So Ruki's 6 1/2 months, and we had her spayed about three weeks ago. The night we brought her home, she was out of it--drugged up and miserable, scared of open spaces. The next day she was in pain--whining and crying non-stop. The day after that she seemed better, but then tried to run around a bit, and then I think she hurt herself again, and she was back to crying.
For a week, we limited her exercise--carrying her up and down stairs to go outside just to pee, and then right back inside. By the 6th day, I think she was ready to go. I took her for short walks to the end of the block and back. By day 10, we were back to normal. And that's when she walked into the hallway for a bit and came back and when I walked to the bathroom, there was a pool of pee waiting for me.
Over about a week, she peed in the house four times. Once on a rug, once in our bedroom on the floor, and twice, one after another, right in front of me. I thought, oh no! Incontinence due to spaying! Or urinary tract infection! Or she's challenging me!
But I think it's that she was back to drinking lots of water at night, and so I went back to taking her out to pee first thing in the morning. I don't have to "start all over," I just have to be better about taking her out first thing in the morning and trying to take her out at least once late at night, like 8.30 p.m. or 9.30 p.m.
So my thinking, "All is lost!" is not true. I just can't afford to be too lazy just yet.
(On a side note, people who think that bulldogs are a lazy breed... They don't need as much exercise as other breeds, but Ruki's in no couch potato!)
Friday, February 09, 2007
Ruki Adoration
This is just a moment for me to be cheesy about my puppy: I think that the world is a better place now that she's in it.
If just for the moment when we pass people on the streets, and they smile, doesn't that make the world a better place? If for the five or so minutes from when she runs up to and then loves the tired woman downstairs and makes her day, doesn't that make the world a better place?
I look at her sometimes, and I tell her that she's a blessing to the world.
OK. I'm done now. Now I have to interrupt her snoring and clean her stinky monster-face.
If just for the moment when we pass people on the streets, and they smile, doesn't that make the world a better place? If for the five or so minutes from when she runs up to and then loves the tired woman downstairs and makes her day, doesn't that make the world a better place?
I look at her sometimes, and I tell her that she's a blessing to the world.
OK. I'm done now. Now I have to interrupt her snoring and clean her stinky monster-face.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Innova (and Nutro Ultra) Dog Food
So our breeder started us out on Eukanuba Puppy, and we stuck with that for a few weeks. Seemed fine. But then I started reading up on the different kinds of food out there. It makes sense--feed your puppy better food! I mean, I eat hotdogs and other barely-human-grade meats, but I also make sure I eat healthy and go out for sushi when I can, etc. Why not the same for your puppy--especially if she's going to eat the same stuff every day?
But the I also was reading in the Dog Bible about the increasing rates of cancer in dogs these days--and they pretty much narrowly speculate that it has to do with food. Nothing else has really changed in the way people care for animals--except that people have pretty much all switched to processed food diets. Even high end foods, e.g., Eukanuba, have switched their recipes over to lower-grade ingredients.
So upon recommendations and grading dog food brands, we've been feeding her Innova Puppy, which ranks A+ and is one of the highest graded foods out there.
Since, I don't know how much of her improvements are attributable just for the food. She's gotten older. She's more used to the environment. We're feeding her a lot of different things: a lot of natural treats, all meat treats, fish oil, yogurt, etc. But all in all caring about what she eats I think counts. Her coat is shiny and super-soft. Her eyes have gotten better--less gunk and swelling. Her paws feel great, etc.
But this isn't all just about Innova. I clicked on an add for Nutro Ultra--I've been considering it since it's available at Petco, but Innova is only available at a small, local store. If that store ever goes out of business, I might switch to something like Nutro Ultra (or Newman's Own). I haven't graded it yet, but on the web site, I noticed that in all its super-biased comparison charts, it ranked Innova closest to itself while, of course, Ultra blows everyone else away. (Also, I'll note that after Ultra, Innova was the best-tasting, too!)
http://www.ultraholistic.com/performance.shtml
I also noticed that usually when I see food comparisons, I rarely see Innova compared--and I wonder if that's because Innova is high enough quality that any brand-by-brand comparison would lose to Innova. But this is pure speculation--almost fan frenzy, I suppose.
So takehome, Nutro Ultra looks potentially interesting, but it was really a confirmation that Innova's still pretty damn good.
But the I also was reading in the Dog Bible about the increasing rates of cancer in dogs these days--and they pretty much narrowly speculate that it has to do with food. Nothing else has really changed in the way people care for animals--except that people have pretty much all switched to processed food diets. Even high end foods, e.g., Eukanuba, have switched their recipes over to lower-grade ingredients.
So upon recommendations and grading dog food brands, we've been feeding her Innova Puppy, which ranks A+ and is one of the highest graded foods out there.
Since, I don't know how much of her improvements are attributable just for the food. She's gotten older. She's more used to the environment. We're feeding her a lot of different things: a lot of natural treats, all meat treats, fish oil, yogurt, etc. But all in all caring about what she eats I think counts. Her coat is shiny and super-soft. Her eyes have gotten better--less gunk and swelling. Her paws feel great, etc.
But this isn't all just about Innova. I clicked on an add for Nutro Ultra--I've been considering it since it's available at Petco, but Innova is only available at a small, local store. If that store ever goes out of business, I might switch to something like Nutro Ultra (or Newman's Own). I haven't graded it yet, but on the web site, I noticed that in all its super-biased comparison charts, it ranked Innova closest to itself while, of course, Ultra blows everyone else away. (Also, I'll note that after Ultra, Innova was the best-tasting, too!)
http://www.ultraholistic.com/performance.shtml
I also noticed that usually when I see food comparisons, I rarely see Innova compared--and I wonder if that's because Innova is high enough quality that any brand-by-brand comparison would lose to Innova. But this is pure speculation--almost fan frenzy, I suppose.
So takehome, Nutro Ultra looks potentially interesting, but it was really a confirmation that Innova's still pretty damn good.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
No-Word Walking
Every once in awhile, I walk Monster Face without saying anything. I control her with my movements and sharp tugs of the leash. I kind of came to this after reading somewhere how dogs may care less about *what* you say, than *how* you say it, or more importantly *what you do* after you say it.
They read your motions, the way you are standing; they read gestures made by your face.
But for me, trying to walk a "stubborn" bulldog, it's more about me than my puppy. When I use words, I express to her, me, and the world what I want, and then when she doesn't comply, there's only frustration. And then I use more words and get more anxious and then I get more frustration, which ultimately leads to anger.
In teaching, it's many times helpful to start a class with a short written assignment. This quiet, reflective period brings down the "tone" and the energy of the class, and gets the students ready to learn and the teacher ready to teach. The thing is, people get excited when they talk, it takes effort, their breathing rate increases, etc. And so sometimes the best thing to do to calm oneself (and others) down is not say anything.
So if you find yourself frustrated with trying to walk a "stubborn" dog try this. I think it's more people than dogs who get angry or "stubborn," and we have to learn to control ourselves sometimes more than the other way around.
They read your motions, the way you are standing; they read gestures made by your face.
But for me, trying to walk a "stubborn" bulldog, it's more about me than my puppy. When I use words, I express to her, me, and the world what I want, and then when she doesn't comply, there's only frustration. And then I use more words and get more anxious and then I get more frustration, which ultimately leads to anger.
In teaching, it's many times helpful to start a class with a short written assignment. This quiet, reflective period brings down the "tone" and the energy of the class, and gets the students ready to learn and the teacher ready to teach. The thing is, people get excited when they talk, it takes effort, their breathing rate increases, etc. And so sometimes the best thing to do to calm oneself (and others) down is not say anything.
So if you find yourself frustrated with trying to walk a "stubborn" dog try this. I think it's more people than dogs who get angry or "stubborn," and we have to learn to control ourselves sometimes more than the other way around.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Another Walking Trick - Leash Behind the Back
Sometimes I forget this, but another weird trick when Ruki is being stubborn and pulling all over the place while walking is to hold the leash behind my back.
It works like magic. I think that maybe when I hold the lead in front of me and across my body (holding it in my right hand while she's on my left), she feels a little too close and sees the lead, which she doesn't like.
When the leash is behind me, she has some more slack in the lead, and I think it feels more that she's following me rather than the lead pulling her.
It works like magic. I think that maybe when I hold the lead in front of me and across my body (holding it in my right hand while she's on my left), she feels a little too close and sees the lead, which she doesn't like.
When the leash is behind me, she has some more slack in the lead, and I think it feels more that she's following me rather than the lead pulling her.
Cherry Eye Update
So a few months ago we had Ruki's cherry eye cut out by the breeder. Apparently, she didn't do such a great job. There's still part of the cherry eye in the far corner (away from the nose).
It's up and down on the swelling and infection. Sometimes it looks fine, just a bit of extra pink flesh. But most of the time it's swollen, and occasionally it's way gunky--yellow and green. We apply a hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointment, and that brings down the swelling and the pus. But I'd like a more final solution.
Her other eye had a cherry eye pop out three times already. But the key--and this is the key--is to immediately close her eye, and push in on the bottom lid, and "pop" the cherry eye in back in. So far, this has worked, and her un-cut eye looks great!
It's up and down on the swelling and infection. Sometimes it looks fine, just a bit of extra pink flesh. But most of the time it's swollen, and occasionally it's way gunky--yellow and green. We apply a hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointment, and that brings down the swelling and the pus. But I'd like a more final solution.
Her other eye had a cherry eye pop out three times already. But the key--and this is the key--is to immediately close her eye, and push in on the bottom lid, and "pop" the cherry eye in back in. So far, this has worked, and her un-cut eye looks great!
Chewing on Feet - Allergies?
So Ruki's been in the habit of chewing on her feet after she wakes up from naps. At first, I just thought it was weird, but then I decided to Google it just to figure out what's going on...
And apparently dogs chew on their feet because they get itchy from allergic reactions. Crap. Another thing to worry about.
I talked to the vet technician on the phone--again, the Merwin Free Clinic--and she said that it's probably allergies, but I shouldn't worry about it unless it starts bleeding. So for now the 10 or so seconds that Ruki spends chewing at her feet isn't such a bad thing.
I also noticed some cracks on her pads. I'm going to put Bag Balm on them 2-3 times a day for the next few days and see if that helps.
012506 Update: Since I started worrying about it, Ruki pretty much stopped chewing on her feet. My suspicion is maybe the fabric softener or detergent in the towel we use to line her crate is the culprit. I'll check to see if she chews after the next time I wash that towel.
And apparently dogs chew on their feet because they get itchy from allergic reactions. Crap. Another thing to worry about.
I talked to the vet technician on the phone--again, the Merwin Free Clinic--and she said that it's probably allergies, but I shouldn't worry about it unless it starts bleeding. So for now the 10 or so seconds that Ruki spends chewing at her feet isn't such a bad thing.
I also noticed some cracks on her pads. I'm going to put Bag Balm on them 2-3 times a day for the next few days and see if that helps.
012506 Update: Since I started worrying about it, Ruki pretty much stopped chewing on her feet. My suspicion is maybe the fabric softener or detergent in the towel we use to line her crate is the culprit. I'll check to see if she chews after the next time I wash that towel.
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