Let It Snow

Cyber Paw pals, we sadly report the crossing of Grand Ma over the rainbow bridge. We have kept Dad sane. His brother, four sisters and Uncle did a pretty good job assisting us with that mission. We are working on a poem for Grand Ma. In the mean time we want to report on our winter adventure and the first time we have seen snow. Snow is great stuff, even for us Florida Collies.

Achtung, I'm ready for the Red Baron

A Lion in the Winter? No it's Deacon

Essex and Deacon playing

Essex, the "Snow Queen"

Hattie, Cassie, Essex and Deacon at play

Okay, you have our attention. Where is our treat?

Raisin Warning

We received the below from our breeder Mom, Lil, at Holmhaven Collies. She received it from a veterinarian friend. Our heart goes out to all involved. Our dog treat cookbook we got for Essexmas had a warning sticker concerning grapes, raisins and garlic inside.

Essex & Deacon

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"This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM."

I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give I V fluids at 1 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours.

The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and creatinine over 7 with no urine production after a liter of fluids. At that point I felt the dog was in acute renal failure and sent him on to MedVet for a urinary catheter to monitor urine output overnight as well as overnight care.

He started vomiting again overnight at MedVet and his renal values have continued to increase daily. He produced urine when given lasix as a diuretic. He was on 3 different anti-vomiting medications and they still couldn't control his vomiting. Today his urine output decreased again, his BUN was over 120, his creatinine was at 10, his phosphorus was very elevated and his blood pressure, which had been staying around 150, skyrocketed to 220.. He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize.

This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk."

Poison control said as few as 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to immediate concern."

Blue Wednesday

Dad just got a call from his sister today. She told him that Grand Ma will probably go over the rainbow bridge in a week or less. Grand Ma was born the same year of Charles Lindberg's historic solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Grand Ma has lived a full life and the last five years has prepared Dad mentally for this. He knows it will hit him like a brick when it happens though. He told us there has always been a part of Grand Ma and family with him where ever he goes. Hoomans are so sentimental.

Dad is packing and intends to get on the road Friday for the long drive north. He is growling about bad weather. He pays a lot of attention to the weather fronts during the winter. We couldn't find a Lassie episode with this in it, so we'll keep him company and lick his face when he feels sad. We should see Clyde, Hattie and Cassie again. We may even see snow for the first time. We will keep in touch when ever we don't feel to blue.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

In a Funk

Cyber-paw pals, Dad is in a bit of a funk. It seems that Grand Ma (Dad's Mom) isn't doing to well. The last several years have not been kind to her. We love Grand Ma and Grand Paw. They are grrrreat people and they love us.

We will keep Dad sane and try our best to keep the funks away; but we are only Collies.

What the..... Dad, just gave us a big hug and smiled at us. All is well tonight.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Chilling Out in 2008

The first Friday of 2008 was pawtastic cyber-paw pals. Our friends Lady I and Lady II visited Angel Paws. Last time you saw them was in August. They had gotten their hair cut and looked like smooth Collies. Now they look like Rough Collies. It was fun playing with them.

Dad made us peanut butter treats. Deacon likes them, but he’ll eat anything. While I was napping, Deacon licked the jar clean. If I was up, he would have been bounced.

After a hard day at the dog park, we chilled out together. I can’t stay mad at Deacon. We are really good pals. We hope 2008 has been good to all of you.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Lady II and Lady I at Angel Paws

Choosy Collies, choose Jiff

Taking it easy. Dad, can you turn on Animal Planet?

2007 Review

We want to wish all a barky New Year. Hope everyone had a pawtastic time bringing in 2008, the Year of the Rat. We have met a lot of pawtastic friends in cyber-paw space and found some relatives in too. We especially appreciate the frequent contact from our friends Tosca; Opie & Gomer; Charlie & Orable; Jake and Just Harry; Pacco; Bella, Eddie, Peaches; Tatum, Floss & Jez; and the Zoo (feline friends). There were a lot of other visitors, who barked at us once or twice. We hope they continue visiting us and take the time to leave their paw print behind in our guest book. Now for the Key West Collies the year in review 2007.

Anderson, Indiana - Lassie saves family

8 March – A collie named Lassie died saving her family from a fire.

19 March – Man tells us the story about Holly the Collie. We posts this several months later and still get misty eyed reading it.
30 May – We contact our shirt tail cousin Tosca after reading her post “Lassie is a Boy Dog in Drag.”
10 June – Our first post.
17 June – Opy welcomes us to Dog With Blogs.
29 June – Two Collies, Duff and Shelly sign guest book.
17 July – Michael Vick indicted.
21 July – First contact with Great (Great) Uncle Bobby.
23 July – We find cousins Mackie and Kyrie while surfing the web. A third collie, Kerby lives with Kyrie.
23 July – Our good Collie friends Hattie & Cassi sign guest book
14 August – We post a story about our two Collie friends living in Key West, Lady 1 and Lady 2.
22 September - 15 October – Ohio Road Trip.
23 September – Deacon meets Dad’s sisters dog Clyde
27 September – We meet Cassi and Hatti
30 September – We meet Lady, another Ohio Collie, at home of Cassi and Hatti during “Five Collie Sunday”
30 September – Deacon meets another Collie, Hans. Essex first met Hans in June 2004.
11 October – We meet Dad’s niece’s family and their Golden Retriever, Daisy Mae.
3 November – 50th Anniversary of first in space, a dog named Laika.
7 November – Our friend PJ is attacked at the Dog Park. PJ is doing well.
8 November – Cousin Howie contacts us
11 November – Opie and Gomer give us “The I Like This Blog Award”
8 December – A smooth collie named Tatum finds us.
22 December – Deacon first dog mom sends us a Essexmas card and puppy pictures.
31 December – We do our 59th and last post of the year.

To all our readers, Dog Speed and may the Great Dane watch over you always.

Essex & Deacon