Revolutionizing Pixel: Reading the Fine Print

The fight against fleas, ticks, heartworm and other parasites is something that all dog-owners should be concerned about. For this reason, I have been using Revolution (by Pfizer) for my dog, Pixel. He's been on it since he's been a young pup. I liked it, because it was the most all-encompassing parasite treatment I knew of, and with only one application monthly, it was all taken care of. It was not until recently, however, that I noticed my dog's reaction to the drug, and so I read the drug label's fine print (see picture above). Nobody ever mentioned that he could actually die from it. In fact, besides the death part, my dog was experiencing all of the side effects listed in the "Adverse Reactions" section, in teeny, tiny print.
I thought it was worth sharing this information, because after reading the "Warnings" section, I didn't see anything too bad (their sections include "Caution", "Warnings", "Precautions", "Adverse Reactions", and "Safety", among others, and I had inadvertantly skipped over that piece of info... see the PDF on the Pfizer web site). In short, be sure to really read about any chemicals you are giving your furry friend, especially if they start acting strangely. I gave Pixel a bath at 1:00 AM, and he almost immediately went back to his normal behaviour.

Springtime: Gardening Season

I have not posted in a few weeks because I was away on a holiday, in lovely Roma, Italia... the city of amore.

Since my return, have been trying to get back into the swing of routines missed, and create a sense of orderliness in my home.

The weather is pleasant now, so I thought I'd spend time outdoors in my garden, weeding, planting seedlings, and performing other caring horticultural acts. A professional landscaper I am not, but I still enjoy the "sport".

Apparently, so does Pixel, my dog... My dear, furry friend had a go at this planter, after I'd carefully gone through the trouble of layering rocks, blending soil just so, and planting a couple of rows of pretty pale pink impatiens in it, just like I'd learned to do. Having an inkling that his curiosity might make way for trouble, I had the foresight to place a small wire fence around the plants, to protect them from his curious nose. Evidently, my diligence was not enough to ward off damage.

Not only did he remove the (now mangled) fence, but he dug up all plants, soil, and even many rocks. There was loam... everywhere. I found clumps of soil lodged on my window sill, among other hard-to-reach places (at least for a dog)... Naughty puppy!

Smart Kitties

Some graphic design is very basic, some is more sophisticated. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it does not. You have to know your audience for the message to be effective. Here is one instance, when the message is perhaps less effective. Or maybe these kits are just too smart.

Strange Naming Conventions

My dog's name is Pixel. Okay, some may say that's just a techno-cute name for a loving pet. Yes it is, but the name has become a term of endearment to my ears. He's there whenever I want genuine, uncomplicated affection. I love my dog, and so therefore, I now love his name.

The other day, I was out walking dearest Pixel, when it occured to me that some of the place names around here lack that neighbourhoody feeling. There we were, walking along the old road in the Central Experimental Farm. Now, who thought of that name? It's not everyday that there's a working farm, smack in the middle of a city. Couldn't they have given it a name that has a bit more charm, nostalgia, or even slight feeling to it? How about "Kenilworth Farm"? Too waspy? How about naming it after a famous musician such as Oscar Peterson ("the Peterson Farm")? I know that people in Montreal are clamouring to name something after the late musician, so why not this large expanse of beautiful land?

I mused this as I made my way back home, to the Civic Hospital Area (another politically correct, lackluster name), and wished that it too, could be named something like Ruskin (after art and social critic, John Ruskin), or Hamilton, or Parkdale... or any more engaging name. Maybe some Ottawan official will read this and perhaps give it some consideration, the next time they are involved in naming some important piece of our heritage.

Introducing Pixel

Welcome all, to the creature that is nearest my heart, my dear dog, Pixel. Pixel is a five and a half year old, non-shedding canine, with large brown eyes, and an even larger brown nose. He is a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier (read, Soft-Coated Wheaten "Terror"), and every bit as loveable as any teddy bear.

Like most good dog-owners, I feel a connection to my furry friend, like no other human-dog connection. Pixel, in my eyes, is special. So special, in fact, that I overlook his shortcomings such as the fights he initiates with other dogs.

Some people have suggested that it's because of me that he fights. Me? but I don't WANT him to fight. I couldn't bear the thought that I was the cause of such canine violence, so I tried all sorts of doggie-socializing practices, including driving for hours to see an animal behaviorist, and spending a not-so-small fortune on trying to rehabilitate him. All of this, in vain.

I've accepted his anti-social behavior, and I no longer try to force him to be around other canines. He's so much more relaxed now, as am I.

The moral of the story: if your dog fights other dogs, just avoid the other hounds. I know some would argue, but I think it's the most sensible approach to an unpleasant problem. It's worked for me, and now my best friend is pixeliciously good.