Outbound Hound - Travel Unleashed

Yesterday Karma went to the Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hospital for his annual check-up and to learn about his Lyme issue.

Dr. Joellen Gregory met us in reception and Karma was excited to see his “Aunt Joey.” We went on a quick tour of the impressive clinic that boasts its own lab, groomer, mini-store, multiple exam rooms, separate cat and dog kennels and an impressive collection of frozen sperm! The clinic hosts puppy classes and is situated on a beautiful wooded lot.

Karma is not a good or willing patient! He even growled when Dr. Gregory started to look at his teeth – please! We got through the ear check and managed to draw his blood without drawing any of ours! He drew the line at checking his temperature and we let it go. Dr. Gregory did say that he could stand to lose a few pounds – from a current weight of 93 to an even 90 pounds.

The great thing about having an on-site lab is the results come back in minutes. Karma is testing positive for the Lyme antibody after two years so he has to be on Doxycycline for 30 days. After that he will get his first Lyme vaccine and a booster to follow. Along with the Doxy, Karma will take FortiFlora, a probiotic to help keep the good bacteria present and ease any stomach discomfort caused by the antibiotic. Dr. Gregory tells me FortiFlora is also a good thing to have on hand for upset stomachs and diarrhea.

Karma also received his Bordetella vaccine because he is in contact with so many other dogs between classes and dog trials. And because we hike and camp, he received the Lepto vaccine to protect him from 4 of the 27 serovars of disease caused by the Spirochete Leptospira. This disease is carried in the urine of both domestic and wild animals easily encountered when hiking. He will need a booster of this one in 30 days when we go back for his Lyme vaccine.

We will go back in 30 days so stay tuned!

As our readers may remember, Karma tested positive for Lyme Disease at 15 months old. The vet said he routinely tests for Lyme because so many dogs test positive but may not be showing symptoms.

For this reason, he believes that some symptoms (seizures was the example he used) are wrongly assigned to Lyme when it just so happens more comprehensive blood work was done when the dog presented with issues. In other words, you may only find out when something else is going on and then wrongly connect the two issues.

All that sounded logical and still does. So then I asked, “What do we do?” And this is where the opinions vary wildly.

He said that he doesn’t typically treat dogs that aren’t symptomatic. He also said that he doesn’t suggest the vaccine because he didn’t think it did enough (I don’t know which one was available at that time). We also discussed the fact that since Karma is so furry the odds of me finding a tick on him aren’t good so we switched him to separate products for heartworm prevention and flea and tick prevention. (After my own research, I chose K9 Advantix for flea and tick.)

Not being a vet myself I went along with it but continued to ask questions over the last two years. When you hang out at dog trials on weekends you soon amass quite the collection of Lyme and tick horror stories!

And that’s where my friend, Dr. Joellen Gregory, DVM, comes in. Joellen breeds Otterhounds (see photo!) and competes with her dogs in multiple activities including agility which is how we met. I took advantage of the waiting time at a trail to bend her ear about her opinions about Lyme.

Turns out she has a much different view and so Karma has an appointment with her at the Olney-Sandy Spring Veterinary Hosipital on Monday. Stay tuned! I intend to write about this journey in case it is helpful to anyone else out there.

It’s clear that we love our pups. I have never doubted that and frankly, I have come to measure the character of a person by how he or she treats the furry roommates.

I shower Karma with all kinds of things – belly rubs, toys, treats, playtime and more. But one thing I am mindful of is food. As our faithful readers know, Karma is an active boy and earns lots of treats when we are training. But obesity in dogs is a HUGE (no pun intended!) problem and we all have to be careful of over-showering our pups with too much food.

Pets encounter many of the same problems humans do when they are overweight – osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and cancer – all of which shortens their lifespan (which is already too short!).

So how can you tell if you dog is packing on the pounds? First, take a trip to the vet and pay attention to the scale. Ask your vet about Fido’s weight and really listen to the answer. You should be able to easily feel ribs when you run your hands along his sides. When looking at your dog from above, he should have a discernible waist.

If your dog could stand to lose a few, here are some things to keep in mind:

Read the label of your dog food. Again. | Make sure they are eating a quality food free of by-products, corn and other fillers. Also check the calorie count as most “recommendations” in the instructions are geared to selling more food, not maintaining optimum weight.

Be honest about the amount of snacks and treats your dog gets. | When training, Karma gets all kinds of healthy treats, but that means he gets a little less breakfast and dinner as I’m looking at his total calories for the day. Be sure to educate everyone in the home!

Rethink your rewards. | Karma is very toy-motivated so sometimes a game of tug is the only reward he needs. Other times we use apples, blueberries or other healthy choices to mark good behavior.

Get moving. | It’s really not that different for dogs than it is for people: eat less, move more. Unless your dog has a physical issue, your dog needs to be walking and playing and running.

Like people, like dogs. | Dogs need variety in their workouts just like humans do or their bodies can “plateau,” or get used to the exercise. If you only ever walk your dog around the neighborhood for 20 minutes in the morning, consider mixing in some more active cardio to raise their heart rate; add some strength training like having them wear a pack or working in a bunch of hills; do a super-long walk once a week to build stamina … you get the idea.

Time: 2 hours

Length: 3.7 miles

Gear: Lots of water, leash and daypack

Difficulty: 3 paws

Scenery: 4 paws

Pack: You and your dog

Location: Sky Meadows State Park  – Delaplane, VA

It really amazes me that just a couple months ago we were anticipate a record snow fall and now it’s spring. But it’s not just spring because the calendar says so. It’s spring because the trees are flowering and boasting buds or young leaves. It’s spring because you can spot 10 different shades of green in one glance and it’s spring because the wildflowers are popping up. Yes, I know this all sounds a little corny but it’s hiking season and I’m excited.

This past weekend Julie and I met for our own version of a two-a-day, two hikes in one day. We got an early start so poor Karma wouldn’t catch fire in the 80°+ temperatures. Little did we know that this would be a good call for all of us. Our first stop was at Sky Meadows State Park. There’s a three dollar fee (per car) to pay at the entrance gate which got us our parking hang tags. Then it was a short drive to the Visitor Center parking lot at historic Mount Bleak house, which served more as scenery for us than attraction. We got our gear together and let the dogs say a brief hello before we headed out on a ~3.7 mile hike.

The park offers over 12 miles of hiking trails. One of the highlights is that in just 1.7 miles you can hop on the Appalachian Trail (AT) and head to either Shenandoah National Park (SNP) or Harpers Ferry. We decided to take the North Ridge trail (1.7 miles) to where it intersects with the AT and then double back, picking up the South Ridge trail (1.6 miles) which loops back to the Visitor Center.

On our way out we were ascending part of what is essentially the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If this hill or mountain had an official name we were unable to locate it. The trees were featuring immature buds so we were still seeing a lot of dull browns. The sometimes rocky trail (no scramble here) kept me watching my feet on the way up. This allowed me to catch a snake hurrying off the path as well as the early blooming wildflowers that were cropping up all over. The higher we climbed the more flowers we saw. I kept looking over my shoulder to catch the view across the valley below and hills beyond us but I could have waited for the trip back down.

The South Ridge trail offers a couple fantastic spots to take photos. No need to keep an eye on your map for these, you’ll know when you’re there. We took the opportunity to gather our shots as well as some of the dogs (see our pics). In all, it’s a fairly easy descent and the trail was wide enough for a truck. We came across 2 low flowing streams that made their way across the trail, which the dogs were grateful to stand in. The trek also meanders through a couple open grasslands. The ticks are out already. I pulled about 5 from Cannon. If you want to avoid these pests then keep your pup on the trail.

Back at the Visitors Center the traffic had picked up. The parking lot was nearly full and there were families picnicking and walking their dogs. We spent some time letting the dogs cool down and then it was off to our next hike at the State Arboretum.

Virginia’s State Arboretum

This weekend we strolled with the dogs around The State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce which is about 60 miles west of Washington, DC.

Sure, it’s still early in the season so there were only a few spring flowers in bloom and many of the perennials we just poking up through the mulch. What struck me the most is how natural the entire property is. Unlike some formal arboretums with rows of English-like gardens, this one flatters the existing landscape and showcases many native species.

The other thing you will notice is the diversity and the depth of the collections. From the most extensive boxwood collection in North America to the ginkgo grove to more than half of the world’s pine species. All of this is nested in the Shenandoah Valley among rolling meadows, towering firs and Lake Georgette.

We literally just meandered around for about an hour – sometimes on a road, sometimes a path, sometimes cutting across the meadow. You could spend as much time here as you like. Be aware that you will be in the sun most of the time (weather permitting, obviously) so bring lots of water for your pooch. Karma was sporting his Kool Coat which I doused with water a few times.

My suggestion? Bring some wine and cheese and enjoy the sunset!

Facts:

• Open 365 days, free of charge.
• Dog and horse friendly – dogs must be on a leash and horses on the defined bridle path.
• There is a picnic grove available for gatherings.
• Memberships and tours available.
• No hunting and fishing should be obvious.
• More information

In this month’s issue of Backpacker Magazine they listed their “10 Essentials: Update your survival kit for 2010.” There were some great ideas from First aid kits to GPS units. It got me thinking, what updates or new gear do I want on my personal top ten items to shop list for this spring?

1. Gaiters | Until Julie and I break the curse of precipitation when we go hiking looks like this one’s a must. I typically exclusively hike in trail running shoes, so the Mountain Hardwear Seta Strapless Running Gaiters are my favorites at the moment.

 

2. Absorbent Dog Towel | Stop laughing. I know I’m way behind on this purchase but since I’ve got plenty of towels still left over from college (no… seriously) they’re fine for drying the dog. After the soggy trip to Savage River Lodge I got a wakeup call that regular towels just aren’t good enough.

 

3. Sleeping Bag | I have one already but after last year’s camping trips I learned that it just doesn’t hold up against the cold temps in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’m doing research now to find the perfect women’s, long, down filled bag. Since I’ve got an orange tent I’m hoping I can get it in green… love this color combo!

 

4. Canister Stove | I’ve been dreaming of getting one ever since my brother, Keith, and I took a killer 15 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in fall of ’08. It was October and there was already frost on top of the mountain. After 8 miles we needed a lunch break (cup of noodles) and hot cocoa. Keith pulled a canister stove out of his backpack and whipped up a fast and hot lunch for us both. I burned my tongue but it was worth it. I’m kinda hot (harhar) on the Jetboil Flash Cooking System.

 

5. Lip Protector | A couple weeks ago Julie asked me “if you were stranded on an island, what one item would you want with you?” My answer – “chapstick.” May sound kinda lame but after kayaking Costa Brava in Spain last summer without lip protection I learned my lesson when it comes to the stuff. The next morning it looked like I’d had an overzealous Dr inject me with collagan… and it was painful. I picked up Cover Your Mouth by Origins. Best lip protection I’ve ever used and it makes your lips look so moist and healthy. I swear by it.

 

6. Sports Bras | Don’t know about you but it’s really important for me to keep “the girls” locked and loaded when I’m hiking. This usually doesn’t provide many options for cute underwear. Everything that looks half way decent is usually built for low impact activities. I’ve found the Drishti Bra at Lululemon and I want to give it go. After all, who says you can’t feel sexy when you’re out hiking?

 

7. Rain Pants | Again, after Savage River Lodge I learned the importance of rain pants. Julie had them, I did not. Cold and wet is a bad combo. Jules seems to like her Marmot’s so that’s likely what I’ll aim to get. Tried and true in long please.

 

8. Dog Bed | If you’ve seen our photo albums then you’ve likely seen shots of Cannon on a dog bed in the campsite, possibly even under a blanket. Listen, he likes to be snuggly and warm. That’s why I’ve been shopping around for new beds. Ruffwear’s got this Mt. Bachelor Pad that not only has a great name but it can also go from the car to the campsite.

 

9. Camera Upgrade | This one might actually be on the “seriously Katina, you’re dreaming” list. But I’d love to get a new camera for shots out on the trail. I love my current Canon Powershot but would love to get a Canon Digital SLR. Everyone’s gotta have a dream.

 

10. Car | My current ride is worn and not suitable for travel for me let alone my pup. Cross-over, wagon… what’s a girl to do? Better start saving!

Got a wish list of your own? We’d love to hear what’s in your catalog of wants & needs!