Jed

I understood the op was unable to contact the breeder. As the op has not said, I think the pup is not from a registered breeder

I have no links at all. The thead on dogzonline you linked to comes up with no conclusive evidence that anything was the cause of stiff puppies. Because you have titled the thread "Hypoglycemia - Low Blood Sugar Levels in Newborn Puppies" I thought you must have found new evidence that the stiff pups were caused by hypoglycaemia. So, really, as per the link, stiffness is not caused by hypoglycaemia? Or, rather, sometimes it may be? And there may be many causes as well?

Sway, can you add links to research showing "stiff pups" are caused by hypoglycaemia please.

I think it might be better to ask your vet - who has seen the dog - than to ask here. My judgment would be that if the genitals were very different from the norm, the breeder may have suspected that the dog was a hermaphrodite - but probably not. This is a quite rare condition which very few breeders have ever seen - or expect to see. In fact, very few vets have seen it either. How did the pup's genitals look to you? Normal, I presume? What led you to taking her to the vet for the problem? I knew people who brought a hermaphrodite thoroughbred - exhibiting as a stallion - at a sale. The horse had raced, their vet saw him and didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary. And they discovered it some months after they owned him. Sometimes difficult to diagnose. I would also ask the vet why the dog needs further surgery, and would hope that it is only being done for health reasons. I have no idea what the implications of doing, or not doing surgery, but I would be ensuring that I wasn't paying for an learning experience for the vet Sorry to sound cynical. Perhaps you should contact the breeder, and discuss this? They may be willing to consider a refund or partial refund - although I suspect in law - unless the dog obviously had different sex organs readily visible - they would be considered "not to expect that problem to happen". And, in the interests of fairness, you need to consider that. Was this a registered breeder with your state's CC or not?

A huge percentage of the population would have no idea about animals, and what motivates them, nor would they be interested .... their thought would simply have been that there was a dog running across the road.

How frightful for the poor baby. Surely parents can keep their eye on their babies? What is wrong with people? We are all stuck with pool fencing, which many don't need nor want,because parents don't seem to get that it is THEIR job to keep their kids out of harm's way. Now the govt is mooting for fencing driveways, because of the number of toddles killed or run over the the family car. So, we all pay more for something the majority don't want or need, because the minority are careless. And pool fencing doesn't seem to have reduced the drownings by even a partial percentage. People rent houses with pools, and do not check that the gate has a lock which works, and is closed, and their children subsequently drown. How difficult is it to check, check, check? K9Angel, Jack WAS at arms length - which is why he didn't drown. Many vigilant mothers have saved tiny tots from death - because the mother was watching. It's not the near misses, it is the hits,because no one was close which are the problem.

This is stiff puppy syndrome - breeders discussed it thoroughly here some years ago. The outlook is not good, but some pups did recover - EVERY single vet had a different opinion about the reasons for the pups going stiff. However, a friend's pup recently went stiff, and despite glucose, died. The vet took blood sugar levels, and it was hypoglycaemia. Increase the temperature around the pup, and up the amount of sugar/glucose. Rubbing glucodin on the gums cannot hurtl Also supplement feed if possible, but ensure he has time on the mother, preferably before supplement feeding, so he is hungry and drinks. A pup which is hypoglycaemic at this age often has probems which prevent the proper absorption of sugar. Good luck

Try some latex toys with squeakers which can be thrown and rolled by the dog. Ditto soft toys with squeakers inside. I had a metre long "rattlesnake" and whenever it moved, it rattled - great encouragement for dogs to play with it. And as others have suggested, things hanging which the dog can "get"

I saw that elswhere. I think they are only seeking swabs from USA at this stage?

Air Conditioning? And the money spent on building a case against Ruth Downey et al could have been put into non-air conditioned accommodation.

The outcome does depend on the grade of the murmur, and also the reason. She may be perfectly ok with no medication, but medication will help when it is needed. There is a belief that co-enzyme Q10 helps dogs with murmurs. Wait and see what the vet says, it all may not be too bad. I know Cavs often live for years with murmurs. Hope all is good with her. Sorry to hear about your girl RL1

The most likely explanation is that he is uncomfortable. He has just had a reasonably large operation, and he is not healed. Also his stiches may be a little tight. Unless he has difficulty retracting his penis, or difficulty urinating, I wouldn't worry. Talk to your vet when you have the stitches removed - in about 8 days.

Shortstep, there are people who will not accept it, no matter what. Maybe they don't understand genetics, maybe they do, but don't like it. We have the people who call the bobtail boxes "Dorgis", even though they are now onto about the 20th generation with no problems, so I guess we also have people who dislike the dalmation. However, a lot of breeders do like it - witness the people who showed the dalmation - but they are not as vocal as the others It is interesting that the AKC wont register the dogs, yet there are registered ones in UK - so the UKKC is apparently in favour.

It is not about improving the lot of purebred dogs. It is about stopping pure bred dogs being bred. "They" make assertions about the unhealthyness of purebred dogs. Where is the proof? UKKC and CCs are jumping around like snakes on a bbq and doing a lot of brown nosing. What they should be doing is making "them" produce proof. And they should be going to the media - if possible - with their side of it. That they are not is disgraceful. You can't fix something which is not broken. If it is broken, show us the proof? They have failed to do that --- yes, they are saying that Cavs have problems, but they have overstated them, I don't know about pugs. Yep, there are some less than healthy dogs, as there are some less than healthy mutts, cats, rabbits, horses, camels and people. Unhealthiness is not endemic in purebred dogs. Older, more experienced (and dare I say "better") breeders are setting up to stop breeding. Importing sperm from top dogs world wide, using sperm they had saved for years, buying and iimporting top dogs at huge expense. They will have their fun, before it is all over, and because they couldn't give a rat's rectum about COI or EBV, which most of them think is bovine excreta anyhow, they will walk away. The younger breeders and those who don't mind being told what to do by someone not interested in dog breeding will stay, but they will be discouraged and disheartened after a few years, and they will walk too. It's been coming for years. Shortstep, don't blame purebred breeders unless you have unequivocal proof that they are doing something wrong per se. It is simply that purebred dogs are visible. If they picked on working dogs, the AFF would have them - and I suppose there is an equivalent in UK, but they will get to working dogs ..... with the same untruths and publicity. Actually, you couldn't even qualify an unhealthy dog for Crufts. You are another one, with the RSPCA, assuming that the breed standards are about looks. Looks are only important in that they allow the dog to do the job he was bred for. Temperament and health are part of the standard. Go and look at your local show - it's not crufts by any means - and see if you can see an unhealthy dog? Exactly the same thing is happening with purebred dog, as happened with BSL and tail docking. Run an extensive media campaign, make the public concerned, then bring in the bans, safe in the knowledge that the public will not complain, because, due to what they read in the media, they will believe "it is all for the best". The only bodies which can stop this are the registering bodies. UKKC has made some concessions -- now they need to say they have fixed it all, and the RSPCA can put up the proof, or nick off. Instead of pandering to animal rights (because that is what it is), our CCs should be doing the same thing. They think BSL, tail docking and mandatory desexing legislation is fine, and while they are in the seat of power, any and every restricting regulation animal rights wants will be brought in. And the CCs will not be able to continue to function, because the membership will decreased so much there will be insufficient income to continue. A lot of breeders will either lie about their pedigrees, or simply stop registering, keeping their own records. And why not? Half the time unregistered or mutts bring more money than registered purebreds, without the expense of annual membership and puppy registrations. JMHO - and has been for about 10 years. Mita I don't believe the RSPCA Q will have any say. We have already had some of the "rules" pushed by animal rights and the RSPCA UK pushed onto us here - the banning of first degree matings is one, and the accredited breeders scheme is another. No one is going to ban anything. The majority of breeders will walk away, rather than have someone with little knowledge tell them what to do .... and that is where it is heading. And obviously I agree with you about truthful and positive PR in this country. But it is not happening. Sadly.

Not much different to here then. No. Slow learners, aren't they? Wish they would listen to the members!!

Shortstep, did you hear about the spots on the UA dogs from a reliable source, or is it just rumour? Some keen people don't have much idea, and disseminate incorrect information with such authority you think it just must be right It would be interesting to know how much resistance there really is to the Dointers (sorry!!). There will always be people who do not understand genetics. OSS - 4th generation is considered pure in any upgrading process - sheep, goats, cattle, horses, dogs. Some registries ask for more but it is not necessary. It wouldn't bother me to have a dog without deletorious genes bred using an outcross - as long as it was 5th or 6th cross, and as long as the quality was there. However, I wouldn't want to be involved in the upgrading. it means keeping too many dogs, and there is also the potential for things to do wrong. I've done it with ponies - which certainly takes longer and it is a pita. I would, however, resist "backcrossing" to accede to demands from anyone with little knowledge of purebred dogs. I notice all the bad press never has any facts about the problems in dog breeds, or specific items in the standard, or factual comments on "breeding for beauty" and a list of the faults caused thereby.

I don't like my dogs licking or biting. It is easy enough to stop without any drama when they are babies, so I do. I have no idea whether it leads to biting or not, I just don't like it. I agree with JoeK, poor nerve can be a serious problem. IMHO all breeders should be aware of the need for nerve, and ensure their lines have it. Particularly in the large breeds, or shepherds and guarders.

piper, I think the pups should be weighed, but I didn't start out doing it, and it hardly seems worth it now -- but if I am not happy with them, I will weigh them all. When people ask how much they weigh, I have no idea!!

I have whelping box - clean and sterilised dry bed for whelping box towels newspapers hot water bottles clothes basket heat lamp Nutri drops Liquid Calcium Thread for cord tying - if necessary plastic bag for wet/dirty paper or towels hand cleaners Sofa bolster for sitting/kneeling Comfortable chair Dog record book (all CC members are required to keep a book where they record their breeding efforts, i use this book to record what pup arrivess when) NO oxytocin When it is apparent that whelping is imminent, I put newspaper down in the whelping box. When the pup is born and the paper is soiled, I roll it up and put it in the plastic bag. I let the mother do it all .. but if she is having trouble, confused, or she's spitting out pups like a production line, I might remove the a/b - and I always remove it from the head/ Use the towels to roughly dry the pups and stimulate breathing. And to hang onto them if they need to be artificially stimulated to breathe I put the pups back into the now clean whelping box for some mother/child bonding. When it is obvious that the next pup is on its way, I transfer the pup/s to the washing basket, which has a soft nest of towels. I put the basket under the heat light. If I think a pup needs a bit more, or it is very cold, I put a hot water bottle on the bottom of the basket. I f the bitch wants the pupw, I hand them back to her between whelpings, and take them away when she is about to whelp again. If the pups are not doing well, I give them a drop of Nutri drops. Ditto the bitch. Liquid calcium for the bitch, between whelps, if I think she needs it. I rarely have a problem with cords. Let the bitch pass the a/birth, push the blood from the a/birth towards the pup, and the cord will either break naturally in the right place, or the bitch will chew it thru. It's worth watching that she doesn't keep chewing the afterbirth and chew the pup as well. Not nice. I also might give the bitch a drink of warm milk, liquid calcium, beaten raw egg and glucodin - well into the whelping if she is flagging a bit. If you give it too soon, she either wont drink, or vomit it up. But well into the whelping, this keeps the blood sugar levels up. when the whelping is finished I clean up the box, and put the dry bed down, give the mum a drink, and settle the pups with her, with the heat light over the whelping box, ensuring every pup is on a teat. For the first 24 hrs, I ensure all pups are drinking. Sometimes it's too easy, sometimes not. I never weigh them. They are ok or not, and if I weighed them I would be anxious .. they are ok, or not ok. And I hate having green fingers and fingernails, so I wipe my hands often!! Cup of coffee (or several) is good, but mine whelp in the house, and it's not far to the kitchen!! Sorry, you only wanted to know WHAT, but that's why

tommygirl unless you are rich, price Dyson's this weekend, and then watch the stores for a sale. You will save a couple of hundred. Does the roomba pick up all the hair? Or does it miss bits?

Hope someone tries it and tells us. Bicarb is a good cleaner ... only good for ovens PF, if the cheese bake didnt erupt and cover the oven Erny - other recommendations for fleas are garlic in the food, and sulphur in the food. Both are supposed to be good for ticks too. A little Lavender oil mixed with water and sprayed or wiped over the dog is supposed to deter fleas too, and repel mossies.

After reading that, can anyone assume that there will be any purebred dogs in 20 years? Of course there wont be. The UKKC is certainly not doing anything effective to counter this - although they abhor it.

That's an incredibly sweeping statement, and not in accord with published research. Dogs that live as above account for SOME attacks, but only a percentage. there are other causes too.

Edited because I got the question wrong ***BZZZT. FAIL*** You can ask the stud dog's owner to put in a good word for you - and perhaps more.

After having a 2kg geriatric pomeranian swinging off my boob, the biting my wrist almost to the bone I can vouch for the fact littlies can cause a hell of a lot of pain A pomeranian killed a baby -----