Threshold: Bowdu’s July checkup

Tags

aging dogs, canine hypothyroidism, finances, glucosamine, ichon, senior dogs, vet

I dreaded the accounting on this one, but delaying it doesn’t make the expense go away. Bowdu’s last vet checkup was a heavy one, financial and psychological.

For Bowdu’s annual exam, I had an additional concern. Bowdu’s back legs — his back right leg, in particular — had been shaky for quite some time now. Last year, the vet said it indicative of muscle weakness, a symptom that often accompanies hypothyroidism. Bowdu’s energy levels remain consistent, so we maintained observational hover pattern.

Unfortunately, in the last couple months, his hind leg seems to have been giving him more trouble. The shaking, which was fairly sporadic in the past, is fairly constant now. One day a couple months ago, he started walking with a limp and keeping that back right foot raised. This wasn’t set off by any memorable trauma, and our routine has been fairly steady and low-impact, all around. He wasn’t expressing any audible pain, so I kept watch and waited it out. He returned to normal stride after a few days.

A few weeks ago, the same thing happened again. This time, however, he wasn’t so quick to bounce back. He is clearly not jumping as high as he used to. Getting up on the bed is a two-step process now, using his dog bed (placed on a cushion at the foot of the bed) to trampoline himself up to the human bed. He even allows me to lift him into the car — something that he usually makes an undignified stink about. On our off leash walks, he boycotts certain regular routes that we’ve hiked for years, and won’t follow closely. This is unusual, even for his Shibaness.

(Apologies for the vertical videography)

The second video, in particular, is Bowdu at his creakiest and slowest. [**Significant ETA: I just realized the second video is from the same day of his vet exam, which means his slow motion is actually a residual effect of the Acepromazine. The pace helps to show his funny gait though.] He is not a young dog anymore, but at nine years old, this is not what I would expect either. So we went off to the vet for as full a workup as we could manage without sedation (other than his acepromazine) …

• Office Call: senior semi-annual exam, $56 $50.40
• Total Body Function, $179 $161.10
• Urinalysis add-on, $61 $54.90
• Comfortis, 12 doses (20.1 ~ 40 pounds), $201.06
• Referral credit, ($56.00)
• TOTAL: $411.46*

* Prices reflect my 10% student discount, where applicable

The bloodwork came back just fine, and his thyroids continue to be well managed at his current dosage of 0.2mg of Soloxine, twice a day. The physical exam, however, was a shrieking, fur-flying, anal gland-releasing mess.

So much for his winning streak as a “good” patient. Bowdu was not having it this time. Suffice to say, I’m now looking forward to another estimated $500 examination, which will include sedation and X-rays, to get Bowdu’s back end issues properly diagnosed.

Based on Bowdu’s history and what I know of other Shibas with similar health profiles, I strongly suspect it’s an ACL injury. I don’t want to say much more without an official diagnosis. In the meantime, he’s been getting loaded up on liquid glucosamine supplements (which I’d stopped for a while, and more on that some other day) and he continues to get daily fish oil capsules. His weight is good, so there’s no change to his diet. We continue our regular walks, including our off leash hikes along less strenuous trails, which I think gives him the freedom to move at his own pace and comfort.

I have to trust that he knows his own body as intimately as nature allows. He won’t tax or purposely hurt himself. It’s only been a couple weeks since his visit and about 10 days since I started loading him with glucosamine, but he’s been noticeably improved. His situation is far from dire, but it will need to be addressed.

And this, too, is when I feel the pressure of maintaining an aging dog on a student’s budget. Even if his situation is “just” remedied with steady glucosamine supplements, I think I’m looking at about an additional $200 a year on nutraceutical expenses — which I’m ready and able to do. What I do now will have an impact on Bowdu long beyond my current budget situation.

The vet also mentioned an injectible solution called Ichon which is more expensive, but reportedly, more effective. Absorption is one of the biggest variables across tablet, liquid, and now injectible forms of glucosamine, so I’m going to have to do some research to figure out a solution that works best for us.

Getting ahead of ourselves though, especially since there hasn’t been an official diagnosis. Apparently, the supplements — and time, of course — are making a difference, so this is what’s in our future. Clearly, we’ve passed a life stage threshold of some sort. While Bowdu may not be as active as he was even a mere year ago, there’s a lot of life in him yet. Learning how to make the most of it is an ongoing, mutual process.

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Health update on the cusp of spring

Tags

flea dermatitis, hair loss, honest kitchen, kennel cough, skin and coat supplements, skin rash, tracheal collapse, vet

A health update is called for, as we’ve had a titch of trouble recently.

Last Wednesday, I brought Bowpi in to the vet. She’d been cough-wheezing for a while. It’d reportedly started in November, when I was still in Taiwan. I certainly noticed it when I came back — a sporadic, whuffing sound that came on when she was balled up, either getting into or just emerging from sleep. RJ figured it was due to the unusually dry winter we’ve been having in California, and as it seemed to come and go, we just kept monitoring her.

The cough suddenly got louder and more frequent over one rainy weekend, so I had her in ASAP. Basically, she was whuffing and chuffing in several, continuous, uncontrolled rounds, and doing a lot of this in addition:

… yet, she wasn’t coughing frequently enough that I could count on her to demonstrate her symptoms to the vet. So I took video. Even on the day that I brought her in, the rain had cleared up, and she hadn’t coughed for over 12 hours. And Bowdu, as you can see, has been his usual, doofy self, so it didn’t seem to be a highly contagious condition.

Based on the video, manual palpation, my description of the symptoms, and Bowpi’s overall age and stature, the vet’s diagnosis was partial tracheal collapse, aggravated by a secondary infection of kennel cough. She spared me the X-rays for a more precise diagnosis, since she was pretty sure that was what was going on, and her condition wasn’t severe. She was able to recreate the coughing sound in the examination room by pressing on Bowpi’s trachea, and noted that the condition was not in the esophagus, so there was some process of elimination going into the diagnosis too.

So we were sent off with a round of Doxycycline for the cough, and a harness for Bowpi is already on the way. I definitely feel some guilt, wondering if this all could have been prevented if I had just been walking Bowpi on a harness to begin with. Like pretty much every Basenji I’ve ever walked, she’s always been a puller, jerking with great determination (for such a small dog!) towards the object of her scrutiny. This is much less of a problem when she’s off leash, as the vast majority of our daytime walks tend to be.

Obviously, I can’t always walk her off leash, so I’m doing what I can to minimize the harm that’s already been done. Like the doc predicted, her cough cleared right up after a week of medication, and her chuffing has subsided to very occasional, and minor disruptions. Neither her energy levels nor appetite has been affected, and otherwise she remains in great shape, so we carry on, and will follow up by phone in a couple months.

I am transparent about pet finances on this blog, and since veterinary fees can be one of the most inscrutable costs, I present the itemized bill:

• Office call, $56 $50.40 (minus 10% student discount
• Doxycycline (strength: 25 mg/mL), 28 mL, $30
• TOTAL: $80.40

Meanwhile, Bowdu was off his flea medication schedule for over two weeks, as I’d forgotten about it in February’s flurry. This is atypical of me, and poor Bowdu is the one that had to suffer for it.

Due to what I think were some flea or bug bites, Bowdu got really itchy in a couple spots on his chest, resulting in the loss of large swathes of fur. I didn’t actually see any bugs, though I saw the bite areas, and I didn’t find anything on Bowpi, whose short fur is usually quick to reveal any such problems. However, knowing that Bowdu does react pretty intensely to bug bites, and given the intensity of the fur loss (most of it came right out within about a two day window), my first response was to get both dogs back on Comfortis, ASAP.

This does coincide with a seasonal fur blow, which is already pretty intense in its own right. Since a few years ago (with the diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism), I’ve noted that Bowdu does tend to lose his fur in big, bald patches when he’s shedding. Pictures from February 2011 for comparison:

Pretty much always the same areas around the neck, chest, and belly, but never his back.

This is clearly the worst Bowdu has had it in years, with raw red skin and hyperpigmentation and everything.

I gave him a bath with some medicated shampoo to try and ease the itch and speed along the shedding process. I think it was actually a little too intense and offset his skin oils, because he’s felt greasier since the bath. I’ll give him another week or so, and try again again with a gentle shampoo.

Meanwhile, he’s been getting generic diphenhydramine (Benadryl) about twice a day, with breakfast and before bedtime. He’s got his skin and coat supplements: the usual fish oil and vitamin E, and additional Honest Kitchen Sparkle (which is being discontinued due to “regulatory challenges combined with low sales” — time to formulate our own herbal blend!). His itching seems to be under control, he just looks and feels rough, and is a bit cranky about being touched in certain ways.

At least he’s not too self-conscious about showing off his precious, slightly bald tummy.

Tugou-ing around Taiwan

Tags

formosan mountain dog, puppies, shiba mixes, taiwan dogs, tugou

I have so much to process on so many fronts, it’s hard to keep updated here. Meanwhile, earlier this week, there was a trip down to central Taiwan to visit relatives when my mom detoured through the island. It was lovely catching up with the aunties, and of course, their latest foster dogs.

Always with the dogs.

The little one, who was just found as a freshly-weaned stray, is at the stage where he demands constant contact with everyone and anything. He’s got the neotenous STARESTARESTARE down pat, though I’d hardly call him vulnerable.

The pretty yellow one is more reserved with her affections, and her warmth becomes evident with observation. She was found a while back having birthed a litter of pups, and has since been spayed.

I guess they’ve got each other figured out.

REVIEW: Orijen Alberta Wild Boar freeze-dried treats

Tags

acana, champion pet foods, chewy.com, dog treats, freeze-dried raw, mr. chewy, off leash, orijen, pork, sponsored reviews

Product: Orijen Alberta Wild Boar singles freeze-dried treats
Manufacturer: Champion Pet Foods
Quantity: one pouch, 2 oz. (approx. 45 pieces) [also available in 3.5 oz packages]
Price: $7.99 via Chewy.com
Ingredients: Wild boar liver, boneless wild boar
Guaranteed Analysis:

• Crude Protein, 40% min.
• Crude Fat, 50% min.
• Crude Fiber, 1% max
• Moisture, 2% max

Country of origin: Canada
Company Information: Champion Pet Food; 11403-186 Street NW; Edmonton, Alberta; T5S 2W6 Canada
Web Presence: ChampionPetFoods.com, on Facebook

Champion Pet Foods, the makers of Orijen and Acana, have quite a reputation for making what they call “biologically appropriate™” kibble with a surplus of whole prey ingredients that is supposed to mirror what dogs and cats would eat if left to fend for themselves in the “wild.” That part of their marketing platform has always been less impressive to me than their claims of sourcing “authentically fresh regional ingredients” that come from named, sustainably farmed sources. They are generally brands that the Bows do well on (Acana, specifically), though they’re priced beyond our capacity to feed them exclusively.

Knowing they’ve got a solid foot in the market for high-end pet consumers, Orijen has boldly trotted out a new freeze-dried treat. This product is so new, I didn’t even know this was in the works until alerted by the folks at Chewy.com, who gave me the opportunity to review from the selection which includes single-protein blends of beef, bison, duck, lamb, or wild boar, as well as three blends based on some of their popular kibble recipes, Regional Red, Tundra, and Orijen Original.

from the Champion Pet Foods channel on YouTube

(Call me weird, but I actually seek out company-produced PR videos to get a sense of how the company markets itself and what kind of information they think is valuable for others to know. I do, however, take their presentations with a healthy sense of skepticism and intent to read between the lines, wherever I can.)

For this review, we chose the wild boar recipe, primarily because there are very few completely pork-based pet foods on the market. I’m already favorably disposed to this line of treats for offering novel proteins catering to pets with protein sensitivities (as seems to be the case with so many dog people we know)

Upon receiving the 2 ounce bag in an oversized box from Chewy.com, I admit thinking… this is it?? as I shook the lightweight package before the Bows. Freeze-dried products tend to be very porous, so it’s hard to feel like you’re making a satisfactory purchase at the outset. It’s one reason that I’m not a huge fan of this type of food processing. Previous experiences have left me feeling that the crumbly mess that often accumulates at the bottom of the bag makes it a particularly un-economical way to feed.

These treats, however, aren’t quite as crumbly as others we’ve tried. Chewy.com’s protective packaging seems to help ensure that you’re not getting a pouch full of crushed bits.

Lightweight they may be, freeze-dried products tend to be pretty rich — though these are less than 7 calories per treat. At any rate, you really don’t need to feed many of these at a time. The Bows, however, were completely taken by the novelty of the smell, taste, and texture.

They glommed so close when I busted out these treats that I realized this would be the perfect incentive for practicing more “difficult” maneuvers. They’re a good size, not particularly messy, and totally irresistible. I don’t do much complex training with the Bows, but I do frequently take them off leash in high distraction areas, something which neither Shiba Inu nor Basenjis are known to be good at…

Okay, so the Bows are already accustomed to off-leash walking on vast acreage, and this is only one lesson of “Off Leash 101,” so my video may very well simplify the process and exaggerate the efficacy of these treats… What is unusual, however, is the way that both Bows remain underfoot and jump up like unruly Compsognathus, Jurassic Park style. Point is that this is a special treat, as confirmed by the Bows’ responses!

Given how effective these are, I think the price point is just right, at least relative to other freeze-dried dog treats on the market. I’m not willing to spend more than $10 on a pouch of treats that will be finished off in days or a handful of training sessions, but Chewy.com’s price for the small pouch is fair for the quality of this product.

I’ve yet to see these at my local pet stores, so I don’t know how normal retail price compares. We are grateful that Chewy.com provided us with a free sample in exchange for our honest review.

Final Grade: A

Sweet companions who see us through

Tags

dogsitting, welsh terrier

Someone’s internet search for “Basenji and Welsh Terrier” ended up here at the House of Two Bows. Well, here you go.

Perhaps the person was looking for a mix. You can use your imagination.

M– was my advisor’s Welsh Terrier, and a frequent guest whose companionship Bowdu often enjoyed back when this was a single-dog home. After Bowpi joined the household, we only got to dogsit him once before he was diagnosed with Canine Lymphoma — just about a week or two after this video was taken.

My advisor’s efforts to cook for his dog in an attempt to stave off the worst influenced my willingness to seek dietary solutions to alleviate Bowdu’s allergies, which hit us hard that summer. It seemed to work for M–, reviving his appetite and giving him two or three times more quality living than what the vet originally prognosticated.

The difference between 30 days and 3 months isn’t so much though, not when you’re talking about the loss of a pet whom you wish could live forever.

The other day, while rereading my advisor’s latest book, I noticed for the first time that he had dedicated it to M– after his passing. That put a smile on my face, even as it made me tear up a little.

Yup, somewhere in the venerable catalog of Harvard University Press, there is at least one book dedicated to a simple, sweet little dog. Family members and spouses are recorded in public documents, but the true identity behind this dedication would be lost without those who were there to know, care, grieve, and memorialize.

Alas, such is the injustice inflicted upon some of our closest companions.

Yachtz, an adoptable Basenji mix in Northern California

Tags

basenji mixes, basenji rescue and transport, bulldog mixes, dog adoption, rescue

UPDATE 17 NOVEMBER 2012: Yachtz still needs a home! He now has a listing on Petfinder with Homeless Animals Response Program in Antioch, CA. Please check out the link and contact karen.kops@harp-rescue.org for more information.

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The other day, I visited this Basenji mix and took some pictures.

His name is Yachtz (I called him Yacht-zee, like the game). He is 12 years old, healthy, neutered, up to date on all his vaccinations. Sturdy. Tipping the scales at 40 ~ 50 pounds. Gets his business out of the way before he comes to check you out. Companionable, once he knows you’re a friend. His broad face lights up with a cheesy, goofy grin.

This is what we know from previous BRAT postings:

“His owner has fallen on very hard luck finding herself homeless after hospitalization and is devastated that her longtime companion now has no one to provide for him and keep him safe as he lives out his life. The local ASPC graciously stepped up and paid part of the kennel fees but that was quite some time ago and he continues to be graciously kenneled with no hope of payment. The kennel owners understand that they will never be able to recover their costs and have been absolutely great in this situation, they do not want to see Yacthz euthanized, they say he is still a vibrant and healthy mix. He is bigger than the average Basenji but has the Basenji yodel and coloring. There are many volunteers that are willing to work to get him transported but we have been unable to find a rescue or adopter to transport him to. Understandably though, he needs to be out of the kennels!

“According to his longtime owner, Yachtz gets nervous and sounds aggressive around bicycle riders, skaters of both skate board and any type of roller skates. He is also sensitive to motorcycles. He was like this when adopted in 2003 and have no idea what may have happened to him in his early years. Yachtz also has a tendency to be food aggressive with other dogs. Although he makes grumpy noises he does not have a bite history but may do better living out his senior years as an only dog or with an owner experienced enough to deal with these characteristics effectively.”

I wasn’t able (or qualified, really) to test him with other dogs and fast-moving objects on wheels, so we’ll just have to take the previous owner’s cautions for what they are. I did note the irony that he shares a name with a manufacturer of longboards… but anyway, his issues are minor relative to the bulk of his potential. He’s quite limber, not hyper, and not slow; I wouldn’t have correctly guessed his age on my own. Didn’t seem particularly interested in toys or balls, but when I showed him a leash, he started whimpering with excitement.

I was pleased to find that he didn’t really pull or jerk me around (which is easy to do, given my size). Though he wanted to take the lead, he was quite responsive to my verbal cues and changes in direction. We weren’t able to go further than the perimeter of the play area. Mostly, what he wanted to do was explore and mark things.

He has some basic training vocabulary — sit, shake, and down (though it was too awkward for me to catch the last bit while holding a camera in one hand and training treats in the other). Though he didn’t seem particularly food motivated at first, he became interested once he warmed up to my presence. I guess he decided I was all right after a few scritches behind the ears, and especially after I Zoom Groomed the loose hair off his backside. He gave me his approval along with a chestful of wiggling dog butt.

Grateful for the compassion of this family-run kennel that has been housing him for over five months, I dropped off a 15 pound bag of food during my visit. But what Yachtz really needs is a proper home to live out his retirement years! Please share with any interested parties, especially if they’re anywhere near Martinez, Northern California (there are ways to make transports happen), and let’s see if we can get him home soon.

More pictures and videos in my flickr album.

For more information about how to adopt this boy, you can contact Ray Eckart with Basenji Rescue and Transport or drop me a message to reroute thataway.

Ready to eat

Tags

dog food, food aggression, quirks, vocalizations

This is how the Bows wait for breakfast.

Mornings are usually pretty mellow, especially during the summer. It’s dinner that comes with a song and dance.

Video taken 29 November 2011

Some of you might remember the solo version of Bowdu’s “Gimme my dinner!” song. Back then, I’d lock Bowpi in her room as I prepared their meals in order to control the Shiba’s food aggression. The Bows are always fed in separate rooms, not in crates. Bowdu gets front row seats to dinner prep. Before, Bowdu would attack Bowpi when she came to check out the kitchen. After they figured out each others’ thresholds in the presence of food (this took about a year), we started letting Bowpi linger during dinner assembly time.

Bowdu has an amazing falsetto. He will flash his fangs at Bowpi to remind her not to get pushy (the hypocrite). I let him make all the ugly faces he wants as long as he keeps his butt planted and I don’t see him leaning.

Bowpi paces and circles and sometimes grunts, but neither Bowdu or I let her get underfoot.

This happens pretty much every night. Somehow, without my explicit encouragement, Bowdu’s song just became more embellished, to the point that this has become some kind of strange household ritual.

And yes, I’m afraid the Shiba’s still a tubby hypothyroid chunklet, holding steady at 30 pounds on approximately 10 ounces of food a day!

Rain dogs

It has been pouring off and on throughout the month.

Still, we go to the park nearly every day. If we don’t, Bowdu will sit right at my side and stare at me, guilting me from getting any work done. Bowpi, on the other hand, would probably hold her pee for 16 hours if it meant she didn’t have to step out in the rain.

27 March 2012

A summary, for those unable to view the video —

Bowdu: Hey. It’s raining.
Bowpi: OMG OMG There is no escaaaaape!!! I give up.
Me: Bowpi! I am calling you though I have nothing to offer you.
Bowpi: Take me home you crazy bitch!
Bowdu: Yup, still raining. Hey, look. There’s another weirdo who came to the park in the rain…

Even on unexpectedly sunny days, muddy pools remain, requiring me to keep my Basenji on levitate mode.

Dog park behavior: the referee

Tags

canine body language, dog parks, dog play

When other dogs are playing exuberantly in close vicinity, Bowdu has a tendency to interfere. This is what I mean when I say he’s a referee, or sometimes a killjoy.

1 February 2012

He’ll circle the group, barking or rooing. Sometimes he will dive in to make physical contact — a muzzle-jab to the side or a nip. Sometimes he looks pretty scary when he nips, but this is not aggression.

Sometimes he’ll leap right into the path of oncoming traffic as if to say STOP ALL THIS RUNNING!!

24 November 2011

He has a pretty wide soup can and is quick to grouch when others intrude upon his space with all their funnin’.

But I think as the video above shows, his grumping seldom amounts to much. As long as the other dog gets out of his space (or we get out of theirs), he’s fine a moment later. The vast majority of dogs we meet are well socialized and understand him clearly, though they might look at him askance for barking orders. I do not apologize when he makes such noises. Usually, I tell Bowdu, “It’s okay,” or “Let them play,” (especially if Bowpi’s involved) by which I mean you have no need to take this any further, and we keep walking. All he wants is his own space anyway, so I try to redirect his focus towards the path. Bowdu is the main reason I keep moving at the dog park; it’s not that I’m being cagey or uninterested in conversation, I’m just trying to keep my Shiba from getting bored enough to boss around other dogs.

A couple months ago at one of our parks, I lingered at the top of a hill while another couple of dogs were playing. Bad move on my part — Bowdu stepped in to referee, but in this case, one of the dogs was really pissed about the uninvited interloper and retaliated severely enough that my dog was hurt. While Bowdu was being a pushy brat, I think the other dog owner and I both agreed that the punishment was rather disproportionate to the offense. It was a little bit like ramming a car for honking their horn at you.

Personal information was exchanged on the spot — one of the very few times in hundreds of dog park visits that this was necessary. Ultimately, we didn’t need to see a vet, but I took the incident as a very real reminder that not everyone, especially not every dog, is going to be so forgiving of Bowdu’s intensity. And he’s not exactly shy about calling out dogs who far outweigh him.

29 January 2012

I think constantly about how to deal with Bowdu’s refereeing. Maybe we (dog and human) are responding appropriately, which is why that seemed like such an anomalous experience. The only surefire way to get him to stop doing this thing that comes so normally to him — and to many other dogs, as I’ve observed! — is to not go to dog parks. We did quit going to the little, fenced-in parks where Bowdu has nothing to do except mind other dogs. His tolerance for rambunctiousness seems directly correlated to acreage which, yanow, makes a lot of sense in human terms as well.

Bowdu wouldn’t be a Shiba if he wasn’t a bit incorrigible about some things… Since I’m never going to be able to train away his conviction in his own importance, I’ll just have to give his ego plenty of room to disperse.

3 January 2012: scruffy fur during coat blow

Watermelon for Bowdu

Tags

fruits and veggies, watermelon

Happy Labor Day to you all, with lots of monching and cronsching of delectable foodstuffs.

Video and photo taken 2 September 2011