Archive through June 03, 2002
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Dogs:
Archive through June 03, 2002
Bookworm | Monday, May 20, 2002 - 07:04 pm     The original Dogs folder must have been archived. So I am starting a new one. Our 12 year old Blue Heiler is fat and here is why. We have three other dogs and she thinks she needs to guard the pile of food we put out for them. While she is guarding it she eats it like she is trying to prove her point that it is hers. We have tried putting it in a line along the sidewalk, placing several smaller piles around the outside of the house, putting her own pile in her doghouse, in all cases she chases the other dogs away from the food. They do get to eat at sometime, they are definitely not malnourished but the older heiler is eating too much. Any advice? |
Whoami | Monday, May 20, 2002 - 09:15 pm     It sounds to me like you are leaving dog food out full time for the dogs to get at as they want? This worked well for the dogs we used to have, as they would go and nibble throughout the day whenever they got a notion. The dogs we have now though, finish off anything you put out in front of them, and won't leave the "dinner table" until it's all gone. I've seen them struggle and gulp cause they are so full, but they just can't walk away until it's all gone. Now, they have certain feeding times (once in the morning, once in the evening works well, depending on the dog). They each get their own bowl, and their own place where that bowl goes. The bowl goes down, the dogs dine, and the bowl is picked up and put aside until the next feeding time. As the designated Alpha B*tch of the pack, I stand guard over the food, and don't let the faster eater move on over to his brother's bowl. The slower eater now expects me to stand guard, and waits for me to take my position before he eats! The faster eater now knows I won't let him get to the other bowl, but he does keep an eye on me, waiting to see if I'll lose concentration, so he can sneak in a bite from his brother's bowl. |
Abbynormal | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 12:45 am     I think my cousin has fried her dog's brain. She has the sweetest weiner dog, very active and smart. (Bama) The dog had been just scratching her feet like crazy for a couple days. The vet said to give her some children's benedryl and that should handle it. Well, not only did she do that she also used the spray benedryl on her feet! Bama went berserk. It was like she was on speed, her head just went back and forth like crazy. So she took her to the vet and she gave the dog a valium shot. Instead of calming her down, she tried to attack my cousin, which is very out of character for this dog. It took 2 days for Bama to calm down and sleep and now she absolutely refuses to drink water. She eats (it has to be warmed) but will not drink anything. This has been going on for a month now. She has every test available and they can't find anything. All she does is sleep now. The only thing that she will drink is a couple capfuls of milk mixed with alot of water. My cousin knows this is bad but if it will keep her alive, she will do it. So do you think the itching was a sign of something really wrong and she would have gotten sick anyway, or do you think the combo of drugs just really messed her wiring up? This definately is not the same dog mentally anymore. She's only 3 yrs old and the light of my cousins life. Its so sad. |
Riviere | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 02:43 am     Bookworm ~ it's true the oldest female will usually be Alpha of the Pack! At her age extra weight could be a worry, have you got any way to feed her away from the other dogs, like bringing her indoors? My 3 ex racing Greyhounds follow a pack order, all big males, the youngest was here first and is very Alpha, just ask him.. They all wolf down their chow 2x daily same as their track days, but the Alpha afterward walks around and washes other 2 empty bowls so clean of residue they sparkle, what a pig! His last visit to the doc he was called "thick" and at 92 lbs I know it's true, he should weigh 82-85, his race weight was 76 lbs when I adopted him at age 2.. I'm not sure how he gained this weight except he's kinda lazy but we monitor his diet closely, the doc did say some dogs of any breed just like people have diff metabolisms, and his must be very slow.. I have cut his kibble by 1/2 cup to slowly get him on a diet and hope summer will help melt a layer off him. Isn't a Blue Heeler one of the active working breeds? I only know my hounds are like 40 mph couch potatoes, 2 minutes of running and 23 hours and 58 minutes napping! |
Gail | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 04:05 am     Abby, I think your cousin needs to take her dog to another vet - soon. This sounds like it needs a second opinion for the original problem and needs someone to figure out the new problem. |
Spygirl | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 06:23 am     Definitely get a second opinion -- good advice Gail. |
Twiggyish | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 06:42 am     Our dog Sandy used to control the feeding bowls. We had to put Bear's food in the garage, so that he could eat in peace. Sandy would give him menacing looks and completely guard the food. She was normally a loving dog, but at feeding time, she changed! Bear, who was a doberman, was a huge wimp anyways. Almost everyone was afraid to go near him, because of the doberman reputation, but he was a huge teddybear. Unfortunately, they are both gone now. |
Karuuna | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 09:03 am     You may want to have the hungry dog's thyroid checked. Especially as they get older, dogs and cats are prone to thyroid/metabolism problems that make them feel like they can never get enough to eat. Allowing this to go untreated can lead to doggie diabetes. If she passes the thyroid test, I would consider isolating her at feeding time, both to give the other dogs a chance, and to make sure she doesn't overeat so she stays healthy too. You can tie her so she can't reach the other dogs food, or maybe find another way to keep her separate. Give everyone 15-30 minutes to eat, then pick up all the food and give them all their freedom again. Good luck! |
Dahli | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 03:48 pm     Hmmm - I have just purchased two whippet pups, 7 weeks old and cuter than cute, this is our second set of whippets, the firstset (female) went back to their other owner The problem is one of them (Maxoom) eats like a horse, and the other (Jackson) is picky... I wanted to call them Frasier and Niles, because that's what they remind me of. DH didn't go for it - anyways the breeder told me I should feed them separately, he crates all his dogs at feeding time, and lets them out when the slowest is done, so nobody feels left out. I assume this would work with adult dogs, but with pups - it's in one end and out the other.... so am looking for another idea, Riviere - I am also worried a bit about the domination issue, one seems to be controlling the other and they need to be separated more to prevent this apparantly ( I was told) they are capable of working it out on their own, but they need time alone to do their own thing I guess. How did you do this with your hounds?? (Aren't hounds great?) |
Abbynormal | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 08:03 pm     Gail, I know she has been to 2 different vets for sure and possibly 3. They were stumped! At first one of them thought it was pancreitis (sp) but it turned out not to be the case. Shoot, if they don't know I certainly don't. The whole thing is just strange and very upsetting. |
Grooch | Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - 09:07 am     Found this on the internet. They won't be flying till later this year, but it sounds like a great idea. And there prices don't seem bad either. Link |
Mygetaway | Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - 01:27 pm     Abby.. I have one dog who is very sensitive to the carpet deodorizers. Like Glade, where you sprinkle it, and then vacuum later.. She has a licking, and biting fit, after a fresh application. I don't know about the benadryl, but it sounds like an overdose or allergic reaction or something. I hope they figure it out. AS for the feeding frenzy:: We have 3 dogs. All inside pets. WE have separate bowls, and have gone to two feeding times also. My oldest dog is 11 yrs and obese. I've cut her food way back, but nothing seems to help. The youngest dog does the same thing Riviere mentioned, only she goes around BEFORE hand and makes sure nobody gets more than she does! She's not even a year old yet, but bigger than all the others and definitely trying to be the alpha... {LOL} |
Jules | Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - 08:51 pm     I have 2 blue heilers and the female guards the food all the time, it helped though when i got my great pyrenese(spelling) now all the dogs get to eat lol. |
Kstme | Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - 09:12 pm     Grooch...great link! Too bad Maggie is coming from England!! I am going to pass it along to some Sussex breeders here in the US though! Thanks! |
Riviere | Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 12:25 am     Dahli ~ the dogs know who is Alpha and Beta and work it out, as you said.. From puppyhood all dogs have a sense if they are leaders or followers and within litters by 3 weeks you can see it.. I say let the Whippets decide, dogs together 24/7 rely on a pack instinct sooner or later when they work it out, to find their place in pack order.. My Alpha is not a bully, but is fearless and very independent, compared to my Beta who is really more friendly but freaks out over loud noises, so they're a greyt pair.. Whippet pups sure are cute and smart, like smaller Greyhounds but lucky they don't overbreed em for racing and kill so many fine healthy potential pets every year, aye? |
Dahli | Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 07:37 am     Thanks Riviere and you're right, they certainly don't overbreed these ones, it was harder than heck to find 'em and b*tches are rarer than 'hen's teeth'... so 2 boys it is. The nice thing about hounds is you can have as many as you want as long as you have a couch, you can just pile them up! We are trying to keep them apart for part of the day so they don't learn to bond to each other but to us, but when they are together they sure do fight (play) We had 6 inches of snow yesterday and the poor little tykes were trying to widdle in it. They couldn't even squat it was so deep - and they shivered for ages after what a drag! |
Nightcrawler | Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 11:02 am     Thank for trying to help Bookworm and I with are dogs. I think part of the problm is are alpha dog (she's the 12yr old) used to live with my mom and dad for years indoors and she was the only dog there (she was geting older and started peeing in the house) so they asked us to take here in so they would not have to tie her to a chain.(we have a 4 acker yard)and now she has to shur the food and us with 3 other dogs. I have found that if I put some of the food in back of the house were she eats and I wait untill she starts to eat.Them I put the rest of the food in frount of the house were the rest of the dogs can eat.this works most of the time? Riviere,yes blue heelers are working dogs. they help herd cows,sheep,pigs,and so on..... they also make very good gard dogs. they don't like new people in there yard. and they are very smart also |
Riviere | Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 10:22 pm     Hi again dog lovers! As many know, Shaq diagnosed with bone cancer last month, age 9 1/2, was a stakes racer at US Greyhound tracks, his mama died of same thing aged 10.. I've had him 5 yrs now and wish we had more time but that's the way it goes.. Being spring again he's perked up a lot while his condition goes downhill, but it's good to see him happy and take photos, etc.. I'll be taking him to the doc this week for upgraded Xray and medication if needed. I think it's a matter of 8 weeks or less now, but you never know.. So that's his current status.. Good luck on those adorable Whippet pups Dahli!!! I'll be looking around for another Grey before long, hoping it doesn't sound callous that when Shaq passes many new hounds need homes, in my grief I can still be a loving mama! The thing is, it's got to be a semi Alpha or total Beta male to not upset the old pack balance.. Keep us posted on your pups, Dahli! |
Kstme | Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 07:17 am     Riviere...Again, I'm so very sorry for you and Shaq!! I can't stand not having animals around me. I was so devasted when we lost our cocker in August, I didn't know if I really wanted to commit to another animal. We still had George and Emma...NOW LOOK!!! With the two new Sussex puppies, the house if FULL again! I still have pics of Roman all over and he'll never be forgotten, it's just another chapter added. |
Theowl | Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 08:04 am     Riviere, I'm so sorry about Shaq. It's good that he's still active, and maybe, hopefully, he can beat it. I hope the doc has some good news for you!! I just really feel for you, cause I know how I'd feel, and that's why I tear up (more like bawl!!) hearing sad pet stories. Good luck to you and Shaq!!  |
Dahli | Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 12:27 pm     Thanks Riviere - and how amazing you are thinking of us when you are going through your sad situation... What a wonderful thing you are doing with those dogs, I admire that rescue organization and the people that particpate soooo much. Those guys are lucky to have you. I read a story a while back in our local paper about a guy in Florida arrested for shooting almost 3000 race dogs - over a ten year period he was paid by whoever the scum of the earth is that runs those races - so callous to think of the dogs as only dollars - that gets me so incredibly enraged.... We thought about trying to go with a rescue organization, but living in western canada, does not lend itself to that process. I am curious about how strange it is it getting them used to house living - is it a difficult process? I heard they need to be trained to use stairs and lots of different things that they were never exposed to in their prior life... BTW our puppies are doing pretty good, mischevious and adorable and looking more like dogs and less like pups everyday, patience is in short supply by 5 when my dh comes home, and then I'm off to the mall! for a break! LOL |
Nashbag | Monday, June 03, 2002 - 11:08 am     If you are watching "The Hamptons", you may have seen Mr Steve Gaines speaking about his dog that he just recently discovered has canine cognitive disorder (puppy alzheimer's) We recently (4/27) put down our dog that had this condition - he was on "puppy Prozac" for many months, as well as special food that we had to get thru the vet. I wondered if anyone else on the boards has experinced strange behavior from their older dogs, that they cannot put their finger on. Until last night, we thought we were the only ones going thru this - as it is a fairly recent diagnosed condition. Keep on eye on your pets folks - if they are acting strangley, it is probably not your imagination, or a "bad day" for the dog. thaks for letting me tell my story, I only hope it helps one family (these dogs WILL bite anybody in this condition) PS: does anybody know what kind of dog Mr Gaines had? |
Theowl | Monday, June 03, 2002 - 11:19 am     {{{Nashbag}}} I don't know if you've read today and yesterday, but my Spirit was sick, and when I watched the Hamptons last night, I just hugged him cause he was doing better. What are the symptoms that your dog went through? I know Steve said that he forgets to lay down, and it showed the dog just standing there. It was so sad!! How old was your dog? What kind was he? If you don't mind talking about him.  |
Nashbag | Monday, June 03, 2002 - 12:09 pm     Owl: Not at all - like i said, if it helps someone else. "corny" (dont laugh) was 13 but started showing signs about one year prior. He was a border collie/husky mix - i think mr gaines' dogs was a broder collie breed- his dog has the same nose. in fact, the vet used us as a guines pig with the meds - he said that he had not prescribed them for a dog that old. He kept in constant contact with us for updates, for future clients. The drugs DID help him, but like the vet said, there is no cure. The sickness affects the grey matter in the brain, so basically he would zone out, and not know who we were. We could call him from the across the room, and the time it took him to get over to us, he wouldn't know who we were. He also was very MEAN - he would growl and bark, and like i said before - he would even BITE us. It was NOT the dog we knew and loved... It was important to us to put him on the experimental meds because, we wanted to remember him, and spend the last few months with him the way we knew him to be. I was SCARED of my own dog that i had since he was 8 weeks old. It was not right. The drugs, while they seemed to keep his temper in check, made him like a zombie. We had problems with that as well. He was listless, and slept alot, and had no interest in playing. On his last day, we kept him off the meds, took him to breakfast (his fave - McD's), and played in the park for hours. He/We had a GREAT day with him, but it was the hardest thing we have EVER had to do (no kids by choice - but that is for another thread!) We went thorugh some extra grief the day after - we looked up dog breeds (thinking of getting a new dog) and discovered we had NO BUSINESS getting that breed - he was all wrong for our lifestyle at the time. That dog had an amazing life though - he lived in Alaska, Chicago, New York and Nashville (geez - did WE make him crazy???) Anyway, Owl, I am so sorry you are going through this - everyday will be an adventure for a dog with CCD, and their owners. Is your dog on the meds? You did not say - If not, look into it. How old is your dog? And what breed? i am getting weepy - must go thanks for your interest, as, ironically, it does help me. Give Spirit extra love tonite and always... nash |
Theowl | Monday, June 03, 2002 - 12:32 pm     I'm sorry Nash, but you misunderstood me. I am so lucky, because my Spirit only had the bug, or bad road kill. He just didn't feel good. He doesn't have anything like what Corny went through. I cried asI read your post. I can't imagine going through that with my "kids". He was just so lucky to have someone that took him traveling and played in the park and loved him like you did. His last day was so hard to read. I just really feel for you!! Just to put a little smile into it, I live in Buffalo Valley TN, and if I lived in Nashville, I'd go crazy, too!! Any dog you find to make your "kid" now will be so lucky!!  |
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