A day in the life...

Time has gone by way too quickly.
It feels as though just yesterday I was making my way north to pick up my furry little....yes little, puppy Bailey.




Two years....two years old. He is a Big Dog now....still, such a puppy spirit. While it may seem crazy to some...we did take the time to acknowledge his special day. Lots of pampering and hugs throughout the day. An adventure out and about.




Play...play and a little more play!
Pup muffin recipe:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Augstine/Rocky-Bailey/278744685697?ref=ts




What would a Birthday celebration be without a cake...or in bailey's case...Pup Muffins. Made with baby food (beef, thank you very much) stuffed with a Bi Jac treat. Paw lickin good!




Oh and Birthday hats...all birthday dogs should be made to wear one...oh and of course their friends as well...what good sports they are for they left them on while I was baking the pup muffins.




All in all....a great day. An adventure, play, presents...pup muffins and all the hugs he could handle...oh, yep...a couple of presents as well.
All four dogs are sound a sleep, no doubt dreaming of play, presents and pup muffins.

Fun was had by all!

Happy Birthday Bailey ;-)

Birthday Dog...

Probably thinking we have been away....some fun little get away where the pack and I were having a ton of fun...
When in reality for a little over two weeks we have been home...Bailey and I literally tethered to one another due to a hotspot. Oh yeah, tethered. Now think about being tethered to an 80 lb dog....personal needs such as bathroom visits...not sure about you...but I sort of like my privacy for certain such things. My showers were very interesting for I would attach him to a long line....run it over the glass door so that at any sign of even an attempt at scratching I could get him to stop.

For those that do not know what a hotspot is....it is a moist weeping, oozing sore that can develop due to bug bites, allergy, scratching, biting.
I have a good many years experience with our canine friends and have had wonderful teachers...all of which by the way have been Goldens. They get their fair share of hotspots.

I am happy to say a couple never experienced a hotspot not a one during their time with me. Though I think back to one....Phoenix who had severe allergies. Daily examinations...hands on feeling the muzzle, neck area....the body....any lumps, bumps, sores, scabs. All that fur, well it is not just with one's eyes that we depend on for a good examination of a dog. Touch is as equally important.
He had a few beauts in his lifetime.

Home remedies do work if caught early for the majority of hotspots....though, there have been those occasions....although rare where I would say Wow....the regular remedies just did not work for that hotspot. The size, look would determine treatment...experience teaches you what to do. Very rarely did they require me to seek medical treatment.



There are so many home remedies...and yes,I have my favorites. Line up twenty dog savvy people and ask about Home Remedies for Hotspots and the list will be long....and they will swear by each treatment.
The size, look, location and how rapidly they grow is how I determine treatment. If a dry area....bonds medicated powder can help... I personally keep on hand neo predef if a little more power is required. I have made up ointments, used freshly gotten Aloe gel. I have used tea bags for some...tannic acid that helps to dry the area up. A week to two week is the usual duration of most hotspots with drying and clearing up after a couple of days, that is if you can control any further trauma from occurring.

Poor Bailey...back in early June he had his first Hotspot. We had been attacked by yellow flies, he and I seemed to have a serious reaction to it. The yellow fly season is May and June meaning they are in abundance during this time. All other times when it is cloudy, overcast....or at dusk You will often see them around....though they usually do not bother us.

Imagine my surprise when I woke one Saturday morning to a bloody scene. Having gone to bed very early in the morning...leaving Baily sleeping soundly in the living room...peaceful sleep. Three hours later he had made chop meat out of his neck by scratching himself. He was irritable...not wanting the area touched.



I cleaned the area off to get a good look...I mean bloody, oozing spot. Pressed a dry soft cloth on the area and applied pressure. Rule of thumb....hotspots and area surrounding should be shaved clean...I Disinfected a clipper blade and shaved the entire area, then cleaned and dried....cut some aloe to get the gel...applied. I then gave him an allergy pill.


Day Five

A happy hat (Elizabethan collar or soft collar roll) could not be used due to the wounds location....neck. As the day progressed....this area got bigger, and bigger. The itch was driving him mad....and yes....me crazy for I was now fighting to prevent him from scratching himself. Put a sock on his rear foot and he was then driven to chew it off while attempting to scratch....distracting him with peanut butter bones....walks....nothing worked...he had to scratch...he looked obsessed. Just one swipe of his paw and he would be a be a bloody mess again. I dremeled his rear nails, just to make sure they were as smooth as could be...I wrapped the neck area with a light weight towel to prevent further damage...which just seemed to drive him into further obsession of scratching. Nothing I did soothed the itch, eased the pain...even those over the counter ointments that claim such things. All the while the area was getting bigger...


One last cleaning before heading to the local emergency clinic. I now had an extra pair of hands to help with restraining. The hotspot had gotten bigger still and more fur had to be shaved away from the area. He was in a good amount of discomfort so it was decided it best to sedate him. I was right at his side....the local vet and I worked side by side....and I was grateful to have been allowed to assist.

Sometimes...even if on rare occasions traditional medicine is required, and this was one of those times.
A little over two weeks later and I would say he continues to heal very nicely. The area continued to get bigger days later after treatment....though at a much slower pace. Oh....and we were really tethered to one another for that was really the only way to prevent him from causing further trauma to the area. The area which at it's largest size was his neck and face area, ranging up and behind his ear flap and with spots running down his chest area.

The cause....I really have no way of knowing for sure....but my guess is a yellow fly bite. I too was bitten that Saturday when we were out side and I was cleaning his wound area. One landed on my right leg and and took a bite. I thought I would be fine for I immediately took a benadryl as instructed by my doctor. As time progressed the itch was unbelievable. My leg doubled in size, the next day...leg a little bigger...while the bite was about an inch under my knee now my foot swelled up. i would look at my leg, then Bailey's wound and shake my head.

I read that during a season, though this allergy I am told is considered rare with each bite during a season the allergy reaction will worsens. So it seems for Bailey and I.

While I guess all living beings have a purpose there are a few bugs that i just do not get..other then annoyance...and the risk of illness...I cannot think of any purpose the yellow fly has...can you?

Hot Spot...

Sometimes life's little accidents are a blessing. Much to my...and the dogs surprise...the timer on the sprinkler system was changed over the weekend. Therefore upon awakening this morning we found them on in the backyard. While I no doubt the Goldens would have very much enjoyed a romp in the sprinkler system first thing this morning...they were leashed for a morning walk...which, by the way...they really enjoyed as well...as did I.

Many of us often forget that we must make the time, on a daily basis to spend time with our family...both two and four legged. I know...so easy to come up with an excuse...worked late, tired....have things to do. yeah....I have heard them all...as have I on occasion come up with a few of my own.

Life lesson...The life of our canine friends goes by in an instant....from puppies, adult to senior. Making the time is pretty darn easy...get up early and take your dog for a walk...or maybe, the entire family can go for an evening stroll...go ahead, you will all enjoy it!

Making time...

The other day during the cooler part of the day found me sitting in the shady part of the yard. After some fetch, some fun with the hose the dogs were off doing their thing. Golden's were busy rolling in the grass, the two females were closer to the fence...keeping an eye on things. Me....I was relaxing and watching. Wondering what the dogs were seeing....wishing for just a moment I could see through a dogs eyes....

Several birds could be seen walking around the lake...my two females have boundary's....if the birds get to close and they have not been around before...they must be chased away.
One bird can be seen on the fountain in the lake. S/he can be found almost on a daily basis, same time doing exactly the same thing....taking a shower...a rather long one at that. Then a few swims around the lake...always to the same spot where the wings are spread out...motionless...sunning and drying all those feathers.

The squirrels were busy in the trees behind the fence squawking away. I had the feeling they were directing their protests in our direction as there was fresh bird feed in the feeders. Time for an afternoon snack.

I noticed Gemma taking it all in....front paws crossed....ready to relax, but yet ready for some excitement. I could not help but smile as I watched her....we humans just cannot see the pleasure in chasing squirrels...but after all, it is her job and she is very good at it. One very daring squirrel made to the top of the wood fence and took a few steps before Gemma, then Niki were off and running. Poor squirrel....will just have to be patient to get a few bites to eat....not when the females are on duty!

Gemma knows all to well that if she spies the UPS truck, Garbage truck, when she barks, growls....she chases them away. This she has learned over the years...so very rewarding to be that good at something.
For some reason she takes some time off when the lawn maintenance crew is here...the lawn is cut on a weekly basis and she remains quiet...just ignoring their presence. Early on she did her best to chase them...I would have to say she really gave it her all. Barking through the glass only to have them wave over at her....I mean really...how disrespectful.
So...she now she just ignores them.

The neighbors....well she Never allows them on her property. She will take a stance at the fence, lean forward and bark...by doing this she can keep them across the street. She has fine tuned and honed this skill. Yes, through a dogs eyes the world is so very different.

Through a dogs eye's...

I know....the above video is just shocking....
On the second day of summer the temperature and humidity rise and these poor dogs....wow I have tears in my eyes....these poor dogs are being forced to cool down by running through the water hose....then sadly....I just cannot believe I have witnessed such a thing....they then can be seen rolling in the wet grass to lower their body temperature.

With your help....We CAN change that. By sending in a Small donation money can be raised to help these dogs get a pool. Never again will they have to roll in the wet grass to cool down....the next time they roll in the grass I hope....really hope that it will be to dry themselves off.
Hard to believe....in this day and age that there are still people who force their dogs to live this way.
Please, Please help them....skip your daily run to Starbucks....I mean really....look at those faces....they are counting on you!

Urgent....Your help is needed....