Back to Barkin' Springs and Poison Ivy Update

So yesterday, as promised, Apple and I went back to Barkin' Springs.

It was a different experience trying to swim with him, since the terrain is really rough and the water doesn't get really deep. it was knee level-waist level most of the time...but I'd recommend humans do the doggy paddle as well to make their way through the water, because the ground is rough and slippery. I slipped on a boulder and fell right on my butt.

The dorky water shoes were quite a necessity. I'm glad I remembered to get some.

It was great to be able to swim with Apple, but he found it quite confusing! We went out a little too far in my hopes of finding a better swimming area, and when I was doggy paddling next to him to get back to where we were, he started squeaking because I think he was getting tired and he didn't know when we would be able to stop. I was worried he was tired so I picked up that big 75 lb dog, and as soon as I held him he got brave enough to keep going. I think he was worried since he didn't have Steven or me to look at on the shore as a "target."

He squeaked again when I was "racing" him for a ball, and after he got it he swam around in a very confused circle and squeaked...once again because I think he was just so confused by having me swim with him.

And of course, since I was out alone with my very attractive dog, I had to deal with "Dog Dating" once again. In fact, I actually got ASKED OUT at the park by a guy on a bicycle. He told me my dog was cute, I said thank you, and after he had ridden about 15 feet he turned around and asked if I wanted to get dinner with him and my dog sometime. He was not at all swayed by the fact that I was married either. 

Guys, I've heard this kind of stuff from some of you before. If I'm married...I will not go out with you or hook up with you, and yes, my ring does mean something to ME even if it doesn't to you.

Also, I can now update you on the poison ivy. Apple has no reactions, as expected, but I managed to break out on the back of my upper arm. The oil causes itchy blisters on your skin and they often occur in a straight line. I have two main blisters with a few smaller ones scattered around the area, and if I don't scratch it,  it doesn't itch, which is good. Last summer, I had a dangerous reaction to Sulfanomides and I thought I would EXPLODE from the itching. 

The two main blisters are easy to see, but the smaller ones are hard to notice in the picture

I want to wait until Steven comes home to take Apple swimming again, so we can work as a team swimming with him and being a "target." Also, I prefer going out with my man to dog parks so other men don't use my dog as a "cool" pick-up line!

Apple's Annual Exam!

Apple had his first yearly vet exam today, and for some blasted reason I was really nervous about it.

However, I am very happy to say that he is very healthy!

Today, he got 3 shots (Rabies, DHPP, and Leptospirosis), had a heartworm test, and a physical examination. It is important to take your dogs in yearly to get their shots up to date, and vets also recommend testing them for heartworms every year even if they are on preventatives because they aren't always 100% effective.

I was so nervous about the heartworm test, even though I give him monthy preventatives, because my parent's dog, Macintosh, had heartworms when I was 7. In order for dogs to recover, they have to undergo difficult and expensive treatments and must be confined with no exercise for 2 months. I remember having to listen to her scream that entire time. Apple could never do that.

Fortunately, his test was negative. I saw the test and it's almost like a pregnancy test, except the vet draws blood and puts it on the plastic test. Then, if you get one line, it's negative, and two lines means positive.

This one uses dots, but you get the idea

If you aren't familiar with the shots he got, I will give you some information about them!

Rabies is obviously a pretty common vaccine. It is the only one required by law, but rabies in dogs is extremely rare these days (due, of course, to years of stringent vaccination.) It is important though, since it cannot be treated once the symptoms begin. According to the CDC, 90% of all rabies cases are in wild animals; only about 80 dogs are discovered to have rabies in the United States every year (as opposed to 300 cats!)

DHPP is arguably a much more important vaccine, although it is not required. This vaccine prevents Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and most importantly, Parvovirus. It is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus and a dog can catch Parvo from walking on a sidewalk that an infected dog walked on a year ago. When we first got Apple, we had to carry him through the clinic at Emancipet to reduce his risk of catching Parvo. This disease is especially dangerous to young puppies. Distemper is also serious, and is incurable, so it is very important to get this vaccine regularly.

Those are the two most important vaccines to give your dog. I also have given Apple Leptospirosis and Bordetella (which isn't due until August.) Lepto is recommended for dogs who play in dirty water sources in urban areas, which Apple does quite often. Bordetella is required when boarding your dogs, and is similar to the common cold in humans.

After Apple got his shots, the vet examined him and said that his teeth and coat were beautiful, his heart sounded great, and he was in excellent body condition. That was very nice to hear since Apple had to make many trips to the vet for various infections early on in our owning him. He had to go to the vet once a month for four months due to infections he had as a result of being a stray. I am so happy to know that he is much healthier now and that we are doing a good job!

Peeing in Poison Ivy

As you might have read in my previous blog post, Barkin' Springs, my dog peed in poison ivy today while at a swimming hole that did not have ample space for the dogs to do their business. Apple got a bit frantic at the end of our swimming trip and started to run off in hopes of finding a place to pee, but didn't have much luck. After I wrangled him and put on my shoes, I walked him to a grassy spot that wasn't as grown up as other areas that had obvious poison ivy, and didn't notice the plant until he was already squatting.

Fortunately, I work for the City of Austin (I was a camp counselor last year and this year I'm a sub since I'm working some other theatre camps as well) and I just went through training on outdoor safety and poison ivy, so I know what it looks like and I know what to do if you come into contact with it. I read some interesting information about poison ivy and dogs, so I wanted to share that information as well.



This is exactly what the poison ivy I saw today looked like:

Leaves of Three, Let them Be

At my trainings I learned a cool way to identify it. They described the leaves as looking like two hands put together: a big point in the middle with two thumbs. Also, it grows with three leaves together, so that is important to look for as well.

How to identify poison ivy with your hands

I also learned that the best thing to do if you come into contact with poison ivy is to rinse the area very well with COLD water. The reaction is caused by an oil called Urushiol and it is important to get it off. Hot water opens your pores and allows the oil to sink into your skin. Soap can also help the oil spread. Urushiol can also get into fabrics and affect people who come into contact with them.

After I rinsed Apple in cold water, I did some research on dogs and poison ivy and actually found that it is unlikely for dogs to be affected by the oil because of their fur. However, the oil can stick to their fur and affect people who touch them. I read on a website that I should bathe Apple in dish soap because it breaks down oils, which is exactly how rescuers save animals after oil spills. 

I washed Apple in the soap, but unfortunately, I didn't have any rubber gloves, so I might break out with a reaction. It can take hours or even days for the rash to appear. My finger was burning earlier, but I think it is fine. I have a really itchy area on my chest, but I'm not sure if that is related to poison ivy or not. Let's hope it will be fine...and I hope to avoid further contact with this plant tomorrow, as I am planning to go back and swim at the exact same spot.

I also learned at the City trainings that I can call 311 to report poison ivy. Maybe I should do that...

I'll keep you posted if Apple or I have any adverse reactions to the poison ivy.

Barkin' Springs!

Today was such a momentous day.

My husband left for E3 (the big video game convention) in Los Angeles today, and my family is also at Disney World, leaving me all alone and not on a super awesome vacation. 

I wanted to take Apple somewhere fun today, and it was hot, so I decided to take him for a swim at our old standby, Auditorium Shores.

Auditorium Shores on a good day

Now you know how much I love Auditorium Shores, but today, it was seriously disgusting. The Austin area has been experiencing much more rainfall than we are used to (which is a great thing, since we are in a severe drought,) but the increased rainfall and the heat caused a lot of nasty algae and bacteria to grow in the water. It was disgusting, green, smelly, warm, and basically un-swimmable. I let Apple get in it once to fetch a ball, and then I saw a "Swim at Your Own Risk" sign warning people that the bacteria levels were high and posed an increased risk for infection. 

I then promptly leashed up my dog and took him out of the park, and set off on a new mission: to find "Barkin' Springs."

In Austin, there is a popular natural swimming pool known as Barton Springs. It is 3 acres in size, 68 degrees year round (according to the website, I've always heard 62,) and home to a unique species of salamander known as the Barton Springs Salamander. 

Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs Salamander

 It is a great Austin landmark, and it is with deep regret that I admit to you that in my 5 years of living here I have NEVER been to Barton Springs. I have always wanted to, but with good reason I avoid it; I have a condition known as Raynaud's Phenomenon that requires me to keep warm, and I thought the water would be too cold for me.

Downstream of Barton Springs is another swimming hole known literally as "Barton Springs Downstream" or colloquially, "Barkin' Springs." It is a free section of the springs that is blocked from the main part of the pool by a fence and a dam, and dogs and humans can swim there. I planned on just sitting and watching and testing the water with my feet while I let him swim, but I was pleasantly surprised that the water was very nice looking and it was not too cold for me! I got in with him! I couldn't go very far because I didn't bring my swimsuit, but we're going back tomorrow and I'll wear one then.

Barton Springs Downstream, or Barkin' Springs

 It was so much fun! I was talking to so many other Dog Moms there who couldn't believe I had never been. Of course, it wasn't all free of downsides...I actually witnessed a dog mauling further up the shore, we lost a ball due to the uneven terrain and my lack of a swimsuit, and there's nowhere for the dogs to go potty. Apple hopped out of the water after an hour or so and started to run off because he had to pee...he didn't get lost and he doesn't often run off, but he's such a good boy he wanted to find some grass! I had to chase him down and leave all my stuff, but a nice man helped me out and brought my stuff to me.

Then, when he finally peed, it was near some POISON IVY. I feel like an ass because I told him to pee there (it wasn't as grown over with poison ivy as the other areas) but as soon as he started peeing I spotted a bit of it. I don't know if he came into contact with it or not, and I'll detail my preventative measures in the next blog post.

Despite that, it was ridiculously fun and I plan on going back tomorrow. I will wear a swimsuit and I should probably see if I can find some water shoes or something, so I can walk through the rocks and traverse the terrain if my dog suddenly needs to pee. When Steven comes back we totally have to come back again too!

Whiskey for My Men, Beer for My Dogs

Recently, I have gone from detesting and avoiding beer in all forms to preferring certain types of beer (Dos Equis and Hefeweissens to be specific) over all other alcoholic drinks. And with the end of the school year upon me (I'm an afterschool teacher) I recently bought a six-pack to celebrate.

As one would expect, Apple wanted to join in this celebration. Apple likes all types of food (and non-foods) with the strange exception of bananas, so it shouldn't surprise me that he was intrigued by (and tried to steal) my beer. He kept trying to lick the bottle and my face and was begging for it as he so often does. Today, my parents and brother came over and he was knocking over their empty bottles and trying to enjoy any last bit that he could.

Obviously, I know not to let my dog drink beer. I think it's funny and kind of cute how he likes it, though, which leaves me feeling slightly disturbed, as I remember pictures I have seen of friends' children posing with alcohol paraphernalia...I hope I never think that is funny or cute.

Aside from giving him a few licks off of my fingers or an empty bottle, I'm not going to let Apple drink beer. It's bad for their brain, liver, and kidneys (like humans) and dogs are allergic to hops. But, I wondered if there was anything to Apple's attraction to beer. So I Googled it.

I found that many people had posted about their dogs enjoying the taste of beer, and it was actually pretty common. So common in fact, that multiple companies have sprouted up creating non-alcoholic beer for dogs. I kid you not.

One Australian company, simply named "Dog Beer," offers beef-flavored beer for dogs. The ingredients are all human grade, so they claim you could drink one alongside your dog, but seeing as how I'm a vegetarian, I don't think I would join him in that.

 One US variety, Dawg Grog, is similar, but made with vegetable broth! It is made in Oregon and can be shipped to all 50 states.

 Another meaty dog beer, Bowser Beer, is available from local vendors all across the United States, and can be purchased at Dogadillo and Healthy Pet in Austin, TX!

Maybe beer for dogs isn't such a strange concept, but I was surprised when I found out it actually existed. I don't know why beer is so attractive to dogs, but it must be a pretty big deal if so many companies have already come up with the idea to make specific varieties for dogs!

Maybe Apple can get some for his 2nd birthday. By then he'll be a responsible adult! ;)

DIY Dog Mom: Soda Bottle Sprinkler!

Recently on Facebook, I saw a fun post circulating called "27 Creative and Inexpensive Ways to Keep Kids Busy this Summer." While all the ideas were pretty great, there was one that stood out to me as something I wanted to do NOW, with my dog.

So, what better way to kick off the start of June than by playing in our own DIY sprinkler?

You can find the original directions here, but it's a very easy process, and all you have to do is drink a 2 liter bottle of soda, poke holes in it (you only want to do it on the top and sides) and tape it to a hose. The website recommends duct tape, but not having any I just used plain old Scotch tape, and while it didn't hold up super well, it lasted the entire amount of time that we played!

Here are some pictures of Apple playing in it:

He mostly wanted to drink the water!

It worked just like a real sprinkler and it was so much fun! I put on my swimsuit and played in it too. 

Then we took some more pictures when we were drying off in the grass:

I just love my dog.

It was really fun, and it only costs as much as the soda bottle itself (unless of course, I invest in some duct tape for next time,) so it really is creative and inexpensive!

Our Appleversary Cake!

For our Apple-versary, I baked the same cake that I made for Apple's birthday, and he must have remembered it, because he freaked out and wanted to eat it so badly! I am glad he likes this cake so much.

I cut the hole in the ziploc bag a little too big on this one!

Apple's birthday cake

I found this cake recipe on a website called Dog Health Guide. I chose this one because it contains no baking soda and is made with APPLEsauce!  It also calls for no sugar, but I confess I do add some to make it more palatable to us humans.

Cake Recipe:
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 
2/3 cup hot water
1 cup whole rolled oats
3 eggs (I only used two and it worked.  Lower in cholesterol!)
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup granola 

First, you combine the applesauce, oats, and hot water, mix it, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, you combine all other ingredients, put it into a greased pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. 

For the icing, I mix 16 oz of Neufchatel Cheese (like cream cheese with lower fat content) with 1/2 vegetable shortening, some sugar and a bit of oil. I put food coloring in it to make different colors to decorate the cake with as well.

Making these cakes has been very fun and Apple loves this cake so much. He eats so much of it and always comes back for more, and I do let him gorge himself a bit on this cake. We have already eaten the whole thing, and I think Apple had 10 slices of it!

Eating the  cake!