I'd be outside taking pictures today, as it's just beautiful but our digital camera is on the fritz. We ended up with about 4 inches of wet snow, and now with the warm temps( high 40's) it's quickly turning to mud. Mike is out working on a couple of cylinders for his dad's tractor( rebuilding and packing them), Cortney is out playing ball with Tuffy and then was instructed to get the cow barn clean and ready for evening chores and I'm enjoying some peace and quite here on the computer. Mike ended up on an ambulance call at 3 am( he's a volunteer EMT). He returned home around 6 am and was kind enough to get the morning feeding done, while I slept in a bit. I feel so spoiled today, first sleeping in until 7am, then free time on the computer. When Cortney was out doing her chicken and turkey chores about, 8 am, my Dad often times splits a dog biscuit between the dogs. Only this morning Casino cried out when he attempted to chew his up. So began the investigation into finding his source of pain. He wouldn't let us look much but we did discern that it was the left side of his jaw or teeth that was causing the pain. I gave him some Arnica, for pain, and we watched him as breakfast was being made. He seemed in obvious pain so after breakfast I called the vet. The vet was in an emergency surgery but the vet tech said to bring him in around 11:30 am. We arrived at the vet clinic right on time, but boy Casino didn't want to go inside. The few times he's been to the vet clinic it's been to get nuetered, a rabies shot( required by MT law) or when he cut himself running through the wire fencing and I though it looked bad enough for stitches, which it didn't. Inside we put him up on the exam table and the vet carefully tried to open his mouth, out came a big ole' YELP! and there was no more looking allowed, not that he was being mean just not cooperating. He wants up to bring him in at 8 am tomorrow so they can X-ray and give him a sedative to be able to take a look and see what's the problem. Casino did have a bit of a fever, so he gave him a antibiotic shot and a pain/ muscle relaxer. We typically don't follow modern medicine, but he was in obvious pain and let's face it we aren't going to eat him, so antibiotics once isn't going to hurt. The vet said it may be a tooth or maybe he strained his muscles playing ball or rough housing with Tuffy. He said it wasn't broken and didn't appear he damaged the joint any either. I just dislike when a loved one( pet or human) doesn't feel up to par. Casino is really enjoying all the added attention though. Tonight he'll get a meal of brown rice, veggies, egg and beef broth to soften, he'll think he died and went to heaven! No food or water after 10pm is the order. I pray it's something easily healed, even if it is a bad tooth, pulling it will solve the problem. Tonight for supper we're having leftover lasagna, maple glazed carrots and garlic biscuits. Blessings to each of you this week.