Warhol Pup!!

Now that is such a handsome pup I had to make some works of art out of his fabulous portrait! Is that a handsome pup or what?

Being the true Jack Russell that he is, Michaelangelo is an undercover pup and sometimes I catch him with his nose or his toes sticking out from under the covers!!

Get Your Dog's Teeth Cleaned!!!

I've always been a pretty conscientious pet owner, especially with my Michaelangelo, and it's gotten more so over time as I researched more and more and learned what my alternatives were for his care, from the food I feed him, to the vets I chose to use. I used to clean his teeth really regularly...then I got really slackey about it and then suddenly realized, hey! These teeth are looking a little narley!! I started back on the brushing track again, but by this time, and at his age, which is believed to be around 7 - 7.5 years - yeah, it was time to go get them cleaned "for reals"!!

Last year or half-so ago, I had a gal come to my home and clean Michaelangelo's teeth right here on my living room floor without the high cost of the actual office visit. It was still $150. I found her card at my vet's clinic and talked to them briefly about it. I decided to check her out and put off the "real" cleaning as long as possible. She came out, got Michael into her with a couple of yummy organic pup treats, then managed to swaddle him in a pup-sized blanket and clean those puppy pegs! Like, actually scraping on his teeth (she is a trained dental assistant and somehow she got into working on dogs) I guess it worked for that time, but yeah, it was now time, I could see from really inspecting those back canine molars that the proper Pup Doctor took a proper look-see for the proper assessment of the puppy pegs!!!

Well, had the pre-op blood work done last week and he's as fit as a horse! Strong, sturdy, happy, could stand to lose maybe one pound, trim up a teeeensey weeeensey right here! as the doctor gripped his little waist...I laughed out loud, as I somehow knew that would be the only thing the doctor said about my handsome Jack Russell! I explained our walk time gets cut down by about half during the rainy, cold months of winter, Michael could do without being cold and wet, and told him how he sits happily to be blow-dried. He laughed out loud then too and said it's true for many of the vet's animals! The walking part, not the hair dryer part! Then my mind went to that "Doggie Treadmill" I found in an everything-and-anything-ridiculous-you-could-ever-dream-up-for-your-dog catalog and then I laughed out loud again as I quickly envisioned Michael and I on treadmills side by side...I swear, he and I are destined to spend our winters walking Venice Beach....

I had to make the appointment out a few days, until Thursday of this week...I get nervous leading up to when I am ever going to be put under anestheisia - just knowing that for anyone - human or animal alike - it's a risk. So I kept blocking out the scary things that kept trying to creep into my mind, and I just kept singing about how fresh and so clean his teeth were gonna be. I'm sure he was like, "Mom, you are faaalliiipppiiin OUT!" I do wonder what he thinks, but I DO know that he loves me!

I waited occasionally anxiously - even though I was keeping busy with projects - for the vets assistant to call me to let me know how he was doing. I did not hear from them so I knew it was good news that he needed no extractions! Thank god for that! Can you imagine a pup's tooth having to come out?! Bless the pup, he has two front teeth missing due to a certain monster that was in my life for a little while - the horrifying details of which I won't talk about now...I did get a call and found that Michael has a peridontal disease and his gums receeding a little bit, and at what we guess is about 7 years or so of age, it's a bit early for that. So, he's on some herbals for this week, and I have a little gelly concoction to put on his gums for a week or so as well...And as soon as the swelling goes down, we will get back to our regular peggy brushings, the vet said it does help....but there still comes a time when they need to go in and have it all properly done, under anesthesia. I'm really glad I went in and had this done, regardless that I'm broke and had to do it on credit. I'd rather be working on his need -and this one is just as important as any other - and keeping him with his teeth till he's an old, old man!!

Brush your animals teeth, peeps and get them cleaned when they need it! You can get some natural paste at the cool pet places, like Portland Pet Supply on Hawthorne. Could save your pets teeth and avoid other health problems that could be worse, and very expensive!!

And by the way, I LOVE our doctors at the Hawthorne Veteranary Clinic! They ROCK and Michael really loves Dr. Yale! Check them out, they are holistic, and Michael had accupuncture also while he was there! Holistic health for your pet is COOL and will prolong their life!

Pups that Like to Dress Up!

Hey! Do you ever dress up your pup?! I do!! And guess what?!?! He likes it!

I don't believe hats are fun for him for too long, he does funny little sideways walking and backwards scooting which seems funny for a few seconds, but it makes me think I'd better get that off him! Michaelanelo has a super cute "Little Devil" costume with a little disco in it, and he's had it for a couple years, he's worn it for a total of about a half hour! lol! We wore it to an animal Halloween party which he was most popular at! And then for photos! It's early yet for Halloween, but once in a while, can't resist!


Some people come up with some pretty creative and funny costumes for their pets!! If you know anyone that does, or if you have some cute pictures of your animal dressed for Halloween, please send them to me at pmichelletaylor@gmail.com and I'll put them in my little "Dress Up Your Pup" video I'm already started on! Thanks, I'll look forward to seeing your photos!!

Until then = have fun getting ready to have fun at Halloween! ; )
xo

Hanging Out, Having Fun!!

We hope everyone has had a fun summer wherever you are! We in the Northwest have had a kind of weird off and on summer, but we are having the most beautiful Indian Summer! Even though it's been gorgeous & warm outside, the leaves are changing, falling and the mornings can be pretty chilly! It's funny that we are meeting more pups than ever out on our walks here lately!

Michaelangelo is defiitely a sun-loving, warmth-loving animal! We both seem to be much happier when it's warm & sunny! When the winter finally rolls round the rainy Pacific NW, we will be getting a little bit less walk-time, as sometimes I actually have to carry him OUT of the house to GET the walk in, whereas in the summer, I have to carry him out of the park and force us back home!

I found the coolest rain suits for pups and hope to be able to get one for Michael very soon! It's great for pups that live in really wet climates, or that maybe have a shedding issue! They are a bit spendy, but look really cool! I will review it when we finally get one here soon! Made right here in Oregon!

In the mean time, hope you're getting out there, getting excercise, and enjoying yourselves!

Till next time!!

xox

People Do the COOLEST STUFF with their Pets!!!

SOME PEOPLE ARE SSSSOOoooOOOOooo COOOOOOOOOL!

I was doing a little googling about "make your own dog bike basket" or something to that effect, to see if I could find any examples of people making their own cool baskets and not having to pay a hundred bucks for some snazzy thing from the pet store. I found THIS amazing woman, Kathy Schubert and her Miniature Schnauzer, Joey, (here is her home page, showing her as Elvis, and all their travels and fun around the world!!!) who were famous for traveling around to all kinds of biking events together! Check this OUT! Joey even got to go to FRANCE!!! Joey passed away in April 2009, but obviously lived a happy and adventurous life with her obviously happy, loving owner. I'm so inspired sometimes....and she even gives instruction to put together the cute basket AND the doggie HELMET her Joey went biking all over the world in!! I can't wait to make one for Michaelangelo!

http://www.kangarooconnection.com/kathys_new_personal_page.htm

I'm setting out to set up a basket like this and of course the helmet for pup! I will of course post when we're finished!!

Happy Trails! (Hopefully summer will come to the NW this year!)

Here are some other really cool, crazy, amazing cargo bike conversions that I found as well!

Summer's Coming!!!!

Michaelangelo and I have yet to try scuba diving....but we really really want to!

And we can't wait! Our favorite time of the year to be out and about getting way more excercise than we do in the winter, that's for sure...I've come across some fun & useful doggie items and wanted to share our 'wish list' and the links, in case you find them helpful too!

I really like riding my bike in the summer, but find it's difficult to ride my bike and have Michael run along side....I have always wanted a little bike basket or something for him, and as he weighs in right at 20 pounds, this little bike seat would be perfect and I already have a back fender thingy across the back tire...I think I might need a fender though, also....under that to keep things cleaner...Hhhhmm.....I was thinking how fun it would be to put the bike rack on this summer and take the bike and Michael for rides out on the paths round and about....

Super Cool! Pet Rider Bicycle Seat!!

Paws Abord Pet Life Vest Jacket

K9 Top Coat Artic Fleece Bodysuit

Dog Back Pack Carrier & Car Seat (in black!)

Mending......

I woke up on Saturday morning about 2:00am....I had been watching tv/sleeping on the couch for hours...The pup was asleep on his little bed the last time my eyes were open....Now he is not there....I get up to go potty and look for him, thinking it's awfully strange, he lately stays in one place....I went around the house, not seeing him....I went to the back door, figuring the boyfriend must have let him out for a potty, and I figured I'd find him shivering under the picnic table....

Still I don't see him, and he is not coming to my call...I step out on the deck go down the steps and peer around the corner to the gate area, making sure it's shut....I see him cowering in the corner...by the fence....sitting, shivering...I call him again, he just won't move...I go change out of my house slippers and put on a pair of shoes...I go over to where he is and he tries to get up and walk but it's obvious he can't really...Immediately I go into a state of andrenaline panic, rushing through my veins, I see now blood on his mouth and he's shaking so badly, he's almost convulsing...I don't remember alot, but I got him inside the house, I remember him crying out when I went to pick him up...I feel sick and faint, but know I have to get him inside safe and figure out his damage...I get him to the tub, and put him in, he stands there waiting patiently with a very sad look on his face....I see that he's missing two teeth in the front, and his belly has an abrasion there...I wash him gently as possible, his paws dirty dirty muddy and there's some black something on his back....what is that? And a big spot of blood, which the boyfriend was saying was his, from the gash on his hand that he got whilest working on the RV...I remember him getting that....I'm sort of spinning in my head about HOW DID THIS HAPPEN???? and WHAT THE BLEEEEEEEEEP HAPPENED TO MY DOG???????

Thankfully there is a 24 hour vet clinic less than a mile from my house, I bundled Michael up in a towel and went there directly....I told them what I knew, and they took him in back, and I started really shaking and spinning, just kind of in shock of what I was thinking....anyway...

I'm going to skip some other parts of that story....But the good part is that he seems to be doing "ok" other than his left food/leg area is still causing him to limp and hop around, favoring it. When we went on the hike, he amazingly went all over the place just fine....After the walk, he was limping and favoring the leg again....Hhhhmm. I think we need to go back to the vets for a check up. And we need to go out our vet anyway, the fabulous Hawthorne Vet Clinic in Portland.