a fungus among us

It's a rainy day and the dogs think I should stay in the hammock with them, so here's an update. Ernie had his follow up blood test and, while his liver and kidneys are fine, he tested positive for heartworm. This happened since his last blood test, so at least we caught it early. We also took a few other dogs in for check-ups. Tito and Lucy tested positive for ehrlichiosis. As they say, bad things happen in 3's. Since I'm not actually superstitious, that brings no consolation. The vet is coming on Sunday to administer blood tests to the whole pack, cats included. Hopefully nothing else shows up, Everyone should be fine, but we've got our hands full at the moment. Along with the antibiotics for Lucy and Tito twice daily for ehrlichiosis, Lucy and Greta are taking glucosamin and Greta and Tito need medicated baths every other day to combat a fungus. Suffice it to say, Greta is not easy to bathe.
Oh well, can't always have blue skies.

Reggie isn't worried (he is however, the biggest dog! how did that happen?):


Most of the dogs like the water.
Shirley loves it:



Henry wades and Gowron is champion in her weight class:


Greta, on the other hand, is not a fan. Despite this, we're making her swim for exercise. She needs to lose weight and she currently can't walk much because of a hip problem. Getting her to swim is about as hard as giving her a bath.
step 1:


step 2:


step 3:


success:

a short video of our little mermaid:

...I chased a fly off her nose as she swam by, in case you were wondering.

Whenever some dogs go for a swim or a run, lots of others stay home.
Otto, Bette and Osita watch the others return:



waiting for the door to open:


any minute now:


my pal Otto in morning light:

good times

Some pictures from this morning. The water was beautiful, so I took Rufus out for a swim. He loves the water and is a great swimmer! He doesn't look at all like the drowned marmot that showed up last February.
A good time was had by all.

It's a dog's life

September was a sweaty and itchy month.
Some rain, little wind and massive amounts of stinging/biting insects.
pretty beetle that doesn't bite:














This shot was taken from our roof. Rain meets fire.
a brush fire reflects off a storm cloud:














October brought a break in the heat.
Tito likes blanket:


















Ernie is back to his old self:


















These were taken using an ill-fitting water resistant camera bag.
I kind of like the periscope feel.
race to the beach:














Rufus and April:














Maggie, April and Zasu:














a well watched yard:














Last post had a picture from after dinner.
here's a before dinner shot:














and video from the same night:


Dinner at dusk, runs at dawn; it's a dog's life.
last leg of Sean's morning run:














Sean, 2 brothers and 2 sisters:














Archie and George bring up the rear:














We call our evening walk "the shorties and the fatties".
guess why:














going home:

August update

August has come and gone. It was a rough month, one of our dogs was attacked by ants and had an allergic reaction. He had gone with Sean and a bunch of other dogs on their normal morning run when he started showing signs that something was wrong. In no time, he was unable to walk and Sean had to carry him home. No easy feat, Ernie is a big boy.
His head and neck started to swell, he was listless, his tongue was blue, his heart was racing and he could barely breath. Very scary. I didn't take pictures because I didn't think he was going to survive. Initially the bite marks were almost unnoticeable, but after a few days the extent of the attack became apparent.
Poor, sweet, noisy Ernie. He's my hero! Even though he was terribly weak, he always managed to stagger outside to relieve himself. What came out of him belonged in a horror movie. Blood out of both ends for a few days. Unreal.
Blood test indicated that he may have some liver damage, but we're hoping for the best. He's going in for another round of tests soon to find out. He hasn't wanted to go on a walk since, which is worrying, but he is otherwise largely recovered.




Other than the Ernie incident, things have been uneventful. Great swimming weather, a few cool bugs (and lots more irritating ones), nice lightning storms ...summer in the Yucatan.
I don't have much to post, I just hate to have a month go by without an update.

neat beetle:


crazy red-eyed, black grasshoppers:


Miles in action:


shaggy Maggie -her coat is growing out:


armadillo skeleton:


after doggie dinner:

happy as a dog in mud

Some of the pictures are a little gloomy because it's been overcast;
rainy season is here. At the end of June, Maldi started coming along on walks.
Such an odd cat.

Tito follows Maldi:















Maldi and Tito on the trail:


















from Maldi's first walk:


July has brought rainbows and puddles.
double rainbow over our house:














dogs play under a rainbow:


















everybody (except Miles & me) plays in the first mud puddle of the walk:














Puppy G and Maggie share an enthusiasm for mud:














Tuesday and Maggie.
happy, filthy little beasts:


















Maggie at her most satisfied:


















April is less of a fan of the mud.
striking a pose:














she still manages to get good and wet:














everybody's favorite puddle:


puddle part II:


Tito is doing great! His skin is healthy, his coat is shiny
and he's put on some muscle. He has a big voice, too.
He doesn't care much for the mud, but he's a fan of walks.
Tito in the lead:






















Lots of walks, but lots of time spent relaxing.
Ginger, Chester and Lucy at home:

el bandito Tito Negrito

Last Wednesday (I think), we got a little surprise... another dog showed up at our fence. The house alarm was sounded (it sounds like a lot of barking ) and Sean went out to retrieve what, at first glance, appeared to be a puppy.
It was instead a full grown chihuahua. Skinny little guy with a bit of gray. He isn't at all trembly or snippy. I didn't even know I wanted a chihuahua!
Since we already had an appointment scheduled for the formerly fluffy girls and Rufus, Tito went in to be neutered just days after he got here. He was very brave on the ride to the veterinarian's office. He's home now and healing well. He's about half the size of Miles and has impossibly skinny and bowlegged back legs . He's been de-wormed, de-loused and vaccinated, so I think he'll soon be filling out a little. He has totally charmed me. He's got loads of personality. I assume he was dumped, but I can't imagine why. He can't possibly eat that much! Whatever, people suck. Chihuahuas on the other hand, can be pretty cool. I'm guessing he's about 4 or 5, maybe older.
Don't they look happy together? Sean and Tito:


















Tito checks things out:


















all together now...aaaaaaaawwww:


















first bath:














Zasu, Archie and Tito:






















me, Rufus, Godzilla and Tito:


















come on? again with the big spaces? what the hell? I'm (temporarily) giving up in frustration.

spay and a haircut

Maggie and April have been spayed. Mags, who was in heat when she was dumped, was pregnant. They both came through great, but Maggie managed to pull out 2 stitches on her second day at home. Gross.
She's fine now, but is spending a few days at the vet's office.

Maggie (l) and April (r):

we had the girls clipped while they were there.
Maggie(l) and April (r):


















The groomer was wise and left a tuft on April's tail, to help us tell them apart.
I think they look adorable: