blacklabrador

My vets don't like the annual heartworm needle and I don't need any more evidence than that. I would never use it. I am surprised that your vet would give both a vaccination and a heartworm injection all at once. Seems like such a lot for your dog to process all at once.

Sorry to hear this Horus. Sending vibes for a full recovery for sweet Ellie and for you too.

I can assure that their businesses are thriving! The profit is made by getting people into the store because the will buy other things while they are there.

Another three years should take care of it.

Em, we often get very dark stools. Should I be concerned? Are you feeding roo meat? Digested blood in stools is not dark brown, it's black. Blood that comes from the lower intestine hasn't had time to be digsested and looks like blood on the outside of the poop.

Depends what is causing the itching. If it's a fungal infection coal tar won't cure it. It is soothing though.

:cool: :cool: I totally meant my Pomeranian puppy!!! No double meanings involved :cool:

The undercoat is only slightly shorter than the top coat. If you clip back to near skin level both the top and the undercoat are clipped. So clipping a labrador back short (and I suspect any dog) means clipping both coats as you cannot differentiate between the type of coat with electric clippers. Labradors shed both top and undercoat. Sometimes at different times, sometimes at the same time. No hair follicle lasts forever, the hair falls out and is renewed at some point. The difference is obvious. One type of hair is thick, shiny and straight with an obvious sharp end, the other is soft, thin and crimped slightly. They shed both types. The top coat seems to be shed continuously and the undercoat is shed in huge amounts 1 - 2 times per year. In a schnauzer it will take a long time for the coat to return to it's former texture because they are a non shedding breed. The neck area of a setter is clipped so it feels different - what is the point? My head would feel velvety if I clipped it too. Given a year to grow back would the neck of a setter that had been clipped feel different to one that hadn't? (Besides possibly longer fur). So... why and how does clipping the labrador coat make it different once it grows back?

:cool: :cool: Sorry but I couldn't help but get in on the trend.

Dogs being fed mostly bones will have lighter coloured poos - light green/yellow/cream. These poos are very dry and crumbly too. Quite normal considering what is going in. Whether your dog is getting enough oil will be evident in the coat. I have the shiniest black labs you've ever seen but their poos will be dry the day after they eat meaty bones. The colours in cheap kibble are evident at the other end too.

Mobic is a human drug that dogs can take (Metacam - Meloxicam). I don't know if paracetamol or voltaren is suitable for dogs. They metabolise things completely differently. At this stage just allow the pain of the injuries to slow them down. That's what nature intends! Sometimes giving them pain relief allows them to do more than they should be doing.

I think science has now proven the myth that shaving leg hairs doesn't make the hair grow back any thicker or darker. Only hormones can do that. However, waxing makes a difference because it weakens the hair follicle and the hair gets a bit finer every time it returns. However, we do not generally wax dogs so I am interested to hear more about the clipping theory.

Well I will let you know if I see any changes. For me it makes no difference with a desexed pet dog. How does an undercoat grow thicker? You can't increase the number of hair follicles (they are present at birth and don't change throughout life). Does each individual strand of undercoat suddenly become thicker because it's been cut short? I don't believe that hair follicles producing top coat can suddenly change to producing undercoat because it's genetically predetermined. So... by what mechanism does undercoat become thicker through clipping?

For those people who say their coat would grow back dreadfully how do you know? Have you done it? I've had my lab clipped before and his coat grew back exactly as it had been. The coat seemed to be too thick to clip back to the skin and he was left with a short velvety coat about a millimetre long. I got him clipped because he gets himself wet a lot in summer and he takes so long to dry that he smelt awful, even when he was clean. He smelled like a towel that had been wet too long. He's my inside dog who is by my side constantly - it was becoming a real problem. Clipping him solved the problem nicely. His coat was so short that he dried very quickly. It grew back gradually into a normal labrador coat again. He did look like a bull breed though (he has a big head) I intend to do it again this summer.

So sorry to hear this Cassie. RIP Oakley.

No need for the Cresties - ooh did you get a new one?? Black haired one??

It only works for the fleas that are biting them for 24 hours. If your environment is infested then he's got them jumping back on him constantly. It's not a long term solution and doesn't last for a month like Frontline. I reckon the fleas must bite harder or something while they are dying. If ever I need to give Capstar my dogs go mental scratching! I've made the mistake of giving it to a crated dog at bedtime and was constantly woken by the noise of the thumping leg on the crate tray all night!

No a puppy that is biting is not "typical" nor is it acceptable. It can be considered normal behaviour but it also must be recognised that it is a behaviour that must NOT continue and has to be managed by someone who knows how to stop it turning into something more serious. Labs are very lively pups and they grow very quickly into big lively dogs with big teeth and strong jaws. Biting and dominant behaviour MUST be dealt with now while the pup is young.

???? Has she had her vaccinations to be allowed to do this? Sorry Sheree but I believe these people need more than just a few instructions over the net. This is a somewhat serious situation (well it could be if it's not managed properly).

I have to disagree with this statement - I am vet nurse and I am also an obedience instructor and I teach puppy pre school at the vets where I work.Do NOT assume about vet nurses it really bugs me how people think this....I guarantee if you follow what I tell you - you will have a well behaved dog. Sorry Sheree. It might not be the case where you work but it is the case very often. People take their puppies to PP thinking they are taking them to obedience and it is no substitute. I LOVE PP and still take my new pups there for socialisation. But the real obedience must start ASAP after that 12 week needle IMO.

You need professional help with this dog otherwise you will end up rehoming her. She sounds like a handful that needs proper management. Consider getting get in a dog behaviourist to teach you how to manage her. Also let the dog breeder know of the problems you are having with her. Greg and Nina I believe? Let them know immediately that you are struggling with the pup. Don't think that because a dog is a certain breed means that they can't show aggressive behaviours. She is a dog. BUT don't blame her and label her aggressive and dump her. The problem actually lies with you. I don't think all of what she is doing is aggression but you really need to get on top of it NOW. The running in circles and biting is excitement I would think. This pup has no respect for you or your husband and that is what you need to turn around. Ditch puppy preschool - it's usually run by vet nurses who have very little dog behaviour experience. You need to have your dog at a proper obedience school. They aren't expensive if you find the right kind (not a private one). If you let us know where you live I am sure someone can come up with

Might be a low grade gut infection or an inflammatory problem. It's obviously not acute watery diarhoea or he'd be dead by now. If he's gaining weight okay then he's not in any immediate danger. He does need to have it investigated though - sooner rather than later.

I agree - probably just asks for one in case you have one. There are many member of our fine LRCQ who aren't breeders. It doesnt' mean they have any less to contribute. I was a member before I had a prefix. All you need do is ring and ask.

They're not pigs They're just enthusiastic about food :D I wouldn't put the food into water to slow him down - it may encourage bloat.

Expect him to be STARVING HUNGRY for the rest of his life :D Teach him to sit before he is given treats... that's a good start to him learning manners surrounding food. Are you taking him to obedience? He will be growing very quickly at this stage and it will only be another 2 to 3 months before you have a full sized, badly mannered dog on your hands. Get him under control now while he is still young and easy to teach. There should be an obedience school near you that has a basic 8 week obedience course that you can attend.