ChewieTAG

Ahh I see... can keep him entertain!

thanks @SecretKei I've just received the sample from VANS last Friday was looking at it for few weeks and reading through the forum then decided to ask for sample Not sure how well Snowy will take it but sample will be good to test his stool and his tummy I am not a fan of grains and stuff but I will sample it and see how Snowy goes.. If all well, I might consider the Complete mix for puppy? the vege are all steamed and mash to a puree then baked for few minutes to set it a bit. As for the rice, I do agree with the carb, so didn't put a lot of it but just enough.. As for the eggshell, I believe if not bone then eggshell is the next better option, because of the mineral the shell has in it. This is what I understand from research. *trying to distract myself from worrying too much over the coming surgery!* Oh yeah the surgery will be this coming Wednesday! I feel like *am I doing the right thing for SnowY* (ok stop thinking!)

Apples! good point! I never thought of it! I gave him small pieces but never thought to give him size of halves. He has small mouth and short nose so, need to probably slice the apple to half so he can nibble / chew? I might consider carrot too.. You are great with ideas and help @persephone! THanks again! and yes, he does chew on that synthetic bone shaped toy. Sometimes the sound of it makes me cringe.. He has a lot of Kong toys by the way. One of it wubba with that tentacles? He finally chew off one of the tentacles and I had to snip it off before he eats it .. I do give him Greenies. He chew it and done within a day Will give him 2-3 greenies a week. Although pack said daily is ok?

cottage cheese is really not classed as 'something to chew' If you are interested in learning more about what foods contain the nutrients needed ...and read about other's experience in feeding all sorts of diets .. CLICK HERE :) Snowy is lucky having such a concerned owner... but just remember , worrying does neither of you a favour .... thanks for the link @persephone ! about the cottage cheese, I meant to say 'find something else to chew on' but not the cottage cheese (cottage cheese is given as treats occasionally)... sorry I guess I put it in a sentence sound misleading. Something else to chew on such as those teething bone toy or chew toy is what I mean..

I do thank everyone for the concern of Snowy's diet. Appreciate the opinion and thoughts.. I was given a ratio of Vege 1 : 1 Meat + rice and chicken liver in the mix. (I will not give the liver when I think the stool is getting a little firmer than usual) The mixture of veges has all the minerals and vitamins contained, and as far as I know they do have calcium in it. Breeder informed that both the vege and meat should balance the phosphorus and calcium contain in it. Well, he has 40 years experience in his family of shih tzu breeding and showing shih tzu... I guess he should be right. I do plan in weaning Snowy off the farax and Di-Vetelact but just after his surgery when everything settled down. Breeder said that it is dangerous for a shih tzu to have the bones as they have really short nose and tied airways. He advised to occasionally treat Snowy with cheese, which I did. I've done research that cottage cheese is easier to digest by dogs. Low fat and less salt cottage cheese it is.. And give Snowy something else to chew on. If calcium is lacking, I will op for grinding eggshell to a powder to add on to Snowy's food. However, too much may also be dangerous. I also give Advance Puppy kibbles. I do believe it is a balance diet. In other note, I am stressing over the fact that the surgery day is nearing! Although Snowy has no idea what is about to happen!

Oh forgot to mention about the dog milk supplements that I am still giving. Divetelact and Farax. (1 milk powder scoop for each, daily) Breeder said that he can stay on both of it as long as I want .. so I am still giving to him. He is 8 months old now. I guess won't hurt him to stay entire. Maybe it's better for him as well but I want to avoid him learning to mark the territory. That's the only concern. He is starting to sniff around nowadays. I just hope desexing will not turn him much more scaredy cat than he is now.

I see. I will call and ask just to check if they do, do X-ray. Good point on the bile throwing up. Maybe it should be 100% more safer after the throwing up! Just feel sorry for him to go through it. But yes, if he throws up, then should be safe I will inform the vet if he didn't throw up that morning just to be in the safe side. Better put that in my reminder! Thanks!

yes, I don't quite like the collar on him. Surely give him unwanted stress but, will see how the condition goes. If need to use it, will use. Else, I will not use it and monitor him like a hawk! Monitor but no fussing over him! *Mental reminder to myself* I tend to fuss over him when I get worry about him

thanks again @persephone ! I will call the vet on Monday just to be sure.

thanks @persephone Is it ok to give him that shaped bone biscuit during midnight instead or 11pm, the night that suppose to be fasting? I really want the best for Snowy.. Throwing up the bile may create ulcer as the vet says. I guess throwing up the bile out of hunger is ok on that morning to clear up stomach. Absolutely a no-no during the surgery! I might inform the vet performing the surgery about this hunger bile throw up on that day. Just in case, the vet should have a look out of it . Just because I fast him doesn't mean he won't throw up. He might (like you say) throw up to clean the bile. My goal is to make sure it is the last bile of hunger vomit from that day onwards (hopefully none)! Will try to get the feeding time right from today to avoid hunger vomit in future. Feeding time: 6am and 6pm for the main meal. So two meals a day. Supper - 1 bone shaped biscuit Treat ball with kibbles during the day (to last out and not gorge down right away)

I am feeling a little bit better after reading this. *calmer* I should stay calm and assertive just like Cesar says... I will call up the vet and enquire about the x-ray. Do they show you the day itself when it was x-ray or you need to wait couple of hours or days to see the result? My vet didn't suggest about X-ray and stupid me did not thought of it that time I should have. As for fasting him before going for surgery, I am not sure if it's such a good timing for Snowy to fast from 6pm onwards till when we send him over. It is crucial to fast him for safety of surgery but I think he will throw up the bile again out of hunger. I am thinking of giving him 1 biscuit (bone shaped) at 5am so that to avoid being too hungry. I heard about some owners giving Gaviscon to prevent the acid / bile throw up. I might do that too I am such a worry - mom!

I didn't get those chicken wings , etc type as worry will splinter etc. I do proportion all the recipe with grams and so on

I got those bone shape type biscuit as well. I will do that for supper then. Day time, I can put some kibbles in the treat ball so it will last a bit longer. Snowy is 7 kg now. I think I might control his weight soon as 7kg is the max for his size. Vet said so too I didn't get him those bone that can chew and eat, I worry it will .. splinter and so on. I bought him a lot of chew toys and dental chew stick? if that make sense. I might get him those raw hide type of chew bone tomorrow. That one baby canine tooth is so very stubborn

I think I might just do it without collar. I feel better without it unless we are not there to supervise, then on it goes..

I got the recipe from Snowy's breeder and stick with it. It works well for him and good for his skin & coat. I am happy that it is a healthy mix. All human grade food so will need to prepare beforehand. Mixture of pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, silver beet, chicken liver, rice, celery, raw beef, chicken breast, etc. I wonder if the breeder has already perfected the recipe that works for Snowy.. and his other shih tzu. Breeder did say that he will throw up if I feed him flax seed how much of the biscuit you gives him for supper? A hand full or it's a bigger size treat type of biscuit?

yes I will be home for the first few days, probably 5 days to supervise him. My hubby was saying the other day that he can monitor him at night. Snowy sleeps in the living hall alone usually. Hubby said that he can supervise by sleeping at the couch so that to make sure he won't lick? Hubby is in love with Snowy I think that is the better option, as long as I monitor him closely, it would be easier and relaxing for him to recover through. Having the collar on might stress him further. He won't understand why.. Will probably let him wear it at night.

Thanks k9angel! Love him so much! I am anxious right now and having mix feelings on whether I should send him for the surgery. He will dislike the place from now onwards. I don't want to get him stress out and change of behaviour. Does having their testicles removes changes their hormone or behaviour? I think I might do some research. I am thinking too much now!!

I feed him chicken liver at the size of "50 cent coin" twice daily. Is that a lot? I mean, I mix it together with the meal.

I give him some treat / biscuits too. I think if so happen that I gave lesser the night before (out of the normal portion) and he get all exercised, he gets hungry faster in the morning I suppose. I just need to get use to the correct portion and treat timing for him. Will throw in the treat ball at night for him. The only fats in the food is the raw beef. Hmmm raw beef is half the portion of the vege pie I baked (mixes of vege, chicken liver n rice). Not sure if that is consider a lot? I do trim off the fat layer if too much from the beef chunk. I have booked him for desex and they will perform the baby canine removal together. Do you think they will x-ray on that day if I request? I understand the whole procedure will take a full day. They asked us to fast him first the night before, meaning no food after 8pm, then bring him over to the vet at 830am. Will be collecting Snowy by the end of the day. I am so so very worried. This is my first time sending pet for desex! I am scared and worried. Snowy will be given the Elizabeth Collar (lamp head looks alike?) to wear for 5 days before the next visit to the vet for stitches removal. I don't know how to handle that or he will handle wearing it. Snowy will be an unhappy dog for a week and his hair will be a mess!!! More combing to be done...I am scared of all the surgery and so on, hoping that Snowy will recover pretty soon from it I think I am turning blue by thinking about it!

Thanks! Saw the article too and some other sites. hmm, I wonder this syndrome affects any dogs with sensitive stomach or dogs that produced heaps gastric juice? I am feeding him few mix of vege, chicken liver, rice that are baked and raw beef, with also chicken breast. Perhaps it's the yogurt treat that is not making his tummy happy.

Hi Snowy occasionally will vomit white foaming bile with a tinge of yellow. I think he has a very sensitive stomach. Some treats don't sit well in him. Other times, when the gap between the two meals are longer. We've visited the vet last night, due to ear infections and also get the vet to look at the baby canine teeth that is still in tact. Will be performing surgery to remove it when I de-sex him. Do I need to consider an xray on his teeth before removing? Ok, I am digressing... The vet said that for dogs that tend to vomit bile out of hunger (no food out) is call the bilious vomiting syndrome. Alright, got a name to it. Anyone has their pet having such syndrome? And does it last or tend to grow out of it? I usually feed Snowy twice 6am and 6pm, with treats in between in the treat balls. But I do missed the treat ball or he is lazy to play with it, then the bile comes up. Or sometimes if I so happened to give lesser in the night (to cut down his weight) then the bile comes up next morning.

My Snowy still has his baby teeth. Two of it are having the adult teeth growing together. One side by side and another, the adult tooth is below (the normal teeth line). He is almost 8 months? I will be asking the vet next week when I send him for neuter.

I wonder if pee - pads help? Maybe not for now as might confused her since you've trained her to go out for wee. But I find pee pad helps Snowy in between his needs to go at night when he sleeps inside his pen.

I think he will be fine. It takes time to build the confidence. Go earlier to the training ground so he can familiarize the place. Normally I would bring Snowy 30 minutes earlier to get use to training ground with many people with dogs. Loud noises, barks, instructors raising voices to train, could be too much for a puppy to handle at first. Snowy warm up to it later on Take it easy, go early and walk around with your pup

Oh! Didn't know about baby neck support pillow. I shall check out Coles to see if they sell it? I thought of the travel pillow bean type but should be too big. Do you know where I can get the baby support pillow? Never come across of it because didn't have a need for it (no kids at the mo..)