The Dog Days of Summer

For a blog primarily about climbing, there's sure hasn't been much writing about it as of late.  Well here's a quick update and then on to things more interesting.  I'm still gym-bound, waiting out the heat and hopefully getting a little stronger.  Lately I've been trying to boulder more, even though I really don't like it.  The hope is to gain some power which will improve endurance (by making each individual move less taxing).  That's the theory at least, we'll see how my plastic honed endurance and (hopefully) power translate to real rock in a couple of weeks.  Temperatures are slowly creeping down, hopefully summer will fully break after Labor Day and we can venture outside without spontaneously combusting. 

Now on to more important things.  Theresa and I had noticed that Bourbon (AKA the White Dog) had lost weight and seemed to be drinking and peeing much more than normal.  Theresa took her to the vet who confirmed the weight loss (9 pounds) and took some blood and urine samples.  We got the call about results and found that she's diabetic.  The vet wanted to do some more tests so we had to wait to fully learn more about her condition.  Meanwhile, we were supposed to take the girls to Theresa's parents to swim in their backyard pond.  We waffled about whether she would have the energy to play but decided to let her try it out.  Once we got there both dogs put on a show, playing in the lake for more than an hour, only getting out when we forced them to.  We were both very relieved to see Bourbon enjoy herself so much, a story best told in pictures.

Bourbon trying go start trouble with the swans.

Ripley grinning and showing off

Gimme!

No, really, gimme!

Bourbon showing off

Bourbon looking a little dirty.

Who's sick?

Need to work on the entry a bit, perhaps.

 The swans relaxing after the girls left the pond.

...or else she get's the hose again.

The next week we took the girls back to the vet where they confirmed the diagnosis.  The treatment plan is to modify her diet and give her insulin shots twice a day.  This was a shock at first but we're already adapting to it.  Bourbon has been a trooper, not giving us any trouble when we poke and prod here.  The prognosis is good, we just have to take a little extra care of our little white dog.

The new tools of the trade