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Messages - Roxy Poxy

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1
Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: Sick St. Bernard...Please Help
« on: February 19, 2007, 09:49:08 pm »
Our Pyr, Roxy, has Addisons Disease. She was always a picky eater, but soon stopped eating altogether.  After 4 days of refusing food, we were trying to give her anything, ham, steak, chicken, even a pig ear. She didn't want any of it. She became very lethargic and would lay in the yard in places she had never laid before.  She didn't respond to her name, could barely walk alone.  We took her to the vet and they thought maybe she had eaten a sock, tennis ball etc. and there was possibly some sort of blockage.  To make long story short, they opened her up and found nothing. Two days after operation, her teeth would be chattering and her gums were cold as ice, as were her paws.  I put socks on her feet wrapped her in warm towels and blankets and kept her warm with the hair drier.  The next am we took her back to the vet. Our regular vet had been out of town (at a Canine Addisons Disease conference)but had returned. He immideatly noticed the signs and ran the test for AD.. it came back positive. Roxy was having an Addisonian Crisis and she was in shock. Addisons is very serious if not treated immidiatly. IT MUST BE TESTED FOR.  Her potassium levels were at deadly high levels, she was dehydrated and her body temp was frigid. The vet said we had 1-2 hours max to get her to the animal emergency center of AZ, before we would lose her.  The operation plus tests, medications, xrays etc had already cost us over $1500. We were asking if there was any other option and our vet refunded us all the money we had just paid and told us to get roxy there asap and that they would be waiting for us. Roxy stayed there for 5 nights (there went our trip to Europe) but luckily she pulled through.  We have to give her medication twice a day, every day for the rest of her life.  We were so lucky that our vet had just been to the AD conference. So FYI you have to test for Addisons; it doesn't come up in any other tests.  I hope everything is okay with your big baby!  I don't know what I would do without mine!  Sorry this was so long.  I hope nobody has to go through what we did with our Roxy. 
We hope Harley gets better soon!  Keep us posted!

Stephanie, Nick & Roxy

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Hula Hoops!  We bought Roxy a cool purple hula hoop last year, thinking we could teach her to jump through hoops.  HA Fat Chance!  We started by letting her sniff it on the ground... I don't think you can get a good whiff of anything if you don't get closer than 6 feet to it, but then again maybe Roxy can.  Then we held it up (the bottom of the hoop touching the floor) so Roxy could easily walk through it.  she walked around it.  Hmph, so far we aren't having anyluck.  So I tell my fiancee to get on his hands and knees and for him to crawl through the hoop, then I'll give him a "treat" and hopefully Roxy will follow.  She looked at him like he was crazy.  Ok, this entire time we have been filming. and it's been nothing but sweet words and and fun times... but no Roxy through the hoop.  It's funny to hear myself on the video, but I was getting a wee bit frustruated at this point.  We prop the hoop between the edge of the couch and some chairs.  If she wants to come into the living room with us, she has to go through this hoop; there is no other way around it.  Oh yeah, did I mention we have practically an entire bag of pig ears spread out on the floor (on the other side of the hoop, if she ever crosses over).  Well she starts to whine and whimper and cry and bark these pathetic little barks.  I am usually the first one to stop everything and go to console my little baby, but I had about had it with this circus! 

I say to Nick "Well, we can see that YOUR daughter isn't much of a risk taker, is she?"   Then I blurt out "What is her problem?!  It's NOT like I'm asking her to jump through a hoop of flames!"  The one liners get better from there!!  So, Nick and I are still on one side of the hoop and Roxy on the other.  We ask her if she wants to go for a walk.  She goes crazy and really wants to go.  We place the video camera on the table and focus it on the hoop.  We decide to hide from Roxy and say "Bye, we're going for a walk. Come Roxy"  we wait, but we can't see her (cause we are hiding by the door) then we open the door and close it so she thinks we have left.  She starts to bark and whiper abd whine.  It's funny because the camera catches her looking for ways to get around that darn hoop!  She attempts to crawl up and over the couch and it looks like she contemplates a way of getting underneath the diningroom chairs!  The look on her face when she thinks we have left for a walk without her is priceless!!  I guess we're mean, but it sure was funny!  She still isn't a fan of the hula hoop...allthou gh, I must say that it is a fabulous ab workout! 

I won't get started about Roxy's fears of the kiddie pool, our regular pool, the shower, candles that smell, cats and little dogs.  Sometimes when she gets up or turns around, she'll knock things over with that big butt of hers, and it scares the crap out of her! 


I don't know why I always have to have a long story.  I can never keep it to a one sentence post!  Sorry!

Steph and Roxy!

3
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: I have a job & I start today...
« on: October 03, 2005, 02:47:49 am »
Good luck and have fun!!  I would get fired for sure!  I have this subconscious habit of "accidentally" dropping, flinging, tossing, lobbing food onto the floor.  I'm not to sure where or when I picked up this "trait," but I'm pretty sure Roxy had something to do with it!  Even if I didn't drop the food, I would definitely try to swipe a hamburger patty into my pocket to take home for you-know-who!  Roxy is more of an In-N-Out burger girl, but McD's is just as good! 

I can only imagine the kind of welcome home greeting you'll get from Samson and Pippin when you get home!  I hope you can concentrate on your work today, I know all I ever think about is Roxy...I'm finally realizing that I  think I have a problem... I think about my Roxy way too much! 

Good Luck and Congratulation s on your new job!!

Steph and Roxy :D

4
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Hilarious Book
« on: September 30, 2005, 01:37:25 pm »
Oh Yay!!   The cover photo of the book went through!  How cute is that?  I think it's great!  You should see the pics of the newfs, saints, and all our other big lugs!  Funny how dog stuff instantly gets me in a good mood!  Have a great night everyone!

Steph & Roxy!

5
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Hilarious Book
« on: September 30, 2005, 01:35:12 pm »
This is my favorite "I've had a lousy day and I need a good laugh; but I don't want to read anything, just want to look at pictures" book.  It is a MUST for any dog lover.  It has all of our big and small dogs in some of the funniest photos ever!    It is titled "101 SALIVATIONS:  FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS"  by Rachael Hale.  We have it on our coffee table and I laugh outloud everytime I open it!  The cover picture is priceless, and it just gets better inside!   I hope I can get the cover pic to show up and I hope it's legal for me to do so!!

Steph & Roxy

6
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Can heat affect weight
« on: September 30, 2005, 01:22:18 pm »
I would check with your vet, especially if eating habits haven't changed.  Living in the hot, hot Arizona sun (it was 101 degrees today!) changes Roxy's eating habits drastically.  During the "cold" winter months when the temps dip down into the 70's--brrr--Roxy eats 3 times a day..probably more if we gave it to her.  But then again, she has to eat more because she burns so many calories being a psycho, energetic dog all the time.  Summer is a different story.  Its hot and she doesn't move at all during the day until we go for our walk around midnight or 1 am.  She eats very little in the summer and usually loses weight.  Come to think of it, I always lose weight in the summer too.  Who wants to cook and turn on a hot stove when it's 115 degrees outside?  Not me.  It's too hot to eat anyway.... Roxy and I are like bears, but in reverse.  We eat all winter long and stock up on additional lbs, so then during our summer "hibernation", everything kinda evens itself out!    ;D   

Steph and Roxy

7
Anything Non-Dog Related / Re: For the love of God someone cheer me up!!!
« on: September 30, 2005, 11:16:24 am »
Hi!   Well, I didn't want to leave you hanging with nothing peaceful and relaxing to think about...but unfortunately, "peaceful and relaxing" are NOT in my vocabulary!  I'm  irritated and annoyed every single day!  I think my senses are in overdrive lately because I think everyone's cell phones ring way too loud, and why can't they silence their ringers or answer their phones, instead of letting it run the full course of whatever lame jingle they chose as their ringer.  Anyways, I don't want to come off like a crabby old lady---I'm only 28, but maybe I'm getting old!  Today I was called "Ma'am" FOUR times!  Yup...4 times! BTW, "Ma'am" is code-word for "old hag". And to make things worse, today when I got home I noticed that I had more wrinkles around my eyes than I did the last time I inspected my face.  But wait!  Thats not all... not only do I have wrinkles (and no, they are not laugh lines) but I also have three big zits!  What a cruel world we live in....wrinkles AND pimples!  Well, I'll send this part and then continue writing about my attempt to give roxy a bath yesterday...in our driveway...... what a joke!

8
Great Dane Discussions / Re: Eating Carrots
« on: September 28, 2005, 08:36:32 am »
Roxy loves carrots, but for all the wrong reasons!  She likes to hold raw carrots between her front paws, then bites it and flings her head off to the side and spits out the bits of carrot into the grass...which is a pain to pick up!  Roxy loves celery and broccoli too; for some reason, the act of destroying and shredding apart raw veggies is a thrill for her!  Thank goodness she doesn't do this with cooked veggies!!

9
Great Dane Discussions / Re: Pix Up at the lake on top of October Mtn
« on: September 28, 2005, 08:25:22 am »
Wow!  What beautiful pictures!!  May I ask what state those were taken in?  Living in the hot, dry, dusty Arizona desert, I am always completly awed by lush green trees (not palm trees or cactus), bodies of water (not man made or bone dry).  Not to mention soft, muddy earth, that Roxy would love to have squish between her toes!!  Those pictures are magnificent and so peaceful looking!  Thank you so much for sharing them!  While I'm on my "nature lovers" rant, if anyone ever has pictures of  autumn leaves changing colors (of course with your BP) I'd love to see those!  I can't believe I'm going on and on about trees... BTW, I love the pic of of your Dane sitting on the rock!  I get such a kick out of seeing Roxy sit on our couch like that!  Too funny those long legged dogs!   Thank you for the beautiful pictures... for a while I forgot about all the stress in my life!

Stephanie & Roxy

10
Is there a way to make them smell less "doggy?"   :)  Or even the house less doggy?  Besides febreezing everything in our house, vacuumming, lighting candles, and brushing Roxy EVERYDAY...I still smell something in our house.  I am apparently the only who notices it...my fiancee says I have "dog nose" because I can smell the tiniest thing!  Anyways...we use this grooming spray made by Crazy Dog  "Crazy Dogs like to have fun & smell good too!" is what it says on the bottle!  We get it at Petsmart, and it is a good detangler as well.  I prefer the Pina Colado scent; everyone always says Roxy smells so good when we go on our walks!  My fiancee also brought home the Rainforest scent (yuck) without even whiffing it at the store; personally it's not my favorite.  I think the sprays are by the shampoo section and are about $6-8.  It seems pricy at first, but our bottle has lasted us a while, and Roxy has alot of fur to be sprayed!  After I spray her, I usually give her a quick couple of swipes with her slicker brush and the scent lasts a couple of days.  Hope you find something that works!

Stephanie & Roxy

11
Introduce Yourself to the Forum / Re: Just joined =)
« on: September 27, 2005, 01:43:30 pm »
Hi Beth!

Welcome to BPO!  My name is Stephanie and I'm from Scottsdale, AZ. My fiancee and I have a Great Pyrenees named Roxy, who is almost 3.  BPO is such a great place!  I too am a new member, but i've been addicted since my first day!  Maybe when the weather cools down a little, we could set up a play date for our Pyrs.  Besides her brothers and sisters when she was a puppy...I don't think Roxy has ever been around any other Pyrs.. poor thing!  Your dogs are just beautiful and congratulation s on the new pup arriving soon! 

Hope to hear more from you soon!

Stephanie & Roxy

12
Huge is about right!  Roxy weighs between 144 lbs and 149 lbs.  Probably a bit less in the summer because she doesn't eat as much when its hot out.  What are the whithers?  Is that the shoulder?  She is almost 32 inches to the shoulder..if you let me know what those secret whithers are...I'll go and measure and get back to you.  Both of her parents were HUGE!  Her dad weighed 201 lbs and her mom was 152 lbs... Yikes!  I'd post pics, but i have to find a way to reduce their size... dont know how yet!

13
Some people are just dumb sometimes.  It's horrible to judge a dog (or their owner) by the breed of dog, but sadly it's done all too often.  I know Great Pyrenees are "supposed" to be all white...but if they aren't...who cares?  Once in a while, we get some snob asking "aren't they supposed to be all white?" or "Hmph...isn't she a bit big for a girl?"  Come on...give me a break! These people are so silly....When you think about it, it's almost like asking a person why their child doesn't have blonde hair and blue eyes competing in beauty pageants.  Much less asking why their kid is so tall for a girl. Doesn't this sound ridiculous to anyone else but me?  People who judge a dog by its breed, are the same people who will judge a person by their skin color.  It's the same thing.  Everyone is different...do gs included.  Not everyone is "perfect", but it doesn't mean that they aren't loved.   I wouldn't change Roxy's gray patches and black face for anything!  So what if she's a little bigger than most females?  That means there is that much more of her for everyone to love!! 

One of my favorite quotes---

   "If you love it, then it's perfect" 

Think about it...its true!  We all love our dogs, no matter their shape, size or color.  I'm pretty sure that the majority of you wouldn't change a thing about their fur babies...am I right? 

14
Collars, crates, & other cool things / Re: Dog Fur Sweater
« on: September 26, 2005, 07:09:12 am »
Tajsa!  I can't believe I just read those words....." I can't wait for Kiah to blow her coat"  YIKES!!  I remember when Roxy was not even a year old and people would ask us if she shed much.  The complete idiots that we were, we said "No, we are really lucky..she rarely ever sheds."  What a couple of novice Pyr owners we were!  Personally, I think Roxy "blows" her coat 365 days a year!  (Actually she blows it in October...you would think she would want to get rid of it in May or June, before the 115 degree temps arive!)  We have enough Pyr hair everywhere on a regular basis .I am not looking forward to the blowing of the coat at all this year!  Maybe I'm bitter because I spend every spare minute I have, following Roxy around with a vacuum, a brush, or a lint roller.... which by the way, we purchase in 8 packs at Costco!  We have a huge ceramic vase that we have put all the hair we brush out of her into; who knows if we'll do anything with it, considering everything we own is already a "dog fur sweater, tank top, curtains, or car seats"!!  I would love to know if you look forward to next years "blow" once you experience the first one!!  I hope I don't come off as rude or bratty to you, Tajsa..just having a little fun! 

Stephanie & Roxy

15
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Sadie ate a Nylabone and ....
« on: September 26, 2005, 05:28:30 am »
That's good to hear!   Not to sound like an overprotective parent, but sometimes it's safer to give them the bones, chews, rawhides, etc. when you are at home and can kind of keep on eye on them.  Roxy's so big, but when she gets near the end of her big rawhide bone (the last knot at the end) we usually try to take it away from her and toss it, only because she thinks she is superwoman and swallows the entire thing whole...its only bad news from there!  It's hard to find stuff that she doesn't devour in less than five minutes!  Sometimes we give her treats and we don't even hear or see her chew them...they go straight down the hatch!!   Oh well! 

Take care!

Stephanie & Roxy

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