The Summer on the Farm

Well it wasn't a very good summer. 10 days after Crackerjack went out on lease to a new home,
in mid July I came home to a 3 legged horse in distress, and found a nail in Ella's foot

The chances for her survival of this injury were quite slim, as infection in that joint would be an insurmountable problem. So 3 times a day for the first week I soaked her foot in epsom salts and betadine solution, packed it with sugardine and prayed. Then 4 more weeks of twice a day packing with sugardine and bandaging. She was on 2 antibiotics, and due to her ulcer history, cemetidine, also anti inflamatories, all which had to be mixed and syringed into her twice a day. I was in the barn from 430 am till 11pm and exhausted.
      As Ella improved my sweet Keyna stopped eating. I started each day cooking chicken for her and kept calling my vet, but as she had no fever, vomiting or diarrhea, and her abdomen was soft he said it was just because she was spoiled.

Well spoiled or not my girl was not well so we went to several other vets,
found a new practice for my pet care and some Vets who were compassionate.
Unfortunately through all the blood work repeated, ultrasounds 10 days apart the news wasn't good. Keyna had Lymphoma. Due to her MDR1 mutant status, she hadn't eaten much for 3 weeks now and was fading fast, I decided to go with just prednisone, I wanted her to feel good and have some more good time with her. I have now been cooking canine cuisine for 6 wonderful weeks :-) Keyna and I are trying to spend quality time together, we just hang out a lot as she is weak and needs lots of sleep, but she is happy. All the dogs are enjoying the special treats added to their dinners.


    My two little goaters did come home the end of july,
and Ella welcomed them ,she was happy to once again be part of a herd.

These 2 are getting very friendly, and very soft and wooly, Mocha/Kona has the softest cashmere quality under coat, while Latte has adorable soft mohair ringlets.

 And because she has her Championship it is now time for Inca to be the performance dog, she and I have started herding lessons.