We're making progress!

Our vet appointment on Saturday morning went well. The vet seems to think it is some sort of contact allergy. The only new surface he has come into contact with was his new doggie bed that he got for Christmas, which is also around the time that his itching started.

So that means no more of this:

 Or this:

But, that means there will be more of this:

 This -

 And, this -

He has a rough life.

So does this one, who will also be mourning the loss of the new beds-

But, if this is what it takes to stop his itching we'll do it!

The vet also gave Storm Dog a steroid injection that should keep his itching suppressed for a month, put him on a 14-day course of antibiotics and gave us another spray to use twice a day. This spray is what they normally prescribe to treat hot spots. Stormy doesn't have hot spots but the spray seems to be working! His skin is already more pink than red and it's barely scratching at all.

Our vet also recomended that we only bathe him with the medicated shampoo once a week. Storm Dog will be thrilled.

Here's hoping our progress continues!

It's Not Fungal...

We got the call from the vet's office last night, so we can check that off the list.

He's scratching less but it looks like the irritation has spread up his leg a bit. I'll get a better look tonight when we bathe him.

Tomorrow morning we go for a second opinion.

Stay tuned.

Itchy and Scratchy Show...

The Storm Dog has had some sort of skin issue going on since December. It came to it's worst on New Year's Day when he couldn't cross the room without stopping to frantically dig at this sides and belly. If he wasn't digging he was licking his legs and paws.

We took him to the local animal hospital which was mercifully open on New Year's Day. He had a skin infection on top of the existing irritation. So he was put on a round of antibiotics to kill off the infection and prednizone to stop his scratching which would hopefully allow his skin time to heal.

Initially the pred did it's job but as soon as we started tapering him off the scratching returned. So back to the vet we went, this time for a skin biopsy to check for mites (there were none) and a hair sample to test for a fungal infection (still waiting on the results of that one). He was put back on the prednizone for another week.

This time the prednizone did practically nothing. So back we went for our third trip to the vet in four weeks! By this point his skin was looking pretty wonky. It's clearly irritated and there are scabs that flake off in his fur. It's on his belly, parts of his legs, his elbows (those are the worst) and in his "armpits."

The vet sent us home with a medicated shampoo and a medicated conditioning spray. Finally we seem to be making headway. He gets sprayed twice a day and bathed 3 times a week. We've been spot washing him to minimize the drying effects of so many baths. It pained me but I also gave him a "bad haircut," his scratching matted his belly hair so I trimmed most of it back and I cut the fur from his elbows so the meds can reach it better. His other hair is hiding my chop job for the moment so hopefully I won't have to cut out anymore.

It's been an upsetting month. I hate to watch him be so uncomfortable and it's doubly bad when you have no idea what caused it. It came out of absolutely nowhere. He was groomed on December 9th and came home with a 100% clean "report card," he rolled in stinky stuff at the farm so he got a second bath right before New Years. No new shampoos, no new treats only a new dog bed that was his Christmas present. I've checked with the boarding kennel and they aren't using any new cleaners.

It's a great mystery.

It's localized and clearly not contagious, the cat isn't showing any signs and neither are any of the other dogs at doggie daycare. It looks like he laid down in or walked through something. Nothing on his face, back or chest. It's seriously the weirdest thing.

I'm keeping an eye on him and if his improvement stalls I'll be taking him to our "normal" vet for a second opinion. Hopefully a new set of eyes will have a different perspective and new ideas on how to get our boy all cleared up and back to normal!

Dear Right Ankle....

My left ankle is more flexible than you, why?

Since I am right handed, you should be the stronger of the two right?

Our goal over the course of our next few lessons should be for you to be more flexible, so I can sink my weight into you and steady my position. My left ankle does fine, maybe you two should talk strategy...

____

In last night's lesson I really felt myself getting back into that "groove" that I used to feel in the saddle. Now it wasn't there for the entire lesson but I definitely spent more time in my 'confident zone'. I was thrilled!!! My instructor put me back on Mac, the appaloosa. He's a sweet boy and I really enjoy riding him.

He's steady as a rock so I can regain my confidence but his steadiness is also a challenge. The challenge being that he's default speed is sloooow, I have to work to keep his pace forward so that we can jump a course without puttering out between jumps. He also does EXACTLY what you tell him, bring him to a jump at an angle that will make you miss the second in the combination? Mac will continue merrily on that path and sail right by that second jump. But, make that last second correction and he'll sail right over.

The Spring lesson schedule is coming up and I need to decide if I want to continue my Thursday night rides or switch to another day. I also received an info packet on showing, but that's a story for another day! 

Found this on Etsy and just HAD to add it to one of my Pinterest boards!

Now to figure out where I could hang it in our condo so I have an excuse to buy it!

Big Horses make you WORK!

The last three weeks I've been riding dear gentle Ben for my lessons. His stride is very much like Buttercup's, so I settled right into his rhythm. But, have I ever mentioned his canter? It is one of the oddest things, it's not a true 3 beat. It's almost as though he is throwing a 4th beat in there somewhere and you get this oddest feeling that you are "swirling" in the saddle versus the forward movement you feel with most canters. There's some discussion that he may be somewhat gaited and that's what's causing his unique canter. I can't say for sure since I've never ridden a gaited horse!

Anyway, last night I switched back to Mic. At 16 hands he towers over little Ben and gives quite a different ride! I found last night that I got a far better workout on Mic than I ever did on Ben. I think it's trying to keep up with that long stride of his! My timing is still a bit off when I ride him but it's getting better. After a lesson spent mostly on the flat (darn those heels of mine!), my legs felt like complete jello! Those long strided horses make you work!

I applaud my instructor for making me switch horses every couple of lessons, it improves my skills and is helping me get over one of my issues - riding different horses. I used to have no fear and would hope on any and every horse I had an opportunity to. Then, I ran into a couple of horses that made me think twice about climbing aboard just any horse (getting turned into a lawn dart by a bucking horse will do that to ya!).

Horse Nation (Pic Heavy)

The National Museum of the American Indian here in Washington, D.C. had a limited time exhibition detailing the relationship between native people and their horses. They showed how native peoples' lives were changed by horses and how quickly their lives became intertwined. It was one of the most interesting exhibits I have ever attended.

 Here's a selection of horse masks that were worn by warrior ponies, though not in battle because they sometimes obstructed their sight.

Hand built saddles.

 The bead work and time that went into crafting this blankets was incredible.

 This was my favorite saddle.

 This bridle set was my favorite.

 More modern designs.

 Simply stunning.

I wish the exhibition had not ended January 7 so I could go back and take another look at it!