FOOD

BUCKEYE SUPER BITS

[30% MIN. PROTEIN/20% FAT]

HIGH QUALITY CHICKEN-BASED KIBBLE WITH MINIMAL "EXTRA" INGREDIENTS AND NO USELESS FILLERS.

ADVISED BY SOMEONE ELSE, I USED TO FEED DIAMOND LAMB & RICE BEFORE THE CORN MOLD

PROBLEM HIT AND THEN SWITCHED TO NUTRO  LAMB & RICE

I WAS THEN ADVISED BY ANOTHER PERSON TO USE 'SPORTSMAN'S PRIDE' FOOD BUT HAD TROUBLE FINDING IT LOCALLY.

I USED IAM'S PUPPY FOOD IN THE INTERIM AND HAD GOOD RESULTS WITH IT.

PREVIOUSLY, SEVERAL OF THE DOGS ALL HAD CONSTANT SEMI-COW PATTY STOOLS AND AFTER I SWITCHED TO A HIGHER PROTEIN/FAT FOOD, THAT PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY WENT AWAY.

I FINALLY LOCATED A DEALER WITHIN 50 MILES FOR THE SP KIBBLE THEY WERE THRIVING ON IT.

UNFORTUNATELY, "SUNSHINE MILLS" WHO MAKES SPORTSMAN'S PRIDE ALSO USES "MENU FOODS" AS A SUPPLIER SO I STOPPED FEEDING IT.

I THEN SWITCHED TO A LOCALLY MANUFACTURED FOOD [BLUE SEAL] BUT THE DOGS WEREN'T DOING AS WELL ON THAT.

HAPPILY, A LOCAL FEED AND FARM STORE CARRIES BUCKEYE FEEDS.

 THEIR WEIGHT IS EQUALIZING/NORMALIZING AND HEALTHY MUSCLE MASS IS

NOW REPLACING THE 'FATTENED COW" LOOK INDUCED BY THEIR PREVIOUS HIGH CARB DIET.

MORNING MEALS CONSIST OF PLAIN SP KIBBLE MOISTENED WITH WATER.

DJINNI [BEING THE LEAN, MEAN HIGH-ACTIVITY DYNAMO THAT SHE IS] GETS INNOVA EVO IN BEEF AND CHICKEN.

EVENING MEALS ARE SUPPLEMENTED WITH 1 CUP PER DOG OF EITHER:

COOKED 85/15% RESTAURANT QUALITY GROUND CHUCK, GROUND TURKEY, BOILED CHICKEN, TUNA AND OCCASIONALLY CHICKEN LIVERS.

THE DOGS HAVE CONSTANT FREE ACCESS TO "GREEN SPRINGS" BOTTLED WATER WHICH IS MADE HERE FROM THE LOCAL UNDERGROUND SPRING.

THEY ARE GIVEN "VITAMIN WORLD" COMBO ACIDOPHILUS CAPSULES TO KEEP THEIR INTESTINAL FLORA HAPPY AND HEALTHY OR THE VERY SIMILAR PRO-BIOS IN POWDER FORM.

IZZY GETS ONE RAW THYROID CAPSULE PER DAY FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM.

POOKIE GETS 2.

[IT *HAS* MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD IN HER LOOKS, ATTITUDE, LEVEL OF ACTIVITY, COAT AND OVERALL CONDITION]

SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, THE OLDER DOGS RECEIVE LECITHIN CAPSULES FOR GENERAL BENEFITS AND MSM/GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN CAPS FOR THEIR JOINTS.

IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER BENEFITS OF THE NEW FOOD, IZZY NO LONGER HAS TO HAVE HER ANAL GLANDS SQUEEZED PERIODICALLY DUE TO THE LACK OF FIRM STOOLS CAUSED BY THE POORER QUALITY KIBBLE.

EVERYONE'S COAT  NOW LOOKS/FEELS GLOSSY AND FULLER [EVEN WITHOUT GROOMING] WHICH IS AMAZING BECAUSE POOKIE HAS SUCH AN ODD 'SMOOTH BUT COARSE' COAT.

SALAMANDER'S "WITCH'S BREW" KIBBLE-TOPPER RECIPE

3 POUNDS OF GROUND MEAT [80/20 GROUND CHUCK OR DARK MEAT GROUND TURKEY]

APPROX. 8 WHOLE CHICKEN LIVERS

6 EGGS

1 PINCH SEA SALT

Cook ground meat until no longer pink.

Add chicken livers and sea salt pinch and simmer on low heat 20 minutes.

[at this point, you will understand the "witch's brew" joke....it looks *awful*]

Use spatula to mince livers into small bits

Turn off heat.

Add 6 eggs, stirring constantly to mix them into meat thoroughly.

You can either use it as is over dog's regular kibble or put in blender to create "gravy".

Depending on size of dog, add up to 1/2 cup over kibble and stir.

[do not leave uneaten food lie around more than a couple of hours, which is unlikely around here as everyone gobbles this mess right down]

This stuff makes your dog feel great and their coat glisten like the finest satin silk.

May also be used to tempt picky or recuperating dogs into eating.

TOYS

THE ALL-TIME FAVE OF EVERYONE ARE "CHEWIE LOUIES" WHICH ARE PEANUT BUTTER FILLED BEEF CANNON BONES.

SOMETIMES I BUY THEM THE LARGE NYLABONES BUT IZZY IS AN AGGRESSIVE CHEWER AND THEY TEND TO GET TOO SCRATCHY ON THE ENDS TOO FAST.

STUFFED TOYS ARE LOVED BY ALL BUT A STUFFED TOY'S LIFESPAN HERE IS USUALLY 10 MINUTES OR LESS.

FIRST, THE SQUEAKERS ARE RIPPED OUT AND "KILLED", THEN THE UNFORTUNATE STUFFED CRITTER IS GUTTED AND "SHAKEN TO DEATH".

[I GET TIRED OF SWEEPING UP POLYFILL "GUTS" SO I ONLY BUY THEM FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUCH AS BIRTHDAYS OR TO MAKE UP FOR TRIPS TO THE VET]......:)

I HAVE A RIDICULOUSLY HUGE ASSORTMENT OF THE NEW SOLID LATEX AND SOFT RUBBER TOYS WHICH THE DOGS ENJOY...DISCARD...FORGET...LOSE...AND THEN "FIND" AGAIN MONTHS LATER AND RE-ENJOY ALL OVER AGAIN. [LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT]

BRAIDED POLAR FLEECE "ROPES" ARE NEW IN MY AREA AND THE KIDS LOVE RUNNING THROUGH THE HOUSE SWINGING THEM AND WHAPPING EACH OTHER UPSIDE THE HEAD.

[HEY...WHATEVER FLOATS THEIR BOATS].....lol!

"DIRTY LAUNDRY"....EVERY IBIZAN HOUND OWNER KNOWS WHAT I MEAN BY THAT SO I'LL SAY NO MORE.....:)

I DO NOT ALLOW THEM ANY RAWHIDE PRODUCTS OR ROPE TOYS.

THEY DEFTLY UNTIE THE ROPES WITHIN MINUTES AND IT IS -VERY- DANGEROUS FOR THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO LONG STRINGS WHICH CAN END UP SWALLOWED OR WRAPPED AROUND THEIR TONGUES.

I ALSO PUT AWAY THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TOYS SUCH AS BONES WHEN I AM NOT IN THE ROOM TO SUPERVISE.

[CHIPS, CRACKS AND BREAKS HAPPEN]

THEY GO OUT TO POTTY AND PLAY ABOUT EVERY 3 OR 4 HOURS UNLESS THEY ASK TO GO OUT SOONER.

[USUALLY BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY HEARD/SAW SOMETHING MOVING AROUND IN THE WOODS AND KNOW I NEVER CATCH ON TO THEIR TRICKS]

THEY USUALLY SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT WITHOUT NEEDING TO GO POTTY.

[PROBABLY BECAUSE NOTHING "EXCITING" IS HAPPENING OUT THERE AT 3 IN THE MORNING]

THEY GET ALL THE OBLIGATORY YEARLY SHOTS INCLUDING LYME.

THEY GET 3 YEAR RABIES VACCINES.

I AM INVESTIGATING THE CURRENT MEDICAL OPINIONS ON THE NECESSITY OF YEARLY DHLLP SHOTS, HOWEVER.

VET CARE

I USE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCAL VETS.

THE ONE MOST FREQUENTLY USED IS FOR SIMPLE DIAGNOSTICS [AKA "WORRY-WORT EVENTS WHERE NOTHING AT ALL WAS ACTUALLY WRONG], SURGERY AND  VACCINATIONS.

ANOTHER VET HOSPITAL IS MY CHOICE FOR NON-ANESTHESIA REQUIRING X-RAYS.

ANOTHER IS FOR LATE NIGHT/WEEKEND/EMERGENCY STUFF BUT FOR VERY LITTLE ELSE.

*IF* YOU DO NOT INTEND TO SERIOUSLY ENTER CONFORMATION COMPETITION, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NEUTERING YOUR DOGS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF NEUTERING CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED.

SPAYING BEFORE THE FIRST HEAT REDUCES THE RISK OF MALIGNANT MAMMARY TUMORS IN BITCHES BY 90%.

THE RISKS OF POTENTIALLY FATAL PYOMETRIA AND METRITIS ARE ALSO COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.

NEUTERING MALES EARLY ELIMINATES TESTICULAR TUMORS BY 100% AND GREATLY REDUCES KIDNEY, PROSTATE AND BLADDER PROBLEMS.

EVEN NEUTERING OLDER DOGS REDUCES THEIR ODDS OF CONTRACTING LIFE THREATENING REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM ILLNESSES.

HORMONAL FLUCTUATIONS IN INTACT DOGS CAN MAKE BOTH YOU AND YOUR DOG MISERABLE.

IBIZAN BITCHES ARE PRONE TO FALSE PREGNANCIES WHICH ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR OVERALL WELL BEING.

[ MY GIRLS *ALWAYS* HAD THEM AND IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM ]

FIND A SIGHT-HOUND SAVVY VET WHO USES ISOFLORO ANESTHESIA AND A NON-BARBITURATE INDUCTION AND YOUR DOG WILL BE FINE.

I RECENTLY HAD IZZY SPAYED AT [ALMOST] 9 YEARS OF AGE AND EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS A MILD HEART MURMUR,

SHE CAME THROUGH IT WITH FLYING COLORS THANKS TO OUR VET'S EXTREME CARE AND AFFECTION FOR OUR DOGS.

[HE IS VERY, VERY AWARE OF HOW MUCH WE LOVE THEM AND CARES FOR THEM AS HE WOULD HIS OWN]

IZZY  IS HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER THAN EVER BEFORE.

I AM BLESSED WITH A GREAT VET WHO HAS SPAYED ALL THE GALS WITHOUT A SINGLE SECOND OF WORRY OR SIDE-EFFECTS.

HE CALCULATES ANESTHESIA BY BODY MASS/SURFACE AREA,  *NOT* WEIGHT WHICH MINIMIZES THE AMOUNT OF ANESTHESIA NECESSARY.

THE GIRLS  WERE ALL UP AND WALKING NORMALLY WITHIN AN HOUR OF THEIR SURGERIES, BACK HOME IN A COUPLE OF HOURS

 AND FULLY BACK TO THEIR NORMAL,  SILLY SELVES AGAIN WITHIN 24 HOURS.

[ WE LOVE OUR VET! ]....:)

TEETH AND NAILS

FREQUENT  AND REGULAR.

THE DOGS ACT AS THOUGH THEY'RE SUFFERING THE TORTURES OF THE DAMNED.

[SUCH DRAMA QUEENS!]

TATTOOS

MOST DEFINITELY

CHIPS CAN EASILY BE "MISSED".

TATTOOS NEVER ARE.

RECREATION

PERPETUAL, CRAZY, INEXPLICABLE AND NOISY.

I NEVER LET MY DOGS OUT TO PLAY  UNSUPERVISED BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A "SAFE" FENCE.

"THEIR" PERSONAL AREA IS ALSO PERMANENTLY SECTIONED OFF FROM THE OTHER PART OF THE YARD WHICH CONTAINS THE ONLY GATE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND IT HAS A SPRING-LOADED AUTO-SHUT LATCH ON THE -OUTSIDE- WHICH ALSO HAS A PADLOCK ON IT.

I TAKE NO CHANCES.

THE GATE TO THE GOAT PASTURE IS ALSO PADLOCKED AT ALL TIMES.

THE GOATS ARE TRAINED TO GO INTO AN 8 X 10 DOG KENNEL ANY TIME WE NEED TO OPEN THE GATE TO MOVE EQUIPMENT OR MACHINERY IN OR OUT.

[OUR GOATS ARE GOOD, SMART  LITTLE GOATS!].......:))