Why We Went Raw

Quinn

I field a lot of questions about why we transitioned our dogs from kibble to raw food.  I also get asked about our choice in the type of raw food.  Believe me when I say, it wasn’t our first choice, or even our second. It has been an onerous process involving discussions with numerous experts and many hours of research.   Quinn.  Quinn is the reason. I’ll start at the beginning.

Quinn, a German Shepherd, joined us in 2016.  We were attracted to the breed for a couple of reasons.  First, we were looking for something that might provide some protection, not only to us, but to our other animals.  We live on a farm in Alberta, where coyotes, foxes and owls were making lunch out of our cats on a much too regular schedule.  We wanted something of sufficient size and temperament to not only deter predators from parading through the yard but, if the need arose, could hold their own. Our dog would be outdoors but with house privileges, therefore indoor and outdoor manners were key to success.

Introduction to obedience and agility

A German Shepherd is a serious commitment but all dogs are not created equal.  It soon became evident that Quinn's energy needed to be managed; that, if given an inch, she was going to run with the whole mile. I needed to step it up if I was going to remain at the top of the pack. She is intelligent, agile and dominant. She needs not one job but several. We were already working with a trainer, we added weekly dog club for socialization and training for both her and me. We have now worked with the breeder and several trainers to introduce Quinn to obedience, agility, scent and protection work. 

The first inkling that something wasn’t right with Quinn's health was immediately upon her arrival to her new home.  We found ourselves taking her outside 3 and 4 times during the night. Every. Single. Night.  Both edging toward our sixth decade, this certainly wasn’t what we envisioned when we decided getting a puppy was a good idea.  We were well advised to crate train and, while little Quinn was great at letting out a bark to let us know the urgency of the situation, the uninterrupted sleep was telling on us. Truth be told, she never had more than a couple of daytime accidents in the house (none in her crate) and those incidents we clearly missed the signals. Shortly thereafter it was suggested that we bell train her, a concept which she was quick to grasp and resolved any confusion.  But getting through the night was a completely different can of worms.

Fun and Games

After a week, and some internet research, we decided a vet check was in order and, sure enough, Quinn was diagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).  Being  female, her private bits had direct contact with the ground whenever she sat down.  While her ‘outie’ would eventually become an ‘innie’ as she matured, we were warned that UTIs in very young dogs often result in a chronic condition, sometimes even requiring surgery!  Who knew? It took two full rounds of antibiotics and several weeks before she finally passed her pee exam. We were advised to escalate her hygiene until maturity by daily cleaning of her vulva with a clean, warm, wet cloth.  We did this faithfully and avoided any further UTIs.

Her first winter, when she was about 8 months old, we noticed she was doing a lot of scratching.  While she never scratched herself raw, she continuously licked her paws and scratched everywhere.  Our vet indicated Quinn may be prone to allergies, a condition becoming more common in dogs, and that food was often the culprit.  He hinted at the dilemma we might find ourselves in; that we could spend a copious amount of time and money trying to treat this condition without ever finding any solid resolution. He suggested we first eliminate as many toxins in the home as we could.  He explained that allergies to certain proteins was the most common and to try a limited ingredient kibble.  If that didn’t work, perhaps switch to a hydrolyzed kibble, which goes through a process to break the proteins down to particles so tiny that the body can’t distinguish that it’s even a protein. He also had clients that transitioned their itchy dogs to raw, some with great success. We were given a short-term prescription of Vanectyl P to get us over the hump.  And it worked, for awhile. And then, once again, we found ourselves living with Itchy Skin Quinn.

So began the purge.  While we didn't use a lot of chemicals in the home, we disposed of traditional cleaning products in favour of nontoxic options.  We went from washing her bedding with laundry soap to nothing more than hot water.  We kept the humidity up because our winters tend to be so very dry.  Most of our furniture was leather; we had no carpets. Our animals were never allowed on the bed we shared with our own personal contingent of mites, but we took it a step further and banned Quinn from the bedroom. We sanitized her doghouse and kept it as hygienically clean and dust-free as possible. We groomed daily and wiped her down with a damp cloth to remove dander.  We added fish oils and other supplements to her diet.  We began feeding a high quality limited ingredient kibble of lamb and rice.  The scratching continued. 

Brother and Sister

By the time Quinn was a year old, she had received all of her puppy vaccinations and was of a proper age to spay.  Because we were intent on having a German Shepherd that was properly socially conditioned, we not only were active in  dog club but enrolled her in puppy day care, the latter of which required Quinn to be fully vaccinated and medicated for fleas.  We chose Bravecto because we were advised it was safe and provided a full three months of control.  What we didn’t anticipate was the lethargy and loss of appetite from it.  The vet suggested we follow up with FortiFlora, a probiotic.  Within a week, her appetite and high spirits returned. The scratching continued and, this time, with a vengeance.

Our community did not have a dermatological vet, but there was a general vet who specialized in allergies.  At our appointment, we were advised that Quinn had allergies but diagnosing the cause would not be easy.  Allergy testing was not recommended as results were inconclusive until she reached 3 years of age. The cause may be environmental but food was the easiest to rule out because it can be controlled. Since a limited ingredient diet didn’t seem to help, we should try an elimination diet.  We had concerns about hydrolyzed protein kibble; what good could possibly come from such a highly processed diet?  We had access to wild meat. A hunter herself, she was not opposed to a homemade diet providing the protein was one which Quinn had never previously consumed.  Together, we settled on a diet of moose, potatoes and Hillary’s Blend, a supplement providing all of the essential vitamins and minerals and a balanced diet provided one followed the recipe. We had to continue this diet for a minimum of eight weeks; the longer the better. In addition, biweekly baths using the Chlorhexidine-based shampoo, Duoxo; regular doses of Dermoscent Spot On and over-the-counter Loratadine were added to the protocol.  Quinn was fast becoming a very high maintenance dog.  I began a journal to track how itchy she was, on a scale from 1 to 10 and noted all treatments.  We explored the various over-the-counter and prescription medications, including apoquel, atopica and cytopoint. After copious amounts of research, we did not invest in the last three, simply because none of them appeared to prove effective over the long term, all appeared to have considerable side effects, and they were costly. We agreed with the vet to abstain from vaccination updates, which tend to stress the body and aggravate skin conditions.

Winter Adventure

When we left for our annual three-week vacation in March, 2018, we left Quinn in the hands of a capable dog sitter, armed with a book of instructions and enough homemade dog food, precisely weighed and meted out in single servings, to last a month.  A calendar laid out precise scheduling of her medications and baths. The day we arrived home, we were advised that Quinn had, the day before, nibbled a small piece of her ball away and then later threw up a wee bit of blood.  We weren’t terribly worried; the piece was miniscule and should easily pass.  But, being the doting helicopter parents we are, for the next several days, I followed her through the cold and snow so that I could inspect her pee and poop.  What I discovered was that she had diarrhea with a bit of mucous and blood.  While I didn’t actually see her vomit, I found a couple of piles that also appeared to contain a bit of blood.  We waited a couple of more days; long enough to collect samples, and off to the vet we went.

One of many reasons to crate train

The original thought was that there was nothing urgent. Quinn appeared to be in excellent health and superb condition. She was the proper weight; her coat looked great and she was alert and active. We could take a 'wait and see' approach or run tests.  We opted for the tests.  An ultrasound pointed toward some kind of blockage.  It was agreed that Quinn remain at the clinic, with a follow-up ultrasound at the end of the day.  The call we received late that afternoon was that Quinn did indeed have a blockage and consent was needed for surgery.  A few hours later, our vet advised that what was thought to be a blockage was actually ‘a gelatinous mass of bloody diarrhea’. Deep chested dogs (which Quinn isn’t) sometimes suffer from intestinal distress due to bloating. This seemed inconsistent as raw-fed dogs almost never suffer from bloat because it doesn't expand in their stomach in the same way that kibble does.  It is not uncommon to stitch the intestines to the upper abdominal wall to avoid this life-threatening condition but Quinn was so raw internally, the vet decided against this procedure. Instead they opted to remove the infection as much as possible and close. Antibiotics and fluids would be administered and Quinn would be ready for home in a day or so.

A couple of days went by, during which time Quinn continued to wane. While we had supplied the clinic with her several feedings of her elimination diet, a decision was made to switch her to hydrolyzed canned food for easier digestion. When her health continued to decline, she was tested for Parvo, not once but twice. The original stool and vomit samples had been destroyed without analyzing; the clinic wanted new ones to test for parasites. They were adamant that there was some other underlying condition that had yet to be discovered. Antibiotics were switched. Always an excellent source of advice and information, I stayed in touch with the breeder who, by this time, was a good friend. She phoned to tell me, if a decision was made to euthanize Quinn, she would give us another puppy free of charge. My heart skipped a beat or two, I began to cry, and told her we weren't 'there' yet. Of course, she knew that; she just wanted me to know.  It took much longer than anticipated but Quinn did eventually begin to recuperate.  Five days and $2,200 later, we took her home.

Finally home

We chose a different path forward.  We found an integrative vet who also practices acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). We told him that we were done with the ‘boutique’ style of veterinary medicine consisting of a lot of very expensive suggestions without any real resolution.  While we accepted that Quinn had health issues, we weren’t convinced it was allergies.  We felt it was something deeper.  We had played by the book; we tried the vast majority of recommendations, we were vigilant on her skin care, we were deeply invested. And we almost lost her.  It was time to change course.

This vet took the time to explain who he was and what he did.  He is self-described old school, that doesn't always find expensive concoctions yields positive results. While some of the old drugs do indeed have side effects, one has to weigh not only the cost but the amount of medication needed to keep Quinn comfortable. He supplements traditional veterinary medicine with TCVM, which is based on food, rather than medication.  He also augments his practice with acupuncture.  He suggested a homemade diet consisting of meat, vegetables and grain.  The list of appropriate vegetables and grains, I have since learned are classed as ‘neutral’ or ‘cooling’ foods. While raw is preferred, it could also be cooked.  While it was best if the ingredients became the entire diet, it could also be used as a topper. He added the Chinese herbal supplement Si Miao San.  To provide Quinn with some relief from her discomfort, he prescribed a very low dose of Vanectyl-P. We continued the weekly baths with medicated shampoo to remove any dander or irritating substances from Quinn’s skin which would give her some temporary relief. He agreed that we should abstain from vaccination updates.

Agility work

I had already done a lot of research on feeding raw.  I had a grasp of the differing philosophies between feeding Prey Model Raw (PMR) and Biologically Appropriate Raw (BARF) with the latter also incorporating a limited amount of vegetables, seeds and fruit. In general, PMR feeders don’t believe plant matter is appropriate for carnivores. The diet focuses on whole prey (meat, organs, bone).  BARF operates on the belief that dogs are omnivores or obligate carnivores. Diets consist of muscle meat, organs and bones, up to 10% fruits and vegetables, sometimes dairy and supplements.

TCVM is based on much the same principles as we humans apply to ourselves; better nutrition will cause our bodies to perform better.  Processed foods, sugars, dyes and high carbohydrates, as found in most commercially prepared foods does not equate to good health. Certain conditions or diseases produce a lot of heat in the body, including inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes and Cushings Disease. Certain foods, such as venison, chicken and lamb add heat to the body, while melon, cold water fish and rabbit have a cooling effect.

Si Miao San is a Chinese formula directed at treating 'damp heat' resulting in inflammation and commonly used for inflammatory bowel disease, allergic dermatitis, Cushings and diabetes. It also has anti cancer properties and supports good digestion.

Food Therapy From the Chi Institute

I have never fully come to the conclusion that Quinn actually has allergies exacerbated by her diet but, rather, I believe she has a gut problem.  I think it’s safe to say that she has a weak immune system.  The early UTI was our first clue; her reaction to Bravecto was the second. We learned that Quinn’s diet was wrong from the start, which began as a quality lamb and rice kibble supplemented with venison. Both protein choices add heating elements to an already inflamed dog.  We were literally piling on fuel for the fire!

Bite work

For more than a year, we stuck to the cooling diet like glue. While we experimented with different combinations of cooling foods we maintained the balance of 30% vegetables/fruit, up to 10% grains and cooling or neutral proteins, consisting of beef, moose and fish. One day, Quinn decided she wasn’t going to eat if we continued to include Si Miao San in her diet.  I admit, I never tasted it but we were warned it is bitter and many animals won’t eat it, in which case, it’s available in pill form. By this time, Quinn was looking radiant and her itching had diminished considerably.

We took Quinn on a 35-day RV road trip across Canada in 2018.  It was a bit of a challenge preparing her meals at times.  We certainly didn’t have freezer capacity to prepare all her meals at home and carry them with us. Instead, we relied on commercially prepared PMR foods which we supplemented with vegetables and grains. We looked for Pet Value stores when it came time for her weekly bath.

Welcome to Nova Scotia!

Quinn remains a high strung, high energy dog, somewhat prone to anxiety. While she loves people, she doesn’t always play well with other canines. While she is happy to cuddle with a cat, if they run, she gives chase. This aspect continues to be a work in progress.  During our travels, we preferred small, municipal campgrounds which were not only sparsely occupied; they came with ball diamonds and lots of open space which lent themselves well for off-leash work to allow Quinn to burn off a little energy. Through Ontario and Quebec in particular, we found ourselves in very large, heavily occupied facilities and, wouldn’t you know it, we almost always were designated a corner lot where everyone would walk their dogs! There are a LOT of people travelling with dogs these days!  This required considerably more vigilance on our part and it definitely generated additional stress for our little family of three but we managed the situation. We ultimately put her back on a low dose of Vanectyl-P before returning home.  She had two doses of Revolution as we were concerned about Lyme disease (ticks) and didn’t really relish the thought of a trailer full of fleas.

Fast forward to 2020 and we still check Quinn’s poop on a regular basis.  We are slightly more lenient with the diet in that we no longer make all of our treats and sometimes we even slip in a bit of raw chicken.  Meals are now about 8% cooling/neutral grains and cooling vegetables/fruits has been reduced from 30% to 15%. We do not vaccinate.  In the event that we decide we need to, vaccinations will be stretched over several months so as not to overwhelm her system. She is prone to ear infections which we manage through the use of Burrow's Solution. We have used  Vanectyl P for short term use on odd occasions.

Bravo and Quinn, Christmas 2019

We’ve added another German Shepherd to our pack which has been good for Quinn and us.  Bravo may be almost double Quinn's weight but she is the boss. Apparently, that's a common trait of the female gender😀. While Bravo's diet is similar, (about 5% vegetables/fruit and 5% grain), he tends to run on the hot side,  so his diet is also based on neutral and cooling foods.

Our breeders stopped by for a visit earlier this year.  I commented that Quinn's intelligence and dexterity better lent itself to a home where someone would do some serious agility work with her, rather than an old couple in their 60s. Our breeder was quick to point out that Quinn landed herself in the right home, one that had the time and financial resources for that deep dive into resolving her health issues.  Anyone can see that both dogs are the epitome of good health. I've personally lost 20 lbs and walk up to 5 miles daily. With the exception of run-ins with porcupines, we've managed to keep both dogs away from the vet. We aim to keep it that way.

Resources:

https://www.stonewillowvet.ca/about/

https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/feeding-dog-tcvm/https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=14365&catId=73689&id=7259166

https://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2011/06/17/si-miao-san-slowing-down-cancer-and-inflammation/

 

Notes from the Road: Crossing Canada, Part 1

crossing the Prairies, the first leg of our journey

It was a brilliantly sunny day as the three of us began our trek from Central Alberta, to the Bay of Fundy.  A year ago, we concocted a plan to introduce my father-in-law, Frank, to who he lovingly referred to as his 'grand-daughter-dog'.  Suffice to say, Frank was a dog man.  Over the years, the family had dogs but the ones that stand out in their field belonged to Frank.  And, while we had many cats over the years, the acquisition of our first dog, Quinn, held a special interest for Frank.  If we missed making our regular telephone call, the phone would ring; Frank asking how his grad-daughter-dog was. As with other grandchildren, he even had Quinn's photo displayed in a place of honor -- on the fridge.  But the introduction was not to be; Frank slipped away from us early one morning, this past March.

Our rig, Wander Woman and the Black Beast

Although taking Quinn to meet her grandfather was a good excuse for a road trip, in truth, I'm always up for a road trip. . . and the longer, the better!  In preparation, we sold our 5th wheel and downsized to a Winnie Drop that could be comfortably pulled with our SUV and I would be comfortable pulling.  Fondly dubbed Wander Woman, we managed a few minor interior alterations to increase it's livability, and we were off. Our goal was to make pretty good time crossing the country, spend about a week in Nova Scotia, and then meander our way back home.  

Did I happen to mention that Eric is not one for long-distance hauls? I have often said that this has to do with our respective upbringings.  Whereas my parents often roused us three kids out of bed early on any given Sunday, simply to hit the road and put 300 miles behind us, Eric's family drove 40 miles and got a motel for the night.  In my world, as long as there was some sign of humanity, we couldn't possibly be lost.  Eric was taught never to leave home without a compass and if you haven't been on that particular road before, you probably were, indeed lost!  My father began teaching us the value of landmarking(1)  while we were very young.  He often asked us to give him directions home or to someone's house that we didn't often frequent. He instilled in each of us a sense of adventure and to this day, all his children are only too happy to head out on a drive, be it short or long.  If it is a path we haven't been down before, so much the better!  We still joke of the dismay that mother's face often display when she realized that a lack of signage and poor road conditions was, once again, accepted as an open invitation to explore the Great Unknown! 

First night behind the Walmart, Kindersley, Saskatchewan

As you may have surmised, Eric and I are not 100% compatible when it comes to travel and we continue to work on the fine art of compromise.  In this scenario, his compromise was to actually agree to travel across Canada with a dog whilst living in an RV.  My compromise was to share equally in driving and RV responsibilities and to let him out of the vehicle more often that simply when one of us had to pee.  

The original plan was to stay in small municipal campgrounds the likes of which there are many across the Prairie Provinces.  We are both very fond of Rural Canada and love nothing better than to stumble on some wee community where the one single store is its focal point.  We also weren't adverse to staying in Walmart parking lots, providing it was allowed and we felt safe. In fact, when we inquired on our very first night on the road, it was suggested we park on the side of the Walmart where we shared a nice lawn, open fields and the companionship of another family and a local trucker.  What we wanted to avoid were the large luxury campgrounds filled to the brim with swimming pools, restaurants, and other amenities we had no intention of using.  And did a mention, we are rural people who prefer wide open spaces.  We quickly learned that space was key to Quinn's happiness as well.

Our days routinely began around 7am, when Quinn would get her scratch on, her not-so-subtle way of telling us that the day was upon us and it was time to get a move on.  While one of us took her for a walk and a bathroom break, the other would tuck away bedding, start breakfast -- hers and ours.  Indeed, we were easily on the road by 9 am.  Throughout the day we would stop at any place that took our fancy but two primary reasons stand out.  First, we had not previously travelled with Quinn so we weren't sure what her needs would be.  To that end, we stopped every couple of hours to offer her the opportunity to stretch her legs and, of course, we all have need of  biological breaks.  The Prairie Provinces are loaded with isolated ball diamonds, community halls, day use parks, and cemeteries, most of which offered amenities appropriate for human needs as well as canine. The other draw was to feed Eric's picking hobby.  We rarely passed a garage sale, flee market or second hand store without stopping in to see what treasures were offered.  While I would sometimes aimlessly pick over the offerings, I am generally of the opinion that I have enough stuff of my own to dispose of and don't need anyone else's.  This attitude left Quinn and me to wonder off for a stroll but I also managed to work my way through several books.

Winnipeg, Manitoba to Nipigon, Ontario

the geographic centre of Canada, just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba

Our route across the Prairies took us through communities the likes of Hanna, Kindersley, Souris and Claude to Kenora where one must choose the route along Highway 17 or Highways 71 and 11, before returning to Highway 17.  We made our way through Dryden and Ignace to Thunder Bay and Nipigon.  From there, we had another option; to stay on Highway 17 through Marathon, or follow Highway 11 North, through Long Lake and Kapuskasing to North Bay.  For me, the choice was an easy one; I have never been to Kapaskasing.  

Nipigon to Haliburton, Ontario

The name itself fascinates me but I have yet to discover its roots. Originally settled in 1907, when it was known as MacPherson Station and established as a railway water stop, it served as a base during the construction of the National Transcontinental Railway.  During WWI, the Canadian government interned thousands of people who immigrated to Canada from Austro-Hungary.  Most were poor, unemployed single men, some even Canadian  born.  Prisoners were employed in the construction of buildings and the clearing of land for an experimental farm to determine whether farming was indeed viable in the Clay Belt.  The remote location acted as security as those who did attempt escape were often forced by endless muskeg, clouds of mosquitoes and frigid winter temperatures to return.  My interest in land use planning was further fueled when I discovered the 1922 plan of subdivision incorporated elements of the 'Garden City' and 'City Beautiful' movements as well as the American 'Neighbourhood Units" concepts. 

historical plaque

Admittedly, this history came as a bit of a surprise. As we toured around the community looking for a place to call home for the night, we came across three schools, all of which were Francophone, with little evidence of the vast number of Hungarians that once resided in here.  In fact, about 70% of the community speaks French as a first language. 

Lake Bernard Park, Bernard Lake, ON

From Kapuskasing, we turned southeast, with the plan to make camp somewhere in the vicinity of North Bay.  It was here that we discovered that not all small communities offered overnight accommodation in the same way that the Prairies did.  In fact, we were hard pressed to find accommodation in this area until we were given the name of a very well established campground, located some 30 km. distance.  Admittedly, it took a bit of looking to find it as it was several km. down a dirt road which our trusty Garmin GPS insisted did not exist!  

Besides, picking, Eric's other great love is his Corvette (Ginger).  He shares this enthusiasm with a great many others across our country and, through the Canadian Corvette Forum, he has developed friendships with a few of the members, including a fellow from Carnarvon.  Murray and his wife, Wendy welcomed us into their home, showed us some of their beautiful community, and offered suggestions as how best to reach our next stop.  We swapped a few stories, including some banter about our slow-poke travel style before heading out the following morning.  No doubt, we got a snicker out of Murray when a few hours later he discovered us in a parking lot only a few miles down the road.  What can I say; we stopped to pick up a few items and got sidetracked again.

Quinn soaking up the love

Russell, a small community southeast of Ottawa, was our next stop.  While Kelly and Derek certainly made us feel welcome, it was obvious they were ecstatic to host Quinn.  We were barely in the door when Quinn discovered a bed just for her. Derek ran to fill a water bowl for her in the 30C+ heat.  Quite literally, Quinn had it made in the shade!  You see, they lost their own beloved Akira earlier this year and they clearly missed her company.  In fact, Quinn came home with one of Akira's old toys which still remains a favourite.

Again, we were given great advice on how best to cross the St. Lawrence Seaway while avoiding the bigger cities.  While many are quite adept at maneuvering down major thoroughfares and through urban centres, we were making a conscious effort to explore small towns and rural communities.  

We crossed the St. Lawrence at Cornwall and bypassed Montreal and Quebec City

We hugged the shoreline of the St. Lawrence, travelling through Sorel-Tracy, Sainte Croix and Montmagny before turning southeast at Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska (isn't that a mouthful!) for the New Brunswick Border, near Edmundston, and to Sussex, via Fredericton.  

While we didn't spend time there on this trip, Freddy-town, as it is often lovingly referred to, is a lovely university town and home to historic Kings Landing.  An easy place to while away the day, Kings Landing is a 120 ha. museum housing 70 historic buildings.  You will be greeted by characters in full costume, going about the daily life in a village dating back to the American Revolution. When we visited the women were busy in the kitchen making preserves for the upcoming winter, and boiling wool from the fall sheering to prepare it for carding and spinning.  The men were throwing up the last of the harvest and working at the flour mill the coopery.  Trust me, there is something of interest for everyone.

Water Mill at Kings Landing, Fredericton, NB

Welcome to Nova Scotia, my second home

On we went to our final destination in Nine Mile River, Nova Scotia.  Again, we were fortunate to be given space in the yard of good friends.  Here, Quinn was finally able to enjoy a bit of freedom as they have a large yard without any dog neighbours nearby to entice her 'dark' side.   Not only was Quinn given the run of their house, our friends were willing sitters, which allowed us an opportunity to inter Eric's father's ashes and spend time with family before making our way back west.  And, once again, Quinn came home with a few new toys and a leash, left behind by a very well-loved Badger their own fur-baby who also passed this year.

A final family photo taken at the gravesite of grandfather Lewis Sanford
where ashes of parents Lorna and Frank are also interred.

We have been making this trip to the East Coast for many years.  As I mentioned, our original intent was to share our beautiful Quinn with Grandfather Frank, but that was not to be.  While travelling with a dog can be a bit of a hindrance, I don't think either one of us found it to be.  For us, Quinn made our trip decidedly different, and for that we are grateful.  She alleviated some of our sadness that naturally acompanies final goodbyes.  She distracted us from the very reason we were making this journey, which allowed us to fully embrace elements that were not focused on Frank.  While it's true, we might not make such a journey with her again, we are neither of us sorry that she accompanied us and yes, we are even grateful.  Dogs are such joyful creatures, bringing love and happiness to their people, not to mention, the last people that would ever want us to be sad are those who have loved us as no other; our parents.

And with that, we began the journey home. Stay tuned for Notes from the Road:  Crossing Canada, Part 2.


References:
http://postalhistorycorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/kapuskasing-ontario-model-town-of-north_14.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapuskasing#Spruce_Falls
http://lakebernardpark.com/
http://kingslanding.nb.ca/


(1) an object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance, especially one that enables someone to establish their location.

The Tale of Twelve Raisins: Or How to Incur a Humongous Vet Bill

I've written before of our trials and tribulations with our pets.  Those who know us well also know that we will go the extra mile for our fur-kids.  This story is no different.

For the past two months, our lovely  Quinn has been on a vet-prescribed elimination diet to determine what is making her so darn itchy. She is so itchy, in fact, that we now refer to her as 'Itchy Skin Quinn'.  We are fortunate to know hunters who are willing to provide us with those parts of the animal that are not used for human consumption so we can make Quinn's meals on a daily basis. And we don't stop at diet; she is bathed twice weekly with a prescription shampoo and receives a bi-weekly concoction of herbs and oils designed to be absorbed directly into the fatty layer of her skin.

We are now a fully 60+ days into Quinn's elimination diet; as such, I think it's fair to suggest that this limited palette is getting a little dull.  Fortunately (for us), she has never been a food thief, not even of her treats we keep on a side table used daily for brief training sessions.  Perhaps we counted our chickens (or our treats) too soon, as we proudly bragged her up at Christmas that she might sniff  but never actually helps herself to food without our permission, not even her own meals.  Perhaps, we need to be more humble; perhaps we need to learn never to say 'never'.

Only two nights ago, Eric made a deliciously spiced mix of burger, onion, dried bread crumbs and egg.  After a number of consecutive days of bitter - 40+C days, he excitedly went to fire up the bar-b-que in our -10C heat wave, only to return to find Quinn, forepaws resting comfortably on the counter, two burgers missing and confidently working on a third.  Suffice to say, he was not pleased.  Not only was this our supper; not only was this tasty little meal well outside Quinn's elimination diet; it also contained onions, known to be toxic to dogs.  After a bit of research we came to understand that one small dose is unlikely to create a significant problem, whereas several small doses over time would.   

While we were still not pleased with this new behavior, who can stay mad at a face like this?  'To err is canine. . . to forgive is devine,' and all that stuff.  


The incident was all but forgotten when, the very next day, Eric left a butter tart on the table unattended for a total of two minutes when it literally vanished.  Quinn was contentedly working on her moose-stuffed kong at the time. While looking somewhat guilty, when he returned, she was back on her bed, kong between paws.  But, as there were only the two of them on the floor, and one was sure he didn't eat the butter tart, there was only one place to turn. . . 


Here is where the story gets really crazy.  While we knew grapes and raisins were not good for dogs, we had NO IDEA just how toxic they can be.  We read several articles, every single one of which insisted the consumption of even a single raisin is sufficient cause for an immediate trip to the vet. We then phoned the after hours emergency clinic, only to be assured that everything we have read was correct.  Off we went!

The first step was to induce vomiting which would hopefully produce the offending foods.  Sure enough, Quinn threw up 12 wee raisins, which were then weighed to determine the potential level of toxicity.  We now know that there is no real understanding why a grape or raisin can be lethal to a dog.  Indeed, some dogs die from ingesting a single fruit, while others can get away with a handful and be unaffected.   What we do know is that there is no antidote; prevention is the best route and, when that doesn't work, it's a matter of purging the system of any offending substances,  and observation.  After sharing my experience with an on-line international dog group, I received myriad food-related comments that demonstrate just how toxic some things can be to our four-legged friends.  One woman who lives in an area where vineyards flourish said she has seen dogs eat grapes right off the vine and yet, her friend's dog ate some of the fallen grapes and died within 24 hours.

We now know that grapes, raisins and currants (Vitis species) can cause kidney failure in dogs.  Foods such as raisin bran cereal, trail mix, granola or, as in our case, baked goods, all have the potential to be toxic.  While dogs that ingest large volumes are more likely to suffer more severe consequences, and some dogs have more tolerance than others, there is no way to predict which dogs are more sensitive.

The most common symptom of toxicity is vomiting, usually within the first 24 hours, followed by lack of appetite, lethargy and possibly, diarrhea.  More severe signs are not seen until 24 - 48 hours after ingestion, when acute kidney failure begins.  The kidneys may shut down, the dog will not produce urine and blood pressure will increase dramatically. The dog then lapses into a coma. By now it is obvious that outcomes are poor.

So here sits poor Quinn, confined to a cage in a place with strange smells and too many bright lights.  In our ignorance, we did not immediately research the toxicity of raisins; it was a full 3.5 hours before we were standing at the door of the emergency medical clinic. As stated, induced vomiting produced the offending 12 raisins, after which Quinn was administered activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of the toxin. Intravenous fluids are being administered to flush any remaining toxins out of her body as quickly as possible.  After 48 hours her kidney values will be assessed to determine whether the treatment needs to be more aggressive.  Blood work may need to be repeated at 72 hours and even two or three days following. 

Prognosis depends on many factors, not the least of which is, how sensitive the dog is, how significant the poisoning, how soon the dog was decontaminated and whether there was any clinical signs of kidney failure. Because Quinn ate only a few raisins, this combined with her size, our relatively quick response and the medical treatment she is receiving, her prognosis is very good and we are cautiously optimistic.  As of a few hours ago, we have been advised by her veterinary caregivers that she is doing well and shows no signs of kidney damage.  If the kidneys become damaged and urine is not being produced, the prognosis is indeed poor and fatality becomes likely.

While it's all well and fine to joke about our beloved pets getting into mischief, we are painfully aware that our negligence can easily have outcomes that are not even remotely laughable.  Common foods that are toxic to dogs include onions, garlic, alcohol, chocolate, cocoa, macadamia nuts, fatty foods and all foods containing the sweetener xylitol to the list, all of which can be fatal.  In Quinn's case, ingestion of onions in the burgers she helped herself to the evening prior, may easily have compounded the problem.  And if her health (perhaps her very life) doesn't inspire us to take better care, perhaps the bill will; the estimate received starts at $1,200CAD, with the potential to double over as many days. We feel fortunate that we do not have to ask ourselves whether this is, in fact, an expense we can easily absorb.  Many would not only find this a significant hardship; they simply could not do it!

Grapes and raisins have only been identified as a potential problem for dogs, though there have been some anecdotal reports of cats and ferrets being affected so the best advice is to keep them away from all your animals.

We anxiously await the results of Quinn's kidney function tests, scheduled for 11pm tonight.  As with any other beloved family member, we are likely to be found at her side. If it's good news, we may get to bring her home with us!  I think it's fair to say, two nights without her near is two nights too many, for us and for her; while we know she is being cared for, it's certainly not home. . . and there is no place like home, right?

UPDATE:We brought Quinn home and she seems none the worse for wear except that her poop is like black tar (due to the activated charcoal) and she must not have enjoyed it going down because her coat is full of charcoal too lol. The bill was even slightly less than the original estimate so that's a good thing too! so here are a few other things we learned last night:
1. vets see a whole bunch of dogs over the christmas season, mostly due to being fed turkey or ham; either the bones cause a problem (cooked bones can also kill a dog) or with pancreatitis due to the fat.
2. if you have a dog that gets into something you should phone for advice. If you absolutely CANNOT get the dog in, you can induce vomiting but it is rarely recommended as it isn't always successful, which compounds the problem and there is only a short window of opportunity (about an hour)
3. the issue of toxicity is very complicated and not well understood for all substances. some dogs are highly sensitive to chocolate, while the one vet assistant talked of her little dog getting into the Halloween candy, eating many chocolate bars, and none the worse for wear. In other words, it's a crap shoot. We chose to err on the side of caution.
4. as with most things, prevention is the best option. We learned a rather expensive lesson; the fact that it pinches a little isn't such a bad thing.


Resources:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/grape-raisin-and-currant-poisoning-in-dogs
https://hpdsinc.blogspot.ca/2016/06/theres-new-man-in-my-life.html
https://hpdsinc.blogspot.ca/2014/06/diary-of-diabetic-cat-or-that-of-cats.html

There's a New Man in My Life. . .

May 25, 2016

I need to share something with you that so far, only family and a very few friends have been privy to.  

Eric and Me, 1981

For those of you who know me, you will know that Eric and I have been together for almost twice as long as we've been apart.  We met at the tender ages of 19 and 22 respectively, and have been together ever since. For those of you who know me, you will also know that Eric and I made a conscious choice to lead our lives as DINKS (Double Income, No Kids).   We have always been content to be cat people; we loved their warm furry comfort but we also appreciated their independence.  Because we both understand that we are nothing without family, we have tried to position ourselves as a fabulous aunt and uncle and poured what latent parenting skills we have into our four-legged furbabies.  I think it's fair to say, we felt complete. . . until very recently.

Hoskin nieces and nephews

If one would have asked either one of us, six months ago, or even two, if we knew what was coming down the pike, I'm confident the response would have been a resounding "NO".  True, nothing in life is perfect; every relationship is a continuous work in progress, just as we ourselves are.  But it has been many years since either one of us have had the thought that perhaps something in our lives was missing. Yes, we have had our ups and downs but, still, we have been happy. 

To be completely blindsided by a whirlwind romance at this stage of my life not only leaves me dazed and confused, but gloriously giddy.   If I feel that way, I can only imagine that others in our lives will feel much the same way.   I feel the need to explain, in the best way I can, what exactly happened, and to ask you not to judge me until you know my story.   I believe this love to be genuine; I believe it's not going to go away any time soon.  I believe it's fair to ask my friends for understanding and perhaps a bit of leeway while I explore this new relationship to its very depths.  I want to share this new-found love with the world, but particularly with those of my world, who also love me.   I want you to see my new love through my eyes and love Him as I do.

A little about Him.  Just as in any fairy tale romance, he's tall, dark and handsome.  My heart flutters, simply by gazing into his beautiful brown eyes.  Admittedly, he's a bit of a flirt; a ladies man, some would call him but, at the end of the day, it's my voice that turns his head, my side that he prefers to stay by as we sit quietly together in the evenings before bed.  And when an unkindness slips between us, as it can, He cares enough for me to let it go, and love me despite my human flaws.

Being a strong, independent woman, I have never wanted protection, and yet, I love that He would defend me if he judged I needed defending.  Ever the gentleman, He has not lost his inner child, his playfulness.  I love how He stretches and challenges me to learn new skills and be the best person I can be.  I love that He keeps me active and busy, both in mind and body.  

I know this love is the real thing; I know it with every fiber of my being because, not only do I love all that makes Him wonderful, I am learning to even love the not so grand habits and idiosyncrasies that set us apart, one from the other.   Like the fact that His breath is less than pleasant more often than not.  Or His unbecoming habit of chewing with his mouth open with bits of food falling from open jaws. Or the fact that, while fastidious in His bathroom habits, I've not smelled anything quite so foul!

Over time, I hope ever single one of you have the opportunity to meet Him.  Starting with my family, I pray that each of you find it in your hearts to embrace Him in the same manner that I do.   He truly is a special one. And, so you can get accustomed to the idea that He is now a significant fixture in my life, I'm sharing a photo to give you a chance to consider what I've said, get to know his features, and perhaps see some of the same beauty of his soul that I do.    

Bruce, age 3.5

Let this be our formal announcement that Eric and I have delved into the world of dogdom, something neither one of us ever thought we would do.  Through a series of incidents, starting with the loss of three smaller 4-legged family members over the past year, and compounded by the number of thefts and break-ins in the community, we chose to expand our family and invite a member that we hope discourages predators of both the two and four-legged variety and brings us the joy that only a dog can provide. 

A rescue dog, He is also a victim of Alberta's oil patch woes. His man could no longer afford to keep him.  While we are still learning how to work together, he has some pretty good basic manners (perhaps even better than ours).  We shall see how it goes but right now, I think it's safe to say that we are quietly building a relationship on a solid foundation of love and mutual respect.  Wish us well. 

June 7, 2016
I agonized what to do with this story; sadly, it doesn't have the ending we aspired to.  Sadly, not everything in life turns out as we hope.  Our first venture into dogdom did not end happily for us or for Bruce.

As I mentioned, Bruce was also a victim of the oil patch and, as such, came with his own baggage.  In a short week, I came to understand that he lived a rather unstructured, rambunctious bachelor life with his previous person.  It's the only way that I can justify his extreme excitement at the sound of a diesel truck; his immediate response of jumping up on you (I'm told it's called 'hugging') or trying to sit in your lap.  He was unaware that standing on a coffee table to look out a window may not be considered fitting behaviour of any dog, let alone a large dog.  When tied, he displayed a keen awareness of how to remain untangled and yet he never sat down, but simply paced. He was also inappropriately protective.  When asked why we might return a dog to the rescue, we told them death (ours, not his) or any type of undesirable aggression. While we were prepared to put in the time for all his other dog traits, biting was not one we were prepared to contend with.  

As much as we loved this boy, after much soul searching, we finally came to the conclusion to return him to the rescue.  While we were willing to expend the resources in behavior modification training, as first-time dog owners, we were concerned that we would not have the skills necessary.  Because we have visitors, including small children, we weren't confident we would be able to fully trust Bruce around anyone other than ourselves.  And, because of his high energy and need to work, we couldn't stand the thought that he would find himself living in a dog run unless out on a leash. It's simply not who he is meant to be.


I share our story in hopes that others do not follow in our footsteps. I have analyzed this to death and I believe I know where we went wrong.  Before we arrived at the rescue, Eric made me promise that I would make decisions with my head, rather than my heart.  We did not arrive at the rescue intent on bringing a dog home.  In fact, we arrived to view a completely different dog, to try to get a feel for what having a dog might mean and what we might need to do to prepare.  We had no run; we had no kennel; we had nothing.  We would have time to address these things because we weren't coming home with a dog.

Not only did I break that promise; Eric, who is very much a 'head over heart' kind of guy, fell into the same trap. We were both instantly in love with Bruce. When we raised concerns about not being adequately equipped to handle a dog, the rescue was quick to offer suggestions:  We didn't have the money on hand; there were bank machines in town.  We didn't have a kennel; the local pet store is open.  We had no food; they could send us home with a bag.  We had no equipment, we could buy a leash from them, as well as a dog blanket.  A few laps around the parking lot with Bruce and we were good to go. . . and so we did.

In hindsight, considering the chaotic viewing area, a small front office with a staffed desk, other dogs in the area, clients coming and going to drop their dog off for boarding and daycare or as a prospective adoption. . . in hindsight, the situation is less than ideal. . . but we were in love.  The fact that Bruce nipped someone as they entered the office, should have been enough to send us running. Because the trainers blew it off, insisting it was a first time event and not his fault because he was startled; because we were in love; we accepted what we wanted to believe in our hearts.  In hindsight, we have no reason to believe Bruce thought he did anything wrong.  It was over as fast as it had begun.

Another clue was when I contacted a second trainer who had worked with Bruce, indicating that he was a 'nipper'.  While we may not have had a dog for many years, we were both well aware of any number of nippers and, to our knowledge, once a nipper, always a nipper.  This was not good news at all.

The second bite only a few short days later, was also unprovoked and we just couldn't rationalize the potential to put our family and friends at risk by keeping him.  And now we sit with broken hearts, wondering what fate Bruce has met with because in so many ways, he is an awesome dog and we know we inadvertently did him a huge disservice.   Whether the rescue agrees or not, we believe Bruce belongs in the hands of an experienced handler.  It has also give us pause for thought regarding for profit rescue agencies. While I believe the original intent is pure, I can see how financial obligations can get in the way of doing what's best for the dog and the client.  I'm not saying this is what happened, but I'm now very much aware of that potential.

I am not without blame either.  Generally speaking, Bruce had impeccable manners.  He knew all his basic commands and had darn good recall.  While it was suggested he should remain on a lead for at least the first month, I had Bruce running free.  Because he was such a bundle of energy, and we had yet to purchase a run, we were playing fetch.  When the vehicle pulled into the yard, Bruce completely ignored me, bouncing all around it.  And while we had warned the occupant not to get out, she did and, when she turned her back, he went for her butt. . . and not in a good way.  

While somewhat worse the wear, we have decided, rather than give up on having a dog, we would learn from our mistakes.  While we had Bruce for one week only, we absolutely LOVED having him! He's smart and funny and so full of life and love!  Even still, we know him to be special and aren't fully even sure that we can find another that we will so openly and willingly fall in love with.

We have contacted a local trainer who not only comes highly recommended but specializes in our breed of choice. We have asked her to help us choose a dog that is right for us, after which we will immediately be going into a training program.  We are in no particular hurry. We will wait as long as we need to because our first priority is to ensure that we do no harm to another dog, ourselves or someone else.  We'll keep you posted.

Wish us luck.