zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on May 25, 2015 11:49:55 GMT -5
It's NO FUN living in a house that's for sale. And it's no fun being in limbo, either. My deepest sympathies to both you and your dog! Why don't you post your link on the Auction Barn? You never know!
|
|
|
Post by legendrockranch on May 25, 2015 17:45:40 GMT -5
I just googled the address, nice place c. So where are you moving to?
Barb
|
|
|
Post by cddexter on May 26, 2015 11:09:09 GMT -5
is this hijacking the thread? 60 miles south to Victoria, to 7.6 acres of mostly woods and wetland, about 2+ acres usable. Changing one of the swamps to a small lake. Out of cows, but will take a few sheep to get discounted 'farm' taxes. Building a new house (hip roof, wraparound veranda, roof cresting and gingerbread). Currently taking a Restoration of Natural Systems program at the Environmental Studies division of the University of Victoria to get a piece of paper that entitles me to an opinion, then off on a tangent to advise other property owners on how to protect, peserve and restore natural areas on private land. It's a hot button topic these days, and an open field. I'm in discussions with the Uni about maybe using the five acres of 'natural' setting as an outdoor classroom, since it has several different eco zones. and clear evidence of successional growth.
me.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on May 26, 2015 21:18:05 GMT -5
Don't worry about it! It sounds like a lovely house and a cool direction to be going.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on May 29, 2015 7:41:35 GMT -5
Siobhan has raging mastitis in her right rear quarter. I'll post about that later. She's gotten Excede and I started Pirsue last night and shut the calf off for 12 hours. More in a separate post, but I'm almost positive it's Staph A again. My back-up vet sent off a sample for C&S last night so I hope to know early next week. If it is Staph A, this will be Siobhan's last calf. It's not fair to Ebby to keep her here and risk Ebby getting it, like when our stupid steer (not either one's calf) decided to nurse Siobhan through the barnyard gate, and when we blocked the gate, went and nursed Ebby. By God's grace she didn't get mastitis and her post-freshening test was clean. But as careful as I have been to separate them, that freak incident showed me that keeping a cow with Staph A puts the others at risk. Not to mention that Siobhan is in a lot of pain and distress with what I have to do to treat her. It's not fair to put her through this again. I got back into the house last night after a second hours' long bout of milking and stripping and massaging to find that Kona was wheezing off and on. He seemed listless and went to lie in Jet's crate. When he started wheezing even while lying down, I decided to take him to RIVER, the ER hospital, and Kara kindly drove us. We left about 10 pm and got back home at 1 am, leaving Kona there. There's a long list of bad news: The distended tummy our vet wasn't worried about on Wed. turns out to be food bloat; his tummy and intestines are full, and he still hasn't had a bowel movement as of early this morning. He has aspiration pneumonia and fever and was in an oxygen box when we told him goodbye. He's on antibiotics, and the fever is better but still there. He also seems to have a condition called megaesophagus. It's likely congenital and appears at weaning, leading to emaciation and also causes aspiration pneumonia when the dogs regurgitate the food that won't go down due to lack of esophageal peristalsis. This could explain to me why someone would abandon such an adorable puppy. Well, of course it doesn't *explain* it in the sense of excusing it, but it helps me figure it out. They have to do more studies to see if it's just caused by the bloat (not likely), is primary, or is caused by malformed blood vessels around the esophagus, which might possibly have a surgical cure. Dogs like this can live long and happy lives with a lot of care and attention to feeding and the use of a Bailey chair to keep them upright for feeding and for 30 minutes afterward. The link is to a video of a dog Gremlin whose owner explains the chair and his care. The big concern for me at this point is whether the food bloat means he also has weak intestinal peristalsis, which would seem to complicate his prognosis. The most immediate concern, of course, is whether he can pull through the pneumonia in his weakened state. This poor little baby has had such lousy breaks in life, and he deserves so much more. When Kara and I went to tell him goodbye last night, he wagged his little tail and licked us all over our faces. He was so weak and tired that when we put him back, he just laid down with his nose near the side of the box and looked at us. I said, "Look at sweet Kona," and he wagged his little tail like crazy while he laid there and looked at us through the plastic box. I'm heartbroken over my two babies, my first cow baby and my new puppy baby. If any of you are praying people, we could sure use your prayers right now.
|
|
|
Post by Pinevalleydexters on May 29, 2015 8:58:07 GMT -5
Thoughts and prayers Susan. My heart breaks for little Kona.
|
|
|
Post by emgiger on May 29, 2015 11:11:13 GMT -5
Susan, my heart breaks along with yours. You have given your all to both of these sweet animals. I will pray for healing for all of you in the coming days.
|
|
|
Post by legendrockranch on May 29, 2015 11:40:54 GMT -5
I could barely read your post Susan, I am so sorry.
Barb
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on May 29, 2015 12:27:23 GMT -5
Thank you all, your kind comments are so comforting.
|
|
|
Post by kansasdexters on May 29, 2015 13:22:27 GMT -5
Hang in there Susan, tomorrow is another day and hopefully a better one. Thinking of you.
Patti
|
|
|
Post by Dahdo on May 29, 2015 13:43:20 GMT -5
Thinking about you out here in Oregon too Susan. -Dave
|
|
|
Post by rhonda on May 29, 2015 15:21:54 GMT -5
I am so sorry! That little dog face makes me cry..just know you took him in and he knows how it feels to have someone love him. Best wishes and prayers for both your babies.
|
|
|
Post by midhilldexters on May 30, 2015 8:48:32 GMT -5
Oh Susan, my thoughts are with you at this trying time. Reading about the pup I was going to mention the chair to you, but I see you already know about it.
The cow I can imagine is a heartbreak, hard to take I know. When we have days like you had we wonder if it can get any worse, farming is like that, most are filled with wonderful times and then we get one that just crushes you. Hang in there, have a good cry then soldier on.
Carol K
|
|
|
Post by cddexter on May 30, 2015 9:13:56 GMT -5
Hi Susan
ditto other carol. Even then, it's what's best for the animal that has to count the most, and sometimes that's just heartwrenching. Wishing for all the very best outcomes for you. c.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on May 31, 2015 12:35:46 GMT -5
Thank you to all who have been so caring and kind during Kona's short life. He died this morning at 5:30. Most people wouldn't understand that a tiny stray puppy we had for only two weeks could leave such a huge hole in our hearts, but I know that you all will. Here's what I posted on my blog about the impact of his sweet little life.
|
|