Pets of the expanse!

[pigfarmer]

Cute little GSD puppy right?

Wrong. This is the first and last dog I ever get from a breeder. As cute as that little bastard was something was fundamentally wrong with his wiring. This is the single most aggressive, dangerous and intelligent little buzzsaw I ever had to contend with. His dominance/prey drive was so far over the top as to render him anything other than a family pet - he went back to the breeder after several weeks of nightmare. As I understand it they did train him for something and I don't care what as long as it is the hell away from me.

He and I communicated perfectly. Know what he said to me each and every time? " **** you old man" . That's what he said. He went on to some show circuit and we went to the local shelter for a real dog.

Should've made a throw rug out of that miscreant.

 

[Dejan Corovic]

I didn't know one can return dog to breeder as if it is product.

 

[Todd Feinman]

I constantly have deal with people who say that animals are automatons that follow pre-programmed instincts.

Yeah, those folks are really stupid.

 

[Dejan Corovic]

This is how smart dogs are:


View: https://www.facebook.com/DadSaysJokes/videos/2138686023157278


This dog effectively understood that medical instrument is amplifying heart beat of the baby.

 

[pigfarmer]

I didn't know one can return dog to breeder as if it is product.

That one did - but it's not like there was a refund. My left eye starts twitching uncontrollably when I think about that ..................

 

[nivek]

how smart dogs are

Kobi is a 13 year old Australian shepherd, I've raised him when he was 8 weeks old and until two years ago I have been his only companion and handler...In the last two years my wife has been a part of his life and he has accepted her amazingly well and shows that he loves her too...

He is highly intelligent, he seemed to know this latest surgery was to help him...He is usually very nervous and frightened of going to the veterinarian, but he showed none of that before and after the surgery...He took it like a champ...

He has a very large vocabulary and not only that but uses his senses in conjunction with his rudimentary understanding on the words I speak to him...I talk to him like an adult person, not a child, and using complete sentences even if they are short ones lol...I involve him in almost everything we do, he is never treated like an object but as a person, he is an important part of our family and is treated as such...He has free roam of the house and the property, we live in the county where there are no leash laws, he knows the boundaries of our property and stays with that...He isn't allowed to wonder around outside by himself though just because there are wild animals around that could harm him...

I could go on and on about him, but he has been the most intelligent and most loving dog I've ever had the pleasure of living with...He has bounced back from this latest surgery extremely well and is physically healing fast and at 13 years old that's impressive to me...He has a strong will and I expect he will be around for many years to come...

Its been two weeks since the surgery and we had a check-up with the vet doctor this morning we just got back from...The doctor said the same thing that he is healing very well and looks good...Kobi has lost 2 lbs. since the surgery but the doctor said its to be expected and he was slightly chunky before the surgery anyway lol...

...

 

[pigfarmer]

I hear that, when we are talking about our dogs we kvell

 

[Standingstones]

A week and a half ago we had to have our cat Abby put down. She all of a sudden became lethargic. She was always active, running around and playing with her toys. She was only 3 1/2 years old. We took her to the vet and they determined that she had a high fever and was dehydrated. They gave her a couple of shots and sent her back home with us. She seemed better for a half a day but then resorted back to her tired self.

We took her back to the vets and they did further tests. They found out she had leukemia. We had the choice of an operation or putting her down. The operation along with the previous charges would have set us back a total of $3,000. We couldn’t afford that kind of money.

My wife is very close to her cats. She has had a cat for the past 40 years. It is a rather somber house as of late. My wife wishes to wait before replacing Abby. We have some things coming up on our schedule and my wife wants some free time to dedicate to the next cat. RIP Abby

.

 

[Todd Feinman]

So very sorry to hear that. Condolences to you and your wife. What a beautiful cat.

 

[pigfarmer]

Heartbreaking, what a sweet little girl. Looks like you gave her a wonderful life.

FWIW - I had a feleuk positive cat many years ago that just got sick at 3.5 years and that was that. That's a highly contagious virus so I had to keep him indoors with no other cats. Had to toss all his stuff, clean the place and wait a couple of months before I got another cat. All that from my veterinarian.

Poor little Bullwinkle did exactly the same thing and at the time there really was no treatment for it. The vet did have me try some experimental drugs but that went nowhere. I have no idea what sort of operation or treatment they might do today but I really think at that point you did the best most humane thing possible to relieve her suffering.

Very sorry to hear that.

 

[Standingstones]

The sad part was that my wife wanted a cat that was playful and would be a close companion. That was Abby in spades. It didn’t help that she was only 3 1/2 years old. Our previous cat lived for 18 years and she wasn’t a pleasant animal. My wife has some things on her plate for mid October. Once that is over we can dedicate our full time for cats.

 

[pigfarmer]

We always had cats growing up and I was not a fan as I got older. I had no intention of having pets and had a small apartment by myself. As these things go through a girlfriend I got stuck with a cat I really didn't want, so I figured I'd get him fixed, get him vaccinated and was sure I could find him a home. That's the cat that was Feleuk positive. I am not irresponsible and at the time it was not easy finding a home for him so I kept him.

He faded very quickly very fast in only 3.5 years. But, the little furry monster made it past my armor and I gave him the life I could which he seemed to enjoy. I really, really missed him and after several weeks, a lot of cleaning and new toys and blankets I wound up with two of them that I had for years and years. So I suppose if there's a positive in there it's that experience. They have since passed and the two we have now are already ten.

 

[nivek]

Kobi is doing very well, the surgical wound is almost healed over completely and he has gained his appetite back, boy has he...He's eating lime a horse lol...He lost close to 3lbs through both surgeries but he should gain that lost weight back soon lol...

...

 

[pigfarmer]

We've been training Pie with her elevator and she's a bit reluctant but treats will solve that problem.

I wanted a soft-stop for this not just a hard bump. Took me a bit but I think this is clever and was cheap, the balls came out of a clearance bin @ Walmart. They won't fill with water, freeze or pop all at once.

I just want to add a hand winch as a backup but am not overly worried about that right now

 

[Todd Feinman]

Good idea with the little balls for acushion. Glad you are proceeding cautiously with the project.

 

[pigfarmer]

If it only works to get us through the upcoming surgery #2 I'll be happy. I don't even have the mobility or physical ability I did 90 days ago for surgery #1 so I'll be grateful for all the help I can get.

It works fine but that hoist - and most like it - are not exactly smooth. The way the steel rope winds up on the drum as it ascends makes a sort of twanging noise that I don't like but doesn't seem to bother anything. I greased it and that didn't really do much. The previous winch I bought and returned was even louder. I guess when you are lifting an engine or firewood little things like that are less noticeable.

 

[pigfarmer]

Today we take Pie in to have her left rear knee done.

I can't feed her this morning but have to feed the cats and she will not be happy about that or anything else. This isn't easy for my wife and I as we know what is about to happen to her.

The consolation is that she made a full recovery from her right rear knee operation and is full of piss & vinegar again. You'd almost think she's OK but when you watch you can see that left rear isn't right. The vet told us that she is an extremely healthy girl she'd take for 6 not 10 and that barring anything else she'll live a long life and is an excellent candidate for this.

She's not upselling us she's right. The next few weeks, especially the next two days, are going to be rough.

 

[nivek]

Today we take Pie in to have her left rear knee done.

Wishing her the best through that surgery and hope her recovery goes well...

...

 

[Todd Feinman]

All good thoughts and wishes to Pie for a smooth operation.

 

[pigfarmer]

This vet is very slick and know that people worry. We got a call letting us know when the procedure would begin and we just got one that said it went perfectly.

It was a full ACL tear so yet this was the right thing to do. He broke her knee, did some grinding on it to make a better angle that Mother Nature didn't. If it were just the ligament the recovery is much easier, this is a stone bitch.

But, little girl dog will be fine. I expect we'll pick her up in about four hours as they monitor her a while. She'll still be loopy from all this tomorrow morning.