My Dog Pack- Through sickness and in health!

As long as I can remember I had dogs in my life.  My first childhood dog was 'Boots', a black dog... I think.  My second dog was Sam, black lab mix. I loved Sam, I taught him to climb a ladder, lay down while I pulled grass and covered him in it. 

My third childhood dog was Rebel.  He was actually my step-brother's dog.  Lucky.  My parents got him while I was away for a few days.  He was a great surprise to come home to!  Lucky and I walked all over Tulameen, in the woods, I never felt unsafe with him beside me.  He was hit by a car a few weeks before I was to leave home to go to college in 1992.  I missed him terribly.

For years I dreamed of having a dog and the constant companionship and unconditional love it provides.  

Finally in June 2003, once we purchased a house I was able to get a puppy.  I went to the SPCA and combed through the newspaper ads. 

I found Gabbi at the SPCA in Vernon.  I fell in love with her immediately.  She was such a smart puppy.  I couldn't stand the thought of leaving her at home while I was at work, so being the boss, I started bringing her to work with me.  Consumers and staff loved her and offered to take her for walks. 

She has such a personality and loves people.  She isn't fond of kids, so she leaves when kids come around.

After I had Gabbi for a few monthes, I wanted to get another dog, to keep her company.  So I went looking at the SPCA in Vernon, and found Nightmare!

Nightmare was a good boy and loved everyone. He loved cuddling, hunting, and chasing the ball.

When Gabbi was about a year old, she started having  difficulty moving around.  She was soon diagnosed with immune-mediated polyarthritis. She was immediately started on the steroid Prednisone, to supress her immune system. Gabbi's mobility improved, but then she developed mange from the Prednisone. So she had to change medications.  After being on medications for a year, she was weaned off, and was a happy active puppy.

Nightmare was also very active, until one morning when I noticed a subtle difference in him.  He didn't follow me from the living room to the Kitchen, which he always did. I phoned the vet right away, it was a Saturday morning.  They were able to get me in right away with Dr. Elliot Kaplan.  I could not tell the vet anything specific, just that Nightmare was not himself.  The vet did an examination and ran some tests.  He said he would let me know about the results of the test as soon as he got them.

I went home, started vacuuming.  The phone rang about 5 mins later.  It was Dr. Kaplan telling me that one of the tests he did came back it was very serious.  He told me to rush back to the hospital with Nightmare as soon as possible.  

The next two weeks were spent with Nightmare in and out of the hospital, a battery of tests and huge doses of medications.  On July 23, 2006 at 1:30 am, Nightmare passed away with Karl and I holding him.  He had developed blood clots as a complication from Predinsone and the polyarthritis.

Karl and I were devastated.  Gabbi was freaked out and wouldn't come in the house for hours.  Karl and I buried him in the back yard so he would be close to us.  

After Karl and I separated in 2006, I could not bring myself to get another dog. I just did not feel like I could love another dog like Gabbi or Nightmare. Until 2009, when one of my co workers got a German Shepherd puppy.  She was adorable and I could feel myself wanting another a dog.

So I again, went to the Vernon SPCA and looked online at ads.  I found an ad for a Lab Border Collie mix puppy, when I saw them, I chose one.  I could feel right away that he would be the perfect Nightmare #2!

The next day, I went to show someone the ad for the puppy.  I found an ad for Bernese Mountain and Shepherd mix puppies.  I have always wanted a Bernese Mountain Dog, so I could not resist getting another puppy.  His name is Merrill Armegeddon!

The puppies became brothers quickly.  Gabbi was tolerant until they respected her as alpha.

 

When the puppies were 13 monthes old, a littermate, a sister came up for adoption.  I couldn't resist.  Her name was Cocoa, but we renamed her to Kilo.  She was a husky girl when I got her, and is very much a freight train. 

My pack was complete!  In April 2011, the puppies turned 2 and Gabbi turned 8!

Gabbi had a vet appointment on April 26, 2011 to find out about her limping.  The vet recommended x-rays to see how much damage had been done.  The x-rays showed significant deterioration of her joints in the shoulder. The vet recommended to admit her for the day, to do a joint tap and a blood test.  He suspected she had Rheumatoid Arthritis, but had to be sure.

April 28- Gabbi went to the vet for the day, she was sedated for a joint tap.  The test on the joint tap fluid came back full of white blood cells, but not conclusive of RA or polyarthritis. So the vet recommended the blood sample to be sent away to be tested for a definitive answer.

May 6 -The results came back and Gabbi was diagnosed with a return of Immune Mediated Polyarthritis. A great website for information describing the various types of polyarthritis, click here

To be brief, I am terrified for the treatment she has to go through to have a chance to live any life with quality. She is an increased risk of blood clots, like Nightmare #1, because of her age.

I want to track her progress and keep this blog post up to date, in hopes that other dog owners might find this helpful.

Treatment started May 8, 2011 - Gabbi started on a high dose of Prednisone, Azathorapine, and liquid Aspirin.

May 9-  Increased thirst is a side effect of the Pred. and it noticeably  increased for Gabbi.

May 12- Gabbi ate her breakfast, but was very lethargic for most of the day.  She vomited up all her food in the afternoon.  I phoned the vet, and he advised to stop the medication right away.  He suggested trying the medication again on Sunday and not to push food on her.

May 13- Gabbi ate her breakfast and dinner, didn't vomit, but still lethargic and very thirsty.

May 15- Restarted medication again

May 18- Gabbi had great energy and was playing and rolling around in the grass

May 19- appointment with the vet- he was impressed with how much the swelling had gone down and she was not limping as much.  We were both optimistic

May 20 - 22- Gabbi was good, just increased thirst

May 23- Gabbi was very lethargic, increased thirst, and decreased appetite

May 24 - Morning- Gabbi vomited up all of her food and wouldn't eat at all.  She was very lethargic, extremely watery eyes, diarrhea, difficulty walking due to un-stability.  She seemed to get worse very quickly. I called the vet about 12:30

By the early afternoon, her back left leg started to swell and her stomach was very red. There was a sore on her leg that started to bleed. The vet called me back about 1:30pm.  He advised me to bring her in for an appointment at 630 pm. 

From 4 pm until her appointment she was very hot and unable to move much.  The bleeding on the back of her leg was significantly more.

When we got to the vet, her temperature was very high, the bleeding had saturated her fur, and her heartbeat was high.

The vet shaved her belly to get a better look at the bleeding. The redness had increased significantly in her belly. The vet thought it look liked a tumour. She drew blood right away to look for mass cells.   Mass cells were present, but the vet recommended the blood sample be sent to a pathologist for a second opinion.

Two techs came in right away to take Gabbi to start her on IV fluids.  She needed to be stabilized right away.  She was not very responsive

Before we left, Karl and I went to say goodbye to her.  She wagged her tail and lifted her head when we came in, but she couldn't do much more than that.

May 25-  The vet called me just before 5am to tell me that Gabbi was not doing well. The techs had called the vet in at about 3am because her heart rate had gone up significantly.  The vet had managed to get her heart rate down a bit, but was very concerned.

The vet told me she was going downhill quickly and would be unlikely for her to recover.  The vet asked me if i wanted to continue treatment,  and I said no.  I didn't want Gabbi to suffer and I knew she was not well at all.

I called Karl to tell him we needed to go to the vet to put Gabbi down.

The vet called me back and told me that Gabbi had past away.

My mom, Jeanette, Josh and I met Karl at the vet to say good bye to Gabbi. 

I am still numb from how fast things happened this week.  Gabbi passed away within a month from her first appointment and 9 days from starting medication on consecutive days.

This condition is so hard to understand.  I really hope I have had a lifetime quota of dogs with immune mediated polyarthritis.

Owned dogs all my life, but this one has me stumped!

In May 2010 there was an advertisement for a dog, that is the full- sister of my dog Armegeddon. He is a great dog, very smart, social, hesitant, but loving once he trusts someone! So I assumed his sibling would be the same! You know what they about assume.... It's make an ASS out of U & ME!

Kilo, is her new name! Like her brother, she is beautiful, very smart, social & VERY loving! But she had a very different upbringing, a very lonely one! She was an outside dog, of a family with 2 small children. Her only toys were the wood pile & she was free fed out of a huge dish!

Obviously, she had no training & not much socialization. She is friendly with other dogs, but can be very loud, barking & growling. She doesn't do this in a mean way, but she just wasn't trained to curb her enthusiasm.

While enthusiasm is not inherently a bad thing, I did not realize what it would do to the dynamics of my pack. Like all multiple dog households, there is a pack mentality. Because my three puppies are all the same age, their pack mentality is very strong.

The part that was totally unexpected for me was the anxiety that would be increased in Armegeddon. Kilo gets very excited barking & growling when other dogs are
excited &/or getting attention. In addition, because Kilo never had lots of toys, she is possessive of toys. So, if she has a toy in her mouth, and another dog comes near, she gowls.

All of This has created immense anxiety in Armegeddon. He wasn't the most confident to begin with, but Kilo's constant charging forward physically, growling & barking has created overwhelming anxiety & aggression in Armegeddon.

I can't take the dogs to the dog park, due to the strong pack mentality & Arme's aggression toward other dogs. Not that I am a big fan of dog parks, but sometimes it would be nice to meet other dog owners.

Anyhow in order to combat Kilo's enthusiasm, I have been keeping Kilo on umbilical. This means she is on leash when she in the house & the leash is attached to me. While she always follows me to every room in the house, the leash stops her from charging ahead of me. The leash also allows me to physically correct her when she barks or growls.

I wanted to share this information, because as much as I love dogs, I was seriously considering finding a new home for Kilo. But one night as I was struggling with this decision, I realized that I have not done enough to help train Kilo. I was reading a book by a local TV Show host, Brad Pattison, whose methods can be controversial. One line in his book, talked about a lady who had a very difficult dog & she was registered in classes for a year, before she felt her dog had a really improved & was properly socialized.

I had put kilo through a puppy kindergarten, but realized that wasnt even close to enough training, for any dog. So I made a commitment to Kilo to do the necessary work to get her training in order.

I have to say, within the first 2 days of having Kilo on umbilical there has been an amazing improvement in Kilo's behavior. She is much calmer. There was an immediate difference in Arme, he was hesitant to come to me when I called him to come. But after 4 times of me calling him to come & keeping Kilo from barking, he is noticeably less hesitant.

I wish everyone could experience the immense satisfaction of owning multiple dogs. I hope sharing this story will encourage to put in the work to make their a full member of the family.

Cheers,
Laura, Gabbi, Nightmare, Armegeddon, & Kilo!!

Homemade Dog Kibble and RAW food

As the amount of dog food recalls increase, I could no longer justify putting my dogs at risk. Even though I was feeding a good quality kibble, Acana or Orijen. I still keep it on hand for when I am away and my roommates are feeding the dogs.

But to feed homemade, there is a lot to learn! Here is some quick hint and tips:

Making natural dog food recipes at home provides healthy food for your pet, and it's very easy to do. Simply balance proteins, fats and carbohydrates with the occasional mineral or vitamin supplement to add more nutritional value.

The following is a basic guideline of ingredients needed to feed your dog healthy meals. You will have to gear them according to his size and the amount of food he typically eats per day

Cooked ground lamb, poultry and beef are ideal for mixing into natural dog food recipes. Limit PORK OR HAM

Pass on vegetables high in oxalic acid since they will interfere with your dog's ability to absorb calcium; stay away from spinach, rhubarb and swiss chard. 

Absolutely, DO NOT FEED YOUR DOG:

ONIONS, GARLIC

Grapes & RAISINS

CHOCOLATE

GRAPES

CITRUS FRUITS

AVOCADO

CORN ON THE COB

APPLE CORES – SEEDS ARE TOXIC TO DOGS

MUSHROOMS (and not just cause I dont like them... ha ha)

ARTIFICIAL SWEETNER

COFFEE OR OTHER PRODUCTS HIGH IN CAFFEINE

MACADAMIAN NUTS

WALNUTS

Wholesome ingredients to incorporate into your dog's diet

Quick cooking grains:

Rolled oats

Cornmeal

Bulgur

Whole-wheat

Couscous

Quinoa

Other grains:

Brown rice

Barley

Millet

Wheat berries 

Frozen vegetables:

Cut green beans

Lima beans

Peas 

Fresh cooked vegetables:

Finely grated carrots or zucchini

Yams/sweet potatoes

Baking potatoes

Broccoli

Beets

Squash

Parsnips 

Does your dog have arthritis? Tip: Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, and can be sprinkled on your dog's food. Start a medium dog with an eight of a tsp per day. Mix any dose with food because the taste is hot and can be offensive or cause vomiting. This should work immediately.

To determine how much to feed an adult dog, take his body weight and multiply it by 0.4. The resulting number is the total number of ounces your dog should be eating in a day -- either in one big meal or divided into a morning and dinner meal.

As for kibble, here is the recipe I use, I like it because it is easy, and all the ingredients can be bought at the grocery store.

Homemade Kibble

4 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups rolled oats (dry oatmeal)

3 cups of cooked brown rice

2 cups of powdered milk (instant milk)

3 cups of water or broth (chicken or beef)

4 eggs

1 cup of lard or shortening

Mix the flour, oats, rice, powdered milk and water or broth. Then beat the 4 eggs with a fork and add the eggs and the shortening or lard into the flour mixture. Mix until well blended using a big spoon or your hands.

If your dog loves a certain ingredient, you can add it to the kibble mix. You can add cuts of lean cooked meat, bits of cooked carrots, thawed frozen peas, or any other ingredient your dog loves.

You want to pour your kibble batter into a shallow pan so it will cook evenly. Just don't make it too thick. You can use several shelves in your oven or you can just make separate batches. Bake at 200 degrees for at least 45 minutes. You want the kibble to be dry. 

After the kibble mix is cooked, let it cool fully then rip it apart into small pieces. Store in a plastic container in the fridge and use as needed. You should use it within two weeks. If you can't use it in time, you can freeze it in plastic bags then thaw as needed.

This is another recipe I use, when I have the ingredients on hand:

Canine Hamburger Helper

1 cup hamburger

2 boiled eggs

½ cup oatmeal

2 Tbsp cottage cheese

1 cup cooked green beans

1 cup grated carrots

Method

Stir fry the hamburger meat in canola oil. Chop the boiled eggs into small pieces. Cook the oatmeal. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Serve. Leftovers of this meal can be stored up to three days in the refrigerator.

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RAW FOOD

As for raw food, I buy pet burger from my local butcher here in Winfield. The butcher grinds up meat & bones into a burger consistency. Freezes it in huge long cylinder packs. Then when you buy it, they slice it into patties for you the thickness you want! I bought a 120lbs for a $120. That alone will feed my pack of four twice a day for 5 weeks!!  That is the best deal!

That is the other benefit for feeding raw, I could not afford a $300 - $400 dog food bill if I chose to continue feeding kibble.

Above is pictures of the pet burger. It's about 4 inches in diameter and an inch thick.

To the pet burger I add veggies, rice, a bit of kibble, fruit, plain yogurt (8 tbsps/wk), pumpkin, spinach, applesauce, etc. I had some freezer burnt salmon I BBQ and de-boned, I have it in the freezer to add for a special treat! Right now I'm just figuring put what my dogs will eat, so that is why I keep various things on hand to add to their pet burger. I have a garden, so they will get lots of veggies from there too.

I bought some Recovery to add to my oldest dog's food to help her joints!

So I have been feeding them this for about month! I immediately noticed a difference in their coat, shiny & SOFT! I have 3 dogs who are 18 months old and my oldest is seven years old, they all have huge energy & more now being on this food.

Now a yucky topic, but the biggest surprise, poop! Everywhere I read about feeding raw, it talked about reduced pick up in yard. But I couldn't believe how much of a reduction. With four dogs I had to keep on top of the back yard clean up. I was away, so I had two weeks to clean up. I was scared of the mess that awaited me. But when I was done I barely had a third of a five gallon bucket. Before on kibble I would easily fill 80% of the bucket in a week!

I don't measure exact every meal, cause some meals they get 100% protein, other meals might be 50% protein; 50% carbs, and they another meal might be 30 % carbs-30% veggies -40% protein. But overall it works out for them I think to be about 70% protein; 30 % veggies & carbs.

As for yogurt, I read information that said it is bad and other information that said it was good. I only use plain yogurt, no sugar or fruit added. It seems there is no right answer. So I made a decision, and started giving it to them, and it has been amazing. My one dog, who seems to always have yeast infections in his ear, doesn't have any now.

As I try and tailor more recipes or find more information, I will add! Good Luck!

Dogs reduce imposter complex

This past year has been intense. The level of stress, anxiety and depression I have struggled with has been unparalleled. Completing my Masters was a big part of the stress, but there was immense satisfaction that came along with it. Work has been excruciating, two major audits from government departments and significant hold ups of funding. All of this has physical, mental, and emotional effects on my health. Last couple of days has been tiring, can feel my body fighting off something. I find this frustrating, cause I have so much to do at work. The more pressure I feel, the more my body wants to withdraw. This is where my dogs come in.

My dogs provide me with the comic relief, motivation to get out and about, and companionship. Today they waited while I slept until 3pm. I was finally able to get enough energy to take them out. I knew I wasn't going to be able to walk them, but at least if I took them out to where we hike, they could run around, dig, and chase chipmunks. Then I took them to the lake for a swim. This energized me, the cool breeze, sun, and water. I was so happy to see that all the puppies love to swim and fetch. This is one of my favourite things, is to go to the lake and swim and suntan. So knowing I have dogs who love to do similar activities, makes me happy.

I love to socialize and interact with coworkers, clients, friends and family etc. I focus all my attention, empathy, listening, etc when I am with them. But I also feel like I am intruding on people when I spend time with people. Like they could be doing something better with their time. This is the root of my imposter complex. While my imposter complex has lessened in recent years, I still struggle with it continuously. I would welcome any new perspectives about people`s imposter complexes, if you are willing to share.

Masters is completed, what is my identity now?

As I frame my Masters degree and put the finishing touches on my first article to be published, I reflect on my new identity, the domesticated academic. The balance of education, home, work, four dogs, and a social life has increased my awareness of the connectivity of various roles and identities one person can navigate. While many people focus on their professional roles and accolades. For example, I am registered social worker, executive director of a non profit agency, and a have a masters of arts degree. These titles, are just that, titles that come with a bunch of expectations. They do not really provide a clear illustration of who I am as a person.

I have met many other people, mostly women, who struggle with aspects of identity. Imposter complex plagues many women. It is through my blog I hope to provide some insight from my personal and professional journey related to discovering my current identity. I hope to learn about other people and identity struggles, including men.

I will also share highlights about my professional life as an executive director and being a dog lover, with four dogs, the oldest seven years old and the other three, all thirteen monthes old.