RescuerAndVetTech

We do a bit of these surgeries at work. Lately we've done 3 cases. 2 adult English Bulldogs, and one young pug. All recoved wonderfully, and have had great results. The procedure doesn't take too too long, but that depends on many things. Usually within 2 weeks the sutures are dissolved. Another one of these surgeries is on the schedule for tomorrow also.

How much does your dog weight? If it's really close tot he 10lb mark, it would be safe to use the FL for 11-26lbs. The product has that safeguard, and it is guaranteed also, btw. I live right outside of Philly, and this entire area is horribly bad with ticks. I can't tell you how many cases of lyme disease we see in such a short period. It's unreal. As long as you get the lyme vac, I wouldn't sweat too much over the frontline vs advantage issue. Also, PetMeds, sellers of those products online, have had countless lawsuits against them. I would never go through there, besides it's actually more expensive, as we;ve found out. They've also been proven to forge dr signatures and give out serious heart medicine etc. It's happened at our hospital, and many many others. THat in and of itself is deadly, and one of the many reasons why they've been hit with lawsuits etc. They're sneaky and have changed their name, to fool people. Most of the time, the average Joe has no clue about their devious, dangerous, and illegal activities.

You can use meat tenderizer and put a small amount in his food. It contains an enzyme that will make his waste taste repulsive. It's easily and readily available at a low cost. It should be with the dried seasonings in your supermarket. There is also a product called ForBid. It comes in packets, from what I've seen and it's used in the same way.

Sorry to hear about your dog, but in all due respect it does sound like you really overreacted. Some dogs get reactions to shots/medicines etc. Sometimes the only way to find that out, is after the fact. I do feel you should have been told and someone should have discussed the possibilities with you. We've seen shot reactions(although not common) and if the owner notices it after they get home, they're told to come back immediately and we have them under observation to be sure we have things under control, and take all measures necessary to ensure the animal is safe etc. Also, we do warn clients about the possibility that their pet may have reactions, the warnng signs, and what to do if they do notice this happening. So before they get any shots, they are told of this and given a paper to read pertaining to the possibility of reactions. I have my one dog on ProHeart, while the other is on Heartgard. I have had no problems with Proheart, but overall they both have pros and cons. Heartgard also prevents internal parasites(roundworms etc) , whereas prohearts protection in that area is very limited. Proheart is good for those who have a tendency to forget to do the monthly doses, and also for those dogs allergic to beef. I'm not sure about the idea of attempting to sue. I highly doubt you will get anywhere with that. It's not the vet's fault that your pet had a reaction. Now, if they didn't respond properly and take the measures to get things under control, then I say that's the bigger deal. If you're unhappy about what happened, just find another vet that you feel is best for your pet and also you.

You will not be able to feel the mircrochip under the skin. The ones we implant are smaller than a grain of rice, and are not detectable without the use of a scanner. Of all the pets we've microchipped, I've only seen an extremely small number of those who actually showed even the slightest discomfort. Mostly though, we microchip them while under anesthesia(when a pet comes in for surgery the owner has the option to get the microchip at a discounted price). At work we use Home Again(the AKC runs the registration database). The implantation device looks like a heavy duty syringe. Today I adopted a cat who had been shot with a rifle. The previous owners were goin to put it to sleep (not b/c it was suffering, but because it would need to have it's leg amputated and they didn't want to have a less than perfect animal). Last night they signed all rights over to me. I immediately had my boss do the amputation this morning, being that it was finally my cat. After teh surgery I did implant the microchip , mainly for legality and security purposes(especially neded in this type of case). I can at least have some peace of mind now. I strongly advise the microchip, however be aware that they can migrate to other areas over periods of time. So, if you're ever in a position to scan for a chip, also scan other areas, as the chip may not be exactly in the standard scanning area. I know that there is a one time membership fee to be entered into the AKC companion animal recovery database. It's $12.50 (For Home Again. I'm unsure as to the pricing of Avid etc).

Cassie beat me to it:) As she mentioned, the symptoms brought up by a previous poster are not necessarily an indication of worms. It could be many things. ANyway, she's correct about the fecal sample. That's your best bet, and the only real way to know which worms he has(unless you've seen them. Even so he could have other worms in addition). Mainly if his stools are loose, and not able to be controlled, you need to drop a fecal sample off at your vet. It's also recommended you get your pets wormed quartly, especially since some parasites are zoonotic and a threat to you and others(in addition to your pets).

Horesefeathers- I speak nothing but truth, and from experience.

[quote name='Rowie-the-Pooh']Nea, believe me, neutering your Bir will have much pore positives than negatives :wink: The only downside I've heard about nuetring a Cocker is that they're coat get coarse and fluffy, not silky... :-? Is this true? It sais so here in my dog book, but I'm not sure... :-? [/quote] Absolutely false. Of all the cockers we've spayed/neutered I've never seen one where their coat turned coarse as a result. That's due to other influences. I've known (and still do) many adult cockers who are altered and every single one has a silky , healthy coat - unless do to other conditons. It worris me that there are such literary pieces giving out false info. Unreal.

IF it is ringworm, you need to get it treated immediately. It is zoonotic, meaning you dog could have gotten it from you, or you can catch it from your dog. You need to have a vet who tends to your needs and satisfies you and your beloved pet. I suggest you seek a new vet and get this problem under control. Good luck.

[quote name='alicat613'][quote name='RescuerAndVetTech']Tattos are also, but can easily be cut off etc.[/quote] Not anymore - now they are being done on the belly so you can't cut it off. [/quote] All I can say to that is.......you'd be really surprised.

As a veterinary technician assisting with surgeries every day, I can tell you the risk for a neuter is pretty low, all things considered. Since he is older it can be a tad more challenging as I'd suggest getting bloodwork done by your vet prior to surgery to be sure all the organs are functioning roperly, and that he will be able to withstand the anesthesia with little or no problems. As someone has stated prior, it's not only an overpopulation issue, but also a health issue. Spayed and neutered animals live longer and have a lot of cancers eliminated. His health and well being should be number one, and if that's the case there is no better choice that neutering him. Neutering is the most beneficial when done at 6 months of age. With aging they come to get into bad habits- spraying, agression, no to mention countless other behavioral problems. It's an almost absolute guarantee that those habits would be broken(actually more often than not they haven't even started by the age of neutering) after the procedure at an early age. Either way, neuter your pup, he'd thank you if he could. Yes, you can neuter him at 2. One of the only reasons neutering wouldn't be done is if he was too old. That's far from age 2 though:) Good luck, and I really do hope you get him neutered if only for health reasons. He deserves it, and you as an owner and protector should want nothing more than the best for your little guy;)

It's always best to have more than one form of ID for your pet. Micropchips are excellent, but also regular id tags are great in the case of a neighbor or someone finding the dog on the street or in their yard etc. They have the info on the tag, whereas a shelter/vet has the equipment to scan for microchips/ID. You can't go wrong with added or backup security:) There's always the chance of collars coming off or tags falling off etc. Microchips are permanent. Tattos are also, but can easily be cut off etc.

What's so surprising about the list?

[quote name='Bensam']Lovely pics. Couldn't find any Miniature Pinschers, are there any on there? Not being able to read the descriptions made it a bit harder :lol:[/quote] I see a miniature pinscher in your icon, so I had to comment. I too, have a min pin. He will be about a yr old in june. He's my first in regards to the breed, and he's quite a character. The only reason I ended up with him is because someone had abandoned him at my work when he was somewhere around 4-5 weeks old.

[quote name='Hmmmm']The meat, if cooked long enough, will just fall off the bones BUT I dont always take them out. I havent ever had a dog choke on a bone from the food I cook. Pasta is VERY good for dogs.[/quote] Either way, you are oblivious to the fact that it can and will happen, and one day a dog of yours will die from a chicken bone. If that's what it takes to open your eyes adn your mind, then I feel horribly bad for you dogs.

Yes, in most cases foul odor is a result of infection or serious problems. Definately not something you should take lightly.

You need to take your dog in to get a dental. It's already at a bad stage at such a young age. If not taken care of you dog will not only loose its teeth but bad dental problems do lead to overall health problems. Something perceived as so simple, will and does cause serious internal problems, such as organ failure etc.

Aww well I only make it a point to notice the places that are dog friendly, but yes, you're correct. I remember I was walking my one dog in a park, and the ranger came out running towards me. Yelled at me for allowing my dog to walk on the damn grass, and then told me I was not allowed to be anywhere but in the woods or creek with a dog. I left, being that I was about 10 years old, and didn't have enough courage at the time to talk back or speak my mind. I was so angry, it was unreal. Kind of funny too..... you practically had to walk through a stretch of grass to get to the woods that lined the creek :roll: It wasn't even the fact that my dog wen tto the bathroom. She never went. People are idiots. People vandalize public parks all the time, yet I can't innocently walk my dog, or God forbid allow them to touch a blade of grass :agrue:

[quote name='Daisysmom']OMG, I am from the Philadelphia area too :o - Delaware County!!! I have family in Montgomery County!! Small world :lol: :lol:[/quote] Wow, sure is huh? My partner and I take one of my dogs to Valley Forge park every weekend for a few hours. I adore it there, and it's been a wonderful anhancement to socialization.

Daisysmom- I'm from the Philadelphia area. Montgomery county, you?

Even if you don't have the microchip tag on your dog's collar, it's a lifesaver. If your dog ends up at a shelter or is taken in by someone who in turn takes it to a vet, standard behavior now is to scan the animal for a chip. It's always good though to have the tag on the collar, or another id tag in aaddition, in case one manages to detach fromt he collar. Also, rabies tags are crucial in reuniting dogs and other pets with their owners. I couldn't tell you how many dogs we've returned safely home due to them wearing a rabies vac tag. Many people will find dogs who've gotten lost or are wandering, wearing nothing but a rabies tag on their collar. Our hospital's name, along with other info, is on the tag, so whoever finds the animal will call us and explain the situation. As long as they can read the tag ID number, we can type it into our computers adn up will come all the information on the animal and the owner(names, sex, color, breed, owner, rabies vac date, street addresses, phone numbers etc) What we usually do is tell them the dog's name and the owner's name. We then call the owner of the missing dog, telling them that this person has found their dog adn give them the info to contact the person who has their pet. You'd be surprised how many cases were closed due to a wonderful ending. There aer many ways to ID an animal, but microchipping is wonderful in many ways, espcially if your pet ends up at a shelter etc. Tattooing has too many flaws, and is really outdated.

I'm glad to hear you found a wondreful vet, who not only has your pets concern at hand, but also your trust. Being a vet tech, I can tell you it's crucial to the client/patient/vet bond. When people are satisfied, it's good for everyone involved. Sometimes you will see people get upset with their vet, and apply the stereotype that all vets are that way. In return, they just stop taking their pet to the doctor in general. Not even bothering to look for a new one. I work at a small animal practice. My boss is the only vet. From experiences with others, and wokring at other animal hospitals, I think his technique is among the best. He interacts with the clients and patients on many levels. It's not strictly exam the pet.......it's examine the pet and also play with them to get them used to him, or whatever. He wilingly stays with the client until they feel they understand the answers they were seeking. He doesn't rush them out, he makes sure they get the answers etc. We have surveys that we started handing out to clients, and overall an overwhelming majority have given an incredible amount of positive comments. I know there are vets out there who seem to strictly be in it for the money. Get in, examine the pet, get out asap. No interaction wiht either, just the basic or possible minimum. We aren't all like that, trust me. With that said, congrats again with finding a new vet who better suits you and your boys needs!

Neuter him immidiately. Spay her immediately.

It's because he isn't neutered, and also a behavioral problem. Neuter him, and go from there.

Definately spay at 6 months of age. You don't want them to go into their first heat before the surgery. As far as microchip vs tatoo. Microchips are best, hands down. Tattooing has too many flaws and is very outdated.