The way that these tufts of grass calmed the wind, causing blowing snow to fall out create the little drifts downwind, caught my eye.
Images
Brutal, beautiful cold
Dawn in the heart of winter is a brutal, beautiful time. The temperature by the car thermometer was -24C. This may be nothing by some standards yet by banana belt Ontario standards, it is awful. Life is simply trying to endure and to get through.
Several sights about this dawn caught my eye. The way the ditch angles through the frame made an interesting almost asymmetrical contribution. The sun blushes the edge of the lower level clouds. there in the middle left of the frame, cirrus clouds are light, feathery, almost invisible. This photo and the others I took were well worth the cold stinging my bare fingers.
Goldfinches
They are very hungry, emptying the feeder, trying to survive.
Brutal cold
Today the high temperature was -11 or 12 F. With wind chill it felt like -19 or about -2. It was at times a bleak and very forceful reminder that we have a warm cars, warm offices, warm houses. We and our pets are blessed. Wildlife has none of this, the songbirds scramble for food, water, shelter. I topped up the bird feeder after getting home, liberally scattering seed on teh ground for the juncos and other ground feeders. Saturday and Sunday will will be warmer, then the brutal cold returns for a few days. It is winter, winter is brutal, it is a time of testing, of endurance.
Kendal is better
It has been a rocky few days. His energy level as well as interest in food, water, and exercise are all still off. Present, it is true, but not his normal self.
Tuesday we took him back to the vet. Dr. Vallee, the senior vet at the clinic, reviewed Kendals’ record and x-rays. He recommended discontinuing the doxycycline and scheduled an ultrasound for Tuesday morning.
That night was rough. Kendal could not get comfortable, was groaning, trembling, breathing was off. We were prepared for the seemingly very real possibility that he would not come home. Tuesday morning, Dr. Vallees’ demeanor and discussion indicated that he expected to have to give us very bad news.
Well the ultrasound revealed. . . nothing earth-shattering let alone awful. He, and we, were puzzled. He took a pee sample and requested a full culture, and gave a cortisone injection to ease Kendals’ discomfort and improve his appetite. Kendal isn’t his normal self but he definitely feels better. Better appetite, better energy, more comfortable.
Today, New Years Day, he called us with initial results which suggest a leptospirosis infection. His explanation and our research indicate that Kendals’ symptoms – lower energy level and nterest in food, discomfort/pain, diarrhea, a bit of vomiting – and the bloodwork results coincide with how lepto presents. Dr. Vallee recommended resuming the doxy which we have done.
It’s not a definitive diagnosis but it makes sense. We should know more tomorrow.
Apple blossoms
Still sorting through old photos. I took this in 2004 when I was still in Austin. An apple tree in my backyard put out lovely blooms every year. Unfortunately the fruit was always hard and sour. Not enough chilling hours. The blooms always entranced me though.
Kendal
Dr. K is the same today. He ate not quite a full can of the I/R diet the vet sent home yesterday, which is unlike him. Faye went to Goderich to see her mom as well as brother Allan, Connie, and Keith and I stayed home. Walked him up to the corner and he had a smallish poop; considering that he hasn’t eaten his normal amount of foo that isn’t too troublesome. He’s still lacking in energy and his usual enthusiasm, and I did not have him join me and the cattle dogs outside. This photo was taken last month.
It’s concerning.
Texas snow
I’ve been sorting photos and came aross this one taken in February 2004 just up the street from where I lived in Austin TX. Yes, Austin can have a measurable snowfall. Going through old photos is good, they bring back memories that at times are almost lost.
Kendal was unwell
Yesterday, Kendal began showing signs of not being himself. For one thing he was sluggish. During the evening he showed signs of discomfort – not getting up at the call to dinner and not inhaling the kibble we brought to him. We have fed everyone Acana Regionals for about two years, cycling among the four varieties. He lay down almost exclusively on his stomach and was uncomfortable, shifting position and groaning; breathing more shallowly and quickly than normal; trembling. He was aware of and interested in what was going on yet obviously not himself. We resolved to defer todays’ trip to Goderich and take him to the vet.
We watched him overnight (it was a long night). We had thoughts of bloat, a blockage, cancer, pancreatitis. He barfed at 5:00AM. Called the vet (Wallaceburg Animal Hospital) first thing and they said bring him right in. Kendal was perkier and positively jumped right up at the notion of a car ride.
After the initial exam the vet recommended a full blood panel, x-rays. Dr. Tracy Landry is a wonderful vet with a calm, factual, easy tableside manner. There was some difficulty with the x-ray setup which delayed those results. The verdict:
No pancreatitis, bloat, or blockage. X-rays revealed some gas buildup in his stomach and intestines and somewhat enlarged spleen. Bloodwork showed an RBC count below normal and sme liver values are elevated. The thinking is that this may be either a one-off upset or early signs of something more significant. Course of treatment: canned food for a few days, the antibiotic doxycycline to treat any infection, and Cerena as a stomach easer. I would not object too strenuously if Kendal blew a big stinky fart.
We are home. He’s alert and watching Faye, who is working in the kitchen. Kendal’s 12 years old, a good age for a Lab. We will watch him. After last night’s restless night, we may crash early.
Junco
The Dark-eyed Junco blends in to the scenery very well, which is its camoflague (sp?). We have a flock of about six which visits several times daily. They are ground feeders, gleaning what they can. I get amused watching them hop like little mechanical wind-up birds.
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