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Blimey Inspector Rex, that sounds scary. Shame they don't make medic alert bracelets for dogs!

Actually, why couldn't they? The disk could be clipped onto the pet's collar.....

Or included with the dogs microchip details... That way, it does not matter where the dog goes, or who pics it up, a simple scan of the chip and voila!! Plus the microchips cannot fall off or the like

The two rotties behind us tore a hole through the colourbond fence to try and get at my poultry! The owner has boarded up the hole. Those dogs are also notorious barkers. I suspect they're acting out from boredom. They're one of those breeds that need a little extra attention and probably why some become troublesome.

I think eduacationg children is the best hope we have of making people dog savvy.

Sorry have to disagree with you there. Rotties are not notorious barkers. Rotties are known for being calm, quiet but assertive.

Saying that though ALL bored dogs bark.

I think they were referring to their neighbours dogs, not Rottys in general. I now have my second Rotty, and neither Him or Zac were much for barking. This was a good thing, it kept the neighbors happy, plus when they did you knew it was worth investigating.

I find it funny, when I walk my GSD, people give her a bit of a worried look at first, but generally they come up to say hello and comment on her. Rosie the rat certainly knows how to milk it for all it is worth too..

But like the rest of you, when I walk Gilly (the Rotty) I get a wide berth. Those who do come up are usually the ones who know what they are really like. He loves the attention too...

My biggest concern now, is that un educated number fudging morons are going to make the lives, of quite possibly one of the best breeds in the world, very restrictive and try to ban the breed.

The vet had put my Rotty on Rimadyl to relieve his suspected Panostitis, she did not tell me a great deal about this drug, and stupid me did not ask.

After he started going off his food, getting jumpy (nervous) and very quiet / moping, I was wondering what the heck was going on. So I jumped on the net and googled the drug, well, to say the least what I saw convinced me to immediately take him off the stuff. His last tablet was two nights ago, and today he is pretty much back to his old self. He is playful and cheeky, and has eaten all his food for the first time in a week.

Call it what you want, but very coincidental to me, and I will be discussing this with the vet when he goes in for his Cartrophen shots...

So if I mix the above with a heap of chicken pet mince (ground up frames) that should be good?

I also feed frames every other day...

I have just made up a few batches mixed of hearts, liver and chicken necks. This will be my 2's breakky each morning, is there anything I could add? Kidney etc..

OUr thoughts are with you in this tough time...

Run free big fella...

Okay I have read through all the info provided, and it would seem that Pano is the likely problem... However...

He does not react when I do the pinch test, I can pinch, squeeze, flex and move all his legs with out any reaction at all. After speaking with his breeder and they indicated that their Rotties are much the same wrt to pain, i.e show little to no indication of it when poked / prodded.

Looks like trying to find the money to get the x-rays done... He is a frustrating buggar, one minute he seems okay the next he is limping again. I had to laugh at him though, at one point yesterday, he was walking fine, not favoring either leg or anything, but was still bobbing his head. Looked like one of those "noddy dogs"

Troy have a cream that works well which we use on both dogs ears etc..

My folks use value plus fly repellent, their lab does run around like a chook with his head cut off when it is put on, but it works well.

Peter, some Rottweilers do suffer from growing pains, can't remember the proper name either. This normally happens in the rapid growth period and is normally over by the time the dog is 12 months old. As I said normally, there are exceptions to the rule. I use glucosamine and fish oil, on youngsters and oldies.

Sounds like you are thinking of panosteitis.

I was just going to suggest Pano

My Bronx's brother had it...unfortunately his owners vet was telling them he needed to have elbow surgery at $3000 to start - unfortuantely they wouldn't listed to the breeder or myself or even get a second opinion But knowing his diet, activity levels etc...i wasn't surprised and pretty much through of pano straight away - breeder said the same after finding out the info i had re his diet etc.

Peter - what are you diet have you got your pup on?

Panosteitis that's it, that is what the vet suspected....

BUT

Just looking on the net, and the symptoms indicate that the affected bone would be painful if squeezed. This is not the case with Gilly, you can poke / prod / squeeze / flex till the cows come home and he has no issue with this.

He is not reluctant to move around, infact he actively encourages my GSD to play, and whines when I take the GSD out with out him.

It was spontaneous, with nothing obvious to explain what caused his limp, and when I took him for a short walk yesterday, he would literally limp then not then limp then not. If he were human, I would almost be convinced he was bunging it on for a compo claim or something

At this stage, I am looking at sending my GSD to my parents for a few days to get Gilly to settle down and see what happens, the NSAIDs seem to have little effect since starting them on Friday night.

The next step from the vet is a course of Cartophen.

His diet thus far has been (and I may cop some flak, but I have always fed commercial like PAL to all my prievious dogs until I started learning, then switched to Supercoat... so bear with me...)

Mornings

Was Chicken back with 2 scoops of Supercoat Puppy

now

Chicken Frame

Evenings

800g Concoction of Chicken Pet Mince, Black and Gold frozen veggie mix, sardines, eggs, supercoat puppy and until recently rice / pasta.

I have changed his evening meals to 600g of Supercoat Puppy, and in the mornings he alternates between Frames, and 500gm of the above mix. I switched to Supercoat as the base cause I am worried that he is not getting the right calcium / phosphorus balance. I am now looking at the more "premium' foods like Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy, Royal Canin etc. Bonnie has even been suggested, but there is little info on their site.

Is it possible to give them too much Glucosamine or Chondroiton? If I feed them Eukanuba, this has the two already in it, would it be excessive if I were to include some Joint Guard or Pernaease?

He appears fine other wise, he is happy, shiny smooth coat, 54cm at the back and 37.8kgs...

He does have me worried though the little beggar...

Thanks for that, I will stick with night time feeding then. They also tend to be a little quieter in the evenings, this is why I chose to feed the bulk of their meal then. I am always watching like a hawk for bloat..

Cheers

Blackmanner - Rottweilers

When should the main part of my GSD and Rotty's diet be fed to them? Should their "big" meal be in the morning or of an evening?

At the moment, I am feeding them a chicken frame or whole fish in the morning, and then they get the bulk of their feed of an evening..

Cheers

pete

I have tried a BARF diet, and this is what they were on solely for a while mixed with the Supercoat, but I am a little concerned that they weren't getting the right amounts and the right balance of what they need for healthy growth and health joints. They seemed to thrive on it, I got my GSD from her prievious owner, and they commented on how hard it was to keep condition on her. They admitted to feeding PAL, as soon as I got her home and onto BARF, she has come along quite nicely.

I have been thinking of feeding them a Chicken Frame in the mornings, then dry (decent stuff) at night, throw in some Sardines every so often...

Then once a week substitute a chicken frame with a whole black fish or the like?

I guess all I want is the best food I can possibly afford to give them, and to ensure that they get all of what they need in the right balance.. I have considered starting another thread asking something like this, but I will read through the site first, chances are it has been discussed many times before.

The Joint Guard seems to be better priced than Sashas Blend too, its marketing material seems to be a little more convincing too.. I might give it ago unless someone can tell my a good reason not too...

just growing pains,

Huh?

Growing pains is, AFAIK a symptom of something wrong...not a 'normal' ocurrence.

dysplasia, panosteitis, stress fractures, etc.

If a vet told me my dog was sore/lame because it was 'just growing pains', I'd be out the door,sorry.

The vet did give it some name, I cannot remember sorry, it was some sort of "...itis", basically it occurs in large dogs that tend to have rapid growth spurts. He in on some NSAID, and after that if he seems to have responded well, they will give him a course of Cartrophen.

If he doe not respond to the NSAIDs they will investigate further with x-rays etc to rule out HD / ED, OCD etc..

I am after something to give to both dogs to help them develop healthy joints, and help prevent against arthritis and other issues.

I will have a look at Joint Guard, thanks.

I am looking at changing their diet from chicken carcasses and Supercoat Puppy to a Royal Canin diet, but the thought of double the money per bag... OUCH!!

Hi all,

I have two dogs, one being a 11.5mth old Rotty and the other a 12mth old GSD bitch.

The Rotty has been acting a bit lame on his front legs of late, and after a visit to the vet, she is pretty confident that it is just growing pains, but has also given me some NSAID to help relieve him, then possibly look at a course of cartrophen shots. Given both my kiddies are breeds which are prone to joint issues, I am also looking at something like Sashas Blend or Pernaease Powder, as a long term joint health treatment for them.

Pernaease Powder is a few $ cheaper than Sashas, and appears to be the same, has anyone tried both, or can anyone give me reason to not use one over the other?

Cheers and thanks in advance

peter