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Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Fleas, ticks, heartworm, and tires

I headed out this morning with a list of errands to run.  The tire place was my first stop.  Being a Saturday, it was very busy.  So, I made an appointment to have the work done tomorrow at 10:30.  That sure beats waiting around four hours for them to pull the car into the shop.  Smile  This guy didn’t think I needed four new tires like Wal-Mart did.  They’ll also check the alignment, and rotate the tires.  I do know I’ll need to replace at least one of them.

 

Next stop was the Pet Connection.  I wanted to get another year’s supply of heartworm meds, and flea/tick treatment for Emma.  Other places I’ve been required that she has a well dog check-up and heartworm test usually to the tune of at least $100.  I’ve never quite understood that requirement.  She’s been on the heartworm pills year round for three years.  Seems to me if she needs a test to see if she has heartworms, that means the meds don’t work in the first place.  Thank goodness that at this vet’s place all I had to do was prove she’s been on continuous medication.  I, of course, had brought all of her records along with me.  $240 later, I walked out with a year’s supply of both meds.  I’m thinking maybe Emma ought to get a job to help pay for that kind of stuff.  Smile with tongue out

 

Back at the ranch after another stop or two, I took Emma out for a walk around the Dees Trail.  It’s been several days since we’ve done this trail, and things change quickly around here.

57 MS Sandhill Crane NWR35

The yellow pitcher plant leaves are maturing.  Doesn’t that look like red veins of blood developing?  I just think these plants are so interesting.

IMG_0786 As the yellow pitcher plant blooms begin to fade, a new variety of pitcher plant is sending up blossoms.

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The blossoms of this variety are red, and their leaves are more flat.  (Is that called spatulate?)  The leaves will change their appearance as the spring moves on, but I’m not sure I’ll be here long enough to observe that.

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I got a better picture of the candyroot today.  The color of the blossom depends on how much moisture there is in the soil.  Orange blooms indicate a more moist soil than the yellow blooms.  Perhaps you’ll remember that the roots of this plant smell like peppermint; hence the name.

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I spent yesterday giving the new volunteers a tour of all the trails, and showing them the pens where the captive raised cranes are released back onto the refuge.  I haven’t been back to this cypress swamp area since the trees have greened out.  We didn’t see any cranes, but there is a pair nesting at the top end of this wetland.  We only stopped briefly so as not to disturb them.

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

19 comments:

  1. It's so neat to see flowers from a different part of the country - just beautiful!

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  2. I have fought that battle for years - if you are giving a dog constant heartworm preventative, why must you have a yearly test to be able to get another year's supply. One year I ordered a generic from Australia, but I finally just quit giving it to her. Now that I'm going to NY I will no doubt have to put her in a kennel when I'm at my d-i-l's house, and I'll be scrambling to get all the shots up to date. I only do the rabies any more.

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  3. Squirrel hunter?
    I don't think they pay dogs for that!

    Because you are in so many natural places it is probably very good she gets the heartworm treatment. Isn't it transmitted by mosquitoes?

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  4. I laughed when I read your comment about Emma getting a job. I can appreciate that because my dog is on thyroid meds and I have to have blood work done every 6 months and it's not cheap.

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  5. beautiful flower and swamp shots! I believe you could probably take a beautiful picture of those meds for Emma too!

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  6. At home in Eugene, they hired dogs to roust some of the Canadian Geese from a local park...not sure the dogs actually saw any of the money!! I love the photos of the flowers. I have never seen any of these.

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  7. Great pictures of the pitchers!

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  8. Love those swamp shots! Not sure our dogs could get a job!!

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  9. I say Emma earns her keep 'tenfold' just with her company!!

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  10. Pretty flowers! It's interesting seeing plants I haven't seen before. Since I'm a stay-at-homer, I love reading blogs by full-timers like you; I learn so much!

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  11. Like so many other professions, such as Dentists & Chiropractors for example, I feel Vets crossed the line a long time ago when it comes to unnecessary procedures, costs, shots, medications, etc. They too have tapped into the money gouging factor knowing people will pay 'anything' to help their beloved pets. They too have learned how to take advantage of people under stress.......

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  12. Let me know how that job thing works out for Emma. Maybe Squeaky and Socks could do a little something!

    Those pitcher plants are so pretty.

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  13. Our Black Lab, Gypsy, HAD Heartworm..She had to stay at the Vet's Hospital for 2 days of Intravenous Arsenic...If I am remembering correctly, that's what they used in the 1990's to kill the worms..She came through it fine, though..You know you COULD buy some doggy insurance..NOT!!!

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  14. Our pets can cost us a chunk of money sometimes but what are we going to do.

    Great pictures of the swamp.

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  15. Those pitcher plants are fasinating. I have never seen the red ones. Very unique looking.

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  16. I LOVE the pics -- makes me want to take a walk in the swamp and see what I can see:) I'm sure Emma is worth every cent!

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  17. You take such gorgeous pictures! Beautiful!

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  18. Double what you paid for Emma's heartworm and flea medication. That's for my girls and I agree with you about the heart worm test. The girls are on it year round so why do we need that test. I'm really lucky because my vet in MT will send me the meds if I need them. They know they will see the girls every time we get back to Billings for a year check up and shots.

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  19. I keep my dog, cat, and all my foster furkids on neck-applied liquid heartworm and flea meds year round, too.

    By buying the largest size vial which is for a 130 lb dog, and dosing it out to each animal as per each one's weight and species, it works out a lot cheaper.
    I empty the vial into a baby food jar, or any jar with a built-in rubber gasket, (like pimentos), and suck it up in an insulin syringe, no needle, of course. I even have enough left over to do the neighbor's cats, too. But I do have a special chart to go by, so they cannot be under/overdosed.

    The alternative, having an animal treated for heartworm is a lot more expensive than the preventative, and very hard on the animal.

    Emma is worth it! Happy Tails, and Trails,
    Penny, TX

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