speckymagee

I have a sheltie with pancreatitis. He developed it about a year ago and very nearly died. However a year later he is pretty good. He is on a low fat diet with mainly fresh chicken or lean meat, rice and vegies supplemented with i/d from the vet. His breeder felt I was to blame but all his vets said not - it was one of those things. She said he was overweight and therfore it was my fault. He is now less than 10kg but was up to 14kg back then. Nobody had ever told me to watch his weight at all. One thing we did learn was how loved he was. He is a top little fellow, very outgoing and friendly but will have this condition for life. I still love to give him a bone but even with all of the fat cut off he will sometimes vomit within 12-14 hours or so. But he loves them so much I just have to give him one every month or two. I did receive a lot of support from one sheltie breeder who was most reassuring. She really understood my predicament and helped me a lot. Not many other people could tell me much about pancreatitis at all.

Tia, Did your mum realise that the show dogs weigh around 8-9Kg which I think gives them an emaciated look. Mine is 12kg and the vets say now he is spot on with all his ribs and spine being easily felt. Maybe the 25Kg is too high and has caused the problems. But Shelties have such an appealing and hungry look they are easy to overfeed.

Tia, I have a sheltie that a breeder once told me is overweight. However three vets have all said he is definitely not. What weight is the dog?

Hi, On the subject of obedience..... My two and a half year old Sheltie is still not under voice control and wont return to me at all time when off the lead (unless there is nothing to explore and unless I dont have a "surprise" up my sleeve). That being said is it ever too late to train a dog? Or too late to go to Obedience Training? Or have I no chance now with this dog to get him to return to me at all times?