Nothing spectacular...just me

I got a new marrow bone - mom put it on a blee since I wouldn't go outside with it - am I spoilt or what?
shhhhhhh - don't Tell Suzuki - but I'm checking out some of the gifts I bought for her!
I got a new toy too!

the ham in the red tights is my little one

CRAZY DOG

Mom calls me "Crazy Dog" - the way I look at it is I have to do something for her when she's holding that camera!

I'm just not in the mood

Mom got a new video cam - she can't hold it steady and I'm just not in the mood to help!

True Colors Thursday - RUST

Today's TRUE COLOUR is RUST - We just couldn't really come up with any rust - but mom's best friend, Erme, has a few Scottish Highlands wandering around her ranch in Austin so mom dug up some of the photos......mom loves these little critters...they're just wandering around for looks - nobody eats them!

That's it for us........if you'd like to play drop by Blue's blog TRUE COLOURS let her know you're playing and link back to her - next week's color is RAINBOW - not sure what we'll do there either!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday.....almost

Pu and Sara gave me my Chinese name

They came up with two characters :

K´ei ZiK´ei - flag

Zi - Genius(bulwark)

so according to my Chinese name I'm a BULWARK - Something serving as a defense or safeguard - I guess that means I'm a great watchdog [which I am - WOOF WOOF - can you hear me bark?]

Thanks Pu and Sara - why not give them a visit today for your Chinese name!

HAPPY EARTH DAY

Top 10 Green Pet Tips for Earth Day
by Dr. Donna Spector
Help your pet tread more lightly on Mother Earth with a few easy changes!

1. Scooping poop! Use biodegradable bags to collect your dog's waste. Ordinary plastic bags can take decades to decompose in landfills. If your bag meets biodegradability standards (ASTM D6400) they will decompose in just months. Avoid clumping clay litter for cats. Not only is the clay strip-mined (which is bad for our planet), there are usually several chemicals added to this type of litter which can be harmful for the cat and the environment. There are several environmentally friendly alternatives such as litter made of plant sources or recycled newspaper.


2. Consider composting pet waste. This is only an option for the very environmentally responsible family. Animal waste contains nasty bacteria (and other pathogens) that can contaminate soil and anything you may grow there. If you choose to compost, choose a commercially available product or bury an old garbage bin (far away from any food-growing area) to use as a pet waste composter.
   
3. Feed a natural or organic pet food for optimal health and well-being. These foods provide nutrients which are minimally processed and preserved with natural substances. They do not contain artificial colors or other harmful additives. Organic pet foods also avoid the use of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically engineered ingredients.
   
4. Buy local. Purchasing fruits and vegetables at your local farmers market not only helps support your local economy but you will also cut down on the amount of fossil fuel required to ship your pet's food. Besides, your pet will love this tasty addition of green to his life.


5. Protect wildlife. Keep dogs on leash and cats indoors to help protect the native wildlife. The State of the Birds survey describes cats as "important indicators of our nation's environmental health" and lists cat predation as a serious threat to bird populations.
   
6. Limit the amount of "fish food" you give your pet. Pets represent a threat to fish stocks worldwide. The pet food industry uses approximately 10% of the global supply of forage fish according to a New York Times Op-ed piece. Too much of certain fish may also pose an increased risk of mercury exposure for your pet. Consider alternating between fish and other meat sources to keep your pet happy.


7. Try recycled toys. There are now many toys and bedding made from recycled materials or sustainable fibers to help lessen your pet's carbon pawprint! You can even try making toys out of old socks and rope and beds out of old blankets and towels. This helps avoid taxing the environment and can help protect your dog from dangerous chemicals in plastic chew toys and bedding. Also try recycled ID tags on for size!
   
8. Water conservation. Instead of leaving the spigot running during bath time, try a handheld attachment that turns on and off to decrease the amount of water used during bath time. Use warm (not hot) water to save energy. Select shampoos and grooming products that are phosphate-free and free from chemicals so the dirty bath water is as environmentally friendly as possible.


9. Don't turn up the heat…use a sweater. To save energy during the winter months, use pet clothing to keep your pet toasty instead of turning up the thermostat. Stay cool. Instead of turning the air-conditioner on full blast in the hot summer months, consider chilled pet bed inserts to keep your pet comfortable. Ice cubes are a nice cooling "treat" for dogs.


10. Neuter your pet. Pet overpopulation is a real problem—shelters are over-run and homeless pets are everywhere taxing environmental resources. Only one in four dogs finds a permanent loving home. When it comes time for your next pet, support adoption as part of a green lifestyle.
    

The very kind THOR gave me this fine award

Thank you very much THOR - you are a very nice and beautiful dog and I enjoy your stories so much. I'm glad to have such a nice friend in BRAZIL!

I would like to share this and pass it on to
NY Bully Brats , Percy's Adventures , Brownie ,Lookin' Fur Love with Scooby Doo and to Cocker Spaniel Girls

REMEMBER TO HELP SAVE THE EARTH!!!!

I'm back and feeling better

Well friends - I'm up and about this morning after my recent bout with HE - It was a tough one, lots of head pressing and a few bad shivers. Mom thought I might be having a seizure but I think it was just shivers. Mom and Dad took me over to the UT Vet school around midnight on Sunday where they told her I was dehydrated - duh! she knew that! They immediately put an IV in and they drew some blood. My ALT's were elevated up to 576 - which is high - but not as high as the first time I got sick....I HATE HAVING A SMALL LIVER! Mom can't figure out what I might have eaten. I don't know either because she is so careful with me.

Mom insisted on staying with me in the ICU. They weren't too keen on that but at midnight it's mostly 1st year students and they didn't have the cojones to stand up to mom so she prevailed and stayed. The attending didn't think it was worth the hassle of arguing with her because he figured out she was gonna stay. She held me in her lap all night. Daddy slept in a chair in the lobby. When the internal medicine doc, who has been handling my case came in, she brought mom a cup of Earl Grey and then she looked me over. She said I needed at least one more bag of fluids so we had to wait until the afternoon before they would let me go - but mom never waivered - she only left to go pee. Daddy left for a while he had to get some work done. They sent me home with another round of antibiotics figuring that I'd be happier at home and they are, of course certain that mom will take very good care of me.

Anyway ---- I'm doing fine this morning. The antibiotics have taken effect. I ate a little last night and I went poop...which is a big thing for liver dogs...we gotta poop. This morning I ate my very own kibble for breakfast - didn't even force mom to cook - she'd been through a lot. I will go back on Thursday for blood work again unless something else happens.

Now - onto the good stuff - the adorable puggle CHASE has pased on the following awards to me and other wonderful doggies who blog THANKS CHASE

This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award.

Here are the rules:As a dedication for those who love blogging activity and love to encourage friendships through blogging.To seek the reason why we all love blogging.Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.Answer the Award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.Tag and distribute the Award to as many people as you like.

I like blogging because it gives me a chance to talk to talk to doggies and people all over the world about my day. And, I get a chance to see what other doggies are doing, how they are treated and the fun things they get to do. Without blogging I wouldn't have met the magnificent Suzuki - my love!

I would like to pass this along to my very first blog buddy BIJOU, my very special Suzuki's Blog , and to GOLDEN HONEY, BABY ROCKET DOG & HOOTIE, Clive , Honey Go Beaseley , Maggie & Mitch, Mason Dixie, Kids in Dog Suits, GoldenSamantha, BLUE, Lucky Luke,
TANK - The OP Pack, - I would like to pass this to everyone that I follow but it would take mom about 3 hours to go through the list. To all of you I thank you for sharing your days with me - and I hope you enjoy sharing mine!

Update on Checkers

Checkers is doing better - we both took a nice nap - when he woke he ate about 15 pieces of kibble with turky drippings and he is drinking...so that was VERY encouraging. AND, more importantly he pooped! He is up and walking around. I have filled a marrow bone with yogurt and kibble and he is at least licking it hopefully he will eat it. Thanks for all your thoughts - we both appreciate it.

HE episode

hi - Checkers Mom, Katie here - Checkers had an HE [hepatic encephalopthy] episode yesterday - we couldn't get him started with lactulose and his gums were very white we took him to UT around midnight - he's back on the antibiotics and they put him on IV last night. I stayed with him because he was so stressed and I just couldn't bear to leave him even tho the students would have happily held him all night...so he slept in my lap in a chair with his IV running. He still hasn't pooped but then he hasn't had anything to eat either.......They agreed to let me bring him home and he is resting comfortably. I will syringe something into him later if he still refuses to eat. I can't figure out what he might have eaten to set off this HE episode unless he got a hold of something at the park on Saturday that I missed. I try to watch him very carefully to make sure he doesn't do that. One of the vet students said I shouldn't be taking him to the dog park! CRAP! what kind of life can the little guy have if he can't get out to play!!!!! When I saw Checkers' doc this morning she agreed that student was full of poo! AND all of this happened on the anniversary of his adoption date! Birthdays and anniversaries are not lucky for this little guy - he got sick the first time just before his first birthday!