Em Update

Today's blog is devoted to my dear little Em. He had another seizure this morning. In spite of being put on an additional medication last week to help control the seizures. We are now giving him both phenobarbitol and potassium bromide. He is also getting even itchier than ever. So, we are going to take him to see Dr. Olson - an alternative medicine vet in North Pole. I e-mailed her this morning with some background on Em and she said she has some ideas that might help and she will see him on Wednesday. I am suppose to stop by her clinic today to get a book she wants me to read. So, on our way to town, we will stop by to pick that up.

I am sometimes just furious about the whole deal we have gotten our kennel into by having Mackenzie River Huskies. Don't get me wrong, I think they are beautiful dogs with great temperaments, but the health problems we seem to deal with are less than inviting. Balou, our first ever MRH, has stricken by seizures at a year & a half old and died a year later. Shammu had horrible mastitis after having a huge litter of 14 puppies - and having three of them by c-section. One of the pups born by c-section died at two days old. The other two pups born by c-section were stricken with seizures at about 8 weeks old and we lost both of them within the next four months. Baleen is having heat cycles within 2 to 3 months of the last one. Same thing with Hannah. And, we can't forget the Em and all of his problems. It is all very disturbing.

Needless to say, I am always on edge about these guys developing seizures. Baleen and Em's mother, Talla was stricken by seizures 6 months after giving birth to a litter of 12 pups. What is this?? The breeder thinks it is all environmental. I have a hard time swallowing that. If that was the case, all of our MRH's would have seizures as we feed and water all of the dogs with the same things. All of them are outside in the same environment. And, that doens't explain the others in the breeding program that have seizures. So, is it genetic?? What can be done to stop the cycle??

I will get off my soapbox now. Don't get me wrong, I love each of our MRH's as much as any of our other dogs and will care for them as best we can no matter what happens to them!

All of the other dogs are doing good. We have an extra dog here for the next two weeks. We are doggy sitting for a friend for one of her younger dogs while she is out of town. He has integrated nicely with a few of our dogs and seems to be getting along just fine in the pen with Kivek, Stubby & Dude. He will live in there for now.

Our weather has turned to feeling like fall is here. It has been raining most of the day today. Won't be long and we will be running the teams again!! Well, it will be a while before we can start running them out back as we need to make sure the ground is frozen before we can run with the four wheeler out back. We will have to start with running them on the 1/4 mile trail around our property. That will give them a good enough start to then start running a mile or two once the ground is frozen! We are all hoping for an early winter and lots of snow right off the start!! I am perfecting my snow dance this year!!!

Well, better go get ready to head to town and do some shopping!

Happy Trails!