Things that go bump in the night

It has been rather boring here weather wise. Elsie has been enjoying the calm days, though they are cold, with plenty of snow still on the ground. On our walks she likes to leap over some of the snow that is on the side of the road. On the other paw she will walk on it just fine.

Last night the wind picked up and the shingles on the roof started to flap. The other dogs are used to it, but not our youngster. She was ready to take on the intruder. After a little bark session it was back to sleep and her signature snore. Not very loud but there nonetheless. In the morning we woke up to a nice bit of snow which always makes for interesting walking. All of the dogs were sliding across the ice sheets that they forgot were there, now covered in the white stuff. The squalls came and went but it was never clear.

I took this photo this afternoon while it was snowing. Usually you can see Mono Lake from here. Times like this the basin is incredibly quiet. All you here is the occasional snow plow in the distance and the birds in the trees.






Elsie didn't have a rinse last night. My bad. It was late and I just couldn't see getting her wet before bed. So tonight I did it early, before their dinner. I usually have to put a collar on Elsie to get her into the bathroom for her rinse. Tonight, to my surprise, as I came out with a collar, she trotted into the bathroom and when asked, jumped right into the tub. She wasn't wagging her tail but seemed to say that she just wanted to get it over with. Her skin is looking much better. The inflammation and redness is greatly reduced. As a bonus she smells much better afterwards. The healing of her body progresses as does her spirit.

Good night and Namaste from Elsie.

Walks and Food

Above: Elsie takes time out from our walk to smell the sagebrush.

Left: Elsie and Flora checking out the salt grass.








After a 1/2 mile walk today Elsie was ready to eat. She has been increasing her intake steadily each day. I have been letting her choose how much and how long her meal will take to eat. It was great to see her finish up her food.

After the morning meal Elsie and I headed north to the county shelter in Bridgeport. She sits in the truck while I offer Reiki to Annie, a young, smooth coat Border Collie who is very shy. Elsie doesn't like to be left in the house and cries if I even step outside to get firewood. We are working on that bit of separation anxiety. Fortunately she doesn't seem to mind being in the truck. She only cries if she sees me walking another dog. Today she got a double dose. I walked Annie while Jennie, the shelter attendant walked another dog, Yoti, a Husky mix. Annie does better with a more confident dog. I wish I could walk her with Elsie. The other dog I walked was Otto, an 8 year young Basset Hound. He is a handsome guy and I think Elsie really wanted to meet him.

Elsie ate half again as much as she usually consumes at a meal. Go Elsie. You are making your foster momma proud. 

Reiki treatments continue. I am still doing one group treatment for numerous mange pups: Elsie, Benny, Suzie Wong, Hope, and now another unnamed girl. All but Benny, came from the Lancaster shelter in California. Benny came from the Turlock, CA shelter. All wonderful, loving souls. They look beyond the way they were treated before and forgive the human race. Can we ever hope to be so forgiving and willing to love?

Spa time

Ah, a lemon/chamomile rinse. A soothing and relaxing way to end the day. Add some sulpher, arnica, and a splash of colloidal silver. And it doesn't taste bad either.

But I'd really like to get out of the tub and back to the wood stove and the couch.

And now I am ready for my Reiki session.

CV lets me on the couch next to him. I'm so glad that he doesn't bite at my heels all the time like when I first got here a week ago. Thank you everyone for saving my life. Namaste

New Places

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

Today we went up to our property, about a mile from where we live, to get fuel. Elsie explored a bit before we had to leave to go to town to mail off things (we don't have mail delivery out here). New smells are always a good thing. As much as Elsie doesn't like the rolling couch she will get in willingly. She knows that it means that she will be with somebody and not alone. Right before we drove off she leaned in for some love and extra reassurance. We sat there for a couple of minutes enjoying the moment. Dogs are so good at that. Lesson to learn.

It was bath night, not just a lemon wash. Elsie jumped right in to tub and stood there waiting. She is so patient  and didn't try to get out. I tell her how good a bath feels and imagine it myself. She got a lemon rinse and then waited to be toweled off before getting out. She then let loose with a couple of good shakes. A nice fire was going and she laid out in front of the stove to soak up the warmth. Ahh.

Visit with the Vet

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Yesterday, Monday, we drove to Reno to see Dr. Drumm at Lakeside Animal Hospital. It's 2 1/2 hours each way and Elsie slept most of that time. She was a little uncomfortable and kept shifting around. The moving couch is not her favorite thing.

Her temp was down to 102.4 and she weighed in at 53 pounds (when she arrived at the shelter she was 58).  She has some weight gaining to do. Along with all of the homeopathics that Elsie is getting, Dr Drumm suggested Cool the Blood, a combination of Chinese herbs to help with the inflammation in her skin. The doctor also said to reduce the amount of processed carbohydrate foods. More greens and protein. Around here that means high protein tofu and seitan. Elsie loves seitan. Low carb and extremely high in protein. Did you know that it has more protein, about 3.5 times more, than an equal amount of cow meat? And as much as we don't want to give her any drugs, Dr. Drumm suggested that a low dose of Ivomectin would be beneficial. I thought about it and it felt like it was the right thing to do. Anti-biotics were never suggested nor any other pharmaceutical drugs. As for Elsie's cough she didn't feel that it was kennel cough per se, but something else possibly. Going back to the Chinese food chart she suggested an elixer made of almonds, lemon, and honey. All are used to move the phegm and to help sooth the throat, and are neutral. To help her general well being she is getting radish added to her diet. This will help balance out the heat that is in her body right now.

The doctor was wondering how Elsie liked her lemon wash that she gets at night and was surprise that it didn't seem to bother her. I asked if adding in some arnica would be alright and got the nod of approval.

Each day Elsie improves and relaxes just a little more. She has discovered that it is fun to chase the chickens and ducks. Thankfully there is a fence between the them and her, and she is learning that it is not a good thing to do. She is on the bed at night and nearby all day. She sleeps soundly too and barely wakes up to turn around. Her Reiki sessions continue and I am constantly amazed by how gentle she feels when we connect. Soon enough she will leave here, but I will never forget her.

Departure Delay

Departure Delay.
After talking with Julie McCarty (the woman who was going to take Elsie to Idaho to find her a home), about Elsie's condition, we decided to wait until she is better. Julie will be forwarding the funds that are raised so far to me for the vet appointment that I made. Elsie will be going to Reno on Monday to see Dr. Drumm at Lakeside Animal Hospital. Dr. Drumm is a holistic vet. She will be able to tell us what is causing Elsie's cough. She was very successful in coming up with a homeopathic for my 15 yo when he had a nasty cough for months last year. The homeopathic cleared it up in 2 weeks! In the mean time I am developing a protocol for Elsie's mange, cough, and fever. The fever was lower today. Jere's recommendations of Bella Donna and low dose aspirin, along with the colloidal silver and Reiki are helping. It could also be a healing crisis of sorts.

This morning Elsie initiated a play session with Ares. The old dog and the young pup. It didn't last but a minute but it was good to see both of them play.

Elsie met a little girl today. She was so gentle and so was the little girl. Nice to know that she is not afraid of the small ones. Elsie also picked out a hedgehog toy at Tailwaggers today. She even chewed on it a bit when we got home, on the couch of course.

Hot, hot, hot

Friday, January 21st, 2011

Elsie slept next to me on the the bed last night. Her temperature has been slightly higher than I would like, but she still likes to go for walks and eat. She also has a cough now. It was barely there when I brought her home but now...

This morning she chased CV while he was playing fetch. Not just a trot either but a full run! All that activity means more couch time. Along with all of her rest I am giving her Bella Donna for the fever and some Colloidal Silver. Thank goodness it is cold here and we have snow so that she can stand in it. ( We are a leash free pack here. Living near the edge of nowhere has it's advantages, no traffic being one of them.)

Elsie likes to be in touch. A paw, her head, it doesn't matter. She has a little bit of separation anxiety, and I can't blame her. I went out to bring in firewood and she cried at the door. My other kids are probably wondering what is up with her. Her grandma, Jere, suggested some Arsenicum for when she must leave. I am starting her, and me, on it now. I love this girl.

Bath Day

Thursday, January  20th, 2011

Today we went for a drive to Mammoth to a place that lets you bathe your dog. Elsie was not to sure about this, but she trusts. And so we got all of the scabs washed off and grease removed. I don't know if she was happier but she is definitely cleaner. She didn't even try to jump out of the tub.

The home pack, though not bouncing for joy at our return, were kinder to Elsie when we got home. I applied some lavender and tea tree oil diluted with jojoba oil to her open sores. She is so patient. While playing fetch with CV she tried to join in. It may be a little too much for her right now. A couple of trots down the driveway and back were tiring.

When Elsie recovers she will make an amazing companion!!

I will be offering her more Reiki tonight. Her gentleness humbles me.

Elsie's Journey (aka CC or LC) Let's go...

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011 and Thursday January 20th, 2011

Another life saved. LC, or Elsie, (originally CC) was at the Lancaster shelter in CA. A very last minute pull even though she had been networked here for a week. Teamwork was key here. It wasn't until the 19th that someone stepped in to find her a home. Thank you Julie McCarty of River Bottom Homeless Pets.

Elsie was an owner surrender. They say she is a Shar Pei/ Damatian mix. I don't think so. Maybe a little Pei, but if you ask me she is a cattle dog/ pit/pei. She went in on the 7th of January to a very high kill shelter. Why so high kill? People are uneducated about the need to get their pets fixed. Puppies come in there all the time. Elsie is only 9 months old according to her records. We don't know why she was "surrendered", and in some ways that doesn't matter now. It can't be her disposition. She is sweet and gentle. She is good with other dogs and people. She is not food aggressive at all.

We had a long night after getting home. I have two dogs that can be aggressive, so having Elsie here for a couple of days is good for them. My heeler/border collie mix just keeps at Elsie's heels. My Akita mix, female, was ready to attack. All the dogs sleep in the house with those two almost always on the bed. Elsie spent the night in the bathroom with a gate blocking the door. Her own bed with the shirt I had been wearing as a pillow.

I offered her Reiki and she was willingly accepted. All the dogs did. The energy felt gentle, like Elsie. Soon sleep prevailed.

This morning, while I was getting my chickens' and ducks' food ready, she jumped the gate, quietly. No mishaps, just a bit of posturing. Time for a walk after all the bird chores were done.

We don't use leashes here because we live in the middle of thousands of acres of juniper, pine and sagebrush. Elsie navigated the snow just fine, mostly sticking to the trail of packed snow. CV, the heeler mix, kept following her for the most part. No problems. I think they were all hungry.

I feed a vegetarian diet to my dogs. I make most of it with a back up of Natural Balance Vegetarian dry food. I have been feeding this way for about 10 years now. Breakfast went off without a hitch. Now, all are napping in the sun except for Elsie who has decided that the being on the couch, next to me, is perfect.