Sunday, December 28, 2014
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
A day in the woods.
Today my friend Stephanie and I went hiking and took the dogs. We had a really great time, the dogs had a blast running around - I even let Seppel off leash.
We encountered a few people, but my dogs were really responsive to their recalls and I would leash them to let people pass us by.
Unfortunately on our way back, Seppel and LiLo were ahead of us and they ran into a small group of people. I didn't see these people because they were hunters dressed in tree camo, LiLo and Seppel barked at them and all I could hear was a woman saying "You need to get your dog!" I called Seppel and LiLo and they both came. I was made aware of the Washington County Leash Law - which is a very vague law that states the dogs needs to be under my control, which they were.
I legitimately feel bad that my dogs ran up on them and may have startled them, however I could not see them in their camo! All I could see was Seppel barking.
We had to follow these people up to the end of the trail, when we got up to the road I was repeatedly warned that she could have shot my dog and that she would shoot my dog. I told her that was fine, that she needed to do whatever she needed to do. She then told me all pit bulls should be shot in the head.
We went our separate ways.
It is unlikely I will go out there again, at least not during hunting season.
On the positive side, all of the dogs did really good about checking in while they ran the trail, and they all, including Seppel had great recalls. Overall despite the nasty people, we had a great day.
Here are a few pictures my friend got:
We encountered a few people, but my dogs were really responsive to their recalls and I would leash them to let people pass us by.
Unfortunately on our way back, Seppel and LiLo were ahead of us and they ran into a small group of people. I didn't see these people because they were hunters dressed in tree camo, LiLo and Seppel barked at them and all I could hear was a woman saying "You need to get your dog!" I called Seppel and LiLo and they both came. I was made aware of the Washington County Leash Law - which is a very vague law that states the dogs needs to be under my control, which they were.
I legitimately feel bad that my dogs ran up on them and may have startled them, however I could not see them in their camo! All I could see was Seppel barking.
We had to follow these people up to the end of the trail, when we got up to the road I was repeatedly warned that she could have shot my dog and that she would shoot my dog. I told her that was fine, that she needed to do whatever she needed to do. She then told me all pit bulls should be shot in the head.
We went our separate ways.
It is unlikely I will go out there again, at least not during hunting season.
On the positive side, all of the dogs did really good about checking in while they ran the trail, and they all, including Seppel had great recalls. Overall despite the nasty people, we had a great day.
Here are a few pictures my friend got:
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Astoria Beach
Yesterday on a whim I talked my friend into driving to the beach with the dogs! The weather was GREAT, some places reporting 70 degrees and there was zero chance of rain.
We left after work so we didn't get on the road until about 2pm.
I took Seth and Seppel and my friend had her two dogs Karmann and Flynn. I left Lilo at home because there wasn't room in the car for her, plus out of everyone Seth and Seppel need the exercise the most, and they can physically handle it.
This was Seppel's 3rd time at the beach and I actually was able to let him off leash! The last two times I have kept him on a 30ft long line. We went to Astoria and came onto the beach where the horseback riding folks normally go, there was hardly any people and we didn't see a single dog.
Seppel did really well with Flynn. He hasn't really had a chance to meet him because I was worried Seppel would eat him. Seppel was actually very patient with him and very appropriate in giving warnings and Flynn fully respected him. Seth actually reprimanded Flynn more than Seppel did, Flynn was a bit of a pest [he's young and crazy] and Seth would try to avoid him but Flynn would persist so Seth would tell him off.
This experience puts my mind as ease a bit that Seppel will not haul off and eat a dog necessarily. However I would be foolish to completely trust him because I have seen him try to eat a few small dogs and a puppy. However, it makes me feel better that he can interact with another dog and not completely maul them - which is what I had pictured in my head.
All four of the dogs had a blast and everyone was good and tired on the ride home.
Here are a few pictures, I took 300+ but the lighting wasn't so great as the sun was setting - several came out kind of grainy which bummed me out, but I got a few decent shots.
We left after work so we didn't get on the road until about 2pm.
I took Seth and Seppel and my friend had her two dogs Karmann and Flynn. I left Lilo at home because there wasn't room in the car for her, plus out of everyone Seth and Seppel need the exercise the most, and they can physically handle it.
This was Seppel's 3rd time at the beach and I actually was able to let him off leash! The last two times I have kept him on a 30ft long line. We went to Astoria and came onto the beach where the horseback riding folks normally go, there was hardly any people and we didn't see a single dog.
Seppel did really well with Flynn. He hasn't really had a chance to meet him because I was worried Seppel would eat him. Seppel was actually very patient with him and very appropriate in giving warnings and Flynn fully respected him. Seth actually reprimanded Flynn more than Seppel did, Flynn was a bit of a pest [he's young and crazy] and Seth would try to avoid him but Flynn would persist so Seth would tell him off.
This experience puts my mind as ease a bit that Seppel will not haul off and eat a dog necessarily. However I would be foolish to completely trust him because I have seen him try to eat a few small dogs and a puppy. However, it makes me feel better that he can interact with another dog and not completely maul them - which is what I had pictured in my head.
All four of the dogs had a blast and everyone was good and tired on the ride home.
Here are a few pictures, I took 300+ but the lighting wasn't so great as the sun was setting - several came out kind of grainy which bummed me out, but I got a few decent shots.
 |
| LOL nasty face! |
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Three Years?
I can't believe Seppel has been with me for three years! It seems like only yesterday I was asking friends if it was a good idea and begging my parents to let me "foster him".
Most everyone knows the story but I feel as it is our three year anniversary together I will share it again. Here is the original post I wrote when I started this blog that details how this all came to be:
Most everyone knows the story but I feel as it is our three year anniversary together I will share it again. Here is the original post I wrote when I started this blog that details how this all came to be:
"In 2011 I logged onto a dog forum that I frequented only to find out a
dear friend had passed away. I wondered about her three dogs, two pit
bulls and an older border collie but in the beginning nothing was said
about her dogs, just that they were okay. In the weeks leading up to the
dogs eventually needing a home the thought had crossed my mind "If only
I lived nearby..." It was only a fleeting thought, until it became a
reality. Eventually it was posted that one of the Pit Bulls and the
Border Collie would be needing a home. At first I jumped at the Border
Collie because she was OLD - it would be a short commitment, however,
when it came to be known that she was roughly 15+yrs flying her out to
Oregon from North Carolina did not look like a good option. In the midst
of jumping at the Border Collie posting, a posting for Seppel appeared.
I don't really remember the pm's that transpired, but it involved me
messaging the forum admin and saying if we could get Seppel out here I
would take him. The thing is, Seppel's owner sent me money to pay for my
late dog Sofie to get an MRI and the money she sent also covered some
of her chemo. It sounds super easy to take money from someone but it was
something I seriously hesitated to do - did my dog deserve it? Did I
deserve it? I would never be able to pay her back. The thing is,
Seppel's owner wanted to help me. She helped many people and many
pets in this way. It was humbling, and eye opening. And now, in
Seppel's time of need, in his late owner's time of need, I knew that the
way I could repay her was to promise to give her dog a good home to
live out the rest of his life. I got into contact with Seppel's late
owner's daughter, told her why I wanted to offer him a home, explained
how appreciative I was of everything her mother had done for me. I also
explained that this would be my first time ever owning a Pit Bull, that
most of my experience with them is through working in a veterinary
clinic and that my parents were not big fans of the breed. Fortunately
for me everyone involved felt I could offer Seppel a good home.
Through the efforts of the dog forum, and Seppel's late owner's daughter, Seppel was flown out here October 22nd, 2011"
It all seems like a blur to me now. I took on a dog that I had never met before, all I had to go on was what his former owner's daughter could tell me. I knew I was taking a big risk, especially given his breed. Pit Bulls do not have a good reputation, and rightfully so because there are many out there who are jerks. I couldn't have been more lucky and would never get a dog this way again - simply because I doubt it would work out so well.
The first year I didn't do much with him. Our time was spent mostly working on training and integrating him into my household. He got along with Seth and LiLo pretty well, but there were some bumps in the road. They had to be monitored outside because he would get too rough or try to hump them and if they reprimanded him he would get nasty. The played well inside together no problem but the play was way less intense inside.
I can't wait to
I think the beginning of his second year was when we found the sport of Schutzhund. It was something I had tried with Seth but he didn't have the toy or prey drive for it. We drove up to a club in washington and that is where I discovered that he was cut out for the sport. He hit the bite sleeve like he had been doing it his whole life. He took to it so naturally and we never looked back. I did some research and found a trainer down in Salem and the rest has pretty much been history.
I know I am lucky with how well things have turned out. He has made me completely fall in love with the pit bull breed and he has given me an opportunity to participate in a dog sport that I think is awesome. I can't picture my life without him now - simply because he is so animated and has so much personality. There is absolutely never a dull moment when he is around.
I scoured the internet for a song to make a short video/photo montage of him, I settled with some Frank Sinatra - I think the song definitely describes how I feel about him.
I can't wait to see what our future holds.
The first year I didn't do much with him. Our time was spent mostly working on training and integrating him into my household. He got along with Seth and LiLo pretty well, but there were some bumps in the road. They had to be monitored outside because he would get too rough or try to hump them and if they reprimanded him he would get nasty. The played well inside together no problem but the play was way less intense inside.
I can't wait to
I think the beginning of his second year was when we found the sport of Schutzhund. It was something I had tried with Seth but he didn't have the toy or prey drive for it. We drove up to a club in washington and that is where I discovered that he was cut out for the sport. He hit the bite sleeve like he had been doing it his whole life. He took to it so naturally and we never looked back. I did some research and found a trainer down in Salem and the rest has pretty much been history.
I know I am lucky with how well things have turned out. He has made me completely fall in love with the pit bull breed and he has given me an opportunity to participate in a dog sport that I think is awesome. I can't picture my life without him now - simply because he is so animated and has so much personality. There is absolutely never a dull moment when he is around.
I scoured the internet for a song to make a short video/photo montage of him, I settled with some Frank Sinatra - I think the song definitely describes how I feel about him.
I can't wait to see what our future holds.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
On being Cautious
Next Wednesday will be the three year anniversary of Seppel coming to live with me. A lot has changed in three years. No matter what I am always cautious with Seppel because I know what he can be capable of. However, I have lightened up a little bit.
I will never crate Seppel with Seth or LiLo.
-But I have left them alone in the car together before, many times. I feel like the car is a little different and they do have more space to get away if necessary. I don't do it a lot, but it has happened quite a few times. It has never resulted in a problem.
I will never leave Seppel unattended with my cat for extended periods of time.
-I do not trust that play will not turn into prey on accident.
I will never have him off leash in places where we may encounter other off-leash dogs.
-Seppel has a high prey drive and is reactive. He is not a dog park dog, and he is not a reliable off-leash dog. I am okay with that, I don't mind using a drag line [I have a 30ft line we use at the beach]. I know he would go after a small dog or puppy, and I know that his personality type does not get along with everyone. I know he is not always reliable off-leash and that he is impulsive and I have no desire to risk him getting hurt or him hurting someone else's dog.
-I do take him places to play ball off leash, but I can see who is coming around me and if there is a big distraction or another dog I will push him on leash. For the most part all he cares about is the ball when we are playing, but I am always cautious.
I'd like to address Seppel and the cat. Many of you know when I first got him he had an altercation with my cat where he somehow injured him, and he also chased after my horse. Because of the house renovation the cat and the dogs are all having to share my bed. The dogs have slept with me before - back when I was living at my grandmas, and the cat has always slept with me at my house. Until now, they had never really slept together. Napolean would occasionally join them on their dog beds, but never before had they all shared my bed together. I was very worried at first because my cat isn't afraid of the dogs and I was fearful that he would walk on them when they were sleeping, which he has done. The dogs tolerate him for the most part and will only growl occasionally - and it's Seth primarily who grumps about him walking around. What has really surprised me is Napolean and Seppel's relationship seems to have grown. Maybe Seppel is just tolerating him - but it really seems like things have changed. I shared several of these pictures on facebook and instagram but this is what I find daily:
The last two are from just minutes ago - the cat climbed right on top of Seppel!
I watch them very closely and would never leave them alone together in my room, but it does make me happy that after three years they are doing so well together, especially after such a rocky start.
Next week I'll try to rig up a 'gotcha day' post. So, so much has changed in three years, and I can't even believe it has been that long already.
I will never crate Seppel with Seth or LiLo.
-But I have left them alone in the car together before, many times. I feel like the car is a little different and they do have more space to get away if necessary. I don't do it a lot, but it has happened quite a few times. It has never resulted in a problem.
I will never leave Seppel unattended with my cat for extended periods of time.
-I do not trust that play will not turn into prey on accident.
I will never have him off leash in places where we may encounter other off-leash dogs.
-Seppel has a high prey drive and is reactive. He is not a dog park dog, and he is not a reliable off-leash dog. I am okay with that, I don't mind using a drag line [I have a 30ft line we use at the beach]. I know he would go after a small dog or puppy, and I know that his personality type does not get along with everyone. I know he is not always reliable off-leash and that he is impulsive and I have no desire to risk him getting hurt or him hurting someone else's dog.
-I do take him places to play ball off leash, but I can see who is coming around me and if there is a big distraction or another dog I will push him on leash. For the most part all he cares about is the ball when we are playing, but I am always cautious.
I'd like to address Seppel and the cat. Many of you know when I first got him he had an altercation with my cat where he somehow injured him, and he also chased after my horse. Because of the house renovation the cat and the dogs are all having to share my bed. The dogs have slept with me before - back when I was living at my grandmas, and the cat has always slept with me at my house. Until now, they had never really slept together. Napolean would occasionally join them on their dog beds, but never before had they all shared my bed together. I was very worried at first because my cat isn't afraid of the dogs and I was fearful that he would walk on them when they were sleeping, which he has done. The dogs tolerate him for the most part and will only growl occasionally - and it's Seth primarily who grumps about him walking around. What has really surprised me is Napolean and Seppel's relationship seems to have grown. Maybe Seppel is just tolerating him - but it really seems like things have changed. I shared several of these pictures on facebook and instagram but this is what I find daily:
I watch them very closely and would never leave them alone together in my room, but it does make me happy that after three years they are doing so well together, especially after such a rocky start.
Next week I'll try to rig up a 'gotcha day' post. So, so much has changed in three years, and I can't even believe it has been that long already.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Hidden Bite Sleeve
So today I got to test out whether or not my dog is a true liability.
Ryan put on the hidden bite sleeve today, and Seppel still bit him!
Seppel did see the sleeve beforehand as he watched Ryan put it on. He bit him a few times before we took the video I am about to share. Ryan tried to take video from his perspective but Seppel saw his hand and actually refused to bite. He just sat down in front of him and barked. Of course, that one moment of "there's no sleeve" passed.
We did this just for fun. I didn't think Seppel would go for it because there was no sleeve. He surprised me. We didn't do any weird scenario or anything like that, we just played like we do in training all the time. I don't think he would bite a random person, even if they were acting sketchy I am not sure. Ryan was moving the way he always does when we are in training, so I think it was very familiar for him. Regardless it was a fun time. I haven't had a chance to post pics from training because I need someone to come out with me and take them, so I thought I would share this.
Also, this past saturday I got to go watch the Schutzhund club train that we joined. I have to observe three times before we can participate. A huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders, the club is not super competitive, the highest level of dog is an IPO II, Seppel is very far along on the protection side. I think everyone will like my dog, and I think he will surprise a lot of them.
I was thinking about it and even if we just go for individual protection titles I will be satisfied. I would like to at least get an IPO I, but I also would be fine if we just titled in protection and I saved going "all the way" for my next dog who I can start from the beginning. But then again too, Seppel has at least 6 more years in him for training and we have all the time in the world to get his title. But it is something I was thinking about. Anyway, hope you enjoy the video! I love this guy <3<3
Ryan put on the hidden bite sleeve today, and Seppel still bit him!
Seppel did see the sleeve beforehand as he watched Ryan put it on. He bit him a few times before we took the video I am about to share. Ryan tried to take video from his perspective but Seppel saw his hand and actually refused to bite. He just sat down in front of him and barked. Of course, that one moment of "there's no sleeve" passed.
We did this just for fun. I didn't think Seppel would go for it because there was no sleeve. He surprised me. We didn't do any weird scenario or anything like that, we just played like we do in training all the time. I don't think he would bite a random person, even if they were acting sketchy I am not sure. Ryan was moving the way he always does when we are in training, so I think it was very familiar for him. Regardless it was a fun time. I haven't had a chance to post pics from training because I need someone to come out with me and take them, so I thought I would share this.
LoadingSo he did hesitate one time... But this is Seppel biting a hidden sleeve. #ipo #schutzhund #obedience #protection #bitework #bite #apbt #pitbull
Also, this past saturday I got to go watch the Schutzhund club train that we joined. I have to observe three times before we can participate. A huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders, the club is not super competitive, the highest level of dog is an IPO II, Seppel is very far along on the protection side. I think everyone will like my dog, and I think he will surprise a lot of them.
I was thinking about it and even if we just go for individual protection titles I will be satisfied. I would like to at least get an IPO I, but I also would be fine if we just titled in protection and I saved going "all the way" for my next dog who I can start from the beginning. But then again too, Seppel has at least 6 more years in him for training and we have all the time in the world to get his title. But it is something I was thinking about. Anyway, hope you enjoy the video! I love this guy <3<3
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Renovation Woes
We've been going through an interesting time here at the house. My parents are having the kitchen widened and the living room and family room turned into one big great room.
On the plus side, this means the dogs get to sleep in my room! My whole life our family dog(s) were not allowed to come into the back part of the house. There was a doorway to the hall from the living room and the dogs were not allowed to go through it. Although it sucked, it made sense because it at least kept the dog hair/dirt/etc from being ALL over the house, it was isolated to the front room.
The reno started on Monday, since then I have been bringing the dogs to work with me everyday. With all of the noises and strange people the dogs would be barking their heads off in my bedroom if I left them at home. Going to work isn't new for any of them, I bring Seppel everyday and a few days a week bring them all. I don't bring them all everyday because with just Seppel I can mess around or work with him on my lunch break, and that way too LiLo and Seth can be at home and be outside when my folks are home - so they don't need to be locked up. Seppel has to go everyday because I don't want the responsibility of him to fall on my parents and I don't fully trust him to not eat the cat or jump the fence. He's fine, and my parents do a good job - but I worry.
My lunch time at work is filled with me either walking the dogs or taking them out to chase the ball, when it starts raining they will be spending time on the slat mill. I want to give them a good energy outlet because they have to stay at work in kennels all day.
The cat is getting some flirt pole time in too! He's relegated to my room all day and other than his tree and a window there isn't a lot for him to do. I did get him some toys but he doesn't seem to be that interested in them.
Last I heard the reno will take about 5 weeks. We are one week down and I can only hope the time passes quickly. Here are some pictures of what the dogs have been up to:
On the plus side, this means the dogs get to sleep in my room! My whole life our family dog(s) were not allowed to come into the back part of the house. There was a doorway to the hall from the living room and the dogs were not allowed to go through it. Although it sucked, it made sense because it at least kept the dog hair/dirt/etc from being ALL over the house, it was isolated to the front room.
The reno started on Monday, since then I have been bringing the dogs to work with me everyday. With all of the noises and strange people the dogs would be barking their heads off in my bedroom if I left them at home. Going to work isn't new for any of them, I bring Seppel everyday and a few days a week bring them all. I don't bring them all everyday because with just Seppel I can mess around or work with him on my lunch break, and that way too LiLo and Seth can be at home and be outside when my folks are home - so they don't need to be locked up. Seppel has to go everyday because I don't want the responsibility of him to fall on my parents and I don't fully trust him to not eat the cat or jump the fence. He's fine, and my parents do a good job - but I worry.
My lunch time at work is filled with me either walking the dogs or taking them out to chase the ball, when it starts raining they will be spending time on the slat mill. I want to give them a good energy outlet because they have to stay at work in kennels all day.
The cat is getting some flirt pole time in too! He's relegated to my room all day and other than his tree and a window there isn't a lot for him to do. I did get him some toys but he doesn't seem to be that interested in them.
Last I heard the reno will take about 5 weeks. We are one week down and I can only hope the time passes quickly. Here are some pictures of what the dogs have been up to:
Friday, September 26, 2014
Fish Oil and Vitamin E Deficiency
Recently a friend brought this to my attention:
I almost killed my dog with fish oil.
The post is very concerning and I do supplement fish and flax oil with my dogs. However, there are a few things about this post that sketch me out. If you google vitamin e deficiency and fish oil and dogs, a lot of website reference this post.
This person only made one post on the forum. They never followed it up and I cannot find a webpage for the OP[original poster] specifically. The OP also does not say what they feed their dog, just that it is balanced. It leads me to believe the dog may have had a vitamin e deficiency due to a dietary problem.
I asked four veterinarians I work with and none of them had ever heard of fish oil depleting vitamin e. A coworker and I scoured the internet for answers. As I mentioned above, several websites referenced this post, but I couldn't really find a solid answer when it comes to fish oil and dogs.
What I did find was that it has been studied in humans and prolonged use of fish oil can deplete vitamin e in people.
http://www.cancer.org
"Prolonged use of fish oil supplements can cause vitamin E deficiency, which is why vitamin E is added to many supplements"
http://www.drweil.com/
"Levels of vitamin E may be affected by seizure medications, zinc and fish oils."
I haven't found any solid scientific proof that supplementing vitamin e when giving fish oil is necessary in dogs. I have also not been able to find other instances of other dogs getting sick/vitamin e deficient due to fish oil.
I found a few forums and websites that referenced giving a dose of anywhere from 100iu-800iu.
I decided it couldn't hurt to add a small amount of vitamin e to my dog's diets. I buy human fish oil that is not anything fancy, I basically buy whatever brand is on sale at whatever store I happen to be at when I need it. I am giving my dogs 200iu once a day. I will likely continue to give it, but if I stop I will try to remember to update this post.
Should you give vitamin e oil with fish oil? I can't answer confidently yes, or no. I encourage anyone reading this to research for themselves. I do think if you feed a raw or homemade diet you should consider supplementing unless you know the vitamin levels in your food. Kibble is preserved with mixed tocopherols, usually including various vitamin e sources.
I have been feeding fish oil since October/November of 2013 and my dogs have suffered no issues from it. If anything they have really benefited from both the fish and the flax oil - their coats are shiny and their skin isn't flaky and dry.
Anyway, this post probably just further complicates the issue because I can't give a solid answer, but hopefully it was somewhat useful.
****5/28/2015
-I stopped giving vitamin e. I really think Vitamin E Deficiency is an issue if you do not feed a complete diet. I still feed a balanced good brand of kibble - Canidae. I am not worried that fish oil will deplete my dog's vitamin e stores.
I almost killed my dog with fish oil.
The post is very concerning and I do supplement fish and flax oil with my dogs. However, there are a few things about this post that sketch me out. If you google vitamin e deficiency and fish oil and dogs, a lot of website reference this post.
This person only made one post on the forum. They never followed it up and I cannot find a webpage for the OP[original poster] specifically. The OP also does not say what they feed their dog, just that it is balanced. It leads me to believe the dog may have had a vitamin e deficiency due to a dietary problem.
I asked four veterinarians I work with and none of them had ever heard of fish oil depleting vitamin e. A coworker and I scoured the internet for answers. As I mentioned above, several websites referenced this post, but I couldn't really find a solid answer when it comes to fish oil and dogs.
What I did find was that it has been studied in humans and prolonged use of fish oil can deplete vitamin e in people.
http://www.cancer.org
"Prolonged use of fish oil supplements can cause vitamin E deficiency, which is why vitamin E is added to many supplements"
http://www.drweil.com/
"Levels of vitamin E may be affected by seizure medications, zinc and fish oils."
I haven't found any solid scientific proof that supplementing vitamin e when giving fish oil is necessary in dogs. I have also not been able to find other instances of other dogs getting sick/vitamin e deficient due to fish oil.
I found a few forums and websites that referenced giving a dose of anywhere from 100iu-800iu.
I decided it couldn't hurt to add a small amount of vitamin e to my dog's diets. I buy human fish oil that is not anything fancy, I basically buy whatever brand is on sale at whatever store I happen to be at when I need it. I am giving my dogs 200iu once a day. I will likely continue to give it, but if I stop I will try to remember to update this post.
Should you give vitamin e oil with fish oil? I can't answer confidently yes, or no. I encourage anyone reading this to research for themselves. I do think if you feed a raw or homemade diet you should consider supplementing unless you know the vitamin levels in your food. Kibble is preserved with mixed tocopherols, usually including various vitamin e sources.
I have been feeding fish oil since October/November of 2013 and my dogs have suffered no issues from it. If anything they have really benefited from both the fish and the flax oil - their coats are shiny and their skin isn't flaky and dry.
Anyway, this post probably just further complicates the issue because I can't give a solid answer, but hopefully it was somewhat useful.
****5/28/2015
-I stopped giving vitamin e. I really think Vitamin E Deficiency is an issue if you do not feed a complete diet. I still feed a balanced good brand of kibble - Canidae. I am not worried that fish oil will deplete my dog's vitamin e stores.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Humane Euthanasia
I have been wanting to write a post like this for some time, but have always felt like it was the wrong time. Tomorrow it has been a year since I euthanized my horse. I've really only mentioned her once here and it was a long time ago.
Many people struggle with making the decision to euthanize their animals. Most common responses of people who are considering euthanasia:
How do I know when it's time?
This is a very personal thing. Often times people will tell you 'you'll know'. I'd like to think that is the case most of the time. You have to make the decision when YOU are ready. You are the one who has to live with it at the end of the day. It is something that you as a pet owner need to be comfortable with. This website has a quality of life check-list. I personally don't like these kinds of forms, but some people need a visual of how bad it really is. Quality of life should be the number one priority for your pet.
I don't want to play god.
Well, that's interesting. Just by feeding/sheltering/caring for your dog - you are essentially playing god! By choosing to care for your pet and make life decisions for your pet, you are in charge. This is simply a really bad excuse for someone not wanting to make a decision.
I want them to die naturally.
I think it's fair to say that we all wish for our pets, and for us, that when the time comes they fall asleep and never wake up. While that does happen on occasion, it is very rare. It can take DAYS for the body to die. They can have seizures and respiratory distress in this time, they could be starving to death. It isn't a pretty picture at all and I know for myself personally, I want my pets to go out with dignity - not gasping for air. Also, something to think about; if you want your pet to die naturally then you need to go set it in an open field, or drop it off in the woods so that it can be eaten by another animal. That is how it is done in the 'natural wild'.
----
What is Euthanasia?
Wikipedia says:
"Euthanasia (from Greek: εὐθανασία; "good death": εὖ, eu; "well" or "good" – θάνατος, thanatos; "death") refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering.[1]"
The medications used for euthanasia are essentially an overdose of anesthetic.
How is euthanasia performed?
I can only speak from my experiences and from experiences of where I work. Every veterinary clinic does things differently. In the case of small animals - we always give a pre-sedative that makes the animal fall asleep. There are pros and cons to giving a pre - it lowers the blood pressure which can make it hard to find a vessel for the final injection. However in my opinion it really doesn't matter because they are asleep and they aren't feeling multiple pokes, nor will they feel the final IV injection. Also, it is rare but a pet can have a reaction to the euthanasia solution being given and it can be very terrible for an owner to see. As they are in the process of dying they may cry, moan, or gasp. I doubt they are actually conscious for this process, it's much like how dogs can be if they are given anesthetic and it goes sub-q instead of IV. They are completely dysphoric and unaware. By giving a pre-sedative you don't have to worry about anything like that happening.
In horses they usually do not give any type of a pre. The horse is dead before they hit the ground. I didn't want it to be that way for my horse, so I requested to have her be fully anesthetized before the final IV injection was given.
Some places will place an IV catheter before hand. Where I work, we do not do that. Although it makes the process easier for us - we don't like taking a pet from their owner for this final visit, and IMO it's unnecessary torture. Having an IV catheter placed is not comfortable and if the pet is still very 'with it' it can be a struggle. In the grand scheme it is not worth the stress placed on the pet or their owner.
----
I have been through a few euthanasias with my own pets, and I have helped out in several at work. I am only going to talk about the two most recent euthanasias in my semi-adult/adult life because they were both completely my decision.
The first pet I euthanized was my dog Sofie.
Sofie was 14yrs old when I made the decision to put her to sleep. She had been battling Sinonasal Carcinoma [nose cancer] and while her cancer had gone into remission with chemo for nearly a year, her kidneys finally failed her. With kidney failure, you can give your dog sub-q fluids everyday to keep them hydrated and you can given them a pill that makes them want to eat. I treated her for about a month poking her for fluids and feeding her whatever she would eat - without the pill. Her values were not that high, I mean, they were high enough to make her ill, but I have seen much worse. I decided when we got to the point that she would need medicine to make her eat, that I wouldn't do that to her. I did not want to keep Sofie around simply because I couldn't let her go. I did not want her eating because I was giving her a medicine that forced her to be hungry. In my mind I felt that she had lived a good, full life, and that it was okay to let her go. She was still 'with it' when I chose to euthanize her, she was fully aware and normal, but she definitely felt like crap due to her kidneys failing. I do not regret making the decision, I don't think I waited too long, and I don't think I did it too early. She looked great, and that is how I wanted it to be.
The second pet I euthanized was my horse Cairo.
A year ago tomorrow I drove Cairo to Noti Oregon to be humanely euthanized and then buried. This decision was not taken lightly. Horses are a bit different than dogs in that unless you have property you need to house them elsewhere and it can cost a lot of money. Money was not the complete deciding factor in my situation, but it did play a part.
In February of last year my horse Cairo was coming on 21yrs of age and she came up lame in her hind end. I had the vet out and we took x-rays and injected her hocks and one knee with steroids. She progressively got better in the hind end, but was off in the front. I'm not saying she was never lame a day in her life previously, because she did have issues with tender feet now and again, but this lameness I was feeling was different. She was short striding in the front end and it was very obvious to me. The vet told me it was a mechanical thing and she wasn't painful. However, watching friends ride her she looked very off to me. Throughout the spring and into the summer I took her on a few camping trips and a couple of trail rides. She came home seriously lame and limping nearly every time.
It sounds terrible but I will say it - I could not and cannot afford to have a horse that cannot be ridden. I had Cairo for 8 years, and for 8 years it was a struggle to keep her because horse ownership is SO expensive. Money aside though, my main concern was Cairo's happiness. Over the years of having her I did become complacent and did not ride as much as I did when I first got her. Cairo really needed to be ridden several times a week to stay sane. It was that last year that she had started bucking and crow-hopping because she simply was not being worked enough and was full of it. Since she was gimpy though, that made working her all the time impossible.
Cairo never saddled herself for me, but I am pretty sure she enjoyed being ridden, or at the very least just enjoyed the interaction. When I came to the barn she 'talked to me', and would meet me at the gate every time. I like to think she enjoyed my company just as much as I enjoyed hers.
There are a few things about Cairo I need to share.
Before I bought Cairo she was purchased from a rescue in Canada. I found out soon after purchasing her that she was bought at an auction, by the rescue 300lbs underweight. Knowing this history I was leery of placing her with anyone for fear that she would end up on the auction lot again.
A friend suggested giving her away as a broodmare. My first thoughts on this were - she's lame at 21yrs old, she has terrible feet, AND, what do people do with broodmares when they don't need them anymore? So you can see why that option did not look good to me either.
Although it was hard and seriously heart-breaking euthanasia seemed like the best option. Typically livestock gets taken away by a rendering service. I really couldn't stand the thought of my horse's body being thrown in a landfill... or being melted down - whatever they do there. I don't own my own property and it is illegal in either the county/city/state for us to bury horses on our property anyway. Cremation costs $1k+ and you would get 40lbs of ashes - which is a lot to deal with as well. Through a facebook group I learned about Omega Farms, they are a place down in Noti, Oregon that buries horses and other livestock. They do not have grave markers but they map the property and can take you to your pet's place of burial if you want to visit. My sister hauled Cairo down there for me, and my vet was nice enough to make the long drive down there as well. They usually don't give horses a pre - but I didn't want her to be awake for the final injection. I paid a little extra but was able to have her fully anesthetized, so she was already on the ground for the last injection. It's hard to explain what it was like... it was the crappiest decision I've ever had to make. I miss her everyday and think about her all the time. I know it was the best decision for her and for our situation, but she was a HUGE part of my life, literally and figuratively. I feel very blessed that I was able to do things the way that I did.
I wanted to share my own personal stories and experience with euthanasia because I know it can be a hard decision to make. When I have had to make 'the decision' it has not been easy, but I have always tried to place my pets before myself.
I hope this information helps put into perspective the decision making process and also helps explain how euthanasia works. I also hope for any friends who were wondering about Cairo that this fully explains why I made the decision I did. I can't believe a year has gone by already. I'll end this entry with pictures of my beautiful mare.
Many people struggle with making the decision to euthanize their animals. Most common responses of people who are considering euthanasia:
How do I know when it's time?
This is a very personal thing. Often times people will tell you 'you'll know'. I'd like to think that is the case most of the time. You have to make the decision when YOU are ready. You are the one who has to live with it at the end of the day. It is something that you as a pet owner need to be comfortable with. This website has a quality of life check-list. I personally don't like these kinds of forms, but some people need a visual of how bad it really is. Quality of life should be the number one priority for your pet.
I don't want to play god.
Well, that's interesting. Just by feeding/sheltering/caring for your dog - you are essentially playing god! By choosing to care for your pet and make life decisions for your pet, you are in charge. This is simply a really bad excuse for someone not wanting to make a decision.
I want them to die naturally.
I think it's fair to say that we all wish for our pets, and for us, that when the time comes they fall asleep and never wake up. While that does happen on occasion, it is very rare. It can take DAYS for the body to die. They can have seizures and respiratory distress in this time, they could be starving to death. It isn't a pretty picture at all and I know for myself personally, I want my pets to go out with dignity - not gasping for air. Also, something to think about; if you want your pet to die naturally then you need to go set it in an open field, or drop it off in the woods so that it can be eaten by another animal. That is how it is done in the 'natural wild'.
----
What is Euthanasia?
Wikipedia says:
"Euthanasia (from Greek: εὐθανασία; "good death": εὖ, eu; "well" or "good" – θάνατος, thanatos; "death") refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering.[1]"
The medications used for euthanasia are essentially an overdose of anesthetic.
How is euthanasia performed?
I can only speak from my experiences and from experiences of where I work. Every veterinary clinic does things differently. In the case of small animals - we always give a pre-sedative that makes the animal fall asleep. There are pros and cons to giving a pre - it lowers the blood pressure which can make it hard to find a vessel for the final injection. However in my opinion it really doesn't matter because they are asleep and they aren't feeling multiple pokes, nor will they feel the final IV injection. Also, it is rare but a pet can have a reaction to the euthanasia solution being given and it can be very terrible for an owner to see. As they are in the process of dying they may cry, moan, or gasp. I doubt they are actually conscious for this process, it's much like how dogs can be if they are given anesthetic and it goes sub-q instead of IV. They are completely dysphoric and unaware. By giving a pre-sedative you don't have to worry about anything like that happening.
In horses they usually do not give any type of a pre. The horse is dead before they hit the ground. I didn't want it to be that way for my horse, so I requested to have her be fully anesthetized before the final IV injection was given.
Some places will place an IV catheter before hand. Where I work, we do not do that. Although it makes the process easier for us - we don't like taking a pet from their owner for this final visit, and IMO it's unnecessary torture. Having an IV catheter placed is not comfortable and if the pet is still very 'with it' it can be a struggle. In the grand scheme it is not worth the stress placed on the pet or their owner.
----
I have been through a few euthanasias with my own pets, and I have helped out in several at work. I am only going to talk about the two most recent euthanasias in my semi-adult/adult life because they were both completely my decision.
The first pet I euthanized was my dog Sofie.
Sofie was 14yrs old when I made the decision to put her to sleep. She had been battling Sinonasal Carcinoma [nose cancer] and while her cancer had gone into remission with chemo for nearly a year, her kidneys finally failed her. With kidney failure, you can give your dog sub-q fluids everyday to keep them hydrated and you can given them a pill that makes them want to eat. I treated her for about a month poking her for fluids and feeding her whatever she would eat - without the pill. Her values were not that high, I mean, they were high enough to make her ill, but I have seen much worse. I decided when we got to the point that she would need medicine to make her eat, that I wouldn't do that to her. I did not want to keep Sofie around simply because I couldn't let her go. I did not want her eating because I was giving her a medicine that forced her to be hungry. In my mind I felt that she had lived a good, full life, and that it was okay to let her go. She was still 'with it' when I chose to euthanize her, she was fully aware and normal, but she definitely felt like crap due to her kidneys failing. I do not regret making the decision, I don't think I waited too long, and I don't think I did it too early. She looked great, and that is how I wanted it to be.
The second pet I euthanized was my horse Cairo.
A year ago tomorrow I drove Cairo to Noti Oregon to be humanely euthanized and then buried. This decision was not taken lightly. Horses are a bit different than dogs in that unless you have property you need to house them elsewhere and it can cost a lot of money. Money was not the complete deciding factor in my situation, but it did play a part.
In February of last year my horse Cairo was coming on 21yrs of age and she came up lame in her hind end. I had the vet out and we took x-rays and injected her hocks and one knee with steroids. She progressively got better in the hind end, but was off in the front. I'm not saying she was never lame a day in her life previously, because she did have issues with tender feet now and again, but this lameness I was feeling was different. She was short striding in the front end and it was very obvious to me. The vet told me it was a mechanical thing and she wasn't painful. However, watching friends ride her she looked very off to me. Throughout the spring and into the summer I took her on a few camping trips and a couple of trail rides. She came home seriously lame and limping nearly every time.
It sounds terrible but I will say it - I could not and cannot afford to have a horse that cannot be ridden. I had Cairo for 8 years, and for 8 years it was a struggle to keep her because horse ownership is SO expensive. Money aside though, my main concern was Cairo's happiness. Over the years of having her I did become complacent and did not ride as much as I did when I first got her. Cairo really needed to be ridden several times a week to stay sane. It was that last year that she had started bucking and crow-hopping because she simply was not being worked enough and was full of it. Since she was gimpy though, that made working her all the time impossible.
Cairo never saddled herself for me, but I am pretty sure she enjoyed being ridden, or at the very least just enjoyed the interaction. When I came to the barn she 'talked to me', and would meet me at the gate every time. I like to think she enjoyed my company just as much as I enjoyed hers.
There are a few things about Cairo I need to share.
- She had terrible Thoroughbred feet. Her feet were flat and her soles were soft. She needed shoes 24/7 in order to stay sound. She also needed a farrier who knew what they were doing.
- She was a bitch. She could not be pastured with other horses because she would beat them up over food or shelter.
- She was a very hard keeper in the winter time. I had to feed her high fat/high protein food to keep the weight on, and she also needed good quality hay.
Before I bought Cairo she was purchased from a rescue in Canada. I found out soon after purchasing her that she was bought at an auction, by the rescue 300lbs underweight. Knowing this history I was leery of placing her with anyone for fear that she would end up on the auction lot again.
A friend suggested giving her away as a broodmare. My first thoughts on this were - she's lame at 21yrs old, she has terrible feet, AND, what do people do with broodmares when they don't need them anymore? So you can see why that option did not look good to me either.
Although it was hard and seriously heart-breaking euthanasia seemed like the best option. Typically livestock gets taken away by a rendering service. I really couldn't stand the thought of my horse's body being thrown in a landfill... or being melted down - whatever they do there. I don't own my own property and it is illegal in either the county/city/state for us to bury horses on our property anyway. Cremation costs $1k+ and you would get 40lbs of ashes - which is a lot to deal with as well. Through a facebook group I learned about Omega Farms, they are a place down in Noti, Oregon that buries horses and other livestock. They do not have grave markers but they map the property and can take you to your pet's place of burial if you want to visit. My sister hauled Cairo down there for me, and my vet was nice enough to make the long drive down there as well. They usually don't give horses a pre - but I didn't want her to be awake for the final injection. I paid a little extra but was able to have her fully anesthetized, so she was already on the ground for the last injection. It's hard to explain what it was like... it was the crappiest decision I've ever had to make. I miss her everyday and think about her all the time. I know it was the best decision for her and for our situation, but she was a HUGE part of my life, literally and figuratively. I feel very blessed that I was able to do things the way that I did.
I wanted to share my own personal stories and experience with euthanasia because I know it can be a hard decision to make. When I have had to make 'the decision' it has not been easy, but I have always tried to place my pets before myself.
I hope this information helps put into perspective the decision making process and also helps explain how euthanasia works. I also hope for any friends who were wondering about Cairo that this fully explains why I made the decision I did. I can't believe a year has gone by already. I'll end this entry with pictures of my beautiful mare.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
LiLo & IPO
Last week I took LiLo to training with Seppel. I figured she's getting older and I just wanted to see if she could do it.
LiLo has prey drive - she's killed and eaten at least three squirrels on her own, she loves the flirt pole and she will also chase the ball. I consider her to have a decent amount of prey drive and just drive in general to follow through with something.
When I took her to training last week, she barked at Ryan but did not want to engage him with the tug. She was too "worried" about him to want to play.
I brought her out again yesterday, she was willing to play with the tug with me, and also willing to grab the bite sleeve a few times. However, she lost interest a couple of times and also wasn't fully committed to getting the bite sleeve.
It really put into perspective for me how lucky I got with Seppel. You really can't just take any dog and hope they work out for the sport. While I thought LiLo had the drive to do it, I was very wrong. I also thought that her being a bit weird/sketchy would make her a good candidate, but she is just a big fat weener!
I think the main difference between her and Seppel is that he is more confident - especially when it comes to getting the things he wants, and he wants to grab anything that moves. I think that is why he took to the bite sleeve so quickly - because he likes to chase and grab things. Granted, LiLo is that way with the flirt pole but I think the drive to 'chase and grab' is a lot lower in her than it is in Seppel.
I really count my blessing everyday that I have a dog I can play IPO with.
Apparently LiLo is happy just being a great buddy dog :)
LiLo has prey drive - she's killed and eaten at least three squirrels on her own, she loves the flirt pole and she will also chase the ball. I consider her to have a decent amount of prey drive and just drive in general to follow through with something.
When I took her to training last week, she barked at Ryan but did not want to engage him with the tug. She was too "worried" about him to want to play.
I brought her out again yesterday, she was willing to play with the tug with me, and also willing to grab the bite sleeve a few times. However, she lost interest a couple of times and also wasn't fully committed to getting the bite sleeve.
It really put into perspective for me how lucky I got with Seppel. You really can't just take any dog and hope they work out for the sport. While I thought LiLo had the drive to do it, I was very wrong. I also thought that her being a bit weird/sketchy would make her a good candidate, but she is just a big fat weener!
I think the main difference between her and Seppel is that he is more confident - especially when it comes to getting the things he wants, and he wants to grab anything that moves. I think that is why he took to the bite sleeve so quickly - because he likes to chase and grab things. Granted, LiLo is that way with the flirt pole but I think the drive to 'chase and grab' is a lot lower in her than it is in Seppel.
I really count my blessing everyday that I have a dog I can play IPO with.
Apparently LiLo is happy just being a great buddy dog :)
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
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