noisymina

Maybe he's not needing as much food for now? Mine goes off her dry (if she's getting dry) when she's had enough food. If I weigh her at that point, she is usually at the upper end of what I consider her best weight anyway. So I just cut back on the amount of food for a while. Have you been monitoring his weight?

Thank you. I'm pretty sure I wil be able to track something down locally.

Yeh - I know what you mean.

Erny, there is clearly no easy/obvious answer to this one. If he has blood tests that show no problems, the only avenue medically would be, I imagine, an endoscopy type procedure to actually look at his digestive system from start to end! Jut as an aside - I do remember the Miniature Poodle I had (long time ago now) who was just the most finicky eater and always thin as a rake. At least with Poodles nobody notices. I did not pander to her after the first few attempts. In those days we had very few pet food options anyway, so my choices were limited. All I did do was shove some vitamins into her from time to time. In spite of her eating like a mouse, she did live a very long, active and healthy life. If tests don't show anything, maybe he is just one of those dogs that do that?

Me too. I know lots of cysts that have developed without any cut or injury tho. Mind you, we did have a cat get a huge infected cyst after an encounter with another cat. But that is a bit different.

Thank you shelby. I'm so going to folow that up. If I draw a blank, you might get a PM asking for your naturopath's details. If that is OK? I agree - when one is flapping around without good leads it is frustrating AND expensive. I hope they have a doggie equivalent for Mandela!

Sorry Erny - I just have to ask Shelby ...how long has that test been around? It sounds awesome!

The way I understand it, specially with humans and lactase insufficiency, the fact that the digestive system is not digesting, in that case, the lactose, it begins to ferment in the gut, thus producing gases etc. Most humans and even my dog benefits from some acidophilus - thus Kaisie is not nealy as smelly now that I've been a bit conscientious with her yoghurt most days. I was just asking about quantity because, on another thread, someone said that they think that packet directions often over state the amount of dry that needs to be fed. I've never personally fed a large proportion of dry, so can't say either way from personal experience. But going on the small amount I use to add weight to Kaisie, I'm thinking there may be some truth in that theory.

Oh - ok. So he's not much bigger than Kaisie who weighs in at around 31-32 kg She as 32.7 last time, but that was bit too heavy for her. It seems to me that 6 cups of food (dry or otherwise) is a lot. To me, 3 cups at one sitting seems like a lot. At 300 t0 350g meaty bones at night, plus a bit of barf (half a small patty) + yogurt or an egg for breakfast, she keeps her weight. If she is a bit light, I add 1/4 cup dry in the mornings for a while. So, to work a rough equivalent, 3 cups of food would see her gain weight. She just would not eat more - as soon as she reaches about 32 kgs or a bit more she will refuse food, bury her bones etc. She just won't eat. Just a rough comparison. Is it possible the quantity of food is hard for his system to manage?

I saw a couple of pure bred Dopes for sale in a pet shop this morning. I asked for more information - details are sketchy, but if anyone is interested in more information, please PM and I will be happy to pass on what I know.

Erny - it seems like a really difficult problem. I'm a rank amatuer and hed very few dogs to care for in relation to you and others here - so have not come across anything quite like it. I know Mandela is a giant breed- but I can't remember reading how much he does weigh?

I can't answer that, KitKat becasue it would depend on the ways in which the dog was "troublesome". Our Weimaraner was a right royal PIA in some ways. Even with 5 acres to run on, she'd find some way to get through DOG-PROOF fences. The vet recommended an electric fence as the ONLY way to keep her in! She was also a totally hopeless watch dog. And no, I didn't particularly "bond" with her. We kept her for about 15 years! Now that is dedication. She was easy to wash, easy to live with - when we didn't have to retrieve her from the neighbour's property 'cos she couldn't get back through the fence - and was good with the kids. She also chased off the possums - which was a plus. I think a dog would have to be pretty bad before we gave up our commitment. Mostly, I think, it would be a safety issue that would make me draw the line. Health issues I would deal with - unless the dog was suffreing, in which case I would do what needed to be done.

Dermcare Natural Shampoo.

Yay! It is good to see drool when you know it's for the right and good reasons. Kind of like seeing a good poop after a period of not good poops. Lordy . It's a bit rough when you start thinking you could write a book about poop. Well, since we have 5 acres for the dog to poop on, and Kaisie is fed mostly raw/premium, I seldom see a poop. ;) But if a strange dog has got in and pooped. I know it! They don't get fed as well as mine. When we got our first Dobe here, I experimented with different food quite a bit. And poop examination was critical. When I saw that what I'd fed her came out the other end almost totally unchanged, I figured it was not actually much good as she was getting nothing out of it. So I went with the ones that produced the healthiest looking poops. That was before internet days. Seems I might have been onto something there.

All I can say is......................... Coffee is very expensive down there! But it's probably better coffee. I've opened the Nutro I got - and started to mix it with the other kibble as a gradual change - even tho I only give a very small amount ... And Kaisie has started to droool big time as soon a she sees the kibble cup come out. Got to get it all outside very quickly before she drops drool all over the floors.

Well said Dobe owners. I agree with all of it! Definitely wash and wear. Mine can go a month without even being touched if I'm lazy. Or a hose off and shake if she's got a bit muddy. They are the most beautiful, athletic dogs when in motion. Not much can compare to seeing your Dobe stretching out in full gallop.

Don't hold your breath. ASIC are pretty useless. Your message on the back - or event the front - of a ballot papare will go nowhere. Apart from the possibility of entertaining Electoral Office staff and scrutineers as the votes are counted. Getting ANY laws changed is a mugs game. Getting MORE laws in is easy. More laws will solve everything and make people feel good. The fact that merely enforcing existing laws would actually solve most problems seem to be conveniently ignored - or put in the "too hard" basket. There is a big gap between pollies and control of the enforcement agencies, me thinks. Pollies are wusses when it comes to demanding accountability. So all they do is talk more and make more laws instead.

If you want good recall, a Weimaraner is not for you. The one we had was an obedience champion when we got her. A very good dog generally. But once she was on a scent out there, she was deaf as a doornail. OK on our fenced areage once we put up the electric fence. The fence kept in the Dobes, but not a Wei. And once she got out, she had no idea how to get back. I'd suggest a Dobermann. It would tick most, if not all, of your boxes.

The dust bunnies start mid week here. Not a single dog hair in them. ;) I never plucked my Poodle's ear. The groomer used to do that when she clipped her. ;) But I did spend a fair bit of time with her on my lap while I watched TV and filed back her nails. They were very long thanks to her previous neglect and persistent filing was the best way to get the claws to retract to a more acceptable length. Unfortunately, Kaisie will not let a file or any implement within a mile of her nails. :D .

thanks but I wasn't thinking of the issue with Orijen as I believed the Nutro issue was something to do with the way it was cooked, so I did a search back thru the Nutro threads and found the following post from 4Paws: Yes - that is how I remember it too. Cleraly there was never any intention to irradiate the Nutro product. I also would like to know why the formula is different. ;)

It may come from the tummy/food. Changing the food might make a difference. I would suggest that you add a tablespoon of yoghurt each day for a couple of weeks and see if that helps.

I only had the one dog, but my Poodle used to be a right royal show-off after she'd been clipped. Used to strut her stuff something wonderful. A soon as we got home, she's prance around showing off to the family, then we'd jump the fence and show off to the neighbours too. They used to think is was so funny the way she'd strut around their lounge room showing off. Thier male Poodle did not, however, get excited enough to misbehave himself.

He might have sensed something was up. My dog knows what I am going to do before I do sometimes. :D It might explain it. I'd still do a vet check and weigh in - for peace of mind.

Our postie NEVER comes in to deliver. I ALWAYS have to front up to 15min+ queue to collect. I guess they do that to everyone - thus the 15min + queue. They USED to toot the horn and wait for abit for us to get out there. But they don't even do that now. Our dog has never bitten anyone. But that does not mean one or two deserved it. Idiots. Acting agressively towards a dog is not a good idea. One guy did that hare - and I was there just in time to call her away. I took her inside and left DH to deal with him because I was pretty angry. He told DH that he had recently been biten by a Rottie. Gees - I wonder how that happened. He came very close to adding a Dobe to the list that day. :D As for the brave resucuer - I would have saved the dog too. But not at the cost of injury to myself. Waiting a bit for it to lose consciousness would have made the exercise a lot safer. I know - it is cruel, but IMHO human safety comes first and the dog still would have been ok, if a little bruised.

If he were mine, Wags, I'd be taking him in for a vet check.