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Sarah | 3 years ago
Hi Pawbly Friends! We Are In WV – Beautiful Place To Rejuvenate The Spirit. One Of …

Hi Pawbly friends! We are in WV – beautiful place to rejuvenate the spirit. One of our vacation neighbors takes in strays, and has a vet coming Tuesday to check on a few. One kitten that she recently rescued is only 6 weeks old by the vets estimate. She was having trouble with bowel movements and her hind end was covered in maggots. They cleaned her up and she is on day 5 of an antibiotics, however with each strain to go to the bathroom, maggots still appear. The fear is that even though she is being cleaned each time, that there are many more than she can stand. Nearest emergency vet is 2 hours away in Virginia and not really a feasible option. Any advice on how best to help this baby until the vet can get out here on Tuesday?

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  1. Sarah Post author

    Hi again Pawbly friends-
    Sad to say that kitty did not make it. We tried best we could- very sad lesson to have the kids learn.????

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Hi Pawbly Friends- We Recently (about 3 Or Maybe 4 Weeks Ago) Had To Bring Riva In For …

Hi Pawbly friends-
We recently (about 3 or maybe 4 weeks ago) had to bring Riva in for tplo surgery. Her recovery is going great. She is gettting tired of the leash now that she is feeling better, but that has to stay until we get the all clear. Being that she is on leash 24/7 we are perplexed as to what possibly could have happened. Suddenly this morning when I went to give her a good morning scratch on the head she whimpered and tucked away. I checked her ears to see if there was any sign of infection- I’m pretty diligent about keeping the dogs’ ears clean and haven’t noticed anything- but I checked anyway. No smell, no redness, no build up that I could tell with the flashlight. Then I slowly massaged her neck to see if I could feel anything, but can’t. She is a tough dog and really doesn’t whimper. She has really been pulling on the leash the past couple days since she is feeling so well. Could it possibly be she pulled or pinched something because of all the leash pulling?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It really could be anything you are mentioning. But I do see sharp pains often originating in the spine, muscle or ears of you are close to the head. See how she moved today and maybe a harness so she is t having repeated pulling or jarring actions on her neck. You have carprofen and gabapentin if needed for pain.
    Try to take it easy (I know. It’s hard. But try) and also try to do more detective work today to narrow the focus on the source.
    Hope you are all well.

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Morning Pawbly Friends!! I Wanted To Try Trick Training With One Of Our GSDs- Rontu. Any …

Morning Pawbly friends!! I wanted to try trick training with one of our GSDs- Rontu. Any advice on where to start?

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  1. Laura

    Hiya! If you do well with book guidance, Kyra Sundance is the way to go. Her books are fantastic. If you do better with video or in-person instruction, I can absolutely recommend the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy online. They have levels of training, and bronze is the most affordable. I STRONGLY recommend them for all sorts of things. I’m actually going to sign Ripley and I up for Nosework through them…and right now is enrollment! Classes start April 1.

    1. Sarah Post author

      Thanks!! Rontu is a good boy, but he is 3 years old and really challenging the rules lately. I know this is my fault as I am too lenient with him sometimes… guilty as charged. My thinking is that his behaviors all around will get back to best if I work more closely with him and challenge him more. He is very food motivated, which is a new one for me- all of our other GSDs have just wanted love. I will definitely look into both options!! ☺️????

      1. Laura

        He’s a smart kid. Definitely work that brain! You know that’s one of my favorite things for dogs behaving badly. 🙂

        Look into nosework. Minimal physical effort for you, TONS OF MENTAL WORK for him. Everybody wins. Plus the AKC now has nosework competitions, which are a lot cheaper than the other nosework orgs out there.

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Hi Again All!!! So- Today I Took Rontu T The Ma And Pa Trail. He Was …

Hi again all!!! So- today I took Rontu t the Ma and Pa trail. He was misbehaved, to say the least, yesterday. Today- he was a model citizen????‍♀️ So, I have to ask if his behavior may have been due to the fact that the kids were with me for some reason?

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  1. Laura

    If the kids don’t normally go for trail walks, then yes, that’s likely the issue. I’d bring one kid for a while, then bring the second once he’s adapted to the first.

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Good Morning And Happy Thanksgiving Pawbly Friends!!! We Decided To Go To A Local Trail This …

Good morning and happy thanksgiving Pawbly friends!!! We decided to go to a local trail this morning with the kids and the dogs. Rontu, who is usually pretty good on leash, was really a maniac. Lots of panting, whining, pulling…. really a jerk???? My thinking is anxiety because it is not one of our normal walking trails. We walk everyday, but the same usual routes with little variation. I am now going to start bringing him to other places once or twice a week where we can work on this behavior. I will be sure to bring lots of treats and patience. We have not had this issue with any of our other GSDs, so I am just guessing that this will be a good way to start to correct this behavior. If anyone has any other ideas, please share. Thanks!!!????????

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello!
    Happy thanksgiving. I think you are spot on! Try new places and try tho balance the excitement (and yes possibly anxiety too) of a new place with the focused intellectually challenging aspect of exploring. Keep him on a tight watch and enjoy as he learns new boundaries and new explorations. Sending love to you all.

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Good Morning Pawbly Friends. Our Old Guy, Butch, Is Has Been Piddling Often In The House. …

Good morning Pawbly friends. Our old guy, Butch, is has been piddling often in the house. Not always- and he is not peeing. Just droplets have been escaping when he shakes or stretches getting up if he hasn’t been out for a bit. I am not surprised- he is in his late teens. We just grab a Lysol wipe and clean it up, no worries. Now, Occasionally feces has started to escape as well???? I only imagine it will start to happen more often. I feel bad for him- he looks so shameful when it happens. Any advice on doggie diapers? I don’t know that Butch will wear them, but if it gets worse and he still isn’t ready to leave us, I’d like to know what to look for. Thanks!!!
**also, my apologies for not replying where I can lately- I think there is a little glitch on this site that they are working out.????????

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It sounds like he is becoming incontinent. In German shepherds I worry most about it degenerative myelopathy. We call it DM (not the diabetes thing though). Please see your vet for help with this. Or it can be from a result of muscle loss due to atrophy or even weakness or stiffness associated with osteoarthritis where they are reluctant to get up because it is painful.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It sounds like he is becoming incontinent. In German shepherds I worry most about it degenerative myelopathy. We call it DM (not the diabetes thing though). Please see your vet for help with this. Or it can be from a result of muscle loss due to atrophy or even weakness or stiffness associated with osteoarthritis where they are reluctant to get up because it is painful.

    1. Sarah Post author

      My mom guess would be the latter????He struggles to get up and his one hind leg is just about frozen. We have him on dasaquin and his food has glucosamine additives. I will give a call this week to see what we can do to help him. Thanks????????????

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Hi Pawbly Friends- I Had Asked The Other Day About Antiseptic For Minor Scratches Etc. Does …

Hi Pawbly friends-
I had asked the other day about antiseptic for minor scratches etc. does anyone have thoughts/advice on equisilver antimicrobial spray or povidone iodine solution? Thanks!!

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Iodine is great. But it can stain the fur. Equalizer if a horse product? Right? I’d have to ask the equine peeps.

    1. Sarah Post author

      Thanks- I found the equalizer when looking for the product Laura had recommended. I have been washing Rivas ear with warm saline- and it is healing up beautifully ???? Ihave no idea what she may have caught it on. The kids all came running “Rivas ear is bleeding” and sure enough…. so I did the first cleaning with peroxide and then switched to the novasal we had leftover from Rontus scuffle, which came in handy. When I ran out of the novasal, I started with saline and neosporin. And now it is just about healed and gone… I was just figuring since they’re out in the woods with the kids all of the time for the next few months, good to have something on hand. Thank you????????

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Morning???? Quick Question About Antiseptic For Keeping Cuts Clean. I Know Peroxide Isn’t The Best …

Morning???? Quick question about antiseptic for keeping cuts clean. I know peroxide isn’t the best option. I like to use this blue solution from the vet. Is it Rx only? We are all out and it is “run around like a maniac in the woods with the kids” time of year for the dogs.

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  1. Laura

    Are you referring to Blu-Kote? I have seen spray Blu-Kote on Amazon.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    I use soapybwarm water. Best widely available antibiotic ever made. Flush. Flush. Flush. Copiously. The blues solution is Chlorhexidine. Avail everywhere. We call it Nolvasan.

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Sarah | 4 years ago
Hi Pawbly Friends???? I Was Just Reading Through And Saw The Question About Dog Food. I …

Hi Pawbly friends????
I was just reading through and saw the question about dog food. I am a bit of a paranoid dog mom- they are literally siblings to my three human children. I have always given them (the dogs not the kids, lol!)Purina One, because somewhere along the way I had read something where Purina was regulated in some way by the FDA and I thought it would make it a safe option. All three of our dogs are healthy GSDs and happy with there food. No stomach issues. Maybe a little indulged with treats, but no worse for the wear. Perhaps I am just being nervous, but is it a safe/good choice for dog food? (Insert eye roll from my husband whose comment was,” We have a 15 year old German Shepherd who won’t quit. You can’t switch his food now regardless.”) Just asking one case there is a better option I should be considering. Thanks! ????

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    I think that this dog food is fine. B it I also think age appropriate diets are best. So maybe a senior formula for your eldest and adult for the rest? Also as dog age I keep the food interesting. I want them to be eating twice a day and a normal amount so I use toppings. Wet food or the delifresh. Xoxox

  2. Laura

    I like Pro Plan quite a bit. We were huge fans of grain free but struggled with coat issues, and I find my Ripley does better with a grain-inclusive diet.

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Sarah | 5 years ago
Good Morning Pawbly Friends- I’ll Start This By Saying That I Am Already Planning On …

Good morning Pawbly friends-
I’ll start this by saying that I am already planning on calling the vet when they open. One of our GSDs (Rontu) has been going back and forth with some hind end wobbling and limping. He is young- about 2 years. He is super active. I have already had his hips X-rayed last year because every once in a while we could here a “pop” when he would sit. X-ray at that time came back ok. But, with this limping sometimes and the wobbly and stiff getting up in the mornings, my concerns are back full force. So my questions are:
If it is hip dysplasia, are there supplements that will help?
Is it reparable?
What type of treatment options are there?
Thanks????????

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello my dear friend.
    It sounds like it is time for a vet visit. It also probably isn’t an emergency. But I know you are worried soI will see if I can get you in today. Next the vet needs to try to identify the source of the clinical signs he is showing based on description and breed I would be worried about orthopedic issues or even neurologic issues. We also se a fair amount of lyme disease so I also keep an eye out for that. My point is that until we get an idea of the source I cannot tell you the rest. But In general there are options for everything so I’m sure they can offer a place to start. For now I would say to rest him and monitor closely. Xox krista

  2. Laura

    If this were a Doberman, I’d worry about Wobbler’s…in German Shepherds, I’d worry about DM/Degenerative Myelopathy. I hope you get answers quickly.

    I know this can’t help you in the short term, but I’d invest in DNA testing for it, for any GSDs you might bring into your home. GenSol Diagnostics, VetGen LLC, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Paw Print Genetics all carry tests.

    1. Sarah Post author

      Thanks Laura???? Right now looks like it is muscle????. All our GSDs are rescues so we are just happy with them no matter what. Although- I guess dna might help us prepare better? He is happy and has some anti-inflammatory so keeping fingers crossed.

      1. Laura

        I’m glad it’s muscular. 🙂 I’m an overly cautious person. I get my Dobe in to the cardiologist annually, I have participated in DNA studies. Anything to help her and the breed overall, you know? I’d do the same for a rescue as I do for my well bred dog. I feel knowledge is power, and knowing what my dog may develop over time is important to me.

Sarah

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