Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The Flattie is a Year Old

Kickemuit's Sakonnet Surge "Sabrina" is now a year old.


She was one of ten born on May 22, 2006. And she is now one of our family of 5 furkids. She is our long-legged "moose on the loose" who has a sweet disposition and a challenging impish personality. She is lucky is she absolutely adorable or we would be having a hard time getting through the naughty moments!
Tonight we celebrated with a cup of Frosty Paws for each mutt. Happy First Birthday Flattie Girl!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Rain or Sun?

I'm a native of sunny San Diego so there's nothing I look forward to more than the longer sunny days that stretch into summery nights. Unfortunately, I own two dogs that thrive in very different temperatures!
Through the cold wintery season, my Bernerboy thrives in the frigid, bone chilling temperatures. He typically prefers to have his meals outside on the deck; with a nice bed of fluffy snow to eat on and to act as a dinner condiment. He cleans his coat in the snow, he washes his face in the snow, and he eats the snow. As much as Sabrina does love to frolic in the snow with her big brother, it doesn't take long before she gets the shivers. Her skinny little body and thin coat (thus the "flat coat") does nothing to protect her during the cold winter months.
Recently, however, the rains have brought great big ponds where there weren't before. This morning's walk was a special treat. The break in temperatures gave Riley a repreave from the 70-80+ temps we had last week. He happily cruised around the park as Sabrina headed to the pond for a morning swim. She is just now beginning to go swimming just for the sake of swimming, not to retrieve and object I have thrown. It's very cute.
As I look forward to feeling the warm sun on my face I secretly deep down still want the rains to come so that Sabrina can still have plenty of clean swimming holes to play in and Riley can still enjoy a few more weeks of outdoor play while he sheds his winter coat.
Who knows what the weather will have in store for us next week?!

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

The Truth of Heartworm

As we enter into flea, tick, and mosquito season I have the very same worries as every other dog owner out there. I don't want my dogs to get sick from some parasite carrying disease. As many of my readers know, I do not believe in giving my dogs any sort of pesticide. We should not have any sort of chemical as strong as pesticides anywhere near our living, breathing family members. I don't want my furkids to eat it, wear it, lick it, or smell it. Does this mean that my dogs live in danger? I don't believe so. I believe the harm that pesticides make is certainly more dangerous than the chance of my dogs contracting heartworm, rocky mountain fever, Lyme's or any other parasite disease. Here's a great article to read about how difficult it is for your dog to actually get heartworm. Let's think logically. Let's make information driven decisions, not fear driven. Let's think about how many times you've been bitten by a mosquito. I can think of hundreds and hundreds of mosquito bites I have endured throughout my lifetime. I am 31 and still heartworm free. I have never been tested. I have never taken any pesticide preventative. I have never gotten heartworm. Why do we think this is such a threat to our dogs?

Heartworm Article

In previous years, I have ordered blood tests for my dogs twice a year to ensure they are heartworm free. This year, I plan to reduce that to just once a year. My Kind Vet and Holistic Vet BOTH ensure me that if we catch heartworm with the blood test, heartworm is very treatable. My dogs are not going to die. They may be sick but they can be treated and will recover. And that is IF they contract heartworm. Do I really want to give my dogs a pesticide orally every month of their life for nothing? Definitely doesn't seem worth it to me. I cannot imagine putting a pesticide into my body that is strong enough to work for an entire month (and 3 months retroactively) every day of my life. And we wonder why our pets are dying of cancer?

I know I'm sounding a bit preachy and getting up on a soapbox but one of the goals of this blog is to slowly help my readers make sound, educated decisions for the health of their beloved pets. Riley is my teacher and I owe it to him to tell everyone about the lessons I have learned from him. I'm not saying my method is what you should do, nor what everyone should do. I just want you to think about why you make the decisions you do for your pet and if it is truely right for you.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Where Oh Where Have We Been?

This has been the longest break I've ever taken from the blog. It seems these past few weeks have found me quite busy at work, quite tired upon coming home, and quite uninspired on blog topics. Here are the most recent updates:

Riley has returned to work at McLean Hospital with his sidekick, Mandy, in tow. (Sabrina is not happy to wait in the car while Riley gets to meet all these people and get back scratches.)

Sabrina has finished her Graduate Puppy Obedience class and we are so proud! Perhaps we'll dabble in some agility?

We have decided to find a new home for our Ming-a-Ling. We have until the end of this year to find her a new forever home who will love her, play with her, and not have another cat to compete with her. Anyone looking for a beautiful and athletic, 3 year old cat who LOVES playing with dogs?

A good friend of ours is getting a new puppy this week. A new playmate! Can't wait to meet him.

The Berner Club is having their Spring Fun Day next Sunday. We're going to have a blast!

Sabrina is going to have her first birthday soon. You think she'll start to smarten up?

Our BFF Jaxx is still on the mend from a paw injury. Get well soon Jaxxy!

And, tick season is upon us. Urgh.