His next session is next Tuesday, September 29, 2009 so stay tuned as he gets used to what he needs to do in the water tank and builds his strength in his legs!!!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Update on Abby....
We've gotten a second opinion with another vet whose focus is on skin issues... So many things have been ruled out already - mites, Demodex, Sarcoptic mange, fleas, bacteria, etc. so now we're going to even more rarer causes of hair loss... Abby is getting a bath twice a week now with medicated shampoo in the event it is some kind of fungal thing going on, plus twice a day there are medicated wipes we are using on her... We're running out of reasons for this hair loss that can explain it all medically, but some long-term tests were done and we'll see if any valid results come back... But in the meantime, this is preventative measures more than a known and validated form of treatment...
Abby has been spayed and that didn't set this back any, so it shouldn't be an auto-immune thing... In fact, her hair is starting to grow back in now and she's got peach fuzz across the crown of her brow...
Abby would do best with someone who wants to baby her and have her as only a solo dog... She prefers the company of either humans or older dogs that don't like to play and/or are high energy... I'm sure that bald head hurts without a coat of fur covering it, so I suspect this is why she doesn't care for other puppies or young dogs that like to play... Abby is TINY and from the looks of things, Abby will stay very TINY... An adoptive home with small children is just not a good option for her but otherwise, she should do fine!
Abby has been spayed and that didn't set this back any, so it shouldn't be an auto-immune thing... In fact, her hair is starting to grow back in now and she's got peach fuzz across the crown of her brow...
Abby would do best with someone who wants to baby her and have her as only a solo dog... She prefers the company of either humans or older dogs that don't like to play and/or are high energy... I'm sure that bald head hurts without a coat of fur covering it, so I suspect this is why she doesn't care for other puppies or young dogs that like to play... Abby is TINY and from the looks of things, Abby will stay very TINY... An adoptive home with small children is just not a good option for her but otherwise, she should do fine!
Time out for Reggie...
Time out for Reggie means he's been TOO energetic for too long and we use the crate as a training tool... He's such a HIGH energy dog that you have to have something to lower that energy level - otherwise he'll play ALL day long and night, wearing you (and everyone else) out!... ;)
He's accepted the crate now for sleeping at night, but he'll still 'back-talk' to me if it is a time-out during the day... With time and consistency, everyone learns the rules around here... I've broken him of the 'wet willie' behavior he had when he came here (THANK GOD~!!!), but he'll still prefer to climb up onto your shoulders whenever possible... His previous owner must have been OK with this and used him as a pillow (??) when watching TV and sitting down, but I keep working on this behavior or else I spend the time with my chin on my chest and straining to see the TV!
Reggie is highly motivated with food and rewards, and with his energy level, he'd make a great agility dog... I know you seldom see Chihuahuas competing in this sport, but I do believe he has the potential to be great at it... He's fast too, so if I were a jogger, I'm sure he'd enjoy this as well...
Reggie will never be a couch potato --- at least not for years --- so he'd make a great companion for someone who is frequently on the go and active.
He's accepted the crate now for sleeping at night, but he'll still 'back-talk' to me if it is a time-out during the day... With time and consistency, everyone learns the rules around here... I've broken him of the 'wet willie' behavior he had when he came here (THANK GOD~!!!), but he'll still prefer to climb up onto your shoulders whenever possible... His previous owner must have been OK with this and used him as a pillow (??) when watching TV and sitting down, but I keep working on this behavior or else I spend the time with my chin on my chest and straining to see the TV!
Reggie is highly motivated with food and rewards, and with his energy level, he'd make a great agility dog... I know you seldom see Chihuahuas competing in this sport, but I do believe he has the potential to be great at it... He's fast too, so if I were a jogger, I'm sure he'd enjoy this as well...
Reggie will never be a couch potato --- at least not for years --- so he'd make a great companion for someone who is frequently on the go and active.
More progress for Scooby!
Scooby is now waiting each night to go to bed with us... He prefers to sleep in a doggie bed on the floor unless he sees an opportunity to climb into bed once my husband is asleep...
And he's also learned it is OK to play 'touch foster football' on the bed later as well... I do a play bow, he follows suit... I can't always touch him immediately, but he will come and kiss my hands once I've initiated the playing...
At night? Scooby is now coming up onto the couch and while he won't sit in my lap, he'll crawl across it to a cushy pillow that sits on the side of the couch... For a dog that had given up on humans, Scooby has made AMAZING progress!
And he's also learned it is OK to play 'touch foster football' on the bed later as well... I do a play bow, he follows suit... I can't always touch him immediately, but he will come and kiss my hands once I've initiated the playing...
At night? Scooby is now coming up onto the couch and while he won't sit in my lap, he'll crawl across it to a cushy pillow that sits on the side of the couch... For a dog that had given up on humans, Scooby has made AMAZING progress!
Ginger - "Just what kind of dog is she???"
At adoptions, we frequently get asked what kind of dog Ginger is because most folks are not familiar with the Longhaired version of the Chihuahua... And she's a bit bigger in weight than a Chi, so it probably is a natural question to ask... Some take her for a Papillion.... Others for a Pom/Chi mix... And truthfully, who really knows when it is a shelter dog... Bottom line is the personality and behaviors to me and not the appearances of any dog... If they're friendly (toward humans and other dogs), learn how to go potty outside quickly and use the doggie door, I'm a happy camper... While Ginger didn't initially care for the weekly baths in the sink, she's learned it is a 'necessary evil' around here... ...
Ginger is fully ready to go now... Her bum has healed up nicely, she's now housetrained, micro-chipped, up-to-date on her shots (including rabies) and licensed for the County of Ventura... Ginger would make a great therapy dog for someone so inclined to do so... She will bark at everyone initially, but wagging her tail, she'll gladly accept pats on the head...
Ginger will start out sleeping at the side of my bed on a doggie bed, but once we're asleep, she'll sneak up the doggie steps and climb into bed with us!... While she's not an UC (undercover) Chi because of the great coat she has, Ginger definitely enjoys the finer things of life (sunbathing in the mornings, curled up on a cushy pillow or doggie bed in the afternoon and sitting on the couch at night watching TV with someone around here)... I swear - when I come back again, I want to come back as one of my own dogs or fosters!
Ginger is fully ready to go now... Her bum has healed up nicely, she's now housetrained, micro-chipped, up-to-date on her shots (including rabies) and licensed for the County of Ventura... Ginger would make a great therapy dog for someone so inclined to do so... She will bark at everyone initially, but wagging her tail, she'll gladly accept pats on the head...
Ginger will start out sleeping at the side of my bed on a doggie bed, but once we're asleep, she'll sneak up the doggie steps and climb into bed with us!... While she's not an UC (undercover) Chi because of the great coat she has, Ginger definitely enjoys the finer things of life (sunbathing in the mornings, curled up on a cushy pillow or doggie bed in the afternoon and sitting on the couch at night watching TV with someone around here)... I swear - when I come back again, I want to come back as one of my own dogs or fosters!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Cody - Am I getting overtime here or what??!
Cody and I have been putting in some long hours to make up for all the time we missed here at work during the first 2 weeks of his medical treatment, so Friday he was demanding overtime pay! I think he FULLY deserves it as he is the best assistant I could ever ask for...We talked it over and reached an agreement after a long heart-to-heart discussion - he would take a nap until I was done working and I promised him some special surprise treats as soon as we got home. He reluctantly accepted my offer and I covered his little eyes for his nap...
After I covered his little eyes, he took a nap until I rudely woke him up when it was time to leave. Mr. Cody had a YUMMY hot dog later on. He had never had one of those before so it was REALLY special!!! We had a wonderful weekend and Cody is now preparing for his 1st hydrotherapy session this Thursday morning. I will be video taping his session and putting the video up here on his blog for all to see, so keep posted!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Update on Charleyboy...
Well, the shelter told us Charleyboy was "6 to 8 years old"... And the vet he saw yesterday said Charleyboy was "10 to 12 years old" so we're going to strike a happy medium and list him as 10 years...
Charleyboy had a nasty cracked molar in the back which is why he was having trouble eating... He had a dental done at the vets today and it was extracted, so his teeth are now all pretty, clean and white!!!... And no more tooth pain either!
As for Charleyboy's optical issues, he has cataracts in both eyes and has had them for quite some time according to the vet - surgery is not an option - maybe years ago when they began, but not now... I questioned exactly how much Charleyboy can see because I know he can, and I was told it is like looking through a shower door... He's already picked up weight and his coat is becoming shinier, so I know the good diet is doing its magic... Shame Charleyboy did not have a more caring and diligent owner previously, but that's OK... There is a furever home out there for Charleyboy, especially as sweet and loving as he is...
Charleyboy would make a great lap dog for someone who is not interested in jogging a mile every day... He'll walk on a leash once he gets to know you, and I only have to say Charleyboy's name and he now wags his tail at me... He follows me around the house and at night, loves to sit and fall asleep on my husband's lap... He would make a great match for a senior with a more sedate lifestyle that simply wants a loving companion that is not high maintenance...
I've never heard him bark and although he's not a 'kissy face' Chihuahua, he certainly is a loving and sweet one... He does know the doggie door already and is house trained... Now that we have his mouth straightened out, we also ran blood panels and know he is not diabetic (a common cause of cataracts)... In fact, he's in very good shape for his age according to the vet...
It was not Charleyboy's day to die in the shelter and we're very glad to have saved him from that fate for some very lucky furever home!
Charleyboy had a nasty cracked molar in the back which is why he was having trouble eating... He had a dental done at the vets today and it was extracted, so his teeth are now all pretty, clean and white!!!... And no more tooth pain either!
As for Charleyboy's optical issues, he has cataracts in both eyes and has had them for quite some time according to the vet - surgery is not an option - maybe years ago when they began, but not now... I questioned exactly how much Charleyboy can see because I know he can, and I was told it is like looking through a shower door... He's already picked up weight and his coat is becoming shinier, so I know the good diet is doing its magic... Shame Charleyboy did not have a more caring and diligent owner previously, but that's OK... There is a furever home out there for Charleyboy, especially as sweet and loving as he is...
Charleyboy would make a great lap dog for someone who is not interested in jogging a mile every day... He'll walk on a leash once he gets to know you, and I only have to say Charleyboy's name and he now wags his tail at me... He follows me around the house and at night, loves to sit and fall asleep on my husband's lap... He would make a great match for a senior with a more sedate lifestyle that simply wants a loving companion that is not high maintenance...
I've never heard him bark and although he's not a 'kissy face' Chihuahua, he certainly is a loving and sweet one... He does know the doggie door already and is house trained... Now that we have his mouth straightened out, we also ran blood panels and know he is not diabetic (a common cause of cataracts)... In fact, he's in very good shape for his age according to the vet...
It was not Charleyboy's day to die in the shelter and we're very glad to have saved him from that fate for some very lucky furever home!
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