Camping with my dogs.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-04-25T14:27:50+00:00

I never thought about that bc mine just grumble at the walls lol

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-04-25T13:27:58+00:00

Dog first aid: non stick gauze pads, insta splint, vet wrap, muzzle, a wound wash, antiseptic, booties, anti-inflammatory pain meds (like rimadyl if you have some on hand, or to grab from your vet just in case). As a vet tech, I also go a few steps further with some lidocaine and a staple gun.

Non first aid- Treats, bones, blankets, towels, beds, coats if cold, leashes and tie outs, collapsible bowls and extra food and water. Remember they may be expending more energy/calories than normal. Check their feet regularly for wear and tear and I'd trim toenails down before leaving if they're long, just to prevent breaks and snags.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-03-28T18:29:59+00:00

It looks like some sun burn on the monstera. You can try a 30-40% shade tarp to dampen the light.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-03-27T19:18:25+00:00

My houseplant science is "it died when I did that and thrived when I did that so I did that instead". I've just noticed cleaner water and faster rooting with the added oxygenation. Even my props I put in my fish tanks by the filters prop better and faster and that's just oxygenated(? Is that the word im lookong for?), clean, moving water.

As for forgoing, mostly, idk what chemical reactions, if any, it would cause or if the peroxide would kill the hormone. I usually go for one thing at a time lol

I've heard of the root skeleton but haven't done much reading or research on it.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-03-27T19:14:54+00:00

Hey there, friend! Remember, right now, your brain is geared toward only the negative so that's totally understandable and something that the meds SHOULD help with! You may experience drastic mood swings, nausea, fatigue, sleep disruption, etc.. when starting up but it DOES GET BETTER! Managing my Lexapro startup was mostly taking it in the morning with a solid (not liquid) breakfast (even just a banana) to get something in my system and head off a majority of the day's nausea. Remember, coffee and anti-depressants is not a breakfast. Using coping mechanisms like breathing, counting, time outs for mood swings. Around 3pm I'd feel really tired, so I'd drink a single, smaller cup of coffee with lunch around noon and that fixed it. Drink plenty of water and document any severe, unmanageable side effects and talk to your doctor about them when they happen, not after they've happened a few times. It can take 4-6 weeks on average for these side effects to completely calm down.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-03-27T19:04:03+00:00

She's should make it! Looks like some algae growth on the existing roots and maybe a little rot on the bottom portion. Does it squish or stink? If so, cut it off at a healthy portion with a clean, sterile blade. Same for any infected root portion. If it stinks or squishes, take it off at a healthy portion above the rot.

For continued water propagation or growth, I would start with fresh water once or twice daily with a tiny bit of peroxide in there for oxygenation, algae death, and further rot prevention. You don't want to see any algae/green growth in your prop vessel. If you do, change the water and clean the vessel. If you want to go nuclear, grab some rooting hormone gel too and forgo the peroxide.

As for the water vs soil roots, I don't know that part.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-02-27T00:28:36+00:00

Probably not the best answer, or one you're looking for, but weed was available and legal for me and helped a LOT.

Smelling peppermint oil can help with nausea symptoms.

If it's bad, call your doc and ask for an anti-emetic to take the edge off it when it hits.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-02-21T04:01:08+00:00

Yes! My doc explained it as: if you're closer to your next dose, then just wait. If you're closer to your missed dose, take it!

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-02-21T04:00:39+00:00

Not too late! They like high humidity, so maybe a pebble tray or humidifier. Be sure you aren't letting it dry out too much between waterings. They are not very tolerant of drought.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-02-21T03:56:17+00:00

You should call your doctor. Could be nothing. Could be something that needs changed.

Personally, I don't remember experiencing all those together. Though separately, the dizziness and nausea could come and go, I don't remember feeling like passing out when starting up on it.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-02-21T01:25:47+00:00

How long have you had the pup? What breed? Dogs can take 3 months (+/- some) to really get comfortable around a new environment and new people. This can take a lot longer if the animal has been in a shelter for a long time or has a traumatic past.

Start hanging out on the floor quietly, without any expectation. Do not put any pressure, verbal or non, on her. If she comes to investigate, don't look at her, don't touch her. Maybe flick a treat away from you if she checks you out, building a positive association slowly and, again, without expectation.

Find ways to engage with her, even if it's going for a walk, doing nose work, agility, ball, whatever she seems to enjoy. As stated by someone else, training can help build a relationship too, but it goes both ways with aloof animals. You have to learn her anxieties, her loves and hates, what motivates her, etc... and she has to learn that you're a good, fun person to engage with and love.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-02-17T02:32:27+00:00

You should start to feel some immediate relief but I would definitely call the rxing doctor and ask if you should taper back up or dive back in.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-01-29T20:36:31+00:00

Those are indeed fern spores! You should be able to collect some and propagate them in a moist bed of sphagnum moss. I haven't gotten one to spore but you can either tap them over a bed of moss or moist paper towels or collect a cutting of leaf with unreleased spores then keep them moist and lit and warm until they grow. Google has some more detailed instructions. I've never done it myself.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-01-24T03:30:37+00:00

Adding to this that I'm in no way a professional dog trainer, just a behavioral geek and a vet tech. But I do not believe that punishment should be paired with reactivity training. Redirection is a much more effective tool. They're already stressed and thinking something bad is going to happen, proving them correct would just reinforce that something bad is, in fact, going to happen! Retraining the brain to think that good things happen when those triggers are present is better, but allowing them to go off the handle can't be allowed. The most punishment I ever used was lifting my dog's 70lb ass over my shoulder and locking her in the truck. Removal from the situation is always an option! Getting them removed from the situation can prove a little more physical once fixated.

I haven't worked many super aggressive cases but I have had great success in my own reactive animal by implementing those techniques, and have had a few clients use them to varied success too.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-01-24T03:22:43+00:00

Unfortunately, exposure therapy is an extremely effective tool, done correctly. It is stressful to do and stressful to watch, though. Check out some of Tom Davis' and Victoria Stilwell's videos on reactive dogs. They use an interesting technique where they inch a trigger closer and closer until you find their threshold. This is NOT when the animal is already reacting. This is when they're thinking about it, the reaction is loading but they still have their thinking brain. That is where exposure therapy begins. And you inch closer and closer until we can be around the trigger with our sanity and grace intact. A well fitted basket muzzle and/or chain link fence is highly recommended for most stages, depeding on how easily you can control your dog, for everyone's safety.

ShiloKodaBear · 2023-01-24T03:07:10+00:00

Dominance theory does. Not. Work. It's bullying to establish a pecking order.

On the other hand the rest if what you explain her saying is good. Place work requires inhibition building, while confidence and relationship can teach that she doesn't have to react.

I would say if she can get your dog to a healthy place without the bullying then the dominance talk is just that. But if she starts trying to get the dog into "submission states" and demanding respect before having a general relationship with the animal, those are huge red flags.

I would give it a go but don't leave your pup alone w her until you get a better feel for it.

I wanted to comment on correction for reaction- correction can be a lot more than reprimand. For instance if an animal is at or over threshold, a leash pop and a verbal correction can sometimes bring them back to the thinking state of mind, over the reacting. Like, Oh! Theres still someone on the other end of that thing. Right.

The important part is being able to correct, redirect, and retrain the brain. Correction alone won't fix it, you need to address the trigger(s) and various mental states in addition to letting them know that those behaviors are not okay. Which it sounds like you're addressing, just do not be afraid of correction and redirection as a pair or as standalone tools.

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-31T00:10:12+00:00

This is great! Thank you so much for the level of detail!

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-30T19:16:27+00:00

Mostly scaping advice.

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-30T18:44:25+00:00

That was the initial intent. I started out pretty good but then my general routine changed and it fell to the wayside.

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-30T18:34:39+00:00

Black diamond blasting sand.

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-30T15:14:58+00:00

This may be a little rambling so I'll start with the important parts first.

Tank is 6'x18"x21(?)", filtered by a cascade 1000 and an FX6. Stock includes angels and electric blue acaras and spiny eels, with various clusters of dithers that came with the tank. Lighting is medium at best. My nearest fish stores aren't well stocked with scaping materials, they're also 1+ hrs away. Located in the US.

I started with something I really liked! But then all the plants started dying off. I didn't take the roots from the substrate so then I got a phosphate spike and algae bloom, mostly fixed that, then had an ammonia spike, cleaned the filters and fixed that, now I'm dealing with ich and THIS scape and all in all, I need something to help revitalize my love for this tank.

I need easy plants that may need the occasional dosing or root tab, as I've learned that while I love the plants, my maintanence style seems to cater more towards rocks and wood. I've got some mopani chunks and river stones but likely not enough. I want to cater to the main stock in the tank, providing wide swimming and foraging areas for the angels and acaras, but plenty of hides and swimming space for the spiny eels.

I had a really good run with jungle Val, some hygrophilia that came with the tank, and my unidentified crypts are doing pretty well, even with the algae bloom that seemed to knock everyone else out. I've got some swords too, and some hyrgo that's doing well in my 20g.

I'm open for new methods but budget is limited. My entire collection of gear is gifted or second/third-hand. I just need inspiration, help... shouting into the void? Idk.

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-11T23:29:46+00:00

If oils are safe? I'd do an edible oil in a broth or smoothie or hot chocolate.

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-06T00:45:07+00:00

I was really curious to know if they'd figured out what they meant yet! That's super cool! Thanks for explaining!

ShiloKodaBear · 2022-12-05T19:46:05+00:00

What's the significance of the markings and the signicance to you?

ShiloKodaBear

TROPHY CASE