Top 5 Dog Breeds with Most Expensive Veterinary Costs (based on pet insurance claims to Trupanion)

English Bulldog
- prone to cherry eye, brachycephalic syndrome, elongated soft palate, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation and stenotic nares
- 84% illnesses/ 16% accidents
- average claim amount $370.57

Bernese Mountain Dog
- prone to cataracts, elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion and hyperthyroidism
- 76% illness/ 24% accidents
- average claim amount $421.85

Rottweiler
- prone to allergies, elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, and hypothyroidism
- 63% illness/ 37% accidents
- average claim amount $567.53

Great Dane
- prone to cardiomyopathy, elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, and hip dysplasia
- 77% illness/ 23% accidents
- average claim amount $385.49

French Bulldog
- prone to allergies, brachycephalic syndrome, hip dysplasia, and stenotic nares
- 87% illness/ 13% accidents
- average claim amount $355.63

Top 15 Cat Medical Conditions

The Top 15 Cat Medical Condition
(according to the Veterinary Practice News June 2010 & VPI)

1) Lower urinary tract disease
2) Chronic renal failure
3) Skin allergies/infections
4) Hyperthyroidism
5) Diabetes
6) Tooth infection requiring extraction
7) Upper respiratory infections
8) Ear infections
9) Eye infections
10) Constipation
11) Asthma
12) Soft tissue injuries/sprains
13) Lacerations and bite wounds
14) Benign skin growths
15) Gastritis/vomiting/diarrhea

Lagan is having heart problems

Lagan is having heart problems. He currently has some heart beat abnormalities.

It is possible that it is the beginning of common heart problems seen in Irish Wolfhounds. According to one study that I read, about 40% of Irish Wolfhounds die of heart problems or complications from having a heart problem. Usually these problems turn up around age 6 (Lagan just turned 6 in January) and are more common in males. Often, these problem initially present with Atrial Fibrillation and then become Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Our vet is giving us a referral to the Cardiology Dept at the NC State Vet School. There are lots of medication out there for heart problems. The hope is that a more detailed analysis of what his specific heart condition is will provide a clearer picture of his current heart problem and consequently what is the best way to treat it right now.


For more information:
The Prevalence of Cardiomyopathy in the Irish Wolfhound - Journal of American Animal Hospital Association
http://www.jaaha.org/cgi/content/abstract/36/2/125


About general health problems in Irish Wolfhounds:
The Irish Wolfhound Foundation
http://www.iwfoundation.org/health.php

Results of research in the health of Irish Wolfhounds presented by the (British) Kennel Club:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1577/hsirishwolfhound.pdf

Audiobooks that I Have Been Listening to Lately

Between the pet sitting and spinning, I am almost constantly listening to audiobooks. A typical day includes listening to audiobooks for at least 8 to 10 hours.

I'm almost finished listening to the DeathStalker trilogy by Simon R Green (four more hours to go). I'm not sure what I am going to read next. I have several choices from my local library and Audible.

Recent listenings include:
Books by Christopher Moore (Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Dirty Job, Fluke, Bloodsucking Fiends, You Suck, Fool, Lamb, etc)
Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog: Or How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last by Connie Willis
Austenland by Shannon Hale (great if you have been listening to Jane Austen lately
Tutor period historical fiction by Philippa Gregory
We'll Always Have Parrots & Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews (very entertaining mysteries)
Flash Forward by Robert Sawyer
Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Stories
Anything I can find by Robert Rankin
The Undead and .... Queen Betsy of the Vampires Series by MaryJanice Davidson
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Pendergast novels by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Vor series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Outland series by Diane Gaboldon
Retrieval Artist novels by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Literary Mysteries by Jasper Fforde
Amelia Peabody books by ELizabeth Peters
In the Woods and the Likeness by Tana French
Anything by Neil Gaiman
Inspector Banks mysteries by Peter Robinson
Tempe Brennen novels by Kathy Reichs (no, the character is nothing like the one on Bones)
Wicked, Son of a Witch, and Mirror, Mirror by Gregory Maguire

Wednesday in Moab, UT

Once again, the weather was just wonderful. My husband and I hiked the Syncline Loop trail in the Canyonlands National Park near Moab, UT. It was an 8.3 mile loop with an initial downhill hike of 1500 ft. Since it was a loop trail, what goes down must come up. We walked near the bottom for a little while and then up we went. We took the trail clockwise which was definitely the best way to go. The uphill bit was spread out over a number of miles. I do actually prefer hikes that don't start with an uphill bit. It seems to take me a while to warm up. It took me about 6 hours with few stops. My husband added an extra mile to go to the center of the odd formation. I was ready to be done, so I skipped that part.

It was absolutely beautiful scenery. I took lots of pictures, at least I did until my camera's battery went dead. I am really glad we did it, but I am now very tired. I imagine that I will be pretty sore tomorrow. We are off to the hot tub to soak out our muscles.

Tomorrow we are off to Grand Junction to unload the trailer of my mom's stuff that we hauled from NC. She arrived in Grand Junction with her 3 cats today. She left on Saturday just like we did.

Spending a Day at Moab, UT (Tuesday)

Tuesday
Once again, the weather was beautiful. With a high around 69 F. There was cloud cover for a lot of the day which was fine with me.

Morning:
My dh biked the Moab Brand Trails
I drove the Willow Springs Flat Off-road trail and hiked around in Arches National Park.

Lunch at the Love Muffin Cafe

Afternoon:
Me & my dh hiked around at the Dead Horse Point State Park - about 3.7 miles (probably more for me)
Yes, I know the name is kind of gruesome
I saw a Jack Rabbit (and took its picture), a ton of Big Horn Sheep tracks and poop, and a Kit Fox poop and tracks. I couldn't believe how many Big Horn Sheep signs we saw. There were tracks everywhere and poop too. Some of the poop was quite recent.

Dinner
All you can eat pizza at Zax (we watched vintage bowling - a match from 1974)

Soak in the hot tub at the hotel

Travels to Moab, UT and Grand Junction, CO

My mom is moving to Grand Junction, CO. My dh and I offered help her move. This includes packing a trailer and then driving it out to CO.

We left on Saturday, Feb 28,around 7:45 am towing a trailer filled with mom's furniture. We drove straight through stopping only to eat and fill up the tank (a frequent occurrence).

We arrived in Grand Junction around 2:00 pm on Sunday. I think that it was about 1900 miles. We dropped off the trailer and headed to Moab for a couple of days R & R before we meet mom in Grand Junction on Thursday morning. We arrived in Moab around 4:00 pm.

Sunday
We walked around Moab checking out the changes since our last visit. The last time I was here was 3 years ago; my dh was here about 2 years ago.

Monday
Morning:
Dh biked the Gemini Bridges Trail
I drove the trail stopping frequently to take lots of photos.

Lunch

Afternoon: We hiked the Corona Arch trail (about 2.5 miles)
Drove down the Long Canyon Trail (very pretty)

I took lots of photos today, but it is unlikely I will get a chance to post any of them anytime soon.