Many dogs develop ugly, usually black, calluses on their "elbows". The areas are the result of pressure on the body caused by the the surfaces your pet lays on, a hard surface like concrete or even tile. If not cared for these thickened areas may develop cracks that can then become infected. Get your friend an orthopedic pet mattress to lay on. This will reduce the chance of pressure points and it also retains body heat to help relieve aching joints. Get the kind with the egg-carton shaped foam covered with fabric, usually a washable cotton or synthetic fleece.
To help with the calluses I like to use a product called "Bag Balm", found at farm and sewing supply stores. Originally used to "calm" the chaffed udder of dairy cows it is also used by quilters and other sewers to soften the calluses they develop on their sewing finger.
This is a lanolin based ointment that you rub into the affected areas. THIS STUFF IS GREASY so wipe off the excess otherwise you will have nice greasy spots wherever your pet lays. You might be able to slip a cotton sock with the end cut off to keep the greasy spots away. The ointment will soften the areas and prevent cracking.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Did He Really Plan It? a real life dog story
We were living in a small community in the farmland of North Central Illinois at the time. While surrounded by houses typical of suburbia, we were only a few blocks from acres and acres of corn and soybean fields and about one mile as the crow flies, to the Illinois River. Our eldest daughter had asked to leave her 8 year old black Labrador retriever, our grand dog Bear, with us for a while(at the time, and even today, our family pets were and are referred to as our grand dog, grand cat, etc). Bear had stayed with us on other occasions and we found the big guy to be a pleasant, though temporary, additions to our household. Bear alternately had use of the fenced back yard or would be tethered on a long lead, which gave him a wide range of the front yard, during his multiple trips to the out of doors each day.
The neighborhood was generally quiet with the occasional car, person walking or bike going by. However, when late afternoon arrived, the activity level increased with cars, delivery trucks and kids coming home from school creating an interesting diversion and entertainment for Bear.
Now Bear was not your ordinary dog! He was on of those once in a lifetime animal companions that embodied intelligence, sense of humor (yes, a dog with a sense of humor), loyalty and adaptability in to his very large and powerful frame. When Bear reached his adult years he weighed in a just under 100 pounds, not fat pounds but BIG dog pounds. The pup that had been originally plucked from a box of puppies that were destined for doggy heaven had come to share our lives for the next 16 1/2 years. That was Bear, - that was back in Michigan- , and that was another story.
It was the kids. The school bus would let them out at the corner, just up the street, and they came by our house on their way home. It was during that time, and apparently at other times as well that that theses kids had, unbeknownst to us, been teasing Bear. They had figured out that the cable that tethered him in the front yard only allowed him to make it to the curbing and not into the street. They also had figured out that he was firmly attached and was unable to get at them. They were safe, and so, time after time the kids would come by the front of our house to get Bear's attention and to tease him.
Now Bear was never vicious. Protective yes, but not vicious. I had only witnessed him "go", that is seemingly go to attack a human being on only one occasion and that was one evening while he and I were out for a run. It was dusk, though really getting dark and, although the street lights were on their amber glow did not provide a great deal of illumination. As Bear and I jogged up the street another runner, going in the opposite direction, raised his hand as if to to wave while passing us. Well Bear apparently thought that an attack was at hand and was going to have no part of it. He growled using what was probably his best and deepest growl, reared up on his hind legs, rising to a standing height as tall as myself. I'll confess that he scared me and scared the other guy even more! The other guy had a few choice words for us as Bear and I continued on our run.
Anyway, back to my story. One evening I had opened the front door and locked the screen door so Bear could look out over his domain. He seemed to enjoy this little time by himself, with time to see what was going on in his little part of the world. We alternated letting him view the world from the back sliding door and the front, basically for our convenience, as the front door was near my den and the sliding door near the family room. On this evening all of a sudden I heard this shrill yell followed by deep growling and crying all intermixed. I immediately ran from the den to the front door. The screen from the door was gone and so was Bear. There in front I found Bear standing over a little girl who obviously was frightened beyond belief. Bear had her shoulder in his mount and and was emitting a low growl. I immediately commanded Bear to sit, which he did with his usual obedience, and checked the little girl to see if she was OK, which she appeared to be. So much for her attempt to sell tickets to the local school function at our house!
By this time my wife and other family members were at the door showing great concern over what happened and wondering what to do next. I talked to the little girl and tried to determine if she was really injured, which fortunately she was not, and escorted her home. Going through my mind as we walked down the street was how I was going to explain what had happened and to determine what they would demand as a result of the seemingly unprovoked attack on their child. As I nervously waited for someone to answer the door all those thoughts of police, quarantine, liability, lawyers and other thoughts raced through my mind.
The door finally opened and a woman, who turned out to be the girl"s mother, was in front of me. I explained what I had observed and speculated as to what happened - our dog sitting inside our house was surprised by the girl, jumped through the screen at the girl, knocked her down and prevented her from getting up until I arrived and ordered him to sit.
"So, he finally got in his say", were the words from the mother's mouth. "I hope that he has taught her a lesson". Well, needless to say, I was nearly speechless having expected the worst as a result of this little incident. The woman went on to apologize for the way her daughter and the other children had pestered the dog and for the fact that she had not come to tell us what was happening. She was certain that her daughter had learned a lesson and hoped that our dog would not hold a grudge.
Now I've told you that Bear was an exceptional dog. I've thought on many occasions about this event and to this day wonder -- did he just react to a situation at hand or did he seize on an opportunity? Did he or didn't he plan this attack, knowing that she was coming to the door, just to frighten her and get even for the tauntings. Or was he simply protecting his family and even in the heat of the moment his training and his love of people resulted in restraint so as not to injure.
My guess is that Bear seized on an opportunity to get even!
The neighborhood was generally quiet with the occasional car, person walking or bike going by. However, when late afternoon arrived, the activity level increased with cars, delivery trucks and kids coming home from school creating an interesting diversion and entertainment for Bear.
Now Bear was not your ordinary dog! He was on of those once in a lifetime animal companions that embodied intelligence, sense of humor (yes, a dog with a sense of humor), loyalty and adaptability in to his very large and powerful frame. When Bear reached his adult years he weighed in a just under 100 pounds, not fat pounds but BIG dog pounds. The pup that had been originally plucked from a box of puppies that were destined for doggy heaven had come to share our lives for the next 16 1/2 years. That was Bear, - that was back in Michigan- , and that was another story.
It was the kids. The school bus would let them out at the corner, just up the street, and they came by our house on their way home. It was during that time, and apparently at other times as well that that theses kids had, unbeknownst to us, been teasing Bear. They had figured out that the cable that tethered him in the front yard only allowed him to make it to the curbing and not into the street. They also had figured out that he was firmly attached and was unable to get at them. They were safe, and so, time after time the kids would come by the front of our house to get Bear's attention and to tease him.
Now Bear was never vicious. Protective yes, but not vicious. I had only witnessed him "go", that is seemingly go to attack a human being on only one occasion and that was one evening while he and I were out for a run. It was dusk, though really getting dark and, although the street lights were on their amber glow did not provide a great deal of illumination. As Bear and I jogged up the street another runner, going in the opposite direction, raised his hand as if to to wave while passing us. Well Bear apparently thought that an attack was at hand and was going to have no part of it. He growled using what was probably his best and deepest growl, reared up on his hind legs, rising to a standing height as tall as myself. I'll confess that he scared me and scared the other guy even more! The other guy had a few choice words for us as Bear and I continued on our run.
Anyway, back to my story. One evening I had opened the front door and locked the screen door so Bear could look out over his domain. He seemed to enjoy this little time by himself, with time to see what was going on in his little part of the world. We alternated letting him view the world from the back sliding door and the front, basically for our convenience, as the front door was near my den and the sliding door near the family room. On this evening all of a sudden I heard this shrill yell followed by deep growling and crying all intermixed. I immediately ran from the den to the front door. The screen from the door was gone and so was Bear. There in front I found Bear standing over a little girl who obviously was frightened beyond belief. Bear had her shoulder in his mount and and was emitting a low growl. I immediately commanded Bear to sit, which he did with his usual obedience, and checked the little girl to see if she was OK, which she appeared to be. So much for her attempt to sell tickets to the local school function at our house!
By this time my wife and other family members were at the door showing great concern over what happened and wondering what to do next. I talked to the little girl and tried to determine if she was really injured, which fortunately she was not, and escorted her home. Going through my mind as we walked down the street was how I was going to explain what had happened and to determine what they would demand as a result of the seemingly unprovoked attack on their child. As I nervously waited for someone to answer the door all those thoughts of police, quarantine, liability, lawyers and other thoughts raced through my mind.
The door finally opened and a woman, who turned out to be the girl"s mother, was in front of me. I explained what I had observed and speculated as to what happened - our dog sitting inside our house was surprised by the girl, jumped through the screen at the girl, knocked her down and prevented her from getting up until I arrived and ordered him to sit.
"So, he finally got in his say", were the words from the mother's mouth. "I hope that he has taught her a lesson". Well, needless to say, I was nearly speechless having expected the worst as a result of this little incident. The woman went on to apologize for the way her daughter and the other children had pestered the dog and for the fact that she had not come to tell us what was happening. She was certain that her daughter had learned a lesson and hoped that our dog would not hold a grudge.
Now I've told you that Bear was an exceptional dog. I've thought on many occasions about this event and to this day wonder -- did he just react to a situation at hand or did he seize on an opportunity? Did he or didn't he plan this attack, knowing that she was coming to the door, just to frighten her and get even for the tauntings. Or was he simply protecting his family and even in the heat of the moment his training and his love of people resulted in restraint so as not to injure.
My guess is that Bear seized on an opportunity to get even!
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