Thursday, November 29, 2012

New and Old Friends

Today has been a busy day off work.  I met a newer friend for lunch at the horse farm where she works and she gave me a tour.  Clairvaux Farm where my friend has worked for 3 years is a hunter/jumper show stable.  Unfortunately there weren't many horses inside because with a warm sunny day, they were all outside. But I enjoyed lunch with my friend and getting to know her a little bit better. Of course I enjoyed the tour too.
Back at home, it was all about 'old' friends.  In my last post I mentioned about taking Annie and Wendy to the vet last Saturday.  Both girls loved the car ride and getting to see new people. You may remember that Annie has liver and kidney damage (caused by being on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for more than a year without her previous vet checking blood-work to see if it was harming her). For the past 3 months she's been given a daily supplement of Denamarin and a Pepcid to try and stabilize her kidneys and liver.  The good news for Annie is that it appears to be working, and her liver value is now almost normal, and her kidneys appear to be stable too.
~Annie~
For Wendy, it was good news as well. Born in late January of 1997, she is rounding the corner to almost 16 years old.  I can admit that I've not taken her into the vet because she was in need of a rabies vaccine.  I've always limited the vaccines that our dogs are given--And because having a rabies vaccine is the law, it goes without saying that I've always complied with that. Because of this legal-requirement, it kept me from taking Wendy to the vet because I didn't want her to have any vaccines because of her age. But a notice from the county about it, left me with no other choice. But what I didn't know was that Virginia allows a vet to decide if an animals health could be compromised if given the rabies vaccine, so a waiver has been written for Wendy--What a relief!  Her blood work does show a few minor changes, which is to be expected at her age and she's had an exposure to a tick-borne-illness which she'll take an antibiotic for. The vet does want to see Wendy in 3 months for another check-up and that I'll comply with!
~Wendy~
All in all, our week appears to be ending on a good note.  
I hope yours is too! 

36 comments:

  1. Good to hear, Maybe Todd needs to go and have that ball surgical removed?

    Your Pals
    Susie & Bites

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  2. That is such a lovely looking stable yard....such a sweet little face looking over the door too....one of those equines that probably needs sun cream on that nose during the Summer....no worries of that now with Winter though. So glad the Vet trip went so well.

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  3. So glad to hear all the vet stuff went pretty well. That stabke looks really nice. Looks like Tood is ready for play.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  4. Does Todd stay outdoors all day when its nice? He looks like a guy who could find all kinds of amusement around!

    Good for the old girls to get good check ups too!

    Cheers and hugs all around,

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  5. those sweet faces! and then todd's little spunky one. :)

    so glad all is well. what a great place your friend works at!

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  6. Great news for Annie and Wendy. Bet that made you smile....and of course Todd....he always makes us smile.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  7. I am so glad to hear that Annie & Wendy are doing good ! What a treat to be at the stables I love being around horses I grew up with them and had my own when I was younger ! Hope all keeps well with you and your clan ! Have a good day !

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  8. Love that first shot and the stable. Looks like a nice facility. So happy to read that Annie and Wendy are on the upswing!

    We are supposed to warm up to the mid 50s by Saturday...up and down, up and down.

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  9. Hi there, So thankful your vet bypassed the Rabies. When Reggie was old and very frail our vet and kennel waived the Flu vacine-I was so thankful because the first booster made him sick.
    Loved seeing the stable and hearing about your day; wish you were closer cause I'd take you out to lunch.
    Hugs, Noreen & Hunter

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  10. Hey Golden Pines Gang, Jet here. Hi Miss Kim.

    So glad you shared about Wendy and Annie... we were a little leary about asking. 16... OMD that's amazing...

    You triggered the song about make new friends and keeep the old, one is silver and the other gold...!

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  11. That's great news for your girls. I feel the same way about some vaccine happy vets. I really don't want to subject Easton to anymore vaccines than are absolutely necessary.
    PeeEss: Eaton sends Roooooos of love to the lovely Miss Annie

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  12. So glad to hear the girls had good vet visits. Nice to hear you can get a waiver for the vaccine.

    Cindy

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  13. Glad the girls are doing well! Always good news. And that Todd makes me smile. Sorry I've been absent lately ... life sometimes gets in the way.

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  14. We are so happy that Wendy and Annie are doing so good. And also it was good news the vet can decide on waving certain medications. We would be as concerned as you.
    That barn looked so nice- oh how we would have loved a tour too. I was thinking on how good it must have smelled- fresh hay and all.
    Little Todd looks so happy with his ball!
    love
    tweedles

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  15. Big thumbs up to your vet on the rabies decision! :) They both look wonderful.

    Todd appears to have developed some lovely pantaloons. Or perhaps I just never noticed before? Lol!

    Happy Friday!

    -Carolyn

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  16. So glad to read about Annie and Wendy. My Vickie is so in love with all your golden spirits. She like that little Todd as well.

    Can she move in with you guys?

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  17. Great news for Annie and Wendy.

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  18. Wouldn't it be great if we all could get together and have lunch???? I'm with Noreen on that one!! The stable looks pretty cool! Terrific news that your vet wrote the waiver so that Wendy didn't have to have that shot. I don't believe that all these shots are good for our dogs either, but we can also do titers here. I guess every state is different. Glad you had a nice day with your friend!! That little cutie needs someone to toss his ball!! xo Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug

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  19. It is excellent that Virginia law allows the vet to decide whether the animal has to have the vaccine. The horse stable looks like fun. Have a nice weekend.

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  20. That news on the girls is good to hear! (er... read)

    Todd is looking good too.

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  21. Good news! You take such good care of your pets :)

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  22. Kim,
    How exciting having lunch with a new friend!!!
    We all need new friendship to keep the old alive. New ideas, new topics, new crafts, new subjects of interests that you have never explored.
    Like the horse barn. Which is beautiful.
    Will you learn to ride or do you already know how?
    Your crew is looking healthy, and of course Todd is always having fun.
    Have a great weekend!

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  23. So happy to hear both visits went well. :)

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  24. What a nice stable. Especially the face peering over the door. So serene. Nice to hear about Annie and Wendy doing well.

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  25. Nothing quite like a day filled with old friends is there? I love your blog and I am officially your newest follower :)

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  26. How wonderful that both girls check-ups went well. It must feel pretty good to come home with some positive news. I can't believe Wendy is almost 16! You go girl!

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  27. I'm glad to hear that all is well for Wendy and Annie :o) Lucky you getting to go that horse farm as well, I have always loved horses and took riding lessons every week for close to 6 years. I miss it a lot and often dream that I am horseback riding!

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  28. Oh good news for both old girls. I know in AZ that the vet can make that decision. I'm glad it's that way where you are too.

    Sam

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  29. The tour looks fun...and I do love the Golden babies of yours! :)

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  30. Thank you, Kim. I agree. Hopefully all can find work.
    Thank you. God bless. ♥

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  31. Hi Kim,

    I didn't have your email address so I thought I would leave a comment. I reached out to GRREAT but I want to also ensure that someone knows about this poor pup who needs a home. I saw it on facebook this morning and wanted to make sure I got the word out. Sorry to "spam" you with this but it breaks my heart. I know with the holidays and the financial situation there will be more dogs in this situation, it breaks my heart. Thank you again for all that you do for these sweet dogs.


    "This one will make you cry. Crosby is a 2.5 year old neutered Golden who was brought to the vet yesterday with an ear infection. Later in the day the vet received a fax saying that the owner had fallen on hard times, was living in his car and was surrendering the dog because he could no longer take proper care of it. The no-kill shelters are full so if Crosby does not find a home in 7 days he will be sent to the Loudon County pound, which is a kill shelter.

    The vet staff are familiar with the dog and say he's a sweetheart. If you know of anyone who would be willing to give Crosby a home, please contact my colleague, Joana Roe (jroe@niaid.nih.gov) whose daughter works at Banfield.

    Thank you"

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  32. It`s hard to make new friends.This friend looks as though she has alot to share with you!What a peaceful place!
    I`m so glad the girls are ok.My collie used to have to get steroid shots before his regular shots as he would get sick if he didn`t.Glad the vet waved the rabies shot.
    My neighbors lab is 17.She still comes down & poops in my driveway every morning though,hah,hah!Have a great Sun.!phyllis

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  33. That Denamarin is a super drug. When Morgan's liver enzymes started going crazy she started taking it each morning and now her enzymes are normal again. She's more aware and active, too.

    Glad your vet signed a waiver. Old doggies shouldn't have to worry about vaccine reactions.
    Morgan, Sebastian and the Porties

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  34. I love to come here and read only good news. Our vet wrote a letter for Angel about her being too old to get the rabies vaccine. He said to send it in if we were approached, which we weren't before she passed. It's good to have those options. I love the pictures of the old girls and then young Todd, so cute!

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  35. I am so happy to read about Annie. It sounds like she's rebounding beautifully from a bad situation.

    As for Wendy, I'm really glad that your county gives a vet the discretion not to vaccinate sick or older pets. Our vet never vaccinates our dogs when they are 10 or older... or if they've had a run-in with cancer. I'm not sure what hoops she has to jump through to make that okay but it works!

    I hope that the good news keeps rolling in!

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  36. Vacinations are a sore spot for me. From the extensive research I have done it is quite aparent that we as a Nation over vacinate our pets, often causing serious health problems.
    Pets should only be vacinated if they are healthy...people too. So glad your vet recognized that and gave you a wavier. Titers are another way to go. Most dogs are covered if they have had their puppy and first year shots and probably have lifetime immunity.

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Speak--I really enjoy your comments! Thanks for stopping by today!!