Sunday, March 29, 2009

Rowe-Quinn To The Emergency Vet!!

Anal gland abcess! What the heck is that? No really, I've known about the condition, just never with my dogs! Heck, I just trimmed hind quarter hair last week. I didn't notice his butt licking, which, he'd never really done very much before this. I mean, yea, okay, I noticed once or twice that's why I trimmed him. I thought he had matts so this is why I gave him a trim. He hadn't been particularly sensitive in that area then. Well, that wasn't it.


Friday evening, he was yipping, screaming while outside trying to do his business! He couldn't go!!! So, I tried a warm water and epson salt compress. The gland was so taut and hot to the touch. There was no way he was going to let me try to express it.


So, I checked the funds on my debit card, called to get a quick estimate from the emergency vet clinic, got $100 more from my boyfriend and off we went. Poor Quinn, he thought we were off on a great adventure.


The people at the clinic were quite wonderful. The vet was very sensitive and informative. I also found out that Rowe-Quinn weighs 83 lbs! I think he needs to cut back a little on the dog food, increase his fiber, and exercise more. I've been a little slack with his (and the other's) daily walk.


So, back at the clinic. I had two options; one was he could be anestisized and the lancing, and flushing could take place while he was under. Or, he could be given a pain killer and kept awake. Yes, cost was a factor and so I opted for the pain killer. I really didn't want to leave him there over night. He's my baby and he knows it. OMG, he was crying out like a little terrier puppy! I kept telling myself that, "no way was that Quinny". He's an 80 lb dog for crissakes. Well, then the crying stopped, the vet came out and all would be well. I signed the papers, got his pain meds and antibiotics and at 12:30 am we headed home. He was in pain and tired and I was just tired.


It's Sunday as I write this. He's not eating very much so I blended in some meat juice and green beans with his regular dog food. He has to eat. The incision seems to be healing alright. There's no swelling and the redness has all but disappeared. I believe we are recovering. Rowe and me both.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

My Shy Boy Rascal

Rascal is a great boy! But shy, oh yea. His daily walk starts out just great, but the second he sees or even hears another human, he starts pulling in the opposite direction. I practice the "cesar's way" to correct him. I make him stand until he stops pulling or starts to relax, but that almost never happens.

Rascal came to me through rescue.........

Here he is when he was photographed at the animal center (dog pound).

He remained shy and distant at the property of the director of the GSD rescue. Whenever I went there to get photos for their website, Rascal (then was named Raza).

One day on a visit, the director says to me, "I don't know what I'm going to do about Raza". "What do you mean?" I asked. She told me that he had bit her. Not seriously, and (IMHO) not that she didn't deserve it. She had been brushing him and when he tried to walk/get away she had grabbed his tail!!!! Can you imagine, I'd have bit her too! So, I says to the lady, "let me take him to my place for a 'little while' and see if I can help him out of his shell". Well he was already a year old by then. His shell was pretty solid.



Here's what he looked like then, at my home in Austin. He was pretty happy to be out of that pack environment. My two dogs at the time were quite friendly and not at all in getting into Rascal's space. We gave him a lot of time to acclimate.

And acclimate he did:
He was way more confident, and even started to have fun. Just as long as I didn't try to approach him.