About
This site is about the people that want to share their passion for their pets. But, of course, it is really about our pets, yours and mine. Share you thoughts, pictures, and fun stories about your pets. Be silly or be serious. We’ll understand. Tell us what kind of pets you have (or what animal has you). Steve and Linda at Pet Safari in Clearwater, serving Largo, and St. Petersburg, Florida
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Linda’s cousin Nancy told me about this blog site, she thought you might be interested in a story about my Australian Shepherd, Key.
I should start this story with the fact that we live in Homer, Alaska and recently we had a very bad snow storm. I was backing into my driveway when a berm of snow caused me to slip into the ditch. I was off the road, so I went inside until it stopped snowing.
I went out with the dog and shoveled snow and rocked the truck and all the things you’re supposed to do before you call the very busy tow truck guys. A couple from down the street, (who have a dog that is at war with Key. They take turns running over to the others yard and do their dog thing) saw my trouble and came by to see if they could help. I put Key in the running truck (see where this is leading) and talk to them for a bit while Key is doing his rabid Cujo impersonation. He said that he would come over later with his truck to pull me out, I said thanks they drove away. I go to let Key out…..wait for it…..the truck is now locked.
Ok, now I’m in a panic, my truck is running, the heat is set at 90 and my dog is locked inside. I did the whole dance step, jump up and down, hit the window, yell at the dog dance. Called mom, my other set of keys are at her house and was hoping that if she hit the unlock button at the phone it would unlock the car, despite all the forwards to the contrary, it does not work. Hung up from mom, hoping the the tow truck guys weren’t so busy that they couldn’t come get my dog out before I had to break the window (and I did the math, was he worth breaking a window?) I went to the passenger window with a dog biscuit hoping I could get him to trigger the lock again. No such luck, maybe the drivers side. I walk around and look in the truck, where’s the dog? I feel something trying to gently remove the biscuit from my hand, I look down and there’s Key! Now you have to understand that I know my dog is smart but when did he become Houkeyni? (Houdini with Key in it) So I walk around to the passenger side and find…the window open. I’ve seen him do this trick before, I just wasn’t expecting it. I have automatic windows, you push the button and the window goes down. Key wanted that biscuit, so he rolled down the window and jumped out. (yes he rolls down the window on purpose.)
have a wonderful spring,
Linda
A word of caution on flea medications for your dog. Be sure to do your research on flea preventatives. In late October 2009 we put our 10.4 lb Jack Russel/Chihuahua male dog on a new flea med called Comfortis. I read the product disclosure included noting the research result trials thinking I would know what side effects to watch for. In late December we noted a pronounced limp of the front right leg on walks and took him to our vet. The resulting xray showed clean joints of the leg and no reason for the limp except perhaps muscle strain. We continued to use Comfortis as well as his heart worm med (ivermectin) Tri Heart as the Comfortis totally controled his flea situation. By late January his gate was off and he was having problems with both front legs and we returned to our vet for another xray of his spine which showed some compression of his spine between his front legs which was then thought to be the problem but was not considered operable resulting in a steriod script. In February he continued to weaken walking in a drunk like fashion and then in March was unable to stand up. I made the observation that he walked in a fashion like my wife had in her illness of 2007/8, a condition called Ataxia. We then had the realization that his condition had worsened after each application of Comfortis. In researching ataxia on line we found two web sites that contained video of dogs with ataxia research and http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/ataxia and confirmed that our dog had the same symptons. We then went to Comfortis4dogs.com and reviewed the the Comfortis client information sheet under important safety information finding a reaction to to ivermectin resulting in coordination problems but the real issue came when we read the” full product label” post approval experience June 2009 which noted Ataxia as number four in decending order of effects. We with held Comfortis for March after having given our dog this product for the prior four months. In late april he was able to walk but would have his front legs give allowing him to nose dive on his head during a walk. It is now mid May 2010, he is able to stand and walk with an obvious personality change. He still will occaisonally stumble or his legs will give but normal walking gate has returned. We suspect that just as my wife has worked on her ataxia for the last tw0 years daily, our dog is in rehabilitation. Now the point here is had we known what to look for this condition might not have gotten ar far as it did. Lesson learned is to thoroughly research and understand what reactions can occur from any medication and be vigilant. True for humans and dogs.