Posts tagged ‘WhiteDogs’
HOT DOGS!
Please remember that this is the time of year that dogs get heat stroke. Do not leave him in the car-even for a minute-even with the window open. If the heat doesn’t kill him, it can cause brain damage.
Where I live, the car seat can brand your bottom with the stitching pattern and you can get burned from your steering wheel. If you can’t take the dog in with you then leave him at home.
Be aware that breeds with flat faces, those who are ill and dogs with long fur are especially at risk. (And any dog can burn the pads of his feet on hot sidewalks or in parking lots.)
I am having my annual internal debate of whether or not to cut my dogs hair for summer. Many people are opposed to ever cutting a Coton’s hair. I have heard the argument that the fur is insulating and will never grow back the same.
But common sense tells me that wearing a fur coat when the heat index is 105 and the humidity is high is dangerous. I get hot just thinking about it. 
Here are some of the symptoms of heat stroke in dogs:
Rapid, shallow panting
Red tongue
Confusion
Rapid heart rate
Vomiting or diarrhea
Hose the dog off, throw him in the car and call the vet on the way. It is always an emergency. You cannot give your dog oxygen, I.V’s or monitor him at home.
It’s much better to have hawt dogs than hot dogs!
NEW DOG FOOD RECIPE
I like to make my own dog food. I think it is healthier (for them) and more economical (for me).
PROTEIN-40%
Chicken thighs
Lean roast beef-little bit of leftovers
P-Nut Butter
VEGETABLES-30%
Carrots
Green beans
Fresh Spinach
Parsley-(helps Little-Bits tummy)
Mint-”
STARCH-30%
Yams-(no sugar or salt)
White rice-(had to add because it was so gooey)
TO MAKE-
Cook chicken in olive oil.
Cut into small pieces.
Cook vegetables in chicken stock. Drain.
Mix chicken and vegetables with yams and p-nut butter.
Cook rice with stock and saved vegetable water from fridge.
Mix everything together and cool in the fridge.
Put in snack sized Zip-Locks and freeze.
Made about a week’s worth. And the boneless, skinless chicken thighs were only $1.00 a pound. Yea!
GOALS-
My goal for next batch is to try the brown or wild rice again and see if it still affects Little-Bits tummy.
I also want to try tomato to see if we have any allergies. Since I cook with tomatoes so much, it would be easier and I think they are very healthy. There is a bit of debate about this for dogs, though, so I am not so sure.
I also want to see if I can find a better freezer process, although the snack sized bag is perfect for one dog for one day with a little fresh food mixed in. Also, and this is no small matter, the bags stack perfectly in the freezer drawer of my fridge.
CHAIR SALE
Hmmmmm…
This was the pair I went to see.
Don’t laugh! This was the most comfortable. Swiveled and rocked!
Better in the photo than in person. Did not look antique but good colors.
Guy chair. And a little Goth. ‘Nuff said.
This hide was very subtle and the piping gave it a crisp look. I think a pair of these would look great in a modern setting though I might paint the legs a glossy black.
The velvet pillow with Milagros was $190.00! Yikes!
Liked the look but uncomfortable and shop worn. (The dogs would have fun with the fringe.)
Himself was having none of it. He looked around in abject horror (That took about 30 seconds.), told me what he thought about their half-price sale and parked himself on a comfy couch. He was done. Frankly, I didn’t think he’d last that long!
Bebe and Little-Bit’s favorite chair and mine too! (Note the protective quilt covering.) I just had to get the puppies into this post. They have chair opinions, too! Little-Bit is actually a renown expert in this area.
HIDE AND SEEK
Bebe
Southern women do not appreciate “critters” in their gardens.
She really thinks that I cannot see her. (telephoto lens)
COTON DE TULEAR?
Everyone is talking about the WordPress site, Awkward Family Photos.
But all I could think of about this photo was, “What kind of dog is that?” What do you think?
BTW, the dog is the most interesting thing in this picture.
DOG GONE BAD VET
I chose our veterinary clinic because it was AAHA certified. I wasn’t impressed with the facilities but the owner/vet seemed competent enough and he was supposed to be available at all times for emergencies. Not only was he not available when we needed him this weekend (See UPDATE), he NEVER RETURNED OUR CALL!
I don’t think that there is anything left to say. He promised a standard of care that was not there. I will not take that risk again. He’s history.
ADDENDUM- I think Little-Bit is O.K., but I will be following up with our new vet.
ADDENDUM AGAIN- The vet and his staff called me numerous times on Monday and Tuesday. Awkward. The excuse given was that the answering service had taken down my number incorrectly. Don’t most answering services have caller ID? I am not changing my mind. Choosing a new vet is never easy, though…
HAPPY ENDING-Well, the answering service sent a transcript of their recording and they had written my number incorrectly as well as my name. I also received an written apology from the operator who had made the error. So I have rescheduled Black Cat’s check-up for this week and we will continue with this practice. Let you know how that goes.
WELL, NOT SO MUCH- Black Cat got carsick in every possible way on the short drive over and then almost escaped. They made me sign something agreeing to pay $25.00 if I cancel an appointment. Then we spent over $300 for a yearly checkup for a healthy cat. We were there almost two hours but part of that was B.C.’s fault as they had to clean her up. I’m sure, if I look closely at my itemized bill, that I was charged for that.
Himself met the vet and didn’t like him either. We really can’t put our finger on why that is. Something about his demeanor.
I don’t see this relationship working out long term, do you?
BRAVE BEBE
I always say that Cotons de Tulears are not great guard dogs but they make wonderful watchdogs. Bebe has proved me wrong.
This is especially amazing when you consider her history. Before she came to us she was not treated well and, unlike most Cotons, is not social. She is afraid of men. She is a one-woman dog.
I was going to my garage (unlocked and not attached to the house) through my back garden (locked gates). It was the middle of the day. The dogs were behind me but are not allowed in the garage as Little-Bit always feels compelled to baptize the floor. Usually they just sit outside the door and wait for me.
Not this day! Bebe climbed over Little-Bit and scratched my sandaled feet in her haste to attack a closed door that leads to a small room in the corner of the garage. She was jumping as high as the doorknob and literally throwing herself at the door. She went what I call “Coton Crazy” and not in a good way. She sounded like a garage full of junk yard dogs.
I thought there might be a rat in the little room and beat a hasty retreat. Bebe would not come away from the door and I had to drag her out of the garage. Even then, she stayed between me and the garage- walking backwards, barking and growling until we were safely back in the house.
I made a mental note to call the exterminator and paid scant attention to the little dog who stationed herself by the back door. She was pacing and hyper-vigilant.
An hour or so later, the animals and I went out to do our “business” (my business was deadheading my roses) and I noticed that things were awry on the deck. Someone had been in the back yard. I think that someone was also in my garage.
The policeman told me that I should have listened to my dog. I agree.
I thought about putting a sign in my back window that says, “BEWARE OF BOA CONSTRICTOR”. That would stop me if I were a burglar. But perhaps my sign should say, “BEWARE OF BEBE”.
My 15 pound, white, not-so-young fluffball is all heart. She is also my hero.
ADDENDUM- I will be locking all my doors all the time from now on. And I will listen to my dog.
MOTHER’S DAY LILIES
and more to come!
By the way, this yellow pollen does NOT come out of your clothes or tablecloths. So if you are cutting your lilies, turn them upside down over the garbage can and remove the stamens. I used to “field dress” my lilies but now the dogs investigate and it does not wash out of fur, either.
