Cara Mia became Shay Shay and went to her new home

Shay now lives in southern California.  Her new mom and brother came clear out to the end of the world to get her.  They wanted to see the Elwha River to make sure that they knew where she came from.  I think that Deborah fell for the Pacific NW just a tad.  She seemed enchanted to me.  Who wouldn't be?!!!!  The spring flowers are beginning to be everywhere!

They meet and it was love at first sight!

Does she ever get to be on the ground again?

Happy family.

Will I sleep under this next week?  Not if the coconuts will fall!

Exciting to be going back to visit my house and my grandboys in Hawaii!  Frank and Michelle too!

So, I'll be back after the 12th. 
Ciao,
C Curmudgeon

March 26, 2013

So, the last of Touille's litter goes to HER home today.  Ms. Cara Mia, soon to be Shay, will leave when her new mom and brother get here.  Deborah and her son have been regaled in Seattle by wonderful weather since the weekend as they explored the glass factories, Pike Place Market, nifty restaurants, etc.  Today they rent a car to come out to the end of beyond and pick up this little blue minx.  I will miss this spirited, sweet girl.  I am struck by her elegance when she stacks herself and hope to goodness that Deborah has fun with her in the ring and elsewhere!  Can't see why she won't.

Spencer, now Snoop, after Deacon and a few other names were discarded, is securely in his new home with Chris and Dan and Snoop's grandma.  They are all in love and Snoop now knows what a Pug is!!!  Sadie is tolerating him.  He is reportedly helping Chris with the spring trimming and yard work!  Lucky Chris!

We have had some magnificent weather the last bit after a few very wet days.  Janie came for six days and lucked out on the weather end of it.  We had some mildly rainy days while she was here, but even when we went to the RAIN FOREST, it didn't rain.  We had fun kibitzing with the rangers there who thought that the dogs were fun and interesting.  No, we didn't take them on the US Forest Service trails!

Bremerton dog shows were this past weekend.  We bombed on Sat. and did VERY well on Sunday.  Dog shows!

Pip and I or Mai and I may go to Colorado for a Nosework camp.  Doesn't that sound amazingly cool?!!!!!  I'm excited.

Mai will soon be in her first dog show getting ready for showing.  She has to get used to the ring, etc.  The first dog shows these guys attend are to get used to the people, noise, dogs, chaos, etc. and let none of it bother them.  They first need to learn to have FUN at dog shows.  She will be a challenge as I haven't found anything yet that tempts her to eat it when she is a bit nervous!

Mai starts Nosework very shortly.  I am excited to have yet another sniffer dog!  Try it, you'll like it!  Snoop starts very shortly as do some of the others.  Lucky dogs.

Shay, before Deborah gets here!

Shay.  She is quite cute, don't you think?

Shay and her best bud, Mai.

Chilling at work.  "Don't bother us, Mom!"

Shay with brother Snoop.  Boys like to chill like this.

Burlap, Mai's daddy.

Side view of Burlap.  Gorgeous dog.

Flowers from Janie.

Spring flowers are here!!!!

Janie in the rain forest WITHOUT rain!!!!!!

Janie's biggest disappointment was that I didn't show her a bunch of exotic wildlife.  I showed her plenty of elk, which is what other company had wanted to see, but I didn't find a bobcat, bear, cougar, etc. for her to see!  Can't have it all, I guess!  We definitely had fun together.  Next fall she wants a puppy, but wants me to take him to Colorado!  Will SHE show ME exotic animals?!!!!

This is the exotic stuff I showed Janie.  Do they get this in Colorado?!!!!  I think not!

More trees with exotic fur!!!

This is what I get to see starting April 2 for ten days!

Another of the wonderful foliage seen on the Big Island.  Here I come!!!!

Until the next time!
Curmudgeonville

More on neutering

Basis for Position on Mandatory Spay-Neuter in the Canine and Feline Members of the Spay Neuter Task Force  The American College of Theriogenologists (ACT) is the certifying college for veterinarians board certified in reproduction (specialists) and the Society for Theriogenology (SFT) is an organization of veterinarians with a special interest in reproduction in veterinary medicine. The ACT and SFT believe that companion animals not intended for breeding should be spayed or neutered; however, both organizations believe that the decision to spay or neuter a pet must be made on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the pet’s age, breed, sex, intended use, household environment and temperament.  The use of generalized rules concerning gonadectomy (removal of the ovaries or testes) is not in the best interest of the health or well-being of the pets or their owners. Each of the following considerations must be assessed for each individual animal and household. 1)       Health concerns a.       Research has shown that there can be positive effects of the sex steroid hormones.  The sex steroids are hormones produced by the ovaries and testes, and are only present in intact males and females. Gonadectomy at any age deprives the body of the positive health effects of these hormones.  Although in most cases, the benefits of spay-neuter outweigh the benefits of exposure to the sex steroids, this is not true in all cases. Since gonadectomy prior to puberty or sexual maturity may make the risks of some diseases higher in certain breeds or individuals, the option to leave an animal intact must be available to the pet owner.                                                                i.      Advantages of remaining intact: 1.       There is a decreased incidence of hemangiosarcoma in intact bitches and dogs. 2.       There is a decreased incidence of osteosarcoma in intact male and female dogs. 3.       There is a decreased risk of transitional cell carcinoma in intact dogs and bitches. 4.       There is a decreased risk of prostatic adenocarcinoma in intact male dogs compared to gonadectomized male dogs. 5.       There is a decreased incidence of obesity in intact male and female dogs and cats, which may be due at least partly to increased metabolic rate. 6.       There is a decreased incidence of urinary incontinence in intact bitches (equivocal if bitches are spayed after 5 months but before their first heat). 7.       There may be a reduced incidence of urinary tract infection in intact bitches. 8.       There may be a reduced incidence of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) in intact male and female cats which may be partly due to decreased obesity in these animals. 9.       There may be a reduced incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in intact male and female dogs. 10.   There is a decreased incidence of diabetes mellitus in intact female cats and a possibly reduced incidence in diabetes mellitus in intact male dogs.  11.   There is a reduced incidence of cranial cruciate rupture in intact male and female dogs. 12.   There may be a reduced incidence of hip dysplasia in male and female dogs that are not gonadectomized before 5 months of age. 13.   There may be an increased incidence of capital physeal fractures in castrated male cats that may be partially due to increased weight gain in gonadectomized males. b.       Research has shown that there are a number of detrimental effects of the sex steroid hormones.  Spaying and neutering will remove these hormones and thus lower the risk of these conditions.                                                                 i.      Advantages of being spayed or castrated: 1.       There is an increased risk of mammary, testicular, and ovarian neoplasia in intact male and female dogs and cats.  a.       There is an increased risk of mammary cancer with each subsequent cycle and the benefit of spaying does not disappear until the animal reaches old age.                                                                                                                                        i.      Mammary cancer is one of the most common types of neoplasia in small animals. 1.       Mammary neoplasia is malignant 60% of the time in dogs and 90% of the time in cats. b.       The incidence and mortality risk for ovarian cancer are very low c.       The incidence for testicular cancer is more common but malignancy and mortality are very low. 2.       There is an increased risk of pyometra in both intact female dogs and cats and this risk increases with increasing age. 3.       There is an increased risk of prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic cysts and squamous metaplasia of the prostate in intact male dogs. 4.       There is a decreased incidence of perineal and inguinal hernia and perineal adenoma in neutered male dogs. c.       Based on the research available, it is clear there are a number of health benefits of the sex steroid hormones and that this benefit varies with age, sex, and breed. Therefore, although spay-neuter is the responsible choice for most pets, it is in the best interest of each individual patient for its veterinarian to assess the risks and benefits of gonadectomy and to advise his/her clients on what is appropriate for each individual pet at each stage of its life.  2)        Behavioral concerns a.       Research has shown that there are positive effects of the sex steroid hormones on behavior.                                                                 i.      Advantages of remaining intact: 1.       There is a decrease in shyness and hiding behavior in intact male and female cats. 2.       There may be less aggression towards people and animals in intact bitches. 3.       There may be a decreased incidence of cognitive dysfunction in intact male and female dogs. b.       Research has shown that there are negative effects of the sex steroid hormones on behavior.                                                                 i.      Advantages of being spayed or castrated: 1.       Inter-dog aggression may be due to competition for available territory or availability of cycling animals. 2.       Urine spraying and inter-animal aggression is increased in intact male cats. 3.       There is a decreased risk of wandering and being hit by a car in neutered animals. 3)       Provision of quality medical care a.       It is not in the animals’ best interest to have the legislature dictate the time or need for surgical treatment.                                                                 i.      This does not allow for medical decisions based on the individual animal’s needs, its owners’ needs or the needs of the household. 1.       Animals with medical conditions that may result in complications during anesthesia or surgery (i.e. heart murmurs, bleeding disorders). 2.       Providing appropriate aftercare for surgical patients may not be feasible in some home situations. b.       Restricting and reducing the pool of purebred animals will greatly hinder medical research of conditions that are particular to specific breeds, slowing down advances in medical and surgical knowledge.  This may in turn impact the research available concerning health conditions common to both animals and people.   4)       Public Health concerns a.       Making spay/neuter mandatory for licensure may make the public more hesitant to seek veterinary assistance because they are afraid of fines and legal repercussions as a result of failing to spay or neuter their pets by the prescribed time.  By avoiding veterinary care for their pets, animals will be at increased risk of inadequate routine vaccination (including rabies) and inadequate deworming programs which may in turn result in increased transmission of disease to the public. The ACT and SFT make the following recommendations to continue moving toward effective methods of reducing the number of abandoned, unwanted and euthanized dogs and cats in the US and other countries where similar problems exist. a.       Provide increased jurisdictional control to the AVMA Governmental Relations division, Animal Welfare Committee, and the APHIS-Animal Care division. b.       Ensure suppliers to pet stores are providing adequate care for breeding stock and offspring. c.      Support programs to expand the public awareness of pet overpopulation, acceptable breeding standards, and responsibilities of pet ownership.  Provide the public a means to access assistance with concerns of pet health, ownership, behavior and management issues. d.      Work with state and local rescue and humane societies to assemble accurate data on causes for relinquishment of dogs and cats to enable these organizations, federal and local governments, and veterinary organizations to address the fundamental causes of abandonment. e.       Provide low cost spay/neuter facilities for economically disadvantaged persons and communities. f.         Continue to work on reduction of feral cat populations. g.       Establish programs to ensure access of breeders to proper reproductive care and counseling. h.       Provide local or federal governmental assistance to registered rescue organizations to facilitate placement of unwanted pets. The ACT and SFT do not believe that mandatory spay/neuter programs will significantly reduce the pet overpopulation problems, since most animals that are abandoned are relinquished because of behavior, health, economic and life changing conditions and not due to their reproductive status.  In fact, in some European Union countries where gonadectomy is illegal unless deemed medically necessary (such as Norway) there are no significant problems with pet overpopulation, indicating that the pet overpopulation problem that exists in the United States is due to cultural differences on the importance of pets, the responsibility of pet owners, and the ability of the government and national agencies to properly educate the public.  Although both organizations believe that most companion animals should be spayed or neutered, the ACT and SFT also strongly believe that it is not in the best interest of the animals to produce legislation regarding medical treatments, Therefore, both organizations oppose mandatory spay/neuter programs.  There are hundreds of references which provide scientific information on the effects of spay and neuter in both dogs and cats.  We chose to provide the reader with a selected list of them.  This reference list was compiled by Dr. Peggy Root-Kustritz, DACT. References

American College of Theriogenologists P.O. Box 3065 Montgomery, AL 36109 334-395-4666 334-270-3399 (FAX)

Two to go!

Kassey and Sunset

Tired puppy on the train.

Sunset

IQ went to live with his new boy, Angus, on Friday.  I hear that Angus is a bit overwhelmed trying to be a GREAT dog owner.  He is a great kid, very responsible and taking this having a puppy to heart so that his boy will be the best boy in the world!  IQ gets to keep his puppy name, or change it slightly to Ike.  How lucky can one puppy get, to have his own boy, do agility, etc?!!!!!
Well, he could be Sunset, who yet is unnamed.  Sunset has a new lady who is a dog lover/trainer/groomer.  She flew in from Colorado on Saturday, took a plane, train, and ferry to get to Sunset and me as we were meeting her on Bainbridge Island.  Sunset and she then reversed that progression and they flew to Colorado and made it there safely.  Sunset will show in conformation and THEN do agility, tracking, etc.  Lucky dog!!!

First daffodil of the year opened yesterday.

Aren't my crocus beautiful?

Kathleen came to visit this weekend!!!

Kate has visions of "stealing" the now named "Bug."

Two OCDs.  Kathleen plucking Touille, and Pip chewing a rawhide!

More Kate and Bug.

And more.  Notice the love look?

IQ on his way to Portland.

Mai learning to get on the Bosu ball with the little puppies.

Cara Mia "grooming" Kathleen's arm.  Hurts and tickles.  Kate still has Bug.

Gorgeous helebore.

Kate and Bug.

Cara Mia, or, as Kate was calling her, Quesadilla, Carnitas, tortilla, and more.  We had to laugh at Kate.

Mai, Cara Mia and Bug.  Yesterday was SUNNY!!!!  And warm.

I'll add Angus and IQ's picture when I find what I did with it.  Darn curmudgeons anyway!!!!

OK. Worth the read, believe it or not!!!!

Two pictures below!!!!!  
Read to the end.  Do NOT vaccinate for leptospirosis!

By Dr. Becker

Canine leptospirosis, “lepto” for short, is an infection caused by at least four species of Leptospira bacteria, or serovars. We know there are actually over 20 different serovars in existence that could potentially infect dogs and hundreds of non-pathogenic serovars.

Leptospira are found in both domesticated and wild animals, and the main carriers of the bacteria are rats, pigs, raccoons, cattle, fox, skunks and opossums.

More Cases of Leptospirosis are Being Reported

In recent years there has been an increase in canine lepto cases, probably due to better diagnostic testing methods and not necessarily because more infections are occurring.

It’s important to understand that while leptospirosis is not a new disease, the number of cases being reported is likely increasing because humans are encroaching more and more into natural habitats – which means family pets are coming in contact with wildlife known to harbor the bacteria. In addition, we also have better diagnostics these days with which to diagnose the disease.

How the Bacteria is Transmitted

Leptospira bacteria are transmitted through urine that contaminates water sources and can remain infectious in soil for up to six months. Dogs pick up the bacteria through a cut or break in the skin when they come in contact with contaminated water or soil, or when they drink contaminated water.

Dogs most at risk for leptospirosis are those that spend a lot of time in the water or in areas that get rain or snow runoff, as well as dogs that drink from puddles or ponds.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis

Many dogs with mild lepto infections never show any symptoms at all. Generally speaking, young dogs tends tend to get sicker than older dogs.

Clinical signs depend on the age and health of the dog, environmental factors affecting the bacteria, and the virulence of the particular species (serovar) of bacteria that is present.

When symptoms do occur they usually appear between 4 and 12 days after exposure to the bacteria, and can include fever, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, and blood in the urine.

A lepto infection primarily affects the kidneys and liver, so in serious cases, there can be jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. In dogs, it is usually most obvious in the whites of the eyes. Jaundice indicates the presence of hepatitis (liver inflammation) as a result of the destruction of liver cells by the bacteria.

Blood clotting problems can also develop, which can result in blood in the stool and bleeding from the tissues of the mouth. In rare cases, leptospirosis can also cause respiratory distress and acute pulmonary (lung) hemorrhage.

Treating Leptospirosis

Some dogs exposed to lepto recover without medical treatment because they never show overt symptoms. Unfortunately, an untreated dog who recovers from the infection can become a carrier and shed the bacteria in urine for up to a year. The risk here is that lepto can be zoonotic – meaning humans who come in contact with infected dog urine are at risk of acquiring the infection.

In most cases, a lepto infection causes symptoms, and hopefully, those symptoms will prompt the dog’s owner to get him to a veterinarian. Dogs that become seriously ill with leptospirosis must be hospitalized to receive antibiotics and appropriate supportive care to control vomiting and diarrhea, and to provide hydration and nutrition.

Dogs with milder infections can be managed at home as long as the owner takes appropriate hygiene precautions when cleaning up urine. If your dog has lepto and anyone in your family develops flu-like symptoms, it’s important that you inform your family physician that a leptospirosis infection is a possibility.

Minimizing Your Pet’s Risk of Infection … and When to Call the Vet

Leptospira bacteria love warm humid climates and are often found in stagnant water. As I mentioned earlier, wild animals can also harbor the bacteria, so dogs exposed to potentially contaminated water sources or wild animals are at much greater risk of developing an infection than city dogs. Infection is most common in the summer months, the early fall, and during periods of flooding.

At home you can reduce the risk of infection by safely controlling the rodent population in and around your home. If you happen to live where lepto infections are very common, it’s important to keep your pet away from ponds, slow moving water, and standing or stagnant water.

That being said, I have a warm, stagnant cesspool of a pond that wildlife love to come and visit, and my dogs love to swim in every day during the summer. I’m pretty sure my own pack has been exposed to lepto bacteria, but because I keep their immune systems healthy and stay very alert for any symptoms of infection, I’m not overly concerned. This is also the advice I give to my clients.

If you have a very healthy dog who suddenly has a fever, grows lethargic, perhaps is urinating excessively or is urinating bright fresh blood, you need to call your veterinarian immediately and get your pet in for a lepto test. Leptospirosis is a totally treatable bacterial infection -- it’s only when a diagnosis isn’t made early enough that dogs suffer unnecessarily.

OK.  This is the Old Curmudgeon speaking.  Dr. Ronald Schultz says, as I understand it, not to vaccinate for lepto because if one does, and if there is cross reaction to the serovar your dog may have, that the dog will be partially immune only.  A partially immune dog will shed the bacteria and YOU might catch it.  It could destroy your kidneys and cause jaundice before you know what you have.  Not worth the risk.  It is even better for the dog to be sicker so that one can know it is sick and treat it!
One of the dogs that lived in my house once and now lives elsewhere had it.  His family says that a civet cat was in their garage and sprayed.  Radar then became ill after exploring the garage and that skunk-y smell.  He stopped eating and was "punk."  The whites of his eyes turned red and that, along with the other symptoms, is what alerted the vet to know he had Leptospirosis.  He was cured very shortly after being started on antibiotics.  He had no after effects.  No human became sick.  Good outcome.

Where's that picture when I need it?!!!!!!    

The storefront in front of my Hawaii house!  It's historic!

Zinger!!!!