TICKS.....AARGH!

Not an eagle, but he'll do.

In upper New England, spring has finally arrived.  Birds are resting with visible authority on their favorite perches and the blossoms are nearly everywhere.  I went up north to help open up a friend's camp and had the opportunity to do a little walking in the woods.  Moose tracks weren't as plentiful as other years, and the woods were quiet--with the occasional sound of a chick-a-dee or phoebe.

One lone grouse was drumming, but with my hearing, that means nothing.  There could have been a few a little farther away and I wouldn't have heard them.  Trillium was coming up, the ferns were unfolding and leaves on bushes and trees were bigger than a mouse's ear.  I kept looking, but didn't see much.

Later, I saw something that gave me the "willies".  

A varying Northern Hare was eating close to the cabin and I was able to get pictures of him.  As zoomed in, we noticed little lumps all over his face and ears. Then the thought came..."Ticks". 

  

Ticks visible on right cheek and ears

Having done a little research for an article on ticks, I remembered that rabbits were one of the prime hosts and sources of nutrition for the parasitic ticks.  

This past weekend, I saw the truth of it.  This little hare was covered with them--and we could only clearly see those on his face and ears.  There were probably many others in his soft undercoat.

Look closely and you'll see them as dark dots on the "rabbit's" face and ears.  Those are ticks!

Ticks climb up on a blade of grass or on brush and sit with their two front legs extended--waiting for the next host to pass by close enough for them to hitch a ride.  It could be a mouse, a rabbit, a deer, moose, bird dog or hiker.  Not a thrilling thought is it!

How many can you count?  More than ten?

Ticks are a vector for several diseases.

Does your dog have protection against ticks? 

Do you protect yourself against ticks?  

The woods can still be enjoyed--more so with caution.

Look between the ears

IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN....

I've hunted big game--elk, antelope,deer, etc.--and I've truly enjoyed the camaraderie of my friends and fellow hunters. But if I had to choose only one kind of hunting, it would be bird hunting with my dog.  First of all, the weather is usually better--and generally speaking, the hunting is more "social" and "casual"--and I like that.  There is nothing like a partnership with a good canine hunting companion shared with  like-minded friends and well-behaved dogs.

This spring, with snow melt and spring flooding-- "freshets" as they used to call them--puddles of water were everywhere, Waterfowl were using them while other species took the high ground.  K-Lee and I walked trails and fields.  We found ducks and woodcock, and did a little exploring.  On one of her many trips down a river's bank, I heard a yip.  My inspection found no sore spots or visible injuries, so we continued.  Later in the day, she began to be lame and favor her left rear leg.  Perhaps a cramp or something?   Once home, I noticed that she would point her left rear leg.   I was only slightly concerned.   About a week later, she became lame again.  Same symptoms.  This time the pointing of the left rear leg was a bit more dramatic.  We needed answers.

She was supposed to 'run' in a training event at our local NAVHDA chapter, but I pulled her from the line-up and kept her resting.  Monday we went to see our vet.  Doctor Connor checked her thoroughly and we agreed that we should x-ray her joints to make sure that nothing "bad" was going on in the skeletal structure.  (I was intending to have her hips "checked" at about two, so this was timely.)  It turned out that her hips and elbows were fine, but there was a little inflammation and swelling that would indicate a pulled or torn tissue.  Doctor Connor's examination  was absolutely thorough.

He prescribed two weeks rest with an anti-inflammatory drug.  (Have you any idea how frustrated a canine athlete gets when they're sidelined for fourteen days?)  So far we're doing alright.  I let her outside but keep her activity to a minimum.  We practice little drills like "heel", "down", "hold"--stuff like that to keep her mind occupied.

Injuries--they're bound to happen.  Our canine companions charge through brush, dead-falls, up and down ravines, swim lakes, rivers and streams, and in general, go through all kinds of "hell" to hold up their part of the partnership.

(I try to convince K-Lee that when I shoot and miss, I'm only doing her a favor--she doesn't "buy" it.)

Think about that when you're out with your pup. Pick your "spots" and seek to avoid injury.  You'll feel like you were doing your best to keep them out of trouble, but no matter what you do, it's bound to happen.

Y'know what?  I don't think the dogs would have it any other way!