Stitch
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Everything posted by Stitch
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I have found fat puppies seem to take longer - what do you think?
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I would be interested to hear everyones opinion on how long they would be prepared to wait for a pups testicles to descend. I have always only waited to 12 weeks and if they were not down by then, then it was too late and the pup should go as a pet and be desexed. My thoughts are that if you are prepared to wait longer and maybe they do descend, that you are only perpetuating the problem in future generations if you use the dog at stud. Maybe giving 12 weeks is being too generous??? What are your thoughts and experience?
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Ear Infection- Mites/bacteria/fungus
Stitch replied to Cazwah's topic in Health / Nutrition / Grooming
If it is just a fungal infection in the ears then I can tell you in Qld this summer I have found ear problems are much more common especially with dogs with drop ears. Luckily it is easy enough to fix although time consuming! -
As Staff n Toller has said, marrow = FAT and not all dogs can tolerate that much fat in their diet. You have to limit the amount of fat in a dogs diet, just like you have to in a human diet. If the bone has been left out in the heat for a while, the bacteria on it multiply at a very fast rate and that also goes into the gut. I would suggest that you lighten the load on the gut by reducing the meals for a few days and then only feed smaller bones in moderation.
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That's very interesting info. and I will keep it in mind - thank you all very much. At the moment I am following the principle of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. I will be guided by how she gets on, if the pumpkin or the psyillum works. I am also quite happy to continue to empty the anal glands myself as long as the IBS (or IBD) stays under control. If she gets any worse I will go for the endoscope option - I have found an internal medicine specialist not too far away and will go there if necessary but I really don't want to put her through anything intrusive unless it is absolutely necessary. I am just sorry that it took so long for the vet (and myself) to give her relief. Thing is for dogs you tend to think that the occasional vomit or diahorrea is just something that they ate in the paddock that they shouldn't have. I now have a totally different slant on things and consider that if a dog doesn't have a settled gut for 99% of the time then there is something that needs to be investigated and/or new food tried.
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Chicken I believe. Yet I have heard that chicken is one of the top protein sources for causing allergies. Luckily it isn't a problem with my old girl.
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I have found it very difficult to get the vet to actually dianose the problem. I went for years doing battle with the vomiting and diahorrea, taking her back and forth from the vet every few months, never knowing exactly what was causing it and my girl always had a painful stomach. She would growl when anyone touched her tummy - never bite of course but it must have been very painful. He tummy was always like a rock. As she got older the problem got worse. I had her on VAN for several years and then after one particularly yucky episode the vet suggested the Hills I/D and it produced such a change in her. She no longer vomited, she no longer had diahorrea and you could touch her tummy. He diagnosed her to have Irritable Bowel or maybe colitis. Since then I have proved that she can't have liver and BARF makes her poo about 4 times a day. I got the same result when I gave her some left over brown rice - I mean, who would think that rice would upset her gut, but it did. If I just leave her on the Hills I/D she is a happy camper, apart from the anal gland thing.
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I can't do that Sway as she cannot tolerate bones of any sort. It inflames the IBS and she gets terrible pain and diahorrea. She can't even tolerate rice - I presume that it is too much fibre. Last thing I want to do is to set that off again.
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Thanks for that Erny. I fed her some steamed pumpkin last night. She ate about a 5cm cube - this morning she was a bit farty so maybe that is a bit much. ;) I will see how it goes.
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Last question, how often do you feed the pumpkin? Every meal or will several times a week be OK?
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Thanks for all your responses. Silly question I suppose, but how do you get mashed pumpkin or psyillum down when a dog only has dry food (plus chicken juices) to eat. It will be hard to disguise.
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My girl is doing well on Hills Science I/D diet plus chicken with juices however I find that her anal glands block fairly often now. This causes her to gnaw at her backside. I empty them probably every 2 weeks sometimes more frequently. After I do that the gnawing stops for a while. Any ideas on what I can feed to a dog with colitis/irritable bowel that won't upset the gut but will help to clear the anal glands naturally?? I big ask I suppose but the problem seems to be getting worse.
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One of my girls has had a problem for some time now - I feed her the Hills Science I/D. I tried feeding fresh food I cooked but found that she could also not tolerate rice in her diet. I now boil up chicken legs, remove all the bones and fat, shread it and put it in a big container with the stock which turns to jelly. I then put the chicken in smaller containers and freeze them. She has a small amount of chicken and juices with a bit extra water warmed and drizzled over the dry food and she loves it. Of course she will always want the other kind of foods but now at least she is pain, etc. and diahorrea free.
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I always feed BARF plus I have started to add Nutro. Everyone is doing well on it. I also bought a bag of EVO which is grain free too (and almost the price of gold) The % of protein does worry me so I only feed that selectively and in special circumstances. My opinion is that if you don't want to feed grain because of allergies then don't feed dry dogfood, just stick to BARF or to a prey diet.
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Very sorry and very worrying to read the problems you have had with Advocate. I was going to try it but now I think I will stick to Advantix. One things for certain though, if you don't 'jump up and down' to the manufacturing company, they will most certainly choose to ignore you. After all, it is in their best interests to try to fob you off. This case is definitely worth following through!!!
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I feed raw (BARF) and I also add Nutro (Lamb) to the mix. Dogs are all doing well and their poos are still firm and dry which is important. Even my pregnant & fussy girl eats the Chicken Nutro but won't eat the lamb at the moment. I am not really keen on feeding dry but I haven't had any problems with Nutro. The guy in the petfood shop yesterday said that Nutro is made by the same people that make Royal Canin, which I thought was interesting. Nutro is made by the company that makes Advance, which is Pedigree (PAL). I also feed Evo in special instances, Evo is a grain free food and very highly concentrated and rather expensive but the dogs really love it!
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Looking For The 'tastiest' Dry Dogfood
Stitch replied to Stitch's topic in Health / Nutrition / Grooming
We are still going well on the Evo - trust her to pick the most expensive dog food on the planet!! Today she is feeling very perky, rolling around on her back and smiling whilst she enjoys the airconditioning in the family room. Lifes looking good at the moment, lets hope it continues! -
Dog Training And The Raw Diet!
Stitch replied to Stitch's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
I really don't want to say but it is fairly widely advertised here. -
Looking For The 'tastiest' Dry Dogfood
Stitch replied to Stitch's topic in Health / Nutrition / Grooming
I have just gotten a sample of Evo and she loves it. I will try it with her for a couple of days to make sure she still likes it and then buy some. It is frightfully expensive but will be worth it if she continues to eat it. It is always very difficult to feed a pregnant bitch but I think the vitamins etc. ARE important even when the vet say they are not required. I also do that now Ellz, every second day and I think it does make a difference. IMO it stops the downward spiral of some bitches who won't eat very well right through their pregnancy. I have also tried the Nutridrops to good effect. They seem to be the liquified equivalent of Nutripet paste which is more readily available here. Ellz, I have been told that adding a small amount the the dreaded 'My Dog' to their food also works. -
Looking For The 'tastiest' Dry Dogfood
Stitch replied to Stitch's topic in Health / Nutrition / Grooming
Yes Persophone, that would make sense. I heard that Royal Canin Repro? was good - have you tried that? -
Well I think you can now safely say that 4-6 tablets is not a lethal dose! Your dog has proved that! Give the manufacturers a phone call on Monday and they should be able to tell you - their contact number should be on the pack. They will be the only ones able to tell you definitely.
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I feed BARF - just wanted to get that up front because dry food doesn't figure prominently in my dogs diet however I do like to offer dry food as the extra morning food I offer to my pregnant girls in their last 4 weeks. Current mother in waiting used to eat Nutro but now won't touch the stuff (its obviously poisonous) - is there a more palatable dry dog food on the market that anyone knows about? Preferably in the premium range but not necessarily.
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Dog Training And The Raw Diet!
Stitch replied to Stitch's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
Actually no, he doesn't seem to sell the commercial dog food, which I think makes it even scarier - he must really believe what he is telling people and it is probably that conviction that makes his ideas more believeable to the uninformed unsuspecting dog owners. -
Training Goldfish - Anyone In Nsw Sell This Kit?
Stitch replied to pipsqueak's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
Don't know where you can buy them in Australia - all I can say is that it is good marketing and, I think, based on the premise that there is one born every minute and one dies every 10 years!!! Some dog treats for your dog would be a better investment!! -
Walking Straight And Not Pulling.
Stitch replied to Stitch's topic in Training / Obedience / Dog Sports
OK Dancinbcs, you are my idol! :p That's exactly what I want to do only not with BC's. Do you think clicker training works with ones so young? Or do you just reward immediately with voice and treats?