I would love to write more, but I think it is time to go back to bed.
October 23, 2009
At Home Sick Today With the Puppy :(
Well, sad day. I think I have the streptococcus... so I am home sick today and can't go to work... hence, the sad face. I guess the little brown dog, along with the doc, will have to nurse me back to health!!
October 16, 2009
The Walk...
When we got Bauer at 8 weeks old we began to go on short walks to get him accustomed to leash walking and for exercise of course. He pretty immediately took to it and we both really enjoyed the walks. It really relaxed both of us, and it added to his trust in me and mine in him. My hubby also walked him a couple of times, and he walked on a loose leash just like a champion.
Earlier this week, after staying in his outdoor kennel during the day and only a lunch hour to run and play in the yard, Bauer was really hyper when I got home. I thought that the walk would calm him down, but instead it was a disaster. He just could not focus, and even though I was trying to be super patient and encouraging, I think he ended up confused and I ended up frustrated. I just could not figure out why all of the sudden there was this change. So, the next day I let him run around and play in the yard a bit after I got home, and played a long game of fetch with him to use all of that puppy energy in a positive way. Then we went on our walk. He was perfect! (Well, maybe not perfect but close to it.) All of the reading I have done says that a dog that gets regular exercise, they are more balanced and happy. I am a believer! I have truly seen how puppy behavior changes when a dog is not getting enough exercise. It isn't that they are hyper, they just need the chance to burn off energy in a positive way!
Earlier this week, after staying in his outdoor kennel during the day and only a lunch hour to run and play in the yard, Bauer was really hyper when I got home. I thought that the walk would calm him down, but instead it was a disaster. He just could not focus, and even though I was trying to be super patient and encouraging, I think he ended up confused and I ended up frustrated. I just could not figure out why all of the sudden there was this change. So, the next day I let him run around and play in the yard a bit after I got home, and played a long game of fetch with him to use all of that puppy energy in a positive way. Then we went on our walk. He was perfect! (Well, maybe not perfect but close to it.) All of the reading I have done says that a dog that gets regular exercise, they are more balanced and happy. I am a believer! I have truly seen how puppy behavior changes when a dog is not getting enough exercise. It isn't that they are hyper, they just need the chance to burn off energy in a positive way!
October 14, 2009
Healthy Puppy Ears...
Yesterday was Bauer's 12 week vet appointment, and he weighed in at a healthy 25 pounds. From what the vet says, from seeing his parents, and from the look of him and his Clydesdale feet, he could be a monster! At his 9 week appointment his vet thought that he would grow 10 pounds in three weeks and he was right on. Now he is expecting another 10 pounds by our next appointment in three weeks.
At our last appointment the vet also told me to keep an eye on Bauer's ears. Dogs that do not have erect ears are more prone to ear problems, in particular those that love the water. (Are you seeing where this is going?) He suggested cleaning his ears when needed and looking and smelling them to check for any foul odor or discharge. We have been cleaning them after his bath each week. On Sunday we smelled a slight odor in his ears and saw some dark, blackish waxy residue that looked like more than crazy outdoor puppy dirt. I hadn't noticed any symptoms from him other than this... like scratching at his ears or inflammation or anything. So, I cleaned his ears then, and I have been watching for the last couple of days to see if the discharge reappeared.
During the exam the vet swabbed Bauer's ears to check for any kind of ear mites or infection and looked into the ear canal. He said that there were no mites, but that on the slide he could see a lot of yeast. He was just starting to get a bit of a canine yeast ear infection. He gave us an ear rinse solution that is supposed to help reduce the yeast and clean the ear canal of the discharge. You just squeeze it in and massage the ear canal on the side of his little head. Bauer actually kind of likes it, just like any other time that someone rubs on or around his ears!
So, I wanted to do a little research to learn more about this problem, what causes it, and ways to treat and prevent it from reoccurring, so we don't have ongoing problems. I found a couple of good articles like this one from the Labrador Retriever Guide. I learned there that the unlike our human ears the dog's ear has a much longer ear canal. The long canal makes it hard for the dogs ear to stay dry and dogs with pendulous ears are or predisposed to ear conditions. As the ear folds, it covers the ear canal and prohibits air from entering and drying the canal. The result is a moist, warm ear canal that is a perfect environment for organisms to grow, especially yeast.
Numerous types of bacteria and the yeast cause ear infections. The normal, healthy ear has a good defense against these organisms, but if the ear environment changes due to allergies, hormone abnormalities, or moisture, the bacteria and yeast can greatly multiply and break down these defenses.
Typically you will see your dog shaking its head or scratching at its ears, and smelling the ear usually verifies a problem if the cause is yeast. If the infection persists, the ear canal will become inflamed and often discharge. Often, treatment will include flushing the ear canal with an antimicrobial solution and drying agent. But, there are several different reasons for infection and inflammation, so have your vet examine the dog before choosing a treatment. Sometimes ear problems can be due to an allergy, ear mites, or another health issue.
At our last appointment the vet also told me to keep an eye on Bauer's ears. Dogs that do not have erect ears are more prone to ear problems, in particular those that love the water. (Are you seeing where this is going?) He suggested cleaning his ears when needed and looking and smelling them to check for any foul odor or discharge. We have been cleaning them after his bath each week. On Sunday we smelled a slight odor in his ears and saw some dark, blackish waxy residue that looked like more than crazy outdoor puppy dirt. I hadn't noticed any symptoms from him other than this... like scratching at his ears or inflammation or anything. So, I cleaned his ears then, and I have been watching for the last couple of days to see if the discharge reappeared.
During the exam the vet swabbed Bauer's ears to check for any kind of ear mites or infection and looked into the ear canal. He said that there were no mites, but that on the slide he could see a lot of yeast. He was just starting to get a bit of a canine yeast ear infection. He gave us an ear rinse solution that is supposed to help reduce the yeast and clean the ear canal of the discharge. You just squeeze it in and massage the ear canal on the side of his little head. Bauer actually kind of likes it, just like any other time that someone rubs on or around his ears!
So, I wanted to do a little research to learn more about this problem, what causes it, and ways to treat and prevent it from reoccurring, so we don't have ongoing problems. I found a couple of good articles like this one from the Labrador Retriever Guide. I learned there that the unlike our human ears the dog's ear has a much longer ear canal. The long canal makes it hard for the dogs ear to stay dry and dogs with pendulous ears are or predisposed to ear conditions. As the ear folds, it covers the ear canal and prohibits air from entering and drying the canal. The result is a moist, warm ear canal that is a perfect environment for organisms to grow, especially yeast.
Numerous types of bacteria and the yeast cause ear infections. The normal, healthy ear has a good defense against these organisms, but if the ear environment changes due to allergies, hormone abnormalities, or moisture, the bacteria and yeast can greatly multiply and break down these defenses.
Typically you will see your dog shaking its head or scratching at its ears, and smelling the ear usually verifies a problem if the cause is yeast. If the infection persists, the ear canal will become inflamed and often discharge. Often, treatment will include flushing the ear canal with an antimicrobial solution and drying agent. But, there are several different reasons for infection and inflammation, so have your vet examine the dog before choosing a treatment. Sometimes ear problems can be due to an allergy, ear mites, or another health issue.
So, for the little brown dog, I guess we will just flush out those ear canals for a couple of weeks, keep up with regular cleaning, and try to keep his ears dry in the future to hopefully prevent this from happening again.
October 12, 2009
On the Road Again...
This past weekend Bauer made the three hour road trip to the grandparents' farm. It was full of new adventures like hunting pigeons in the barn, playing on top of the hay, eating some cow poop, running like a girl when he saw the bull coming through the gate, playing frisbee, and most importantly meeting the human cousins Levi and Madison. Little did he know that there were small humans that had more energy than he did.
Here he is on the road trip using Ducky as a pillow and getting all rested up for the big adventures that awaited.
He played frisbee with cousin Levi. It was less fetch and more of a throw and race to go get it.
Maddie getting suited up for the fun!
One of the few quiet moments...
At one point things actually got so crazy that Bauer crated the kids! Ha! This is more like it!
October 7, 2009
Routine
Since I have become a new mother, I just cannot help myself. I am constantly reading and researching for tips on dog training and behavior. The one thing that is consistent in all of my readings has been consistency in training and commands and scheduling to aid in potty training. With it just being Kaleb and I, it has not been too hard to stay a united front in Bauer's training and schedule. After all, we are the pack leaders. Most articles claim that staying on a schedule helps the dog to stay balanced and happy, and so far it seems to be working like a charm!
From the second day we got him we have been exposing him to new people and places fairly consistently while taking along his own crate, blanket, and toys for comfort. He has been to several Oklahoma State football game days to root on the Pokes and play with his puppy cousin Indy Ana Jones, to a fraternity house, and on several visits with the grandparents to explore the farm and play with his big dog uncle, Duece. This has worked extremely well with him. He is very social both with people and other dogs and is not afraid of much of anything new. He is just curious, and whenever he gets cautious, we just encourage him and reward him for trying new things.
We have also settled into a really comfortable routine with the little brown dog. In the mornings after he goes out to potty, we let him come onto the bed to cuddle and play before the day starts. He really looks forward to this, and after pottying will go and stand by the door and wait for the one of us that got up with him to put him into bed. After a little cuddle and wake-up time, he eats breakfast and hangs out until time for us to go to work. Then we put him in his outside kennel to play until his lunch break, and then again until after work. After I get home in the evenings, we play a little fetch in the yard and go for a nice brisk walk. We started him out right after we got him going on short walks to get him used to the leash, and we are consistently adding some additional distance. He loves it, and he so much better behaved when he has this kind of positive outlet for his puppy energy. After his walk, he gets to eat and then spends time playing with us and his toys throughout the evening. He could play fetch forever, and he loves to retrieve his duck! Typically he winds down by about 9 or so and catnaps or lays on his bed until bed time. Then, he goes out one last time to potty and goes into his crate for the night.
From the second day we got him we have been exposing him to new people and places fairly consistently while taking along his own crate, blanket, and toys for comfort. He has been to several Oklahoma State football game days to root on the Pokes and play with his puppy cousin Indy Ana Jones, to a fraternity house, and on several visits with the grandparents to explore the farm and play with his big dog uncle, Duece. This has worked extremely well with him. He is very social both with people and other dogs and is not afraid of much of anything new. He is just curious, and whenever he gets cautious, we just encourage him and reward him for trying new things.
We have also settled into a really comfortable routine with the little brown dog. In the mornings after he goes out to potty, we let him come onto the bed to cuddle and play before the day starts. He really looks forward to this, and after pottying will go and stand by the door and wait for the one of us that got up with him to put him into bed. After a little cuddle and wake-up time, he eats breakfast and hangs out until time for us to go to work. Then we put him in his outside kennel to play until his lunch break, and then again until after work. After I get home in the evenings, we play a little fetch in the yard and go for a nice brisk walk. We started him out right after we got him going on short walks to get him used to the leash, and we are consistently adding some additional distance. He loves it, and he so much better behaved when he has this kind of positive outlet for his puppy energy. After his walk, he gets to eat and then spends time playing with us and his toys throughout the evening. He could play fetch forever, and he loves to retrieve his duck! Typically he winds down by about 9 or so and catnaps or lays on his bed until bed time. Then, he goes out one last time to potty and goes into his crate for the night.
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