Horsefeathers!

[quote name='courtnek']*****Court, feeling VERY small, and VERY stupid***** can someone explain "brindle" to me? please? I thought I understood it, but after seeing the Chi I'm no longer sure... :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:[/quote] Court, I don't know the genetical techno nerd way to put it, but have you ever seen a dog that looks like someone took several paint brushes, dipped them in different colors of paint and just kind of slung it all over the dog in swirls and stripes and patterns? Kinda sorta almost like a calico cat? The dogs are just kind of all different colors swirled on. That's my official techno nerd definition. I'm sure there's a more intelligent way to put it, but sleep deprivation is taking its toll. We actually have a few brindle Poodles around here even though they're supposed to be rare.

[quote name='courtnek'] plain cottage cheese and cooked white rice is usually very mild on the stomach. [/quote] Ya know... you are the second person to suggest that. What's funny is that just as I was reading your reply, I had some rice simmering on the stove. Great minds, aye? 8) Today wasn't any better for Devin. I took him to work with me and gave him a really good bath and blowdry and really examined his skin closely. It's so red and raw and hot to the touch. I doubled the dose (for now) of Temaril just to give his skin some relief until I can figure out what else to do. The medicine makes him want to sleep, but it's the only relief he got from scratching. I'm effectively keeping him sedated to keep him from scratching. :-? He did get the Adequan injection today. I don't know yet if his hips feel any better because he's still mostly sleeping (when he's not scratching). I'll be able to tell better tomorrow. He grumbled at the vet today when he went to give him the shot... something Devin NEVER does (to the vet, anyway... he LOVES the vet, the weirdo :roll: ). He's just so miserable. Today wasn't any better than the last several days, but maybe by tomorrow he'll be feeling better. We're a long way from giving up. I'm very optimistic that we're going to find a way to at least help keep him more comfortable. The good days still outnumber the bad, so... Thanks for the support. 8)

[quote name='Lokipups']The only thing I can suggest is to try the homeopathic route and a completely raw diet. I've done raw diets for dogs similar to Devin (skin problems, digestion problems, the whole nine yards :o ) and have had great success with 6 out of 8 of them. If you want to give raw a try, I can give you a menu to start him off on, just give me his weight.[/quote] I'm reallllllllllllllly scared to try a raw diet again. I did it once several years ago with another allergy dog and it didn't go too well. Even taking that out of consideration, the thing that really worries me about Devin is that he is soooo easy to get sick. I've had pretty good luck giving my dogs (not solely) homecooked foods. The rest of my gang can eat pretty much anything. I took Devin off kibble completely and tried him on solely homecooked. For a while when he developed diarrhea, I took away everything and just gave him bland chicken with rice. He couldn't even keep that on his stomach. I know I sound unappreciative, or like I'm scoffing. I swear, I'm really not. It's sounds so weird to say I'll try ANYTHING that will help, but at the same time I'm scared to try ANYTHING. I never know what's going to trigger another bout of diarrhea and vomiting. I do appreciate the offer of help, though. I honestly do. I suppose before I ever reach the point of actually considering letting him go, I'll certainly try raw or anything else that might help. I do try to keep an open mind despite my previous bad experience, but sometimes it's hard. :oops: [quote name='cheekymunkee']Snuggle him for me.[/quote] Signed, sealed and delivered. :wink: Devin is my little velcro dog. Along with Peanut, Devin goes with me just about everywhere I go. He really is my little love. Right now, there are still more good days than bad. It's just that the bad days are getting REALLY bad. Thanks, all. :angel:

Courtnek, I'm not going to slam you at all. I actually thought the same thing, but more of an "eventually" kind of thing. He is just so young. I don't know what all other problems are going to pop up (I know there's no way we can have discovered them all and I'm sure more things will crop up as he gets older), but I'm just not ready to consider it yet. I want to believe there's something I'm missing, or that at some time I'm going to discover just exactly what it is that's going to help, if at least for a little while. I'm already certain that he's not going to be able to enjoy the same lifespan that most other dogs would. Devin is just a dog that should never have been born. I get so upset when I think about it. I groom his littermate that was kicked out of another groom shop (was mean as mean could be, but in fairness, this other groomer is not well reknowned for her patience and handling skills), but I took him on because, well, it was Devin's brother :oops: . Anyway, this dog also has a lot of the same problems Devin has. I just want to contact the people breeding these dogs and give them an earful :x . I'm also thinking he's going to develop a seizure problem as he gets older. Call it a funny feeling, but he already has these "episodes." I've been through that with two other dogs and in each one, it was a precursor to full blown seizures. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm expecting it. I'm sure the day will come when we might have to consider letting him go, but at this point, we are just dealing with the good day/bad day thing. I believe there HAS to be something I can do that's going to help. I just haven't discovered it yet. Maybe my head is just stuck in the sand. :(

[quote name='corgilady']you guys know I don't cuss. but I got right in his face and said, you get your @#$%$ a** outta here and don't come back, and I won't charge you with [animall cruelty, in your case] and criminal trespass. [/quote] :o *gasp*thud* Actually, I'm pretty sure this guy's heard me cuss so much that it's probably lost its shock value. :oops: Hey, good point about the fire thing. I think someone mentioned above about giving a key to someone in the clinic I could trust. That would be pretty much anyone there EXCEPT him. I think that's what I'll do.

My little Devin is miserable :oops: . For anyone who's curious (some of you already know), the reason I titled it "bad" dog is that Devin has "issues" :oops: . Geez, he was placed into five different homes by the time he was ever a year old (some of you remember where he got away from a guy once and was missing for two days while I had myself tied up in knots about it). I fostered him and placed him twice, myself, and he was the only foster failure I ever had. :-? Devin is screwed up as a can of worms. His hips are baaaaaaaaaaad (as in NO hip sockets at all), his knees are bad, his skin is bad (he's apparently allergic to, geez, everything?), we believe he is developing back problems, there's the aforementioned temperament problems (actually, he's doing wonderfully there... we found that a lot of his rotten disposition was because he was in so much freaking pain because he is REALLY much more "cranky" when he's obviously hurting), he has stomach problems with constant bouts of diarrhea and vomiting and who knows what all else is wrong with him that we haven't even discovered yet? Devin is only 1 1/2 years old :-? . He's having a really bad time right now. He seems to be in soooooo much pain and his skin is giving him fits. It's feast or famine with him. Some days are just better than others. We had him on cyclosporine and then Atopica for his allergies, but he stayed sick all the time at the dose that got him any relief for the itching. We had to discontinue that and he's taking Temaril instead, which I LOATHE the longterm use of, but I can't very well just let him tear himself to shreds. We tried to natural diet him, but even bland chicken and rice upset his stomach and he kept the squirts. We tried supplements, NO supplements and even when we did it despite the diarrhea (hoping it would *ahem* pass), it didn't help his itching, anyway. Once he is on a food that he tolerates, we just leave him strictly on it with no variance at all except he does get glucosamine/msm because he tolerates it well. No snacks, no nothing. What a perfectly boring existence for him, I suppose. :( He's taking Adequan injections for his hips and it does help some. He'll have another injection tomorrow and I hope that buys him some more relief for a minute or two. They do help, but it seems to be less and less effective as I'm pretty sure his joint problems and back are probably going to get worse and worse. I'm so upset seeing him so miserable, I could just cry. I feel so helpless. He's had his itch pill for tonight and I treated for fleas even though I didn't see any (he had a Capstar AND Advantage). I don't know what else to do. All I can do is sit here and watch my boy tear himself to shreds scratching and then limp away when he's done. I knew he was feeling bad when we went to visit his best friend Fifty the other day and he wouldn't be bothered with him. That's NOT Devin. No playing, no nothing but panting, scratching and trying to catch a nap in between. I'm not really seeking advice (though I certainly wouldn't refuse any). I reckon I just really wanted to whine. He is such a cool little dog, usually so bubbly and fun, and my heart just breaks not knowing what to do to help him. :( [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XwCpApUer!OU2yctCMP0hPsgg90q2rZ8qQmVmwmOyPQHoitSKYPSJOYN!jqCOMrYFWhHG1KXks3NODx3VkTJknRdDHPykfw5gWZJz08qTzDe5a*2jg907KM0JTglsji1U9EMocWikIU/Devin%20aww.jpg?dc=4675446487304893809[/img]

No clue and have never seen the former owners since they surrendered him. :-?

Ooooooohhhhhh, I'm glad you straightened that out fer me 'cuz I was all confuzzled. I meant it was a rule that hubby and me (mostly HIM) used to have about not having dogs on the bed. Whew, I just wondered if I was starting to shoot my mouth off in my sleep and not know it. :P

[quote name='odnarb'] Geez, no wonder you found my quote so amusing. I meant smile like that nice senior citizen that is handing you a shopping cart :o[/quote] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YQC5Am8fNzPYgl35Oidq!N7H1Bm7INlQ0itupAvUxoyZ0FSxhyvRi2WSlt21an*NKsqMPD963RTzRgoJp1SZQnVNkF4ulph7umD!gxMaplnjdhLkpm8!7ED1pO*T8hCbHQ0RM9VsJ1qIhpYaR7RiYw/dog%20snicker.gif?dc=4675441322176083087[/img]

[quote name='courtnek']to those who dont have WalMarts, it's a department store. There is usually a "greeter" at the door, who hands you a shopping cart and says something like "hope your shopping with us is a pleasant experience". Often they are elderly retired people, just trying to earn a few extra bucks. 8)[/quote] You must have a different chain of Wal*Marts than we do. The greeters that stand in the front of ours were hired on to stand at the front and look menacing. They are like those palace guards over in England with their glazed expressions and wouldn't smile or speak if their lives depended on it. They undergo special training in how to grimace, snarl and look as intimidating as possible while at the same time they file all the buggy wheels to be perfectly square so they have that neat little clack clack clack thing going when you're shopping. Our greeters also undergo rigorous physical training so as to be able to dash out the door and nab those rotten ne'er do wells who dared walk out of the store empty handed for surely they must have shoved merchandise in their pockets. Who knew there were two different chains of Wally Worlds in the US? :o Sorry... back on topic. Pit Bulls, yeah, they rock n' stuff. :bigok:

[quote name='odnarb'] we need to put on our best Walmart greeter smiles [/quote] My new favorite quote. Thanks. 8)

[quote name='courtnek'] and I may be the one HF was referring to. [/quote] Someone been posting under my name again? :cry:

There are 5 cats and 10 dogs currently residing here on H*ll's Acre. For the most part, they get along really well. There are the occasional dog/cat squabbles, but no more so than dog/dog or cat/cat squabbles. Rocco is a cat chaser, but he doesn't appear to be a cat hurter. He has never done anything when he "catches" them. I have a few dog/cat pairs in this house that are very bonded. Our Snowball cat and Devin are inseparable. It's long been believed that Snowball was sent here as a guardian angel and this little black cat is actually our good luck charm. When we had Goober (some of you remember him... the little ooooooooold dilapidated Yorkie that finally passed), Snowball was born into a litter of kittens belonging to a friend. Whenever I'd visit, little Snowball would always shuffle his way to Goober before his eyes were ever even open. Goober never acknowledged his presence, but Snowball was bound and determined to be near Goober. It's why we took Snowball home. Goober died a few months later, but Snowball was ALWAYS by his side as if he were looking out for him. Here's Snowball in the beginning. For comparison, Goober only weighed about 4 lbs. Snowball was maybe 2-3 weeks old in this photo. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0ZwAAAPAfqn7LArcCLs4f6!gA3idblp67sEdzD0iao3s6juTTiO0o9*qRaViAXIRX8fmdtErB50RHcIUYs!uoG6OqqhEYUVAtRLKpUA0Gzyk9xAHTFwGntgWnRH6S4wahcfkcq*mltBRI*CqZ5*lwmQ/Goober%20and%20DC10.JPG?dc=4675476331268447263[/img] Before Goober died, this was usually the scene. Most kittens would be into everything and playing. Not this kid. He was faithfully near Goober at all times (he's making up for the devilment and mischievousness now, though :-? ). [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0awAFA0oiQmSVttvBrT6*!dzdTX5q3uh7KeEqrhDm7OXvoSk5MnsgNksiyM4kQie!nWi27eLzxiAYstZEm503BjHNcSjaHfKoUjYvhdq40y33dhAMub0S3fxtI*hBo!nqUOErEvrUAW6tUPBqr*8HcNcuh51nMiz4/Snowball%20and%20Goober.JPG?dc=4675476333281391856[/img] We got Perry shortly after Goober died and almost immediately he needed major abdominal surgery. Snowball was by his side through his whole recovery. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0agCtAnEhrwSABp1GCty!OJ0BW3ByGf68qE!!8Lyz4mo9e81tOVvBTcXsD4BADndQ09p35cAKHrJg5!iUHXIggqcAiW5!0aV362yBD*r4os*3clxe0UsOVlNNVj1ruso!4lZGxXits58iv!mk!RxUUwupO*E5MrsH/12-23-02PerrySnowball0.JPG?dc=4675476333543268738[/img] I really do believe he was sent to us as a guardian angel of sorts. Now he's Devin's best friend. The two of them are inseparable. All in all, our cats and dogs get along well and coexist peacefully despite the occasional squabble. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0agDtAgEizj82VboZUdcoRnShYHSjAAcoT7peTWMCuU5b3LzCj!AqafN64rsR2gVjXddJlh4kbZR32FitlZu!hAfoAf4*J0px*ZcL3SGPOST2Mwij*VHaQcLHIgWCzuesqUI1tPVWjpy9pauhQ5DGBzxmqfT0LexI/Tomcat%20and%20Goober1.jpg?dc=4675476334873111508[/img]

You can buy bone meal that's already finely ground. Maybe TDG will come forward because IMO she's da bomb on this stuff and has been one reliable source of information for me on natural diets.

Unless someone has a really ugly dog in a tie? :niewiem:

Oh JOY! I forgot that, despite my promises :oops: , I never posted a photo of Fifty (who is doing great in his new home, by the way). Fifty is a Cocker/Poodle mix. I never attach "cute" names to my fosters like Cock-a-poo, so we just called him a Poodle mix. I want people to want the DOG, not a designer BREED. Anyway, in keeping with the topic of this thread, he is a mixed breed. OMG, I can't believe that in all this time, I've forgotten to post a Fifty photo. :oops: [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aQCtAhIiI0FKHhZO!aDTcPPpvi0JWVavbBTpKuyfOS4V11dGSQKGxbqfzK7n3zDCrOcjZJAo1ODv0NYeRcxvVpIIidtw1sA2s5WUWroDUQ7ATALZU3zdXT4bTLzskrn0QfRNRz8Mh8BBkYzcF4kuQ!6XYkJ9ddGH/Fifty%20yogurt%20face.jpg?dc=4675472236199348491[/img]

Oh, and here's Buster! He's a Collie/Shepherd mix and another of my earlier placements. This boy weighs close to 120 lbs. Who says I don't like big dogs? :P Not great photos, but here he is. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0bAClAoEiXn8SIwnvccoAWj9BVAz13AmctQYfP4n9vPqHBKIMSDcwPhW7cInNJhEicTeA3ndE!FQ84p5c9a5S6N7fanEFn8zZ0V03OpsB1MlNKlYkK1*M7g9wqxj4ALICwnO9ForXNmFqxUOdPNIM7KEEuPgE68zG/Buster%20inside%20down10.JPG?dc=4675476199360991716[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WgAXA94cCEcSIwnvccoAWvb!XkmsKeOqFyuESC6KhvD5vWeuBdtwsWJizlQ7A5jx64qYJdzfzXyyalatsmNUZzrMAtRkIU*6qb4UrgL5BEqOClNWF8a0uglw80yVBCHDSt6ahcMv3NQ/Buster.JPG?dc=4675476199365690728[/img]

How about a Terrier/Poodle and possibly Chow (depending on if you believe the theory about a black speckled tongue) mix? I was just browsing through some old photos and came across this picture. This was one of my first fosters. She's a medium sized dog and is the absolute GREATEST dog in regard to temperament and socialization. This girl loves EVERYONE. Isn't she adorable?? [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0XgDlAkgevsn0gLIJHXNt*77XPb1J371nCRYCL9ooVKq0KK2FwBAl9In2ofiEKmMKqcWf7BsObCI!TfhN3tHMb8UInnXp9jNLuZzgCSwLFulxoagmBfQx0H!MYdQ3mN!jLRy0h7eTHI4/Brandiface.JPG?dc=4675455330875725275[/img]

Hey, now they're showing on the forum! Looks like you have your hands full. 8)

They still don't show on this thread, but it's easy enough to click right click and get the url.

The ol' gal sprints pretty good, aye? Good photos. I like the one where they're begging for sustenance. :wink:

Ooooooohhhh, but I can right click and choose properties and just open another browser window. Going to peruse now. 8)

It's not a red x. It's a big banner. :-?

Courtnek, I can't see the pictures. I get a blurb thing that says "oops! you must visit care2.com photo albums to view this image!"

It's a'ight :wink: . There are ten dogs of varying breeds here in our little makeshift refuge. I have the two Standard Poodles and a Toy Poodle and Poodles (preferably Standards) are actually "my" breed, but Lhasas are a close second. The rest of them don't mind. 8)