


LATEST NEWS 



Up until two and a half wks ago I was putting in all the overtime I could get to cover vets bills for Tikkie and Tia and trying to cover hay costs which have trippled in our area in the last yr.
In July, around my birthday, Tikkie's stink gland had become infected, unknown to us, until she had starting rubbing her hinny on the ground which resulted in scrap wounds which flies deposited eggs. Maggots became visible and Tikkie was quickly rushed to the vet! I knew males could have this problem with their stink gland, but was ignorant that it could also effect females. Long haired dogs are prone to maggot infestions to wounds during summer months.

It took almost ten days before Tikkie's wounds healed with medications and constant cleanning. Tikkie had lost bladder control due to one of the medications and we could not leave her out due to flies, so the poor creature spent the whole time in the kitchen, which was blocked off. The vet provided us with a medicial spray to be used 2x daily and we also gave hydrogen peroxide sprays 2x a day inbetween the prescribed sprays. The kitchen floor was scrubbed continuously and blankets rotated to prevent any future infections. The vet said we had caugth the problem right when it was very critical. I am happy to say Tikkie is completely healed and sports a new hair cut, provided by the vet, which resulted in her tail looking like a lion's tail.
Ironically enough, 11 yrs ago,at this same time of the yr, that my 19 yr old Sheltie had become infected due to a nip wound from a neighboring dog, but saddly enough my Sheltie died of heart failure on the treatment table at the vet's office. His wound was the size of an eraser head so it was very easy not to notice it due to his heavy coat. His wound was also located in the tail region. Thousands of maggots can result in two days after the eggs are laid. Become alert if you see your long hair dog worrying any area during fly season. Treatments for ticks and such will not prevent the flies from laying eggs. The long coats make wound detection extremely difficult, and serious infections can occur by the time the wound is pronounced. From now on every spring my two larger dogs will go to the vet to have their stink glands inspected. This isn't a pleasant topic but by posting it I hope that some other dog or cat, and it's owner, might be spared such an experience. Physically check your long haired pets weekly during the fly season.
A week after Tikkie's problem began Tia's knee went out so it was back to the vet again. Tia was given medications but there will be nothing that came be done for her knee popping out until she is older and even if surgery is performed, it's not hopeful that it will correct the problem permanently.
Pomeranians are noted to have problems with knees, collapsing tracheaes, misaligned jaws and teeth and also lupus. Before purchasing a Pom make sure neither of the parents display any of these conditions. Purchase pups only from credited breeders with stock that has passed all the exams. These pups are more expensive in the beginning but the price is nothing compaired to future vet bills that can rack up. I know one owner who spent $9000 on her Pom's knee and it still isn't correct. I paid $500 for Tia and assumed the breeder knew what she was doing. She was an impulse purchase and I did not examine the parents medical records. Learn from my bitter experience. You will save yourself a future of misery. And eventually backyard breeders won't find outlets for these poor creatures, who have to suffer all sorts of pain, while their owners suffer with them, and possibly the backyard breeders will be forced to quit. Pomeranians are noted to be a breed with numerous, possible physical defects.
Two and a half weeks ago my right arm lost the ability to be lifted at all. I had come home from work one day and noticed I was beginning to drop everything...this was a 4:00. By 11 pm I could no longer lift the arm at all. The following day I went to the walkin clinic who quickly rushed me to the emergancy room where I spent 6 hrs hooked up to a heart monitor, a cat scan and mri were also completed. It was determined that it wasn't a stroke or heart attack so I was sent to another dr.
After a second mri of the shoulder still no explantion other than possible rotator cup damage was given. My boss has already threathend to replace me if I do not return to work shortly while my dr still refused to release me and wants me to attend physical therapy which will certainly result in my getting fired. This is an extremely painful condition which effects the nerve in the arm. I can move from the elbow down but nothing from the shoulder area. I have pain medications which dull the pain a little, but don't remove it completely. I'm not suspposed to even lift a pencil with the right arm, but hello dr...I have horses to care for! My jerk of a boss told me to get a second opinion as if that will magically allow me to lift my arm. I cashier at a large feed store, it's called L&M, which is similar to a Fleet Farm.
For the past 2 1/2 wks I've done nothing but feed the horses, neglecting the stalls, and slept or read. For the past month it has been medical issues with either my pets or myself. Walking, sitting, any shift in body movement sends pain racing down my arm. The simplest of tasks has become major feats to endure. God, I took so much for granted before this happened. My dr can not tell me when I can expect to return to normal, he said this will be a very slow process. I expect I'll get fired and I have contacted a lawyer and am waiting to hear back from him, in the advent that I do become fired. I'm right handed and it is the right shoulder that is effected so I am constantly getting frustrated trying to do things with the left hand.
Yesterday I doubled up on pain meds and went outdoors with a tripod and took photos with Ahna. With the tripod I could do photos with only the left arm. And Ahna was a dear to help moving the tripod. Ahna's parents have separated and Ahna was feeling a little down so I thought perhaps that given her the camera would cheer her up. Plus doing nothing for so long is really getting on my patience. I'm stressed over the pain, no money coming in, all these dr bills accumulating and beyond resentful for the stance my boss is taking.
I'm stressed over the stalls becoming filthy and needing to get so much done before winter sets in and fall is just arriving, and not knowing when I'll be physically able to do things.
Tia started vomiting late Friday, she vomited four times yesterday but none so far today. I can think of no reason of why she has suddenly became ill. She still shows a hearty appetite so she'll have to return to the vet as soon as the holiday is over. I just can't afford another emergency vet bill right now.
Last Wed. I was very depressed, I had just received a threatening call from my boss, as I was heading off to the dr, for my mri, when I dropped two quarters out of my sling, which I have to wear. The quarters were for the parking meter. I started cussing because it meant more movement and pain to retreave the fallen quarters. Driving is also very painful and I was not looking forward to it. As I got into Duluth, a car ran a red light and stuck another car, barily missing my car. I had to slam on the brakes and jerk the car to the right to avoid being clobbered. Sitting in the dr's office I thought back to being put out about the quarters dropping and how, had they not, I probably would have been involved the crash. One of the cars seemed totalled to me. I then starting thinking that despite all the pain I'm experiencing, I'm still alive and eventually I'll heal and things will get better. If I get fired I'll find something else. At least I'm not on the other side of the grass and six feet under.
Happy holidays to everyone and I hope you stay safe, happy and healthy.
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Happy artistic endeavors to everyone and thank you for sharing your work, it is most certainly inspiring! I deeply thank you all for your support!
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Galleries That I Watch Please visit these galleries, you'll discover tons of great work and also meet some of the nicest folks in dA!




































































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Clubs That I Belong To: 












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EQUINE RELATED LINKS 
* I have placed all the equine related links under this one piece making it easy to

it thus saving all the links in one place.
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PAINT SHOP PRO LINKS:
Paint Shop Pro Users Group (PSPUG)
Paint Shop Pro Users Group Forum You have to register separately for each PSPUG section.
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Photography How To Links
History of Photography
Learn Photography
All Things Photography
Digital Photography User
People & Portrait Photograph
The Complete Photography Guide
Portrait Photography Tips
Ask an Old Pro About Photography
The Fashion Bookstore
Photo-Class
Photojojo
Ideas Archive I discovered these links in the news article,
"Photographing People," written by `
mnoo. Thanks a bunch mnoo for such great resources.
Photo Links A awesome link site with 146 contest links and everything else related to photography you can possibly think of. Just select what you desire from the drop down menu.
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I've always wanted to be able to share my bounty of graphic goodies but held off until the folder functions were established. Anything having to do with digiart, or graphic resources will be located at my second site. You can locate it here:
Deefilly-2.
As time permits I am uploading seamless textures and in the future I'll be uploading picture frames, various plug-in presets, e-cards, and anything else I find fun to create and might think useful to others.
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FAQ-REQUEST FOR PHOTO REFERENCES Feel free to use my photos but please do not submitt them to other sites and a link back is required, ok? Thanks!