Fit for a King

I hear you pugsnfrenchies....the Fort Dodge vaccines are the devil incarnate in my book....loads of material on the net to indicate adverse reactions to FD vaccines....I won't use any of their products on principle......

stevieq said "i just dont like CM, mainly because of the less savory techniques that happen in his dog training facillity." what did you mean by this??? Are you implying he mistreats his dogs?

dogmad - do you mean the Natural Balance food?

Thanks Denis - thought I was going a little barmy there - couldn;t figure out what was going on....

Erny/Denis, I have just read the story of Oscar the Airedale - from the prose that preceeded the links I was expecting that poor Oscar had been PTS or something because people had given rotten advice and the owner had chosen that path. After reading the 4 pages I have to admit complete confusion....the dog was still alive...doing some things better...owner happier...posters most unhappy as they argued amongst themselves...... Ah what am I missing? And why would it be termed the "Tregedy of Oscar?" - I'm not having a go I am just genuinely confused what point you are trying to make....

I went there about 6 years ago...was okay but not great - some instructors tried fairly hard but were keener to work with people who had a clue and who's dogs were better controlled than with novices. I do remember deciding it wasn't the place for me, however, when a woman arrived with a fairly young (about 18 mo) male rottie over which she had no control.....it was human aggressive and very dog aggressive and had real trouble even being in the vicinity of other dogs. They advised her to muzzle the dog (fair enough) but by week 3 "training" consisted of her lying her entire body over the dog which was on its side on the ground. They would spend the entire hour that way while everyone else marched up and down and walked around them. They considered that she could "break" the dog humanely this way and make it give in to her.......errrrrr..........mmmmmmmm....of course at the end of the hour when it got up off the ground it would lunge at anything and everything that came near...they insisted on her keeping up the "training"...a few of us took aside and suggested she go to a behaviourist...she refused.........by the end of the 12 week course the dog was, IMO, worse than when it started...very sad.....

How old is your dog and what breed?

If you check the date it was back in April and I believe only applied to the States.

Absolutely Deb - couldn't agree more. I will just never use them ever. Cartrophen - I thought it had only been around a few years...but then you have only just had your 21st birthday haven't you Deb?

In my case it was given with food.....so we'll agree to disagree - in some dogs it is contraindicated - just as with some humans.....however having read extensively on NSAIDS including these two I would not allow them to be used for any reason. My dogs, my choice. If you are worried about arthritis there are now many alternatives such as Cartrophen which IMO are FAR safer......

Had a dog who after one dose started vomiting and diarrhea within 20 minutes - there has been a lot documented on the side effects of it and Rhimadyl - I wouldn't touch either with a 40 foot barge pole.....

Lovely lovely tribute TFB - he looked, as he apparently was, a wonderful gentleman of the dog world. RIP old man

IMO frothing at the mouth, runny stools etc are NOT normal - especially over such an extended period. Why not get them vet checked before you start diet experimenting again.....

Have you/your vet considered HOD as the problem?

Heidley - as a VERY new member with 2 posts to your name I'm not sure you should be lecturing DOL'ers on etiquette......and quite frankly the best therapists/counsellors (to use your example) don't blow smoke up the arses of their clientele - they give them well thought out opinions - even if the patients don't want to hear it. Frankly having read the whole thread I think people have been very civilised in their responses to the OP - some perhaps more direct than others but all with the dog's best interests at heart. As a former owner/breeder and trainer of GSD's I agree with those that have said the dog is not suited to the household and frankly should be rehomed. As for the OP I would NOT get a replacement animal until the new baby is no longer the entire focus on the hosuehold - not fair on the dog and you will end up with a like situation.

very sad - can I ask why she had to be put down?

I perhaps wouldn;t go the puppy but would go a mix of premium dry - maybe the RC Maxi joint one plus the chicken as suggested. Fish oil caps EVERY DAY (2) plus perhaps look at a joint guard additive just to be safe. An egg once or twice a week plus sardines for breakie a few days a week might help. As for the bath - can you do her after work and dry her insiderather than make her wait? if she is dirty and itchy a bath ASAP would be a blessed relief I'm sure....

And like children they don't always do what is best for them.......that's where we are supposed to be the adults and step in.....but hey if you want to keep him like that and you're happy who the hell cares?

He may well be loved and treasured but if he's sick staying outside and lying in the dirt may not be the best way to rehab him....

"next time if you havent got anything nice to say then please bugger off and dont bother!!!" hey you were the one saying he was sleeping in the dirt and you couldn't stand the whining......if you don't want people to respond to your posts then best not to post at all.........

Next time instead of throwing the sick dog back outside because his mate was whining consider bringing them both in - even if you have to crate them side by side.....animals IMO heal faster when they are near their humans.....

Might be easier initially but in some breeds far from ideal - in some breeds shaving them down only encourages a rapid and permanent increase in undercoat making it even more difficult for the potential new owner. Brushing out the existing coat can be time consuming and a pain in the butt BUT better in the long run. Quicker does not always mean better.

have you rung the dog's breeder and asked for advice?

Abbey are you and Alex siblings?

"He's currently eating canned puppy food but we'll slowly get him over to a quality dry food when he seems ready to try something new" So are you now going to move him to a completely dry diet?? Sigh - won't get into that argument here but how about doing some reading on the subject before you do...all about balance in my opinion.