Dog Community

Joker's visit to the vet.

Anonymous

Posted : 10/31/2008 3:45:01 PM

I have a few questions so I put this in the health section.

I took Joker in for his rabies shot. Mr.Hoggy gained 10lbs in a month!!! So he weighs 30lbs.

When I feed Joker and Lillie breakfast I add a spoonful of cottage cheese to their food. Well I ran out the other day and have yet to get anymore. I noticed that Joker's poop is almost like diarrhea. Almost but not quite.

I mentioned it to the vet and he said that some dogs need the help or cottage cheese,yogurt,etc to keep their poop normal. He said I could try some foods made for sensitive stomachs.

I am feeding him TOTW. He had the same problem with Wellness but never seemed to get enough food when eating Wellness so that was one reason I switched him to TOTW. I have a couple other reasons I switched him.

So should I just keep adding the cottage cheese knowing it works or switch him to a food for sensitive stomachs? I really didnt want to have to buy 3 different dog foods!! I mean I will if I have to but it'll be great if I didnt have to. Right now Lillie,Joker, and Kujo eat TOTW and Cheyanne eats a weight management food(she WAS fat!!).

What would you do?

Next question. Joker is supposed to have cat like feet. His back feet are cat like. His front feet are well um duck/frog feet. My trainer said he should grow out of that since we checked his parents and siblings for a genetic defect(none!). And if he doesnt well we have to stack him just right. She told me to work him on gravel and that will help him tighen his toes up. She also told me to look up some supplements to help strenghten his feet.

He's been evaluated by 3 different people for show and he meets the breed standard. They all said he is gonna do good in the show ring and are very excited to see him show. So I know Im not wasting my time on him.

I asked the vet about his feet and he said that I am worrying over nothing and he will grow into his feet and just do what my trainers are telling me to do.

Thanks in advance for reading and any advice you all have!

VanMorrison

Posted : 10/31/2008 4:46:41 PM

Just based on what you said - my advice would be to go buy some cottage cheese. Don't fix what ain't broke and all that.

Sounds like Joker's feet will be just fine and that you have a good dog on your hands. Don't worry too much but do what the breeder, trainer and all suggest.

kpwlee

Posted : 10/31/2008 5:49:37 PM

I am clueless as to showing and purebred 'show' dogs but I wouldn't worry too much about his feet. I have heard about having them walk etc on gravel but others will likely chime in. Bugsy's feet were like fingers when he was a pup - never saw a pup like that and they are pretty tight now. I pointed out his finger toes to my neighbor and she was like zowie that's weird. Shrugging shoulders - I knew nothing and they came out fine Stick out tongue

yea just add cottage cheese or yogurt - if you have something that you know works stick with it

Anonymous

Posted : 10/31/2008 7:28:12 PM

But shouldnt Joker be able to eat the food without the cottage cheese(whenever I run out) and have regular normal poops?

Liesje

Posted : 10/31/2008 8:15:31 PM

I think roadworking like gaiting them on gravel helps tighted the feet and keep them tight, but he should be doing routine jogs until he is 18 months. Once he's mature, you could bike with him to gait him on gravel.

Anonymous

Posted : 10/31/2008 9:39:11 PM

Thanks Liesje!! Now I gotta find gravel to work him on. Everyone around here seems to be blacktopping or concreting their driveways. He does get regular exercise but it's on grass or the road.

Sera_J

Posted : 10/31/2008 11:18:37 PM

Dietary changes of any kind can be too much for a dog with a sensitive stomach... but, yes you should be able to drop the cottage cheese and be fine. Could have something to do with protein sources..?

Feet, IME don't road work him yet, at all. He's much too young... i'd find a sandy or very, very fine gravel (not big gravel, that won't help) area to play with him on. I was having a problem with Logan's feet as he grew, too. My mentors suggested I up his calcium (NOT WITH SUPPLEMENTS!!! Use natural sources. Raw bone and dairy products. Some will disagree, this is my opinion and experience with my dog) and run him in sandy areas (run him meaning play with him, walk him, fetch, whatever.)

Sand is supposed to help tighten those muscles.

I probably wouldn't panic over his feet, though :) His feet are growing and all you can do is assist in tightening. I'm trying to see his picture, they do not look like hare feet, which is what I think you mean by duck? They will be a bit looser as they grow, especially in the front. But should start tightening as he gets older.

Sera_J

Posted : 10/31/2008 11:20:00 PM

Liesje

I think roadworking like gaiting them on gravel helps tighted the feet and keep them tight, but he should be doing routine jogs until he is 18 months. Once he's mature, you could bike with him to gait him on gravel.

And I think she means he should NOT be doing routine roadwork.

Anonymous

Posted : 11/1/2008 10:10:43 AM

Ok thanks Lani.

We dont really do any hard exersice here. Just a couple walks a day about 2 miles each walk. Sometimes he's off leash and sometimes he's on leash.

So I can stop being paranoid now.

Think I will get some sand and make an area in the yard to work with him on. Not really any sandy places around here.

Liesje

Posted : 11/1/2008 10:47:53 AM

Sera_J
Liesje

I think roadworking like gaiting them on gravel helps tighted the feet and keep them tight, but he should be doing routine jogs until he is 18 months. Once he's mature, you could bike with him to gait him on gravel.

And I think she means he should NOT be doing routine roadwork.

Oops,yes I mean he should NOT be doing it yet. Eventually, yes, but not until he is more physically mature so his joints won't be damaged.