I won’t say good night’s sleep, but definitely better thanks to David taking the early out puppy shift (2:00 AM). Yesterday my cumulative lack of sleep had it’s way with me.
And did I mention Finley fell off the dock into the lake (good news; she’s a great swimmer!). By the time I made it to Kaitlyn’s TKD class, I was done for. I think this picture is a good visualization of looking “done for.” 😂
I had a therapy/vent session with Danielle which helped a ton and got me through making dinner and getting into bed early at 9:00 PM with the help of my CBD/melatonin friend.
The hour before bed, I spent emailing with one of Finley’s litter mate moms and googling information to learn more about nosodes and raw diet and parvo. Having a puppy in many ways feels like having a baby again and the weight of being the decision maker for her health choices feels paralyzing at times.
David helps so much in these times by reminding me there is no single correct path forward. We need to do what we think is best, then move forward and stop questioning it. How can guys do this so easily?! I wish I had that gift, but I know he’s right.
There are some (many? all?) things in life that we will never know the outcome if we had taken another path. Second guessing our decisions leads to stress and worry that doesn’t do us any good. The best we can do is educate ourselves best we can, pick a path, move forward, and believe in the best outcome.
I’m feeling better this morning. Gosh how I love mornings. I have a happy, sleeping puppy at my side. I just ordered my Christmas cards. I’m going to do the online Christmas shopping today that I keep saying I’m going to do. And we have co-op today, which is always fun!
I had the girls make their own lunches last night and wondered why I don’t do it every week? I will from now on; it was such a load of of me to have them pick and pack their lunches while I made dinner.
I am hopeful I can finish putting up the Christmas decorations that are currently strewn all over the upstairs hallway. With our new living room set up we had nowhere to put them so on a whim I ordered these two tables last week and they are supposed to arrive today. Fingers crossed that they work!
Are you currently experiencing analysis paralysis with something? How do you handle it?
Britt says
As someone who has worked in the veterinary industry, I am begging you to please vaccinate miss Finley for parvovirus. It’s absolutely heartbreaking when You have to tell a family that their puppy has passed from a disease that could have been prevented. Parvo is extremely contagious and can remain on surfaces/the ground for a year. I believe in natural immunity for certain things and have seen some pets benefit from nosodes and titer testing, but parvo is not something to mess around with. Hopping off my soapbox!
Brittany Dixon says
I appreciate your input so much! I’m struggling because our breeder is not on board with it (Finley is 3rd generation raw fed and not vax) and has sent a lot of info about the alternative route (nosodes and titer testing). It’s fascinating to me especially because Koda died of lymphoma at a fairly young age, and I’ve learned vizslas are particularly sensitive to chemicals so I’d like to avoid as much as possible.
However I have read a lot about parvo and it does scare the heck out of me. I’m honestly quite stressed about it all. Both sides seem to have risks to me.
Caroline says
As a veterinarian I have to echo what Britt said. PLEASE vaccinate Finley against parvovirus. I have seen puppies become terribly sick and die from parvo; it is not a disease to take lightly. Please trust the advice of veterinarians who have gone through four years of school, licensing exams, and have to do mandated continuing education every year over the advice of breeders who don’t need any credentials. I would also strongly urge you against feeding a raw diet, especially with two young children in your house. There is no research that supports the purported benefits of a raw diet but there is research to support that most if not all raw diets are contaminated with bacteria that could make you or your children sick.
I’m including some links that I provide to my own clients when they have questions about raw diets or what the best food for their pet is:
https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/01/raw-diets-a-healthy-choice-or-a-raw-deal/
https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/The-Savvy-Dog-Owner-s-Guide-to-Nutrition-on-the-Internet.pdf
Brittany Dixon says
I appreciate the feedback so much and am clicking through the read the links now. The vet I saw (the crying experience 🙈) actually strongly recommended the raw diet. I’m doing the best I can to take in all the expert advice; it’s challenging with conflicting opinions, but I do really appreciate hearing it.
Jamie says
I’m usually a fairly decisive person but if I am going back and forth on something I typically give myself a deadline to make a choice and move forward. Typically a few days, no longer. I’ve realized second guessing myself takes up too much energy and brain space, plus no progress or action happens.
A says
Love that table! Good pick! Also- this year I started making the girls pack their own lunches the night before and I said the VERY SAME THINGS….what took me so long? And where have you been all my life!!!
Marie says
I’m not a vet, but am a life-long dog owner, and I strongly urge you to get your puppy fully vaccinated. I have lost a dog to cancer, so I understand your concerns, however, you do not want to see your puppy deal with Parvo. It is a horrible disease and will absolutely break your heart watching your puppy go through it. An unvaccinated puppy should not be walked outside of its own yard, interact with other dogs, or go anywhere outside of its home and vet office until it is fully vaccinated against Parvo. Waiting until a puppy is old enough to safely venture out unvaccinated will hamper it’s socialization as well as a family’s enjoyment of having a dog. An unvaccinated adult dog can still get Parvo if there is something else weakening its immune system. I have taken a wholistic approach to other issues like arthritis, etc, but there are some things that need to be handled through veterinary medicine.