Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - CalistogaPyr

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 12
16
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: Should a Pry be clipped in summer?
« on: June 10, 2008, 04:05:10 pm »
My husband & I are going round about this issue.  He wants to shave Bo and I don't.  I'm concerned about the potential for heat stroke/sunburn, as we live in an area of California that reaches 110 regularly during the summer.  Granted, Bo can be inside or out during the day, it's still really hot.  I bought some shed shampoo and good conditioner and see if that helps to get the undercoat out, which is what I think contributes to overheating. 
Once the landlord at our old house had to shave their male pyr bald (I mean, BALD) due to a fly infestation (long story).  They left his head unshaved, though, so he looked like a pink q-tip for weeks!!  They had to put a t-shirt on him!

17
Good news!  Ripley made it through surgery!!  I called and checked on him, as I can't pick him up until 4pm.  They said he's fine and "such a sweetheart"!  Yeah!  A big sigh of relief for me.  Now the challenge will be keeping him out of the creek for 2 WEEKS!!  Torture!! =)  THanks, again, to everyone for the positive vibes...it's been a great help.  Now to educate myself on heart murmur...but not too much!! 

18
Thanks, everyone!  I'm sure he'll be ok, but it just came as a bit of a surprise.  I haven't heard from the vet yet, so I'm assuming that he's gotten through his surgery ok.  I have no idea how long something like that takes!!  Anyway, I've been looking into heart murmur online trying to educate myself.  Wow...lots of dogs have this!  Anyway, I'm keeping my healthy thoughts flowing and know that he landed in my home for a reason and that whoever had him before obviously didn't appreciate this wonderful fellow!! 
Here's another photo of Ripley...this one has him doing his best Elvis impression!!

19
I just dropped Ripley off at the local humane society for his neuter and shots.  The vet on duty said that he has a mild heart murmer on his right side, which is "unusual".  She wouldn't be specific about why it was unusual, but said that "several things could cause it".  After careful consideration of the options and factors involved, I consented to the surgery.  The vet said that the anesthesia risk isn't "that much greater" but that she wanted me to be aware that heart murmers can complicate surgeries. 
I feel so conflicted right now.  I hope I did the right thing. 
I also don't know the first thing about heart murmers!!!  She said on a scale of 1 to 6, his is a 1, but that I need to get a complete work-up done by my regular vet, which I plan to do once he comes through the surgery.  I had no idea that he would come with this complication, but we're committed to getting him the treatment he needs.  How we're going to pay for it...that's an entirely different story!! =)  Anyway, think good thoughts for us (especially Ripley) today...he should be ready for pick up at 4pm.

By the way, she said he's about 10 months old and is probably a border collie/aussie mix.  He weighs 60 lbs! 

Jenn in CA

20
You all are so kind with your words...thanks for all the great welcomes!!  Ripley is still with us and *fingers crossed* no one has called to claim him.  I'm going to take the signs down today...five days is enough time in my mind!! =)  He's doing SO WELL, he's already learned how to sit!!  He's learning his name and although he's had a couple of potty accidents in the house, he's doing really well.  I think that when he gets fixed, the peeing in the house will probably taper off.  He's SUPER loving and just wants to lick you all the time!! 
He's still really skinny...I think that if he had short hair, he would look thinner than he does.  You can distinctly feel his ribs.  Size-wise, he's about the same size as Floyd, but probably half of his weight (Floyd weighs 75 pounds).  I'm sure that'll get fixed quickly eating at our house...they get high protien raw kibble, so it's only a matter of time!! 

21
Yeah, I just recently learned that BC's come in tri-color!!  He certainly has the smarts of a BC!!  I'm going to ask the Vet next week to see if she has a better idea!!  I think it's funny that we ended up with three herd-focused dogs (Great Pyrenees, and two BC mixes) but we have no herds!!  Oh well...I guess I'm as good as a sheep, right? =)

22
Well, so far so good...no one has called to claim Mr. Ripley!!  He's doing so well and is getting along famously with Bo & Floyd.  He's SUPER smart and learns very quickly, which is a blessing.  He's pretty goofy and has a lot of energy, but Floyd is a great wrestling partner, so they're pretty evenly matched!
Here are some photos I took this morning...he won't hold still for very long, so I gotta be quick!!

23
Mixed Breed Discussion / I think we've just acquired a new dog!!
« on: May 27, 2008, 12:53:26 pm »
This weekend while walking Bo & Floyd, a young border collie/bernese mountain dog (my guess, of course) stray hooked up with us.  I've never seen him in the neighborhood before and he was SO skinny and dirty, also very nervous but desperately wanting to play with us.  He followed us home and Bo & Floyd let him into the yard, where he stayed all day.  I put up signs around the neighborhood, but so far, no one has called to claim him.  We think he may have been dumped, as that happens often in the rural neighborhood that we live in (an atrocity that I can't even fathom, but that's a story for another day).  We gave him a bath, some Advantage (he was COVERED in ticks) and a nice big meal and he's like a new dog!  We've named him Ripley in the hopes that he will become our third forever dog.  He's a darling boy and VERY affectionate.  He looks to be about 6 months old and not fixed.  If no one comes to claim him by the end of the week, I'm going to take him to get fixed, chipped and get his shots.  If someone does come to claim him, they're going to get a stern talking-to about the values of collars and tags and how to take care of a dog!! =)  I will post photos soon...as soon as I can get him to hold still!!
Jenn in CA

24
Transporting & Traveling With Dogs / Re: We're going camping!!! =D
« on: May 23, 2008, 11:00:29 am »
I'm not sure what kind of campground you're going to, but the ones here in CA require that the dogs stay on leash at all times.  I recommend investing in a Tree Trolly, which goes around a tree and hooks to a long-line so that the dogs don't get wound around the tree, but can tethered for their safety.  We're going to get two for teh dogs for our trip this summer, that way I don't have to constantly be dragged around the campsite by them!!

http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=6509

Jenn

25
We're planning a camping trip for August and wondered if anyone had any recommendation s for good campgrounds in Northern California?  We like to hike and fish, plus the dogs like to swim!  If anyone has been to or knows of good campgrounds, I'd really love to know about them!!

THANKS!
Jenn in CA

26
Bo has a tender tummy and is allergic to grains, so I now have her on Nature's Variety Instinct kibble.  It's a "raw" kibble, which is the closest to raw I am prepared to give her.  She's been on it several weeks and for the first time in her LIFE, she's having solid poops (the kind I can pick up with the doody bag and not have it smear all over the place-sorry, TMI).  However, I must add that she is also on a WONDERFUL supplement called Forco.  Originally designed for collicky horses, it's a probiotic supplement that works in the entire digestive system, not just the upper intestines.  I got it online and it comes highly recommended by several doggy people I consulted with.  You can check it out here
http://www.forco.com/main/prod-forcosup.asp

I'm not sure if it's a combination of Forco & new kibble, but she's finally got a stable digestive system, so I'm not going to question it!! =)

Good luck, though, I know how frustrating it can be when the babies have tummy troubles!

Jenn in CA

27
Food Discussion & Information / Re: Antlerz
« on: May 14, 2008, 11:33:16 am »
I got mine from petexpertise.c om and they are GREAT!  I'm on my second set now.  They're great for combatting tartar on the teeth.  I especially like them because they're easier on Bo's tummy than regular bones, plus they last a lot longer.  She used to go through a 12" bully stick in less than 10 minutes, and the first set of antlers lasted over 3 months before they got so small that I threw them out due to choking hazard.  They're worth the extra cost.
Jenn in CA

28
I'm going to give it some more time to see if she "forms up".  My husband says I'm obsessed with Bo's poo!!  I'm hoping that she'll level out.  The amount of poo is considerably smaller than her usual cow flop, so hopefully that's a good sign!!  I think I get anxious when she's not feeling well and I want to fix it immediately, when the best thing is to just sit there and do nothing!! =)

29
I just switched Bo & Floyd from Natural Balance Duck & Potato to Nature's Variety Instinct (grain free).  I'm afraid I may have switched it too fast and upset Bo's sensitive tummy (my best intentions gone awry).  She's had cow flops intermingled with soft-formed stools for the past week (I started the switch last Friday).  Also, she's burping a lot and eating grass.  How long does it usually take for a dog to reach a baseline tolerance for new food?  I'm going to put some pumpkin & Slippery Elm Bark poweder in her dinner, so hopefully that'll help.  Does anyone have any other suggestions as to how to sooth the big girl's tummy? 
Also, has anyone else switched to this food?  What is your expereince with it? 
I appreciate the feedback!  I'm always on the look-out for good information!! =)
THANKS!
Well-meaning Jenn in CA!!

30
Great Pyrenees Discussions / Re: really strange behavior last night
« on: February 05, 2008, 12:51:44 am »
Bo gets like that when there are wild critters (deer, raccoons, etc) passing through our yard.  She has an uncanny sense that there are "foreign" creatures in her space!  However, my bet would be on the storm & the changes in weather that spooked her.
Jenn


Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 12