Anecdotes, Antidotes, and Anodes

How Safe Are Your Fur Babies Tonight ?

Dear HansMan ! The mystery as to what happened to your house shoe has been solved. Check out the video at the bottom of this post. 

 

Many pet owners will spend New Year's Day looking for their beloved fur babies. Shelters report that New Year's Day and The Fourth of July are when they are full of scared run aways. . . mostly dogs. 

Dogs and cats are able to hear fireworks that are miles away because of their amplified hearing. Because of that they can still sense the noise even when a human can faintly hear it.

Holidays like New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July are the days when most pets get lost due to them running away from fear.

These sounds trigger their nervous system, causing them to become afraid or anxious. The bright flashes and smells from fireworks can have an overwhelming effect on pets. 

Distressed pets exhibit symptoms that vary from one animal to another. On a general level, they may drool, pant heavily, or attempt to escape. While these signs are easy to pick up on, there are more subtle ones a pet owner should observe. 

Toileting in the house is a symptom. The pet may also be overly restless for unexplained reasons. No matter what you try, calming them when already distressed may take a long time. Cats tend to hide from the source of distress, while rabbits may keep still and thump the ground heavily with the back feet.

Dogs left outside will possibly scale a fence, dig under it,  or break a leash to escape a sound they hear that may be miles away, but they sense it is in their backyard. Therefore, they run from it. 

Fireworks phobia is a common occurrence in pets around New Year’s Eve. If left unchecked, it can escalate into full-blown fear where even the slightest thud throws the pet in anxiety mode.

A Few Tips:

MicroChipping/Identification

Be sure the dog or cat is micro-chipped. Check with the company that all the information is up to date. Micro-chipping is crucial as it increases the chances of being reunited with your pet should they get lost. If your pet is not micro-chipped, this should be on your 2021 To Do List ! Identification tags on collars are important and should have license, rabies information, vet information, owner's name, phone numbers, address, etc. Many times if a pet escapes, the collar sometimes comes off. This is why micro-chipping is important. 

Dogs

It’s advisable to have preparatory measures in place before the fireworks begin. Take the time to walk your dog before dusk. A pleasant long walk will wear the dog out.

If the dog is exhausted as the fireworks begin, he’ll be less prone to panic because of the sound.

Walk your dog with the leash on. Remember that even the best-behaved dog can get frightened and take off. 

Keep the house secure for your dog to prevent him from running away when the fireworks go off. A safe and comfortable hiding place within your home will help in easing his suffering. Keep your dog company during this “hiding” period to prevent him from panicking.

Keep the curtains closed in the area you intend to keep the dog. Turn on some light soothing music on radio or TV to lessen the effect of the sound from the fireworks. You could also keep the dog occupied by playing games until the fireworks have ended.

If the dog needs to go out for a potty break, put him on a leash and stay with him. One loud bang and he is gone ! 

Some dog owner have found that Thunder Shirts work well. 

Cats

Animal welfare organizations recommend keeping your cat indoors during fireworks. In the same way you calm a dog, you can comfort a cat by putting on some calming music during the fireworks. Ensure your cat stays indoors by blocking off your cat flaps. Keep the curtains closed and allow your cat to roam around the house or put it in a safe place.

Small Animals

If you have a pet in the form of a rabbit or guinea pig, you also need to consider its safety. If you keep them in a cage or pen outside, you could consider one of two available options. You could either move them indoors or have their cages soundproofed.

Soundproofing the cages doesn’t have to be costly or a huge project. Simply covering them with heavy blankets will do the trick twofold. It will prevent the flashes and keep the firework sounds muffled.

Alternatively, move the cages to the garage or shed. Increase their beddings to increase their safety and make them feel snug.

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In case your pet gets too stressed there is a possibility to get prescribed medicine from a veterinarian for anxiety. This can help them. There are also new CBD products that veterinarians are prescribing for anxiety in animals. 

Give them a new toy and a special treat and play a soothing sound. Pair good things with the noise and it will hopefully help them out for next year.

 

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HAPPY NEW YEAR, Ya'll !

Anode Systems Official Greeter . . . The Rest of the Story

 

The person nine-month old PeekaBoo appears to be attacking is Danny, our truck driver for E Trucking. Danny was at our office to pick up several pallets of anodes we were shipping to our customers.

Danny is a veteran having served two tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the war in 2003 to liberate Iraq from Saddam Hussein. 

Danny adopted a German Shepherd to help him with his PTSD after what he experienced in the war. 

On Monday, PeekaBoo would not let up on licking Danny as he sat on the sofa, trying to fill out the bill of lading paperwork for the shipment.

PeekaBoo's unbounded excitement at seeing Danny and licking him in the face caused him to roll over and laugh uncontrollably on the sofa, knocking off his telephone headset in the process. 

After his encounter with 'our official greeter,' Danny said this made his day;.

 

Stella, PeekaBoo, and Rudolph

Unfortunately, Rudolph didn't follow Chuck Berry's advice to 'run, run Rudolph.' HansMan  gave the fur-babies a stuffed Rudolph which was about the size of the palm of  my hand.  At one time, its nose blinked and it sang "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.' (You're welcome for the 'ear-worm' if you happen to watch any of the following videos.) In the second video, you'll notice the Rudolph morphed into two, but as always, they wanted the same toy.

I'm not sure how long it took Stella and Peeka to destroy the toys, but it was evident the reindeer weren't designed to survive a tug-o-war. 

 

But I do know there was an enormous amount of stuffing in those tiny toys. 

It's hard work eviscerating a reindeer. 

 

 

 

 

 

So, there you have it.

Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer didn't have a chance at this house. 

Stella and PeekaBoo

Entertainment at our house these days . . .

When COVID and a broken knee keep you home . . . 

This is what you do.

Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.  Who needs Netflix?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasures from PeekaBoo

Below are just a few of the treasures that Peeka has bestowed upon us the past few days. 

Not exactly sure what kind of snake this was . . .
It really didn't matter.
A snake is a snake is a snake.
Especially when one steps on it and it's still slithering on the rug in your house. 

 

Peeka came running in with something that looked like a cigar sticking out the side of her mouth.
Except it wasn't a cigar.
Upon closer inspection, we determined it was that plastic wrapper that she ate two days ago.
Hans gave her the plastic wrapper from a package of hamburger to LICK.
Evidently, she didn't quite comprehend that she was only to LICK it. 
Consequently, she passed it in the form of a poop-covered spiral cigar. 

Yup. It's a bird.
When I first realized she had a bird, it was flapping in her mouth.
Ever tried to chase down a puppy that has a live bird in its mouth?
Well, you can't catch a puppy that has a live bird in its mouth, especially if the person chasing that puppy has a broken leg.
Needless to say, the bird didn't make it. 

This would be a pile of poop.
A pile of dried poop. 
Instead of PeekaBoo, we are now calling her PeekaPoop.
She is obsessed with dried poop. 
We were able to confiscate this pile before she devoured it.
Evidently, according to Google, some puppies like to eat dried poop.
We just happen to have one of those puppies. 
At some point, Google says puppies stop eating dried poop. 

Acupuncture for Dogs

Reposted from October 26, 2010

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As usual, whenever a post appears here that does have some informational value to it, (which is seldom) it must be prefaced with how it came to be.  Most of you who have been reading here for some time know that most of what you read doesn't make much of an impact on your lives one way or another.  But, every once in awhile, it might be worth your time to take heed and notice.  Today may be one of those days.

And so it begins...

A couple of summers ago, I found myself in Nashville hanging out with my friend, Becky. She had an appointment with Dr. Xu (pronounced Shoe).

Because I was suffering with pain from an injured rotator cuff, from falling off  flying off a sled doing about 30 miles per hour, she suggested that I make an appointment with Dr. Xu.  He was able to schedule three appointments for me before leaving Nashville.

Several days later, after arriving home, the pain was subsiding, so I made follow-up appointments with Bing Lee.

After three more treatments, not only was I able to lift my arm above my head, he had also addressed the subject of my migraines.  We discussed why I was "tasting" metals after each acupuncture session.  My guess was it was residual "chemotherapy" from years before.  His guess was the hair dye I was using to cover up my gray.

That was a year ago.  If you've seen photos of me lately, you know that the dying of my hair has stopped.. . along with the migraines !  Almost. Instead of having one or two a week, I now have migraines about once every three weeks.  If you've ever had migraines, you know that  instead of having  eight migraines a month to having one or two can make a significant difference in your life.

Who knows if it was the acupuncture . . .or no more hair dye. . . or the combination of the two. . .or what ?  The fact is, the occurence of my migraines has dropped considerably.  And, I'm now not facing surgery on my rotator cuff.  I truly believe the acupuncture helped with the pain and range of motion in my arm. And no, I've not been back on a sled heading down a mountain again.

All that to say, "I believe acupuncture works !"

That takes us to the topic of today.

FINALLY, you say !

June Bug, our eight-year-old Boxer suffers from arthritis. Severe arthritis.  So severe, there are times she is almost unable to walk. She will lie down and "cry" from the pain.  Even when she sleeps, her breathing indicates she is not resting well.

Enter:  Katie Jones, DVM, CVA

 
Dr. Katie feels the pet benefits more from having the acupuncture treatment administered at home.  This alleviates having to load, in our case, the dog into the car. Unload the dog and treat her in an unfamiliar place like the vet's clinic, load the dog back into the car, then unload at home.  All of this can possibly negate all the good that the acupuncture might do.

 

By the look on June Bug's face, you can tell she is a bit apprenhensive when the first needle goes in.

 

 
Dr. Katie continues placing the needles in very exact points on June Bug.

 

After placing needles in Bug's shoulder and neck areas, Dr. Katie begins on her back and hips.

 

Bug was doing so well, Dr. Katie decided to attach clips to the needles and apply "electro-stimulus" for added benefits. 

 

Dr. Katie was very careful to give "low doses" of the stimuli this first time.

 

It was quite evident when the needles were inserted, where the most sore spots were by Bug's reaction.

 

If you've never had this procedure done, it's almost impossible to describe the sensation it gives.  Imagine a combination of a tingle, tickle, twitch, a prickle and a quiver...with a dose of warmth.

 

Here are the needles Dr. Katie uses.

 

And here is the Electro-Stimulator.

 

After all the needles were removed, Dr. Katie gave Bug a rub down.

 

Then she started 'acupressure' on all important points from her shoulders to her hips.  Dr. Katie demonstrated this for HansMan and me so that we can do the same for Bug on a daily basis.

 

June Bug was very receptive to this.

 

Dr. Katie even gave Bug a foot rub, which as you can tellby the look on Bug's face, she is enjoying tremendously.

 

Don't you just love the smile on her face ?
Dr. Katie has a pretty smile, too.

 

This is June Bug's way of saying thank you to Dr. Katie !

 

Afterwards, Bug went outside to tell Dr. Katie good-bye and to tinkle, then came back inside and did this.

 

. . . and she continued to do this.  I did notice that Bug's breathing was much slower and deeper than it has been in the past.  Many times, Bug will fidget, and whimper, and whine while she sleeps.  During this hour long nap, she hardly moved. It was a good nap. If you listen very closely, you can probably hear her snoring.

 

 

June Bug says, "Thank you Dr. Katie.  I will see you next Tuesday."

The following information has been taken from Dr. Katie Jones' pamphlet:

Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, sterile, stainless steel needles in a patient at precise location and depths to bring back the body's natural balanced state. Acupuncture has been used in humans and animals for over 4,000 years.  Today, The American Veterinary Medical Association considers veterinary acupuncture as a valid method of treatment. Used either by itself or in conjunction with Western medicine, veterinary acupuncture can assist the body to heal.

How does Acupuncture work?  Acupuncture works primarily through the stimulation of the central nervous system to affect all major physiological systems. acupuncture increases circulation, causes a release of many neurochemicals, including endorphins (the body's natural pain killers) and hormones. Acupuncture relieves muscle spasms, stimulates nerves and the body's defense systems.

What conditions respond well to Acupuncture ?

1. Musculoskeletal: back pain, arthritis, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disk disease, degenerative joint disease, post-op orthopedic surgery

2. Skin Problems: allergies, granulomas, decrease wound healing time

3. Gastrointestinal Problems: chronic diarrhea, vomiting, irritable bowel disease, chronic constipation, chronic colic, decreased appetite

4. Neurological Disorders:  seizures, nerve disorders, nerve injuries, paralysis

5. Respiratory Disorders: asthma, reactive airway disease, COPD, nose bleeds

6. Miscellaneous Disorders: ocular KCS/dry eye, urinary incontinence, reproductive problems, pain management for cancer patients

7. Any condition that is decreasing the animal's quality of life

What animals benefit from Acupuncture ?  All animals can benefit from Acupuncture, including, but not limited to horses, dogs, and cats.

Is Acupuncture safe ?  Acupuncture is one of the safest therapies utilized if administered by a certified veterinarian.  Side effects are rare. Because Acupuncture balances the body's own system of healing and no chemicals are administered, complications rarely, if ever, develop.

Boxers 1 Birds O

Most of my days begin early in the morning with a cup of something hot and a stroll out to the garden to see what's popped up during the night . . . or to see what's been eaten by the critters during the night.

This is what I encountered on my way to the garden . . .

 

 

"Ginger, do you know anything about this carnage on the driveway ?

"Lola, did you happen to witness what happened ?"

June Bug seems to be saying, "WHAT BIRD?"

There is good news and bad news associated with this post.

The bad news is . . . the bird didn't make  it.

The good news is . . . the dogs did not bring the bird into the house to pluck it, skin it, and devour it.

On three different occasions,  (that we know of) our Boxers have brought their prey inside the house to consume it.

Memory #1:

Early one morning, about 4:00 a.m. early,  Bubba was lying on the floor by the bed.  He was lick lick licking incessantly.  I reached down and tapped him on top of  the head.  He stopped.  For about two seconds.  The lick lick licking ensued.  Once again, I reached down to tap him on the head, but this time my fingers found a cold, sticky, gummy substance.  At 4 o'clock in the morning, the brain just doesn't process information too quickly.  My first thought was I was touching Bubba's nose.  My second thought was, "This isn't Bubba's nose."

As my inquisitive fingers explored this clammy, gooey mass, they then discovered something round and fuzzy.

My brain finally kicked in and alerted me that  I might be touching a dead animal.

Because it was 'can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face' dark, I reached for the lamp switch.

My brain was correct.

Bubba was savoring the bottom half of a bunny rabbit.

Memory #2:

Early one morning, before sunrise, I stumbled downstairs with bare feet. 

Both of my nekkid  feet encountered something cold, stringy, and sticky.  They stopped dead in their tracks.

Because it was dark, and the rug I was standing one was patterned, it was difficult to discern just exactly what I was wading in.

Upon closer examination, theHansMan determined it was the innards of some animal, possibly the viscera of a rabbit.

Being the 'scientist'  'biologist'  curious man that he is,  he found the stomach and cut it open with his handy dandy Swiss Army knife.

And what to our wondering eyes should appear ?

A bird.

Unless we have carnivorous rabbits here in Colorado, it was apparent our Boxers had ridded the neighborhood of some type of cat.

(Just earlier that month, they had ridded the neighborhood of a coyote.) 

Memory #3

theHansMan and I were on our way home from the airport when we received a call from the dogsitter, Cullen. 

He said, "There's good news and there's bad news."

We asked him to give us the good news first.

"Junior and Bubba didn't get sprayed by the skunk they killed."

What's the bad news ?

"They dragged it through the doggy door, through garage, down the hall, into the living room, through the entry, up the stairs, across the balcony,  into the guest bedroom, and it's quietly resting between them on top of the futon."

The house was deep cleaned, fumigated, and new carpet was installed immediately.

How to Carve a Jack-o-Lantern

Actually, the title should read, "How to Carve a Bub-a-Lantern."

I keep seeing these Dog-0-Lanterns posted on Facebook, so I dug this one up from 2009. 

Bub-a-Lantern !

Bub-a-Lantern's reflection.

Bub-a-Lantern in the daylight.

Lola was mesmerized with the Bub-a-Lantern.  No matter where I placed it in the house, she was there to sniff at it.

Now, I know you're thinking, "Wow ! That Swampy is a talented gal ?!?" And, I would like to think that I am, but I know better.

If you're interested in spending an entire afternoon carving your favorite puppy dog's face into a pumpkin, check out this Better Homes and Gardens web-site. 
 
There are almost 30 stencils to choose from !

Unfortunately, there is not a Boxer with cropped ears. And, I just have to create a Junior Jack-o-Lantern.  (June-yur-Lantern)  So, guess what I'll be doing this afternoon ? 

Also, I could not let those seeds and pulp go to waste. So, as most everyone else on the face of the Earth refer to, I'm using this idea for Pepitas and this idea for Pumpkin Puree. 

Happy Carving !

P.S.  I learned that these don't last very long because of having to cut so deeply into the 'flesh.'  If I ever take the time to try this again, (which I probably won't), I would coat the inside with parafin. 

 
 

An Apple a Day Keeps the Vet Away

Lola and June Bug "picked" these apples "up off the ground" themselves.

Evidently they aren't getting enough fruit in their diets.

 

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

When they vomit all this up,
I'll post that video for you.

Stay tuned.

OK.

So it's not a video . . .

but, you 'get the picture.'

Boxers, Boxers, Boxers

  "If you don't like my dogs, get off their couch," is one of my favorite dog quotations. 

In fact, there are many dog quotations that are my favorites.

"My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am," is another.

Anyone who has read here for awhile has been introduced to Max, Junior, Bubba Boo Boo, B.J., Boo-Boo, June Bug, Ginger Boo, and Lola Cherry Cola.

Max was our Boxer-Pit Bull mix, and was one of the most gentle, loving dogs I had ever met.  He was a rescue dog and lived to be almost 15 years old. 

When we realized Max was declining quickly, we found Junior and Bubba.  Max loved Bubba.  But, since Max and Junior were both Alpha males, they just tolerated each other. 

When Junior was 8 years old, he was diagnosed with lymphoma and we lost him just a few months later.  In the meantime, June Bug (Junior's daughter) needed a home, so we took her in. 

Bubba missed his brother, but June Bug did keep him company.  Two years later, Bubba developed a brain tumor, and he went to the Rainbow Bridge to be with Max and Junior to chase rabbits and antagonize all the cats.

B.J. and Boo Boo are Junior and Bubba's boys respectively.  (Puppysitter . . .s-h-h-h)  They live across the street and come to visit quite often.

Enter . . . Ginger Boo and Lola Cherry Cola.  Ginger was Bubba's daughter who needed a home, so we took her in.  She had been living in Texas.  Lola is our Walmart dog. She was about to go to the pound, so we took her in. Her owner had her on the curb at Walmart with a sign, and we just couldn't resist.

It is suggested that a family never have two female Boxers because most are Alpha Females. Most Boxer adoption facility won't place a female into a home that already has a female Boxer.

That brings us to this photo :

 

And then, to this photo :

Who says three female Boxers can't get along ?

Well, at least they can sleep together without fighting.

My take on this is that Lola is the buffer.  She adds levity to any situation.  Even though Ginger and June Bug aren't fond of each other, they just can't help but laugh with Lola Cherry Cola in the mix.

Kind of like three middle-school-aged girls.  Two's company. Three's a crowd.  There's always one in a group that everyone likes.  In this case, that would be Lola.

AaBR  stands for Adopt a Boxer Rescue and can be found ON THIS LINK.