The Glyco-Flex III is here!

Crystal here.

We've done some research into joint supplements, and finally managed to get some Glyco-Flex III shipped here from the US. Lots of rave reviews from satisfied pet people all over the web, and it's been recommended by a few large/giant-breed breeders I've spoken to.

Click here for the website

Tomorrow is day one. We'll see how it goes (fingers crossed).

Bye for now Riley...

Jaida here.

Moms are very sad because my kitty sister Riley went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. Riley's feelings were very sick, and she was unhappy and angry all the time, even when moms gave her "happy pills". Moms decided, after many, many, many things they did for her couldn't help, that the only way Riley would be at peace was to send her to the Bridge. I'll see her again someday, and I'll even let her swat my nose if she wants to.
Bye-bye for now, Riley.

Hip Fairy, are you out there???

Jaida here.

Moms have been sad about my new boo-boo leg. I'm trying to be a very good girl so they don't worry so much. I'm still playing with Gracie and digging clever holes in the wet grass and mud-puddle-ing a lot. My leg is sore, though, so I can't help but limp when I'm walking, and I don't always really like to do stairs.
Here's what my new boo-boo looks like:

My right hip (the one on the left, pay attention!!) does not fit in its socket nice and tightly, like the other one does. The ball of my leg is kinda square too (that's not good). The doctor wants to give me a brand new hip, but I think moms are waiting to figure out what to do.

Maybe the Hip Fairy will come give me a new hip?

Crap.

Crystal here.

I know it's been a while again, sorry.

Unfortunatly I have no good news to report. In a nutshell, Jaida fell quite lame in her right hind leg about 7 weeks ago. X-rays were inconclusive, but showed mild, non-clinical (i.e. non-arthritic) hip dysplasia. Diagnosis: soft tissue injury.

Fast forward to yesterday. Jaida's still very lame. New x-rays are taken. I don't know the whole situation, but the words "bad hip dysplasia" and "hip replacement surgery" just about sum it up.

We have likely hit the wall with respect to our ability to help Jaida, surgically, any further. We will have to simply do our best to manage her pain and keep her happy as best we can.

This is really awful news, we are reeling from it, even though we were bracing ourselves for the worst.

This IS the worst.

On that note, I want to rant for a minute about freaking backyard breeders. To all you idiots out there that are mating a male and female dog you just happen to have and just happen to think are pretty special, just to get some puppies in order to make a quick buck, you're all scum. Learn about genetics, pedigree, get a mentor, and freaking test your dogs for heritable disorders before you breed them, register your dogs, so suckers like us don't end up with a trainwreck of a puppy that we fall in love with and they end up breaking our hearts. You suck.

I am in love with Daisy!

Jaida here. I love my Daisy! I would play with her all day, every day, if our moms would let us. Here is a MOO-VEE of us playing together. She bites my nose, but I get her back in the end! I am soooooo tough!
Video of Daisy and Jaida

Jaida's pup-pal, Chance!

Jaida here.

A nice lady sent me a letter and some pictures of her baby MAL-A-MUTE, Chance.
Chance is very much like me on account of his frickin' cuteness and handsome-ness. Also, he has one oh-so-fabulous scrunchy-dangly leg and ONE GOOD LEG, just like me! Or, well...ummm...well, like I USED to.
Chance has a very nice mom who is taking him to see a nice Dr. who is taking xrays of his scrunchy-dangly leg to see if there is anything that can be done to make it a little less scrunchy. His leg is growing differently than mine did, it's more like hypoplasia/agenesis (moms taught me those big words!!).
(He looks like he's thinking about being NOT-TEE in this picture, huh?)

No matter what the nice Dr. says about his leg, Chance is going to be an oh-so-gorgeous and handsome guy and will get along JUST FINE. His mom is going to let me know what happens with the Dr., so I will keep you posted!

In the meantime, simply admire his cuteness.

A long-overdue update.

Crystal here.

I just realized how long it's been since we posted...sorry!!! (Jaida wanted me to point out that this was not her doing at all, she always has lots to say...)

So. Updates. Jaida's incision boo-boos are thankfully doing much better. The hairy one (ew) seems to have healed on it's own (thank the gods)...she's no longer licking at it, Gracie is no longer sniffing at it, and there's just a little grey-coloured patch where the scab used to be. Hooray! The bumpy one is still bumpy. Not bigger or anything, though, so we'll just keep watching that one. So, all in all, things are good and I'm really happy about Dr. Kitchen's decision not to do anything antibiotic-ey or anaesthetic-ey.

The girls had a wonderful Christmas, despite our best efforts. Kim and I had decided not to spend money on the dogs this year.

Yeah, right. So, two nylabones, two Dirty Rotten Kitty stuffies, two bully sticks (ew), two pig ears (ew) and two stockings from Grandma and Grampa later...they were spoiled and happy.

The girls also have a new regular playmate at our house: the neighbour's golden retriever, Daisy. A very pleased-with-herself Jaida appeared on the back porch with Daisy in tow one weekend, and Daisy now runs over to play with Jaida whenever her people parents are away. We love Daisy. How could you not? Look at this face!!!!

This is her "please let me in" look.

Gracie is amazing with her...as you know her history with other dogs has been a bit...er...sketchy. But Gracie fully accepts her. She's not enthralled with her like Jaida is. But then, Jaida's easily enthralled. They do have a wonderful time together, though...

That's it for now. I'll try not to let it go this long next time. Ta!