Horsefeathers!

Ooooooooooohhhhhhhh PetSilk is one of my favorites! Nothing else in the world smells so good. I love the whole line of PetSilk products including the shampoos, conditioners and colognes. It's not the ONLY brand I buy, but definitely high among my list of favorites. I also like the Nature's Specialties line and for whitening light colored coats, nothing I've found works better than #1 All Systems.

Weenie method... way bad visual. :-? I have a Lab, too, named Tucker. He's the coolest dog. Does all the typical Lab things... retrieves (anything that's thrown), swims, of course, he's brilliant (aren't they all?) and is also a certified therapy dog. Yup, you couldn't find a better dog at the shelter (which is exactly where he came from). We adore him. He has the typical overbred Lab geeky hips, though, and recently had surgery, but, hey, he's worth it.

My beloved old Yorkie is gone. Goober was an old rescue dog that nobody wanted, so we brought him home with the intention of making him as comfortable as possible for as long as was feasible. During the year he was with us, he did remarkably well and was lively and happy and somewhat agile (for an old man). He had been sick and started having seizures recently. For about a week, or so, he was on different meds and he did so much better, but quickly took a turn for the worst. Last night, he had a major seizure from which he never really recovered. A frantic call to the vet at midnight left us with the decision that it was time to send Goober on. We gave him all the phenobarb we had last night in hopes that he would just pass quietly and comfortably in his sleep here at home, but, Goober being Goober, he clung on for just a bit longer. The vet met us at the clinic early this morning and we sent Goober on his way. It was time. We are going to miss this baby so much. He made such a huge impact in our lives during the short year that he was with us with his will to not only survive, but to thrive, and that he did even in the face of such adversity (he was deaf, almost blind, had no jaw, no teeth, but his mind was good and his soul was beautiful). He outlived everyone's expectations, but it is still hard losing such a little trooper. We miss you, baby. Sleep well. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TgAAACEcf0OxU5gJMs6KxpPDLb9N3It*G7KSDF9mp3qyd3Zi9pr5HXDhq6CWBvlHABOOXvx*Oo6GifADXgWTtu!zdtp7WWp7MyUx4eAspLQc1LcWOIqBUw/Sleeping-Goober.jpg[/img]

Well, Tucker had the surgery today. I was fortunate in that I got to be present with him throughout the surgery and watch, but I'll tell ya... FHO ain't a delicate surgery. LOL, it involves hammers, chisels and power tools. It wasn't pretty and sounded horrible (all that cracking and popping and grinding), but it actually went well. I'm a weirdo, so I saved the femoral head (bone) that was removed and brought it home :oops: . He had some muscle atrophy (apparently) from favoring that leg so long and not using it much, so we're hoping to get him home (he's spending the night at the clinic with an IV drip) and the vet would like him to use it right away. Poor thing... from the looks of things, he's going to be SORE! Doc says it's a very long and hard recovery, but they do encourage use of the leg fairly quickly. All I need to do is hire someone to ride a motorcycle up and down along our fenceline each day and Tucker will get all the exercise he needs by trying to chase it (wonder what it is about motorcycles and atv's that make him crazy). We are going to take him to the beach as soon as his staples are removed (10 days) and encourage him to use that leg by getting into the water. He typically loves to swim (typical Lab). By the way, my other little dog (Goober, the Yorkie) is doing better. No more seizures since last Friday and he is more alert and seems to be feeling better. He's old, so it's not like he's doing the yippy skippy dance, but he's as alert as can be expected from a dilapidated old man. What a ride it's been the last week, or so. Thanks for the well wishes. OH! And thanks, Jacsmom, for the PM Lab link! 8) [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UAAAABIc7UmHJusLSR!3T4Eo8GBmLmvxTkqjk73irC*67l4J1wMlzoisQSOR!XHGqTevCBhZwCZP7JJeP7uFJk8kqKgRM0Xxxx3S0kLlADbxA4o3DskdgAAAAAAAAAAA/good-boy-Tucker.JPG[/img] [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SgAAABoa37LLArcCLs4f61hFfQ7ZYGRGY1XDLvmJ9dDTPr1WLgGx2n!RonbsnrI*6in0oyeEqJXcQWuiArCe98fyNBj46IZ5ao*11MYsriPnsmUKbuH5hQ/Goober-fade.JPG[/img]

Now that's actually funny to me to think that this buttwhistle bonehead would like to enact laws to muzzle these dogs, or even ban them because a crook has one as a sidekick and partner in crime. Soooooooo, let me get this straight... then they'll have no more problems with the law abiding thieves right? "Oh, man, I was gonna go out robbin' tonight, but I can't. It's illegal to have an unmuzzled pit bull" or "to have a pit bull at all." Yeah, that'll fix THAT problem. After all, we all know that these criminals who would just as soon shoot you for a dollar would never think of breaking a law concerning dog ownership. Soooo... this guy was voted into office, aye?

IMO = in my opinion IMHO = in my humble opinion IME = in my experience

[quote name='Anonymous'][quote name='deepseasnake']sounds like hotwire is the way to go, I'll look around and see if I can find some good ones the dogs know not to go into the pond or flowers but when they get excited they forget, so I think it will only need to bite them once before they remember for good. I think its ok as far as the humane thing goes its only gonna bite em once or twice and it will not leave any permanant damage, besides I had to pay almost 500 dollars when oscar broke my waterfall pump and dug a hole in the plastic coat under the pond! :x[/quote] Let me assure you the humans will also get 'bit' and so you must make sure that NOBODY with a problem touches it - dicey heart, pacemaker etc is not a good mix with electric fences.[/quote] From the "been there, done that" files... Lordy, do I know about getting bitten by this thing. I've gotten against it a time or two and, have mercy, it dropped me to my knees. I'm a healthy person with no heart problems, or anything, but I'll tell ya... my heart sure felt like it was out of whack for a bit after that. Of course, I had to be standing in a puddle of water at the time and holding on to a metal fence post at the same time when my leg brushed up against the wire. The jolt went all the way through me. I thought I'd been hit by lightning. Of course, my husband thought it was funny (probably was just laughing at the blue streak of foul language I was hissing). :x

Oh wow, K, how beautiful! I do a lot of skimming posts and subjects and don't always read everything, so I guess this one got past me :oops: . How absolutely gorgeous. I just want to squish her fur!

Deepseasnake, we have an electric wire that runs around the perimeter of any place we don't want the dogs. Mainly, my bully mix. I typically do not like to do any "training" that involves any pain, but this is my exception. This dog is dog aggressive and potentially people aggressive, so it's imperative that we keep her contained. Anyway, we have a regular fence up around the yard (which means nothing to you :P ), but about a foot inside it and about 6 inches from the ground is a live electric wire. It has been the only thing that keeps her from not only digging under the fence, but trying to chew through it. Anyway, here's the part that might interest you. We also use just the plain wire to "fence off" spots in the yard that we don't want her... like where we park the lawn mowers (she will chew the covers off... chewed a whole car cover up once and, gosh, I don't think that car covers and tarps are healthy snacks for dogs). The wire alone is enough of a deterrent. Once she found out that it "bites," she doesn't try to jump it, or crawl under it. I have eight dogs and all of the rest of them are pretty easy to contain, but this particular dog... well, if we can contain her, it must sure enough work. Again, I really hate anything that involves pain (prong collars, shock collars, hitting and such), but with so many children in our neighborhood and an unstable dog, it's imperative that we keep her contained by any means necessary and that electric wire has worked like a charm. I guess this is my exception to the pain rule :oops: . Just to answer your "how effective is electric wire" question. I really don't think it's all that humane, but better than the alternative (having her get out and kill another dog or maul someone)... :( I don't really think I'd do it just to save my flowers, but that's just me. I originally started out just to say how effective the electric wire is and ended up off in left field somewhere. :roll: I found another sure fire way that keeps her from digging in my flowers and around my pool. I scoop up the poop and put it where ever I don't want her digging. I don't have to just leave it lying there (nothing would ruin the ambience like doggie doo in the broad open), but dig a shallow hole and put it there and loosely cover it with dirt. My dogs will not dig where there is poop. Go figure.

Oh, I no doubt find Akitas hard to read. To dig my own grave a little further, the same feelings I have for Akitas, I have for Chows. I tend to want to believe that it's because (regarding Chows) they are so overbred and undersocialized around here and they do tend to be unstable. The few Akitas I've known in this area including the one in the neighboring town that attacked the cop were ALL aggressive, though none ever attacked me, personally. My (what's the word I'm looking for here...?) apprehension of them is the reason I've never been put into a position to be confronted by one, personally. I won't go near them. It may have a lot to do with not being able to "read" them. That's actually a good point, come to think of it, and I think it's probably a major reason for so many ill behaved Akitas... people who buy them who can't "read" them, either, and they don't get the training and handling they deserve. I'm sure they are wonderful dogs for the people who [b][u]can[/u][/b] read them, but too many people end up with them with no regard for their actual temperament. It's kind of like not everyone can understand and appreciate the beauty and intelligence of a standard poodle, but they are wonderful for those who do. Good point, Guest. I'll openly admit I don't "click" with Akitas which is a good reason for me to avoid them.

Hey, thanks for the positive thoughts, guys! After I posted about being worried about Tucker's upcoming surgery, one of my other dogs (old dilapidated Yorkie) became very ill... some type of internal infection, wouldn't eat/couldn't hold down forced foods, started grand mal seizures (holy moly, what a ride), is ataxic in his back end, and with a newly discovered heart murmur. This is in addition to already being deaf, nearly blind, toothless and having no jaw to begin with. LOL it made Tucker's surgery look like small stuff. Anyway, this little dog (Goober) has been put on a strong round of antibiotics for whatever infection and he is apparently feeling better as he's no longer listless and is eating on his own again. We put him on phenobarbital to hopefully control these seizures and as for the ataxia and heart murmur, we'll just have to ride that out for now. LOL, anyway, I just read back through this string and realized that Tucker's upcoming surgery is nowhere near as scary as this ordeal with Goober. It just goes to show that you should never think things can't get any worse. Anyway, thanks for the well wishes for Tucker in his upcoming surgery (and the input, Guest). I'll keep you updated (you'll get so sick of hearing me whine about it... :oops: ). :roll:

[quote name='hamrhedd']and yes they are definitely not for everyone, they are a very strong dog both mentally and physically and if you are not up to putting an extensive amount of effort into training and socialization you are just asking for trouble.[/quote] Ah... that was my ONLY point... that Akitas are NOT for everyone and can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Same thing you said. I've never said that Pit Bulls are good for just any ol' body, either. As far as statistics go? Well, they can be misleading. I don't believe there are nearly as many Akitas in pet homes as there are Pit Bulls. Also, in a town near me, there was ONE Akita that lived in that town... only ONE. That ONE Akita jumped a cop who was investigating a report of some disturbance (apparently went for this cop's throat and did wound him... the cop was wearing a bullet proof vest which kept the dog from doing more damage), so that ONE Akita was banished from the city limits. I honestly don't know how the dog did not get sentenced to euthanasia. Statistically, that would mean 100% of the Akitas living in that town are deadly. Don't let statistics fool you. My only problem is with the way some people will tell others that their chosen breed would be fine with any ol' body. As long as people will agree that ANY dog is not ok for just ANYbody. By the way, just to jump into the hot seat, I, too, would sooner get out of a car in a yard that had a Pit Bull in it than one that had an Akita. I've not met an Akita yet that was not aggressive. Maybe it's just a regional thing and all the good Akitas are elsewhere. They aren't here and I'm sure it was just some irresponsible owners who got dogs they were not equipped to handle. Probably would be fine dogs in the hands of a RESPONSIBLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE owner who knew something about them other than they are "cool" or "pretty." That goes right back to those of us who are saying to be sure to know what you're (anyone considering an Akita) getting into. So actually you and I are agreeing.

My black Lab, Tucker, is going in next Thursday to have FHO (femoral head ostectomy?/ostotomy?/oscarmeyerweinie?) surgery done on his right hip. I am familiar with the procedure in the clinical sense, but would like any input from anyone who has ever personally had to have this done to their dog. It's an alternative to hip rebuilding where they basically go in and snip part of the bone off (the femoral head, I believe). Tucker has major dysplasia on that side, but he also has some other damage in his hips and pelvis (old broken bones that healed all wrong... broken pelvis on his left side and broken leg on the right which looks in the xray like it could be what caused the bone to try to back out of that hip socket) and seems to constantly be in a great deal of pain. It has been bad enough to force him into retirement from his "duties" as a therapy dog. The vet believes this surgery may help, though it's no guarantee considering the other damage there. By the way, regarding the old mended broken bones... Tucker was an adult when we adopted him, so we don't know if there was some accident that happened before we got him and he's only started limping (since healed) as he's gotten older, or if it was the result of what seemed a minor accident a couple of years ago when a truck left the private drive going by our house and hit Tucker standing in our yard (freak thing... our dogs never run loose, but we were in the yard with him and, gosh, never expected a truck to veer off the path and into our yard :-? ). He took quite a lick, but he jumped up and shook it off and ran around as if he were fine. The vet believes that the old injuries surely happened before that as a dog with a broken pelvis on one side and a broken leg on the other wouldn't likely have been walking at all. Anyway, I'm just wondering if anyone has any insight as to what I can expect, or feedback. I'd really like to talk to someone whose dog has had this done. Positive thoughts are welcome, too. :wink: I'm really worried about the ol' boy. :(

POODLES! I'll bet you're a Poodle person! Standards? Actually, I'm only dreaming. Fat chance of me running across another Poodle fan here (or Lhasas would be great, but I've got the Lhasa thing down... not much creativity required there :-? ). Besides, if it turned out that the chosen breed were Poodles and with any experience in showing/breeding them (any kind), Guest would never get a moment's rest from me asking a gazillion questions regarding grooming secrets (favorite dryer, slicker vs pin brush, etc., etc., etc.). I REALLY, in the most pitiful way, want a quality Standard Poodle *dreamy sigh*. Some people don't like slime... some people don't like fluff 'n stuff. Ah well, to each his own. I'm really intrigued (read nosy)... :oops:

Oooooooooo, Guest, that's one of my most gee golly favoritest sites in the whole world. I pass that around every chance I get. There's also Virtual Breeding2 for the breeder who thinks they've learned all they need to know. Glad to see someone else passing that around. It's actually what changed my mind once a (not so) very long time ago about wanting to breed (or at least was a major contributing factor). I remembered thinking all I needed was two "working" dogs and... :oops:

I have a friend who used to show and raise Akitas. As much as she loves the breed, even she believes that Akitas do not belong with "inexperienced" (for lack of a better word) dog owners, or anyone not really familiar with how to handle them.

Proper advice? So why can't we ALL see what proper advice is? Educate us ALL, why don't you? :o Just because one loves a breed doesn't make it the right breed for everyone else. Any responsible breed lover would rather see their chosen breed placed in a home that was able to provide the proper care/guidance for their specific needs rather than, "gosh, they're great dogs and anyone can raise one." It happens all the time that people get dogs they're not prepared to handle because someone told them what a great dog it would be (because THEY love the breed, so everone else should love it, too) and then the dog becomes unruly, or aggressive, due to lack of attention to the particular breed's special needs (whether it be intensive socialization and training, or whatever) and the dog often pays with its life. Let's be a little more objective than, "Akita's have more personality than any other dog breed! (in my opinion)."

Gigi!! Boy, do I have a deal for you! If you're having trouble finding Wellness nearby, you can take advantage of your local Target store. Guess what (gushing with excitement here)! Many Target stores carry Three Dog Bakery products! It's right up there with Wellness. I feed mine Wellness because I don't have a Target within 40 miles of me. Check for Three Dog Bakery foods. It's supposed to be good stuff... ingredient for ingredient, it's every bit as good as Wellness (according to my "research"). They have a kibble, too, but their entree is as close to home cooking for dogs as you can get. I would have no problem feeding this stuff to my own dogs if it were available to me a little closer by (and would gladly drive 40 miles for it if I didn't have the Wellness nearby). :D [url]http://www.threedog.com/[/url] <<<to check it out

[quote]if I wanted you to know what kinds of dogs I had I would have said [/quote] Dang! And I really wanted to know your preferred breed. In a sincere sense; I'm not being sarcastic at all. Ah, well, I'm just nosy, anyway... :roll:

I was right? :o I mean, I was right! :D

Gwen, I'm so sorry to hear about your sick pooch. I'm certainly not an expert, but I can commiserate with you. I have eight dogs who get their bordatella vaccines regularly. I've tried the 6 month intranasal stuff and the yearly shot, but two of my dogs always, without fail, get kennel cough about once a year regardless and the rest never do, though they are obviously exposed to it. The way I'm understanding is that the vaccine doesn't necessarily cover every strain of bacteria(?)... that it just decreases the odds of them getting kennel cough. Kind of like some people who get flu shots still get the flu. I could be way off base, but that's the way it was once explained to me (or at least the way I took it). Maybe someone with a more technical explanation can help. I can really only commiserate and tell you the way I understand it.

...and on the other hand, I did the soaking business and STILL had a dog get sick from salmonella in raw meat while BARFing. It's a calculated risk. :(

Guest, you can view the (US) government's list of foods containing pentobarb at [url]http://www.fda.gov/cvm/efoi/dfchart.doc[/url] .

[quote name='Aroura'][quote name='Horsefeathers!']I have on more than one occasion dove out of a moving vehicle to get away from a spider. There's nothing in the world I'm more afraid of. From the "who cares" files....[/quote]Sounds alot like me, I've been known to jump onto the drivers lap because there was a big huntsman OUTSIDE the car!!! I jump on chairs when I see a spider across the room and scream loud enough that the neibours come knocking at my door to check that I'm ok![/quote] No, you don't understand... I was DRIVING at the time I dove out :-? ! Once in a parking lot and once in a fast food drive through window. Fortunately, each time, no damage. I don't know how. I jumped out and the car kept going. Both times, I managed to reach in just in time and pull the emergency brake. Eeeeek! I'm afraid the same thing would happen if I saw one and I was doing 70 down the highway. I've often said that my tombstone will read, "Spider finally got 'er." I even once came flying out of a public restroom, pants still around my ankles, when I saw one. :oops: No, I'd rather come face to face with the Grim Reaper, himself, than have to face ANY kind of spider. *shiver* And y'all have reason to be afraid of them over there. For years, I'd planned to vacation in Australia someday. My plans for that trip ended abruptly when I was watching a Discovery Channel show about deadly spiders and y'all have this monster spider called a funnel web spider that's not only the most poisonous... the thing is outright aggressive *shudder*. I started saving my pennies to go to New Zealand instead. The idea of poisonous snakes and all the other boogerbears in Oz doesn't bother me. Just the spiders.:-?

First of all let me start off by saying... EW EW GAG CHOKE SHIVER SHUDDER YUCK!!! I have on more than one occasion dove out of a moving vehicle to get away from a spider. There's nothing in the world I'm more afraid of. From the "who cares" files... Anyway, I'm sure someone here will know better than me, the EW SPIDERS freak, but my thinking would be that if they're not poisonous, they're harmless? I've heard lots of facts vs. myths on the granddaddy long legs spiders over here, so I really don't know. I would think they would have to be poisonous to be harmful. I've caught my dogs eating spiders that I know were poisonous *shudder*, if only a little, and so far, no damage that I've seen (not that I encourage this behavior). Anyway, I'll sit back, too, and await expert opinion on this subject.