious she recently had puppies and I asked the owner, "did she have pups recently, are you breeding her?" Pointing at the male dog she said, "awww, he got to her while I was in Tampa one day, it wasn't supposed to happen!" ... Unreal! ... Irresponsible Pet Owner!
What is wrong with these pet owners!? If you can't take care of your pet properly, responsibly, and lovingly ... you should not have a pet!! These behaviors are very upsetting and sad. It makes me just want to love my Ralphie and Ollie that much more! Love.
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