Normal

Forgot to say, the boy is all normal. *huge sigh of relief*

All values are within normal range! YAY!

Silver Health Screening

Buzz went in for his annual bloodwork today (with an upgrade from bronze to silver) and to check out his eye. Good news! The torsal gland tumor that I was concerned about IS bigger but shouldn't be causing him any pain and it is NOT rubbing on his cornea. NO SURGERY! They stained his eye and looked at it. He was so good. I AM SO EXCITED! They don't need to take it off as of yet. She did say to keep wiping it with sterile gauze and see if I can get some eye antiobiotic ointment to put in it in hopes of cleaning it out. Glad we're on the same page.

His silver panel included a Complete Blood Count, General Health Profile, Complete Urinalysis, T-4, and Electrocardiogram (way cool!). That's an upgrade from the bronze with the inclusion of the T-4 and EKG (wanted the T-4, and with the package the EKG was nearly free).

Anyways, EKG looked good and we'll have results on the rest of the stuff tomorrow or Wednesday.

He's such a good boy!

Lepto?

We have never given an Lepto vaccine (typically the DHPP every three years).

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=539473

Arg, will ask the vet on Monday when Buzz goes in for his "bronze health panel," thyroid panel, and eye exam.

Charts

I've finally created charts to keep track of working my dogs and really, to make sure I do it.

This week for Buzz I have nails (want to do them every two days or so) for both, back strengthening exercises, touch (nose target), sit (on signal), and down (on signal).

Bailey has nails, STOMP! (left fore foot target while standing up), target (nose target), sit (stay), and down (stay).

I printed the charts on Wednesday. Bailey had nails, stomp, and target work on Wednesday. Today we did Stomp and Target (putting STOMP on cue and stimulus control). Buzz working on back strengthening and sit on signal today, nothing yesterday.

Hopefully this will keep me motivated to train now that we have specific goals and I'm thinking about what I want to accomplish in advance.

Songs

My friend Ann at Fox Hollow Spaniels has used songs as her dog's registered names. I think that's just cool. A few other people I know have done it too.

Since my dogs aren't that cool... I want to find a song that describes and IS each individual dog. Problem-I haven't got a clue where to start.

I'm going to be listening to a LOT of music in the coming days/weeks/months!

Suggestions?

Bailey *sigh*

Where should I start?

Bailey has been incontinent to some degree for as long as I can remember. It got better when we moved and they lived inside completely. Since last fall it has gotten worse again. The only thing that has changed is she started Thryroid meds but I can't remember when exactly her incontince got worse, or what I think is incontinence.

While I was in NY she peed on my bed. She's not supposed to be on my bed without being invited (that's another issue) but yeah... peed on my bed, through the comforter and mattress pad. *shudder* ugg!!!

Two weeks ago we ran a CBC, general health profile, took a urine sample, and rechecked her thryoid and everything came back normal/good. We decided to try Proin (an incontinence supplement). Saturday, at some point she peed on my bed again... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGG!!! This time it was a LARGE amount and got on my mattress *shudder times a million*

She's become hyper sensitive to the oven (gas) and the microwave, but everything is checking out normal. The vet thought it could possibly be diabetes insipidus because she has a really low urine specific gravity but she just consumes a lot of water, always has.

Crate while we're gone is dry. Nighttime is about 85% I'd say. But we're used to that, to some degree.

We're entertaining the thoughts of diabetes insipidus or psychogenic polydipsia (drinking water out of habit). Before we do a modified water deprivation (to see if she's concentrating her urine) we've increased her Proin dose (it's actually doubled--she was started at a low dose) and we'll see if that helps. Sunday night we had another episode so I know it's happening (at least sometimes) when she's awake. She went into my bathroom to hide when we started the oven and peed on my rug while laying down. Definitely leaking, not squatting to pee.

She's also sporting brand new truck pull ups (the person who recommended pull ups to me years ago said to get boy ones, as there's more in the front and seem to make the fit better... we never tried girl style but boys work)... heh, she looks very silly with trucks on her butt! I'll try to get a pic, if she doesn't plan to kill me in my sleep for it!

We're coping, just going back to what we used to do. Diaper on when traveling and in the house after any activity that will cause a deep slumber as that relaxes all muscles and her chance of leaking is increased. No access to my bed/room/bathroom.

I don't even know what half of the numbers on her bloodwork mean, so I'm not posting those (there's a bajillion anyways).

Will try to get a picture of said truck butt very soon... it's funny!

The Vet

Bailey was in two weeks ago for bloodwork, urinalysis, and a thyroid recheck.
She'll go in again April-ish for Bordetella and her 4DX when they're boarded Mother's Day weekend (graduation).

Buzz has an appointment for February 16th for his 'bronze' blood panel, thyroid panel (new), and to check on his eyelid (torsal gland tumors). He'll go again when Bailey does in April for Bordetella, 4DX, and Rabies.

Baby needs to have her thyroid rechecked sometime soon.

Yay for spending lots of time at the Vet! Good thing I love my vet!

I also have Bailey's numbers and a whole long post about what's been going on with her... coming right up as soon as I feed and walk the beasts!

"are they related"

Why do people automatically assume if you have two dogs that look even remotely alike, they're related? Walking the dogs in the park yesterday we came upon an XC group. One lady said "ooh, I have to pet the springers, I have two too!" Just fine and dandy, they love to get some lovin's. Then she proceeds to ask if they're mother/son. Uh, No. Do they look alike? Other than the fact they're both spaniels. Then I get to hear about her dogs being mother/son blah blah blah. I have to bite my tongue every time someone starts talking about their dogs being related. I'd say upwards of 90% of the time it's likely a BYB and that is one topic I don't like getting into because well, it's a sore spot.

Buzz and Bailey ARE related, just WAY WAY back (but before Corrin), but I pretend like that's not true because well, it's like seven/eight? generations back.

My speech: they are not related, they have not produced puppies together, they are altered. Altering your pet is the best thing to do. They are just my pets. Darn good pets too.

/end mini rant

WE GET TO TRIAL!

YAYYY! I am beyond thrilled!

March 15
Buzz-jumpers, tunnelers, weavers
Bailey-tunnelers

I may die waiting... I haven't trialed since AUGUST!

Don't mind me counting down... or being obsessive, or anything like that...