We headed out to the dog park Wednesday morning to meet up with Gabby the Newf and her human.  Misty’s knee is still a little under the weather so she has not been able to meet us the past couple of trips.  Get well Misty!  We miss you.

We were lucky enough to have a warm and sunny February Day.  The high was actually 50°F and we were able to enjoy it before the rain moved in and the temps plummeted down into the 30’s again.  I am ready for spring, thats for sure.

Even though the water was COLD and still had an icy crust, Rufus wanted in to splash around.  BOYS!

“Come Here - I have something funny to tell you”

Hopefully we will get another nice day soon.

My friend Gina Heitland posted this “story” and series of photos of her dogs on the Big Dogs Porch formum this morning.  I almost died laughing.  Enjoy and Happy Friday. Thanks Gina for the laugh!

So with out further ado….

the Vampyre Puppeh

I don’t want anyone to be shocked by what they see. I know a fair bit about Vamps but this even threw ME for a loop. I always suspected Shirley was something MORE than a mere evil puppeh…and now I know…I know for sure. I don’t know what to do…she’s watching me type this…I’m skeerd!

Bleah Bleah Bleah….Vampyre Puppeh is looking for a veektim!

Spotted…and marked for the feast…First one must use mind control to get the victim subdued…

“Yesss that is it…you are delieeeshush…you will be my friend foreeeeever…just lie dooown”

Ahh yesss…subdued…ready, ripe for the feed!

LOOK AWAY NOW IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH!!!

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aHH….the stinging KISS…the feed….ahhh….

MUAH HA HA….I FEEL MY POWER GROWING…AND SEE? NOW THIS FAIR CREATURE IS ALSO…ONE OF MY KIND!! She shall do MY bidding…and ONLY mine…FOREVAHHH! *hissssss*

More of Gina’s gorgeous Photography can bee seen Here.  All photos are copyright Gina Heitland, used here with permission.  Thanks Gina!

When I was younger and lived in the South West I celebrated Mardi Gras every year.  I guess since its warmer there (its 22°F right now) its easier to have Mardi Gras parties, who knows.  But since moving north, no one even mentions it.  But true to my roots, I celebrate it at home.  Not in a traditional way mind you, I celebrate with my dogs.  I dress up Brutus and Rufus in flashy Mardi Gras attire and photograph them. How do you celebrate Mardi Gras?

Happy Fat Tuesday!

“Misty at the park”

“Basja at the lake”

Yes - I am still dealing with Apollo’s ear issues. But we finally have an answer and the culprit. After lab cultures countless rounds of oral antibiotics, ointments, drops and cleaners - Apollo has a resistant gram negative pseudomonas infection of his MIDDLE ear.

The infection is resistant to most of the antibiotics tested but we have found one that it seems quite sensitive to. I am picking up a bottle of Gentamicin Ophthalmic Solution today and hoping for the best.

The vet (Dr Stoughton) feels that its a good possibility that he obtained this infection through his blood stream when he was attacked a few years ago requiring two revisions. The bacteria has laid dormant in his middle ear (a haven for bacteria to hang out) and some sort of trauma or stress/allergy has caused it to rear its ugly little head (oh wait its bacteria… it doesn’t have a head).  Once we get the infection under control our next order is to try an isolate any allergies that may be causing problems whether it be environmental or food allergies.

I have cut out all treats and table scraps from his diet other than Science Diet hypoallergenic Treats and his Taste of the Wild dog food. Paws and Fingers crossed we can get to the bottom of things soon and Apollo’s ears will be “normal” again.

Have I mentioned how much I love my new vet?  He is FABULOUS and so is his staff! For those of you that didn’t know, we switched vets recently to one that is closer to home.  I originally wanted to stick with the clinic I had been at for years, but the drive turned out to be a 2 hr round trip - way too far if there were ever an emergency.  So I started searching and found Dr John Stoughton at the Westerville Veterinary Clinic located at 69 Huber Village Blvd in Westerville, Ohio - the next suburb over from me and it only takes about 8 minutes to get there door to door.

They opened the doors to their new clinic the first week of January. The new state of the art facility was constructed from the ground up replacing their old facility just a stone’s throw away.  Dr Stoughton is a seasoned small animal vet and dental specialist. (This month is Pet Dental Health Month too… ) His courteous and knowledgeable staff (we especially like Allie and Bridget) are excellent to work with.  I trust Dr Stoughton 100% with my babies and am thrilled to have found him.

If you are looking for a Vet in the central Ohio area, he is HIGHLY recommended. Give them a call at 614-882-2332 and see why he is Hera, Zeus, Rufus and Apollo Approved! (Eris and Brutus havent seen him yet)

Rufus and his girly friend Gabby at the dog park today.

Its been close to six months since they have seen one another but the immediatly remembered and picked up where they left off. They were quite smitten with one another!

Happy Valentines Day!

I am entering the monthly photo contest on Ruffdogs Forum.  The theme this month is “snow dogs”  I have picked out 5 of my favorite “snow pix” from last winter, but cant decide which one to enter.  What do you think?

Happy February everyone.  Its so hard to believe this year is cruising along at such a break neck speed.  It seems like just yesterday it was Christmas and the day before that I was at Bark Park enjoying the sun.

Poor Rufus is a little under the weather.  (As you can see above, he is getting some extra love.)  He started hacking a little bit last night.  Nothing huge, but I am pretty sure its a very mild case of Kennel Cough (infectious tracheobronchitis or bordetella).  The time frame coincides with his trip to the vet (Kennel Cough incubation is around 2-10 days from exposure) which is a prime spot for dogs to pick it up.  He had the intranasal vaccine at his visit and from what I am reading some dogs can have nasal discharge or sneezing for about a week afterward.  He has neither but a slight hacking every once in awhile.

I hate over vaccinating!  And the Bordetella vaccine is not a required vaccine… but since I have so many dogs, I really need to try and prevent an outbreak among the pack.  Kennel Cough is HIGHLY contagious and would really be a pain in the you know what if all 6 caught it at the same time (which of course Sod’s Law would dictate)

Kennel Cough is considered self limiting and does not require antibiotics unless there is something secondary going on as well. I have been told antibiotics are more for the comfort of the owner not the dog… lol  A dose of Robitussin (the plain stuff) works wonders.  Kennel Cough usually lasts about 1 week and as long as the dog has symptoms (any coughing) it is contageious.

Apollo isn’t feeling too well either!  He raided the trash when I was out picking up my son at the mall!  I came home and he had gotten hold of the left over chocolate cake - grrrrr!  He then had an upset tummy and left a nasty mess for me in my closet.  Needless to say, I am renting a carpet steamer tomorrow and shampooing my carpets!  Instead of the Super Bowl, I just had the Pooper Bowl. Feel better soon boys!

Never a dull moment - What a way to usher in February. I wonder if the groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow.  I am really ready for spring.