DogPaddle

Probably some plans like the Gold Plans would but likely a large deductable. Anyway I don't have pet health insurance. At 4 animals I may have to insure and with insurance being a minimum of $50/month for the crudy coverage it just doesn't seem like a good deal. I had Kavik in for a pre-surgery type visit and now they are wondering if extraction would be better. I don't like this vet anymore so I'm going to switch to King Animal Clinic and get a fresh opinion.

Anyone still have the link to that cool food evaluator/grading guide?

Candy compare the products for yourself: Nutro's Best Product - Nutro Natural Choice Ultra Ingredients Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Lamb Meal, Rice Bran, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, source of Linoleic Acid), Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, source of Linoleic Acid), Salmon Meal (natural source of DHA), Flaxseed (natural source of Alpha-Linolenic Acid), Natural Flavors, Oatmeal, Alfalfa (natural source of Chlorophyll), Beet Pulp, Tomato Pomace (natural source of Lycopene), Cranberry, Fish Oil (natural source of DHA), Dried Egg Product, L-Lysine, Kelp (natural source of Iodine), Taurine, Bacillus Lichenformis Fermentation Extract, Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, L-Carnitine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Garlic (natural source of Selenium), Marigold Extract (natural source of Lutein). Suggested Amounts to Feed Per Day weight in lbs feeding in cups 10 1 to 1 1/4 20 1 1/2 to 2 40 2 1/2 to 3 1/3 60 3 1/3 to 4 1/2 Wellness Deboned Chicken, Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Rye Flour, Menhaden Fish Meal, Whitefish, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Millet, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Flaxseed, Amaranth, Peas, Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Whole Apples, Whole Blueberries, Whole Clove Garlic, Alfalfa Leaf, Yucca Schidigera, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Inulin, Fructose, Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, Beta-Carotene, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate (a chelated source of Zinc), Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate (a chelated source of Copper), Copper Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate ( a chelated source of Manganese), Sodium Selenite, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid. Couldn't find a cups/lb feeding guide but I did feed it to the boys for a while I think your looking at something like: 10lbs around 3/4 cup 20lbs around 1 to 1 1/4 cups 40lbs around 2 cups 60lbs around 2 1/2 to 3 cups Anyone feel free to post the exact feeding if you have it. Innova Innova Ingredients - pardon I had to copy this from my bag Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Barley, Bround Brown Rice, Potatoes, Ground Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Herring, Apples, Carrots, Cottage Cheese, Sunflower Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Alfalfa Sprouts, Eggs, Garlic, Taurine, Sodium Ascorbate, dl Appha Tocopherol, Freeze Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Freeze Dried lactobacillius Acidophilus fermentation product, freeze dried lactobacilis casei fermantation product, Freeze dried lactobacilius plantarum fermantation product, potasium chloride, choline Chloride, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, oron protienate, beta carotene, niacine, calcium pantothenate, copper protenate, manganous protanate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, vit d3 supp, vit b12 supp, folic acid, calcium lodate, biotin Feeding lbs cups 10 .72 or about 3/4 20 1.14 or about 1 and 1/5 40 1.82 or about 1 and 4/5 60 2.39 or about 2 and 2/5 The first thing you should notice is that you need to feed less of Innova and Wellness than you do of Nutro. This indicates two things: 1. There is less useless junk in Wellness and Innova 2. The slightly higher price per bag of Wellness and Innova does not actually translate into a higher cost to feed your dog. The other thing you will notice is that Innova has more animal protein sources grouped in the first ingredients and Wellness has the same or more as Nutro but they are very quality sources. Further notice that the Nutro product has Brown Rice as ingredient 2 and Ground Rice as ingredient 3; this is ingredient splitting and we cannot be sure that the combined rice does not actually equal more than the Chicken Meal, companies do this to make the amount of filler look less. Also Innova and Wellness do not have ingredients like "poultry" fat - they identify their sources specifically. Generic sources like poultry or meat are scarey - think unknown slaughterhouse leftovers etc. Also Wellness and Innova do not have "Natural Flavors" which is a scarey ingredient as they don't have to tell you what it actually is, probably way to much salt whatever the case. Additionally Innova and Wellness have more fruit and veggie which, in the appropriate place in the ingredient list, is important although perhaps not strictly essential.

Good, good. :lol: I was like this - :o when I saw morphine but assumed there must be some explanation. :lol:

So . . . uh . . . you can get morphine over there counter there can you?

Well, at least half of it could go to the shelter maybe, that way if you ever do want to bring up the not feeding it to your Newfs issue you can still give her back some but the shelter still gets a load of Euk. :D

I would agree with a Wheaton Terrier Mix although briard might be possible too although from size of the dog I lean more towards the Wheaton. But not sure about mixed with what. Cute little guy.

I give Pepto if the vomitting continues for a while, I also give no food until the Pepto works and then the next day, of course boiled chicken, rice and a tablespoon or two of canned pumpkin for good measure.

In regards to the reduction of yard waste: Today Zaphod keeps going out and hanging out looking like there is something he aught to be doing and then later coming back in. He used to make yard waste every trip, sometimes I think he was doing it just to drive me bonkers, so this not going everytime is confusing to him. :lol:

I'm not positive I have a perfect picture but it sounds like Bill is overburdened and your rescue group needs to revitilize itself. Well first off I would suggest you start by suggesting to Bill that you "partner" with another rescue group for some event or other. Make sure its a successful, well-established group. Do some fundraiser together or some adopt-athon together or something. Start building bridges. This will do two things: 1. It will provide some alternatives on how to do things if your two groups start chatting and exchaning ideas and will improve both groups abilities because you'll be able to call on each other. 2. If things go ass-up at your group you may have a rescue group to help the rescue group. Good Luck.

Try switching from treats to another toy. Throw one toy let him come close enough to return and then throw the new toy, hopefully he'll drop the old one and chase the new. Pick up the old one and repeat. Worked with one of mine.

This does sound like a problem for a number of reasons, not the least of which is Bill's mental well being. I know your in a bind with privacy issues and such but is there anything more you can tell us?

Maybe its all a clever ruse to get the good food? :D Wishing the best for you and Pushy.

I'm making the switch from Canidae (which is already a premium brand) to Innova, as it is a bit better food and I'm hoping for less yard waste. So far so good, no runs, no upset tummies, just some stinky gas. And the yard waste already appears to be reducing but they've only been on it for a few days.

Thanks. :D

Get dog neutered. Get dogs thyroid checked. Take dog to behaviourist or bring behaviourist to him. Practice NILIF.

Good to know about Dillard, thanks. I was undecided as to what vet to try but after the glowing endorsements for King, I guess I'll try there.

Glucosamine, Chondroitan and Yucca. There are dog supplements of Glucosamine and Chondroitan but you'd probably have to go to a people herbal store for the Yucca. You can get the Glucosamine/Chondroitan and people stores too if you prefer.

My goodness, I'd be grouchy if I had that between my toes too. Poor dear. What vet were you using and what vet are you thinking of? I have been checking around for a new vet lately too. I've heard good things about King Animal Hospital but it is right downtown London, still checking into them. Staples animal hospital has been in fairly reliable in London for over 25 years except for one incident but I suspect that has been rectified, PM me if you want more info. Western Animal Clinic is really expensive. There is a holistic type vet out in Komoka but that's all I know about him. I've heard a few good things about Dr. Dillard in Lambeth and the vet way out end of Wellington, past the old icehouse.

Huh, I didn't know that about Danes. Thanks Mei. Danes may not like smaller dogs but Kavik hates any unneutered male that has the [i]nerve[/i] to be taller than him and he is not a tall dog. :roll: There was a huge unneutered Weim in our obed. class - made things challenging but at least it gave me a chance to work on Kavik's issue in a controlled situation.

I'm with Kat, definately sounds like an infection, off to the vet with you.

I fully support the Pet Adoption areas of places like Petsmart. People are not going to adopt an animal sight unseen. Many private resuces do not have a shelter and do all inhome fostering. People do not want to drive to 2 dozen houses to meet the dogs or cats to determine which seems to match thier peronsality best. Pet Adoption in the window front sorta way allows smaller rescue groups to cycle their animals through home foster and high visability situations to increase chance of adoption and still provide adequate socialization and training. Are there some groups that adopt animals out in less than the best way. Sure. But that is like all things - there are better groups and not so better groups.

I planned 7 years before I got Kavik (Border Collie.) I wanted a dog as a companion, for obedience/agility, to go camping and canoeing with - as in swimming and hiking with a pack all day, a dog that would always be game for a walk or fetch and a dog that I could pick up and carry if something went wrong three days into the bush on a canoe trip. And yes their cute too. My reservations about the breed were with katz as I have two, so I went to BC Rescue and did even more research and talked eventually talked to Kavik's breeder who raised the pups with a feline without problems so my worries were lessened. Things I would warn folks about before they get a Border Collie: * Border Collies are seemingly insane. Once they set their minds to something they are difficult to divert. * They do not play so much as work in a happy manner. They may make up work type games that you can play with them but make no mistake - they are working. They really enjoy a task based game. * They require about 1.5 times the excercise of a PROPERLY excercised Lab and Labs are high energy dogs. * They require mental stimulation, even if it is just once a day. Regular obedience doesn't really count. Competative obedience or a large repetoire of "tricks" or doggy puzzles are needed. A change in their environment, routine etc is helpful at least once a month too. * They are prone to developing "cute" little neurosis if traumatized or not excercised and mentally stimulated. * They are "soft" dogs and do not respond well to harsh training methods including raised voices. In fact, if Kavik percieves that he has performed a task incorrectly he is quite distressed. This is probably his biggest hurdle to any training because he gets so distressed. You must design training well to deal with this. * They are worriers and seem to need to be aware of and keep an eye on all things. * Fireworks are the devil. * From my experience: If properly socialized, it is best to have Border Collies in a two dog house. The other dog provides extra excercise and mental stimulation and companionship. I have heard of many only dog BCs that suffer from seperation anxiety. * They can be quite clingy when not "working." * They MUST be socialized early as they can develop aggression (or at least skittishness) to new or strange people or more often animals - I think this must relate to their sheepherding background or their need to be in control of a situation or both.

If Kat's suggestion doesn't resolve things it may be time to go back to basics. Treat star as an untrained dog. Crate her when you can't watch her, don't let her be in another room when she's not crated - always in your site. Take her out on a shedule etc etc.

Maybe you can desensitize him gently. Get some rescue remedy to make it easier on him and borrow one of those plastic kennels, put him in that with a nice blankie and take that outside, he should feel more protected but still outside, then maybe move onto doing it with the door open and so on.