the bloodhound …

I wrote a blog recently titled “A Sunday visit” which was about a bloodhound which kept visiting on Sundays.

Today, she was sleeping on the deck when I took “Nedd” outside this morning. She is very friendly and thankfully, she and Nedd get along well.

Today, she has a BURN mark on her neck and was not wearing the collar. She also cowered when I tried to pet her head. She also has some unusual marks on her legs which could be from her trotting through brush, weeds … and fences; even barbwire fences.

I would love to contact her owners and ask if they are wanting to get rid of her. I am curious if they’ve just turned her loose at this point. I haven’t seen them make any efforts to find her. She’s gone now and I find myself worried about her and wishing I could provide her a home.

I don’t feel like I can give her a good home at this point. I also don’t even know if they are ready to give her up. I do believe they are not happy with her. She’s a very different breed than they’ve had previously and I’m not sure they’re ready for her.

I am already in love with her. I could give her a home. I’m not in a position to be taking on another dog with so much on the “burners” right now!!! I am grieving over her and praying she is okay.

I’ve already named her “LUCY”. (I’m in trouble!) After Manda passed in November, I said … “my next dog will find me”.

~Trina

Afraid of Spaying

One of my best friends is afraid to have her dog spayed.  Her dog is about 1 year old now, weight less than 10# and she keeps saying, I know I should but I’m afraid something will happen to her.  She has a huge fear of leaving her dog at the animal hospital and a fear of the surgery.

I have explained a few of the many benefits of spaying to her.  My friend is a cancer survivor herself so she seems to understand the surgery would be best for her doggy!

She is going to take a tour of the vet hospital next month, meet the doctors and consider scheduling the procedure.  I wish I could calm her fears.  There’s risk involved with any surgery so there’s not a guarantee to give her that her dog will do just fine although there’s no known or seen reason why a young dog would have a problem.

If you have any ideas for me to pass on to her, please let me know!

Gracefully Aging

Manda is my 16 year old Pomeranian. Ned is my 10 1/2 year old German Short Hair Pointer and Collie Blend. As they entered their senior years, I started trying to pay even closer attention to little things.

Nobody likes to go to the doctor including dogs. My senior citizens must have routine examinations. They are aging on an accelerated rate and should be checked by the veterinarian every six months. This will help you become aware of and treat any diseases such as diabetes, kitney failure, arthritis, dental disease and cancer. Some of these problems can be diagnosed and treated before it becomes too difficult to manage. This can extend the quality of life and the life of your pet.

During the “geriatric exam”, the veterinarian or staff will ask you about any changes. This is where paying attention to little things is very important. Since dogs can’t tell us their symptoms, we must make notes of any changes in their daily routines. A change in appetite, thirst, urination or behavior (to name a few) could be warning signs of a potential illness.

We can’t stop the aging process but we can do everything possible to help our pets live healthy, happy and as long of a life as possible.

Trina Daniels

“If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.” James Thurber

I love Bob

I don’t remember a time without The Price is Right or Bob Barker. My grandma LOVED the show and watched it faithfully. My mother LIKED the show and watched it occasionally. If I’m home, I have to admit, I’ll turn it on and watch it while exercising on my Gazelle.

It’s fun to see others WIN, others SMILE and everyone have a great time. My favorite part is when Bob Barker has a dog on that needs a home. Those trusting eyes are always from a nearby shelter. I admire Bob Barker because he uses his public platform to get his personal opinion, something he’s obviously passionate about, across to millions…..Have Your Pet SPAYED or NEUTERED.

I wish more people would speak up about the issue of unwanted, abandoned pets and the euthanasia of healthy pets. These loving creatures deserve so much more. Yet, there are people who never take responibility for their own pets and the results are unwanted pets. They don’t invest the the life of their pet to have it spayed or neutered. What’s their mindset? I don’t get it!

Okay…after hearing Bob Barker for years….How does anyone MESS UP the pronounciation of the word SPAYED?? It is not “spaded”. I just don’t get it!

Trina Daniels

“If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.” James Thurber

My dogs

I can’t remember not having a dog. One dog was always part of my life as a child. Since I’ve been an adult, I’ve never had less than two and never more than three.

I didn’t plan on having three dogs. Russ came into my life when he was 3 years old. My husband rescued him and Russ and I developed a special bond. Russ went to heaven when he was only 8 years old because of a brain tumor. It has been one year and we still miss him terribly.

So, today, we have TWO dogs. Manda, the oldest is 16 years old. Ned, the baby is now 10 1/2 years old. They are incredible companions. Ned is 55# and we rescued him when he was a puppy. Manda is 10# and is in charge.

The love from dogs makes all the work and expense worthwhile. There’s nothing like being greeted by the dogs.

I can’t imagine ever loving again but I also can’t imagine life without dogs. They add so much to my life everyday.

Trina Daniels

Ned Talks!

Well, we know Ned smiles. It is obvious as he meets and greets his human friends and family.

Ned talk too. I just wish I could understand him. He has a different tonality with different folks. When DAD comes home, it is pure joy. He is so happy talking, wagging and running. When he sees PAPA, it is a loud and long playful howl. I believe he thinks PAPA is a big toy.

Ned says a lot with his body language, his posture and the way he holds his head, ears, and the different positions he holds. He also seems to love to bark.

He celebrates ARRIVALS. If it is someone he knows, he has a playful bark. If the doorbell wakes him up, he has an angry bark. If he doesn’t know the person arriving, he has a very serious tone and cautious bark which frightens most people.

Sometimes it is a demanding bark with an urgent need to go outside or a gentle bark asking to play. Sometimes it is a sad cry of a bark as we leave him home alone. Sometimes it is a whine to say…hey…did you forget about me?

Trina Daniels

Roles Reversed

Manda is now 16 years old! She is a 10# pomeranian. She is a wonderful and demanding friend. For 15 years she was the dominant dog of the family and even let her humans know we are privileged to be in her life. After her buddy and pal, Russ died (her 70# greyhound brother), her health and attitude began declining. Today, she is on medication for her heart and her attitude is better. I’m sure she still misses him.

The strangest thing for me to observe has been her letting go of her dominant position. She no longer insists on laying in the highest possible place in the house. Maybe it is because she isn’t as agile as she once was. She no longer holds her ears and tail UP all the time. Her eyesight & hearing is failing so she doesn’t have that confident gaze.

I had to start feeding the dogs in separate rooms or in travel kennels because Manda decided she would walk away from her food. She had never done that before but now, Ned can look at her and she’ll walk away.

Ned still begs Manda to play with him. He approaches her with his tail up, front legs on the ground and barks playfully. Most of the time she turns him down. Occasionally, she’ll grab his toy and run.

Trina Daniels

First Aid Kit for Dogs

Canine First-Aid Kit

Being prepared in case of emergency can save your dog’s life.

Add the appropriate items to your (HUMAN) first-aid kit to serve both human and dog members of your family.

• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Needlenose pliers
• Penlight flashlight
• Lighted magnifying glass
• Examination gloves
• Rectal thermometer and lubricant
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (70%)
• Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
• Antibiotic ointment (neomycin, polymixin, bacitracin)
• Assorted sizes of sterile nonstick pads, gauze squares and cotton balls
• Roller gauze (self-adhering), cotton roll and elastic bandage
• Adhesive tape
• Cardboard or wood for splints
• Eyedropper
• Syrup of ipecac (Only given with instructions by vet or poison control center)
• Eye wash
• Styptic pencil for cut vein in nail
• Ice pack
• Large blanket
• Elizabethan collar (available for sale at many vet offices or clinics)

Again, this list is not exhaustive but definately would be helpful in an emergency.

Trina Daniels

Hazardous PLANTS

The following is a partial list of PLANTS that can be tempting and hazardous to your dog.

This list is not EXHAUSTIVE but is a good start for dog proofing your environment.

algae
almonds
apricots
asparagus fern
autumn crocus
azalea
blackberry
black-eyed Susan
buckeye
cactus (spines)
calla lily
castor beans
cherry
clematis
corn plant
cornstalk plant
daffodil
Easter lily
elder- berry
English holly
ecalyptus
hemlock
holly berries
hyacinth
ivy
jasmine
lily of the valley
mistletoe
morning glory
nutmeg
onion
peace lily
peach
poinsettia
poison hemlock
poison ivy
poison oak
potato
primrose
rhubarb
skunk cabbage
spider plant
spring bulbs
tiger lily
tobacco
tomato plant
tulip
wild black cherry
wisteria
yellow jasmine

Trina Daniels

Hazardous to Dog’s Health

Some things that won’t hurt us will harm our dog. Did you know ONIONS are harmful?

Remember that if your dog COMES IN CONTACT with something, it can be harmful or deadly. If your dog lays in something, sits in something or WALKS through something, it can be ingested. You must watch carefully to dog proof your surroundings to keep your dog safe. It’s not only the things your dog can swallow.

Some SIGNS of POISONING:

Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Rapid or slow heartbeat
Drowsiness
Drooling
Bleeding from nose, mouth or anus

Some KNOWN TOXIC PRODUCTS:
• acetaminophen
• ant/bug traps and baits
• anti-flea treatments
• antifreeze
• antihistamines
• anti-rust agents
• arsenic
• bath oil
• battery acid
• bleach
• boric acid
• brake fluid
• carburetor cleaner
• chocolate (especially dark or bitter types)
• cleaning products
• crayons and pastels
• dandruff shampoo
• de-icers (to melt snow)
• deodorants
• deodorizers
• detergents
• diet pills
• disinfectants
• drain cleaner and opener
• dry-cleaning fluid
• fertilizer
• fire-extinguisher foam
• furniture polish
• gasoline and motor oil
• glue and paste
• hair coloring
• herbicides
• insect and moth repellents
• insecticides/pesticides
• kerosene
• lighter fluid
• liniments
• matches
• metal polish
• mothballs and repellents
• nail polish and remover
• onions
• paint
• paint remover and thinner
• perfume
• permanent-wave lotion
• photographic developers
• plaster and putty
• rat/rodent poisons
• road salt
• rubbing alcohol
• rust remover
• shoe dye and polish
• snail or slug bait
• soap and shampoo
• stain removers
• swimming pool products
• suntan lotion with cocoa butter
• toilet bowl cleaners
• weed killers
• windshield-washer fluid
• wood preservatives

These lists are NOT EXHAUSTIVE of everything but is a good start on DOG PROOFING your surroundings.

Trina Daniels