Back to back
Tag: Kendal
The love of and for a dog
No more words necessary.
Family portrait of sorts, and endurance
Like the maple tree all five of us reached out to the sun, enjoying some time outside. We have endured a long, cold, snowy winter. It isn’t over yet, we will have more cold and snow to endure. Yet I think the most brutal and hardest spells are behind us. Winter’s end is closer, each day spring is one day closer. A cardinal was caroling in our Manitoba maple day before yesterday.
Achilles and Kendal
Such different temperaments, different personalities. Achilles is (adn I’m anthropomorphizing) deferential, gentle, graceful. Kendal by contrast is bluff, assertive, physical, clumsy. Both are deeply valued, deeply loved companions.
In your face
Whatcha doing?
Stella – vet follow-up
I dropped Stella at the vet yesterday for dental cleaning. She was clearly displeased at being left there, trying to drag the vet tech out the door in pursuit of me.
A full blood panel and urinalysis were done before the procedure because she is a senior, almost eleven, and because of her weight loss from 35 lbs to 31.
The vet called to say that the bloodwork was fine, nothing to report. However sugar crystals were found in her urine. This was interesting because this was one finding during Kendal’s workup when he was so sick in late December. The vet delaying the dental work since it was not crucial to perform right away. He also recommended taking a second urine sample for comparative analysis, and because the first sample was possibly contaminated. The second sample revealed sugar crystals though not in the same high concentration.
Faye picked Stella up and brought her home, and we will try to capture a pee sample in a couple weeks or so. Miss Stella seems to be fine, has her normal energy and interest in things going on around her.
The vet also recommended further increasing Stella’s kibble. We recently switched all three dogs from the Acana Regionals cycle to Acana Senior, so perhaps I have not appropriately adjusted her kibble. Another factor is the colder winter than the recent ones, which of course requires expending more energy to stay warm.
It’s a two dog morning
Guard dogs
‘We will ensure that the couch isn’t stolen while you are away.’
Treat ball
Faye bought this this treat ball for Kendal several years ago. Like most Labrador Retrievers, Kendal has a tendency to Dyson any food that comes his way. That’s unhealthy and has a small potential to be dangerous because bloat or torsion can result. This treat ball dispenses food in a slow manner and makes Kendal work for his food.
The treat ball is hollow and you dribble kibble into the hole visible above Kendals’ nose. He pushes the ball around with his nose (which he does with an admirable single-mindedness of purpose) and when it rolls just right, a piece or three falls out. He Dysons it up and resumes the process until either all the kibble is gone or he gets bored (the latter is very unlikely). It’s quite entertaining. Nothing gets in his way or distracts him from his ball.
Waiting at the vet clinic
Typed on the PlayBook.
We took everyone to the vet for their annual wellness exam. Our vet, Wallaceburg Animal Hospital, is in the next town and the roads were snow-packed, so the drive was leisurely.
The vet had an emergency patient so we waited longer than usual. The dogs understandably became restless.
Achilles paced.
Kendal cocked his ears at sounds outside the examining room.
Drama queen Stella paced, barked at sounds, and occasionally hoisted herself on her hind legs to check out the counter.
Eventually the vet came in, we really like Dr. Vallee. Everyone is fine, Stella has a little gum disease. The cattle dogs got their vaccinations. Kendal not yet, because of his recent illness Dr. Vallee recommended holding off for a few weeks. And now everyone is curled up.
previouslytexan 