espinay2

To the OP, I am very sorry you have had a bad experience. It is never easy when a pet is sick and yes, the emotions can be very much like if it were a member of our human family. As mentioned though, dogs do need to be treated like dogs and you actually do a dog not favours by not doing this. As Andisa mentioned, most of the dogs that experience the most stress are those that are 'babied' and not taught to cope. Teaching a dog to be confined in a small area such as a crate (so it learns to see it as a safe and comfortable 'den' or 'bedroom') can significantly reduce stress when a dog is required to travel or go to the vet. Taking the dog to puppy classes at a vet clinic can also greatly reduce a dogs concern about a vet clinic and they see it as a good and friendly place to be. Teaching a dog to be handled all over, to meet strangers and to be separated from you are all good things that will help the dog to cope in its everyday life. Care needs to be taken not to create a co-dependent situation. It does not help your dog and it does not help you. Grief is hard and does hurt. I know how hard it is and yes I have had to make the hard decision to say goodbye to dogs I have owned and loved and have held them as they died. It is never easy. If the grief and anger you are feeling is still significant at this point in time though it may help you to seek out professional assistance as it is not normal at this stage of the grieving process. As mentioned, vet clinics are like doctors surgeries and hospitals. No one likes being in hospital and they are in no way like home. They should not be expected to be like home. They are however, necessary things. Condemning the whole vet profession because of your experience (which you contributed to through your own decisions) is like condemning all human doctors because of one 'bad' one, all haridressers because of a bad haircut, or all chefs because of a bad meal etc etc. It is a significant overgeneralisation. Instead why not take a lesson from this experience on how you can make things betterfor your new dog. Instead of reatreating, why not take a proactive approach. As mentioned be proactive in finding a vet you are comfortable with. Perhaps as suggested ask for recommendations. Book your new pup into a puppy class. Get to know the staff and the clinic. Let your pup get to know them and become happy and comfortable going there. If you are concerned about vaccinations, do your research into them and talk to people who have gone the no vaccine route (you will find LOTs of information and discussion on natural rearing on the net that you can participate in) so your decision to give them to your dog or not is made from a positition of factual strength and is not an emotional kneejerk reaction. You will be able to evaluate the pros and cons and decide which risks are - for you - the ones you will accept and the ones you wont. I wont tell you which route is the right or wrong one, but at the moment your decision is being made based on emotion and that is not good. Be proactive in training your dog so that it can cope. As mentioned, babying it does it no favours and only sets it up for a lifetime of stress. Making sure that your dog has the ability to cope if it DOES need to be away from you, to be hospitalised or to be handled by other people is a good thing and IMO an owner that does not do this is doing a dog no favours at all. Be VERY careful you are not creating a co-dependent situation. That is not good for anyone - you orthe dog. Realise that loving your dog and having them as a 'good family member' does NOT mean treating them like a baby or a child. In reality doing this is selling the dog out and not giving it the respect it deserves as the marvellous creature it is - with its own motivations and behaviours as a dog and not as a human. A dog does not think like a human. Learning about dog behaviour will help you to learn more about your dog and to get closer to it. Remember the good times with your dog but also respect your dog by learning and moving on in a positive way from your experience with him. Use it to make your new pups life a happy one and remember that wrapping it in cotton woll and hiding it away will not do that.

Yes, definitely separate. Toys - just a couple each day and change them each day - that way the pup doesnt get bored with them. Something interactive like a stuffed kong or treat ball is good. Feeding - first thing in the morning, then put them in the pen with another small meal or spread some food around the pen for her to hunt and find if you use dry food/kibble. A bone to chew on too is good. Then feed when you get home and perhaps a small supper later (though I have never really found this necessary for most dogs).

Yes optimum depends on purpose and the needs of an individual dog. I posted a link recently to a study on the nutritional requirements of exercising dogs which discusses fat levels in one context and concludes that sled dogs require a high fat (>50% of energy) diet ( with protein providing >30 or 40% of energy) while greyhounds require a moderately high fat diet (30 - 50% of energy) and moderate protein (24% of energy). This will definitely not be 'optimum' for all dogs though, particularly more sedentary ones!

A tip for collecting urine samples. Depending on the size of the dog, use a ladle or large serving/cooking spoon with the handle bent up. Easier to put under the dog than trying to get under with a jar or sample cup and a lot of dogs find it less 'invasive' than having you leaning down close with your hand under. The size compared to something bigger too means that most of the time they dont even know it is there. Just remember to have a jar ready with the lid off (learnt that one from experience ) to make transfer of the sample easy!

Best idea would be to contact them and ask, like you would for any insurance company queries as they are best placed to answer your question. They should have customer service contact information listed.

7 months of age is about normal for experiencing the second 'fear period'. A lot of dogs do go through it. Important thing is not not make a fuss. If you do, often they can think something really is wrong and it can make the issue worse. IMO the best approach if he gets scared of normal everyday things is to ignore it and let him see it is no big deal. For example, one dog I had, at around the same age, became terrified of stormwater drains. Instead of making a big fuss, I just ignored the drain. When walking I would walk over the drain. I would let the dog walk wide, but I wouldnt hesitate or stop. If necessary I would just encourage with a matter of fact, 'come on, lets go' and would keep walking without acknowledging the drain was even there. After a while the dog also began again to ignore it as it learnt that it simply wasn't important. I used this same technique in the house with a rescue who was terrified of every little noise. I gave her space to 'escape' to a quiet room in the house if she wanted to, but I basically ignored her fear of things like the vaccum and the fan over the stove etc. When she learnt that I (her leader) considered these things to be of no consequence, she too came to see them in the same manner. With the sign, I would put it up and ignore it. You ignored it before, so ignore it again. Ignore the dogs reaction to it. The dog may avoid the area for a while - that is their choice (they did have something fall on them). You however, should not avoid the area or acknolwedge the area in any way that is different to what you did before. Show the dog by your actions that it is no big deal and nothing to make a fuss of. The location is neither positive or negative, it is just there. Eventually it may be his favourite spot again. Or he may choose a new one. Making a fuss of the place though is only likely to increase his stress about it.

A couple of studies worth reading: The Nutritional Requirements of Exercising Dogs Hematological and metabolic responses to training in racing sled dogs containing medium, low or zero carbohydrate

Have to strongly agree that learning about other breeds has a lot of benefits for understanding both your own breed(s) and dogs in general. There is a lot to be learnt about function and structure by learning about other breeds and sometimes knowing the differences and how they came about can be just as important as the similarities (though you are definitely right about the similarities angelsun). I don't think it helps a breed to limit knowledge only to that one breed. I have shown two breeds in different groups and you are right it can be a challenge and a juggling act at times. Not impossible though and really it is not that much more complicated for one person to show two dogs of different breeds than two dogs of the same breed (which can itself occasionally be a juggling act).

Excellent to hear that proactiveness on everyones part has paid off and that your concerns were listened to . Fingers crossed that it continues now the issue has been identified.

Dogs such as Samoyed, Bichon and Westies don't have the white spotting gene. They are recessive reds which also carry a phaomelanin dilution so they just 'look' white.

So 'genetically plain' refers to a Boxer that is sisi . Thanks Steve, interesting stuff!!

Some great info in your posts Jed . A question. When you are referring to 'genetically plain' in this context, are you referring to dogs with white markings that are sisi rather than sisw or are you talking about an SS dog with residual white from incomplete pigment spread?

Yes I know what was meant. But using the term is confusing or misleading in a discussion about colour and pigments. Confusing to who ? you ? To people that do not understand colour genetics. Not me. It is incorrect to say it, and using the name of a well-known pigment for what is a result of a lack of pigment is ignorant. We are trying to educate people on this site aren't we? What a storm in a teacup. It is a well known colloquial term and IMO nothing to get bent out of shape about.Nothing 'ignorant' about it! I don't see any storm. In a topic that discusses why a dog appears white it isn't helpful to use terms that are based in ignorance. The only people getting bent out of shape are those that can't handle having it pointed out. Get over it and try to use terms that are based in fact in future. Myths are not helpful to those that are genuinely trying to understand the topic. Again I strongly object to the term 'ignorance'. Using a colloquial is not 'ignorant' even if it is not technically correct, and yes I understand why some who have not heard the term may be confused (which is why I posted an explanation of the term - for those who did not understand its context). Calling those who know the term (many of those who may be used to hearing it used widely in the horse world) 'ignorant' though is very much uncalled for and rather rude. If dog breeders spent more time learning facts and less time listening to utter rubbish from 'horse people', the welfare of dogs might actually improve, and breeders might get less criticism than they are getting now. Your response and attitude and refusal to let go of a misleading colloquialism exemplifies why some dog breeders are not accorded much respect in our community. I urge you get over it, and think about improving your knowledge of dogs genetics, instead of defending your poor choice of terms and having a go at me or anyone else that makes the effort to provide factual information here. I make no apology, just because you are embarrassed at being corrected, doesn't make me rude. People are obviously really upset that a boxer would be euthanised for its coat colour. How disingenuous to be ascribing positive qualities to the colour that do not exist! It is really offensive to hear your arguments trying to justify the practice - because it is this sort of misleading and false information that causes welfare problems in the first place. My knowledge of dog genetics, including that of white (lack of) pigment (having two breeds for which this is relevant) is quite fine thank you, and maybe you might wish to read my other posts further up the thread in this regard. I am not embarrassed as I understand completely the difference between a colloquialism and the genetic intricacies of coat colour pigments. BTW, it was not me who originally used the term 'chrome' - I merely explained it for others who may not understand it. I am not the one making a big deal of its use. Knowing what the term means and its general usage does not in any way display ignorance and in this respect the issue has been blown way out of proportion. BTW, 'chrome' (yes, yes I know, 'lack of pigment') in horses is also not always a good thing depending on the breed and its extent, and horse breeders recognise this. ,

A good article which I think backs up a lot of what large breed breeders have been telling puppy owners for years.

As mentioned, when washing the dog make sure you dont scrub at the coat. Gently massage and squeeze the shampoo through the coat so you dont twist the hairs. Also make sure you don't scrub at the coat when drying with a towel. Blot and squeeze the water out of the coat. The coat responds a lot better if it is treated with care and respect. Agree too about the furminator. It may thin out the coat, but it does it by breaking the hair shafts. These rough ends are then just more prone to tangling. Good quality tools that dont break the coat can reduce grooming over time as they don't damage the coat as much.

I note this is an old thread that has resurfaced, but for those dealing with pancreatitis, the book 'Dogs Diet and Disease' by Caroline Levin would probably be worth getting hold of.

A good book on management, including dietary management, of a range of conditions such as diabetes, cushings and pancreatitis is 'Dogs Diet and Disease' by Caroline Levin

Definitely seek some assistance if you can. In the meantime, can you help the old dog feel a bit more secure by perhaps separating them in the evenings/night time? Baby gates and crates are great tools.

This article provides some useful information for choosing a food: http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/do_i_need_to_use_a_puppy_food.htm

(from someone who is proud to be a 'tree hugging greenie' :laugh: )

Yes I know what was meant. But using the term is confusing or misleading in a discussion about colour and pigments. Confusing to who ? you ? To people that do not understand colour genetics. Not me. It is incorrect to say it, and using the name of a well-known pigment for what is a result of a lack of pigment is ignorant. We are trying to educate people on this site aren't we? What a storm in a teacup. It is a well known colloquial term and IMO nothing to get bent out of shape about.Nothing 'ignorant' about it! I don't see any storm. In a topic that discusses why a dog appears white it isn't helpful to use terms that are based in ignorance. The only people getting bent out of shape are those that can't handle having it pointed out. Get over it and try to use terms that are based in fact in future. Myths are not helpful to those that are genuinely trying to understand the topic. Again I strongly object to the term 'ignorance'. Using a colloquial is not 'ignorant' even if it is not technically correct, and yes I understand why some who have not heard the term may be confused (which is why I posted an explanation of the term - for those who did not understand its context). Calling those who know the term (many of those who may be used to hearing it used widely in the horse world) 'ignorant' though is very much uncalled for and rather rude.

Yes I know what was meant. But using the term is confusing or misleading in a discussion about colour and pigments. Confusing to who ? you ? To people that do not understand colour genetics. Not me. It is incorrect to say it, and using the name of a well-known pigment for what is a result of a lack of pigment is ignorant. We are trying to educate people on this site aren't we? It is a well known colloquial term and IMO nothing to get bent out of shape about.Nothing 'ignorant' about it!

Oh dear. Is this with ASAP? Hopefully you don't end up having all the trouble I had

is she desexed or entire? If entire, when was her last season? Is she inside and have you started turning the heating on?

I will ask again the question that seems to be being avoided. So does anyone here actually know first hand a breeder who euthanases white boxer pups or is this all an indignant storm over rumours and innuendo? Someone told someone that they heard it was done so it of course must be so. A note on the term 'chrome' referred to earlier. The saying 'a lot of chrome' is one often used in the horse world and transferred to the dog world when referring to an animal with a lot of white on it's legs and face. I.e. The 'shiny bits' on the wheels and grill ;)