Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting too much, but I read what's going on here everyday.

Thought I'd just briefly update on life here in my corner of Kansas, lol!

Zoey and Dolly doing well, both just celebrated their 4th birthdays in March and May. Zoey has been in training lately to earn a backpacking title. We're making progress, so far, she's been carrying about 20 pounds or so for about 3 miles. Still as naught as ever!
Dolly is sporting her summer haircut and has been lounging in her baby pool as often as possible. She's on a diet right now and I am pleased to say that today she was weighed and has lost 7 pounds!  She's doing well except for one incident the other night; I was walking the dogs and a loose pit bull attacked Dolly. No major wounds, but he got her ear pretty good and a good size puncture on her shoulder. She's healing fine, doesn't even remember it happened. 

And for my biggest news, we've had Clarence the foster Basset Hound with us for 2 weeks now. The first week was rocky with him and my dogs, now everyone is getting along just fine. He's very laid back, sleeps a lot, but loves to play with Zoey occasionally, and is quite determined to get on our new furniture as well!

Hope everyone is doing well!

I need some help with getting Dolly to lose weight.

A couple weeks ago, I took Dolly in for hip x-rays and her hip dysplasia is worsening quite a bit. One of the first things that will help her stay pain free is if she can lose some weight, which she desperately needs to. 

So let me first explain what we feed, how much, how often, etc., and exercise, and then maybe some of you can see something that I'm not seeing that we can do to get her thinner.

Dolly currently weighs 133 lbs. The vet said he would like to see her a lot closer to 100 lbs. and I agree, because she's very small for a Saint.

We feed Diamond Naturals Beef and Rice in the morning, and RAW at night.

In the morning, she gets just under 2 cups of food. Then at night, she gets a chicken quarter. (like the drumstick and hip section)

I'm going to guess she gets 1 dog treat every 2 or 3 days. Certainly no more than that. No table scraps whatsoever.

We walk her everyday for at least a mile. She has access to the yard all day so she can move around and run, but she mostly chooses to sleep. Now I need to mention, in the exercise thing, she is limited some by her hip dysplasia; we can't go chasing frisbees at the park or anything. Loose leash,relaxed walking is the basic exercise she is physically able to do.

I'm looking into some Lite Dog foods as well, try one of them, a friend mentioned putting green beans in the dog food so Dolly would fill up on those instead of just kibble? I'm willing to try just about anything right now! We DO have a treadmill, and I will be working her on that too.

Sorry this is so long and thanks to everyone for any advice.

Some new updated pictures of Zoey for you guys.  Zoey is 3 years old and has lightened in color quite a bit since we first brough her home in 2005. But we love her lots! She's certainly a character! The first pic is proof of it! 

Goofy girl


All wet from a bath awhile ago


With her sister, being sweet 

The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City is hosting its 21st annual Dog-n-Jog event! It's on June 8! 



http://www.hsgkc.org/dognjogpage.html

This is so much fun to attend! They have tons of booths, free goodies to give away all morning, and there are literally thousands of dogs and people that attend! They have a 1 mile walk or jog to do if you'd like or a 2 mile walk or jog. Mom and I are signed up to do the 2 mile walk; we get goodie bags with t-shirts in them too! 

I know not many BPO members are in my area, but if you are and you're looking for a fun dog event to do, this is a great one! All the money goes to support rescue efforts in Kansas City.  Anyone interested in meeting up for this? 

Okay, I know this is a HUGE shot in the dark, but has anyone been a subscriber to Dog Fancy since 2001 and still has 1 of that year's issues? 

I just need someone to look at something in it if they do, so if someone has it, please let me know! Thank you so much!
*crosses fingers hard*

Both my dogs are spayed, so I won't be breeding dogs any time soon (and by soon, I mean within the next like 10 years!) but I'm interested in maybe breeding dogs someday.

If I were to get a female or male from good show lines, healthy, meets the breed standard, and were to show that dog as well, what are the minimum health tests you recommend getting done on the sire or dam before breeding?

(not only breeders can answer this question! if you were to get a puppy from a breeder, what tests would you want the parents to have had done on them?)

Dolly is on antibiotics for ear infections in both ears currently. I just had the vet re-fill the meds on Saturday because the infections came back. We finished a 2 week course of antibiotics about 2 weeks ago, and the infections seemed to be gone. But I guess we were wrong. Anyway, my question is this. We've been doing ear drops every day to keep the ears clean, which is working, but the infections still came back. How can we get rid of them for good? Obviously antibiotics aren't effective forever, so any tips?

Some of you may know that I'm in my first year of college; I'm 2 hours from home, and I lived in the dorms this year. But next year, I would really really REALLY like to get an apartment so I can have my dogs up here with me during the school year. I miss them so much.

Anyway, my question is this; I found an apartment that will let me have both my dogs live with me (a hard thing to find since both my dogs are big!). I would either get a 1 bedroom or a studio apartment.

The studio apartments are RIGHT in our price range (even if they are small), but only 1 problem; they are all on the third floor; which means stairs. 

Dolly has very very mild hip dysplasia right now and I'm wondering if this would be a big problem for her (she shows no signs of pain or anything though). I try to avoid all stairs for her sake as of right now (just as prevention), but I'm wondering what you guys think.  Whatever input you all can offer will be very much appreciated. Thank you!