Catching Up!!!

So, it has been forever since my last post... spring came and life got busy... and while it has slowed down in winter, things really didn't get dull til now!!

Ruby is doing great... we have learned a few things in the last 8 months. I discovered that the doxycycline treatment should be repeated about every 6 months. Ruby got very tired in June, and we couldn't figure it out. Back to the old internet to see what we had for options, and we discovered that it is possible that the wolbachia parasite repopulate in a 6 month period! Since it had been 6 months since we treated with that, we decided a repeat was in order. There was an improvement in her energy level within a week! In May we had retested for heartworm and she was still high positive. Not a surprise, but I had hoped for some improvement. That just meant that we had to keep doing what we were doing.

Ruby had a fun summer and fall. We couldn't train her of her fence jumping habit so we resorted to an e collar. She learned very quickly, and now will usually even ignore the rabbits in the yard next door.

In December we went in for her annual check up. Hard to believe a year went by that fast. But, the vet thought she looked beautiful... and the heartworm test came back with a low positive result this time!! Yeah!! I was very excited, and my vet said that was the first time they had seen that kind of reaction on a positive test result- but she was excited too!

We are getting ready to treat with doxy again... in the last couple of days Ruby has been looking tired, and since it has been 6 months since her last dose, we are going to give it a go. It sure seems to make a difference for her.

So we are going the right direction... she hasn't needed any extra food additives this winter, and is carrying the proper weight. Her coat is glossy, and she has good color. There was no murmer at her physical, and there have been no other signs of the heartworm infestation. We do have to keep her exercise a bit limited, as we have noticed if she overdoes it, it takes a few days to recover.

How Time Flies!!!

It is almost May, and with the arrival of warm weather (or what passes for warm in Iowa these days) and spring life has been busy. Ruby is doing AWESOME! And we just got back from the vet today for a weight check and a new supply of heartworm meds. We actually got to see Dr Tammy, as she was in between clients, and she couldn't believe this was the same dog she saw back in December. Thought she looked terrific, and we are going to retest her at the end of May to see if we are making progress the right direction with our treatment protocol. Ruby weighed in at 44.1 pounds... probably about where she is going to settle in at. We are running/jogging her 2-3 miles 5 days a week... I think she would run more. She hasn't forgotten the fence jumping habit, so we are going to be working on that this month... and probably resorting to some assitance to get her broken of it.

She sees every bunny, bird, or other critter in the neighborhood, and is very good at letting us know when people are walking by the house... she is definately ready for more exercise, as otherwise she uses her energy to be vocal!!

So far so good.... next month will hopefully bring even better news!

In like a Lamb

Beautiful weather here in Iowa to welcome in March. And Ruby certainly has Spring Fever... she has made a habit this last week or so of jumping the fence to run around the neighbors yard. The rabbitts like to hang out there, and she is hoping to catch one I guess. So it is back on a leash for her. Not so fun, and she doesn't expend near so much energy either. So she is almost ornery in the house. Pesting the other two dogs til they play chase, and helping pick up the kids rooms by picking up things that they leave on the floor. Oh well, while frustrating at times, at least she is feeling her age!!

Since the weather was so warm we waiting til tonight to give Ruby her first full dosage of heartgard. Figured it was hard enough to keep her contained, we decided starting the dose before she went to bed at night would be easier on everyone. And her normal Monday schedule has her in the crate for 5 hours anyway... so that will be a help.

I am wondering if we will see any different behavior, or if it will make her even more tired than the half doses. Or, if she has progressed enough, that it won't bother so much. We will find out.

She seems to be going through a puppy stage... which makes me wonder if she is closer to 18 months than 2 years. Her activity levels, and "forgetfulness" in listening are very much a younger dogs actions. Doesn't get her any lee way however!

There will be another update this week... and as always, I am nervous about this month too!!

New Tricks!

Here is Ruby after showing off her new trick!! She is a smart cookie this one, and very talented... maybe a future in agility! We have taught her on command to jump up into our arms. Who knows if it will be useful, but Ruby likes it because she can snuggle and get hugs!

Things are still going well for her. She just seems to have more and more energy. The cold weather we have been having (single digit type) doesn't even slow her down... and the birds coming back? Boy, does she spy every little thing that moves outside.

In a couple of weeks we will have treatment #3. This one will be the first one that is full strength. Hopefully we have had enough of the microfilia die off for the last two months that it won't be so hard on her. Til then we will keep teaching this young dog new tricks!

We have no signs of the cough she had in November, her fur is shiny, and all grown back in. Her eyes glow with health... and she has energy to spare. Her clock goes off at 5:45, and she is ready to go every morning!

Treatment #2

Miss Ruby is once again on "house arrest" as she adjusts to the second round of treatment using heartgard. This was once again a half dose, but she did seem a little tired again that first night. Another odd thing, which could just be unrelated, was that she was shedding more than usual by Sunday. Could be a fluke, could be her body is still having some shock reactions to the microfilia die off.

She is just as happy as ever- when she is not viewing us with a little disdane about being in the crate or on the leash. She just doesn't understand why everyone else gets to go outside and chase bunnies but she has to watch from inside- which still seems to get her excited. I swear she can hear them hop no matter where she is in the house!

Her appetite is still amazing... she eats as much as our 67# pointer and still looks thin, so her metabolism is working just fine. She seems to have more and more energy all the time. When she is all through this she is going to take a lot of running!

So far so good for Miss Ruby... round two seems to be going just fine, if not better than round one!

Watching the birds

Here is Miss Ruby doing what she likes best... being outside where she can play in the snow and watch the neighborhood rabbits, birds and other assorted critters.

She is pretty close to her goal weight at this point... maybe another pound or so and she will be set.

She just soaks up the attention these days... like any good healthy vizsla! (No one has told Ruby that she is so sick you see)

Goal Reached!!

Went in to be weighed today, and Ruby has gained almost 2# since the end of December. Her weight today was 43.3, and we (myself and the vet) decided that was just about right for her... she looks great, and everyone at the vets office thought she looked wonderful... and of course Miss Ruby was on her best behavior and just sucking up attention! So we hope to maintain this weight ... we will continue with the meatballs until they are gone, and then see how she does on her dry food with the supplement. Next Treatment day is Feb 1.... being still and quiet for 10-14 days is not going to thrill her in the least!