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 . . . .

Finally Home

After selling our home in Oregon, the girls and I took off for Arizona. We didn't think we would be there for seven months but that's how long it took for us to find and build a new home in California. 

During our time in Arizona, Marley ended up needing surgery. At the beginning of August, I felt/found a lump near her last nipple. The closer it came to us leaving, the more I became worried about her. A needle aspiration showed it to be a benign or very low grade cancer but the only way to know would be to remove it. With my permission, the vet took clean margins and removed the entire mammary gland. We were both happy she did when the pathology report came back as a simple tubular carcinoma. I was surprised she had cancer but after posting to my Vizsla friend/mentors/breeders learned I really shouldn't be. It is common in older females who are spayed later in life.  In Marley's case, she was spayed in 2012 when she was nine years old. 

Hannah is doing really well. Her senior blood work up came back normal,  perhaps a little low thyroid. She is now on Rimadyl, half a tablet twice a day as preventative for joint stiffness. Her blood work after one month of Rimadyl came back good, too. Hannah celebrated her 13th birthday on September 5th with her best buddy, Sissy Bee, before we left. 

Paloma also visited the vet while we were in Arizona. After Marley's surgery, I noticed a bump on her belly near one of her nipples. A needle aspiration of this one showed a lipoma. I will keep an eye on it though.  She had her first senior panel done, although she isn't really a senior but I wanted to have a baseline.  Her blood work came back all within normal ranges.  I was thrilled. 

Sparrow visited with the vet just because when I took Marley in for her suture removal. 

While in Arizona, the girls became accustomed to the kids feeding them. They would circle the wagons every time food was going to be available. Marley really is food motivated so if you have one of her pups and you see this in your dog, you know where it comes from. 

We arrived in California two weeks ago. The girls have settled in and spend their days laying around the house, in the yard and trying to stay out of our way while we unpack. The other day I found their basket of toys. Sparrow carries a toy around with her and I know she was happy to see her old ones again. 

Sparrow turned two last April so it's time for her to have her OFA hips, elbows and thyroid tests done. We have an appointment at the Del Valle Show next weekend.  Also, everyone who has a Mojo/Paloma puppy - it's time for you to have their hips x-rayed.  Everyone who gets one of my pups signs a contract stating they will to the testing. This helps me determine if my decision to choose Mojo as their sire was a good one. This holds true for the Kirby/Marley puppies. There are a few of you who have not had hips done.  I urge everyone to have an OFA thyroid test done. This has to go through a specific lab. 

We are enjoying the sunshine here in California. We hope everyone is doing well and I hope to update this blog more often now that we are home again.

VCA Nationals in San Jose CA April 2014

This is our advertisement for Nationals. 

This is Sparrow in the ring with her handler, Jenna Iacobellis.  These photos were taken by Karen Lake. The lighting was not good and she did these on the spur of the moment. 

These photos are of Jenna and Sparrow with her 3rd place ribbon in Open Bitches. These photos were taken by Sunshine Photography.

Middle of July in Arizona

We have been in Arizona, staying with our daughter and her family, since the beginning of February when we sold our home in Oregon. The girls are enjoying living with the boys and the six of them get along really well, most of the time. Battle is still a chow hound and Sparrow is not a fan of his always trying to eat her food.  Paloma still rides herd on the younger ones - a mother's job is never done!!

Paloma

 

Marley

 

Hannah and Paloma

 

Hannah and Declan

Marc and I spent our birthday weekend in Bend, Oregon. I was able to fulfill my club obligation while I was in town by attending TEVCO's first summer specialty which was held at the fairgrounds in Redmond. These are photos of the ribbons and prizes. The specialty committee did an outstanding job! Here's to more entries next year and alot more fun!

I was able to see Lillie while I was at the dog show.  She has grown into a very nice girl with a great temperament. Jim takes her everywhere he goes, even to work.  She does spend a day or two during the week playing with other dogs.  I was a great treat for me to see her. 

Lillie with her Daddy, Mojo, at the dog show.  Mojo earned his first BISS at the specialty. I am so happy I was there to see it. Greg and Dennise have worked so hard for this win. 

The other day, Declan was experiencing a Ritz cracker for the first time.  Marley was right there next to him. She loves her kids and is always hoping for a morsel. Who am I kidding?? She is hoping to steal it away from the baby.  She was unsuccessful this day!!

Hannah

It has been really hot here in Arizona. The girls spend most of the time in the house during the day.  At night, when it is cooler, is when they can play outside. 

All the girls are doing well.  I had Hannah to a new vet last week. Everything looks good and her bloodwork and UA were normal.  Marley is due for her rabies so I will most likely be taking her in to the same vet soon. Sparrow is taking time off from the ring until we get to California.  Her last shows were in CA at the Vizsla Club of America's Specialty at the end of April.  Paloma is as sweet as ever and is still the boss of the pups!

This is what the house looked like last week.  Hopefully it will be done by the end of August!!