toughgirl27

I'm addicted to DOL too Theres lot's of help available when you have problems with your pooch! Lot's of info on dogs in general! It's awesome :D XXToughgirlXxxxx

Totally agree Sandgrubber, I have been told by a few regular clients that as soon as they come up the dirt road their pooches start jumping around wagging their tails in excitement of coming to the kennels! Some even say their dogs like staying at the kennels more than they like their own home! Coz' they can play with all the other dogs, they get lots of attention from the staff..... XXtoughgirlXxxx

Also a lot of dogs get super excited when they see their owners as they have not seen them for a while. Or they are really excitable or anxious dogs by nature anyway. This is normal. Nothing to be stressed about. Also when dogs get home they are usually tired from all the exercise they get during daily playtimes So it's best to wait a day or two till the dog gets back into his normal routine, then if he is still displaying behaviour that is worrying you you ask questions- call the kennel owners, ask them what the he was like during his stay - Did he eat? What was he fed? Was he happy, fearful,anxious, excited, did he run around non stop?, was his poo normal? did he have any health issues- vomitting his food, coughing limping etc. All depending on the behaviour he is exhibiting. And I know at our kennel at the end of each day it is usually really quiet, all the dogs settle down for the evening. This is normal. Nothing to get stressed about. :D In your case it seems that maybe it was a badly owned and run kennel, Kirsty. And if you no longer want to take your furkids there, I wouldn't hold that against you. But as others on this thread have said not all boarding kennels are bad. Some of us are ethical and caring and treat your dogs like they were our own! cheers, XXToughgirlXXxxxxx XXtoughgirlXXX

I agree with your post Kaffy. Also when owner's show up early it can interrupt the days schedule and sometimes even though those owners have paid for a bath for their dogs it is not always possible, and we have had to give owners dogs back with only a quick damp cloth rub. We do however, refund the money the paid for the bath or issue them a credit for a free bath next time. If we are not busy we will of course offer to bath their dog if they don't mind waiting 10-15mins. XXtoughgirlXxxxx

Hey Wolfsong, What is your name on FB? XXtoughgirlXxx

Hi Juleslovescavs, I have been on DOLer's Unite on FB but i can't add a photo to my post! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. XXtoughgirlXXXx

Will add you too! XXtoughgirlXXXxxx

Charleswentworth, I love your cavy! It is supercute!!!!!!!! I will add you, too. XxtoughgirlXxx

Hey Grace1979, Simba is a Samoyed I will go to the DOLer's FB page and add myself to that! Cheers julslovescavs. Yeah I know FB can be a bit confusing But it's worth it to keep in touch with people ;) Cheers, XXToughgirlXxxx

Hi Snowball, I have Simba on Sentinel as it cover's pretty much everything. Except it only kills adult fleas, so you may need to use something else for that ONLY if your dog has a major problem with them. Simba is pretty much fine, he doesn't really have fleas I started Simba on Heartworm prevention at 6mths of age. I got him a blood test first so I was sure he didn't already have heartworm as stated on here your vet will do it if he is over 12mths of age I think? Could be 6mths, not sure? Cheers, XXtoughgirlXxxx

Hey all, Do you guy's use Facebook? If anyone on DOL would like to add me to their friends network, I'd love to keep in touch! Please post to this thread. CHeers guy's, XXtoughgirlXXxx Sarah

Deelee your GR is very cute! XXToughgirlXxxxx

Me too. They are great!

I agree, Kirst. Extra layers of fat on a lab are unneccessary on pet labs, and are also a major strain on the joints. I also work at a boarding kennel and over the years we have had lots of labs stay with us all of varying sizes, weights, heights.... I also think that if they are too lean this also makes them more food driven and they seem to be constantly "starving". So watching their food intake, making sure they get regular daily exercise, giving them a complete nutritional food is a good idea as with most dogs. Once we had an enormous lab who used to stay with us. I mean he was humungous. He had big rolls of fat around his head, no neck, could hardly walk, he was so big. And the owner's insisted every time they brought him that the vet said it was all muscle!!!! I wish I had a photo to show you. I had never seen a lab that obese! XXToughgirlXxxxx

That is horrrific. That poor dog. And the owner. I would want to strangle the groomers!!!!!!!!!!!! Or at least cause them serious harm. I'm just amazed that this would happen!!! XXToughgirlXxxx

Hey Kelza, Cool sammy pics! They are gorgeous!!! Just letting everyone know Simba is feeling heaps better No more limping! I'm still going to take him to Ian Bistrup - chiropractor. To see if his shoulders are ok. Swimming, bowen therapy etc..... Thanks to everyone on DOL for their advice and concern I can't wait to see all you guys at the August Sammy Championship!! I'll bring Simba along, too. Cheers, XXToughgirlXXxxxxx

Hi All, Thanks for all your replies. I'm going to take Simba to a Chiropractor (who's highly recommended on DOL) Ian Bidstrup. When I can get an appointment. He books up fast as he is so good. And Bowen therapy. I'll let you know how it goes. XXtoughgirlXX

Get him to the vet Quickly!!!!!!!!!! Could be a UTI if left untreated they can be dangerous.

Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy Dry is great for growing puppies, chicken mince, beef mince, sardines, tuna, these are all things you can add to the dry if necessary. Be aware that if the puppy starts eating these things she may have diarrhoea from the variety of food. It will settle down once you start feeding her one type of food ie dry food daily. Also you need to stick with the one dry food for a while as you risk the puppy becoming too fussy and not wanting to eat anything and that's when you have real problems. If the puppy is starving it will eat eventually. XXToughgirlXXX

I feed Simba Eagle Pack Holistic Select Salmon and Anchovy Dry Food. I've also fed him other types of Eagle Pack and am geniunely happy with it 100%. We also feed EP various varieties to the dogs at work. Their power formula is fantastic for keeping weight on the skinny, active dogs. Sensitive formula is great for coat & skin. Senior is great for older dogs. In case you are wondering - No I'm not getting paid to promote Eagle Pack Dry food and no I don't work for Eagle Pack. I just believe it is a well balanced, nutritional, complete dry food for dogs. And my boy, Simba loves it!!!! XXToughgirlXxxx

;)Sorry to hiijack the thread But I might take Simba to see Ian Bidstrup. Simba has joint problems, too. And I'm looking for a chiro that is really good. Thanks, guys. XXtoughgirlXxxx

Hi Sparky25, I'm really upset to hear about your dog. Hip Displaysia is a terrible disease that can occur in most breeds of dog. I'm not really sure what you can do about the aggression. I think it is probably because she is in so much pain in her back end and touching her there is aggravating it. Therefore she is trying to make you stop. My 3yo Samoyed has mild HD but he has never lashed out when anyone touched his back end. Even the vet. He is a very docile dog by nature but I can tell you if I am grooming him and I hurt him trying to get a knot out of his coat, he will try to bite me and growls. I have never seen any aggression in him in any other situation. I have told him off for his attempts to bite me and growling. But he has done it once or twice since while being brushed. I suppose the point I'm making here is any dog that is in severe physical pain will bite. I hope you can work something out. It is a bad situation. I wish you well and good luck with everything. These guy's have offered some good suggestions that will help your girl feel a bit better, and improve her quality of life. Cheers, XXtoughgirlXxxx

Yes I agree. I've just added it to mine Thanks Sue & Cindy. XXtoughgirlXxxx

Also I don't think Bloat is confined to just large, deep chested breeds of dog. I once heard of a maltese that bloated!

Hey Stormie, I've seen a few dogs bloat at work also. Breeds involved were- Irish Wolfound old (died overnight), Dalmation old (died overnight), German Shepherd old (got her to the vet, she had an operation and recovered ) Great Dane (got her to vet in time, had op and recovered ) Overweight Dacshund old (got him to the vet, had op, and survived ) Germah Shepherd x Malamute (got him to vet in time, had op and recovered, also had stomach stitched to intestinal wall to prevent future occurance of bloat) Neopolitan Mastiff old (died overnight), Boxer old (died overnight) In all of these instances the dogs ate mainly dry food some was our food, some had own dry food supplied. All the dogs had constant access to drinking water. And all staff made sure they didn't exercise 30mins b4 or 30mins after meals. Due to their different feeding requirements some dogs had 1,2,or 3 meals a day. Any dog we suspected of having bloat - gagging without vomiting, stomach looking like a large barrel, stomach tight when you touched it, dog unable to stand or walk, visibly in pain. We would rush off to the vet without hestitation. But despite our best efforts some dogs didn't survive. Mainly if they had bloated overnight. Bloat is definately a shocking, heart breaking thing to see and for any dog to have to go through. To all on this forum who have lost their dog due to bloat I really feel for you and can empathize with you. I'm so sorry for your loss. Especially as bloat seems to have no one apparent cause. XXToughgirlXxxxx