Ocelot (by SBoyd)
Tag Archives: Animal
1.21.13 Monday Mischief: Foxy Fun
I know that toy is around here somewhere.
Where is that fox?
Mom! I can’t find my fox, do you know where it is?
Mom! Louise has all the toys and she isn’t sharing.
It was a rainy Monday and Mom couldn’t walk so we were stuck inside. Louise wanted to find something special to play with. We removed every toy from the toy box but that wasn’t enough, she was on a mission. I went to mope because Louise was having all the fun. Then… I saw it. – Sofie Bear
Hehehe. Look what I got, Louise. Nana nana na.
BOL (Bark Out Loud)
This is a blog hop. I hopped it from Snoopy’s DogBlog. Check them out for more mischief.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
1.20.13 Black & White Sunday: Always A Smile
Mr. Squash E Bear
Fall 2007
Mister photogenic always had a smile for you. He wasn’t a big kisser but he sure loved to hug. Squash will be gone 3 years next month. Miss you big guy.
This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to My Life in Dog Years for hosting. Click here to get to know other wonderful animals and their parents and to see how you can take part in this fabulous blog hop!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
1.19.13 Caturday: Gertrude’s Request
Sometimes I really miss Gertrude. She was a very quiet cat. She didn’t really interact with many people, or other animals for that matter, but she sure was vocal and bossy with me. It was rare that she even came out of my office, but, as you can see, it was a Sunday, and I was reading the big paper on the table, so she figured she would get up there and push me around. She was a very handy cat. Gerty would always be ‘poking’ and ‘pushing’ me with her paw. I figure that she was saying, “Mom, MOm, MOM!!!! Don’t you see me? I’m here and I want you to pay attention to me. And only me! MOM!!!! Are you listening?”
While I was away last week, K8 found this picture when she was cleaning her room and stuck it into the big picture I have of Squash E Bear next to my bed. It was so sweet to come home and be reminded of a furry love that has passed. Gertrude is gone 5 years now. Sometimes I swear I still see her scampering down the hall into my office. We don’t have any Calicos or long hairs at the moment, so it must be her. I wonder if she is seating with my Mom in heaven (Mom passed away 12 years ago this week, which is maybe why I am reminiscing). Past loves are always with me – just sometimes I feel a particular one more one day than another.
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
1.18.13 Follow-Up Friday
Catching you up on this and that is what Follow-up Friday is about:
The knees. (What Do Other People Do?) Still waiting for MRI. Don’t understand why it takes 2 weeks to get authorization, but it is a good thing that I am a patient person. I assume if I was bleeding out, they would just let rigor mortis set in. I have an appointment with Surgeon next week. Probably tore the meniscus, but with all the arthritis in my knees, this could be a long road back. But anyway, the dogs have decided that they need to protect my knees and immediately, upon returning home from my trip, had to find ways to both apply pressure to each one.
I am absolutely enforcing the ‘don’t run down the stairs before the human’ rule (which sometimes I am lax about). They must stay at the top of the stairs until my cane and my legs get down to the bottom, or I do let them go before I even start (I figure that is safer for all). Nine, the Mancat, has taken to throwing his full little body on the steps when I am coming up, and now he has also been added to the obstacles to be avoided.
Follow Up Friday is part of the blog hop hosted by Heart Like A Dog. Check out the other blog hoppers:
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
1.17.13 Why Is Sofie’s Nose Turning Pink?
When I got home from my trip, the family was very concerned about Sofie’s nose. They had all noticed that her black nose had slowly been turning pink. They worried that she was doing something to herself, like scraping off her skin (ouch!). Or that she was sick. I assured them it was nothing to worry about, but then I started to worry. Why does a dog’s nose turn from black to pink? Did she have a vitamin deficiency? Was there something wrong? I know that with age most of my animals had started to lose pigment in their noses, but she was only 2 years old. So, being the ‘research-everything’ person that I am, I of course ‘Googled’ the situation, and found some very interesting facts.
Black Nose
April
1. Some dogs loose pigment in their noses in the winter. (Which is what I think might be going on here.) They call this ‘snow nose’ or ‘winter nose.’ Who knew? Though it seems to be something that is more common to dogs like Labrador Retrieve, Golden, Bernese or Husky (Sofie being none of those that we know – well maybe Golden?), the seasonal variation is no cause for alarm and goes back to black in the warmer months. I guess we will have to see.
2. Age of course is another reason. There is an enzyme called Tyrosinase which produces pigment. As a dog ages the nasal plenum (that is a cool word, don’t you think?) might change from black to brown or pink, as less of the enzyme is produced. Interestingly enough, Tyrosinase is also sensitive to temperature. This may be why the fading of the ‘plenum’ in warmer months happens too.
Pink Nose
January
3. Dermatitis, especially from plastic bowls, has been found to temporarily cause this. Or a real trauma, like an abrasion. If allergies are the cause, the dogs gums will possibly be red or inflamed too.
4. There is an immune disease that can cause a pink nose, called Vitiligo. (That is the disease that Michael Jackson said he had that turned his skin from black to white. I wonder if Sofie can sing?) But if a dog has this, there would be white patches usually throughout its body and white hairs. This seems to be found in Doberman, German Shepard, Rottweiler, and Dachshund mostly. It appears to be a rare problem, but I was happy to know that it can be managed by nutritional supplements (if you’re worry about the color of your dog’s nose). I guess show dogs can be disqualified if their pigment is not exactly right – so this might help in those cases.
Any changes in our little furry charges is always a cause of concern, but luckily Sofie has to go to the vet soon for her Booster shots, so I will have Dr. Kate take a look. Otherwise I would just wait until spring to see if her nose turns back to black. If it stays pink I guess I will have to invest in some Doggie sunscreen (Is there such a thing?).
What color is your dog’s nose?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo 