Yesterday we took Fanny and Epic to the Chicago airport. One of the challenges of flying with bigger dogs is that not all international airports can take bigger crates – or at least not with direct flights. We got there with plenty of extra time and walked dogs around the airport parking lot. Griffin and Epic loved that walk because the grounds are a great rabbit breeding ground. Rabbits all over!
After the airport, I went over to a nearby training facility to watch some classes. I saw some nosework classes – one was really nice with several instructors at outdoor locations and students rotating between stations. Inside, I saw some agility and barn hunt. The agility classes were different intermediate and advanced levels. I really liked some parts of it – they used the space well and the students were very happy. I wasn’t able to stay and ask all the questions I had, but hopefully I’ll be able to stop in again at some point in the future. I like watching other classes to get ideas of strengths/weaknesses in our classes.
We then drove north – but had to stop for the night when there was a huge rain storm. In the morning we finished our drive to Madison, WI. I had found out from Griffin’s family that the vet school is doing a study on laryngeal paralysis – a condition that effects some older dogs, and especially in breeds like golden retrievers. Blaze (15 years!) hasn’t been formally diagnosed but likely has the condition (changed bark, heavy breathing, regurgitating food). They took him back and did neurological exams, blood draws, and some other things. The vets suspect he does have it and that explains some of his weakness/changes in mobility though there could be other neurological reasons too. All four limbs showed abnormal results on the neuro exam. I’m not incredibly surprised – it’s hard to know which part of the weakness is from this condition or from general aging. I didn’t learn much from it – but hopefully he’s useful to the study and finding more about the condition as well as the corresponding conditions in people. I’ve spent quite a bit of time at vet schools (OSU for various things, Purdue for the behavior clinic) and was very impressed with the staff/students in Madison. They did a great job handling my dog and managing the waiting room.
And then – more driving north to our rehab vet!