Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, Dec 29
Both girls have been out for a good longeing run today. It's been thawing a bit today, making the world a lot less slippery than it's been these past days.
I'm still finding accidents in the morning - pee or poop, rarely both. I let them both out late in the evening before going to sleep - under severe duress. No matter it seems, in the morning there's a "gift". I wonder if it's because they are out of their normal routine, or because they have to sleep downstairs (I close the door to the stairs at night when I go to sleep). I also think they miss Connie, a lot.
Since finishing the antibiotics, Jazz has perked up a lot. She's not coughing at all any more, or hoinking. Her appetite has perked up too - she eats about 900g - 1 kg of food a day (finishes her own and then dives into what Blues leaves over). Blues is eating well, but less than Jazz now - I'd say about 700 gram a day.
Both dogs are inordinately obsessed with their nails. The sound of it sends shivers down my spine...
Poor Sam is still persona non grata in this tribe. Not that he notices it, he's very happy. It's clear that a second dog would do him a world of good. He's still increasingly playful and mobile, a joy to see.
I'm still finding accidents in the morning - pee or poop, rarely both. I let them both out late in the evening before going to sleep - under severe duress. No matter it seems, in the morning there's a "gift". I wonder if it's because they are out of their normal routine, or because they have to sleep downstairs (I close the door to the stairs at night when I go to sleep). I also think they miss Connie, a lot.
Since finishing the antibiotics, Jazz has perked up a lot. She's not coughing at all any more, or hoinking. Her appetite has perked up too - she eats about 900g - 1 kg of food a day (finishes her own and then dives into what Blues leaves over). Blues is eating well, but less than Jazz now - I'd say about 700 gram a day.
Both dogs are inordinately obsessed with their nails. The sound of it sends shivers down my spine...
Poor Sam is still persona non grata in this tribe. Not that he notices it, he's very happy. It's clear that a second dog would do him a world of good. He's still increasingly playful and mobile, a joy to see.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday Dec 23
Blues snores like a trucker with a beer belly. Jazz is a quiet sleeper. Both are amazingly lazy, I have a hard time getting them to go outdoors. Perhaps it's the snow and wind and cold? In any case, I still find pee in the morning, now and then. Even if I drag them outside around midnight, the sphincters remain tightly shut till I am fast asleep.
Oh well.
Now and then they become playful in the snow. Usually, a tennis ball is involved.
I have been working at home most of this week (my car is snow-bound), things are fairly slow. I'll work at home next week too. Beginning next year, I'll see how much I will work at the office, and where.
Jazz is not coughing any more but now and then still clears her throat like she's a TB sufferer. She and Blues have started acting territorial over the space on the couch next to me, there have been a few snarling confrontations. Poor Sam is barely tolerated in the same room. So, he sleeps a lot (which never is a hardship for Sam).
The other day, Sam and Blues were out back playing "chase the ball". Blues banged into Sam's front end rather hard, he walked a little way on and then lay down in the snow & proceeded to have an epileptic fit. The two deerhounds became very agitated, I first had to get those two inside before tending to Sam. The attack lasted about 3 minutes at least, could be longer,. After, he was very disoriented and drooly, could not stand up and when he finally did, could not walk a straight line. After about an hour or two he seemed right as rain again. This is the second attack in under 3 months, so once the two deerhounds are back home I'll take Sam to the vet.
Here are two vids of Sam and Blues playing in the snow (a day before the epileptic attack), each in his/her own unique way.
Blues playing chase:
Sam playing chase:
Oh well.
Now and then they become playful in the snow. Usually, a tennis ball is involved.
I have been working at home most of this week (my car is snow-bound), things are fairly slow. I'll work at home next week too. Beginning next year, I'll see how much I will work at the office, and where.
Jazz is not coughing any more but now and then still clears her throat like she's a TB sufferer. She and Blues have started acting territorial over the space on the couch next to me, there have been a few snarling confrontations. Poor Sam is barely tolerated in the same room. So, he sleeps a lot (which never is a hardship for Sam).
The other day, Sam and Blues were out back playing "chase the ball". Blues banged into Sam's front end rather hard, he walked a little way on and then lay down in the snow & proceeded to have an epileptic fit. The two deerhounds became very agitated, I first had to get those two inside before tending to Sam. The attack lasted about 3 minutes at least, could be longer,. After, he was very disoriented and drooly, could not stand up and when he finally did, could not walk a straight line. After about an hour or two he seemed right as rain again. This is the second attack in under 3 months, so once the two deerhounds are back home I'll take Sam to the vet.
Here are two vids of Sam and Blues playing in the snow (a day before the epileptic attack), each in his/her own unique way.
Blues playing chase:
Sam playing chase:
PS I gave the dogs some horse meat scraps from the butcher in Alexandrium. I've never seen Jazz scarf down food like Sam does - 800 grams in a minute, all gone! I guess she likes it ;-)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, Dec 19
We have had a lot of snow these past days with more to come. The dogs love it!
My back yard has become their playground and my house is permanently soggy because of all the walked-in snow.
I have given up on the couches... time to visit the second hand store when they are back home!
Jazz is better since I started on the second course of antibiotics - she still eats very little but when I started adding Losec to her medicine, things seem to be improving. This morning Blues hoinked up some stomach content... I hope it's only that she ate some snow and that she's not getting sick!
Here are the dogs in the snow:
My back yard has become their playground and my house is permanently soggy because of all the walked-in snow.
I have given up on the couches... time to visit the second hand store when they are back home!
Jazz is better since I started on the second course of antibiotics - she still eats very little but when I started adding Losec to her medicine, things seem to be improving. This morning Blues hoinked up some stomach content... I hope it's only that she ate some snow and that she's not getting sick!
Here are the dogs in the snow:
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday Dec 14
Perhaps it's too soon to be cheering but it looks as if this current antibiotic is doing it's work. Jazz stopped hoirking and coughing and barfing... still not eating a lot but she had a few mouthfuls of food today. I'd say about 300 grams... it's more than yesterday, at least.
Sam is getting donered by both girls. When Jazz goes for him it's all fury and sound but when Blues jumps all over him, you see fur flying. Even so, no grievous bodily harm. Sam is acting like a dribbling grannie because he's incredibly food-driven right now. He's fanatic about food, if he even thinks there's some for him, he'll barge elephants out of his way. The girls don't like it and give him hell.
Nothing special today, I was at work for about six hours. Monday too. Tomorrow I'll be working at home for the day. Who knows, perhaps Thursday and Friday too (or at least part of the day). Even the cold is not keeping the fireworks kiddies at bay, they are making a LOT of noise now and then, which makes the dogs nervous.
Sam is getting donered by both girls. When Jazz goes for him it's all fury and sound but when Blues jumps all over him, you see fur flying. Even so, no grievous bodily harm. Sam is acting like a dribbling grannie because he's incredibly food-driven right now. He's fanatic about food, if he even thinks there's some for him, he'll barge elephants out of his way. The girls don't like it and give him hell.
Nothing special today, I was at work for about six hours. Monday too. Tomorrow I'll be working at home for the day. Who knows, perhaps Thursday and Friday too (or at least part of the day). Even the cold is not keeping the fireworks kiddies at bay, they are making a LOT of noise now and then, which makes the dogs nervous.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday Dec 13
Hardly slept last night, Jazz was shivery and hoinking a lot and it worried me.
So, today (this evening) I started her back up on antibiotics. She ate a bit more today than the last two days but still not well.
Blues is good, she's sort of resource guarding me a bit - I'm taking good care to stop this. She got into Sam this evening and removed a fat tuft of hair from his hide. Sam seemed no worse for the wear, just huffed for a few minutes and then walked off. I'm not sure what triggered it, but she was pretty damn fierce.
Sam is in the bench when we sleep, and during the day when I'm at work. He actually seems pretty content in there. He is eating every day now, always in his bench. I just keep the portions very small but not so small he becomes obsessive and tries to steal from the girls, cause they would eat him alive. We will go back to the three hunger days per week once the girls are gone (I want to weigh him this weekend, see if he is at least remaining steady... he feels as if he is but you never know)
Boring day, no pee or poop found early in the morning :-)
So, today (this evening) I started her back up on antibiotics. She ate a bit more today than the last two days but still not well.
Blues is good, she's sort of resource guarding me a bit - I'm taking good care to stop this. She got into Sam this evening and removed a fat tuft of hair from his hide. Sam seemed no worse for the wear, just huffed for a few minutes and then walked off. I'm not sure what triggered it, but she was pretty damn fierce.
Sam is in the bench when we sleep, and during the day when I'm at work. He actually seems pretty content in there. He is eating every day now, always in his bench. I just keep the portions very small but not so small he becomes obsessive and tries to steal from the girls, cause they would eat him alive. We will go back to the three hunger days per week once the girls are gone (I want to weigh him this weekend, see if he is at least remaining steady... he feels as if he is but you never know)
Boring day, no pee or poop found early in the morning :-)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday, Dec 12
No poop or pee this morning!!!! (I took them both on a long walk around midninght)
Jazz is eating very little. Yesterday and the day before too, getting less every day. This evening she started hoinking/barfing again... so I think I might have to start up the second antibiotic course tomorrow. Right now she's on the couch next to me, shivering a bit (it's really cold outside).
Blues is behaving like a real doll, Sam too. The only real worry is Jazz... she hasn't been okay since she came here!
Jazz is eating very little. Yesterday and the day before too, getting less every day. This evening she started hoinking/barfing again... so I think I might have to start up the second antibiotic course tomorrow. Right now she's on the couch next to me, shivering a bit (it's really cold outside).
Blues is behaving like a real doll, Sam too. The only real worry is Jazz... she hasn't been okay since she came here!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday, Dec 11
This morning no pee. Poop, yes. And, utter devastation. Both deerhounds(?) don't like pillows on couches. somewhere during the night they managed to dislodge all pillows from the couches onto the floor. This was my first view of the downstairs this morning:
I cleaned up the poop and just closed the door behind me, crawling back into bed for a half hour sulk. Then I came back downstairs to clean up the mess.
Blues is like an undirected cannon on the leash, every which way at once. She needs to run, but she listens so poorly when I call her that I'm not sure I want to let her run off the leash. See, I have a Starlet and it can only fit one deerhound at a time (with difficulty). Maybe I could fit Sam in there too, he's lost a lot of weight, but not two deerhounds at once. So, Blues would be running without a Dot to fetch her if she decided to go off, or a Jazz to correct her. There are no safe, enclosed open running places here so she'll just have to do with the daily boisterous walks. It makes me a bit sad, this part of the country is not suited to deerhounds (which is why I now decided, I won't be taking one of Joachim's new pups next year).
I cleaned up the poop and just closed the door behind me, crawling back into bed for a half hour sulk. Then I came back downstairs to clean up the mess.
Blues is like an undirected cannon on the leash, every which way at once. She needs to run, but she listens so poorly when I call her that I'm not sure I want to let her run off the leash. See, I have a Starlet and it can only fit one deerhound at a time (with difficulty). Maybe I could fit Sam in there too, he's lost a lot of weight, but not two deerhounds at once. So, Blues would be running without a Dot to fetch her if she decided to go off, or a Jazz to correct her. There are no safe, enclosed open running places here so she'll just have to do with the daily boisterous walks. It makes me a bit sad, this part of the country is not suited to deerhounds (which is why I now decided, I won't be taking one of Joachim's new pups next year).
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday, Dec 10
This morning again, same as the past mornings, I awoke to a puddle of pee and poop in the living room (I think it's Jazz, she simply refuses to go out at night for a late pee/poop!). Cleaned and swabbed the floor. Grumped at the dogs, then took them all for a walk.
Jazz is still very listless. She's not limping any more so I did not give her any pain medication today (she had some yesterday and the day before). It looks as if she has an ear infection now, she's scratching her ear a lot and shaking her head. Now and then still cough/retches, mostly when she snarls at Sam (so, I guess there's still some throat-ache left). I'll use some of Sam's ear medication for her, I hope that will help.
Sam is quite happy in his bench (it's his feeding place). Which is a good thing, whenever I have to go out or when I go to sleep, that's where he is - for his own protection!
Blues is bored with the two other dogs. They don't want to play and don't want her to play either. In the morning when I take the dogs for a walk, I split it into two groups: Sam and Jazz go out together, and then I come back and take Blues for a longer walk by herself. She hates being left behind in the morning and if I leave her in the garden, she'll let a rolling primordial howl that wakes up people and animals for miles! When I take her out on the leash, she does not walk but bounce/run/skitter along. It's the funniest sight! When I said I'd take the dogs out for a run, I forgot that they don't fit in my car.... I think I will try and take only Blues with me to Hitland this weekend -IF the weather holds and it doesn't freeze again, or rain (so far I could not walk anywhere with them, it was too dangerous!)
I worked at home today, the dogs were pleased.
Jazz is still very listless. She's not limping any more so I did not give her any pain medication today (she had some yesterday and the day before). It looks as if she has an ear infection now, she's scratching her ear a lot and shaking her head. Now and then still cough/retches, mostly when she snarls at Sam (so, I guess there's still some throat-ache left). I'll use some of Sam's ear medication for her, I hope that will help.
Sam is quite happy in his bench (it's his feeding place). Which is a good thing, whenever I have to go out or when I go to sleep, that's where he is - for his own protection!
Blues is bored with the two other dogs. They don't want to play and don't want her to play either. In the morning when I take the dogs for a walk, I split it into two groups: Sam and Jazz go out together, and then I come back and take Blues for a longer walk by herself. She hates being left behind in the morning and if I leave her in the garden, she'll let a rolling primordial howl that wakes up people and animals for miles! When I take her out on the leash, she does not walk but bounce/run/skitter along. It's the funniest sight! When I said I'd take the dogs out for a run, I forgot that they don't fit in my car.... I think I will try and take only Blues with me to Hitland this weekend -IF the weather holds and it doesn't freeze again, or rain (so far I could not walk anywhere with them, it was too dangerous!)
I worked at home today, the dogs were pleased.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Jazz is limping
Poor girl is rather lame in her left back leg. She lies on the couch all day being drama queen, refusing to go out (except for early in the morning) and leaving me the results of this refusal (pee, poop) early in the morning. So far, I've had to clean up pee and poop every morning - I hope this will end soon!
I gave her some of those pain meds today. Just one tablet. Tomorrow, I'll be giving her two: one in the morning, one in the evening. I hope these will help her be more mobile.
The coughing and retching is not as bad as it was when she came, but it's not okay either. We will give her a week and see how she is at the end of that, whether she will be needing another course of antibiotics.
Blues is bouncy and bored. Because it's an ice rink outside, I've not taken her on long walks. Even if she would not slip and slide and end up splayed like a Disney character, I'm afraid I would. Everything is iced up and deadly outside right now. She wants to play with Sam, but Jazz keeps nixing this. That grumpy old broad won't have any noise or activity around her, she wants peace and quiet!!!!!!
I worked at home today, tomorrow I'll be home early and Friday I have to go to Brussels for the day so that will be a long day for the dogs. I had asked Wietske if she would be willing to look after the dogs but she found out that she has a wedding on Friday (she told me today), so that won't be happening. When I'm gone, Sam is in the bench. Friday will be a long day for him in the bench - luckily he'll have the weekend to recover!
With a bit of luck I will be able to work half / whole days at home often, in December.
Here are some deerhound stylings:
...and let's not forget poor henpecked, food deprived Sam:
I gave her some of those pain meds today. Just one tablet. Tomorrow, I'll be giving her two: one in the morning, one in the evening. I hope these will help her be more mobile.
The coughing and retching is not as bad as it was when she came, but it's not okay either. We will give her a week and see how she is at the end of that, whether she will be needing another course of antibiotics.
Blues is bouncy and bored. Because it's an ice rink outside, I've not taken her on long walks. Even if she would not slip and slide and end up splayed like a Disney character, I'm afraid I would. Everything is iced up and deadly outside right now. She wants to play with Sam, but Jazz keeps nixing this. That grumpy old broad won't have any noise or activity around her, she wants peace and quiet!!!!!!
I worked at home today, tomorrow I'll be home early and Friday I have to go to Brussels for the day so that will be a long day for the dogs. I had asked Wietske if she would be willing to look after the dogs but she found out that she has a wedding on Friday (she told me today), so that won't be happening. When I'm gone, Sam is in the bench. Friday will be a long day for him in the bench - luckily he'll have the weekend to recover!
With a bit of luck I will be able to work half / whole days at home often, in December.
Here are some deerhound stylings:
...and let's not forget poor henpecked, food deprived Sam:
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday, Dec 6
Relative peace and quiet reigns in the house. Last night Jazz coughed some and barfed (the wrong kind) some. I heard Blues pacing around 3 in the morning and when I went downstairs, I found a puddle and some poop. And a very guilty looking dog on the couch. I tried to get her to go outside earlier (around 1 in the morning) but she refused to go. From tonight on, I'm turfing her bony ass outside before I go to sleep whether she wants to or not.
Today when I went to work I put Sam in the bench. Came home early and he was quite at peace in there. The girls both looked quite happy and relaxed too.
Both girls ate 800grams Smuldier Compleet (Jazz a bit more because I added a little Ceasar pack to the mix). Sam got a tiny bit of food so he would not feel deprived in the bench.
Jazz got her pills morning and evening. Only one more day left, then we will see if she has improved.
Some pictures of the dogs:
Sam likes snow.
A sad and sorry Jazz
Blues looking for a gap
Today when I went to work I put Sam in the bench. Came home early and he was quite at peace in there. The girls both looked quite happy and relaxed too.
Both girls ate 800grams Smuldier Compleet (Jazz a bit more because I added a little Ceasar pack to the mix). Sam got a tiny bit of food so he would not feel deprived in the bench.
Jazz got her pills morning and evening. Only one more day left, then we will see if she has improved.
Some pictures of the dogs:
Sam likes snow.
A sad and sorry Jazz
Blues looking for a gap
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Day 1, Saturday Dec 4
All is well.
Jazz lies on the couch all day and seems down, withdrawn. Blues lies next to me all the time. She seems to pant a lot. She's also wanting to go outside every so often and then hovers around the back gate. Looking for her missus, I guess. She acts jealous around me, I'm not letting her get away with it.
Sam's nose is out of joint. He's hungry all the time and now he's henpecked by two girls. He is not a happy boy, pacing up and down until one of the two snarl at him. Then he becomes quite cautious and lies down a bit.
Jazz took her two tabs antibiotic in the morning and two tabs in the evening.
Eating: Last night both dogs did not want much food. Jazz ate virtually nothing, Blues emptied most of her bowl but not with enthusiasm. Sam got more than usual for a Friday. I'm feeding him in the bench now, it's safer when you look at his behaviour around food.
Today I gave both two packets each of smuldier totaal. I mixed in a small catfood meal in with Jazz's food and she scarfed it down like a pro. So today at least, she got in some 800 gram of food. Blues was also really happy about the smuldier. Sam was just happy to get any food down his gullet. He wants more...
PS when W walked in the door - i opened the back door for her - blues was confuzzled. W had a backpack on and rain clothes. Blues hopped on my couch and lay down flat, growling at W. I told W not to approach her, we walked through the room talking and I broke out a few Frolics - we both fed all the dogs pieces of Frolic and slowly the tension leached out of Blues. It surprised me though, I had never seen her act growly towards people before.
Jazz lies on the couch all day and seems down, withdrawn. Blues lies next to me all the time. She seems to pant a lot. She's also wanting to go outside every so often and then hovers around the back gate. Looking for her missus, I guess. She acts jealous around me, I'm not letting her get away with it.
Sam's nose is out of joint. He's hungry all the time and now he's henpecked by two girls. He is not a happy boy, pacing up and down until one of the two snarl at him. Then he becomes quite cautious and lies down a bit.
Jazz took her two tabs antibiotic in the morning and two tabs in the evening.
Eating: Last night both dogs did not want much food. Jazz ate virtually nothing, Blues emptied most of her bowl but not with enthusiasm. Sam got more than usual for a Friday. I'm feeding him in the bench now, it's safer when you look at his behaviour around food.
Today I gave both two packets each of smuldier totaal. I mixed in a small catfood meal in with Jazz's food and she scarfed it down like a pro. So today at least, she got in some 800 gram of food. Blues was also really happy about the smuldier. Sam was just happy to get any food down his gullet. He wants more...
PS when W walked in the door - i opened the back door for her - blues was confuzzled. W had a backpack on and rain clothes. Blues hopped on my couch and lay down flat, growling at W. I told W not to approach her, we walked through the room talking and I broke out a few Frolics - we both fed all the dogs pieces of Frolic and slowly the tension leached out of Blues. It surprised me though, I had never seen her act growly towards people before.
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