12/23/09

I love dogs



















i love dogs
the way they always follow
me upstairs
about 95 seconds after
I have left
not really expecting me to be doing
anything different
or exciting
but happy
for the chance
I might say
hello
as if I was singing
a song
that was all about
them
or how
I might let myself
stop
by the bed
for a scratch
or straightening of the collar
as they settle in
to wait
for my eventual journey
to another room
again they follow
in hopes of a song
or a few moments spent
talking about some squirrel
or fly
or kitty
or how the cleaning lady makes us nervous
or best of all
the pat of my hand on the covers
and a kiss goodnight

11/1/09

The Effect of the Lemon - in Video!

OK - this is gonna be gross for any of you who don't know about this, but to bulldog parents who are trying to help their babies breathe easier, this is a sight for sore eyes. As you can see, Stella isn't afraid of the lemon, thanks of making this whole thing like a fun game for her. But look at what she manages to spit up after only a few shots of lemon juice (note - I had given her a few bites prior to this video footage.) If you have any questions - leave a comment on the blog and I will reply!

9/27/09

A new issue

First, I apologize for not posting for a while. Stella's breathing issues have been great - thanks to the constant lemon treatments clearing the phlegm out. We travel with lemon, keep lots in the house, we are never without them! However, Stella has developed a new issue, less serious but irritating to her and her parents. She is obsessed with her butt. She constantly tries to get you to scratch her, and when left to her own devices, she sits and spins on any carpet she can find! A trip to the vet found she did have one anal gland that needed to be cleared out (yuk), but that didn't seem to resolve things. We are now giving her a low dose steroid to see if that will help calm things down, I will post an update when we see how it all turns out. In the mean time, any other bulldog parents have similar issues? The vet has checked for anything serious and can't see any problems with her rear, so we are hoping she will forget about it soon, its becoming an obsession.

7/20/09

Stella Turns 3!

I doubt many vets would have given Stella much of a shot at hitting 3 years old, but today she celebrates her third birthday! Her health has remained good, thank in large part to our diligence at keeping her cool and calm, and giving her fresh lemon halves to chew on as often as possible. We have been doing it for so long, she now thinks of lemon halves as toys to be chased, played with and bitten! Even our lab / pitbull mix Rufus tries to play with the lemon, although you can tell he's not too sure what all the fuss is about :)
Here is a recent video and some pics of Stella being her crazy, lovable self. I hope all of your bulldogs (and all pets) are doing well, and feel free to comment with any questions or to share your stories.

Happy Birthday Stella!



4/29/09

Helping Out

OK - I don't randomly post about non-bulldog things but I am compelled to after seeing a great news story about a wonderful animal shelter. While I definitely LOVE my bulldog and my other dog, I really feel strongly that all animals deserve the chance for a nice life. This organization is really helping out, especially as all sorts of animals are being abandoned or left to die by people or farms that simply can't afford to care for them any longer. We often think about how people are affected during tough economic times, but this story reminded my about the animals who are being affected as well. Consider donating to the Circle L Ranch, even just $5 - if everyone gave just a little, think how many animals could live out their lives the way they deserve to.

http://www.circlel.org/clr/

4/22/09

Update on our friend Lucas!

Just got this great email update from Debra on their one year old EB Lucas. What a cute bully!

"Hi Tracey,

It has been some time since I wrote you. My EB Lucas was diagnosed with a hypoplastic trachea when he was about 10 wks or so. Over the winter he had his nares widened, and palate surgery done. Happy to say we celebrated his 1st birthday on April 5th.

Just wanted to update you and send a couple of pictures.

Debra"




3/4/09

March 2009 - Good News

Happy to report that with regular "time-outs" and a lemon half every few days, Stella is doing great! She is full of life, happier than ever, and always hysterical. We are definitely enjoying having her as part of our family.


Stella - March 2009 from TraceyHalvorsen on Vimeo.

1/11/09

Update - January 2009

I am happy to report Stella has been doing well. We usually end up giving her some lemons at least a few times a week, whenever she has been extra spazzy or gotten a few good romps with Rufus in before we can calm her down. They seem to really do the trick, she manages to spit up some phlegm and feels good as new! She is doing well with her food, Prairie, and we mix in canned food to the dry to keep her weight up (she actually isn't a food hog at all, contrary to many bulldog stories I have heard).

I will post some more pics soon, and really glad to hear the info I have been posting to this blog is helping other dog owners out there. I don't know what I would do without the joy both my dogs bring to my life, and Stella is a very special little creature. I consider it a privilege to care for her and her brother Rufus, they make me laugh, provide enduring friendship and love, keep me safe, and remind me to enjoy the moment.