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Topics - pyr4me

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1
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Tipper is being a real stinker!
« on: December 10, 2008, 03:07:43 pm »
I need some help figuring out what is up with my medium paw dog--Tipper will be 9 years old in March--is in amazing shape, everyone always thinks he is a young dog--he has LOTS of energy, but always has settled in the house fine.

I take him and Jenny on an hour long walk (usually with a pack on) or romp in the woods daily. I adopted him when he was 2 and he was crated for quite a while due to chewing things and potty training issues, but has not used a crate in probably 4 years.

Well, he is acting like he is having separation anxiety, but that doesn't make sense to me as nothing in his life has changed since I adopted Jenny over a year ago. Everytime I leave the house he chews up and shreds something--lately it has been the paper recycling, but when I put that away, he went after some presents that are under the tree. So, today I got back out the crate. But why would he start to do this? I work part time, so I am home quite a bit, he is never left for long periods of time. Nothing has changed. Why now? He seems in perfect health--eating, pooping, peeing, drinking all normal. I am stumped!  ??? Any thoughts?

2
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Jenny bit my daughter :(
« on: November 17, 2008, 02:35:29 am »
Hi everyone, I know that I haven't posted in a while, been crazy busy. But I need some advice...last night Jenny bit my daughter, Reese, when she accidently tripped and fell on Jenny. Jenny did break the skin, but it obvsiously could have been a lot worse. It was really scary for all of us.  My husband and I were right there, it happened in an instant.

I think that Jenny was looking in a different direction and didn't see it coming, was surprised and reacted like a dog...to another dog.  Obviously, I don't want her to ever think that biting one of my girls is ok. So what I did this morning was to have my girls feed the dogs and had Reese feed Jenny, so that she will know that my daughters are "higher in the pack" than she is. What are some other things that I can do to help with this?? 

3
Great Pyrenees Discussions / How often do you clean your Pyr's ears?
« on: September 14, 2008, 12:20:21 pm »
When I adopted Jenny last year her ears were infected and after a cleaning and ear drops regimen prescribed by my vet, the infection cleared up and she did not need further tx. I do, however, continue to clean her ears weekly, and find that one of her ears tends to have more build-up than the other. It is not red, Jenny does not scratch at it, it doesn't smell, and is easy enough to clean. But reading some other posts about ears made me wonder...is this a normal amount of ear care for Pyrs (and other dogs with "flat" ears) or is this something that I should be more concerned about?  ???


4
Helpful Groups & Dogs in Need / Free Saint Bernard listing in Southeast MI
« on: September 14, 2008, 10:34:29 am »
Saw this on craig's list--only three months old.  :-\

http://detroit.craigslist.org/pet/839770782.html

I could help transport if needed.

5
Big Dogs with Jobs / Jenny's new job!
« on: September 11, 2008, 07:25:29 am »
Jenny has given herself a new job--walking my daughters to school and greeting all their kindergarten classmates as they get off the bus.  :)

I have taken Jenny as I walk my daughters to school a couple of times, but today I wasn't going to...but then we heard Jenny whining out the window quite insistently, so I went back and got her. She happily walked with my girls as we made our way down to the school and then she waited right where the bus comes and stood to greet all the afternoon kindergartener s...they all went up to her and she was surrounded by 5 yr olds petting her everywhere (it would've made a great picture!). I've never seen Jenny so in her element before!

She actually seems to "mope" as we walk back home.

I'm considering using her as a therapy dog in my practice as a psychologist--today seemed like further confirmation of her inate desire to be with and help children. I think she'll make an amazing therapy dog. 

6
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Pyr purring
« on: September 06, 2008, 09:00:47 am »
Jenny does this adorable thing that I swear sounds like a cat purring...she puts her head in my lap and when I scratch her under the chin (like a cat), she makes this groan/moan/purr sound. It's so cute!  :D

7
Great Pyrenees Discussions / blowing coat in fall?
« on: September 06, 2008, 08:59:14 am »
Is it possible that Jenny (and Tipper, for that matter) is blowing her coat in the fall? I swear I brushed a pile of fur from her that was bigger than my cats! She seems to be shedding tons right now, much more than usual. Tipper even is shedding a lot, which is unusual for him. I am covered in dog hair!  :D

I want to check about the coat blowing before I start worrying about food or supplements... they are both on Wellness Core and Jenny gets salmon oil daily. Thanks!

9
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Glucosamine questions
« on: August 19, 2008, 09:42:02 am »
Is there an important difference between glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride? If so, is one better than the other? Also, how many mg of glucosamine do you give your big paw?

I was initially giving Jenny 1200mg/day with 250 mg tablets, but then was recommended another brand, Ark Naturals, which has 500mg tablets and I am giving Jenny 2000mg/day with these new ones. Jenny has been more active and playful since doing so, but also the weather became cooler and more comfortable, so I don't know for sure if it's the higher amount of glucosamine or not that's made the difference. Also, can you give too much glucosamine?

10
General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Jenny's first camping trip
« on: August 17, 2008, 04:18:07 pm »
We took a family camping trip this weekend and it was Jenny's first with us. We stayed in a cabin and I was nervous about potential barking at all the new noises and such; however, she did GREAT! She slept well, no extraneous barking, and seemed to love it. I think being extra tired helped, too. We got back a couple of hours ago and both she and Tipper haven't moved since.  ;D

I wasn't sure how it would be to go camping with a Pyr, but much to my surprise, it was just fine!  ;D

11
So, I am taking my usual morning walk with my pups today, which is garbage day, and someone put their dead dog out with the trash! The dog was clearly old from the condition of her teeth, she had tumors of some kind, and was set out by the garbage can. The next door neighbor of this person said the dog has been ill for a while and that the neighbor didn't want to take her to be put to sleep. He said that the guy was "weird"--an understatement, I think. It just seems so disturbing to me that he would have had this dog for years and in the end, would just put her out with the garbage.  >:( ???

Jenny didn't want to go near the scene, Tipper wanted to sniff her, and I ended up just placing my hand on her and saying a little prayer for her.  :'(

12
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Pyr kisses
« on: August 09, 2008, 06:47:25 am »
Do your Pyrs give you licks/kisses? Tipper will readily give kisses, but Jenny hasn't...until recently. She has given me some sweet kisses (just one lick each time) the past few mornings that feel extra special since she doesn't seem to dole them out to just anybody.  ;)

Just wondering what other Pyrs do and if this is pretty typical Pyr behavior or not.

13
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Grooming the Pyr tail
« on: July 09, 2008, 06:47:11 pm »
What do all of you use on your pyr's tails? I have a pin brush, comb, rake, etc. and none of it seems to do a good job on Jenny's tail. It always seems tangled, coarse, and it's just so hard to brush out. I use shampoo, conditioner, and conditioning spray, but none of it seems to help.

14
Groans, Gripes, Brags & Boasts / *update* on Jenny and thunderstorms
« on: July 03, 2008, 06:00:41 am »
Well, finally, we have found something for Jenny that alleviates her storm-related anxiety! The Xanax helps so much...she wasn't panting, pacing, trying to climb the furniture or get through the door like she was before, with or without the other meds, including Ace. She was actually much more relaxed and wasn't "drugged out" either. I'm just so relieved that there is something that can help her, so she doesn't have to experience every nighttime rain as a panicked, hysterical event. Yeah!  ;D

15
Medical Conditions & Diseases / Jenny and trauma based anxiety
« on: June 28, 2008, 01:30:19 pm »
We had another horrible night with Jenny and storms. We tried the new prescription, ace, with her, but it didn't help at all. She was still out of her mind hysterical and this morning still seemed drugged--so I know it was enough of a dose to have helped. I talked further with my vet about it and after explaining everything in detail, she concluded that Jenny doesn't actually have thunderstorm phobia--because she is fine with storms in the daytime, but that instead she thinks that Jenny must have experienced some kind of trauma at night during a storm and that she is having more of a trauma based reaction. So now, the vet has prescribed Jenny Xanax to deal with her anxiety. I am so hoping this will help her--it's just terrible to watch her in such a panicked and terrified state. I'll keep you all updated...than ks for listening...ag ain. 

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