Pet of the Week: Layla

Meet Layla, the very sleepy Great Pyrenees! Layla has been trough a lot this week. When she came into the shelter, Layla was gross... Honestly, she was dirty and stinky and just well, gross. The groomers tried to save her coat, but it was just too matted. And no matter how many times she had a bath, they just couldn't get the rotten smell out of her coat. So she unfortunately had to be completely shaved.

On top of her new do, Layla was also spayed. She is still recovering from her surgery, and the pain medication she is currently on is making her a little tired and loopy. But once she is all healed up, puts on a little weight, and grows her hair back out, she will be a picture perfect Pyrenees.

Layla is a sweet and gentle girl that needs a quiet home. She is a little older, and may not be the best for a home with rowdy children. But older kids that understand her desire to not be jostled would be fine. Layla loves everyone, and is eager to make new friends. She will need to be on a special diet for a while, since she is a bit under weight, but should fill out with time.

If you think that Layla would be a good fit for your family, please contact the Williamson County Animal Control & Adoption Center in Franklin Tn, or Check out their Pet Finder page for their other adoptable pets!

Dog Park Adventure: Back in Action!

This week was the first time we have been back to the park in about a month... The last few weeks Axle has been feeling a bit under the weather. He has been sick off and on since we adopted him last year. But our vet could never really tell us what was wrong with him. The best guess we could make is that he was just really susceptible to getting bacterial infections.

 Axle and Clover wait for their friends to arrive.

But this most recent time he was sick, his usual rounds of antibiotics and probiotics didn't seem to be working. Axle was vomiting several times a day, almost every day. And even on the medication, he still wasn't getting any better.

 Vlad is a little camera shy.

So after going back and forth to the vet about three times, they decided to do just one more fecal test to see if anything would show up. Well, the 3rd time was the charm and it came back positive for Whip Worm. Our vet told us that they could do six of these tests on a dog that had Whip Worm and MAYBE one of them would come back positive.

 Clover is fast!

After we got the results Axle and Clover both began treatment for Whip Worm. We had to treat both dogs, since it would be extremely easy for them to pass it back and forth. Our vet thinks that the Whip Worm could be what has been making Axle sick for the past year. So with this new information we were really excited, because we might have finally found out what has been wrong with Axle for so long.

 Clover, Axle, and Hachi

We began the treatment for the Whip Worm, and for a few days it seemed to be working. Axle was not throwing up, and he was starting to get a little bit of his energy back!

 The welcoming committee

But a few more days passed, and Axle started vomiting again. He was lethargic and just was not himself. Right away we called the vet and made an another appointment to bring him back in. The vet was really concerned, becuase he should not be throwing up while on this new medication.

 There was a good crowd at the park!

So back to the vet we went. I swear, we are in there so often that I don't even have to give my name anymore when I call. All I have to say is 'Axle is sick' and they know exactly who we are. I'm not really sure that's a good thing... But I am glad we have such a good relationship with our vet. It really eases my mind when one of the dogs is not feeling well. 

 Hachi is a ham!

After talking with our vet about all the different possibilities, they decided that he may actually have something else wrong with him in addition to the Whip Worms. So we decided to put him on a trial diet along with some new medication for Acid Reflux. And I'll be honest with you, deal readers, I was not aware that dogs could even have Acid Reflux.

 Clover sporting her Summer Cut.

So once again we were sent home with yet another new medication and a very pricey prescription bag of dog food. Axle and Clover were both already on a sensitive stomach and skin brand of dog food. We had suspected that Axle had some type of food allergies, but we were never really sure what exactly he could be allergic to.

 Axle enjoying the sunshine!

But with this new possibility of Axle having Acid Reflux, we might finally be able to get him on the right medication and diet to make him feel better. The hardest part about the whole thing is that Axle can't just tell us where it hurts. I feel so bad that he has had to go through test, after test, after test. Even though we love our vet, its still so stressful for Axle every time we have to take him in.

 Hachi is sooo handsome!

Over about a week or we had to slowly transition Axle from this old food, to his new prescription food. We wanted to do this slowly so as not to upset Axle's system even more. Just switching his food immediately could really throw his whole system out of balance.

 

Greeting a new friend.

Finally after a week Axle had fully transitioned to his new food, and had been taking his Acid Reflux medication too. Thankfully he seems to be doing really well on this new diet and medication! Its such a relief to us and him, that he has stopped throwing up every day, and has gotten a lot of his energy back.

 Axle and Henry.

Axle and Clover still have to go through one more round of the Whip Worm treatment. But since Axle has been on this new diet and medication, he has not thrown up once! It has only been about two weeks, but we are hopeful that Axle will continue on the path of recovery with the help of this new treatment.

Lets play!

I never thought of Axle as a "special needs" dog, even though he technically is. He has always just been my little Axle. I never want to keep him from doing things he loves like going to the dog park, or going swimming in the pond by our house, just becuase of his health issues. So I was thrilled when the vet told us that as long as he doesn't have any problem while on this treatment, we will not have to change his daily lifestyle.

I love the rustic old barn next to the park.

I would simply be heartbroken, if I could never take Axle to the park again. And that was one of my fears when he started getting sick. But thankfully his illness does not seemed to be triggered by his environment. And even better, he has gotten used to taking his Acid Reflux pill twice a day.

That's the spot!

Poor boy just goes belly up, as soon as he sees me heading towards the cabinet where we keep his pills. I know when most dogs have to take a pill, it needs to be wrapped in cheese or deli meat for it to even have a chance of going down. But I guess Axle is so used to taking pills, he just rolls over and lets me put the pill in his mouth and he swallows it on his own.

Chloe is ready for action!

Axle has has another appointment with the vet in a few weeks to make sure he is adjusting well to his new diet and medication. I don't know for sure if he will have to stay on the Acid Reflux medication forever, or if they will lessen his dosage, but I'm just thankful that he seems to be feeling better.

Sunset at the dog park!

I know that the dogs are happy to get to go to the park again too. We had not been taking them, on the off chance that it was an environmental issue. But now that Axle's stomach is not getting upset on his new treatment, we will be able to get back into our routine park trips again!

Henry takes a break in the shade.

I promise I will keep all of you updated on Axle's progress. So many of you have already been so sportive and concerned about what has been going on with him lately. And I honestly cannot tell you how much it means to me that so many people care about my two crazy fur balls!

 

It wouldn't be a Dog Park Adventure without a close up of Clover!

Do any of you have any Special Needs pets? Or pets that have chronic health issues? What are your ways of dealing with the stress of frequent vet trips, bills, medications, or special diets? Please share them in the comments below! We love hearing about your personal pet stories. 

Please also share your pet blogs or websites with us! We are working on a special project in the near future and want to include our dear readers! Also be on the look out! We have a few really awesome contests and giveaways coming up as well!!!

Pet Of The Week: Gabby

Hello dear readers! Its been a little while since my last post... A mix of person/family issues and the unfortunate fact that my laptop is on its last leg has been keeping me from updating my blog as much as I would like too. So please bear with me over the next few weeks as I try to work out getting a new computer... or at least trying to fix my old one.

 I love her sweet smile!

But to start of this new week, lets meet our PotW Gabby! Gabby is a sweet, two year old, medium sized, chocolate Pit Bull Terrier. She is a very special girl, with an unfortunate past. Her previous owners did not loosen her collar as she grew, resulting in it becoming embedded. Because of this, she has a noticeable scar that encircles her entire neck. As well as several smaller scars from who knows what all over her body...

Here is a better view of some of Gabby's scars.

Despite Gabby's troubled past, her true Pit Bull spirit shines through. Gabby loves every single person she meets. And loves to be scratched, petted, and cuddled. We think that Gabby was used as a breeding dog, since is it very obvious that she has had more than a few litters of puppies. Thankfully now that she has been 'through the system', Gabby will be spayed before she is adopted.

Although Gabby is very gentle and sweet towards humans, she would need to go to an experienced dog owner. Because of Gabby's over-breeding, she wold prefer to be the only dog in her new home. She does not seem to trust other dogs very much, and acts very defensive if they get too close. Gabby is also Heart Worm Positive, so she will be undergoing treatment after she is adopted. 

Gabby is a wonderful girl, who deserves a wonderful, loving forever home. So if you think that Gabby would be a good fit for your family, please contact the Williamson County Animal Control & Adoption Center in Franklin TN or Check out their Pet Finder page for their other adoptable pets!

Thank you, Two Collies and a Mutt!

A few weeks ago we entered a contest over at one of our favorite blogs Two Collies and a Mutt. And we were fortunate enough to win one of the prizes! Our winnings consisted of three different bags of yummy Kong Chewy Treats! Axle and Clover have always been a huge fan of Kong brand toys. And I'm sure that they would really enjoy the treats. But since Axle has so many food allergies, both the dogs have agreed to donate the treats to the animal shelter. I know that the shelter dogs will be extremely appreciative of all the delicious treats!

We want to give a BIG thank you to Lassie, Petal, and Marquie for picking us to be one of the winners! If you have never visited this blog before, I highly suggest you give it a look. The photography alone is enough to keep anyone interested. Seriously, Lassie and Petal are completely breathtaking! And the post following the every day happenings of this group is absolutely wonderful!

Pet of the Week: Romeo + Juliette

This week's PotW post is double header! Meet Romeo (background) and Juliette (foreground) the German Shepard mixes! These two are the definition of adorable! R+J are about 5 to 6 months old, and full of energy. They are brother and sister and the best of friends!

R+J practicing their herding skills

These two sickeningly cute pups love everyone. They are a little timid around larger dogs, but they are still puppies and can be socialized if given the proper care and training. These guys will be big! They are all paws and legs now, but will most likely grow into them rather quickly.

Juliette resting in the shade

Juliette is a bit more shy than her brother, but craves attention. They would both make a wonderful family dog. But be fair warned. These two are big, rambunctious puppies. So they may not be the best choice for a family with smaller children. But over all they are wonderful young dogs. 

 Romeo has a great smile!

Romeo is a little more rambunctious than his sister. And he has a habit of jumping up to greet new friends.  But that could easily be corrected with the proper training. Romeo and Juliette are both very sweet, and full of energy. So if you think that Romeo or Juliette (or both!) would be a good match for your family, please contact the Williamson County Animal Control & Adoption Center in Franklin TN or Check out their Pet Finder page for their other adoptable pets!

 Juliette enjoying some pool time

Juliette wants to remind everyone to have a safe and happy 4th of July! And remember to keep your pets indoors during the firework celebrations. Independence Day has the most recorded reports of lost pets over any other day of the year. So have fun and be safe!

A lesson in responsibility (warning: slightly graphic images of possible animal neglect.)

I'm going to go ahead and just give everyone fair warning here. This is not going to be a happy post... I try to keep this blog as lighthearted, and adorable as I possibly can. But today I just really need to talk about something rather serious and important. Today I want to talk about responsibility...

Some of you may remember Chex, the happy go lucky Corgi mix, from a previous PotW post. Well a few weeks ago Chex was adopted with another dog from the shelter. When I had heard that Chex had been adopted, I was so excited for him! He had been at the shelter for so long, and somehow just kept getting passed over. But now he was in a new home, and with another buddy from the shelter!

Well, earlier last week Chex and the other dog were returned. It seems that whoever adopted Chex and the other dog just hadn't thought the whole thing through and changed their minds after only two weeks... I really wish this was the end of the story... But I'm going to share with you a photo of Chex before he was adopted...

 Chex before his adoption

A happy and healthy boy, anxious to meet new people. This is what most dogs who are adopted from the shelter look like. The shelter where I volunteer has a high standard of making sure that all the dogs and cats we have for adoption are healthy, up to date on shots, and temperament tested. They do not adopt out sick, unaltered, aggressive, or under vaccinated animals. If the dogs and cats are unhealthy and in need of vetting they are not available for adoption to the public. (If a legitimate rescue group comes along and is able to help with vetting, then the animals may be released into their care.)

Now I'm going to show you some pictures of what Chex looked like upon his return to the shelter. Fair warning, these pictures are not pretty. If sad, injured animals upset you, I suggest you click away now...

Chex when he was returned

I saw Chex just a few days before he was adopted. He did not look like this when he left. There is no way the shelter would have let him leave in this condition... I am going to say that I, personally, do not know what happened to Chex while he was gone. I don't know if these are burns, a rash, or some other kind of skin infection. They do not look like bite wounds to me, but I am not a vet.

I really just don't know how and why, this sweet little guy is in this condition. He has been back at the shelter for a little over a week now, and is being treated by the vet there, and is showing improvement. And frankly, I'm glad he and his buddy are back at the shelter (The other dog adopted and returned with Chex seemed to be in an okay condition). I know I do not know the whole story, but I really don't care. Chex is a living, breathing, feeling thing. He does not deserve to be in this condition. At least at the shelter he is receiving proper attention and vet care. 

If you are thinking of adopting an animal, please, PLEASE understand the gravity of being responsible for another living thing. Its not so much the fact that Chex was returned that upsets me, its the condition in which he was returned. Not only is it unfair to Chex to be like this, its unfair to the rest of the animals in the shelter too. If this is some kind of infection, it could spread to the other animals. It is also taking that much more time, attention, and money to get him back to where he was, health wise, before he left.

Fortunately, Chex is being picked up by a rescue group and will be receiving appropriate vet care, may be placed in a foster home, and will eventually be placed in a new forever home. Most rescue groups require a background check and an adoption contract. So this will give Chex a better chance at finding a loving, responsible, forever home that will give him the love and care he needs. 

I really hope that Chex gets dealt a better hand this time around...I will have a regular PotW post later this week, I just really needed to share Chex's story.

Pet of the Week: Spur

Say hello to this week's PotW, Spur the Husky! As you can see, Spur is a whole lot of dog! He was picked up as a stray, but judging by his girth, he was probably someone's over fed pet at one point. The shelter does everything in it's power to try and reunite lost pets with their owners. But the sad truth is that sometimes it just doesn't happen. But after waiting the mandatory holding period, Spur is now up for adoption, and looking for a new forever home.

Spur is a very sweet, lumbering boy looking for someone who appreciates 'chill time' as much as he does. But he also needs someone who will be committed to keeping him on a strict diet, and taking short walks several time a day, to help him slim down.

Spur is a great low energy dog, which is really saying something for a Husky! He is gentle giant, and just happy about life in general! If you think that Spur would be a good match for your family, please contact the Williamson County Animal Control & Adoption Center in Franklin TN or Check out their Pet Finder page for their other adoptable pets!