Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Tara was limping this morning when I took her out at 5 AM. She appeared to have trouble with her left rear leg. I was a little worried and when I took her out again at 7:30 AM, she was still limping on that leg. But after we walked around for her to poop, she got back to normal. I think she was sleeping on her left side during the night, and that caused her to limp. Penelope also did the same thing when she came to live with me at age 9 also, and that went away after a month on glucosamine (and I kept her on it for the rest of her life). I am still giving Tara glucosamine twice a day.
The vet called this morning and said Tara's thyroid level is low but still within the normal range (Total T-4 1.2, normal range 1.0-4.0; free T-4 12, normal range 8-40). So he recommends no medication at this time. I asked him about teeth cleaning, he said he would prefer Tara gets more used to her new environment before putting her under anesthesia. So I guess one or two more weeks? I also told him that Tara would skip meals (about once every two days), and I told him I think it's because his previous families gave her human food (Kevin said in the note he typed up, that he would give a couple slices of turkey each day). The vet said not to worry too much about the skipped meals, and said he has faith in me to convert Tara to eat dog food regularly. When Tara turns her nose up on the regular dry kibble dog food, she would still gobble down the treats when I give them to her.
I emailed Dog School 101 in Atlanta about maybe taking Tara to be CGC tested in a month or so. Xalina emailed back and said their next scheduled testing date is first week of October. And I emailed her back and said I will be on a trip for the first two weeks of October, so I won�t be able to go to that testing.
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Xalina emailed back and said I can go the last week of September and take the test when the other students are taking their practice test. I am so glad that she�s willing to accommodate us! And I emailed and asked her if we could come by a week earlier as practice.
Friday, August 4, 2006
I just called the local pet supply store (the grooming place I took Tara to last weekend), and Rebekah said her obedience class started two weeks ago, but she said I could bring Tara to the class (I think it'll be okay, since Tara already knows Sit, still learning Stay, and would only do Down with treats). It'll be Wednesday nights. The last two rounds of classes I went to (with Keely and Brenna) were at Petco, and I'm kind of want some change (and I feel a little bad giving $80 to Petco since I joined this guinea pig rescue forum), so we're going back to Rebekah's class (Penelope and I did two rounds of her classes three years ago). Granted her class isn't reward-based, but I'll bring the treats anyways, and there's no way I'm putting a choke chain on Tara. I just need a place where I can practice regularly with Tara in front of other dogs, for the CGC test.
I met Mike and his sister Virginia at Petco yesterday afternoon. Mike had a blind Bloodhound puppy with him, and said the dog was born blind. Virginia has 35-poundish mix named Baby with her, as well as Peter and Rabbit. Peter did not show any skittishness. Actually I think he�s the more outgoing of the two, and Rabbit kind of follows him around. When they got out of the car, they pulled toward the grass. When I finally walked them there, Peter immediately marked several shrubs. When he saw people at Petco, he would pull on leash toward them. We went inside because it was so hot outside. Rabbit couldn�t walk very well, so we just sat in the bird products aisle (because not many people would walk by). In the picture is Rabbit at Petco. A little boy about three years old came within touching distance of him, but did not pet him, and Peter was fine with him getting near him and came back to me when the little boy walked away.
Heather emailed and said that there are two Springers, one male and one female, near Mobile. They were found in a gas station across the street from a vet clinic about two months ago. The clinic took them in, and recently contacted ESRA for help. Deborah, the volunteer who went to evaluate them, said the female is small, probably a puppy, but hops instead of walks normally, maybe from a car accident. The male is about 50 pounds, about 3 years old, his coat is rough and dry, and has dandruff. Deborah said that her foster-to-adopt Springer, Tulip, had the same condition, and her vet said it was fungal infection. He needs to be neutered and is heartworm positive and has a growth on left side of his leg. Both are a little skittish at first, but once they warm up, they are very friendly and love attention. Heather named the male Peter, and the female Rabbit. Audrey, one of the Midsouth coordinators, has already agreed to take in the female, because her Springer who just did also had skeletal problems, but has a pool and will be able to do water therapy with Rabbit if needed. The plan is for Peter to come stay at Cathryne�s vet in Opelika until a foster home can be found.
I think Tara has completely learned to see the crate as a happy, safe place (Kevin said he put Tara in the crate as punishment after she didn't get along with his cats). For the first week, I would put lots of treats inside the crate, so she would associate good things with treats (I only use treats for training purposes, I very rarely give them treats "just because", all my animals have enough weight on as is anyways). And when I come home after school, I would see all the treats are gone, and Tara asleep in the crate.
Earlier this week, on Monday, after I cleaned her ears, Tara actually went to hide in the crate (kept in the bedroom). So she sees the crate as a safe, comforting place.
Today, even before I put the treats into the crate, I just showed her the treat (reduced to one each morning now) when I got it out of the bag in the kitchen, Tara actually pushed past me and ran inside the crate, stood there inside and waited for me to drop the treat in. So I put the treat (freeze dried chicken jerky) in the crate and closed the door.
I've stopped accidentally calling Tara by her previous name, but I've started blurting out "Keely" instead of "Tara". Virginia says it's because I miss Keely a lot.
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Drs. Foster&Smith glucosamine tablets arrived on Friday afternoon. Before I was giving Tara the GNC brand liquid glucosamine that I was trying out. DrsF&S is also the ones I got for my old dog Penelope too.
Ever since Friday afternoon, Tara has more "spring" on her walks. I really doubt it's because of the new glucosamine, I think it would take longer to have noticeable effects. Maybe it's because Tara is feeling more secure now and is sleeping better at night, just guessing. Anyways, we walk 1 mile a day now, seven days a week (slow and steady is the key; versus jogging three days a week, I don't think she can jog anyways), and that pretty much tires her out for the rest of day. The first week, Tara would walk really slowly. But since Friday afternoon, she's walking faster, like she's happier. We actually did two miles on campus on Saturday (students were moving into the dorms, and Tara got some compliments from them; one mom said Tara looks a lot like the Welsh Springer they have at home), and she was okay with it. Still she's not as active as Penelope at the same age. I would say Tara's activity level is like when Penelope was 12 years old. Sometimes I would wish I had "rescued" Penelope earlier, but then I also know she was probably a handfull as a puppy and I'm not sure if I would've been able to contain her in an apartment if I had gottern her earlier.
Lexi's family tells me she sings to them every morning (Lexi's my second Springer foster). Now I understand what they meant when a Springer "sings". Tara started doing that some time last week. She has the cutest woo-wooing voice. She would "sing" when I come home from school, after I let her out of the crate, when I ignore her (to prevent separation anxiety) while I wash my hands. I guess Tara sings to try to get my attention. Even though I think it's kind of cute, I don't respond as not to reinforce it, because if she does it louder, the neighbors will probably hear her.
Xalina emailed back and said it�s okay to bring Tara a week before the CGC test to make her feel more comfortable at the dog school.
Heather had us team up with Bloodhound rescue to help transport Peter and Rabbit to Opelika and Atlanta (Audrey lives in Atlanta). The plan is for Audrey to pick up two Bloodhounds from Atlanta and drive them to Opelika. And then people from Bloodhound rescue will help transport Peter and Rabbit from Montgomery to Opelika (Angie in Montgomery is going to help the northern portion of Mobile to Montgomery). Then we�ll all meet in Opelika, for me to take Peter, for Audrey to take Rabbit, and for the Bloodhound rescue volunteers to take the Bloodhounds.
Monday, August 7, 2007
Millie emailed and said that she�ll able to dog-sit for me for two weeks in October. She said that especially after Keely�s visit, we�ll have a better idea about how Tara does with other dogs in the home. Millie even offered to take care one of the dogs if the girls don�t get along. And she said they usually go to the beach in October, and if it�s the same time, then Tara can go to the beach with them!
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Today I knew had to be at work at 6:30 AM and didn't come home for the day until 8:30 PM. But I was able to come home at 2 PM and at again at 6 PM, both for 15 minutes or so. I got up at 2 AM and couldn't fall asleep again, so I decided to go check my email at school at 3 AM. I tested Tara and let her have the full run of the apartment from 3 AM until 4 AM, because I think 14 hours is just too long to crate her in one day. She was asleep near the front door when I came home. I didn't try locking her in the bedroom because Kevin said when he did that, Tara shredded his carpet (sound familiar?). I still left Tara in the crate when I left at 6:30 AM. I came home at 2 PM and let Tara out potty and left her out with run of the apartment. Came home again at 6 PM and found her asleep in the livingroom. Took her out potty and gave her dinner, before I went to work again.
At work, Mrs. Ravis came by to talk to Dr. Ravis. She also asked me when my two-week trip is, and I asked back that if she wants to meet Tara. Mrs. Ravis said the reason she's asking is because they are going to Philadelphia to visit family again, last week of September for one week, and she was worried that their trip and my trip would be at the same time, because they want me to dog-sit Samson the Basset. I told her my trip is first two weeks of October, and she said she had promised to dog-sit for me before so don't worry about it. I still think we should see how Samson and Tara get along first.
Tara was again asleep in the livingroom when I came home for the day.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
I cleaned Tara's ears for the second time today. I will probably clean her ears twice a week after she has cleared of current infection, but I don't want to clean it too often when she's getting medicated ear drops.
Tara is a smart girl and has already learned about the ear cleaning routine. When brought out the bag of cotton balls and pads, and the bottle of ear cleaners, she immediately dropped to the floor in the hallway. I didn't use "come" of course, so I had to basically half-carried, half-dragged her to the light source in the livingroom. However she did lie very still while I cleaned her clears. She did not yelp out in pain either, so I don't know if her ears are painful. The ear canals are less swollen than when I cleaned them a week ago, but still narrow compare to all my other fosters'.
After I finished cleaning the first ear and let her stand up to shake the liquid out, she ran to the bedroom and hid in the crate. I know she wouldn't bite me, so after I washed my hands again (don't want the ears to infect each other), I just dragged her out, cleaned the other ear, and gave her lots of treats.
