Our Trip To Arizona

The girls and I spent two and a half weeks in Arizona at the beginning of May.  We went out to celebrate Cullen's 4th birthday but had alot of fun waiting for the day.  The best Vizsla related fun Bree and I had was catching up with Janet Galante who lives in Tucson.  Here are some highlights from our trip.

On May 5th, we stood in support of Vizslamentes' Red Ribbon Campaign for abuse of a family of Vizslas in Hungary.  Our photo even made the news there. Hungarian News Cast

A trip through Saguaro National Monument West

Battle

Sparrow

Hannah

Patriot

He is doing well and has been on medicine since December 2014 for his diagnosis of Valley Fever.

Battle

A trip up Madera Canyon

A trip to Saguaro National Monument East

A Boy's 4th Birthday!

Patriot and Sparrow

Hannah, Patriot, Battle and Marley waiting for breakfast handouts

Paloma, Battle, Sparrow and Patriot waiting for itty bitty to throw them a treat

Battle getting fresh with his sister

The birthday boy

We had a trip to Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, also, but there were so many non-V related photos that I won't include here!

VCNC Fun Field Day

Marc, I, and the girls attended the Vizsla Club of Northern California's Fun Field Day at Hasting's Island near Rio Vista, CA, on April 11th. I pre-ordered a chukar for each of the girls. Marley and Sparrow were more interested in coming back to me, waiting on the sideline, than hunting for a bird. Marc was able to gain control of each of them but in the end, they went birdless. It was no surprise that Hannah hunted the entire 15 minutes and found her bird plus one but when Paloma set her nose to the ground, Marc was amazed. He didn't remember Paloma enjoying it quite so much.  

Sparrow running back to me.

Marley

Marley

Marley

Marley - our one eyed wonder!

Marley

Marc took videos of Hannah and Paloma but currently the files for them are too large to post on the blog. 

The following weekend we attended Lone Cypress Vizsla Club's Fun Day at Carmel Canine Sports Center in Carmel, CA.  We enjoyed a fun off lead walk/run and lunch followed by a presentation of the developers of the canine center and club meeting.  There are no photos from our time but the Hannah and Sparrow had a good time. We left Marley and Paloma at home not knowing the area we were going. 

Happy Third Birthday Paloma and Mojo Pups

On this day three years ago, six tiny mouths came into this world. 

We can't imagine life without any of you! 

May your day be filled with celebration!

So happy to know everyone is doing well!

We love you all!

Catching Up - December to March

I see I have some catching up to do. 

I took Hannah and Marley to a Veterinary Opthamologist in December 2014. Hannah's eyes were fine and were only showing signs of old age.  Marley, on the other hand, was diagnosed with Iris Melanoma. Basically, she had a freckle in her eye that went crazy. We were told to make an appointment for February to have a pressure check done. However, just thirteen days later, I noticed her sitting on the couch with both her eyes closed; she couldn't open them and the good one was drooping. I immediately called the vet and got an appointment right away.  Unfortunately, her pressure had raised from 18 to 54. Dr said she could treat it with glaucoma drugs but eventually she would lose her eye.  I opted to schedule her for surgery the next day.  Two days before Christmas, Marley lost her eye.

In January, I showed Sparrow to her International Championship in Santa Rosa, CA. 

At the end of January, I expected Sparrow to come into season but entered her in hunt tests anyway. In early Febraury. she participated in the Gold Country English Setter Fanciers Hunt Test at Quail Point Hunt Club near Zamora, CA. Saturday was beautiful but Sunday was miserable with rain. Unfortunately, Sparrow did not pass either days. 

Later in February, Sparrow participated in the Irish Setter Club of the Pacific - S.F. Hunt Test on Grizzly Island, near Suisun, CA.  Sparrow earned leg #2 on Saturday and almost passed on Sunday, she was given a certificate and everything only to have Marc realize the secretary made a mistake and turned it back in.  After the event, we were able to let the girls run and find any leftover birds.  Hannah had a great find and pointed it until Marley walked up on it and it flushed. Hannah gave chase. We had fun until we realized we brought ticks home with us. Marc found one on his neck during the ride home and I had one on my arm in the morning.  I found another one on the console the next day after grocery shopping. Now, everyone had a bath when we got home on Sunday but I hadn't washed my hair and the car hadn't been vacuumed.  Next time, if we ever go to Grizzly Island again, we'll know better. They like to climb up grass stalks and just wait for the next body to come along so they can hitch a ride!! Yuck!! 

Hannah gave us a little scare on March 12th. I had taken her to the vet a week earlier for a refill of her Rimadyl and had two areas aspirated.  One area came back as a neoplasia but they didn't know what kind. In any case, I scheduled her for surgery.  During preparation for surgery, out new Vet discovered an arrhythmia. He did an atropine response test, which she passed. However, when she was given more of the sedation drug, Dexmetatomidine, her heart decided to throw tons of irregular beats.  Instead of going ahead with surgery, he cancelled it. He gave us the recommendation to have a cardiac workup done so I scheduled her for an appointment at UC Davis in San Diego. Two days after the incident, Dr called to let us know he had been doing some reading, alot of reading, and figured it was a reaction to the sedation drug. I cancelled the appointment and we enjoyed out trip to San Diego.  Hannah had surgery the following Tuesday. Dr made sure she was handling the new protocol he used on her and proceeded with the surgery. In and out in about an hour.  She has a large incision but he was able to get good margins.  She is healing nicely and we are waiting for the pathology report. 

Patriot - Valley Fever

Just wanted everyone to know that Patriot was diagnosed with Valley Fever yesterday. His primary Vet diagnosed it and today Bree took him up to see the top Valley Fever Specialist who just happens to be in Tucson.  Seventy percent of all Valley Fever cases diagnosed are between Tucson and Phoenix; it is the hot bed of infection. Treatment will last 12 - 18 months so I ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Patriot presented with minimal symptoms - intermittent lameness and loss of appetite. The Vet feels he has been fighting the infection for almost a year and that Patriot's immune system has been working hard to fight it off. He does have quite a bit of muscle loss in his shoulder and a lesion on his scapula. He'll go in for a baseline x-ray of his scapula since the x-rays we took on 11/24 didn't catch the area it's in. He'll go back to the Vet in 4 weeks for blood work and three months for another x-ray of his scapula.  Please keep Patriot, and Bree in your thoughts and prayers.  

For more information about Valley Fever, please see 

https://www.vfce.arizona.edu/ValleyFeverInPets/Default.aspx

Yea Sparrow!

Sparrow's OFA rating came back as Good. Her elbows are normal and her thyroid is, too.  Her eyes were CERF'd last week. She has a single hair out of place on her eyelash on each side but she should pass. Her eyes are beautiful!!  If all goes well, she'll have a CHIC number. The only test I may add, since the other girls have had their's done, is cardiac. 

CATCH A FIRE'S PEACE LIKE A RIVER    

Registration:	SR72253301 (AKC)	Sire:	SR54007003
Breed:	VIZSLA	Dam:	SR52417201
Sex:	F	*Titles:
Color:	GOLDEN RUST	CHIC #:
Birthdate:	Apr 9 2012	Addtl. Reg. #
DNA Profile:	V719070

 

OFA Number	Registry	Test/Film  Date	Report Date	Age	Final Conclusion
VZ-13791G30F-VPI	HIPS	Oct 19 2014	Oct 31 2014	30	GOOD
VZ-EL2005F30-VPI	ELBOW	Oct 19 2014	Oct 31 2014	30	NORMAL
VZ-TH978/30F-VPI	THYROID	Oct 19 2014	Nov 5 2014	30	NORMAL

Time For OFA Tests

Sparrow and I made an early morning trip from Hollister to Pleasanton, CA, for her OFA tests. She had her hips and elbows x-rayed and her blood drawn for her OFA Thyroid. She was very unsure of the two men who turned her over but held still with not much effort on my part. She really shined when she had to hold still for the blood draw. Good girl!! They did tell me she is a very nice looking girl!! Of course she is!!! 

While at the showgrounds, we saw several of our California and Nevada friends!! YAY!! Marty Sanford's boy, Mac, handled by Jessica Vetter, took Winner's Dog and Best of Winners for two points. The major in girls was broken by no shows. Mac is out of Brick who is Kirby's brother, although different litters. So, Mac is a cousin to Sparrow. Marty has Finnrok Vizslas in Colorado. 

Now we wait. I should hear back in about three weeks on Sparrow's hip rating from OFA.

I know I can't make you do it; it is a little spendy, but please consider having your OFA tests done.

Take care . . . .