Horsefeathers!

It's been mid 70's here. We're all in shorts and t-shirts. We had a few overnight hard freezes a couple of weeks ago, but lately, we've had the windows open at night and a/c on during the day. 8) I would love to see the pictures of Ilsa if not for my screwy monitor. :x

One of my Standard Poodles has such rotten breath, it smells downright necrotic. Think week old roadkill in August. His breath will stink right through his face and smell up a whole room. :-? We did diet changes, added probiotics, a dental, some meaty bones (turkey necks) to chew on, everything we could think of. Nothing cleared it up. We ended up doing x-rays because it was so bad and we couldn't find a cause. Perry's stomach was shown to be oddly distorted, so we (I say "we"... the vet, but I was present) did an exploratory surgery thinking it was a diaphragmatic(sp?) hernia. Still, nothing, no explanation for the oddly shaped stomach and nothing to explain the death smell (though "we" did tack Perry's stomach to one side while "we" were in there to help prevent a future episode of bloat with that weird setting stomach). A visiting vet suggested it may be a bacterial overgrowth that could be linked to some long named something (something or other enteropathy?) and it got way over my head at that point. Anyway, she suggested trying tilosin (Tylan) powder for a while. Just the very minutest pinch daily, but the smell cleared up almost immediately. I hate with a passion to give Perry this stuff daily, but we couldn't find anything else that worked, not even probiotics... Nzymes and Prozyme (I think?) and his teeth were clean. All this to say perhaps it's some weird bacterial overgrowth. I'm still open to new suggestions. The tilosin isn't something he needs to survive, so I'm willing to try other options.

Why is it that a dog that can normally act dumb as a box of rocks any other time (speaking solely for mine, of course :wink: ) can show incredible reason, thought, and problem solving skills when it's for the sake of doing something downright naughty? :roll:

Matty, maybe I'm oversimplifying since I'm certainly no expert on this stuff (especially since I had one of my own dogs die with bloat recently :( ), but perhaps "stress" could mean the barking and boundary running that dogs often do when they see another dog out of reach. Several of my own dogs don't care one bit about another dog they come face to face with, but let them be inside our fence and see another dog outside of it that they can't approach and they'll run and bark like crazy at that dog (or cat or squirrel). Perhaps that is the stress factor? The additional activity it's causing? Good luck with this and I hope you find something that helps. Since we lost Rocco to bloat, I'm absolutely terrified and paranoid beyond belief about bloat in any of my other dogs... especially since I have Standard Poodles and another Dobe. For some reason, I don't tend to worry about it as much with my Lab since he's not so deep chested. It would be my luck that HE would be the one to get it. :-? I'm positive that when the time comes that I don't have umpteen dogs in my household, I'll feed a natural diet. TDG will probably be a great wealth of help regarding this. I look forward to seeing what advice she has to offer.

I'm no expert, but this is just my own personal experience. I found the kennel cough vaccine to be about as useless as nipples on a bull. Regardless of whether any of mine had the vaccine or not, two of them used to get kennel cough every single year without fail, sometimes twice a year. The others never got it. We never quarantined anyone (from each other... of course, we didn't take them out) because by the time we knew they had kennel cough, the others had already been exposed. My experience leads me to believe that some dogs are just more susceptible to it than others. Even though I don't vaccinate ANY of my dogs now for kennel cough and some of them go with me to work in the vet clinic every single day and are exposed to other dogs, they haven't gotten kennel cough since I stopped vaccinating them for it. I just don't worry about it. I mean, I know it [u]could[/u] happen, but it also used to happen to dogs I did vaccinate and that never left the house. I guess what I'm getting at is that Bongo may get it or not. Exposure to it doesn't guarantee he'll get it. Out of ten dogs in our house, only two ever got it and they are all in very close quarters. Kennel cough isn't usually that big a deal and will eventually pass. You'll want to control the coughing as much as possible to try to avoid secondary problems, but it should pass. I'd certainly keep them home while they're coughing. And, of course, if it doesn't get better, or if it starts to get worse, off to the vet. Good luck!

DAL, that sucks! :o I'm surprised that with all Boonie's problems, or even before he left whatever rescue, that he wasn't already heartworm tested. Maybe it's because I live in such a heavily infested area, but it's pretty standard here. I don't know how big a problem heartworms are in your area, so it may not be something that they usually worry about. Don't think I'm knocking YOU. I'm not really knocking anyone. I guess I'm just surprised that no one (the rescue or the vets) tested for it before now. Did they say how bad Boonie's heartworms are? It's usually graded up to four (I think... at least our tests do). The longer it goes undetected/untreated, the worse it gets. That's why I would have imagined they'd have done a heartworm test before now. Treatment is often very successful. It will kind of depend on how bad it is, though, and how strong Boonie is. I really have no advice since this is such a personal decision and I know you'll do what's right for you and Boonie. I'm so sorry you're having to go through all of this. It really sucks. :(

But she's right and we're [u]all[/u] wrong. We're all just a bunch of downers. We're killing her buzz, man. :drinking:

[quote name='boosiebutt'][quote]For your info no that is not my dog that is why I stated it was my bf's siter's yorkie. Duh. Anyways, im gonna recommend her to take it somewhere else because a little dog like that can die from anesthesia. I also heard little dogs die can die from getting fixed because anesthesia can be too strong for some dogs.[/quote] Peanut, my yorkie, came through his fix perfectly fine. 4 lbs, no prob.[/quote] Actually, these days, 10 week old puppies and kittens are undergoing early spays and neuters and coming through it just fine. It's something that's becoming more common because of all the, well, you know, problems with people wanting to adopt/buy animals and breed them. Many shelters and breeders are beginning early spay/neuters in an effort to keep this from happening. Such drastic measures can't be a result of (duh) a nationwide problem, can it?

[quote name='candy722']For your info no that is not my dog that is why I stated it was my bf's siter's yorkie. Duh. [/quote] For your info, you're a real pain in the butt (*backspacing out sh*thead...*). I answered your questions as politely and succinctly as I knew how. How about writing down a list of answers you'd LIKE to hear when you ask these questions and we'll all sit down and practice saying them like we mean it? "Yay, more ill bred puppies... it's only one litter, right? What's the big deal, especially considering how many other 'just one litter' Yorkies there are in rescues and shelters? That's not your problem and I don't think you should worry about it." "Oh, goody, a dog with an unstable temperament is going to be bred... how cool is that? There's nothing I think is cuter than a nervous, quivering Yorkie... it's one of their more endearing traits." "You go, girl... rock on with your BYB self!" It's obvious you don't want honest answers as much as you want a pep squad to cheer you on in all your ignorant glory. Nothing anyone has said to you has been what you wanted to hear. Is this the same Yorkie you're going on about wanting to breed and yet you still see no problems? Basically, you're right and [u]everyone[/u] else is wrong. Is the grass also greener in your world? Sky a little bluer? People have, for the most part, been polite and matter of fact. You must be one of those people who enjoys a lot of drama and chaos because you obviously can't handle intelligent dialogue if it conflicts with your personal interests. By the way (or in your language, [u]DUH[/u]), of course, sedatives can only be (legally) prescribed by a vet. If you actually had an ounce of perception, you'd have realized I was talking about the sedatives that are given in a pill bottle or baggie and SENT HOME with the owner to be administered later. Many people give THESE sedatives to a dog before taking a dog into a groom shop, often where there is no vet or vet tech physically present. Make sense, or do I need to type that a little slower?

[quote name='candy722'] And if you really wanted a pure bred yorkie you won't find one at any shelters. [/quote] Beautiful purebred Yorkie that was dumped in our local shelter: [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0YADfArcelerLArcCLs4f61hFfQ7ZYGRGY1XDLvmJ9dDTPr1WLgGx2n!RonbsnrI*6in0oyeEqJUPf38fhl489KzF60ctj5qC3s*qsmB*UKB57DuuwLBBalS!Qig*wmv0xX7tY3bPbfnXclsCTW96aQ/Goober%20fade.JPG?dc=4675379079353910575[/img] I also did a quick search on Petfinder and saw that there are many Yorkies in need of homes. If you're going to do it, anyway, just because you want to, just say that, but don't say that good purebred Yorkies aren't available in rescues/shelters, or that the people who decided to have "just one litter" aren't contributing to the problem. You'll have to do better. Not intended as an attack. Just stating facts. I really wish you'd reconsider breeding your dog. Because they are so popular, there are far more Yorkies in existence than there are available homes for them. :(

Actually, it's surprising, even to me, how often I see groomers that have dozens of animals (I'm certainly not implying it's the majority), but most of the ones like that I know of are millers/byb'ers rather than just collectors. I saw an ad in our phone book today when I was looking for another number of a grooming shop/kennel/breeder. It listed at least a dozen breeds of dogs and also mentioned as a "plus" that they could breed "special mixes." Of course, they take all major credit cards for those impulse buyers. How can a groomer who has to see so much neglect and the problems caused by overpopulation be so blind to it and contribute to it? I just don't get it, but I see it often. Anyway, back from my momentary trip off-topic... I often worry about the hoarding thing because my vet once accused me of it, then later retracted it and apologized for saying it (it was when I was considering adopting a special needs dog and he thought I was biting off more than I could chew, though he could offer no example of how I've ever neglected any of my animals... matter of fact, he once adopted to me one his HIS special needs dogs and didn't think me unfit then :x ). However, it planted the idea in my head since we do have so many dogs and cats. People who hoard/collect don't realize they are doing it and are in denial, so I wonder if I would know if I was doing it. However, my rationale is that my animals are all kept indoors and are not just roaming all over our property or overflowing kennels, on flea control, all spayed/neutered, all vetted as needed, house is clean (no crap piles or urine left to lay... can't say you won't find hair in the ice tray occasionally :oops: ), we have limits and stick to them, etc., blah, and so forth, so I don't [u]think[/u] we would be considered collectors. I consider us to have as many animals as we are feasibly able to care for. Can't say their grooming isn't sometimes neglected, but it's more of an asthetics problem. I mean, they may be ugly sometimes, but they don't have mats, dredlocks, toenails curled into their pads, feces encrusted back ends, or eye goobers. Ugly ain't a crime. Then again, like others, I may be rationalizing. How does one ever really know? :oops: I can't imagine having dogs in that shape and not realizing it's a problem, but apparently people do. The video images in that newscast were haunting. Jess, they showed the skeletons on tv. How could anyone NOT think that's a problem? :-?

[quote name='Cassie'][quote]If your nocturnal encounter with Kevin Sorbo interfered with my ability to sleep such as rocking the bed until I felt seasick or like I was going to be pitched to the floor or had you screaming to the high heavens or included being continually cow kicked in my kidneys, trust me, I'd wake you up [/quote] HF, I really hope we never end up in such an encounter that you would feel the need to wake me from one of my intimate dreams :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: If we ever meet at a dog grooming seminar in the future I will not invite you down to my room. :lol: :lol:[/quote] Uh, er, I think you misunderstood. What I was referring to was the post about letting a kicking, flailing dog sleep through it and not waking them up. What I meant was that when it interferes with MY ability to sleep, I'm waking them up. The Kevin Sorbo (I don't even know who that is :oops: ) thing was just kind of a metaphoric thingy. I promise I won't stalk you to your room at a grooming seminar. :oops: :P

One option... try another groomer. I'm not implying that anything is "wrong" with this groomer. I'm only saying that some dogs do better with different people. I have lots of dogs I groom that were sent to our vet clinic for sedation and grooming that turned out not to need any type of sedative at all. Then again, there is a groomer near me who believes nearly everything should be sedated before being groomed. Anyway, perhaps try a different groomer just to see if it makes a difference. The dog needs to get used to grooming, anyway, and I wouldn't be very comfortable with the idea of having to constantly sedate a dog for something like a haircut. It's just not good for them. I strongly suggest having the dog groomed in a vet clinic if it needs to be sedated after all. There are groomers who will groom a dog that's had a sedative prior to coming in, but I won't (and I'm in a vet clinic, only I'm not a vet employee, so I let the techs/vet handle it). While most dogs are fine, there are some who will crash, or the opposite, become violent, especially with acepromazine (a commonly used sedative) and I can't imagine why any independent groom shop would open themselves up to that kind of liability. Short answer... find a vet with a groomer on staff, or techs who do basic body clips, and have it done there. If a dog is to be anesthetized/sedated, it should, IMO, only be done under vet supervision.

I just watched this on our local news. While I know that the media tends to sensationalize things, I did see the video images of the dogs in this story. They were matted, feces encrusted and emaciated. Besides, in this rural area, things have to be pretty doggone bad for animal control to remove your animals. It's just so wrong to call yourself an animal caregiver and then neglect your own. These animals were in AWFUL shape. The little Chihuahua mentioned in the story was shown on the newscast and it was a teeniny little thing, a bag of bones, that had been starved and left outside to freeze (we've had hard freezes several of the last few nights). I'm beyond p*ssed off. I wish you could see the pictures. :x [url=http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=2742160&nav=5kZQUd5W]Story here.[/url] :(

[quote name='Cassie']I certainly wouldn't want to be woken up if I were having a dream of myself and Kevin Sorbo in an intimate embrace... :o :lol: [/quote] If your nocturnal encounter with Kevin Sorbo interfered with my ability to sleep such as rocking the bed until I felt seasick or like I was going to be pitched to the floor or had you screaming to the high heavens or included being continually cow kicked in my kidneys, trust me, I'd wake you up *snicker*. Perry (one of my Standards) dreams quite violently (in regard to movement) and does all these endearing things in his sleep and, despite hating to disturb such blissful slumber, I wake him up. Can't sleep getting tossed about like I'm in a tornado. :P

Courtnek, I'm laughing [u]with[/u] you, not [u]at[/u] you (please tell me you're laughing by now). I hope your poor tootsies warm up soon and that Ford manages to hide long enough to avoid a killing.

My Lab is some sort of freak. He has never left spots on the wall and has never fired a warning shot (snap) at anyone. I can't imagine anything that would make him bite or even snap. No amount of pain (he's had some pretty gruesome hip surgery and painful rehab and manipulation afterward which he all took like a champ) or tormenting by neighborhood thugs has ever made him snap. He's never chewed or destroyed anything in the house, was amazingly easy to house train (I don't remember him ever having accidents other than an extremely upset stomach where someone wasn't home to let him out). He truly is the perfect dog if one exists. The only downfall... he projectile sheds like about every other Lab I've ever known. I vacuum two canisters (bagless vacuum) full of Tucker hair daily. That doesn't account for the Tucker hair that makes it into the fridge, the freezer, the top of the fridge, the ceiling fan.... I'm going to go hug Tucker now for being such an exceptional dog. With the problems people are seeing in Labs, I think I got really lucky with my first one. Back on track... another breed I will probably never own is a Chow. Simply put, I am afraid of them. I don't speak Chow (I believe they have a language all their own) and don't think I am the person to own one. Same for Akitas. I am afraid of them. :oops: edited to add: I'm not promoting Labs as a perfect dog, either, because I know better. Just reflecting on how blessed I feel that mine is so perfect.

You go, Boonie! 8)

[quote name='DivineOblivion19'][color=indigo] :lol: Where's Court and Kendalyn to set us straight?! :wink: :P [/color][/quote] Well, Tucker (*ahem* the Lab) says up yours! *snicker* :P Maybe I'm just lucky. I've only ever owned the one Lab, Tucker who's here now, and he has always been just the perfect dog. He was a shelter throwaway and I couldn't ask for a better dog. We have seen some of the schizo and psycho Labs that come into our clinic, but they are usually linked to a particular "breeder" in our area. Most of the rest of them are pretty cool. I guess it would be hard to like them if all you ever saw were the knuckleheads. DO, you're right about how they get so fat, though. We see so many obese Labs, it's unreal. :-?

Had to think about this for a bit... I'd have to say I won't likely ever own another Pit Bull. It's not that I don't like them. To be totally honest, I just don't think I ever want to have that responsibility again of having to be prepared to keep a Pit Bull separated from my other animals. While I realize that plenty of Pit Bulls coexist peacefully with other dogs, I'm just not prepared for the responsibility if one doesn't. I'll probably always have a multi pet household which will likely include small dogs, but after some reading and my own experiences with the one we had (Penny), I wouldn't want to have to do it again. I'll just have to love other people's Pit Bulls. I probably won't ever own another Rottie. I adore them, but I have owned several in the past and something bad always happens to them. Two died with parvo despite vacs and one was stolen right out of my house by an acquaintance. Maybe I'm a little superstitious, but I don't think I want to risk another Rottie's life by trying to own one. :-? I doubt I'll ever own a Border Collie. Smart dogs and lovable, but simply too much energy for me. I don't think, in a multiple pet household, I could provide a BC with enough one on one mental and physical exercise. I can't say I would never own one of these breeds. If one crossed my path that I fell in love with, I'm sure I would. These are just some of the breeds I wouldn't consider if I were actively searching for another dog.

I really am evolving into a Dobe person (in addition to my Standard Poodles, of course). Peaches may just have to hang around here with me for a while. She gazes up at me the same way (just before she takes that nose and nearly flips me out of my chair in that pushy way she has of saying, "hey, don't you see me standing here?? pay me some freakin' attention, how 'bout it?!"). Hard for me to make the pictures out really well with my wonky monitor, but I saw enough to get the point. Love 'em. 8)

Peaches? Oh, I finally killed her. :o No, really, she's doing great. She could not be better. I think my friend is kind of hurt (and p*ssed) by Peaches' transformation. Peaches hasn't as much as sneered at another of our animals, has been perfectly fine in the house loose all day (no messes, no destruction), doesn't bark non-stop when outside, and is just generally happy as a clam. I tried explaining to my friend that it's not necessarily anything she was doing "wrong" and that there are just some dogs that do better in different environments and not to take it as a personal failure. My friend is gone many more hours of the day than we are and her schedule is so erratic. I honestly think Peaches was just stressed from the lack of structure and predictability. The rescue coordinator did say Peaches has separation anxiety and I reckon it manifested itself at my friend's house. Peaches would poop all over the house, destroy things and bark non-stop. As soon as she was back, she was fine. I don't think it's US as much as she's just more comfortable with a more structured, predictable routine (basically, we have no life). We leave her loose in the house all day while we work and so far haven't come home to any mess or destruction. After I chewed her out for lunging at Perry, she hasn't so much as snarled at another dog (though she is still WAY too interested in my cats :o ). We can't tell much about whether she's gaining weight yet, but it's only been about a week. We aren't loading her up. My friend was at my house the other day and commented that Peaches still looked skinny to her. I pointed out that it's only been a week. I think my friend is just hurt and p*ssed that I basically accused her of neglect (or at least she perceived it that way). My husband and I are actually beginning to believe Peaches might not get adopted or if she does, she won't stay long. I just don't know how many people are going to be able to go through a few weeks of barking, chewing, pooping and destruction until she gets settled in. I'm sure people like that are out there, but we aren't running into any of them. Looks like Peaches may be here for a while. Short version... Peaches is doing great. Thanks for asking about her. :)

HB, I had the same problem. I moaned and groaned forever that nobody in my town carried canned pumpkin. It finally magically appeared on a baking goods aisle. I don't bake much, I reckon. How was I to know? :oops:

So I guess you're not supposed to, like, moon them from the front window or anything, huh? :oops:

Sending Boonie all the well wishes and positive thoughts I can muster. I hope he's going to be ok.