Christmas Picture

Hello and Happy Holidays!

So, I’ve been wondering if anyone reads my blogs… I really don’t care; it’s fun to have a place to write stuff if I’m in the mood to write something, kinda like facebook, but not so annoying. And I'm pretty sure my mother reads them :)

There are days when I think I really should post a new blog, but maybe it’s not in me… so I don’t. I think you would thank me for that.

Today, I was a little bored, so I checked the site where I can see how often my blogs are read. I had 11 views yesterday… I think that’s a record. That tells me that I should try and post on Thursday since people are bored on Fridays and looking for something to do when they should be working. I'll try, but I cant make any promises.
 
I really didn’t plan to post anything today, but I feel I owe it to the eleven people who checked in to see if I’d shared any new details on my life… life is good, but nothing exciting enough to write about. I would like to share a picture with you though. We got this picture with a trail camera on Christmas. Isn’t he cute?

Shooby Doo

 

 

A little update on Shooby's ACL recovery:

It’s been 6 weeks since his surgery on October 31^st and he is doing awesome!

Two years ago, my youngest dog Eddie tore his ACL. As a matter of fact, it was also in October and Eddie’s Halloween costume was just like Shooby’s was this year:



When researching how to best deal with Eddie’s torn ACL, I found a very informative website:  Topdog Animal Health & Rehabilitation. The website is: www.topdoghealth.com.

So, once again, I combed every page of the website and I found an excellent (and FREE) Home Rehabilitation Guide. The guide is a step-by-step booklet that takes you through every phase of ACL rehabilitation.  It starts out with how to prepare the house for the homecoming post-surgery and thoroughly explains when and how to perform various exercises to strengthen the dog.
On the website, I also found many short videos on how to perform the exercises suggested in the booklet.

In addition to our in-home rehab, Shooby has been for several visits to Tails of Rye, a state-of-the-art canine rehabilitation center in Rye, New Hampshire. At Tails of Rye, Dimitra performs ultrasound/electrical stimulation, laser treatments and aquatic therapy. You can check out her website at: www.tailsofrye.com.    Here are a few pictures of Shooby on the underwater treadmill :)

 

 

Shooby is also receiving acupuncture treatment with Dr. Toolan at Oyster River Vet, in Lee NH. He is not as excited about it as my dog Onyx is, but he is beginning to accept it better with each visit.  
 
Shooby and I have been working very hard at home to follow his home rehab and continue to visit Tails of Rye and ORV for weekly acupuncture. 
It’s been a lot of work and is pretty time consuming, but I am happy to say that Shooby is well on his way to a healthy recovery and I cannot wait to see him running again in the spring!

Alternative Medicine

I remember when I was growing up, our dog(s) and cat(s) if we could find them, would go to the rabies clinic held at the fire station once a year. That was their vet care. Today, we have many options to consider when choosing care for our pets. One choice I’ve made for my dogs is acupuncture.

According to Wikipedia, Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin.

Humans have been practicing its use for thousands of years. But research has shown that our pets can benefit from acupuncture as well. Acupuncture can help with many canine health issues such as allergies, cancer therapy, recurring urinary infections, arthritis and hip dysplasia and many other canine problems.

My dog Onyx has been receiving acupuncture treatments for arthritis in her spine for several months now.  The first session was both scary and intriguing. I had no idea how she would react to someone putting tiny needles in her.  She did amazing! 

Here are a few pictures of my baby girl during a treatment. The needles are black, so they are a little hard to see. The wires attached send tiny electrodes to certain points to add stimulation.

 

The day following her first treatment, Onyx was visibly sore and very reluctant to do much at all. Day two was better, and on the 3^rd morning after her treatment, she was the first dog off the porch and led the way on our morning walk!  What a wonderful sight to see!

Onyx now waits by the door every morning, hoping it is “her” day. When she does have an appointment for acupuncture, she cannot wait to get in the office. After a very happy greeting to the girls at the front desk and then to Dr. Toolan, she settles herself on the blanket that had already been set out for her and awaits her treatment.

Onyx will be 12 years old next month. She had always been a very active and athletic dog. Over the past few years, we noticed her become less and less active and more reluctant to go up and down stairs. Before she started acupuncture, most of my walks were spent trying to coax her to come along. Now, she has once again claimed her position in the front of the pack and will even give chase to a  squirrel! I don’t expect her to hike for hours like we used to, but it sure is great to see her enjoying our daily walks again!

Shooby has also started to receive acupuncture treatments. I will have more details on him soon!

A great day!

Yesterday was a great day at The Yellow Dog's Barn Open House and Holiday Pet Portraits! The weather was perfect and we had a nice turn-out. Budd Perry of Memories Studio took so many wonderful pictures. Everyone who had portraits taken left with such a big smile. Thats how Budd rolls :)  
The NHSPCA folks were very happy with the turn out as well. Two very cute little kittens went to new homes yesterday! We had the pleasure of spending the day with many animals from the SPCA: Two dogs, 3 kittens, 4 bunnies, a guinea pig and two rats.  This is Monte and Fergie:

 

They are a bonded pair and hope to find a home together. I spent a lot of time yesterday holding these two. They are wonderful bunnies!

I was quite proud of myself to have not taken any animals home with me. I think I've got a full enough plate right now :)

 

1st SNOW!!!!

I'm always a kid on the first snow of the season (ok... the second, third and all the way to the last snow storm). This morning, I couldnt wait to get the dogs out and set our foot prints in the fresh snow! And to see what else may have left its tracks during the night. I found a fresh set of tracks behind my chicken coop...fox perhaps?

I'm supposed to keep this post dog oriented... so here is a picture of my beloved dogwood tree still sporting its fall and now winter colors and since my dogs were not being very photogenic, I thought this bench really captured the snowy morning.

 

Boo Hoo

When Shooby came in the house two weeks ago, holding his left hind leg up, I was pretty sure what the problem was. A trip to the vets the next morning confirmed that Shooby had a ruptured Anterior (Cranial) Cruciate Ligament. Yes, the dreaded "Torn ACL".
So, then the million dollar question was asked... surgery or not? Well, not really a million, but a several thousand anyway.  My immediate answer was Yes, we would do the surgery.

Shooby had ACL surgery on Halloween. Here is a picture of him, taken just seconds before the little orange guy with him got destroyed.

Shooby will have his bandage removed today. In a few days, I can start my own in-home physical therapy on him. In two weeks, the staples will be removed. Then he will begin swim therapy! He's gonna love it. I also hope to start acupuncture treatment for him in the next few weeks as well. Not so sure how he will do with acupuncture.  I'll let you know!

ITS ALL ABOUT THE DOG

Who?
My name is JoAnne and I’ve got the best job ever (at least that is what people tell me). I am co-owner of a dog daycare called The Yellow Dog’s Barn in Barrington NH.  I love dogs. And I love  talking about them.

What?

It’s all about the dog! Yup, the main subject of my blogs will be all about dogs! Some blogs might be about daycare dogs, some about my dogs and our adventures, or my other pets , trips to the vets,  (ya, there may be alot about vet visits). The list of dog related subjects is endless. I have a many ideas for future blogs. I have a feeling there may be some mention of cats, bunnys, chickens or some other animal who's on my mind.
I hope you will find them interesting, enlightening and entertaining and  I look forward to your feedback.

Where?

I live in Nottingham, NH  with my husband Todd and our menagerie of pets which I may have mentioned before.

Why?

SMPP. Social Media Peer Pressure. First a website, then a facebook page, then a blog. That just what you have to do. Right?
But the other reason is that everyone who knows me knows that I can be a talker and that I always have a story to tell, especially when it comes to dogs. So now I have a place to put my ramblings.

 When?

I hope to post weekly at the very least. I am already working on my next blog which will be about accupunture for animals. I am excited about writing it and sharing with you all that I’ve learned!