Skipy

I am guessing she knows obviously that she is not allowed to do it inside... Attention seeking maybe, have you ignored her laterly (been too busy, etc)? Sorry, that is all I can come up with, not really an expert on dog behavour. Just thought I say good luck!!!

True, it can go away, never create problems, etc, and vets are probablly right, but 1. why is breeder selling you a sick puppy, and then charging for it as well?

Steve, thanks for those links, I only trust the ones that are done by scientists, so I did check those out, I also did a pubmed general search, and there seems to be a long term protection only for the core vaccines, which are in fact most, except kennel cough as far as I could find.... I will try to find others that look at plus of yearly boosters. Mrsdog, if your dogs are fine with heartworm and booster at the same time what is the problem? I know many people that give both at the same time and their dogs could not be healthier. One thing that I dont like about those yearly ones, and correct me if I am wrong, but the initial dose that is given must be pretty high.....

Two things: can you quote any study that looks at this, ie. after immunisation how antibody levels change over the years? and 2. You know how for flu some people choose to get vaccinated yearly (personally not one of them), does anyone know if dogs yearly boosters incorporate different strains of kennel cough (that might be the equivalent of flu). (Sorry a bit off topic).

My comment is only directed to comment on vaccinations (which should be handleded by any dog that has normal immune system) not heartworm prevention chemicals. With that I do agree that less there is of it in the system, better it is for the dog, which is why I use monthly treatment.

GOOD LUCK! Let us know how you go.

These yearly treatments are not the same as vaccinations. Autoimmune diseases can also be triggered by infections not only vaccines, and its always in the individuals that are already succeptable to development of autoimmunity, ie. you have to be succeptible first, its not like its vaccine fault.

Its one thing that vets are aware of the problem, its totally different that they are still giving it knowing that a dog might drop dead. The reality is a very small number of the dogs that get yearly injection do in fact experience the problems, as is the case with everything. If large number was affected, the drug would not be used. Of course, its up to you as an owner to determine if the risk is large enough. Regrdless of this issue, there are other heartworm meds out there are safe to use.

I think if you get them used to someting it will be more difficult to change later on, eg. if he is used to sleeping in your bedroom and then he is moved outside, he might cry a lot at night for you to let him in..... I dont know, it probably doesnt really matter.

Yep, many people get bigger one and then divide it and move the devider as pup grows. You should also think about where he will sleep eventually, if its not going to be your room, I would put crate where his permanent sleeping spot will be, that way he can get used to it straight away.

Paola, hope you dont mind I have small Q also: Do people walk their girls much when they are in heat (around the neighbourhood that you know well) or do they stay on your property the whole time?

Wow, I am so sorry, it must be pretty tough. Thanks for that info.

I am so glad everything is fine. And good thing you have such a nice vet.

Was there ever a lie about side effects of desexing or early desexing that were posted? In fact, most of them were scientific data (which is 100% more accurate than whatever a single vet says) which in some cases proves, in others suggests a particular outcome. Why is it bad for people to post it so that others are more educated about whether to desex, when to desex, what to expect if they do or dont. The whole pro-desexing was very one sided and many owners were cought unaware of what the side effects may be of, for example, early desexing. I see nothing wrong with educating people!!!!! ;) ;)

So sad...... :p I am so sorry for everyone involved.

We had this vasectomy and histerectomy discussion before and from what I remember few reasons on why are: histerectomy in very young dogs is more risky (longer anestetic time) and for vasectomy, probably more expensive and lack of vets that would do it (why do it, when desexing is easier for them to perform). Again, I think that way of sterilization would be PERFECT solution for EVERY side of this argument...

Why is it when people think with their own heads rather than follow the majority they have to be accused of something bad... I have NEVER seen more pro-desexing campaining than on this forum, yet nobody seems to be bothered by it. I am all FOR people desexing their dogs if they know pros and cons of it, the reality is that very few people that DO desex their dogs know the WHOLE STORY, mainly because of this political correctness of desexing.

Herd immunity is a wonderful thing..... The prevelance is low, because most of people de-worm their dogs. If everyone stopped de-worming and vaccinating their dogs, there would be A LOT of sick and dead dogs around. I would treat him for heartworm....

I think others have covered most of it. Whatever it is I hope he gets better... Has he been vaccinated?

What you are saying is that its not 100% cancer, it still could be a benign tumor? Good luck!!!

I was giving my pup marrow bones (I ask butcher to cut one bone in 4 peaces) and he was fine with it, no teeth problems, the only thing is that he would spend ages on them and he could not go through the hard bit, but he would certainly go throught the marrow easily......

I would not use a toothbrush on a dog. Giving them marrow bones (or a peace of marrow bone for a pup) should do the job. I personally would be hesitant to give chicken bones to a pup. I found chicken necks to be good for pups and they are just as rich in Ca.

Yep, few times a week. We crush shells into powder, but I only give egg yolk, since I heard several times now that egg white avidin binds to biotin from yolk and prevents absorption...... Does anyone else also give only egg yolk?

Such a cutie pie. He is gorgeous and obviously very smart boy (to wash his toys, he, he, he). Sorry no help from me. One thing I did notice is that our amstaff will leave things alone that are outside, like outdoor chairs, potplants alone for months, and then if we move someting, like outdoor furniture to another spot in the backyard, we will come back home to find that he has chewed on ALL chairs. Same thing with plants, if we move them, they will get eaten (only the pots, he leaves the plants alone).

I have come to think that in larger breed dogs there is a lot of variation in when they finish maturing (this is of course from my VERY limited knowledge, but lets say, I might know what I am saying here..). Our dog has no one in his lines that has had east west issue, and as far as I can tell none of his sibs have it either. I have to say, he is now 12 months old, and its only now that I am noticing him changing quite a bit, and the issue with his pasters (east west) whatever you call it is getting better, so hopefully it will sort itself out, but with his sibs they are all straight. However, some of them lack development in other areas (body muscle mass for eg.) that he already has and has had since he was quite young (of course still growing) but different parts take priority in different dogs. Posibly? Of course with lines that are in him, its hard to tell, as photos that I can see of those dogs are all when they are already fully mature. So, there is still hope for us.