A Farewell to AWOL?

This morning AWOL looked pretty bad. Her breathing was shallow and although it was cold outside she was panting hard. Her gums were white, a sure sign of anemia. Grandma said that she'd take her to the vet today, but mom was crying when she left for work so I know it's not good. They think she has a tumor, like Dobie, Ajax and Sandy did, dogs I didn't know.
AWOL has been a good friend to me. She walks with me and tells me when I go too far, and she plays with me a little bit. She's quite old, Jaeger's age I think, but until very recently she had a lot more energy than Jaeger. I'll miss her.
Note from mom:
AWOL was diagnosed with lymphoma and we elected to put her on prednisone because she is pretty old, canine oncology is quite costly and only about 50% of dogs go into remission at the stage in which AWOL was. I feel bad about cost being a factor, but Natasha's VERY expensive stay in intensive care wiped out any other options for the time being.
Years ago, Dobie was also diagnosed with lymphoma and given about 4 months on prednisone. She actually improved and stuck around for 4 years! So it seemed that AWOL may have dodged a bullet, but she died a few hours after seeing the vet, presumably from heart failure, an overworked organ under pressure from some sizable tumors.

Vaccinations

Note from Mom...
Some canine vaccines can provoke an immune response in many breeds, and Weims are one that is predisposed to some scary reactions:
Hyperinflammatory disease and hypertrophic osteodystrophy, where bone growth bolts and requires treatment with steroids;
Immune system breakdown;
Injection site sarcomas;

Weims with these conditions sometimes end up in rescue, fortunately, and can be treated if not corrected: many more Weims are put down out of ignorance. New guidelines have been established by AAHA and UC Davis Veterinary College for core vaccines and the schedule at which they should be administered. Core vaccines are Canine Parvovirus, Distemper Virus, and Adenovirus-2 and boosters are recommended every three years. Non-core vaccines should be evaluated in terms of location, the dog's environment and social situation and the prevalence of disease in an area at a given time.
Here's a link for more information:
http://www.tristateweimrescue.org/weimpdf/New_Vaccination_Guidelines.pdf

That said, some veterinarians area taking a holistic and homeopathic approach to vaccines and recommend homeopathic nosodes for adult dogs. The nosodes only help protect dogs against Parvovirus, Distemper, Kennel Cough, Panleukopenia and FIP. Some nosodes seem to work more effectively than others. None of these produce titers against these diseases like a vaccination , so they are NOT vaccine replacements. They do seem to moderate a disease condition if the animal is exposed, even if they don't prevent it. It is another option for those guardians who wish to avoid vaccinations. Of course in the traditional veterinary field, there is resistance if not hostility to homeopathy, just as with human alternative medicine. Your own dog's lifestyle should be the biggest factor in determining vaccines.

Attack and Recovery

I was attacked by two Anatolian Sheepherding dogs on my morning walk on Valentines Day, and had to go to the emergency hospital for surgery and a stay in intensive care. Mom, grandma and the Anatolian dogs' owner spent a lot of money on that stay. The technicians fed me chicken by hand but I wasn't really hungry. I had stitches all over my abdomen and shoulder, and on my back. Then they put a mesh net around me to hold everything together. And once I got to go home, mom had to keep a shirt on me or make me wear an Elizabethan collar (whatever that is). I'm so glad to be feeling better!

Can it Be an Allergy?

Some of my play group friends had itching skin and rough coats that were dull and "sheddy." They improved a lot just by switching their diet to a lamb and rice diet from corn-based. Keep in mind that many dogs are sensitive or even allergic to ingredients in their food. Corn, soy and wheat are three of the biggest culprits as far as food allergies in dogs go, and finding a brand of dry dog food that is free of these ingredients can be tricky. Hot, smelly itchy ears, red flaky skin and a dull coat are common symptoms of food allergies. Check the ingredients on the label, and always check with your veterinarian to eliminate other health problems that may be causing a suspected dermatitis. Atopy, or inhalent allergies can be caused by dust mites, mildew, molds,feathers, pollen and yes, human dander.Signs of atopy include continuous chewing, licking and scratching at the face, ears, paws, abdomen and genitals. You can avoid costly treatment with steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics by giving your dog omega 3 fatty acids, natural anti-inflammatories such as quercitin and bioflavinoids and shampoo therapy: some of the hypoallergenic shampoos incorporate fatty acids which are absorbed through the skin, and offer a localized anti-inflammatory action.

Hazardous to Dogs!

Here's a quick A-Z of some common products that are hazardous to dogs. For the whys and wherefors, click on the Hazardous to Dogs! link.

Alcohol (duh...)
Avocado
Baby Food
Bones
Caffeine
Cat Food
Chocolate
Citrus Oil
Dairy Products
Egg Whites (raw)
Fat
Fish (raw)
Fruit Pits
Grapes and Raisins
Hops/Beer
Liver
Macadamia Nuts
Nutmeg
Onions and Garlic
Pennies
Persimmons
Processed Meats
Salt
Sweets
Tobacco
Tomatoes
Vitamins with Iron
Walnuts
Xylitol
Yeast Dough

Allow Me to Introduce Myself!

My name is Natasha: at least, that's what the humans call me. Before I came to live with Erin, my name was Bambi, but Erin said that there was NO WAY that she could call a Weimaraner "Bambi," so I had to get used to a new name.

I was born in December of 2006 and spent most of my early life in a yard by myself. I was bored and got into trouble, so I went to live at Weimaraner Rescue for awhile. It was very noisy, but I made lots of friends there. Diane Monahan at Friends for Pets cares for 75 dogs, mostly weims and dals. Then Erin adopted me because Ajax died and Jaeger was sad all by himself.

My home is in the country, surrounded by macadamia nut groves and avocado orchards. I run and hunt and play until I am so tired that I just collapse. Erin takes me on a long walk in the morning and a short walk in the evening, except when she has to travel. Then Grandma Martha takes over, but she doesn't walk as far.

My best friend and big brother is Jaeger, who just turned 12. He loves to walk almost as much as he loves to eat, and we like to explore gopher holes together. He can't really keep up with me, but he does keep an eye on me and scolds me quite often. He growls like a Wookie!

I've had some basic obedience training and was a good student, but I'm not ready for prime time yet.