Post #7138 About Phoebe

More snow.  Cold but quiet, around 26 degrees most of the day.

I fed the horses and cleaned one stall before taking Phoebe to the Brockport Animal Hospital for an 8:45 appointment with Dr. Edwards.

As I have mentioned, she has been fainting and was put on meds for her heart many months ago.  They seemed to work very well for several months and during the past two weeks she has fainted several times.  Why?  Because she want to run and play and her heart can't handle it.

Have you ever had a dog that fainted?  She falls on her side and wimpers with her legs straight out for about 5 seconds.  I pick her up and hold her and within 20-30 seconds she is tuned back in, ready for a cookie.  Her meds encourage drinking water, which in turn makes her pee a lot.

She was perfect at the Animal Hospital.  Waited for her turn and was excellent for the Doc.

After being checked out, we discussed what we could do to keep her from getting reved up about things and decided to stick to her meds as they are.  When a dog faints, they are not in pain.  It's like having your computer go off and having to reboot it....or like turning a light switch off and then on.  She will be 16 in a couple months.  Her weight is fine, she eats very well and is living the good life.  We will learn how to manage it to avoid more fainting spells.  She will continue going out to the barn with me, take long naps by the fire and sleep on our bed at night.  A spoiled little girl.

She has a sweet little history.  Born in Kentucky in 2005 and brought here by a boarder at our farm, who had a dog rescue. Phoebe was about 10 or 11 weeks old.  Her mom was a rat terrier and her father was a poodle.  In 2006 she passed her beginner, intermediate and advanced training programs.  In 2007 she became a Canine Good Citizen and a card carrying therapy dog certified by Therapy Dogs International.  Shortly after that she and 4 other dogs formed a team and participated in a reading program at a local elementary school.  That lasted for three years....every Friday.  What a great experience.

Now, she is a farm dog.

When we got home I finished cleaning Rebel's stall

and raked the indoor.

Little Wonder kept me company and his feet were filthy from the sand.

Gary went to Brockport to help a friend and the rest of us napped by the fire.

I can take the cold when the sun is this brilliant.

May have to get out my cross country skis.

Around 5 I drove down to Wegmans to do a little shopping and picked up a pizza.

The sun was starting to set.

Before I left, sautéed some onions and roasted red peppers, which were added to the pizza.

Just what the Doctor ordered.

Night all.