Cutest Happiest Face

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Terrier Mama

Isn’t this the cutest happiest face? Lexi has the best smile, I think it because her tongue seems 10x larger than her mouth, so she always looks a little goofy and cute when she pants.

Lexi's happy smile

I love my Lexi

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Mindy is a Puppy Again

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Terrier Mama

Mindy has lost a lot of weight, she is trim and looking fantastic. And her energy seems to be way up too. She’s bouncier and more playful.

It seemed like she lost a little bit of her joy when we brought Lexi into her world, but I think she is finally starting to come around.

She’s chasing and playing with Lexi more, and she is definitely acting more like her old self (pre Lexi). She’s been playing frisbee with Mike in the yard, and has been having a blast! It’s so nice to see her happier.

Mindy happy in the yard

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Two Dogs – Two Baths

Posted on August 15, 2009 by Terrier Mama

Gave both Mindy and Lexi baths this afternoon.

Lexi really really hates it. Lucky for me, she’s so tiny, I can hold her with one hand and wash with the other. She is always trying to jump out of the sink.

Mindy is okay. She is uncomfortable, but she puts up with it, and stays in the sink.

But now they are nice and clean for Grammy and Grampy’s visit tomorrow (Grampy’s birthday celebration)

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Update: EVO Small Bites are Small Again

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Terrier Mama
I absolutely do not recommend Natura Pet and any of its petfoods (EVO, California Natural, Innova, etc) anymore. Since the company was purchased by Proctor & Gamble, there is no hope that their quality will remain. No matter what they say, any brand of Natura food will not be the same!

Updated from article dated Jun 13, 2009

This is so strange. I haven’t been happy with any of the other kibble choices, I was using the rest of a leftover bag of California Natural and some samples of Nature’s Variety Instinct, but I really wanted EVO….so yesterday I bought a bag. Guess what! The size of the kibble is small again. I compared it to the original smaller sized samples I saved, and they match!

And now I am wondering if I was right all along, and they messed up on a batch of food. I wish I noted the expiration date of the bag I returned, to compare. I guess I assumed that since Heather said they changed the processing, it was a permanent change. Unless of course, I have a bag that was processed before the change. I don’t know. But thankfully, this bag will last a long time, so we’ll see what happens when I have to purchase again months from now.

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First Camping Trips and Lots of Fun

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Terrier Mama

We got back from our first camping trip with Lexi a couple of weeks ago. Our first weekend out with her was the July 4th weekend. After, the following Saturday we left for another camping trip for the whole week.

She had a blast! I was initially a little nervous, worried that she might bark too much or try to scoot out the RV door. But it was pleasantly surprising. She had no problems at all. She even slept quietly in her crate in the RV. I wasn’t sure how she would feel being in a new environment, but she wasn’t bothered a bit.

We kept her busy all week! I sometimes took Lexi by herself for walks, just to get her more acclimated to new situations. She couldn’t keep up 100%, and I did have to pick her up a lot. I didn’t mind, she’s so small and compact, I enjoy carrying her!

We also took her on her first kayak trip! She looked sooo cute in her new pink flowered life jacket! She seemed to really like it!

Lexi's first kayak trip

Lexi's first kayak trip

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Shh, Lexi is Sleeping

Posted on June 27, 2009 by Terrier Mama

Wow, this is incredible. Lexi is resting next to me on the sofa. She usually is always on the go, I never can get her to settle. This is wonderful! Shhhh.

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Here Comes the Sun

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Terrier Mama

Here comes the sun…and I say it’s alright.

Finally some sun today, after what felt like weeks of rain rain rain.

Mindy being lazy in the grass

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Lexi the Alien

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Terrier Mama

This photo of Lexi reminds me so much of the movie Alien. Big scary teeth!!!

Lexi with Alien Teeth

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Came So Close to Giving Up on Raw Diet for Lexi

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Terrier Mama

Oh I came so close to giving up on the RAW food diet for Lexi. She is my little Rat Terrier, about 10 lbs and 8 months old.

She was having trouble with her poop. Ha! What else is new!? It seems like that is the main struggle when feeding RAW. Trying to find a balance to make normal looking poop! Well her poop was on the soft side and many times had a gel jelly goopy coating.

I know there is a certain time period of “detox” when the body can weep and poop can be covered in that gel. But we’ve been on RAW for a couple of months now, so she should be over that. I was getting even more frustrated because she was regressing in housebreak training as well. Pooping in the house, sometimes right after she pooped outside. She even peed on our comforter one evening when she got excited and jumped up on the bed. eeek. That one was my fault though. I should have known better and taken her outside BEFORE bringing her upstairs to the bedroom.

My husband was ready to kill me (not literally!) and he was getting very frustrated as well. He kept telling me to stop, that it was the RAW food making her sick!

I really really didn’t want to stop feeding RAW to Lexi. In a million years, I never thought I would be feeding RAW in the first place, and now that I am, I am finding it very easy. And both my Ratties love eating it! Their fur is gorgeous too!

Mindy (my 4 year old Rat Terrier, 15 lbs) is doing just fine on it. Her poops are solid and small. Everything seemed to be agreeing with her.

After some deep thought, I decided to just feed RAW, with no supplements (fish oil, kelp) or eggs, sardines, etc.

I realized that it was me who wasn’t being consistent! When her poo was doing well, I would deviate from the normal, and start adding all the other ingredients and supplements, and she would get overloaded again. I wasn’t keeping good track of what was working and what wasn’t.

So, now I am just feeding her a portion of Bravo RAW twice daily and a small beef or marrow bone in the evening. That seems to be working. Today her poop was well formed and solid. No more jelly gel. Yay!

I will keep this up for another week or so, and then see what I can do to start adding a tiny small amount of the fish oil.

(note: the fish oil I am feeding is the Concentrated oil from Seapet – I have been giving Mindy 10 drops (which equals 1/4 tsp) and Lexi about half that amount)

I am happy, my husband is happy, and hopefully we can get her housetraining back on track. Things are going to get better! yay!

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What is Wrong with Some People?

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Terrier Mama

Just found this forum post:

http://www.petsourceusa.com/Blog/?p=9615

quote:

What Kind Of Cat Is The Best Mouse Hunter?
I have mice. Dammit. I need a cat. I’m going to go to the shelter tomorrow, but I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the best kind of cat to get. Like what breed, age, size, sex? I’m not sure if any of that makes a difference, but if you have any comments on the subject I’d appreciate it!

WHAT AN ASS!!! Sorry for the profanity but this just makes me so angry! And the majority of the people who responded are idiots too.

What happens to the cat after this jerk discovers that it costs money to parent a cat properly!? Does he just throw it outside when he’s done using it for a mouse exterminator? Grr. I just hate reading ignorant stuff like this!

I hope the shelter is smart and asks the right questions, like “Why do you want a cat?” and hopefully they can see his true colors. Idiot!

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