Dogs in Antlers :)

It's the holiday season again! Do you know what that means? It's time to get out the antlers and take pictures of the clients (and our pets as well). Would you like to see some of our lovely pictures?

First we have Oak, looking very handsome and regal in his green furry antlers.



Next we took a picture of Jewels. Doesn't she look impressed? If looks could kill we'd be in trouble :)



We didn't want Lulu to feel left out, so we enticed her into wearing them next. She doesn't look any happier then Jewels did!



Now to try someone a wee bit harder. Max the golden puppy with the antlers in his mouth. then he tossed them about as I tried to get them back.



Then finally a picture with the antlers on his head and not in his mouth!



Off to the park, with antlers in hand, to get pictures of Zanara ...



then Beau. Big dogs just don't seem as peeved when we put the antlers on them. Beau even looks kind of regal!



Next we brought the antlers to the daycare. This is Miss Holly sticking her tongue out at us ...



Then Linus, with his big brown eyes :)



and his little sister Lucy ...



Tomorrow we are off to get some Christmas pictures of Twilight, Radar, Quincy and many more!!! Ha, ha, ha !

Dr Dodds - Part II

"Wholesome nutrition is the key to a healthy immune system and resistance to disease."





This statement is so true! I have been researching the proper nutrition for my dogs for years and am still continuing to learn new things everyday. What did I learn at the seminar? I think the one bit of information that got me thinking the most was titled Nutritional Management for Aggression.

Oak can be aggressive with other dogs. He didn't used to be when he was a puppy (and he was socialized) but as he grows older, he has shown some aggressive tendencies sometimes while on leash, sometimes while off. He is also hyperactive after he eats. It doesn't matter if it is morning or evening, as soon as he eats his meal he runs around like a crazy dog for about an hour and tries very hard to get into trouble! So maybe making a few changes to his food can help. It's definitely worth a shot.

Some of the suggestions were:
- use a high quality-low protein food
- increase tryptophan (turkey)
- limit "hot foods" (beef, bison, duck)
- limit high copper foods (lamb)
We are definitely going to try turkey, I'll let you know how it goes :)

I did try a turkey based frozen food. I gave it to him for about 4 days (breakfast and supper) and I think he was more hyper after meals! Maybe I should have tried it for longer, but I figured we get tired after one meal of turkey, so 4 meals were enough of a test.


I also bought two books written by Monica Segal: "Optimal Nutrition" and "K9 Kitchen". Right now I feed a combination of some supplements, raw ground chicken backs and preground frozen veggie mix, but I'm not sure the combination is right, so I've been considering making my own from scratch. More stuff to read up on :)

The main topic of the day was thyroid disease. How. What. When. Why. We went through some of the signs (some you may know about already and some you may not). For example, I already knew some signs could be: weight gain, lethargy, mood swings, cold intolerance, chronic infections, aberrant behavior ( aggression, fear, hyperactive) but I didn't know about seizures, facial paralysis, "tragic expression", head tilt, slow heart rate, cardiomyopathy or corneal ulcerations.

Then she discussed the blood tests that should be done. It isn't good enough to do the basic tests (T4 & T3) we have been doing for years, these my not show a problem. It is very important to have a thyroid panel done. If you think your dog may have a thyroid problem go to Dr Dodds website and check out the fabulous information there. You can also have your vet send a sample of your dog's blood there to be tested. As I am writing this, I am saying to myself, "maybe you should take your own advise!" I have been wondering if maybe Oak has a thyroid issue. I had the blood tests done through my vet last march, but have never sent them into Hemopet. He has many symptoms and no other solution has been found yet.

If you ever get a chance to see Dr Dodds in person, jump at it. It was a fabulous learning experience.

The Canine Condition by Dr Jean Dodds - Part I

I went to see a fabulous speaker yesterday, Dr Jean Dodds (maybe you've heard of her:). She talked about many different subjects, starting with a discussion on vaccines, then a bit about nutrigenomics for companion animals and finally autoimmune disorders with a focus on thyroid issues.

Vaccines: Should we vaccinate, should we not vaccinate, maybe just a few vaccines? What should we do? I think every pet owner is asking themselves the same question, but what is the answer. Well, I still don't know the answer for everyone, but personally, I choose minimal to none. Oak had his puppy shots following Dr Dodds suggested vaccine schedule and hasn't had any of the yearly boosters since. I have had his titers checked though and am happy to report he has more then enough antibodies circulating in his blood!
She spoke a bit about vaccine reactions, optimal age for puppy and kitten vaccines, the core vaccines, why vaccine should adjusted based on body mass and factors that increase the risk of adverse vaccine reactions.

One thing that did stand out in what she had to tell us is if your pet has had a severe vaccine reaction do not vaccinate him again! Another thing she brought up that I never really thought of before is to question as to why a 10lb chihuahua gets the same vaccine as a 90lb lab. Vaccine dosage should be based on body mass, shouldn't it? Does a small dog need the same dose as a large dog, it seems very unlikely to me.

Another thing I learned yesterday is that some breeds, even some colours of dogs, are more predisposed to vaccine reactions then others! Huh! I never really thought about that before. Did you know that white dogs are more likely to have a vaccine reaction then a black dog? Interesting...

There are even dogs who are nonresponders. You as a doting pet parent may give them their vaccines as you were told, thinking they are protected but when you get their titers checked, you find they have no antibodies! It is a genetic characteristic in some breeds or dog families. They can fail to develop an immune response!

I think one of the main discovers I made yesterday is that there is just so much out there that I want to learn about, I'll probabely be researching things to help my Oak for many years to come.

In my next blog post I will share with you a bit about nutrition and autoimmune disease.

We also got a few handouts that she said we could give to others (as long as we say where the information came from), so I'm going to be posting them here on my blog over the next few weeks as well. Sooooo much information! So fascinating! So exciting!

Tea at Primrose Donkey Santuary

Today the Primrose Donkey Sanctuary held a tea for a fundraiser. What a great time we had! Rory ( my granddaughter ) came along and got to pet donkeys for the first time. When we first arrived we went over to the fence to meet Phillip. He's only a youngin', I think we were told he's about 8 months old. He just loved Rory.



A lovely black kitty came along and wanted her belly rubbed :)



Then we enjoyed our tea and sandwiches and dessert. Yummy!



Look there was even a chandelier, so elegant!



We asked to go on a tour so we could meet more of the donkeys at the sanctuary. On our way into the barn, we had to stop and pet Princess, isn't she beautiful with her lovely ribbon?



Rory asked if she could brush some of the donkeys. Cory was enjoying it!



Then little Goliath got a turn.



Rory even met Primrose :)



Bandit wanted to play with the straw, what fun!



And finally a tea leaf reading by Corinne!



A fabulous afternoon, if you didn't make it this year, be sure to come out next year!

Past, Present & Future

Past:
If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you probabely already know that Oak got hip xrays done at the end of April of last year. They weren't great. The socket didn't go completely around the ball, or fit tightly enough. So after discussing things with my vet, I decided on a few things I wanted to do to help improve his hip joints.
First, I put him on Sasha's Blend, salmon oil and vitamin C. Second, he started going to the chiropractor and third, swimming.

Present:
Oak will be 2 years old on July 4, 2010. He has an appointment for July 5 to get his hips xrayed for the final time. He looks good, he moves well, his chiropractor is very please with his progress, so we'll see what the actual xrays tell us.

Future:
Definitely keep up with everything we've been doing and depending on the xray maybe make some changes and improvements. In the end, all that is important is a healthy, happy, painfree Oak.

Reiki is a Wonderful Thing!

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted :( I will have to do better to keep in touch.
This past weekend I was again at Cedar Cove Wellness taking a Reiki course from my Reiki Master Susan Rouse. The course I took over the weekend was my Reiki Level II. It was fabulous! Saturday morning we studied the symbols, learned how to give distance Reiki and were attuned to Level II Reiki. Then we practiced our distance healing. Susan asked us to bring a picture of a person, or animal in need of healing and we used these pictures to focus our Reiki energy for healing. I choose my daughter's dog Zanara



Zanara had a sore and swollen right front foot about 4 months ago. The vet thought it may have been a small fracture and she had to stay off it for about 2 weeks. No walk, no nothing! Poor girl :( But after the rest, the swelling did go down and she felt much better. Well, she started limping again last tuesday. No more walks again :( She loves her walks and she gets very pouty when she can't go.



We also feel its very important for her to keep moving, in order to keep healthy (Zanara just turned 11 yrs. old in March and she was diagnosed with 3rd degree hip displasia at the age of two). So anyway, like I was saying, on saturday I took the picture of Zanara that I had with me, and gave her distance Reiki.

The change in her is nothing short of amazing! (in my opinion, at least). Mandy said she looked so much better on saturday, that she decided to go to the off leash dog park on sunday. She wasn't limping or showing discomfort anymore. Look Zanara is running!



and smiling:)



I can't believe how much happier and more active she is. I am soooo glad I decided to start on this Reiki healing path.

Victorian Tea for the Humane Society of Durham Region

On sunday afternoon we attended the Victorian Tea for the Humane Society of Durham Region at Vandermeer Nursery in Ajax. What a great time! There was fresh brewed tea, absolutely incredible scones, yummy baked goods, a raffle and so much more. The tea, scones and petite fours were courtesy of Cup of Tea Bakery and Cafe in Whitby. I really have to get over there and buy some more scones. Fantastic!

We were asked to donate for the raffle, but came up with too many things to donate so we ended up donating 2 baskets!

A Cat Lover's Basket ...



And a Dog Lover's Basket.



Becca and Jacob were there enjoying the tea a atmosphere ...



Julie gave Mary a big hug and kiss :)



Kathryn and Carol enjoying a good cup of tea in a fine china cup.



Even a little puppy in training came by to enjoy all the hugs and cuddles from everyone.



Our friend Corinne made her own Victorian hat and won gift certificates to Swiss Chalet!

This is Corinne with Ruby:



The ladies from the Humane Society were dressed in Victorian gowns and looked amazing! What a wonderful event! We applaud everyone involved in the planning. Great job! Great tea! Great time!

Oak Finally Gets His Say

Oak has been asked to be a guest writer for another doggie's blog! He is so excited! Finally he gets to tell everyone what HE thinks and they have to listen! Or at least read about it :) Thank you soooo much Bert for this fabulous opportunity! Everyone make sure to read it, www.fourleggedviews.blogspot.com .
He's got his thinking cap on and plotting his story. Let's see what he comes up with...



After a nap, of course.

UPDATE: Oak did such I great job, he now has his own blog. Check it out: http://www.itsmeoak.blogspot.com

A Lovely Winter Walk

What a beautiful day for a walk! We decided follow a new trail through the woods that we have never been on before. Doesn't it look great?



The snow wasn't too deep and there were some snowmobile tracks to follow so it made the walking fairly easy. We decided it might be a bit too easy for Oak, so my hubby went to the top of the hill and I went to the bottom and we made him run up and down a couple of times :)



We saw alot of different animal tracks and traces during our adventures. Here are some bunny tracks...



a mouse home surrounded by tracks ....



turkey tracks.....



and my hubby said this was dug by a coyote trying to find a mouse to eat!



I think we've walked enough, time for a little break :)



One last run before we head back to the van.



Hopefully, it will be another nice day tomorrow, so we can do it again!

Your Guinea Pig Doesn’t Have to be a Sailor to get Scurvy

Normally my posts are about dogs, usually Oak, but today I'm writing about something a wee bit different.
I learned something new the other day: guinea pigs can get scurvy! They can become very sick if they don’t get the correct amount of vitamin C in their diet.
Like humans, guinea pigs lack the enzyme necessary to create their own vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of collagen, bone matrix and tooth dentin. Signs of a vitamin C deficiency may include: loss of appetite, depression, ruffled fur, weight loss, swollen painful joints, poor bone and teeth development, bleeding gums, and nasal discharge. Guinea pigs that are experiencing these symptoms should be seen by a veterinarian. Scurvy can be reversed through diet changes or vitamin C injections.
Although guinea pig pellets have added vitamin C, storage or exposure to sunlight can rapidly destroy it. The vitamin C added to the pellets remains stable for up to 3 months from the milling date. When storing your guinea pigs food keep it in a cool, dark place.
It may be necessary to supplement your guinea pigs food with fresh fruits and vegetables and/or a vitamin C supplement. Some excellent sources of vitamin C include: kale, parsley, sweet red and yellow peppers, broccoli, cabbage and guava. If using a vitamin C supplement it is best to use a chewable tablet as opposed to drops added to your guinea pig’s water. Hard water, metal containers and chlorine can cause the vitamin C to deteriorate and the change in taste may also put your guinea pig off drinking. Do not use a multivitamin because there is a potential for toxic overdose of other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C is a water soluble so it is excreted in the urine and will not build up to toxic levels in the body.
So remember, every morning when you take your vitamin C tablet, don’t forget you guinea pig needs some too.