Warm Chocolate Labs

With 110 degree heat index outside, you would think Dakota & Cheyenne want to stay in the nice cool central air condition! Well, that is partially true. Both girls will beg to go outside, just to lay on the hot concrete patio and bake in the sun. About 10 minutes later, they paw at the door to come in and crash immediately onto the ice cold kitchen Pergo floor. Why they don't lay in the shade outside or lay on the carpet inside, has got me stumped! I can't help but laugh as the Lab brats jump up once again to head outside, only to bake in the sun once more and start this cycle of hot-cold chocolate confusion.

My husband didn't want black Labs because, ironically, he felt bad for them when they were in the sun. He said it always looked like they were getting overheated. So, he decided on dark chocolate Labrador Retrievers. What's the difference? Not much really. Our girls still overheat but can't seem to break of the sun worshipping but live for life in the cold.

With her tongue hanging out of her freshly watered mouth, Cheyenne just came to wipe her chin on my pants leg and beg once more to go outside and melt in the summer sun. I wonder, am I the mom of this family or just the door lady for two spoiled Labs?

Poisonous Plants

Dakota and Cheyenne just can't keep their mouths off of things... hence, I did some research and decided once again to write an article on my findings.

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One of the most common elements to brighten any home is the use of both indoor and outdoor plants. Unknown to most, some of the prettiest of plants can be the most poisonous and deadly to animals, including their family Labrador Retriever.

Labs are known chewers and with that said, they will put their mouth on almost anything within their reach. This includes things not only on the floor but also items on counters, tables, and anyplace else your Lab may be able to climb up to. So, before you buy that pretty plant you saw at the store, check to make sure it is not on this list.

Read the full article here: http://www.8pawsup.com/articles/poisonousplants.html

OCD Scare Resolved

If it looks like OCD and cracks like OCD, then it usually is OCD. We are happy to announce that, in our case, it is not OCD!! (Read Cheyenne's Scare Here)

Cheyenne had a vet appointment on Saturday and they took a couple of more x-rays. As both girls waited in the small room with us (we took Dakota along for the ride), we talked about not how much that particular appointment would be but how much the OCD surgery would be. The vet comes in and announces that everything looks great! He put the films up to the light and showed us the area that once had a small flattening and now it was as round as a ball. Wonderful news! No surgery for Cheyenne!

So now it is 2 more weeks of crate rest and slowly introducing activity back into her schedule. She still has a slight limp but she is on Metacam right now so the vet said that she could possibly have a sprain or pull and it isn't inflamed due to the medication. Only time will tell how well Cheyenne does but right now we know it is nothing serious and our baby Lab is safe and healthy!

Now if we could only figure out why Dakota keeps straining her back left leg and stiffening up, we should be fine!

Lab Behavior Problems - Biting & Mouthing

Being a first-time Labrador Retriever owner brings with it not only responsibility but often battle scars. This particular dog breed was bred for using its mouth for hunting and retrieving game. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see a Lab have the natural instinct to put everything and anything in its mouth; including its owner's hands, clothing, and most prized personal items. Unfortunately, most Lab owners will take this behavior and commonly label the dog as a "freak" to its breed. To do so is wrong. The Labrador Retriever is just doing what it was designed to do and it is the owner's responsibility to teach it what is and is not acceptable behavior. Know the types of biting, the warning signs, and how to correct unwanted behavior. [Read Full Article . . .]

Sassy Labbie

Been a number of days between postings and everyone is so eager to know how our little "sassy" girl, Cheyenne, is doing these days. The easiest way to put it is that I haven't had a chance to post a blog in days because of her. No, nothing is wrong. Actually Cheyenne has been feeling so good these days that it has been difficult to keep her resting. She is almost 9 months old and has the energy level of 5 young Lab pups due to being kept confined in the house so much. You know how they say, a tired pup is a good pup? Well, they spoke from the hold grail of raising Lab pups! Cheyenne was usually a ball of energy even with a day at doggie day care, a day at the dog park, daily walks, and playing hard with her sister and next door Golden Retriever each week! Now you take all that puppy energy and stick it in a house, without those outlets, and you get a pain in the rear end or, in my case, a pain in the knee!

Why the knee? Well Dakota and Cheyenne were doing their cat fighting this morning with all teeth showing and wandered their play fight right over to mommy (me), while I was folding clothes. Needless to say, Cheyenne mistakenly took my knee for Dakota's face and now I have a couple of nice teeth scratches on my right knee! That wasn't the only part of my body she got this morning! After waking up, she lunged to greet me and landed on the top of my left foot. Dakota was energetic too and decided to roll a hard plastic treat ball hard across the floor. It just so happened it met the ball of my right ankle! In one morning, I am down one knee, one ankle, and one foot! Oh how I am praying the vet says she can go back to at least walks soon. Keep your fingers cross that the x-rays turn out good on Saturday or I might start losing more body parts!

Chocolate Lab Pictures

With 98 degree temperatures outside, my girls wanted nothing more than to lay out in the sun (why? I dont know!). So, I thought it would be a perfect time to get some updated pictures to share with everyone! Here they are (and dont forget to look at my new picture on the sidebar - its two of my favs!)

Dakota

Cheyenne

Update on Cheyenne

It has been almost a week now since we brought Cheyenne to the vet and she was diagnosed with OCD. I am happy to report that she is doing very well and hasn't been limping at all. For the last week, she has been on an anti-inflammatory/steroid medication, joint supplements twice daily, crated at night and when we are not home, not going to dog parks, not going to doggie daycare, and no long walks. Yes, I know, I have been a bad mommy. The vet had said that our Lab baby was to be crated 23 out of 24 hours a day and no walks at all. Well, needless to say, she is 8-months old and a ball of energy so we had to make some adjustments to this prescription.

Now before you go on bashing me for being the most rotten Lab mommy, let me explain a couple of things. First, she is not allowed to run around the backyard and is either on a leash or we are out there to stop her. Second, she is not allowed to rough-house with her sister, Dakota. They can play mildly but as soon as it becomes the Indy-500, they are stopped. Thirdly, there was only one walk and it was a slow walk, on grass, around 1 block only. On the walk, Cheyenne was not allowed to run or jump... Just a slow and steady walk on a soft surface.

As for being crated 23 out of 24 hours; well there is no need really. At this very moment, I am sitting at my desk with Cheyenne asleep to my left and Dakota asleep to my right. (Heaven forbid if I have to get up to go to the bathroom right now!) Since they are behaving and Cheyenne is resting, there is no need for her to be in the crate. Of course, if she starts to become her normal, wild-demon self again, she will be "kenneled up". If there is no need, then why confine the pup? I mean, Lab puppy energy is hard enough as it is, but to contain it for 23 out of 24 hours a day is suicide!

Osteochondritis Dessicans (OCD) Article

Cheyenne was diagnosed with OCD a few days ago and since then I have been devouring all the information I can on the topic: the disease, statistics, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of OCD. With all this information, I decided to write another article in the hopes that it will help prevent other Labs and their owners from having to go through this disease. I know that some things are out of our control but I think every Lab owner should be informed about this disease and how to detect the early warning signs.

Labrador Retriever Osteochondritis Dessicans (OCD)

I would greatly appreciate it if you all can take the time to read it and comment back. You know how much I respect your opinions. :)

Too Much Puppy Energy!

Three days since Cheyenne's OCD diagnosis and she is starting to walk much better. Keeping her calm has been a great challenge these days as the more we make her rest, the more she wants to get out and run like a normal Labrador Retriever puppy. Our strict orders have been:

• Crate rest for 23 out of the 24 hours in a day.
• Allowed out of the crate for bathroom (potty) runs.
• Must be taken outside to go to the bathroom on a leash only.
• No doggie daycare.
• No dog parks.
• No jumping and running with her sister, Dakota.
• Steroid/ anti-inflammatory medication once a day.
• Joint/hip supplements twice a day. (recommended)

Okay, so we haven't followed this exactly to the letter. Cheyenne has been allowed out of her crate when we are home and most of the time she is sleeping at our feet. However, when she wants to run or play rough with Dakota, we stop her immediately and give her something to chew on or do that won't cause her to run or walk too much. We haven't limited her to a leash while outside, but that is because she hasn't really wanted to run and they were quick visits to the backyard just to get her business done. She is not allowed to jump or run at all, she has been taken off the doggie daycare list, and there have been absolutely no dog park visits. The only time she has left the property was to go out to get ice cream with us while both Lab pups stayed in the backseat of the car.

Trying to get the 8-month old puppy energy out of her in ways that won't hurt her has been a daunting task. Labs are full of energy and need at least 60-90 minutes of exercise a day. If they don't get this exercise, they become upset and can begin negative behaviors such as chewing on things they are not supposed to or even causing a great deal of damage to the house. Needless to say, we have two weeks left of her crate rest and we, as humans, are getting tired very quickly. It is more of a mental than physical tiredness. It seems some creative research is in order to find out other ways of expelling this great mass of energy from that 65-pound Lab puppy body. Wish us luck!

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)

Cheyenne did end up going to the vet yesterday after about 2 weeks of slight limping and then 2 days of more pronounced limping. She was hobbling so badly that we became highly concerned when she was no longer playing a lot and sleeping more often. The vet had manipulated her front right leg in so many different ways but Cheyenne neither cried nor became protective of her limb. After some x-rays, the vet declared that she had the very early stages of OCD.

The ends of bones that form joints are covered with cartilage. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) results when the cartilage in joints thickens and no longer received adequate nutrition. As a result, the cartilage dies and begins to develop small cracks. This process inflames the joint and causes a flap of cartilage to dislodge. The flap of cartilage often floats free in the joint, impairing joint function. The result is lameness and joint degeneration.

OCD is seen most frequently in dogs that weigh more than 50 pounds and are less than one year old. OCD can occur in most joints of the body , but is seen most commonly in the shoulder joints.

The cause of OCD is not precisely known, but genetics, rapid growth, and overfeeding may all be risk factors.

The vet said that since it is the very early stages, we should proceed with a non-surgical treatment. This means that Cheyenne is on 2 weeks of total crate rest, no doggie daycare, no walks, no dog park, no play fighting with her sister, no running, and basically no fun (as far as Cheyenne is concerned). She should only be out of the crate for bathroom breaks and eating - that's it! Needless to say, we are 24 hours into this regiment and she is not happy. In 2 weeks, we will take another set of x-rays and see how she is doing. If she is better and the site looks like it is repairing itself, then it will be 2 more weeks of crate rest and no surgery. If it is not repaired and if it has gotten worse, then surgery will be scheduled.

Of course, we are hoping for no surgery and have decided to buy some Cosequin (TM) supplements to help her along. She is also on an anti-inflammatory and steroid medication from the vet so, hopefully, with everything we are doing, we can steer clear of that OR table!

Sore Lab Pup

Alas, my Cheyenne is worse today then she was on Tuesday. At first I felt it was my fault since we let her go to doggie daycare yesterday. However, my wonderful husband was supposed to tell the daycare that although Cheyenne looked fine, she needed to take it easy for the day. If you guessed that he forgot to tell them, you would be right.

When she returned home last night, she was at her worst. Still no crying or protecting her leg by keeping it up in the air, but she was hobbling worse. We gave her a couple of pieces of "special cheese" (aspirin wrapped in sliced cheese) last night but that doesn't seem to help. This morning I got down on the floor with her and pushed her paw down into my hand to see if it was truly her paw or some other part of her front right leg. After some pushing and moving of her leg, she turned her head to lick my hand when I started to rub her elbow. Usually this is a sign that someone is on the right track and I just pray, once again, that it is nothing serious.

[Video Clip of Cheyenne Limping]

I have finally had enough and will be calling the vet this morning when they open and have decided to take the day off in order to get her to see them and watch out for her. We haven't given her anything for the pain because I want her to walk the same way for the vet and have the same amount of pain so to assist him in figuring out what is wrong. Sure, I feel bad about this but since she can't talk, this is the only way to help figure out what is wrong. She is, after all, my Lab baby and I want her back to normal as soon as possible!

Our Baby Girl is Hurt

Our 4th of July started off well considering that we have been testing the Labs out of their crates for the night and were woken up by both girls at 3am because they were bored and wanted to play. We got up for a little potty break, decided to kennel the girls up and headed back to bed. At 6:00am, Cheyenne could take no more and make such a loud noise to let us know that our sleeping in was not an option.

With so much energy and fireworks tonight, what were we to do? Easy - head to the dog park for some early morning fun. Our usual hour spent there was cut short by about 40 minutes when Cheyenne came limping out of the muddy river bed. Our baby girl was hurt. We should have known better since she had been limping on an off for about a week now. Of course, we thought she was all better but it was evident from her limp that her right paw/wrist/leg was bothering her once again.

She is hobbling but not crying, holding it in the air, or even really paying attention to the pain she must be in. It seems like she is more uncomfortable then anything else at this point. So, we headed back home early and gave her some special cheese (American cheese with a couple of aspirin hidden in it) immediately. With the exception of getting up every now and then (hobbling), she is resting comfortably at my feet. The stairs have been blocked off and no rough play for this puppy! Doggie daycare tomorrow will have strict instructions to keep her from playing too hard and if it isn't any better within the next few days, we will have to pay a visit to our furry doctor (the vet). We pray it is nothing more than a soft tissue strain.

Socialization & Other Lab Families

Meeting other dog breed is an important part of the socialization process for any dog. This weekend, we were able to meet a fellow Labrador Retriever online forum member at our local dog park.

The family we were supposed to meet got a little lost, so we decided to let our girl have the run of the park while we waited. After being handed a little bag of birthday treats from a fellow dog park native (who's English Setter had turned 1), we found a very large stick and started to toss it as far as we could into the river. Dakota and Cheyenne had no problems diving into the cool water to retrieve this monster of a stick and after a while, you could tell that they girls were getting tired. Even the annoying American Bulldog, who kept nipping at the girls and trying to play rough, didn't get to them as they ran until they were out of breath.

A long stroll around the park, to let the girls dry off, wore them out even more. A couple of dogs here and there stopped by to say hello but only only tried to dominate our little Cheyenne. Although she was rolled onto her back, she give this dominant male a little nip and he backed off immediately. Sure, he was about 20 lbs heavier than her but, when a girl says no, she means no!

On our way out of the park, we bumped into our lost family. A little yellow Lab pup, named Ender, greeted the girls with one huge Lab smile. We decided that since the girls still have 15 minutes left of their hour-long stay in the park, we would introduce this family to the park and to our own Lab family. It was a great experience and I realized at that moment that Lab families are quite different than other dog families. We are not reserved and have more of a out-going type of personality. I had never given a thought to the possibility that maybe the family's own personality denotes the perfect dog breed for that family. That is definitely something to think about today as I watch my girls sleeping on the floor beside me and dreaming of their next adventure in the dog park.