FYI - dog thing

[luv2cook]

My 10 y/o lab mix had been acting a bit strange starting Wed. Wouldn't get off her bed to greet hubby, back seemed to be a little hunched up, walked gingerly. I never saw this. Back to normal this morning according to my mother.

Came home from work and when I came in, she would yelp repeatedly in spurts, like I had stepped on her but hadn't. Of course, I was quite distressed. She would just yelp and seemed to be in pain. I started calling to see if I could get her into the vet.

Long story short, I took her in, she passed the bone/back/nerve test. We were just going to x-ray her when my hubby noticed that one side of her mouth was bigger. She had an abcess in her lip/jowls. It was a white mark inside her mouth and she just howled when we touched it.

So maybe sometime in the future you have a dog that acts like that, check the mouth. As they say, lots of infections start in your mouth. Some guy, I read, died of a infection that started in his teeth. This wasn't in her tooth or gums. If I can save you $115, then all this typing was worth it!

[matt]

Thanks for the information. My mother has three dogs and one of them Sunnshine is dying of cancer. She loves her dogs a great deal. Here is something for you to laugh at when i was growing up i had allsorts of animals from dogs, chicks, fish, a newt not(Gingrich) hermit crabs birds. One night my mom made speghtiti and called Lora my youngest sister and i to dinner and one of the dogs ran up and sat in my seat and started to eat. Needless to say JB the dog thought he was one of the kids. Months later my mom said kids time for school he would climb in the front seat. He really thought he was one of the kids. So my point is for all the animals i had as a kid, they are still my brothers and sisters.

[luv2cook]

yeah, my new dog, Jake, he likes to get in the front seat whenever he can - doesn't know his place, I guess http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[Leonard]

I too am a dog lover and proud owner of 2 "angels with fur". It really is amazing that animals get all the same illnesses we do. They usually have a way of letting you know when something is just not right. I take my 10 yr old bassett hound for 2 yearly checkups now that she is a senior. I think she's earned at least that much!

[Don]

While we're on the topic of dogs, I thought I would plug veterinary insurance for your animals. My vet says that many dog owners put their animals down, because they cannot afford the cost of treatment. I have two Pembroke Welsh Corgis that will be 6 years old in April, and my insurance costs are about $250 per year to cover both dogs. When my male corgi Talbot fell ill with gastroenteritis, the insurance was a godsend. He was hospitalized for four days, had all sorts of tests, and was given special medication because he is the "ultimate garbage gut!" (He probably ate something dropped by one of the seagulls in the neighborhood.) The insurance didn't cover the entire bill, but it picked up about 60% of the costs. It certainly allowed me to tell the vet to do whatever is necessary. Thankfully, Talbot's eating habits has improved somewhat, and his sister Denbigh has always been finicky. If you are interested in checking out the insurance, I got my policy through Veterinary Pet Insurance at 1-800-USA-PETS or www.petinsurance.com. (http://www.petinsurance.com.) They were very prompt in paying my claim for Talbot's hospitalization. My vet couldn't believe that I had health insurance for the dogs. He now recommends it to all of his clients.

[lanie]

You are so right about the pet insurance. We didn't learn. I have 2 goldens right now, one 8 and the other 2 - my 2 year old, before the age of 1 year had to have triple pelvic osteotomy(sp?) (not quite hip replacement because of his age) which cost $1,800 and lost another girl 2 years ago September to a heart tumor - which cost us a little over $2,000 to find out what it was and she died within 2 weeks of being diagnosed AND had we opted for surgery - which would have been extremely dicey - would have cost $3,000 which I would have robbed a bank to get - but she collapsed before we had the chance. After her death we should have taken out the insurance - who would know that lightening would strike so soon and this little man would come along with bad hips - now we cannot get insurance. It is a very wise move that I would strongly urge pet owners to get, I think here in Canada it is $38.00 per month so we sure should have been wiser.
Elaine

BTW - Grace - did you get your new 'kid' yet??????????????

[This message has been edited by lanie (edited 01-27-2001).]

[luv2cook]

I totally agree with the two checkups a year for senior animals. I didn't know this was necessary - until recently - and I think had I known, they probably would have caught my cat's disease earlier and she might have lived longer. I had never had an animal of my own that old. She was my first. I keep my cats inside, too.

I've been very lucky. Dixie has only been to the vet once for something other than yearly shots. The new dog, who knows? He's very playful and not the sharpest tool in the shed, I don't think but sometimes he surprises me. Pet insur. sounds like a great idea. I will check into it...

Oh, Dix is much better today! The shot must have worked wonders. She ran 12 miles with my mother and she said there was no problem PLUS her behavior is back to total normal.

I gave her her first pill today sandwiched in between provolone. I highly recommend it for pill giving - it doesn't fall apart and you can sandwich it in there and pinch the ends. I followed up immediately with another piece so she would be forced to swallow the pill. Works great!

[This message has been edited by luv2cook (edited 01-27-2001).]

[Natasha]

If you don t want to get pet health insurance, another option is simply to set aside a certain amount each month for pet health care, the same way that you save for other things. Some insurance policies have so many exclusions that it s hard to get your money s worth (though I don t know anything about the plan Don suggested; it sounds like a good one). I had health insurance for my Golden but let it lapse after a while because it wasn t worth it in the circumstances.

luv2cook - Glad things are better now. If she gets sick of cheese, coating pills in peanut butter often works well too.

[luv2cook]

She hates peanutbutter. Tried that. Any other suggestions?

[JLS]

For my cats... I usually crush the pills in a spoon and then drop some honey on top of the pill. Then transfer it onto my finger, open their mouth and wipe it onto their tongue. This works well for me.

[luv2cook]

JLS, that would work in every situation but this one. I can't touch her mouth because of the abscess. But I definitely will remember that with the meowers of this household!

[Laura B]

I would be careful when crushing pills. Some pills can be toxic when crushed. For example, if the pill is meant to be "time release" you will be giving all of the medication at once by crushing and it could make your cat or dog very sick. (At least this is true for humans according to my husband who is a doctor.) Anyway, I would be extra safe and check with your vet before crushing any pill.

[luv2cook]

Laura B: I've been crushing my cat's Tapazole in moist food. Can you ask your hubby about that? It's a human drug that I give to her for her thyroid...

[Grace]

lanie,

Thanks for asking! We did indeed get our new "baby". She's absolutely a dream. We named her Bella because she is so pretty. Calm and sweet and cuddly - completely the opposite of our other lab - (I take that back - my other lab is definitely sweet), but she's completely hyperactive and won't sit still long enough to let you cuddle with her. The new one (we've had her for 2 weeks now), is almost completely housebroken, and she sleeps through the night, so I'm not sleep deprived with this one like I was with our older one. Anyhow, the two get along beautifully, and we're very happy to have them both. I'll post a picture on the other website when I get them developed (I've taken about 1/2 a roll - it's still in the camera!). Thanks again for remembering and asking about her!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Grace

[Laura B]

luv2cook: He just looked up that drug and said it doesn't look like it would be a problem to crush it. It is "adminstered orally and absorbed rapidly" which means that there is no time release to worry about. And he didn't see anything else about that drug that looked problematic.

But, nobody wants their cat or dog to get sick over something like this. So, please do check with the vet when thinking about crushing any pills to be sure that the pill you have is OK to crush!

[luv2cook]

thanks, laura! I figured it would be less traumatic to give her it that way plus she needs the extra nutrition and calories. I have a had time maintaining her weight.

[SueK]

Originally posted by luv2cook:
She hates peanutbutter. Tried that. Any other suggestions?

My bassets are very finicky about pill taking. I will stick one in the middle of a Snausage (those soft doggie treats) and they pretty much swallow the Snausage without realizing there was a pill inside. Sometimes I also resort to putting one in a piece of a breakfast bar.

[JLS]

My cat also sometimes licks the honey off my finger too.

Yes, I definately agree w/checking w/your vet you don't want to take any chances. Anyhow... I hope your dog feels better.


[This message has been edited by JLS (edited 01-27-2001).]

[luv2cook]

thanks, JLS. She seems to be doing tons better. Now my new dog, Jake, cut his foot on the fence and I just noticed he's not walking on it. grrrrr. I've checked it out and I don't see or feel anything sticking in it....

[lanie]

Grace - you must be having a ball! Makes me want another one - they are just too cute! I would love to see a pic - I'll be watching - are you crating Bella (btw what a great name)?

[Leonard]

Dear SueK:

I have an adorable 10 year old bassett, Maggie Mae. She eats almost anything. The only foods she will not eat is lettuce or any variety of mushroom, cooked or raw??Don't know why??? She gobbles her food and pills eagerly. Guess I'm pretty lucky!

[pammy]

luv2cook,

Another yummy (and healthy) option for the "hide-the-pill" game is a piece of banana. My sweet pup (not really a pup, he's 10), loves fruit and bananas are his favorite, and they are soft enough to stick pills into. And the pet insurance really would have helped us this year. Dude devoloped laryngeal paralysis (common for older labs - so watch out for a "honking" cough, especially after activity, this means the vocal cords have become paralyzed and your lab is not getting enough air to breathe). The whole process of getting him diagnosed, and the resulting surgery totalled about $2,000. The insurance really would have helped us. But, Dude is our best buddy, so money well spent - he has recovered nicely and is back to his bouncy self.

[SusieO]

I coat puppy pills with cream cheese, mostly because I almost always have some. My in-laws used to give their bulldog pills stuffed inside of liverwurst (yuk!).

[luv2cook]

I have never heard of dogs liking fruit. How funny. Dix is pretty straightforward eater. Meat, cheese, catfood, french fries, etc. Of course, I don't make a habit of feeding her people food, but I do drop things a lot http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[SandyM]

I'm so bummed......my chocolate lab Abbie has some type of allergy, and short of doing allergy tests, we can't figure out what. So, both dogs (Bailey, my yellow lab) are on prescription food, and neither can have treats (I can't give Bailey one and not Abbie!).

Needless to say, when heartworm medication comes around, they ADORE their chewy pills - and they also love ice cubes! We can't go to the ice cube maker without getting some for them. We used to do it just in the summer time, but even in the winter they gobble them down.

Abbie has been on some type of pill or another since practically birth - and she takes a pill like a trooper. She sits down and actually opens her mouth while we gently put it in the back of her mouth. We're grateful for that, since we can't give her anything to hide a pill in.

[luv2cook]

Sandy M, I don't know what state you're in, but I know here in Houston, they have dermatologists and allergists that specialize in pooches. Have you been to one?

I sent my friend to the dermo for her Schitzu (I know it's not spelled this way)because her vet had failed to clear up a skin problem and she's pretty much cured!

[SandyM]

I've been to three different vets in her short (so far, 3 years) life, and all three have said that the allergy tests are inconclusive. She seems to be okay in the winter - it's the summer and fall that gets bad. Good old Benadryl usually does the trick, but I'm wondering how long we can go on like this.

[Don]

Hi Sandy,

I have had the same problem with Denbigh. Her brother never seems to have a problem, but she has constant skin irritations and occasional ear infections. I went to an allergist and paid over $800 on testing and nothing worked. The vet told me that he thinks Denbigh has a food allergy, so we have tried different foods. Waltham's food for dogs with allergies seems to have worked the best, but finding it around here is very difficult. I would try some different foods and see if that makes a difference. The other problem could be flea bite allergies. Even though most of the flea medications will eventually kill the fleas, they can still bite the dog before dying and cause an allergic reaction. Good luck. I know how frustrating this can be. Denbigh is currently on Tavist. However, I'm afraid it's starting to lose its effectiveness.

[Luv2CookII]

I have a 9 year old black lab named Leroy who has never had any skin irritations until our 21 year old cat died. We tried all sorts of things for his skin irritations and finally the vet suggested that we use fish oil in his food. After that suggestions we realized that when the cat was alive we were giving her 1/2 can of 9 lives tuna and putting the other half in the dog's dish. After she was gone we quit buying cat food and the dog started having skin problems. We are now putting the cat food in his food and he hasn't had a skin problems in the 6 months since we started back with the cat food. I hope this can help someone.

[laden]

Someone mentioned the banana thing earlier...My Yorkie, Muffin loves banana. She also likes sweet potatoes and raisins!

Hope your dog feels better soon.

[Leonard]

SandyM:

I have a 6 year old German Shepherd who was miserable with dry,scaling skin. He was constantly scratching. After many vet visits and no success, we were referred to a holistic vet. I was quite skeptical. After several visits, his allergies are long gone. You must keep an open mind. Their way of doing things is not at all traditional. She used homemade remedies, massages on the dogs nerve points, etc. Hey, it worked!! I don't know where you live. I'm in the Northeast, Philadelphia. I'm sure you can find a holistic vet in your area. It's worth a try!!

[Mitchdoggy]

I hide pills in cheddar cheese from the squirt can. Also reddi-whip works great. You hide the pill in rolled up bread and put a dollop of reddi-whip on top.

[MrsReber]

I have gone so far as to stuff olives with pills so my dog would eat them. The do prefer peanut butter, however.

Our Bichon has allergies all the time. Hot spots and ear infections, occasionally her eyes get red and gooky. Nobody knows why- could be fleas, could be stress, could be something in the house. She only eats lamb and rice food (and whatever garbage she can get into!!). I usually give her a children's benedryl and that seems to do the trick. One vet wanted to put her on steroids, which supposedly helps, but I don't want that for her. I never went back to that vet, either. He made it seem like I was so horrible and I didn't take care of her.

As far as feeding a dog cat food- I have read that it is bad since cats require more protein and dogs require more fat. I understand that the protein can build up in a dog's kidneys and cause problems, so please be careful and maybe check that with your vet http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif.

[SandyM]

Abbie has been on steroids, on and off, for the last 2 years. It clears up all of her issues (scratching her ears, chewing her paws, and licking her bottom endlessly), but it also can cause long term liver damage.

They've been on lamb & rice food since we found out there was a problem, and they never, ever get table scraps or treats.

We thought maybe the bottom-licking problem was because of her lack of ability to release her anal gland - our former vet told us she seems to have a problem with that. However, we had her groomed last weekend, where they took care of that issue, and she's still "cleansing herself" excessively.

We're progressing as best we can. Thanks everyone for all your tips.

[sneezles]

Sandy
Have been reading this thread and was thinking of my SIL's dog. Muffin is a tea-cup yorky (and now 11) who would lose her hair every summer and scratch and bite and shake her head incesantly. Till they move here to the country. Now I don't know where you are at but here in Texas most people have ST Augustine grass. We don't have it here and the dog is outside much more because she was allergic to the grass. Just a thought!
My own lab/greyhound pup (2 yr old) has some mysterious intestenal problem and has been on antibiotics since Christmas. She had lost 10 pounds but has gained 7 back, Her disposition has been very good through all of this. It is very hard to watch a pet suffer!

[phantomcg]

Another thought on the use of steroids. I know that they do lots of good, but steroid use can also cause a cat to become diabetic. I don't know if the same is true in dogs or not. Just something to keep in mind if you have a dog/cat on steroids. The symptoms of diabetes is the same as in humans: increased water comsumption/urination.

Cheryl

[This message has been edited by phantomcg (edited 01-29-2001).]

[MrsReber]

This one vet told me that steroids make them drink more. I couldn't have that since the poor dog is inside while we're at work all day. Anyway, there is no way I'd put her on medication like that- besides the health risk, it can also be expensive. This particular vet wanted her on steroids until I could figure out what was causing her allergic reaction. Oh, yeah, sure. Maybe if she could talk to me, it'd be a little easier to figure that one out. The allergies always seem worse for her in the spring and summer, but it can happen really at any time. She has had some nasty hot spots in the past and currently has another ear infection. Poor thing. Most vets understand but this one guy was so awful, making me feel like I was such a rotten horrible person and that I let her suffer. I hate that. So I won't see him anymore and now I travel further from my house to see the vet.

[luv2cook]

Have all you guys with the hot spots tried a "satelite dish" (that's what I call them) a/k/a Elizabethan collar? you can buy them at PetsMart...

[phantomcg]

Mrs. Reber:

The steroids will definatly make them drink more. My Keeshond was on them for a flea allergy for a while and the poor thing was drinking water constantly. I would go home at lunch and find that she had made a puddle at the back door. She would look so guilty when I walked in the house. Of course I never disciplined her, I mean, it's not like she could help it!! I was so glad when we finished up with those pills!!

Cheryl

[MrsReber]

luv2cook, my husband and I toyed with the idea of those collars (probably more for our entertainment- poor dog) but she had one once a long time ago. All she did was cry about it and bark at me. She is a very very vocal little dog. In order to keep our sanity, she has never had one.

[luv2cook]

Don't you hate how they boss us around and have us trained? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[SandyDee]

My little 2 year old Cocker Spaniel actually yells at me. When he has been bad and I scold him, he yells back at me. Imagine ... silly little Cocker... thinking he's the ALpha dog of the family...or maybe I'm the silly one for thinking he's not!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

[RunnerKim]

Those of you with dogs with skin problems might find the following website interesting:
http://www.dreamscape.com/grccny/food_html.html

As we know from our own health, there's a lot to be said about the quality of the food we eat as it relates to our overall health. The same is true for dogs. Vets, like doctors, aren't necessarily trained in nutrition (or often the training comes from a dog food manufacturer). If you have a chronically sick dog it might be worth your time, energy and money to do some reading about feeding a quality diet to your dog.

Here is an online directory of holistic veterinarians. http://www.altvetmed.com/ahvmadir.html

Kim

[Brenda]

Isn't it great to how how much we love our pets? I have a 13 yr old calico cat and a 6 yr old pound princess dog. I adore them both. My daughter left the cat with me when she grew up and moved away, and I picked out the dog later. WELL!!!!! I'm once again a NEW MOM!!!!! Yesterday I adopted a 3 year old boy dog from the rescue society. Havent named him yet. Hes so lovable. The other 2 are handling it pretty well, but there is some sibiling rivolary(sp) hes curled up around my feet right now as I type ;-) Animals are WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brenda

[LGBurns]

It's true pets find a place in your heart before you know what's happened. We have a sweet one year old kitty we found in July. She was diagnosed with feline leukemia when we found her but we decided to keep her anyway because we felt we could give her a good home and sometimes they can live several years after they have been diagnosed. Well, a couple weeks ago she was diagnosed with lympho sarcoma. She's going down hill very fast, fluid has built up around her lungs and her belly. Anyway, my point is that she's only been with us since July and she has become such a part of our lives my husband and I are devastated that she's dying. It probably will only be a few more days at the most before we have to put her to sleep. She is the sweetest thing -- so patient and gentle and smart. It's going to be very hard when the time comes.

[luv2cook]

LG, I am sorry. I know how hard that was. Just did that very thing 1.2 years ago...

[MrsReber]

Lgburns- you should rest easy knowing that you offered the cat a good life, if only for a short period of time- and certainly a good home. We do the best we can for them while they are here and that's all any of us can do. It's sad. I had a miniature poodle who died at the age of 17 (I had known her since I was six). She died almost 9 years ago and I still miss her like crazy. I was sad, but her death gave me the opportunity to open up my heart and my home to another animal. They can't ever replace the ones we lose, since they are all so different, but they can take away part of the emptiness. My husband said last October (after he helped his sister put her dog down) "it's such a waste of all that love". It certainly is, but that is simply life.

[misstapioca]

Thanks Don,
i just purchased a policy for my dear orange cat Trevor. i could not bear something to happen to him and have to deal with the turmoil of not being able to afford him proper treatment.

[lanie]

I am just looking at all the allergy mention - I have been giving both of my goldens yucca and seameal - yucca helps the amune system (and a wealth of other health problems) and seameal the coat. I use Solid Gold brand in both but health food stores sell both. Neither of my dogs have allergies and both have gorgeous coats - if you do a search for Solid Gold I believe there is a ton of information about these 2 items.

[LGBurns]

Just wanted you guys to know that on Monday we had to put her to sleep. The house is so empty now, but you all are right that we take solace in the fact that she had a good life with us.

The vet said we only need to wait a month before we can have another cat (in order to ensure that the virus is not in our house anymore), but I think it might take us longer than that to grieve and get ready for another "fur-head" as my friend calls them.

Thanks, luvs2cook and Mrs. Reber for posting your support -- it really helps. And luvs2cook, I saw on another post that you've adopted a dog with heartworm. Good for you! I hope he gets to have a long life with you.

[This message has been edited by LGBurns (edited 02-01-2001).]

[MrsReber]

LGBurns, I am so sorry!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif That is very sad. Not to be crass, but you'd be surprised at how easy it is to let another animal into your lives. It does leave a bit of an empty space when we lose one, but sometimes getting another pet helps speed the healing along. Not to forget the ones we loved, but to fill the space in your heart. I wish you luck. You sound like a very caring person and you'd be a great mommy for another furry head with big eyes who needs a home.

[lanie]

LG - I just know how you feel and I am so sorry. I too lost a golden 2 years ago of a tumor in her heart at 8 years - got another little man 3 weeks later - it truly does help I agree with Mrs. Reber - not to replace - just helps get on with things.

[MrsReber]

Just read this on line while I was eating my lunch. Very sad, but a lesson to us all. I currently have a kitchen towel hanging on my stove.


PET-PROOFING KITCHEN INCLUDES HANGING TOWELS OUT OF SIGHT

DEAR ABBY:
I am grief-stricken. Yesterday my husband and I faced the awful experience of putting our 3-year-old chocolate Labrador to sleep. For two or three days, he wouldn't eat or drink, and was lethargic and vomiting. We took him to the emergency vet hospital. The vet examined him and found "something" in his abdomen, which would require surgery to remove. What they found in his intestines was part of a kitchen towel.
Unfortunately, the tissue around the towel was infected and dead from the lack of blood supply to his intestines. The damage was worse than anticipated, and he began bleeding internally. He was too weak to make it, and we had to put him to sleep. To say that we're devastated is an understatement.

I always hang a kitchen towel on the handle of the oven on which to dry my hands, remove things from the oven, etc. The towel probably smelled like food, which prompted him to chew it. To top it off, when we came home from the surgery, our 1-year-old puppy threw up the other portion of the towel!

Abby, please make other pet owners aware of this potential hazard. If sharing my story can spare someone else the devastation of losing a pet to something so avoidable, I'll gain some comfort. -- KELLEE IN TEMECULA, CALIF.

DEAR KELLEE:
Please accept my sympathy for the sad loss of your dog. I'm printing your letter as a warning to pet owners. While I thought what happened to your beloved pet was a freak accident, a staff member recalled that something similar had happened to a dog belonging to one of his relatives.

[ChrisF]

I'd like to add a FYI to those folks with dogs who are scratching/scritching like crazy. My young Golden found relief by these two measures: 1) a special kibble, not prescription, but I did have to search around to find it in a pet store...it only has two ingredients: fish and sweet potatoes (there is also a venison & potato version). For treats, the Drs Foster and Smith catalogue (on the web, too) now has fish and potato biscuits. 2)rigorous use of either Advantage or Frontline---kills the flea *before* it bites. It took over a month before his skin itchiness calmed down. He went to a friends for one weekend---chewed on a rawhide treat and scratched for a week. Now he takes his own chewie--one of those white, sterilized bones!
Also: about those Elizabethan collars--my golden went absolutely insane while wearing one--tried sedation, everything--it just sent him over the top. The vet mentioned 'well, we *do* have this other collar..." And I ended up purchasing this 'other collar'. It is hard to describe, but it is kind of like one of those wide collars a human would wear if they have whiplash, the wide piece attaches with straps into a harness behind front legs. It cost me $30, but considering the state my dog was in, it was worth it. Of course, it is reusable.
Sorry this is long...hope the info is useful
Chris

[Leonard]

Hey ChrisF:

The collar you're referring to is called a "Bite Not". It is the only brand on the market. It is very hard to find but well worth it. It restricts the dogs movement so it cannot chew itself. But unlike the "Elizabethan Collar" the dog can see side to side so he does bump into the walls!! The only caution I would make on this collar is they come in 2 sizes 5 and 6 inch. I could not take my German Shepherd with me for the fitting because he is not too friendly. So the owner of the petshop figured he would wear a 5 inch. Well, she was wrong. We strappped it on him, and behold!! he turned around and started licking his hind quarters right in front of us! Sometimes these collars and not returnable. Take your dog with you for sizing!

[miswin]

There are many different things to try for dogs with allergies and/or other medical problems. Because my dog has epilepsy, I'm trying all I can to find the triggers for his seizures and/or something to eliminate them. In my research I've found so many animal health problems are caused by the diets of the dogs. My allergies and yeast infections (ichy ears and paws are big hints) are caused by grains. If you study up about dog food, you'll find most kibble is grain with little meat. Premium foods are only slightly better. I now feed my dog my dog a raw diet which I make for him. Many people think I am crazy to cook for my dog, but I now know what he is eating. There is a lot of information on the net about canine health and nutrition. Or if anyone wants more information from me, contact me privately at miswin@msn.com

[ChrisF]

Thanks, Leonard! I never knew the name of the collar. I've told several people the description, but never knew a brand name.
I agree that they have to fit correctly, but when it does--it saved the day for us!
Best wishes, Chris

[pammy]

Mrs. Reber,

Thank you so much for posting that. Our 10 year old black lab has been through so much lately (surgery to fix pharyngeal paralysis) and he does like to chew aromatic things (like dirty socks and Yuck! pantyhose). I am going down to my kitchen right now to remove my dish towel from the handle of my refrigerator.

[MrsReber]

Pammy, I never would've thought of that myself. Good thing I decided to peruse Dear Abby at lunchtime! Glad to pass on some useful information to fellow animal lovers.