Local Community Takes Action

The local area in Baja Sur where dogs have been poisoned eating sea creatures is taking action. This just posted on their local bulletin board:

Beach Clean Up for the Dogs!
Hurry, you can still make it here for 8 am. 

Over the past two weeks there have been over 20 deaths in La Ventana pets from eating slugs on the beach that sometimes lay in seaweed. After ingestion, dogs will die after 15 to 20 min. 

Please help us in a beach clean up today. We are meeting at Playa Central and ask you to bring a rake and trash bags. 

Beach Clean Up for the dogs begins at 8 am, lead by Britney & Vivien, who have recently lost very special pets. We will appreciate your participation, see you here. 

Update on Dog Poisonings in Baja

I just received this update via email. I spoke about my concern with dog poisoning in Baja here and here. Below is the latest news:

Update on poisoning of dogs

As previously reported there have been fatalities in dogs this season in the El Sargento / La Ventana area. It was suspected that the dogs had ingested a poisonous substance. Based on  presenting signs and the progression of those signs a substance called tetrodotoxin which is commonly found in puffer fish was suggested. The problem was that no one had seen their dog chewing on a puffer fish. A new event has now occurred in the last 48 hours which seems to elucidate the problem more clearly. A group of 6 young dogs were taken to the beach around 7:00 AM. The person that was with them observed them chewing on dead sea slugs that had washed up on the beach recently following several days of high wind and waves.  The slugs were taken away from the dogs, their mouths rinsed with sea water and all the dogs were removed from the beach. Approximately 3 hours later all the dogs but one were showing signs of toxicity (salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, intense abdominal pain). All the dogs were taken to a veterinarian in La Paz. At this time 4 of the dogs have died, one is still being treated and one showed only very mild signs and is doing well.

An internet search reveals that sea slugs can sometimes have very high levels of tetrodotoxin in their skin (the same toxin is present in puffer fish and a number of other marine animals) and there are known cases of fatality in dogs from sea slug exposure in other parts of the world.

The toxin is very potent that even small amounts can be fatal. Dogs should not be allowed to chew on any marine animals on the beach.

More information can be found in the following link.

It just goes back to the same old rule that you have to watch your dog closely and monitor what is in their mouth. Easier said then done. Lots of people bring their dogs down and only a fraction of them lose them to this horrible death. None-the-less, Ms. Inmymouthfasterthanaspeedingbullet will not have off leash access on the beach!

Teeth and Chuck-it

I've mentioned before that I am not a photographer, nor do I know how to use the options on my camera in order to take action shots of Bella, so the pictures I share are of her lying down or standing still. I've also mentioned how obsessive she is about fetch. We have three Chuck-its: one in my car, one in the van and one in the garage and they all get a huge work out. We have several friends who regularly play tennis, so our ball supply can get "replenished" on a regular basis.

One very happy, hot and anticipatory puppy!

The shot today is of one happy puppy waiting for me to throw the ball. Notice how hot she is (long tongue) and how dirty her tongue is (lots of muddy ball retrieving!) and how happy she looks! The path to her right is what she has worn into the mud going back and forth after the ball. This path is her center path, but both sides of the alley sport a Bella-route where there once was grass.

Now, for the not so good news... Bella has knocked the tip off of one of her bottom canines. I noticed this a long time ago and assume it happened in her teething stage when it was a constant battle to keep her from eating rocks. But I was shocked yesterday to see that the two premolars behind that one had also been "tipped" and that one of her lower incisors is missing. I can't say when this happened, though I am fairly aware of her body from constant touching, examining and teeth brushing. My conclusion is that it is recent. My horror that it has happened is compounded by the fact that she is not yet two! Did this come from playing fetch or chewing on bones?

The dilemma now is how to manage her desire to play ball and chewchewchew with the care of her teeth which she will need for many, many more years. One thing is for certain, she'll be playing no fetch with anything hard!

Too Clever

I ran across this video posted in Patricia McConnell's wonderful blog, The Other End of the Leash. I couldn't find the clever person who made the video, but they deserve a standing ovation. I was laughing so hard that Bella grew concerned and started nosing me!

Two dogs dining in a busy restaurant

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks Patricia for pointing it out!

Gorgeous Weekend

Although the temperature never rose about 50 degrees, it was sunny and the earth smelled like spring. The crocuses made it through the freeze and snow of the previous week and were so cheery showing their bright little blossoms among the tulip leaves.

I took the opportunity to edge the gardens in back. I could use power tools, but I prefer slow, methodical hand-trimming as I am "up close and personal" with the ground. It took two days to do as the arthritis in my hand was letting me know hand-trimming ain't for sissies. Still, it was wonderful to see how the gardens had fared.

Bella, never missing the opportunity of a captive audience, immediately went for her tennis ball and demanded a game of fetch. Another fun harbinger of spring: I work in the yard and throw the ball, she chases and retrieves. I think this is called a symbiotic relationship!