I miss you Rocketman

My very great friend Rocket died on the operating table March 19th, 2007. The Drs. were trying to remove a tumor but were unable to do it successfully.

He was a great companion, prehaps the greatest and will be missed.

"He sleeps quietly now, his little head

rests gently on my heart,

which will be his pillow forever."

blog

 

 

Scott

Access the Homepage at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/all_chihuahuas/

Link to Chihuahua Rescue & Transport
http://www.chihuahua-rescue.com/

Check out the photos on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wawas/

CRT fundraiser calendar info,
http://www.blueribbonprintwear.com/calendar.html

Where are you?  Get on the Map.
http://www.frappr.com/allchihuahuas

Our own Rainbow Bridge Memorial
http://home.earthlink.net/~linbrook/

 

My little girl has become terrified of thunderstorms. It's a pitiful sight, she pants and paces and her heart beats really fast. She had no problem the first two years of her life but I suspect the last two years of drought we have had changed her conditioning. We have tried Zanax and Rescue Remedy with little success. The best thing so far has been to wrap her in a bath towel and hold her. They do sell a compression wrap for anxiety but I haven't tried it.

Traveling Dog

We took a road trip this weekend around parts of Tarrant and Parker Counties in North Texas. The kids went with us as we didn't forsee needing to leave them in the car for long. They enjoy traveling but highway time makes them sleepy. They would rather have frequent stop signs so they can get Dad to roll down the window.

Cleopatra

Cleo is such a happy girl, I didn't notice for a long time because she isn't as boisterous as the males. She is content to sit near you and doesn't have to be in your lap every minute but she does have her moments. Sometimes she just has to show you and plants a dozen quick licks on your face before you know it.

Park Time

IMG_0024
Originally uploaded by scotty5x5.

This is Rocket, my 12 year old rescue. He is my buddy and heart dog, he likes nothing better than a trip to the park.He has a heart murmur that makes him a little heat intolerant but these cool overcast days are just perfect for a good run.
I am a scofflaw where leashes are concerned but we do try to stay away from other people and especially stray dogs. Have you been to the park lately? I bet your 4leggr would appreciate a little exercise. Enjoy.

Tuffy in the sun

I tried to catch Tuffy washing his face like a cat but I missed every time. I need a Fuzzy logic chip or FTL drive, I don't know which. 

Cleopatra (Cleo)

Cleo is the feminine side of the twins. She is less demonstrative than her brother but loyal to a fault and maybe smarter. At any rate she keeps the boys in line and guards her space and her treats. She is also a #1 squirrel chaser and once when a possum invaded the back porch, while everyone else was barking she darted in and grabbed him by the throat! My brave little girl.

Tips for new Chihuahua owners

Hi New Chi owner, welcome. You will find a Chihuahua is an excellent choice, they are
small but pretty tough and smart if a little hard headed. I would read Chihuahuas for
Dummies and Google “Chihuahua” for lots of good info. 8 week old puppies are pretty
young so make sure they are warm enough and get enough rest. He will also need to
eat 4 or more times a day for a while say 2-3 months then you can start cutting the
number of feedings. You need to feed often because you have to keep a Chis blood
sugar up or they will start to fail. It looks like they are drunk or winding down, very
scary and could be fatal if not remedied. Buy a tube of Nutri-Cal to stimulate appetite
and to add additional calories and nutrients. After 9 months or so this is not so much
an issue, mine at 2 years old had no more problems with it. You need to decide on a
potty training method and be positive and consistent, praise and reward them when
he goes where he should, ignore it when he doesn’t. Experts say when a dog piddles
on the carpet you should roll up a newspaper and hit yourself on the head while
repeating “I should have been watching”.

He also needs his own bed or spot he can retreat to when needed. Beyond that just
be careful where you put your feet, their little bones can break if you step on them.
Once older you will find they are pretty tough and loads of fun in fact I recommend
getting two, they are a genuine hoot together.

Please feed them the best food you can find, something with lots of meat in the
ingredient list. If you look at the contents you will see most foods have a lot of corn,
CORN is not good for Chis, too hard to digest. Acceptable brands include, Chicken Soup
for the Pet Lovers Soul, Bil-Jac, and Innova among others. Please keep your puppy
warm, put your face down near the floor to see how much colder it is there. He may
need additional bedding or a raised platform for sleeping. Many Chis in colder climes
like sweaters or even PJs

Chi’s are very social and will bond to you strongly, please don’t abuse them by locking
them up for long periods, Remember Love = Patience. Let us know how it goes and
take lots of pics. I have probably left out a lot but we will be here to help if you need
it. Scott

What is that cat up to?

The kids don't chase the cat but they don't trust her, probably because she is bigger than they are.

I Miss Summer!

The third week of Febuary is a perfect time to think about Summer. I may complain about the heat later but for now I can't wait.

Lincolns Foresight

"We may congratulate ourselves that this cruel war is nearing its end. It has cost a vast amount of treasure and blood. . . . It has indeed been a trying hour for the Republic; but I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless."

The passage appears in a letter from Lincoln to (Col.) William F. Elkins, Nov. 21, 1864. p. 40 of The Lincoln Encyclopedia, by Archer H. Shaw (Macmillan, 1950, NY).

As President Bush gets off the helicopter in front of the White House,

he is carrying a baby pig under each arm.

The squared away Marine guard snaps to attention, salutes,

and says,"Nice pigs, sir."

The President replies: "These are not pigs, Marine.

These are authentic Texan Razorback Hogs.

I got one for Scooter Libby, and I got one for Dick Cheney."

The squared away Marine again snaps to attention, salutes,

and says, "Nice trade, sir."

What is your dogs blood type?

I admit it is something I never thought about but since Rocket just had bloodwork done I will ask the Vet about his bloodtype.

The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Blood Bank

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRANSFUSION MEDICINE IN DOGS & CATS

What are blood types of dogs? Dogs have 6 major blood types and a universal donor is DEA 1.1, 1.2 and 7 - and DEA 4 +

DEA 1.1 + 42% of population

DEA 1.2 + 20% of population

DEA 3 + 6% of population

DEA 4 + 98% of population

DEA 5 + 23 % of population

DEA 7 + 45% of population

What are blood types of cats?Cats have 3 blood types: Type A, Type B and Type AB (rare). There is no universal feline donor. Most cats in this country are Type A. Certain “exotic” breeds are frequently Type B . Cat Breeds

How is blood collected from a dog? Donating blood takes only 15-25 minutes and may require sedation. Dogs donate either on their side or lying down. Blood is collected from the jugular vein, which is the large vein in the neck. It is recommended that dogs be fasted before giving blood.

How is blood collected from a cat? Cats are usually sedated with an injectable IV sedative just prior to donating. Cats are usually laid on their backs or side during the donation. Blood is collected from the jugular vein, which is the large vein in the neck.

How much blood can be taken from a cat and dog? Dogs generally donate 450 ml (~ 16 oz) of blood. About 55 ml (~ 2 oz) of blood can be collected from most cats.

When whole blood is collected from donors it is frequently separated into two components. It is separated into packed Red Blood Cells (pRBCs) and plasma. PRBCs are used to treat anemic animals. Units can be stored for up to 21-45 days. The plasma is frozen immediately and this product is called fresh frozen plasma. It can be stored frozen for one year and is used to treat animals with clotting disorders.

Coming Home

There is just nothing in the world as good as coming home from another crummy day at work and having these 3 greet me at the door.
They are so glad to see me and vice versa. First things first though so after a quick greeting, a touch and calling everyone by name we head outside. We don't exactly scatter but different urges call different dogs. I usually saunter up the path and light a cigarette and by the time I reach the upper yard everyone is showing up. I spend 10 or 15 minutes loitering and decompressing while the kids talk to the neighbors, scout around for squirrels and hopefully poopie. Then it's off to the mailbox in the front. The fur kids always are ready to go, there is just something magical about being out front and they run like hell trying to be the first one. I get the mail and being it's cold and damp today we head back in. This is usually the time to take a minute and hold and pet everyone, get reaquainted if you will before I do a few getting home chores.

INTRODUCTION

I'm so glad to be here tonight and I'm so glad to be home. And I believe I've got a message for every woman and every man here tonight that ever needed somebody to love. Someone to stay with them all the time, when they're up and when they're down. You know, sometimes you get what you want, and then you go and lose what you have. And I believe every woman and every man here tonight listen to my song and it save the whole world. Listen to me.
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, The Rolling Stones
Somebody to Love
Originally uploaded by scotty5x5.