While in Arizona . . . Lots of Updates

I left CA for AZ a few days before Halloween so I (and the girls) could spend it with Cullen and Declan. Bree, the party mama that she is, donned some make-up and joined in on the fun!

 

On November 7th,  I found swollen lymph nodes under Marley's right jaw. I was able to piggyback onto Patriot's vet appointment on the 8th. The vet ordered a chest x-ray, a Valley Fever titre and urinalysis. She also did a fine needle aspirate of her lymph node. I got the results Thursday night with her diagnosis as lymphoma. Our vet, Dr Shelly Humphrey at Animal Care Center in Green Valley, AZ, referred us to Dr Mary Kay Klein at Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialist.  She ended up being booked until December but I was able to get an appointment with Dr Brisa Hsieh, Internist, on November 14th. At the first visit, we went over the different available treatment protocols. I opted to have an Elspar injection with a tapering course of prednisolone which would buy me some time to decide how I was going to proceed.  Within 24 hours, Marley's lymph nodes decreased remarkably. Two days after the Elspar she started prednisolone.  On November 21st, she had a dose of Vincristine. About four days later, she exhibited a spasm in her right leg twice. The vet today felt it was not a result of her last treatment but perhaps some neuropathy.  Today, I learned that Marley is in remission and her prognosis looks good. Just that fast, after two treatments. She had oral chemo and Lasix today and we have an appointment for next Monday. I have opted for the CHOP protocol and as long as she handles treatment, I'll continue. 

I entered Sparrow in ten shows while we were in Arizona and guess what?  None of them were majors!! Sparrow got off easy and didn't have to be a show dog the entire time we were there!! She chose to play with her brother and vie for her uncle's attention. She received many kisses, mostly from Declan, and gave more right back.  We did attend the show on Saturday at Rillito Park to cheer on Turk and Avis. Afterwards, a trip to IHOP for pancakes with Cullen and Bree. 

Hannah or "Old Bones" as she is sometimes affectionately known, spent lots of time getting up on the beds, jumping down, playing with Patriot and being feisty with Marc and Bree. She slept hard at night after being noticeably more active. 

She had one night where she was super tired but otherwise did really well while we were gone. 

Paloma blessed us on Thanksgiving Day by coming into season.  So happy we were leaving in a few days!! 

I received good news from Loki's owner, Steve, about Loki's MCT. The vet was able to get clean margins and surgery was curative, no further treatment was necessary. 

We ended our trip with family photos at Empire Ranch near Sonoita, and dinner at El Rodeo in Green Valley.  Saturday morning was Papa eating watermelon with Cullen and Declan before getting on the road. It's always sad to leave the little ones but this time, especially, Declan, who became my buddy the last week or so I was there. 

Such an enjoyable trip. Thank goodness for a local vet.  Thank goodness for the friend we have in Janet Galante there in Tucson. Thank goodness for a supportive family. Thank goodness for our red dogs! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Marc, the girls, and I wish each one of you a happy day of celebration with family and friends. 

Captured this photo from John O'Boyle of Jasper telling everyone that he was disappointed he wasn't given any table scraps for Thanksgiving!! 

Happy 8th Birthday, Paloma (Marley X Kirby Pups)

Dear Loki, Crawford, Jasper, Ziggy, Patriot and Paloma ~ 

Tomorrow is your day ~  Happy 8th Birthday!  Congratulations!

Even though you act like pups, you are a year into your senior years. 

Your Mom just turned 13 and we hope you will reach her age and beyond. 

Make sure to keep your teeth clean. You're going to need your "chompers" as time goes by. 

We wish you an upcoming year of good health (no more MCT dxs or VF setbacks) and continued enjoyment of the activities you have come to share and love with your owners. 

Sending lots of snuggles and love . . . .

Happy 13th Birthday, Marley!

Today we celebrate Marley's 13th birthday! Each day is a gift with her and she's goofy as ever.  She is doing well healthwise but she has a little cough when she's sleeping on her back and sometimes runs into things on her blindside. All to be expected but she's gets so excited she seriously bonks her head hard.  I worry about her knocking herself out one day!  She'll get a treat for dinner later on and will celebrate with her sisters!  Happy Birthday, Marley!! We love you!!

Happy 15th Birthday, Hannah!!

Although she isn't technically a Catch A Fire Vizsla, she is part of the family and the reason we continued in the breed.  We celebrated Hannah's 15th birthday on September 5th with much fanfare and gratefulness.  Last weekend we were able to get her photo with her birthday sister and best buddy, our daughter, Bree.  They have celebrated their birthdays together since 2002 when Hannah turned 1!

Dock Diving

Sparrow tried dock diving with her new friends, Savannah and Kora. Sparrow did a few jumps into the pool but spent most of her time swimming while chasing a dragonfly. She had a blast!! Only once did she need to be wrangled out of the water; the other time, just touching the pool sent her back on the deck!!

If your dog likes to swim, give dock diving a try.  You never know, you might have a dock diving star in the making!! 

Enjoy this recent photo of Lily playing golf on one of the courses in Bend, OR.

TEVCO Specialty at Mt Bachelor Kennel Club Dog Show

Marc, the girls and I drove to Redmond, OR again this year for TEVCO's Summer Specialty. This is the third summer the club has held this show at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in conjunction with the Mt Bachelor Kennel Club.  We began our journey at 8am and arrived at the hotel about 12 hours later. We hit traffic in Fairfield, CA and again at the north crossing of Lake Shasta where they are putting in a new bridge.

Our tax dollars at work. They were building this bridge when we moved from Oregon three years ago. 

Sitting in traffic in 103* heat.

All construction projects have a flag but being this is July 4th weekend, it took on new meaning.

Sparrow was handled by Renee Cooper both days.  She placed 4th in her class at Specialty under Judge Dana Cline. She did not place on Sunday under Judge Jay Richardson.  No points and we are still in pursuit of her majors.  She sits at 10 points - she needs 15 including two majors. 

Marc, David, Daniel and Michele played gold at Brasada after Saturday's show.  Michele drove the cart and took photos. The girls and I hung around camp and visited with friends.  The drive home was uneventful and we were home by 7pm.  The weather over the weekend was much nicer, about 20* cooler.  We had a much better time this year. 

   

Arizona and Woofstock

The girls and I drove out to Arizona for Cullen's birthday and Josh's homecoming from deployment.  While I was there, we took Patriot and Battle to the vet. Unfortunately, Patriot's titre has gone up. Initially it was 1:32, went down at 6 month check up to 1.16 and now a year later, it has gone to 1:32.  We learned that since Patriot's Valley Fever is in his bone that he may never come off his treatment.  Battle's nose continues to be an issue; it is super dry and has split in the area between his two nostrils.  Bree continues to moisturize and some days it looks really good. His thyroid was low normal so we retested. The results were better than last time so the dryness isn't related to his thyroid.  Maybe it's just living in the desert. The vet has a different opinion but finding out involves a biopsy and/or a specific treatment to see if it helps. We will visit the matter again in November.  Hannah handled traveling and the heat well.  I worry about her as she's getting up in age. She'll be 15 in September, God willing. 

We came home from Arizona with a rest day in between arriving and driving to Vallejo for this year's Woofstock shows.  Carri Beaver showed Sparrow; she was 3rd on Saturday and 4th on Sunday in her class.  No points and we are still in search of those two majors.  She sits at 10 points. 

Enjoy these photos from May

Hannah, Sparrow, Marley and Paloma

Sparrow

Paloma

Sparrow

Marley

VCNC Specialty and Supported Entry

Sparrow and I made the drive to Vallejo for VCNC's Specialty and Supported Entry on May 21/22.   It was rainy on Saturday and she didn't place either day.  Thanks to Jessica for handling her for me. The judges were Sandra Olsen and Judy Webb. We'll keep plugging along. :)

Barn Hunt Practice

Sparrow and Paloma tried their noses at Barn Hunting in April while Marc was in Arizona visiting Bree and the boys. Sparrow had tried it at a show in Anitoch in December and did very well; however, on this day her brain was divided between finding rats and chasing birds.  I took Paloma the next day and she was super interested.  The girls need more exposure but this might be something I can do with them . 

Have you tried something new with your dogs?  Dock diving is next on the agenda.  Sparrow was chomping at the bit watching the other dogs jump into the pool.  I'll be calling her bluff one day soon.

She Did It!!

Sparrow earned her fourth pass to complete her AKC Junior Hunter title this morning at the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of California's Hunt Test at Hastings Island (Rio Vista), CA.  A huge thank you to Marc for all the time he has spent in the field with her and to those who have offered encouragement and worked with us to help her complete her task.  We are so proud of her - we knew she would do it!  We interrupted her training when we moved and it's taken a bit to get her back on track.  So, congratulations, Sparrow!! You did great!  Tonight you will have steak and not know what the celebration is all about but you'll be happy because we will tell you what a wonderful girl you are (just like we always do!) 

Thanks to Stephan Baur, we were able to bring home two dead chukars for the girls to find/sniff in the yard when we got home.  Our girls have never been ones to take a liking to dead birds - they'd like live ones next time, Dad! 

The Girls and The Weather

These are photos of Hannah, Marley and Paloma from January until March. 

Marc built stairs for Hannah to go up and down saving her elbows and shoulders from the trauma of hitting the ground when she jumps off the bed. 

We had some days with rain . . . 

 and days with sunshine . . . 

and days with sun pillars . . .

and gorgeous sunsets.