Photographing Pets

[boBQuincy]

We recently had to reduce Andie's food portions slightly. She was not amused.

Andie's story: http://www.suzieandbob.com/animals/andie/

 

[pickles]

Yeah- we almost found out the hard way. We were told later that labs will go go go til they drop. Thats pretty much what she did. This summer has been very weird up here. She is late shedding her coat since it didn't really get warm until the end of July, the hot humid weather just arrived recently- lots of rain and cool weather. That may have had an impact. She's hiked the previous 3 summers without a prob.
DH did have a hard time leaving her there. Hershey never lets him out of her sight when we hike- it must have been awful for her.
She has 2 more peaks to bag to get all 48- we will continue when it cools off in Sept/Oct. The last of her bloodwork should be back today to make sure there was no permanent damage done.

Todd- will the gums actually feel hot? That is something good to know.

I will tell you another great thing to carry when hiking. Vetrap! We carry a roll with us all the time. Its what the vet wrapped her feet in. Dh used it on her cut feet on the trail. Its just like the medical tape they sell for people in the pharmacy only Vetrap is meant for horses legs.(its not sticky tape- its puckered, stretchy- the human one is usually white- good for sprains, cuts, etc..)Vetrap is $1.50 roll at a horse supply/feed store. The human version is $5-$6 for a smaller roll. Its not sticky but it does stick to itself when applied properly so no tape is needed. DD used it on her leg after a softball injury- we used to use it on the horses when we had them-excellent stuff! And it come in cool colors

she looks a bit too well fed for heavy hiking? maybe a few less treats and extra excercise at home and she will be in shape to handle more hikes? would be a shame if she cant go anymore.
that is scary some do gooder could have made off with the dog Poor guy what a tough spot to be in, amazing he was able to carry her so far and save her..good job!!

 

[pickles]

hershey swimming in the pond.

[/IMG]

what is that black and orange thing under his chin? looks like one of those big salamander/newt things?

some cool pics

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

omg so cute is that a cavalier king charles? I want one so much!

Such great Pet pictures everyone!

 

[coltink]

I couldn't resist an oppourtunity to show off my babies.

Jack-who is not shy of the camera. He's the younger one but we have SO MANY pictures of him.

Minnie-ANTI Camera! Refuses to even be around the camera. Will blink and turn her head just to peeve me off.

Minnie and Jack (and yucky me) in their Disney coats, courtesy of grandma.

 

[Suburbanmom]

 

[coltink]

Suburbanmom that looks just like minnie in her younger slimmer days. She's now getting white under her chin.

 

[WDWFigment]

Here are a few of our kids Yossarian (cat) & Walter (dog):

 

[MichelleVW]

Here are a few of our kids Yossarian (cat) & Walter (dog):

Lol....our cat Autumn stands on her back legs like that too! We call it her Meerkat impression!!

 

[Sha]

Here are a few of our kids Yossarian (cat) & Walter (dog):

Awwwww does Yossarian "like" having the sweater on???

 

[My2Girls66]

she looks a bit too well fed for heavy hiking? maybe a few less treats and extra excercise at home and she will be in shape to handle more hikes? would be a shame if she cant go anymore.
that is scary some do gooder could have made off with the dog Poor guy what a tough spot to be in, amazing he was able to carry her so far and save her..good job!!

We hiked almost 10 miles yesterday up Mt Passaconaway. First hike back. She's back to herself.
We'd been trying to get her to drop a little weight. Not easy! She is the queen of beggars! She has many, many hikes under her belt so she is in very, good shape even tho she doesn't look it- the vet wants her weight down mostly to protect her joints. She was almost 95lbs, now she is just over 90. The vet saw her last week and said maybe drop a few more. Originally he wanted her around 80lbs but she is a big girl so now he says she looks really good but maybe just lose a few lbs more.

 

[My2Girls66]

what is that black and orange thing under his chin? looks like one of those big salamander/newt things?

some cool pics

Not really sure what that is. Looks slimy!

 

[annnewjerz]

We hiked almost 10 miles yesterday up Mt Passaconaway. First hike back. She's back to herself.
We'd been trying to get her to drop a little weight. Not easy! She is the queen of beggars! She has many, many hikes under her belt so she is in very, good shape even tho she doesn't look it- the vet wants her weight down mostly to protect her joints. She was almost 95lbs, now she is just over 90. The vet saw her last week and said maybe drop a few more. Originally he wanted her around 80lbs but she is a big girl so now he says she looks really good but maybe just lose a few lbs more.

I feel your pain about trying to get a Chocolate Lab to drop a little weight. Our lab Rocky went to the vet recently because he was limping and was diagnosed with arthritis and mild hip dysplasia and the vet told us that she would like us to drop him from around 107 pounds to around 100.

We were SHOCKED that he weighed over 100 pounds, because he isn't pudgy looking at all, he's just a big dog. Tall, muscular, but all around. Since then, he has lost about 3 pounds. He's on supplements which have allowed him to run around again---alleviating the pain of his arthritis and we cut out 2 cups of food between our 2 dogs per day. It's a slow and steady process and now, instead of doggy icecream for a treat on a hot summer day, he gets watermelon.

(please forgive the horrible back yard, it was spring, so the grass was juuuust starting to grow in )

 

[My2Girls66]

I feel your pain about trying to get a Chocolate Lab to drop a little weight. Our lab Rocky went to the vet recently because he was limping and was diagnosed with arthritis and mild hip dysplasia and the vet told us that she would like us to drop him from around 107 pounds to around 100.

We were SHOCKED that he weighed over 100 pounds, because he isn't pudgy looking at all, he's just a big dog. Tall, muscular, but all around. Since then, he has lost about 3 pounds. He's on supplements which have allowed him to run around again---alleviating the pain of his arthritis and we cut out 2 cups of food between our 2 dogs per day. It's a slow and steady process and now, instead of doggy icecream for a treat on a hot summer day, he gets watermelon.

(please forgive the horrible back yard, it was spring, so the grass was juuuust starting to grow in )

Rocky is beautiful and he looks like he's built like Hershey. We've cut her dry food down and I now buy her small dog treats rather than ones for large dogs but she begs like no ones business! When we hike she will go up to a complete stranger at the summit and check out what they are eating and more often than not she will get a bite One time she took a pop tart right out of a kid's hand! And the drool! OMG! Anytime we eat and she is near its down my leg, on my feet, a puddle on the floor. Its crazy. My kids always tell me I won't get fat as long as she's around since I share with her just to stop the drool
As for exercise, she gets more than your average dog. She is def. not a couch potoato. We take her hiking, we walk a local rail trail and our town forest a few times week. We'll take her to the lake in the canoe and let her out to swim, we take her to the beach to run. She'll run around with other dogs, chases my parents chickens She does NOT retrieve. So no throwing the ball in the backyard. She won't go get it.
Good luck getting Rocky slimmer! Not an easy task. Btw...Hershey never liked watermelon but while on top of the mt yesterday we met a couple with a dog- they shared their watermelon with us and Hershey ate 3-4 pieces!

 

[My2Girls66]

We recently had to reduce Andie's food portions slightly. She was not amused.

Andie's story: http://www.suzieandbob.com/animals/andie/

Thats so cute
Sounds like we've got some pudgy pets around here.

 

[annnewjerz]

We've cut her dry food down and I now buy her small dog treats rather than ones for large dogs but she begs like no ones business!

Our dogs only eat dry food, wet food makes me want to gag. They eat Merrick brand which is $50 per bag, so considering we go through about 3 bags per month---there is no way I'm spending another dollar if I don't have to!!

And the drool! OMG! Anytime we eat and she is near its down my leg, on my feet, a puddle on the floor. Its crazy. My kids always tell me I won't get fat as long as she's around since I share with her just to stop the drool

Our Golden Retriever is the major drooler. Both are really good about not begging, but I literally wear a blanket on my legs at all times when on the couch to keep the drool from soaking my clothes.

She does NOT retrieve. So no throwing the ball in the backyard. She won't go get it.

Rocky doesn't retrieve either. That picture of him that I posted of him with the King Wubba was after he stole if from our Golden Retriever (who LOVES fetch) and wouldn't give it back. Our Golden, Mickey, plays fetch like nobody's business---Rocky plays keep away like nobody's business.

Hershey never liked watermelon but while on top of the mt yesterday we met a couple with a dog- they shared their watermelon with us and Hershey ate 3-4 pieces!

This is the first year we have tried feeding them watermelon and they ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. It's quite possibly my favorite summer activity with them now. We cut it into slices like a human would eat and then eat the red part all the way until the rind is left in a cresent moon shape. It's so cute to watch them nibble along where the red meets green and know that they are supposed to stop after the fleshy part is gone.

That being said, if Hershey ever eats a lot of watermelon at once, make sure you aren't leaving the house anytime shortly thereafter. The first time our dogs ate watermelon I completely forgot that (duh!) it was mostly water. They ate like 4 pieces each, and we went out to dinner. I felt so bad when we came home and one had peed right next to the back door. I won't be making that mistake again.

 

[My2Girls66]

$50 a bag! Yikes
I've found if I switch Hershey off Iams large breed- her coat gets dull. So I get that and mix it with another brand which I switch around. Newmans, Rachel Ray, Kibbles and Bits, just so she's not eating the same old stuff all the time. We give her 1/2 can of food a day. Only the ones with 'chunks' so she feels like she's getting something. The 6 cats also split a can or 2 each day.
So she isn't the only retriever that won't retrieve? Funny! She'll just give me a look like you want me to chase that? Are you crazy? I thought throwing sticks in the ocean or lake would get her running and swimming. Nope.
Thanks for the watermelon warning!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ann, I think we need some pictures of the doggie watermelon fest!

 

[annnewjerz]

Ann, I think we need some pictures of the doggie watermelon fest!

It's hard, I'm usually too busy holding it for them to eat!!

However, I do have a whole watermelon that is perfectly ripe sitting on my kitchen counter---and since it is the last weekend of summer, maybe I'll make my DH feed them and I'll bust out the camera for their last watermelony treat of the year.

 

[Suburbanmom]

My first photos with my new Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 were of my rottie, Deacon.