TPLO Surgery and Recovery / Week 8—Great News!

I start this with absolutely fabulous news. We had our 8th week post-surgery visit with a radiograph. Bella was pronounced 90% healed and ready to resume normal activities. We have to e-a-s-e into it as she hasn't been doing anything for two months. (Food consumption has been cut as she's getting a bit pudgy with lack of exercise.) Swimming, highly recommended. Chasing balls, not very recommended, but if she is on a sit/stay at my side, I can toss it and release her when it's landed. Or, I can roll a ball to her. Oh Bella! She will be in heaven! BALLS!! She can hike. She can play with her buddies for 5 or 10 minutes.

The new rule is if she is tired and sore after limited exertion, lay off for a day or two. Administer carprofen and regroup. If she is good after limited play, I can do it the next day and up it by some matter of minutes. This is all fabulous, wonderful, extraordinary. I'd been told it was a six month process of slow, patient, structured re-introduction to exercise. And it is that. The vet said a solid six months to full healing, but Bella can move and resume most of ordinary life—and so can we.

Car Travel Safety

I've had my dogs in car harnesses for over 10 years. I began using a walking harness (see this earlier post) and have since graduated to a Bergen harness as I felt it provided better protection, offered more chest coverage and therefore, less impact harm to my pup. Bella is never in the car without being in her harness. But today, I came across an interesting article that relayed test results from different dog harnesses and the Bergen was not a leading contender. In fact, for a 75-pound dog, it proved catastrophic meaning the restraints broke, launching the dog.

With a bit more scurrying around the Internet, I was able to locate the actual study and am linking you to it, so you can see how the testing was done. This is the first time I've read that a study was even conducted. It seems the Sleepypod Clickit harness was recommended in all dog weight ranges (small: 25; medium: 45; and large: 75 pounds).

The Clickits are not cheap, but it could save your pup's life.

Sitting in a Parked Car

We've all heard it—don't leave your dog in a parked car on a warm (notice I'm not even saying "hot" here) day. I'm sure this video will go viral in the dog world. A vet, Dr. Ernie Ward, takes a video of himself sitting in his car for 30 minutes. His windows are ajar. Unless you can do the same and be comfortable, don't expect your sweet dog to fare better. Leave your pup at home.

Dog Booties Uber Alles

Bella's paws are in good condition this year for three reasons:

1. Last year I picked eight jillion pounds of broken glass from the yard of the home we rent while in Baja. (She had seriously sliced her feet more than once just running across the yard.)
2. This year, the landlord has hired someone to rake the sand (i.e., yard) once a week. The other six days, I continue to pick up broken glass.
3. Bella wears Ruffwear's dog booties when we go mountain biking. 

Well-worn, de-sanded and moderately washed dog boots.

Last year I wouldn't allow her to bike in the cactus forest (La Bufadora), but she's more mature and I thought she could manage it this time around. With booties, she's done well, and still, we've pulled some huge thorns from the soles. So thanks, Ruffwear! Bella (and I) are happy campers knowing her paws are protected!

Baja's Second First–Mountain Biking in the Bufadora

Biking through the cactus last year.

We took Bella mountain biking in the Bufadora! This is a large cardón cactus forest at the end of our bay. Last year we kept her to the sand road skirting the area, but yesterday took her onto the trails. My concern was that Bellie's Australian Shepherd genes keep her running alongside my husband's bike. Not viable in a cactus forest! She tried to maintain her position, but she understands the command "Ahead." We tried to keep her there as much as possible.

This year has seen a lot of rain; the whole drive down we talked about how green everything was. The forest was truly spectacular. Desert grass skirted the trails, cactus were in bloom and everything was green, green, green. The trails were in excellent condition as the rain had packed the sand. Cycling was easy because of it.

No one puts their dogs in booties down here, even though I was told to bring them.  Although I had them in my Camelback, I didn't make Bellie wear them. Every major trail intersection, we'd stop and check her paws. She was good to go!

The temperature is still cool and there was no need to worry about her overheating. We had plenty of water with us. We'll keep riding with her until the morning temps prove to hot.

Baja First–Bella Hits the Beach

Wearing a muzzle means fun beach time! Oh boy!

Last year, after a fraught visit to the beach, I did not bring Bella down to the water again–at least not in the area where we live. There was an influx of dead sea slugs and puffer fish that year and living in the curve of a bay, we are the repository for most of the flotsam and jetsam. I had been warned these sea creatures exude such a powerful neuro-toxin that if mouthed, they can kill a dog within 24 hours.  It can drop a person who has only ingested a teaspoon. I had been told stories of friends dogs that had touched one and they filled me with dread. I was not going to expose Bella to that danger.

This year, I worked consistently with her wearing a muzzle. Before leaving, I was able to walk her around the neighborhood while she wore her muzzle with only infrequent rubbing against my leg. Two days ago, I took her to the beach with her muzzle. The sea slug scare remains, but the influx is next to nil this year.

She was so happy on the beach. Water! Running! She did drag her nose occasionally trying to remove the muzzle, but she was obviously blissful. Good girl, Bellie! Another beach visit is in your future.

Immediate Baja Addendum

Just spoke with a neighbor down here (Baja ) who has a lab who mouthed and dropped a toxic, dead sea creature (sea slug). He spent three days with a retired US veterinarian and a Mexican vet putting his Labrador into a three day, intentional semi-coma. The pet owner is an emergency room doc in the states. They did the intensive care in the owner's home. The dog came out of it, but continued to lose weight as the toxin had ruined the stomach lining. They flew home with the dog, saw an US vet and after three months, and visiting a vet who practiced acupuncture, were able to see their dog on a road to recovery who could tolerate digesting food.


I was going to take Bella to the beach tomorrow sans muzzle. Our friend said he never saw his dog pick up a thing. Guess Bellie is going oceanward with a face-trap.

Arrived in Baja

It is always a gargantuan drive, and this year in particular, difficult in that it rained the whole way. Not consistently, but off and on, leaving the roads muddy and slippery, and camping wet and uninviting. We saw more accidents this year than ever before despite the better roads.

She's out of the car, on a beach, with a ball–happy girl!

To be back in the same house is wonderful and finally, we have sun. It feels great. We went on a short bike ride around town this morning delivering things to people who had arrived previously. Because there are no street addresses or local post office, it's impossible to have things mailed. To get something, you often depend on fellow travelers to bring things you need. If it's easy to pack in a suitcase or a car, everyone is obliging. During the ride, there was a bit of Baja loose-dog-dodging, but we flanked Bellie with our bikes, or I road behind, weaving back and forth to dissuade any close encounters.

Bella is happy. In fact, Bella is happy anytime there is a ball, or her people, close by!

¡Feliz año nuevo!

Are YOU Ready?

With Hurricane Sandy wrecking havoc on the east coast of the US, it isn't surprising to see a glut of information about what to do with your pet(s) if you have to evacuate. This is a reminder for me also as I have a traveling bag for Bella, but still lack a crate.

My excuse? She's a big girl and needs a big crate—where would I store it? But when an emergency happens (and there is no area in this country that isn't plagued by recurring natural disasters), you won't have the time to prepare, nor can you guarantee you'll be thinking logically in a panic situation. Being prepared is the only way to safely care for your pet in a time of need. Although Hurricane Katrina was a turning point in evacuating and sheltering with pets (more shelters now allow them to come with you), you are still required to have your dog sequestered in a crate.

I just read Pet Care During a Natural Disaster from the Sun Gazette.com. I always read these articles as there is usually something I haven't considered. In this article, author Dan Boyles, had a couple of really good ideas. One is to have two bags prepared: a large pet bag if you and your pet will be staying together at a known location and a smaller bag for immediate evacuation to points unknown. Of course the requisite items were covered: food, water, medications, toys. Another great idea is to have a picture of you and your dog together. I always carry a picture of Bella in her bag, but the author says a picture of you together helps corroborate ownership should you be separated.

I guess it's time to start scouring Craig's List for used, large dog crates. I don't want Bella left out in the cold if a disaster shakes our area.

Home!

We returned from warm and sunny Baja to a cold and snowy northwest. It doesn't seem fair although the comforts of home outweigh the frigid temps! It took a little over a week to get home.

We camped at three new places coming up the peninsula—each beautiful in their own right. Our first stop was in San Ignacio; Bella was in heaven. We stayed at a tiny little campground right on the river. I'm sure in warmer, calmer weather the bugs would be incredible, but we were blessed by a stiff wind that kept them at bay. Bella was able to run around (no one else was there) and swim. Lots of chuck-it in the water.

Rediscovering the "white stuff."

Our second stop was in Scammons Lagoon on the Pacific. Again, it was deserted except for the whales. We spent hours watching them spout, spy hop and surface. It was beyond thrilling. Our last night in Baja was also on the Pacific. A couple nights in San Diego with family and friends and then on to the eastern California route north.

Ha! We got to Lone Pine and learned that a huge storm was coming in, so our desired route was 86'd by weather. The reports threatened up to five feet of snow in the Sierras with gusts nearing 100mph! Talk about taking the excitement out of the drive! We camped south of Lake Tahoe and Bella got to run in the snow, but the winds started during the night and rocked the van so severely, that we got up before 4AM and started driving. We made it over the Sierras before the brunt of the storm hit us, so although it was a boring drive up the interstate, we made it back without incident.

Our first morning home, we woke to snow on the ground and this morning, Bella refused to go on a walk. So much for a warm sun! We have a fire going in the stove; Bella is tucked up close and I think I'll bake some bread despite the desire to start gardening.

New Baja Buddy Moves Stateside

The dogs in Baja are incredible. There is no select breeding going on here. In fact, the dogs are shining examples of not being bred for looks—they are mostly scruffy, bunches of mix and match pieces. Neutering is not a consideration. Certainly male dogs would not be neutered (a macho thing still very prevalent here) and the females are viewed as somewhat of a nuisance as they seem to get pregnant all the time. (I wonder why that is?) Unfortunately, females are often killed because of this.

What these dogs do have, however, is smarts. Most are raised outside and left to fend for themselves, so they either make it or don't. (One friend said they must know not to eat sea slugs. Nope. It's just that those that do, die.)

Since garbage is everywhere and dead cows on the side of a road are not uncommon, there seems to be enough for them to survive. They are savvy to cars, people and other dogs. If they aren't, they don't last. They aren't fighters as it serves no purpose. Not all seek people out, but they aren't skittish either, and will often come over for a pat. I've seen a couple with mange, however, so I always looks before I pat!

Of course, not all owners are oblivious. You can tell some are well loved, if somewhat neglected. Every once and while, you'll come across a little mongrel that is beautiful and you wonder where are its parents? Most of the dogs are on the small side (40 pounds and under).

The gringos have been instrumental in caring for many of the strays—of which there are too many. There is a loose organization of people who take in and foster them, paying for medical care and neutering as well as trying to rehome them.

A friend here is one of those people. She found a beautiful little girl with Dobie markings who at around a year old had already had one litter and when spayed, had eight little pups in her. But the dog, named Lola, was wonderful. Definitely smart, interested in people and in pleasing, with great doggie communication skills. However, Jeanie already had a dog and because of her current circumstances, couldn't have two, so was trying to find a forever home for Lola. Enter stage left—ME!

Meet Lola/K2, our new neighbor!

We have some wonderful friends and neighbors back in the states who lost their dog about three years ago. This past year they have hashed and rehashed whether to adopt or not. Their past dog was a handful, aggressive with other dogs and dangerous around children, so they wanted to be very careful before accepting another pup into their home. They do not board their dog, but depend on friends to care for their companion when they travel, which they do a lot and for extended periods. I told them I'd be on the lookout for just the perfect Baja dog for them.

I emailed them about Lola and sent pictures and added the kicker that in three days the foster parent was flying back to the states and could bring Lola with them. Quite an abrupt decision-making period, but with pictures and videos to view, and a time constraint on deciding, they chose to buy dog food, bed, toys and leash and welcome this sweet little girl into their hearts and home. They have renamed her K2 (they are climbers) and are blissfully in love.

Hola from Baja!

We scrambled mightily and were able to bust out of Dodge shortly after Christmas.  Six days of driving including an overnight with family in San Diego, brought us to our new ( though temporary) casita late afternoon on the first. Ah! The relief of getting out of the car and the joy of having a wonderful, commodious house and yard in which to stay. All of us, Bella included, have slept like rocks getting on Baja time.

I had worked with Bella back at home training her to wear a muzzle so that beach walking would be possible. There were a series of warnings before coming here indicating a large influx of poisonous sea slugs on the beach and I didn't want my mouthy girl anywhere near them. Indeed, the beach is littered with them, though she has shown no interest. The muzzle, on the other hand, is a bust. She wore it at home begrudgingly but without incident. Here, she spent her time scrapping her nose through the sand trying to rid herself of the contraption. And let me tell you, the sand here is not soft and powdery, but small, sharp rocks. After two days and only two short walks, her nose was scrapped raw. Enough!

As the beach is not obliging anyway, there will be no more beach walks until they clear themselves of their poisonous contents. In the meantime, Bella and I have been exploring dusty back roads and loving it. She's off leash and minding well.

I am hoping next week to hook up with a group of women and their dogs to join them on their weekly early morning hikes. Bella is dog friendly and has already met many of her four-legged Mexican neighbors. There is one particularly scruffy little fellow whom she seems to be most enamored with. Unfortunately, we did not see him anywhere today. Perhaps tomorrow...

Our Internet connection here is quite "iffy," so though I will try to post regularly to fill you in on Baja life, my posts may be erratic.

Winter Weather

We've had rain and sleet and hail for days now. The wood-burning stove has been going non-stop. Soup is bubbling on the stove and though there are jobs to be done, motivating ourselves to go outside is futile. Even Bella is disinterested.

Which reminds me of our recent camping trip when the night time temps were in the low 20s and Bella's water bowl froze solidly. To keep the pup warm, we bundled her in an old, down comforter that is a mere shadow of its former self. Still, there are enough feathers left to keep a puppy warm!

Toasty dog!

Have You Brought Your Dog to Baja?

This has turned into an ever-changing target and is making me edgy. We're bringing Bella with us to Baja this year and we'll be in Mexico (southern Baja) for a couple of months. Not only do I have a concern about how she'll manage in the heat and with cactus, but with other dogs (native and gringo), poisonous fish and a totally foreign environment. To top that off, the criteria to get her back into the United States seems to be elusive.

Having crossed the border heading south several times before, I know having up-to-date vet records for her is a priority, but not always requested.. She is current on shots and she's healthy, so I don't see that being the problem. I'll have her on flea, tick and heart worm meds, so that takes care of that concern. I have booties for the cactus for her feet, but will have to deal with them if they get elsewhere. I have a muzzle that I'm training her to that should help (but not eliminate) the fish issue. It's getting back across the border into the US that has me guessing.

Some folks say that the same certificates that get us into Mexico will get us home. Others have said I need a certificate signed by a Mexican vet stating that she's healthy and it must be issued no more than seven days before we cross the border. Yesterday, I found a site the said I needed an International Health Certificate (#77-043) and another form called APHIS-7001.

My vet is knowledgeable about crossing the border into Canada, but not about crossing the border into Mexico. Today I called the state vet office (the person I spoke with was pleasant, but knew nothing) who faxed forms to my vet, but said I needed to talk with the federal office (under the FDA). I'm still waiting to hear from them.

Of course, my nightmare is returning home to find a glitch at the border. ...That I'm missing that form. ...That Bella will have to be quarantined. ...That....

Have any of you experienced a border crossing south to north? What has been your experience. Don't be shy; let me know—please!

Back from Utah

Bella happily running WITHOUT her booties.

What a great trip! The weather began beautifully enough—low 70s during the day and sunny. Nights were in the 40s; stars amazing. For rides, I put Bella into some Ruff Wear booties and though she wasn't happy about it, she managed. The slickrock in that area is like sand paper and I knew, even if our ride was short, her paws would be raw. Two of them were lost by the end of the third day. Bum deal—and expensive.

She did do a run/ride on an old jeep, 4-wheel drive road that was a combination of rock and dirt. Her paws were okay at the end of that, but her muscles were sore from four days of running. Luckily, with a day of rest, she was ready to go again and I was able to locate a shop in town that carried the booties and get another pair. We won't be losing those again even if I have to staple them to her!

The last third of the trip, the weather turned cold. Days were no more than 50 degrees and nights in the low 20s. Sleeping for all of us was fitful and it took a while in the morning to warm up and be functional. We did a lot of hiking during this period in an area called Cedar Mesa. Incredible Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs everywhere. Not all trails allowed dogs, so we stuck to those that did.

Locals warned us that the coyotes could be quite opportunistic, so we were watchful when we let Bellie roam. Luckily, by nature, she stays close to the van and stakes out only a small perimeter. During the time we were gone, we only heard one coyote chorus, but it was thrilling. Just as the night sky began to lighten, several coyotes began yipping and howling. They sounded joyous and almost next to our van! Had they run into buddies they hadn't seen for a while or had they just completed a terrific hunt?

For Bella, the thrill was to be with us 24/7, off leash, in an environment of delicious new smells. I do think she's happy to be back home where meals come on time and the bed is cushy and warm. But a leash? Nope. She'd rather be back in Utah!

FOOTNOTE: I mentioned in my last post all the dog paraphernalia I was packing for her. Guess what I forgot? A brush! We were in dusty, dusty locations and she became a "Pigpen" with clouds of dust rising off her with each pat on her side. Bathing her was one of our priorities on return so she's now a clean machine!

What's in your dog bag?

We're frantically trying to pack for our trip so that we can leave bright and shiny tomorrow. Like anyone who is responsible for others, packing becomes more elaborate when one packs for more than oneself! I usually pack Bella first while I'm calm and collected, as the closer we get to leaving, the tension of time-schedules-gone-awry amps up and I'm afraid I might leave something important for her.

What, you might be asking, do I pack for my dog?

• Food
• Treats
• Chews
• Bowls
• Chuck-It
• Dog bag

...and what's in her dog bag?

• Towel
• Extra leash
• Extra collar
• Poop bags
• Kong
• Tooth brush/doggie tooth paste
• Dog Booties
• Doggie back pack
• 2 water bottles
• Collapsible water bowl
• Blinking light for her collar
• 4 chuck-it balls (in case one gets lost in the tundra)
• Nail trimmer (2...not sure why)
• Doggie Shampoo
• First aid kit (better than ours)

What's in the first aid kit? That will have to wait until another time...

Sitting Cozy

Sitting cozy.

Quick camping trip to enjoy the autumn color. Fall is definitely in the air. Days are comfortably warm; evenings are nippy. Even Bella was chilly. Nothing like a 60 pound cuddler crawling into your lap!

Buddies

We've been gone for a while on a cycling trip with friends. It's an annual camping, active affair and always fun—road and mountain biking, hiking and sometimes, even kite boarding thrown in! This year, however, we cut it short as temperatures soared into the high 90s/low 100s. Can't do much in that kind of weather!

Bella blistered both front pads early in the trip, so she was out of the mountain biking loop early—much to her disappointment! Luckily we were usually near water, so there were many fetch-it games involving sticks and swimming.

Bella and Boone resting.

Her new buddy, Boone, was along for the trip. Our friends have had him just over six months. He's around five and obviously was well-loved and cared for by his previous owner. He's gentle and trusting, but didn't know much about playing. He's a fast learner!

Bella taught him all about play, fetch, and swimming. At the start of the trip, he did none of those things. He'd step in the water, but that was it. Play? Wasn't sure what that was about. Fetch? Why bother? Retrieve isn't his forte, but he loved chasing Bella (on land or water) as she went after the stick or ball.

Boone's owners are gone this weekend (celebrating their 30th anniversary), so Boone is here. We were a little concerned how he'd handle being left at our house being that he is fairly new to the group. But he'd been to our house several times already and lived with us in close proximity on the trip. What a gem! Bella's nose is a bit out of joint, but they've had a wonderful weekend together.

Back to the Teanaway

Ball? Did someone say "ball?"

We decided to try the Teanaway region again—this time with my husband's sister, her husband and their 16-year old son...and of course their dog—Bella's half-sister, Molly. What a difference six weeks makes on weather. HOT. BUGGY. DRY. We're such heat wimps, but really, 90+ degrees is just not healthy for anyone!

It was a wonderful weekend despite the biting flies and enervating heat. Molly is an Australian Shepherd, so the heat was particularly hard for her. Plus her pads are pink and blister easily. It only took one day for her to be relegated to "camp time" versus being able to accompany us. We took turns staying with her to keep her company.

We tried to accomplish all of our hiking and biking activities early, but when it's a group of people, time schedules don't always sync up. Our last hike was case in point, we left too late and the heat was brutal. Luckily there was a stream at the end of the trail. We could all cool our feet (dogs included) and soak our heads!

One of Bella's most favorite people is our nephew and he didn't fail her. He was a constant source of ball and stick tossing. I had made a request going into the weekend that we should not aid and abet by giving in to her constant demand, but no sooner had we made camp, then Bella was into the brush and came back with a tennis ball. Finally we tired of playing, so I placed the ball on the van's roof gutter. Not five minutes later, Bella comes back with another ball! Huh? After that one was removed, she went off and came back with a hard ball. Where does she find this stuff?!?

After all balls were removed, she went back into the brush (or which there was a lot) and dragged out part of a deer spine with ribs attached. Enough! We hung that in a tree and gave her back a ball. Co-dependency rules!

Car Travel Safety

Mountain biking outside of McCall, Idaho in '05.

Several years ago, my husband and I were mountain biking outside McCall, Idaho. The trails were gorgeous, the weather superb and the three of us (my husband, myself and our dog, Lucy) were having a wonderful ride until we met up with a young couple and their three legged border collie. They were also enjoying the area, but when we learned why the dog was missing one leg, my mood changed. Their dog fell out of the back of their pickup truck and was hit. Luckily the dog survived, but I am continuously flabbergasted when I see dogs unrestrained in cars, let alone loose in the back of a truck. What are these people thinking? Obviously not about their dog!

I used to own a Honda Civic hatchback (great little car) and initially kept my dog in the way back. At some point I had the awful thought of what might become of her if I was rear-ended. She then road in the back seat in a harness/leash/seat belt contraption.

Since then, all of our dogs have worn a harness attached to a short 18" leash. The seat belt passes through the handle and then into its buckle. I have looked at other harness mechanisms and at this point lean towards Ruff Rider's seat belt as I like the design, padding and chest criss-cross. It's not very expensive and has received lots of lauds yet suffers the same drawback as my present system. If the dog can step on the buckle, they can release the belt. Bella seems quite adept at this even though the buckle to hard to reach.

Periodically I revisit this issue to see if anything better has come along. Part of my recent research was because of an article in the May issue of Bark Magazine regarding traveling with your favorite four-legged friends. The article doesn't critique belts though and I wish it did. Recently I've seen several references to the downside of crating your dog in the car. Each time they refer to a German study. Here are some short videos from About.com that are horrifying even though they are testing with dummies (human and canine).

After looking at the video and the Ruff Rider harness...and then at my homemade, jerry-rigged setup, I think I'll be purchasing a real doggie car harness!

Bella's seat belt from in front and from behind.