Why so serious, Simi?
“Need more toys!”
Hah! We just went through and took a huge bag of dog toys to a local shelter.
Yes, they have lots of toys. Occasionally a dog will carry a toy for a walk in the woods and drop it at some point. Then years later we come across the aged, decrepit toy and a dog will want to bring it home.
We’d gotten this little tree full of little stuffed squirrels at Costco last week. Best $10 we’d ever spent on Chloé.
Toys that require some work on the dog’s part are fantastic. For Thanksgiving our dogs had cans of cranberry sauce. We would push the red “sauce” into the can and the dog would try to get it out, which took lots of work since dogs don’t have fingers. When the dog got the sauce out, we put it back in. rinse/repeat.
Why do dogs like to walk along carrying a toy? Some of my cats have very rarely liked walking around the house for a few minutes caroling about their kill, but to walk for a long time with a fuzzy toy? Not cats; why dogs? is t more typical in certain breeds?
Oh, and as long as I’m here: Peanut and Schooner:
Chloé had a badly needed haircut.
So adorable.
The horse dentist came yesterday to do an extraction on Jake, one of my gf’s horses. Jake was an angel.
TaDa!
Impressive defanged fang! My late TB Ben had to have his two upper front teeth taken out by a vet who specializes in equine dentistry. She did sedate him, and with her assistant 's help propped his head up on a stand to support its weight.
Jake looks lovely! What, if you know, is his breeding?
They’re my gf’s horses, I don’t really know much about horses. I know her horses are all “gaited” and Jake is a Tennessee Walker.
He’s a very good horse. When I ride, I prefer riding him. Very sure footed.
I know basically nothing about horses. I rode one once when I was a kid and that’s about it. When I drove my son to an equestrian event when he was doing a gig in sports photography, I must confess that being close to horses was a bit disquieting – they’re BIG animals! I cannot even imagine an occupation as “equine dentist”! 
Now dogs are an entirely different matter. Dogs I understand. As I’ve often said, I’m sort of an honorary dog myself. 
What’s the symptoms of a horses toothache?
Well, kayaker, you have a good one to ride – TWs are usually sane, sensible horses who take care of their riders, and are quite comfortable. I wonder what her other gaited horses are – Missouri Foxtrotter (love their gaits even more than TW), Paso Fino, Icelandic, Rocky Mountain, Saddlebred?
Not necessarily toothache, but when a horse quids – chews its hay into little wet balls it drops from its mouth – it means it’s got dental problems, likely hooks on the outside of teeth. Or if it seems to be having trouble eating, or is dropping weight for no apparent reason, it’s time for a dental checkup, Here’s a good look at why horses’ teeth need to be floated (rasped) regularly to deal with dental issues.
P.S. No, they don’t get fillings.
The horses are examined at least once a year by their regular veterinarian who also “floats” their teeth (filing off sharp edges). When the veterinarian noted that a tooth needed extracted, we called the guy in Virginia who is not a veterinarian but is a dentist.
He does horse dentistry in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. It’s a sweet gig. He works Saturdays and Sundays, sleeping Saturday nights in motels.
Jake was actually symptom free. No quiding yet and his weight is consistent.
My gf’s mare, Gracie, (aka Grapeseed) has a different problem. She grazes very efficiently and takes in too much carbs that way. So all spring/summer/fall she has to wear a grazing muzzle to slow her down.
ETA: horses are weird. Overgrazing potentially causes foot problems.
Gracie with her grazing muzzle on.
Beautiful animals, @kayaker.
They are sooo good! When the vet comes and my gf isn’t around. I get to hear all about how bad many horses are.
Grazing muzzles! Oh, yeh, when I had horses living on pasture, the Morgan had to wear one, much to his disgust, because he’d foundered before I owned him. Alas, despite best efforts, the laminitis came back – it’s a horrible, brutally painful, incurable inflammation and eventual destruction of the hoof structure – and he had to be put down.
That pinto is likely what’s called an easy keeper – can gain weight just looking at grass.