Siska Went To Visit Malan

As I wrote earlier in the month, Siska skidded and fell quite hard as the mat in the hall slipped as she ran out. It happened more than once before I binned the mat. Whilst I know her hips are Ok her continued limp on her hind left made me worry that maybe she had hurt herself so she'd had loxicom ... but on Saturday I noticed she was limping on her front right. Steve and I tried to have a look, but Siska is very sensitive about her feet at the best of times, so she was having none of it! As I went to take her out yesterday, she was dramatically lame on the front right, so we went to the field instead, but when we got back she was holding her back right up. OMG what was going on? Now I knew I was probably overthinking, but once the seed was planted, I was worried about Lyme disease and decided I would take her to the vets today. (Lyme disease in dogs often causes vague, intermittent symptoms that appear 2–5 months after a tick bite, including shifting-leg lameness, fever, swollen joints/lymph nodes, lethargy, and reduced appetite. While many infected dogs show no signs, severe cases can lead to serious kidney damage.) 

So there is a little pain in her left hock joint, but nothing dramatic – but she was extremely sensitive about her right feet being examined. Malan found that there were sores between her toes and Siska really did give a performance about her right front being examined. Luckily, I'd checked my blog before attending the appointment and made notes, so I knew that last Wednesday I'd found myself in a carpet of short nettles. I honestly hadn't noticed them until I saw the way Siska was walking; Orin was less sensitive to them, but they obviously bothered her. The obvious conclusion from that was that the sores are from Siska biting and licking at her feet since the incident. So it's back on loxicom and some antibiotics to clear the soreness, and we'll have to stay away from that walk for a while, shame as we like it - but needs must. 

My blue-eyed boy was with us!

The Noise, The Walk

Despite good reports, the anti-bark collar doesn't work for Beti, she's simply louder than it. I was almost in tears when I got to the parking spot today, I have to find a solution; this will spoil things for us as well as them. Saying that, the walk was pleasant, and the girls were well-behaved, ignoring a seriously pissed-off terrier and respectful around sheep, so we had fun!

Someone let the side down today ... I know what you are thinking, but no, it wasn't Zeus! For some reason Sammi took a dislike to a collie. All the dogs were on the lead, thankfully, as Sammi was seething and I struggled to hold her back! I know she can be gobby - but this was extreme, and after apologising on her behalf to the owner of the collie, Sammi and I had words! She said "Don't like him, prefer Tony Hadley!" (Sorry a George joke!) 

Testing And Timing

Yesterday it was a week since Mattie was here to visit Orin, and it's been a week of doubts and insecurities. Before I continue, let me explain that this will be a post about mating, ova and sperm, so if you feel uncomfortable with that sort of thing, then please bypass this post, no doubt there will be another photo post along soon.

As I've mentioned before, Mattie was not progesterone tested; Nicola chose to do cytology. "Vaginal cytology is a highly effective, cost-efficient, and non-invasive tool used to determine the optimal mating window in a bitch by assessing the cellular changes in the vagina caused by rising estrogen levels. It identifies when the bitch moves from proestrus (early heat) to estrus (the fertile period), generally by identifying a high percentage of "cornified" (flattened) epithelial cells." From what I understand, whilst cytology gives an idea that the bitches' season has progressed, it does not pin-point ovulation like progesterone testing does ... in these days of modern technology, rightly or wrongly, I'm really used to going with the "numbers!"

The matings last weekend were Ok, Orin was very keen, and we had two ties, but certainly on the first mating Mattie was tight, this causing some discomfort to Orin as they came apart. This could be because she wasn't quite ready, or simply because she was a "maiden" bitch.  As none of us were free at the same time on Monday, we agreed to do a second mating on the Sunday evening. It was really down to Orin if this mating would go ahead, he was, I'm sure, a little sore but we had an equally successful mating and no issues as they came apart. I offered another mating on the Tuesday, but again with working commitments, a mutual time could not be arranged. Anyway, with the longevity of canine sperm, I kind of hoped the rest of her estrus would be covered. 

On Wednesday night Nicola was at club with one of her Labradors. She was concerned by the attention that her own yellow Lab stud dog was still showing Mattie. I asked what days Mattie was on when she was mated .. Nicola thought 11 and 12. I felt uncomfortable with that and suggested she ring Suzanna (Who did the cytology) for advice, without the "numbers" I was lost. Anyway, when I got home, I double-checked my dates, considering "first blood" as day one Mattie was mated on day's 14 and 15 - well that immediately felt better to me. I messaged Nicola, she too had checked her dates and realised her mistake. By Saturday, day 21, things were quiet, so yeah, a 21-day season, unlike some of mine who take the piss. 

Have we caught Mattie at the right time? Well we can only hope, in recent years, following progesterone testing, we have always mated our bitches shortly after ovulation. Taking into account that it takes about 48 hrs for the ova to become mature, so the sperm would get there as the ova were ready to be fertilised. I only started testing with Tali, before that, like many others, I counted days and observed my males, as well as the female in question. Did the females get pregnant? Well yeah, mostly they did. I mated them somewhere between day 10 and 12 and then 48 hrs later with great success. Knowing what I know now, I think I probably mated them all early, but better too early than too late. (Once the ova have aged and died - well it's just too late!) Canine sperm is very long-lived once inside the reproductive tract. I was always under the impression that the strongest sperm could live up to 5 days, so looking back, in the past with my own females anyway, the sperm was probably lying waiting for the ova to mature, and as I said my females got pregnant, with the smallest litter being 5. Chatting about this with Jane today, as we do (LOL) she said she was under the impression that canine sperm lived longer than human sperm, we googled and giggled. Yes, canine sperm lives an average of 5 to 7 days and human sperm lives an average of 3 - 5 days, but often less. What really shocked me was that The American KC had reported that fresh semen from natual matings could live 10 -11 days. This long viability enables fertilisation to occur days after mating, making it impossible to know the due date of litters. How many times did we hear, "Pups came early - pups came late!" Well no they didn't; it's 63 days + or - a day from ovulation and not mating, this means that progestorone testing also gives a much more accurate due date for the litter. (Incidentally, frozen-defrosted semen only survives 12 - 24 hrs in the reproductive tract, which gives much less chance of pregnancy without accurate testing.)

All we can do now is wait, but I do feel it hasn't done me any harm to remember how we used to breed ... and to realise that the longevity of canine sperm was probably why we were successful. 

Ffarm Iard

A lovely walk with Orin and Siska starting from the outskirts of Tremadog, cross-country towards Porthmadog. The wind was almost as bitter as it was at home. 

Siska was still not sound and also seemed to be favouring her front right, well that's me confused. Steve and I had a look at her back left last night, he thinks her outside toe is hurting her – and she was licking her front right foot when we got home. I had a quick look but I couldn't see anything. With my shit eyes I think we'll have to look again with a torch. Poor Siska!

And The Others Out

Sammi went twice, with Zeus and with Ross. Not long walks but far more mentally stimulating than the fields I'm sure! 

Orin and Siska had to slum it in the fields again today - but tomorrow is their day out!

Coed Elernion (Woods)

I've been wanting to go to Coed Elernion in Trefor for a few months. After a night of rain I'm not sure I picked the right day though. Whilst it was a beautiful place, the footpaths were a little steep in places and were muddy and slippery. Coming downhill really wasn't much fun! The narrow path leads to a lovely stream where we spent some time before going over the first bridge and then a steep, slippery incline. I was grateful I was going up and hoped I wouldn't have to come down the same way. It then opened out into a field, wow that was lovely, back into the woods and then another field. There seem to be several tracks from the fields, but I think they are for another day. I came back to another bridge, and it was eeny, meeny, miny, moe to pick a track back from there. I was lucky, as it took me back to the main gate. There is no doubt I'll be going back, especially as it looks like there will be carpets of bluebells by the stream, but I think I'll wait till there's a dry spell and hope the path will be safer ... and yes I want to try the other paths by the second bridge. 

The woodland reminded me a little of how the nursery used to be in Tremadog when we were kids, very unkempt really, but still lovely. I can't imagine it will go high on my list of new walks, but without doubt it's one to add onto the "occassional" list. 

A new place for Beti and Meerah.

 

Concerns

So hairy has a knot under his tail, I suggested the ACP (prescription sedative), but Mr S thinks he can manage it. Last night he was on the floor trying to brush him and I told him to be careful. Mr S on the floor without a plan to get up is not a good idea! Anyway, he responded with "I'm not as nervous around him as you are." WHAT??? NERVOUS? Wow, I don't consider myself nervous around him at all, but I am careful and I think Steve should be careful too. It didn't escalate to an argument, but we did have a difference of opinion. Zeus is mostly a good dog these days, but I do think that is because we manage him and we read him. If we make a mistake, then it could have serious consequences for all concerned. 

Having done my morning walks yesterday, I needed to go and get tinned cat food, it really isn't easy to get a variety of tinned cat food these days. Anyway then came the question, will you come for lunch with me? Oh bloody hell, I'm not going to make my next weight target before my birthday, but considering where we were a year ago, days to have lunch out with Steve are precious! Lunch it was! 

I've been a bit concerned about Orin and Siska, maybe I'm overthinking, but it's what I do! Following the mating on Saturday, Orin had had a few drops of blood around his willy, that continued into Sunday but he seemed 100% fine in himself. As they separated from the tie on Saturday, Orin gave a squeal. I guess as a madien bitch she was probably a little tight, anyway he mated her again on Sunday with no issues! We've had no blood since Sunday morning and again he seems full of himself, but he left two breakfasts, well in any situation that is not Orin. Anyway he's eaten normally this morning so let's hope it was just a blip. So Siska, at the beginning of the month, just about the time she was drooling, I had moved the mat from the hall and replaced it with a shorter one. As Siska ran out, she slipped. I saw both her back legs go under her, but she was up and away quickly. Over the next few days she did it three times, and I ended up having to replace the mat. She fell hard and was lame, I thought she must have pulled a muscle or something but wasn't too worried as I saw what happened. Anyway she was then on loxicom for 7 days for her mouth and the limp went away, but now it has returned, and yes I'm overthinking! So a course of loxicm and if it doesn't go this time then I'll have to take her to the vets. I know her hips are Ok, but that doesn't mean she couldn't have hurt her hip, or yeah, pulled a muscle - I sympathise with how long that takes to heal! 

Plas Braich has been sold. I'm pleased for Mandy and Steve, but not feeling great about it myself. It's always a concern to have new people about. Apparently they are brother and sister, they have grown up children who are no longer living with them, no dogs and no cats. Let's hope they can cope with some short periods of barking, and me shouting "Shut the F*ck up!"

In The Fields

Two On Lead Circuits

Well apart from Sammi!!

Getting Away From The Wind

I was so glad I was able to go down to Dinas with Orin and Siska today. Sunny, yes, but such a strong bitter wind in Fron. It was still cold in Dinas too, but dramatically calmer.

The footpath beyond the bridge is just starting to show new growth, at one point we found ourselves in a carpet of short nettles. Orin went through, and to be honest, I may not have noticed it if it wasn't for Siska, she obviously found it uncomfortable.

First day for Beti wearing the anti-bark collar in the van - No success, she barked all the way to Dinas. I swear my blood pressure was through the roof by the time I got there. Anyway, we will try it on 6 tomorrow and see how we go!