Personal | biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Oct 31

A Sheltie Pumpkin and a Sheltanda!

Happy Halloween! During the hurricane, Doug spent many hours carving our pumpkin below of a sheltie in honor of Biscuit! He did a very nice job! Next year, we plan to get a custom stencil of Biscuit made for Doug to carve onto our pumpkin! Check out Masterpiece Pumpkins!

Below are the pumpkins that Doug carved last year – a panda and a sheltie!

Biscuit was a panda for Halloween, hence the name ‘sheltanda!’ — a sheltie-panda! We were unable to locate a cheetah dog costume for Biscuit this year! Some photos of Biscuit in his costume are shown below!

Happy Halloween!

Oct 29

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Biscuit’s Health Update Part 2

We received an update concerning Biscuit’s health from our vet on Friday evening. Biscuit’s Free T-4 test results reflected that Biscuit is on the lower end of the reference range. Thus, our vet recommended that we get a full thyroid panel completed to determine for certain whether Biscuit has hypothyroidism, an under active thyroid. Biscuit’s thyroid test will be sent to Michigan. Our vet does not want to prescribe any thyroid medicine until she can confirm a thyroid issue exits because Biscuit is borderline. We hope that it is nothing more serious than an under active thyroid. Biscuit will go back to the vet in November for the full thyroid test as well as a blood pressure check, which can be impacted by Biscuit’s daily kidney medicine.

Biscuit is doing well and he has been in good spirits this weekend. Biscuit got groomed and he got a bath! His fur feels so soft and smooth! He has enjoyed several nice long walks outside before the hurricane. We are home with Biscuit today due to Hurricane Sandy on the east cost. We hope that we will not lose power during this hurricane.

Happy Monday!

Oct 23

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Biscuit’s Health Update

Biscuit is on the mend. The vet determined that Biscuit’s left elbow on his front paw is quite sore and bruised from his fall. We hope that it will continue to heal. Biscuit’s skin infection has cleared. Biscuit’s ears are in better shape, as his ear infection is gone, but we need to continue to clean them daily.

However, Biscuit was not happy to be visiting the vet yesterday. He tried to bite the vet on several occasions, which is not like Biscuit. He did not want the vet to give him an exam. As a result, Biscuit had to have a muzzle placed on his snout. When Biscuit was taken out of the exam room to the back area of the vet’s office for his ear exam, blood work, and urinalysis — he was a very good boy. Next time, we are going to have Biscuit go back with the vet to have his exam without us in the room to see whether it will make a difference in Biscuit’s temperament. We gave the vet a couple of bottles of the Jones Soda featuring Biscuit. Hopefully, Biscuit will do better at the vet next time. Unfortunately, Biscuit has had to go to the vet quite often due to his health issues.

Today, we received good news from the vet that Biscuit’s protein levels are stable. This means that Biscuit’s kidney issue is not worsening and it is being stabilized by the medicine he takes daily. Although, Biscuit’s protein levels are still not within the normal range, indicating that his kidneys are not functioning at 100%. We do not want Biscuit’s kidney issue to worsen. We will go back in a few weeks to check Biscuit’s blood pressure as his kidney medicine impacts his blood pressure. However, Biscuit’s ALK Phosphate level is extremely elevated compared to past blood work. We added on a T4-Free test to see if Biscuit has an under active thyroid, which can be treated with medicine. We should have more news on Biscuit’s blood work later this week. If the blood results are not indicative of a thyroid issue, we will have to do further testing and have an ultrasound completed to look at Biscuit’s abdominal area more closely. We hope that it is nothing serious.

On a positive note, Doug found our first Jones Soda featuring Biscuit last night!

Oct 22

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A Wounded Biscuit

This weekend while Biscuit was strolling around the neighborhood for a walk, in an instant before we could put on Biscuit’s leash, Biscuit jetted across the street covered in Belgium bricks as Biscuit spotted a nearby cat. In his attempt to catch this cat, Biscuit, unfortunately, tripped very badly over the curb and he fell quickly on his belly. Biscuit screamed and cried. I picked Biscuit up immediately and he stopped crying. Doug and I sat with him on a bench outside and petted Biscuit. We were quite worried as Biscuit has injured his paw before. For those of you who have met Biscuit, his demeanor is quite docile. However, when Biscuit puts his mind to something, he does not give up, and we think that Biscuit over estimated his fragile and arthritic legs and paws in his attempt to catch this cat. For some reason, unknown to us, Biscuit really loves to chase outdoor cats. In the past, when Biscuit spotted a cat and started running after it, Biscuit was leashed, and we therefore had more control over Biscuit. We have to be more careful now as we do not want Biscuit to get hurt.

We are taking Biscuit to the vet today for a six month check up. Biscuit will have blood work and urinalysis completed to check his kidney function. We are going to have his leg and paw examined by the vet to make sure it is healing properly. Biscuit has been limping since his fall, but his limp, as of this morning, is less pronounced. We hope that Biscuit will continue to get better. We have given Biscuit some Tramadol for the pain, which has seemed to help him. Biscuit is still giving us his paw in the evening during his “snacking hour,” which we take as a good sign.

Below is a photograph of Biscuit taken yesterday as he was resting on his bed. Please send Biscuit positive and healing thoughts.

Oct 16

A Finicky Biscuit!

We have had a few issues getting Biscuit to take his medicine recently. We were making little ‘meatballs’ with Biscuit’s prescription wet food and inserting and hiding his medicine. He decided that he needed a change, and refused to eat his prescription wet food that he always gobbled up! So we called the vet, and she recommended using Greenies Pill Pockets to give Biscuit his medicine. They were a hit with Biscuit. He loves them. We stocked up on these for Biscuit! We need to make sure that Biscuit will take his medicine. Luckily, we are down to Biscuit’s standard two pills plus his joint supplement. So, if you are having issues with your dog taking his medicine, consider tying the Greenies Pill Pockets. Biscuit wakes up waiting for his Greenies Pill Pockets!

Oct 15

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Biscuit’s Fun Fall Weekend!

This weekend, we stayed close to home so we would not lose our off-street parking spaces due to a marathon taking place in the city and a home football game! In any event, Biscuit enjoyed a fun weekend! He went on multiple walks; chased an outdoor cat; went to dinner with us in his Hound About; and met a new sheltie friend, McSorley! Biscuit is definitely enjoying the cooler temperatures! Some photos are displayed below! Enjoy!

Oct 11

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Cheetah and Panda Totem

Below is a photograph of a custom hand-made cheetah and panda totem that are joined together. Laura Johnson of Le Animalé recently made this custom cheetah and panda animal totem that we are very happy to have displayed in our home! I had this totem made as a gift for Doug to commemorate our four-year wedding anniversary! We love cheetahs and pandas! Laura is very talented, and you should check out her website to see her vast selection of animal totems! She also includes a stat card with each totem she makes. She can make anything, and we will likely have a totem made of little Biscuit as well!

Oct 3

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Quote of the Day – Rainer Maria Rilke

I came across a powerful quote by Rainer Maria Rilke. You can substitute the word “write” in the quote below for any art form.

“Nobody can counsel and help you, nobody. There is only one single way. Go into yourself. Search the reason that bids you write; find out whether it is spreading out its roots in the deepest places of your heart, acknowledge to yourself whether you would die if it were denied you to write. This above all — ask yourself in the stillest hour of your night: Must I write? Delve into yourself for a deep answer. And if this should be affirmative, if you may meet this earnest question with a strong and simple, ‘I must,’ then build your life according to this necessity; your life even into its most indifferent and slightest hour must be a sign of this urge and a testimony to it.”

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Oct 1

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Biscuit’s visit to the Tysons Corner, Virginia Orvis Store

We recently discovered that Biscuit was appearing in Orvis stores around the country in connection with the Orvis Petfinder Commitment, promoting dog rescue. Below are some photographs of Biscuit with his poster at the Tysons Corner Orvis store.

Orvis was kind enough to send us a smaller version of the Orvis Petfinder poster shown below.

Sep 28

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Biscuit Appears in the Royal Oak, Michigan Orvis Store

We recently discovered that Biscuit was appearing in Orvis stores around the country in connection with the Orvis Petfinder Commitment, promoting dog rescue. Below are some photographs taken by my parents of Biscuit appearing in the Royal Oak, Michigan Orvis store! Soon, we will be taking Biscuit to the Tysons Corner Orvis store so that Biscuit can see his poster! Happy Friday!