The three of us are heading to the Catskills in a few hours. I will blog about about our trip when we get back on the 27th!!
Happy Holidays!!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas greetings from our home to yours!!!
I want to wish all my readers and followers a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season!! May the Lord bless you this Christmas and always!
The three of us are heading to the Catskills in a few hours. I will blog about about our trip when we get back on the 27th!!
Happy Holidays!!
The three of us are heading to the Catskills in a few hours. I will blog about about our trip when we get back on the 27th!!
Happy Holidays!!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Christmas in Catskills!!!!
The three of us are gearing up for Christmas which is just around the corner!!! New York City looks spectacular during the Holiday Season with the huge and brightly lit Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, decorated stores and their window displays! We see people singing Christmas carols here and there! The first snow fell on our city this week and it was so lovely!! The first snow is always the loveliest! It's surely the most wonderful time of the year. We've been busy this week doing our Christmas shopping and is there anything more exciting than buying Christmas presents for your loved ones?? We can't wait for Christmas day to open up our nicely wrapped 'surprise presents'! Walley has a christmas present too; waiting to be opened up on Christmas morning!
So, for Christmas this year, the three of us are going to be celebrating the merry occasion in the Catskill mountains. Elwyn and I had celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary (3 years ago) in the Catskills and it surely feels lovely and exciting to be re-visiting the same lodge we stayed at back then!! We'll be staying at this very comfy and homely place called Cold Spring Lodge in Big Indian, New York. The Catskill mountains are amazingly gorgeous and this time of year with all the snow, it looks a lot like paradise on earth!! Walley loves to run and play in the snow, Elwyn loves to ski and I love to snowshoe and we totally love each other so we're really looking forward to an exciting, adventurous and old fashioned Christmas this year!! We'll be driving to the Catskills on the 23rd afternoon and will be driving back home on the 27th afternoon. It's only a 3 hour drive each way. One of those days that we're at the Catskills, we plan on visiting Woodstock (if you remember from my older posts, the three of us had been to Woodstock last year for just a day to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary). Woodstock is not too far from where we'll be staying in the Catskills so we're also excited about Candlestock and Woofstock (stores in Woodstock) for some candle-shopping and doggie-toys/treats-shopping as well!
The three of us can't wait to celebrate this Christmas in a quaint little town, the traditional way!! The last time Elwyn and I were at that lodge in Catskills (3 years ago), we just loved sitting and warming up by the fireplace because that is something we never get to do in the city! And this time, we have Walley joining us so we're going to enjoy our stay there all the more!! The three of us are eagerly waiting for a 'Merry Little Christmas in Catskills'!!
So, for Christmas this year, the three of us are going to be celebrating the merry occasion in the Catskill mountains. Elwyn and I had celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary (3 years ago) in the Catskills and it surely feels lovely and exciting to be re-visiting the same lodge we stayed at back then!! We'll be staying at this very comfy and homely place called Cold Spring Lodge in Big Indian, New York. The Catskill mountains are amazingly gorgeous and this time of year with all the snow, it looks a lot like paradise on earth!! Walley loves to run and play in the snow, Elwyn loves to ski and I love to snowshoe and we totally love each other so we're really looking forward to an exciting, adventurous and old fashioned Christmas this year!! We'll be driving to the Catskills on the 23rd afternoon and will be driving back home on the 27th afternoon. It's only a 3 hour drive each way. One of those days that we're at the Catskills, we plan on visiting Woodstock (if you remember from my older posts, the three of us had been to Woodstock last year for just a day to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary). Woodstock is not too far from where we'll be staying in the Catskills so we're also excited about Candlestock and Woofstock (stores in Woodstock) for some candle-shopping and doggie-toys/treats-shopping as well!
The three of us can't wait to celebrate this Christmas in a quaint little town, the traditional way!! The last time Elwyn and I were at that lodge in Catskills (3 years ago), we just loved sitting and warming up by the fireplace because that is something we never get to do in the city! And this time, we have Walley joining us so we're going to enjoy our stay there all the more!! The three of us are eagerly waiting for a 'Merry Little Christmas in Catskills'!!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Walley enjoys the 'Belly Rub'!!!
I have not heard of a single dog that doesn't enjoy a belly rub! They all love it!! Our Walley has enjoyed getting a belly rub since he was a little pup!! On most days, he actually demands for one by laying on his back with belly on top so Elwyn or I can give him a nice and long 'belly rub'!!
Here is a short clip of Walley enjoying a belly rub ( from Elwyn) when he was 3 months old:
Here is a short clip of Walley enjoying a belly rub ( from Elwyn) when he was 3 months old:
Saturday, December 4, 2010
I am back on my Blog!!
I know!!! It's been quite a while since I last blogged: a month to be exact!!! Let me tell you, it wasn't a planned absence. In fact, it was a rather circumstantial one and you will see 'why' as you read along.
I will be combining two articles in this post just to make it easy for me and my readers. Please note that the first blog-post has no relevance or significance with the second one. Like I said, I am merely combining two posts to make the writing and reading easier.
Read along below-
To Neuter or Not: that was the BIG question!!!
It was a really tough call to make. I was debating in my mind for several months if I should or shouldn't neuter Walley. The "ifs" and "buts" were so overwhelming that I just couldn't come to a firm decision easily. Elwyn said he trusted any decision I would make with regards to this matter and left it completely up to me to make the final call!!
After much perplexity, Cesar Milan came to my mental rescue. Yes, Cesar Milan- the famous "Dog Whisperer". It was after reading this particular article written by him that I was able to come to a firm decision without any regrets ever after. Here is the link to Cesar's article which I really urge everyone to read:
http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/basics/spay-and-neuter-myths
So, you can now very well guess what I must have finally decided. Yes, we got Walley neutered on the 8th of November. It was a 'day' surgery. Walley went in to the clinic at 9 am for the surgery and came back home at 6 pm that same evening. Dr. Tufaro conducted the 'neuter' surgery on Walley. Both Elwyn and I are so grateful to God that we have Dr. Tufaro as Walley's Vet. He's the best animal doctor I've ever met. Walley adores him and loves to see him and his assistants every single time we go the clinic!! Can you even imagine that? Most dogs hate going to a Vet but our munchkin loves Dr. Tufaro's clinic. The people there are so warm and friendly!!
The stitches from the surgery were removed exactly 10 days later. Walley wore the Elizabethian Collar only for two or three days after the surgery. The surgical wound healed very nicely before the stitches were removed. And, Walley did perfectly fine after the stitches were removed as well.
One piece of advice I'd like to give people who are confused about neutering their dogs. If you are hesitating to neuter your dog just because you have heard that dogs become inactive or less playful after neutering; you will surprise yourselves that it's only a myth. Walley is just as playful after the "neuter" surgery as he was before it. Of course, on the day of surgery he was groggy and lethargic but that was the very obvious effect of the anesthesia and some of the routine vaccines which he had received that day. The very next day of the surgery, Walley was so cheerful and playful like he was never neutered at all.
Elwyn and I are so relieved that we overcame our fears and myths about neutering and did just the right thing for our munchkin.
Thank you Cesar Milan and Dr. Tufaro!!
Hot Spots: I didn't even know such a thing existed!!
Last Sunday, only a few hours after we brought Walley home from a 5-day stay at the New York Dog Hotel which he thoroughly enjoyed, we noticed our munchkin was bleeding slightly from the left side of his face. I tried to clean the area with some water but Walley felt a lot of pain just to mild touch. Because the hair on his face was covering the actual site of the bleeding, I wasn't able to see what was going on there.
Elwyn and I immediately took Walley to the Animal Medical Center ( the Emergency Hospital where Walley was treated for Seizure in January). The attending emergency doctor told us that Walley has a Hot Spot. A Hot Spot? I didn't even know what that was until the doctor explained it to us. 'Hot Spot' is a term used for moist dermatitis and the causes for it are many including 'idiopathic'. In Walley's case, the hot spot was an idiopathic one which means the reason for it is not known. Golden Retrievers are, however, naturally very susceptible to skin infections owing to their type of skin coat. The doctor at the Emergency Center shaved and scrubed the affected area on Walley's face ( which is part of the treatment for Hot Spots).
We brought Walley home from the hospital the same night and put him on Antibiotics ( to treat the secondary infection) and Bendaryl ( to prevent itching) as prescribed by the doctor at the Emergency Center. Two days later, I could see that the lesion on Walley's face was healing but there was still some pus oozing out. So, I decided to take him to Dr. Tufaro ( Walley's regular Vet). Dr. Tufaro cleaned the affected area on Walley's face more thoroughly and also gave me a cleaning solution ( Chlorhexadine) to use at home for Walley. Dr. Tufaro said that this type of skin infection is very common in Golden Retrievers and that there is nothing to worry about. He said the wound will heal very well and Walley may never even get a Hot Spot again! That's a relief!!
Here are a few pictures of Walley's healing Hot Spot:
Here are a two pictures of Walley getting cozy while taking a nap on the couch. The Elizabethian collar he is wearing is just to prevent him from scratching his face.
Well, Walley is doing much better now and he is still on the antibiotic Clavamox 375 mg which he will need to take for another week. Walley's face is definitely healing very well. We are certain that in two weeks time, Walley will look and feel just great and he will be ready for a wonderful Christmas celebration with us! Oh and just so you know, he is still very cheerful and playful (as always) despite the Hot Spot!
That's all from us for now. I am glad I finally blogged despite being very busy taking caring of my munchkin. Please look forward to some really cute videos of Walley that I will be posting shortly. These videos were taken when Walley was 2-3 months old. I am sure you will enjoy watching them.
Have a lovely weekend!!
I will be combining two articles in this post just to make it easy for me and my readers. Please note that the first blog-post has no relevance or significance with the second one. Like I said, I am merely combining two posts to make the writing and reading easier.
Read along below-
To Neuter or Not: that was the BIG question!!!
It was a really tough call to make. I was debating in my mind for several months if I should or shouldn't neuter Walley. The "ifs" and "buts" were so overwhelming that I just couldn't come to a firm decision easily. Elwyn said he trusted any decision I would make with regards to this matter and left it completely up to me to make the final call!!
After much perplexity, Cesar Milan came to my mental rescue. Yes, Cesar Milan- the famous "Dog Whisperer". It was after reading this particular article written by him that I was able to come to a firm decision without any regrets ever after. Here is the link to Cesar's article which I really urge everyone to read:
http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/basics/spay-and-neuter-myths
So, you can now very well guess what I must have finally decided. Yes, we got Walley neutered on the 8th of November. It was a 'day' surgery. Walley went in to the clinic at 9 am for the surgery and came back home at 6 pm that same evening. Dr. Tufaro conducted the 'neuter' surgery on Walley. Both Elwyn and I are so grateful to God that we have Dr. Tufaro as Walley's Vet. He's the best animal doctor I've ever met. Walley adores him and loves to see him and his assistants every single time we go the clinic!! Can you even imagine that? Most dogs hate going to a Vet but our munchkin loves Dr. Tufaro's clinic. The people there are so warm and friendly!!
The stitches from the surgery were removed exactly 10 days later. Walley wore the Elizabethian Collar only for two or three days after the surgery. The surgical wound healed very nicely before the stitches were removed. And, Walley did perfectly fine after the stitches were removed as well.
One piece of advice I'd like to give people who are confused about neutering their dogs. If you are hesitating to neuter your dog just because you have heard that dogs become inactive or less playful after neutering; you will surprise yourselves that it's only a myth. Walley is just as playful after the "neuter" surgery as he was before it. Of course, on the day of surgery he was groggy and lethargic but that was the very obvious effect of the anesthesia and some of the routine vaccines which he had received that day. The very next day of the surgery, Walley was so cheerful and playful like he was never neutered at all.
Elwyn and I are so relieved that we overcame our fears and myths about neutering and did just the right thing for our munchkin.
Thank you Cesar Milan and Dr. Tufaro!!
Hot Spots: I didn't even know such a thing existed!!
Last Sunday, only a few hours after we brought Walley home from a 5-day stay at the New York Dog Hotel which he thoroughly enjoyed, we noticed our munchkin was bleeding slightly from the left side of his face. I tried to clean the area with some water but Walley felt a lot of pain just to mild touch. Because the hair on his face was covering the actual site of the bleeding, I wasn't able to see what was going on there.
Elwyn and I immediately took Walley to the Animal Medical Center ( the Emergency Hospital where Walley was treated for Seizure in January). The attending emergency doctor told us that Walley has a Hot Spot. A Hot Spot? I didn't even know what that was until the doctor explained it to us. 'Hot Spot' is a term used for moist dermatitis and the causes for it are many including 'idiopathic'. In Walley's case, the hot spot was an idiopathic one which means the reason for it is not known. Golden Retrievers are, however, naturally very susceptible to skin infections owing to their type of skin coat. The doctor at the Emergency Center shaved and scrubed the affected area on Walley's face ( which is part of the treatment for Hot Spots).
We brought Walley home from the hospital the same night and put him on Antibiotics ( to treat the secondary infection) and Bendaryl ( to prevent itching) as prescribed by the doctor at the Emergency Center. Two days later, I could see that the lesion on Walley's face was healing but there was still some pus oozing out. So, I decided to take him to Dr. Tufaro ( Walley's regular Vet). Dr. Tufaro cleaned the affected area on Walley's face more thoroughly and also gave me a cleaning solution ( Chlorhexadine) to use at home for Walley. Dr. Tufaro said that this type of skin infection is very common in Golden Retrievers and that there is nothing to worry about. He said the wound will heal very well and Walley may never even get a Hot Spot again! That's a relief!!
Here are a few pictures of Walley's healing Hot Spot:
Here are a two pictures of Walley getting cozy while taking a nap on the couch. The Elizabethian collar he is wearing is just to prevent him from scratching his face.
Well, Walley is doing much better now and he is still on the antibiotic Clavamox 375 mg which he will need to take for another week. Walley's face is definitely healing very well. We are certain that in two weeks time, Walley will look and feel just great and he will be ready for a wonderful Christmas celebration with us! Oh and just so you know, he is still very cheerful and playful (as always) despite the Hot Spot!
That's all from us for now. I am glad I finally blogged despite being very busy taking caring of my munchkin. Please look forward to some really cute videos of Walley that I will be posting shortly. These videos were taken when Walley was 2-3 months old. I am sure you will enjoy watching them.
Have a lovely weekend!!
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