Two questions
Hi,
So an update on Hannah (the half-lab) and Cheever (the none-Rhodesian). Hannah is doing well and enjoying the recent snowfall. Cheever is not as happy about it because yesterday he caught a toenail on something and tore a half of it off, exposing the quick. He has for the past day (since whatever he did to his toe yesterday) occassionally been favoring the inside of that foot. Are there any precautions needed to avoid infection? It didn't bleed profusely, but he left a number of red dots on the carpet that have mostly stopped appearing anew now.
The other question is happier. Hannah has been changing color somewhat recently. In July when I adopted her she was a solid black but has developed a distinct chocolate hue. The coloration is really beautiful and in certain lights and from certain angles the color shift is more noticable. It generally looks like she has a black undercoat and a topcoat of very dark Rhodesian-colored fur. Is this a factor of the seasonal change to winter or is it linked to food or some other factor? She seems very happy and very healthy, so I know this is nothing to worry about.
-David
3 Comments:
Hi David,
Good to hear from you. As for Cheevers nail, they usually heal pretty quickly as long as he doesn't keep opening it up. If it bleeds, steptic will help with that. You can buy it at a pet supply store. They sell it in powder form which is easy to dip the nail in. It also works as an anticeptic. If it has stopped bleeding, I wouldn't mess with it too much as not to disturb the clotting. If it starts to look swollen or oozing, then you'll need to have a vet look at it. I'd avoid mud or standing puddles. You want to try to keep it clean which is not an easy task with a dog. A warm soak with a little salt water would do the trick.
As for Hannah's coloring, if I remember she's lab and RR, the coloring may just be coming out in her. If she's blowing her coat, that could be why you're seeing the coloration more or if you just bathed her. Our RR's look lighter after a bath. The bathing washes the oils away which makes the coat appear lighter. The coat will change color slightly as a dog ages too. Our cat's coat looks different depending on the light. Usually it looks all grey but in certain lights you can see tiger stripes.
How's Cheever doing on his top dog issues?
Patti
Cheever seems to have learned his place. Two things have helped this, I think.
I've been taking them on occasional walks and making them walk next to me instead of ahead, and since I've begun that Cheever has mellowed out a lot. He still tries to get to toys first, but Ithe second thing) since hannah has begun doing it back to him I think he's learned he can't just bully her.
But, at the same time, their wrestling has changed, too, and he puts his mouth around the back of her neck and forehead sometimes (but that's subsiding) and occassionally grabs her jowls. I think that what's happened is that Hannah's been asserting herself in a big-sister sort of way and that's more responsible for Cheever mellowing than anything I've done. He's also getting closer to 2 years old, too.
-David
Good job with the walking. It does make a big difference in a dogs mind to have to follow you. It reminds them that you are the Dad:)
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