I took Keely to Janet's house on our way back from Atlanta. Janet met us outside first to get the stuff from me. When she went inside to get Bonnie (Springer) and Boo (Cocker), they ran out without leashes as Janet was opening the front door. Both came right up to Keely and sniffed her. Keely was okay for five seconds and then growled (I thought the dogs were going to be on leash so I didn't have the treats in my hands). Then Janet came and grabbed her dogs' collars. We were able to calm down all three dogs, then Janet let Boo off. He came over and sniffed Keely for a couple seconds and walked away to sniff at the ground. Then Janet let Bonnie off and Bonnie came over and sniffed and walked away. I also let go of Keely's leash so she could walk around a bit and she walked over to Janet for Janet to pet her. Bonnie came over and I petted Bonnie. Boo continued to sniff around the front yard. For some reason, it happened so quick and I didn't know who started it (Bonnie's about nine years old and usually very sweet and mellow, Brenna's even okay with Bonnie), Bonnie and Keely started fighting. I grabbed Keely's leash and then her collar, thinking it was probably she who started the fight, so the fight should stop when I get control of her. But even though I had Keely grabbed with her collar, Bonnie continued to attack Keely. So I grabbed Bonnie's collar with my other hand and tried to pull them apart. But Keely started yelping, it turned out Bonnie had Keely grabbed by the left ear. By that time, Janet came over and grabbed Bonnie's collar. I was going to pry Bonnie's mouth open, but when Janet grabbed Bonnie, Bonnie had released Keely, so I just kept Keely with me. All happened within maybe 7 seconds. We then kept all three dogs with us at the same location for about five seconds (to make sure the dogs had calmed down), and I checked Keely for blood, there was none, then I took her back into my car. So there was the famous female-female dog fight.
Then I went inside with Janet and Bonnie and Boo, and I also saw Ben, who seems to be doing fine. Janet said he was limping this morning, and he hadn't done that in a long time. But she gave him a dose of Rimadyl and he was fine by the time I saw him. Also he got groomed so he looks even younger with trimmed hair. Janet said she hasn't been able to practice Ben with her son or with other males, as her son doesn't want anything to do with Ben now. But I hugged Ben all over and he had no problem with that.
Heather emailed to say, �I think the wounds will heal with what you are doing. That's exactly how I treat superficial wounds and I haven't had any problems. Actually, when Brenna bit Tully on the belly the vet cleaned it out really well, but she said not to put anything on it and not to stitch it. The next day the hole looked like a straight line and it was healed in a few days. I couldn't believe how fast it healed. They are so amazing these dogs. I read the note about Bonnie and Keely's interaction and fight. I know how fast it can happen, but it could have even been just a slight move of Bonnie closer to you or Janet at the time that set her off. It's amazing how she is with females. I don't think she looked fat. Maybe a little bit fluffy :-) But I think that was mostly her coat because last time I really saw her she was groomed tight since she was so fuzzy and not brushed or anything when I got her.�
I�ve been trying out the stripping comb and thinning scissors I got, so hopefully Keely will look less fluffy. Her fur is growing longer, but I don�t like the way how most professional groomers just shave the upper body, so I got a stripping comb, which is how they thin the upperbody of show ring Springers. I mostly follow the instructions on the MidSouth link about how to groom a Springer, but Heather talked me though more about how to use the thinning scissors.
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Keely might have lick granuloma when yesterday I left early to vet school without taking her, like I usually do (for two weeks I had to be at the vet school minimally between 6:30 and 7:30 in the mornings). So I'm using Comfort Zone this morning and she did fine.
Keely's ear wounds are healing nicely, scabbed over, no longer cleaning it topically, but I'm still giving oral supplement twice a day.
The Michigan applicants called last night. We agreed that Keely would not be a good fit with them. She said the invisible fence is a requirement for them and they have no alternatives.
Keely's scabs on her ear are starting to fall off by themselves, so I think it's healing nicely.
Last night I found Keely standing in the bathtub and chewing on a bar of soap! I'm not sure if this has to do with the new soap I'm using, the "all natural" sample one that Virginia gave me that has honey and couple other herbs in it (before I just used regular soaps that I got from Walmart). If she continues to do it, I will probably start to put the soap where she won't be able to get it. Also, Keely has learned to open cabinet doors, although she has never done it in front of me yet.
Three times in the last two days, Keely has barked at two puppies running around without leash in the apartment complex and also at the leashed Kia, a Siberian Husky/Sheba Inu looking mix (maybe an Alaskan Husky?). Five-year-old Kia and her owner just moved from New Jersey and Kia doesn't like the warmer weather, but Kia is a very calm dog and does fine with Keely. We see them walking around several times a week now and Keely has gotten more used to Kia sniffing her and letting me petting Kia and she enjoys petting from Kia's mom. Kia's mom commented how there's no nice side walks to walk the dog (that's why I always drive Keely to campus for our walks), so I recommended them our local dog park. Kia's mom later said they went and they enjoyed it very much and now they go several times a week, although she said Kia doesn't really play with the other dogs there, but Kia's really good with recall so they enjoy the walking trials in the woods. Anyways, because of Keely's new barking incidents, now I'm making her Sit-Down-Stay as soon as she sees the other dog and I started to carry a bag of treats whenever we are outside, just like I did with Brenna.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Jackson�s foster parents emailed and said, �Jackson and the rest of the gang devoured them. Jackson just finished HW treatment. Jackson is due to be neutered in the next few weeks.
Jackson has a potential adopter. This family has a Boykin Spaniel "Daisy", she is alpha female. Jackson has met her and there were no problems. I expect that Jackson will do well with this family. The husband works from home, so Jackson should get over his separation anxiety quickly. Jackson was groomed the week before last. Jackson cleaned up great. He is now about 46lbs. Jackson is a sweet boy. He has fit in nicely with our group. He plays well with Millie and Duke. I think Daisy will be a good companion for him.� Jackson�s foster parents also said that the potential adopters are thinking about keeping him in the basement instead of crating him while they are away, and that they are thinking about taking him to see a behaviorist.
Keely has been eating exclusively Drs. Foster & Smith's Adult Dog Food Chicken and Brown Rice Formula for the past week. So far she's doing fine and having firm stool. After she's finished with this bag, I got two bags of dog food that I got from Atlanta that I want to try out on Keely (Avoderm and Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul brands, both "senior" formulae with glucosamine). But for long term, I think the Drs. Foster & Smith one would be the cheapest, especially if buying two or more bags together.
Keely's lump on her left side behind ribcage is gone. I guess it was really a hematoma like the vet said.
I made some cookies with the Springer Spaniel cookie cutter. They turned out okay, probably have to use a stiffer dough next time for this type of intricate pattern.