MOTHER NATURE

[Cathy C. Bennett]

This week I would love to listen to you!

I’m asking to hear your “stories” and “woe’s” about the crazy weather in your region and how – if any – your dog is affected.

• Is the weather affecting his mood?

• Is it causing a change in his eating habits?

• How about allergies, asthma, joint pain?

Living on the East Coast we typically would have already experienced at least one strong snowstorm, a few “blizzard” type wintery days, and at least one or two icy rain storms. But this year – we have witnessed absolutely NO signs of winter at all.

It’s like winter got laid-off, like there was a reduction in force and “winter” was the season that lost its job!

Remember those “sexy” snow suits (Wardrobe Malfunction Blog – January 23, 2011)?

I have YET to take the tags off… Now I know what some of you are thinking - “angels from above have eliminated snow in this area just so the boys won’t have to wear those suits!”

We know that the barometric pressure can have an affect on humans. And we know dogs have the ability to detect changes in barometric pressure that humans cannot.

But I’m beginning to think this meteorological “mix-up” is having a direct affect on my boys…

• They’ve both grown their winter coats for what was supposed to be a cold season – that hasn’t come.

• Temperatures have been hovering in the mid-seventies for the past few weeks – Harley wants less to do with outside and he’s sneezing all the time.

• Leo is shedding like a sheepdog – and doodles “rarely” shed!

• They are both slow in movement, appetite is not quite what it used to be, and that goes for treats also.

• Yesterday Leo threw up in the back of the car – that hasn’t happened since he was 6 months old coming home with me for the very first time.

Can’t really find very much info online, so I decided to ask you – “the pet-parents” – if you’ve been experiencing “unusual” behavior from your four legged friends lately….

Please send your experiences and comments back through www.groovygoldendoodles.com for all to see, share, and perhaps benefit. I did check with the vet, and she said many of her patients are “out of wack” right now, due to the “unusual weather” we’re having.

Can’t wait to hear from you…

[Carol and Banjo]

We're in NH and have been having 80 degree days here!!! WTD!   I was just saying to my husband that I'm a bit worried that something may be wrong with Banjo because he's SHEDDING!   I just finished checking his skin...and all looks fine....no itching...no other signs....just shedding.   Other than that....we and he are totally enjoying the opportunities to be outside!

[F, Calla & Luca]

We're in the northeast too, well mid Atlantic technically and winter came and went with hardly a snowflake. But right now my two are enjoying the weather without any ill effects. I have taken a couple of allergy pills despite my shots though.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

We recently moved to central Canada from the mild west coast. Cooper HATES the cold! She has to wear a fleecy coat, a rain coat, leg warmers and boots. of course, by the time we made the fleecy coat and bought the boots she has only needed them a few times. All winter the weather would go from -20C to +5C and anything in between. Now its officially spring we have been having temperatures of +20-29C - totally unusual - it beat the records from 1970s when it was a record high of +11C. Now Cooper is too hot and Im debating whether to give her a hair cut... but it will probably get cold again!

[BG and Gavin]

The temperature has been 80 here the last two days.  Gavin was under the weather, hot, panting and off his food but came around after 24 hours or so.  He is going to the groomer on Friday for a summer cut.  Hope that helps,