pooka37

this brought tears to my eyes. my heart goes out to the family and friends of Tulip, and to her new babies. you're in my thoughts. :D melissa R.I.P Tulip!!!!!

smoked bones are fine. i give my dogs smoked femurs, lamb trotters, knuckles, knees, and god knows what else and they love them. the only problem is that sometimes the greasy stuff can get on the carpet and furniture and it's a pain to get out. and some stain. the femurs seem to be their favorite. they last longer and seem to be a better buy. greenies are great. they only sell them at pet stores (i think), and they can be pricey, but they're worth it. it you microwave a big one for about 10 seconds, you can easily cut it into little bits and use these for treats. there are a bunch of "rip off" greenies that are jsut as expensive and don't work and the dogs won't touch them, so stay away from those. the smoked bones come in all sizes, so your puggies won't be overwhelmed by a huge femur. stay away from smoked beef ribs though. those DO splinter and i had to pull one from my parent's lab's throat.

Nutro makes a food that has a higher amount of calories than other foods. i think it's called "high endurance" or something really close to that. it's formulated for more active dogs because they have a faster metabolism. that may your pup's problem. i had a border collie that i couldn't keep weight on and this food worked well. and a friend of mine has a anorexic GSD and this same food helped to put a little weight on her. don't let the other dogs eat it though, because it's pack the weight on them. good luck at the vet. i hope all goes well.

i've heard that chicken bones are terrible for dogs because they can splinter and lacerate the esophagus and intestines. bully sticks are good for chewing, but if your looking for something to clean their teeth try greenies or nylabone products. they make ones with bumps and grooves that clean the dogs teeth. also, ask your vet if they have the raw hide chews that have enzymatic "cleaners" in them. raw hide isn't great for dogs, but these are specially cut and processed to be easier on their stomachs, and they're awsome. you can see the difference right after they finish it. if your dog is choking on the bones, why do you still give them to him? that would scare me too bad. they make all kinds of treats that are edible and healthy that clean teeth. if they sell Nutro products there, try their treats. they make a treat that cleans teeth, and they work fairly well.

that's so nice.....i hope your new baby will bring the love and happiness that Patchie would give if she were here. :D melissa, duncan and abigail

i recently read that if you put the food dishes on the floor instead of elevating them it can help to prevent bloat.

my heart goes out to you. it's never easy to lose someone you love so much, and the pain will always be there, but just think about all the things you loved most about your buddy and smile. it really helps. here's to you, ozzie! :p -melissa

like sidoney said, a beagle will follow their nose anywhere!!! just be careful. they're not the biggest toughest dogs, so leaving to run on their own might be sorta dangerous. my parents live on 6 acres and they have both a small dog and a st. bernard. there are foxes and deer that live on their property, and the dogs have had a few run-ins with the wildlife. be careful letting your pups out. when instinct kicks in, they might run off or perhaps have a confrontation with some wild animal. i encourage you to let your babes run free, there's nothing better for them to do, but please, PLEASE be careful. and don't let them go off lead until you know that they're properly trained to come when called. also, there are some shady people around, so if your dogs are in their enclosure make sure it's locked up so no one can take your babies. :p -melissa