Mountain Tails

02/23/2022

Amazing news for dog owners who deal with this horrible disease!

💊🐶 The generic version of the drug known as Vi**ra could be the remedy for dogs with a rare and deadly eating disorder called megaesophagus. Many dogs with the disease die or are humanely euthanized due to poor quality of life within 8 months. Research by veterinarian Dr. Jillian Haines looks to improve that.

Read the story: https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2022/02/21/viagra-promising-as-treatment-for-dogs-with-often-fatal-eating-disorder/

Support the WSU megaesophagus research fund: https://foundation.wsu.edu/give/?fund=f9ea8505-876e-4ae3-8f9e-e61ad390088f&cat=idonate_colleges&area=idonate_veterinary_medicine&utm_source=vet-med&utm_medium=news-story&utm_campaign=cvm-megaesophagus-research-fund

11/26/2019

As an owner of rescued dogs, and also purebred dogs that were purchased from responsible breeders that I show and hunt, I feel that this is a very "balanced" article that I am about to post, and an opinion that I share with the author. I am getting more and more offended and annoyed by the ignorance of the "adopt don't shop" campaign. I'd love it if someone could come up with something more fitting, and something that is less of a slap in the face to those of us who have bought dogs from responsible breeders, and especially those who ARE responsible breeders. This article isn't long, and although I really encourage you to take five minutes to read it, I realize not everyone has the attention span or wants to open their minds. But before you slap someone in the face again with , maybe you might think about reading it and come back to do just that.

Rescuers are the most amazing people in the dog world. They spend their nights and weekends transporting pets from dire conditions and…

09/18/2019

I can't tell you how many times I had similar conversations with customers. Please put time and effort into researching what breed or mixed breed you adopt or purchase!

Dog owner tells me: Hi, my dog pulls on the leash and runs into the woods after deer if I let it off leash.

Me: Okay. What's the breed?

Owner: A siberian husky mixed with a c**n hound.

Me: Okay, so you have a musher mixed with a hunting type of dog?

Owner: yes.

Me: ok, what are these breeds bred to do?

Owner: well, half of the dog should be pulling and the other half run into the woods and hunt.

Me: Yes. And your problem was?

Owner: it pulls on the leash and runs after wildlife.

Me: yea, it appears that you have a dog meant for pulling and hunting.

Owner: yes, that's correct. Can you train it out of the dog?

Me: Do you have any interests?

Owner: Eh, yea sure I do. I like to paint and watch movies.

Me: can you consider quitting doing that?

Owner: no, I don't think I can. But what does this have to do with dog training?

Me: would you consider doing something else that gives you the same pleasure you get from painting and watching movies?

Owner: I mean, sure I can do other things but it's not as fun.

Me: ok. And what can you offer a musher that is more fun than pulling and a hunting dog that is more fun than hunting?

The dog owner is silent for a while.
Owner: That's a good question. I don't know.

Me: neither do I.

Owner: perhaps I should had gotten myself a PlayStation?

Me: haha, yea if you dont like hunting or being a lot outdoors training perhaps this dog isn't for you.

Owner: yea, one should perhaps read up more before getting a dog. But it's awfully cute!

Me: yes, I understand that.

Owner : it sheds a lot too. My husband goes crazy of all the fur everywhere.

Me: mmm, that's something you have to deal with.

Owner : yes, it was even hairs in the stew last night.

Me: yea that's not uncommon.

Owner : but you know what? I met a husky when I was 12. It was so beautiful. Ever since I've always wanted one.

Me: too bad you didn't meet a PlayStation instead.

Owner laughs: alright, I think I'm starting to understand that it's not the dog that has problems but me.

Me: haha, not much of a "problem". What you are saying is very common. People with guarding dogs gets angry when their dog growls at strangers. People with sighthounds gets frustrated when their dog comes home with a baby rabbit. People often know too little when they get a dog.

Owner : thanks for the chat. I have learned a lot in 10 minutes.

Me: good luck in the future. There's a lot we can do to help you in your training with the dog. But The dog will always have a need and joy to pull and hunt.

Owner: yes, I can understand that now.

----Author unknown.

03/17/2019

Flashback to Walter, one of my favorite sassy Goldens! Came across this photo from a 2014 session. Gone but never forgotten.

06/24/2018

One of my photography clients (who are now good friends) shared this with me today. I had forgotten what a fun dog Finn was to photograph and all the great images I was able to get in just 45 minutes. He was just a big pup then...❤️ If you are a lover of Golden’s, this blog post is worth a look.

Also....when I read my blog post I noticed we had a drought that year but the rains came in July, and by August it was green and lush. Let’s keep hoping for the rain, Telluride is much too dry!

Finner is back!!!!! Finn was one of my favorite photo sessions last year, he had a summer session AND a fall session. Finn is 2.5 years old and just a BIG sweet puppy. You can check out Finn's summer session by going to this link… also featuring a photobomb of Picabo as a puppy. :)

http://www.mountaintailsphotography.com/a-golden-moment-in-telluride/

05/29/2018

I always cringe when I see dogs who are shaved for the summer to “keep them cool”. A dog’s coat, when properly groomed, WILL keep them cool. Shaving them does more harm than good, and also puts the dog at risk for sunburn (especially at higher altitudes)!

Here’s a handy chart to explain it.

04/21/2018

Recall Alert! I get emails alerting me to recalls at least once a week. Pathogens are impossible to keep out of OUR food supply, so the same risk applies to our pets. Vets will like to tell you how risky raw feeding is (I've been a raw feeder for 20 years with no issues, so I would be a proponent of giving our pets real food, and not dry processed cereal). The truth is that the vast majority of recalls I get are treats, chews, or dry dog foods. There is risk in ALL of these products - treats, bully sticks, dry food, canned food, raw food. Healthy dogs and cats can actually handle salmonella and other pathogens without much issue: Their digestive system is very different than ours, and my last dog scarfed down a disgusting rabbit leg in the desert with no problems, when I am quite sure any human would have been sick from the rotten meat.

Most recalls are voluntary and found during routine product testing. PLEASE sign up for recall alerts through Dog Food Advisor! These two are fairly serious and if you have a child that feeds a treat, then doesn't wash their hands, they could very well end up in the hospital. It is also a good idea to pick up pet's bowls after feeding (regardless of what kind of food you feed) if you have a baby/toddler in the house.

Botulism was found in OC Raw freeze dried treats, please see info here: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/oc-raw-dog-recalls-treats-april-2018/

Listeria was found in OC Raw Frozen Food, please see info here: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/oc-raw-dog-food-recall-listeria/

03/29/2018

It's that time of year again, when the snow melts and all the dog p**p ends up in the river, or mixed in with the soil on the bottom of our shoes. Telluride dog owners need to realize how lucky and unusual it is to have our nearly non-existent leash laws, with free p**p stations practically at every corner. However, we still have owners who don't pick up.

There was talk a year ago about a leash law on the river trail (gasp!), under the misguided thought that it would force people to pick up their dog's p**p. Let me inform those who think it will: I have lived in places with nothing but leash laws, and there is still p**p on the sidewalks, on front laws, and on beach walkways. Leash laws in Telluride won't fix the problem.

That said, for those who enjoy Telluride and it's friendly, well-socialized dogs, who are some of the luckiest dogs on earth for the simple reason that they are allowed to behave like dogs -- not restrained, not just allowed by tense owners to quickly sniff at the end of a taut lead and walk on, not forced to stay in a backyard all day or walk only on pavement -- that you PLEASE pick up your p**p, and maybe be nice enough to pick up a random p**p while you are at it. Just because your dog is running and playing doesn't mean you shouldn't be watching it (for many reasons)!

Leaving your dog's f***s on the sidewalk or river trail has ramifications few have thought about - even me - read this article and enlighten yourselves. And yeah - that goes for the folks in Carlsbad, Santa Barbara, Phoenix, and everywhere else where leash laws rule the world.

Pet waste has become a major pollutant, both outdoors and at home

03/23/2018

Happy National Puppy Day! Some local pups (both young and old) to brighten your day...

03/08/2018

This is a fairly widespread recall of a brand carried in groceries stores to pet boutiques. Please forward to friends if you know they feed Redbarn treats, and sign up for recall alerts!

Complete details of the March 2018 Redbarn Pet Products expanded dog chews recall as reported by the editors of the Dog Food Advisor

02/16/2018

Giardia is more prevalent in Telluride during the warmer spring months, so this is a timely article. Most people think giardia causes extreme diarrhea. In actuality, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, from very mild to extreme. One of my dogs that had a stomach of steel never showed any symptoms other than intermittent, slightly mushy p**p. I've had many customers tell me their dog couldn't have giardia because they don't allow them in the river, but your dog can get giardia regardless of if they have been swimming or drinking our of any body of water, so don't count it out if you can't think of any other reason for iffy symptoms (food switch, eating food out of the trash, etc)!

If your pet shows signs of chronic gastrointestinal disease, make sure it's not due to giardia infection that thrives in wildlife and even some human populations.