Trek Across Town

Last Wednesday Zack and I made the 8km journey from home across the river valley to downtown Lethbridge to visit Pete at work.

We haven't been this route for some time and Zack was in heaven - he was like a little tracking dog with his nose glued to the ground most of the way.

I had to keep poor Zack on his leash in the river valley as we were headed towards the busy main road across the river. I didn't want a deer to pop out at the wrong time with Zack in hot pursuit.

We went through the tunnel that goes under that busy road and Zack thought it was great to bark his head off as we went through echoing all the way LOL!!! Not sure if he was scared or thought it was a hoot. We kept on walkin, walkin, walkin and made our way to the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Oldman River.

Nothing seems to phase Zack he didn't care that he was 100 ft up and stopped to take a peak. Rather him than me as I swear that bridge moves in the wind.....

walkin, walkin, walkin

The view in the middle of the bridge was pretty great - I can't wait til everything is green and the trees are out and the spring run off fills the water in the river - it is so spectacular then.

Once we crossed the bridge we headed down the other side of the river valley across to Fort Whoop Up.

No dogs are allowed inside the Fort but the gates were open and we snuck in the entrance to snap this picture....living dangerously for 10 seconds ahahahah. Nobody saw us and we were soon on our way.

kept on walkin walkin walkin up the big hill to the downtown core of the City of Lethbridge. Walking up the hill was not as enjoyable as walking down LOL!!! That was me talking not Zack as if you didn't know.

Finally we got to the Chancery Court building where both Pete and I actually work. I work on the 6th floor and Pete on the 4th. How convenient is that!! Zack had a great office visit, but that will be another post.

Wakey Wakey

Zack's got a bad case of bed head!!

They're Here, G-O-P-H-E-R-S

You know it is a sure sign of spring when the gophers have woken up from their long winter sleep. For the non-Canadians who read my blog they live in colonies in burrows under the ground kinda like meerkats and are actually really cute. They have lookouts just like the meerkats as well watching for hawks, snakes and of course our family dogs!!!

They are also called prairie dogs as they bark warnings to each other for oncoming danger (although it sounds more like a loud chirp than a bark). It is quite the chorus when Zack is about. This chirping is what alerts Zack that the gophers are about.

This is what a gopher looks like when it sees Zack - barking a very loud warning LOL!!!

Zack found the holes but the gophers had all disappeared underground


I think it is the chirping noise that sets Zack in a frenzy - he sees them occasionally running for their lives but so far he is not quick enough to catch one as they always disappear down their holes first. He seems totally bewildered as to where they went. Luckily Zack is not a digger but he has fun with the chase. Once the gopher has gone "down the hatch" Zack looks at me as if it was all my fault they disappeared LOL !!!!

Lovely Walk

Last week I took Zack to an "unofficial" off leash area for him to have a run without worrying about too much "poop" for him to get into. The river valley is still quite brown but spring is on it's way as we can see green grass starting to sprout through YAY!!

I swear I get spring fever this time every year and Zack does too.....he smells all the little critters that are out and his nose is never off the ground

unless he is running to catch up with me after being left behind silly boy

then it was time to patrol the fence line of the houses whose gardens back onto the top of the coulees (hills). Zack is obsessed with this as he knows things can just "pop out" along the way.

Sure enough Zack didn't have to wait long til this cute little dog appeared.

After a great walk we both headed back down the path to the car to go home.

Then it was time to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzz's

Shortly after this walk we got another spring snow storm which seem to keep coming and going here lately.

Hello

White Out

When I uploaded my latest photos I forgot how much snow we had a few days ago as it came and went so quickly. It was definitely coming down good for a while. You can barely see Zacky LOL. It's all gone now and is beautiful out but we are supposed to get more spring snow this weekend.

Finished

I finished my latest pet portrait this afternoon, a lab/collie mix called Marlo

I Wonder

This last little while Zack has been doing quite well 90% of the time and then the other 10% he still is having mild bouts of his IBD even though he is still on his anti-inflammatories. Nothing like he had before but it is still there lurking. After speaking with Zack's vet again we are going to now put him on the same prescription treatment he got as a puppy from the Calgary specialist being Tylosin an antibiotic /anti-inflammatory for one month and his probiotics. I hope this will nip it in the bud. Zack IS better he is just having a few little hiccups along the way that's all.

These last few days I have been thinking about all the people I hear who have health problems with their dogs and those who have lost their four legged loved ones way too soon, including myself. It always seems to be the people who love and take care of their dogs the most are the ones who seem to have so many problems and the people who don't give a **it about their dogs their dogs seem to be ok. I am not a religious person but it makes me wonder if God put these animals in our lives on purpose as we are the ones who take care of them and give them a better life, the treatment they require and the love they need.

I would not want to change any of the wonderful dogs I have had so far, but hope one day in the future I will get one without any serious health issues - if that is even possible. Makes me wonder.

Wet Snow

Yesterday we had a brief wet snow storm. It wasn't very cold and the wet snow made for great snowballs.

Zack had a blast trying to catch them.




We definitely need the moisture here so this latest "warm" snow was very welcome.

Begins with a "B"

I was in the pet store yesterday picking up some more pill pockets for Zack when I couldn't resist getting him a new chuck it ball as his other ones are outside, weathered and keep disappearing, so I brought it home as a surprise for him. He didn't let it out of his sight all night!!!!



he even fell asleep with it.... bless him.

Park Day

So yesterday was Zack's first day since he finished his medication and so we went to the local park to have a bit of fun. It is nicely groomed so not so much poop about for Zack to get into. I took Zack's favourite Raspberry toy to play fetch with and keep him occupied while off his lead.

He was so anticipating the first throw...

then he was off





I think he had fun... I know I did :)

The Guys

Just hanging out in the man cave.

Zack is never too far away from his papa :)

A Bargain

Border Terrier - $1.99 per pound.....

Happy!!

This is what Zack was doing yesterday!!! Back to pretty much normal. Yay :)

Nursemaid

I have always been interested in animal behaviour and can watch any animals for hours on end being truly fascinated. This last week was no exception being that it was my own animals I was watching. As you know Zack has been poorly this last week and I was amazed how Asia (Fat Cat) knew he was feeling bad. She never left his side.

When Zack came home from his stay at the vet clinic Asia was almost frantic to see him and as Zack was still very lethargic from the drugs he just laid down on the couch. Asia went right over and started licking him and cleaning him all over. Zack stirred and then leant into Asia enjoying the closeness and warm comfort. Did she lick him cuz he smelled like the vets or was it cuz she knew he needed her? I think he really was glad she was there anyway.

When Zack would go outside Asia would follow him to the door and wait til he came back in before she would go and relax again. She has been his nursemaid, furry hot water bottle and constant companion. Today Zack is almost back to normal (fingers crossed) and Asia has relaxed her 24 hour watch over him and now watches him from across the room but she is never too far away. I truly believe animals do have feelings, souls and lifelong friends, just like we do.

I think people can learn a lot from animal behaviour and I am so glad I share my life with them.

Finally...

I haven't felt like blogging or anything this past few days since Zack started to get sick last Friday. It has been awful to say the least. I am such a worrier and hate seeing any of my animals in any distress. For some reason Zack didn't seem to get over his latest bout with his painful belly and nausea very easily this time. He was very depressed and very lethargic.

We ended up again at the vets and left him for observation, tests and bloodwork. Luckily everything came back normal, but we were no further ahead. Diagnosis still upper IBD as Zack never gets diarrhea. He was given shots for his nausea and pain and I was able to bring him home on Monday night. We were warned the pain medication that he had been given also had a sedative in it and that the drug made Zack tremble and shake even though he was resting comfortably. It was hard to watch but at least I knew he wasn't feeling anything. Fat cat knew Zack was poorly and never left his side keeping an eye on him all the time. She was so adorably cute.

My vet said if Zack wasn't feeling better by today further tests, X-rays etc. were going to be done but luckily Zack is feeling much better today. He has eaten some food and been lots more alert and barking his head off so that is a good sign - never thought I would be so happy to hear him barking LOL!!

He has to stay on his meds for another week and not to over exert him for the next few days. My vet advised that the next time Zack even starts to change his eating patterns with his food I am to start him on his flagyl right away before he even starts to show signs of pain or anything. Blimy poor Zacky.

I am also going to have to stop him eating anything at all when he is off the lead in case the poops he eats occasionally are the cause of his problems. I will do anything to stop him from getting this pain and sickness. I hate the thought of him only having walks on the lead so I think I may have to look into getting a muzzle that way he won't be able to eat anything while I can still let him off leash. He is already on monthly treatment for parasites so I don't have to worry about that anyway.

I am still guarded about the next week or so as I know things can flare up again (hopefully not) but for now I can relax and give Zack lots of extra hugs and kisses.

I Knew It

I knew something wasn't quite right with Zack when he wasn't eating his food properly (as per my previous post). Sure enough he has started up again with his loud rumbling painful belly and the odd vomit. I have all his meds for pain, antacids, you name it we have it, and have started giving him some to relieve his symptoms. They are quite mild compared to what he has had in the past so that is good and in between these bouts which always seem to occur in the early morning hours he is perfectly normal so it is just something we have to deal with.

I always try and figure out what could set him off but can never put my finger on anything. He has had leash walking so no eating any poop or anything lately and no different food or anything. It is so weird.

I was thinking back and in the past he seems to go through this painful belly for about a month or two (not everyday but on and off) and then will be perfectly normal again for months on end. He hasn't had a bad bout since last October which has been great.

Get better soon Zacky boy.