sure were disappointed this morning.

They watched with intense interest as I loaded the summer box into the back of the pathfinder. Interest that exploded into joyous yelps as I backed up to the pen.

Surely the boss was going to take them out for a run since they had been in the pen for a month and a half. Penny reassured Sally on the ride into town that she would like chasing rabbits and running with the big dogs. Just stick with her and everything would be all right. Heck, she had done it a bunch of times last winter

But, alas, it was not to be. Turkey season still has a couple of weeks to go.

Instead, it was time for Sally’s second set of puppy shots. And Katie and Lucy’s rabies shot. Since that would have only left Penny in the pen when I took the other girls to Doc Caldwell, the Rabbit Journal's official vet of choice in Phenix City, I decided to take her to prevent me from seeing her on the way back up hwy 80 trying to hitch a ride.

Why am I doing this post?
Well, if you didn’t slog through my post on Saturday’s pre-season exercise, you don’t know that Kate was snake bit.

From a visit to Doc Caldwell, The Rabbit Journals veterinarian.
Kate was in for your annual shots, while Dixie was being checked for that nagging cough. She had it last year, then it cleared up in the fall, only to return in late March.

There were no heartworms, but the x-ray shows that she has a very enlarged heart. The problem is probably congenital aggravated by allergies. Doc Caldwell put her on 12.5 mg of Lasix, twice a day for two weeks. If there isn’t an improvement, then a stronger medicine will be called for.

Last year I had to put Maizie, my favorite down. Dixie became my favorite hunting dog while Lucy stayed my favorite pet.
Lucy is now demanding that I demote her back to pack status since I seem to be the kiss of death on “favorites”

The girls got their heartworm pills

got their rabies shot today

all around for the girls today

all around for the girls today

and you know what that means?.
Yep, heart worm pill for the girls

for the "girls" today.
No, I don't know why I picked the 14th of the month. It just worked out that way

the Ledger Enquirer has a reprint of Byran Brasher's article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal on hunting dog first aid. It's a pretty good read.

Old wash cloths for washing big areas

Hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting in case of accidental poisoning

Commercial ice packs like the ones used to treat sports injuries

Kaopectate liquid to treat diarrhea

Benadryl (give 1-2 mg per pound every eight hours to treat bee stings or bug bites or 4 mg per pound for snakebites).

Buffered aspirin (give 5 mg very 12 hours for pain). Make sure the pill does not contain caffeine or other additives. Give with food.

Dramamine (give 25-50 mg one hour before traveling to prevent motion sickness). Try at home first.

Do not give Tylenol or Ibuprofen to any dog under any circumstances.

Add to the list of supplies at the end of the story, these from the story itself
Duct tape for temporary bandages
Rolled up newspaper for splint injured limbs
Super glue for temporary suturing
Source FEMA

to mention it, but the Girls, including Abbie got their heartworm pills on the 14th on schedule

incision area is clean and healthy looking.
I'm leaving Brag in charge while I go recharge my batteries.
No pre-season exercise this Saturday.

after Doc Caldwell spayed (ovariohysterectomy) her yesterday.
She seems to feel and move good. If it wasn't for the stitches that she has have removed on Saturday September 30 I wouldn't know anything had happened to her.
Doc Caldwell does a good job at a very reasonable price

Crass commercial advertisement ( a freebie no less lol)
Caldwell Animal Hospital
2405 Sportsman Drive
Phenix City, Alabama
(334) 297-5000
A Veterinarian for all your animal needs
As a matter of fact, I regard him as the official Rabbit Journal Veterinarian, giving quality care for our entire pack of rabbit hounds.


Abbie got her Rabies and Distemper-Parvo vaccination yesterday. And can start her heartworm pills

Today, Abbie went to Doc Caldwell's for the last of her puppy shots.

And as long as we were there, I dropped Lucy off to be spayed.
She must have suspected something because right after she charged out of the gate, when she didn't see Dixie, Julie and Kate coming, she turned hardheaded. She didn't want to get in the summer box and when we got to the vet, instead of being eagar to get hold of one of the office cats, I had to drag her in the door.
I pick her up in the morning, stitches to come out in a week to ten days. I'll keep her in the back yard instead of with the other girls.

When I put Abbie back in the pen, her Aunties were more concerned with smelling my hands and looking behind me....for Lucy than in their morning peanut butter dog biscuit.

for four of my girls. Abbie hasn't started on them yet