Jasmine,

I found the courage to call back Pegasus Laboratories yesterday. The memories of your last 57 days with us came flooding back. The grief we have been suffering since 09-04-09 manifested itself once more for I had to speak your name out loud once again. The guilt I carry for giving you this medicine runs deep.
I knew what they would say," ProIn did not contribute to her death. There is no documented research that indicates ProIn neither does any harm nor kills.... It only stays in the system for 4 hours... We are pet lovers.......We can hear how much you cared for Jasmine.... (I firmly believe all this was a script she was reading). We treat all information from pet owners seriously....You sent no medical records for Jasmine when you changed Doctors. What did he say about ProIn? (Nothing, he was not going to discredit a fellow Doctor but he did bring out his Plum reference book and showed me where she should never have been given Diatro {Lomotil} for diarrhea). He did his very best to make her last days comfortable. Took her off all the meds, gave her pepto bismol to stop her diarrhea. And then I told her, we're not here to discuss the 'other vet'.
This scripted phone conversation went on for about 15 more minutes and then I was asked if I had anything further to say. Yes, as the manufacturer of this drug, you must make Vets better informed of adverse reactions to ProIn. Help make it mandatory that Vets tell us about adverse reactions. Allow us the right to make informed decisions about our pets health care.
We hear your voice...We hear Jasmine's voice...You sent your information to the Board of Directors and I have passed it along to them....

I never expected them to say "Yes we agree. We killed her." I did expect, 'We'll research this drug further..."

She sounded like I was the only person who ever complained to them about this drug? Was she telling me that no one else had ever told them that ProIn kills? Has no one else had the courage to do this?

As I have quoted from the FDA website in all my recent posts: “If you do not file a complaint with the FDA...you're giving the manufacturer ammunition to use against you. They can claim there are so few cases of adverse reactions... nothing needs to be done. When you don't file, you stack the statistics in the manufacturers favor. Don't depend on your vet's office."

It’s never too late to do this. I really have never been the type of individual who complains but this drug, ProIn, helped kill my beloved Jasmine. I will not rest.

This is a great site for titles and info that is available in book form! Welcome to Dogwise.com the web's #1 Dog Store!
I also put more info on this site in the Dog Health and Nutrition forum/section in this forum if you want to see more of what I mentioned about this place--It is in the thread titled: Best Dog Food for Large Breeds.

Why do people seem so determined to give labels to their dogs? Twenty years ago here in the UK the local paper would advertise "Litter of mongrel puppies - free to good home" and no one would take offence. Chances are the mother was an unknown mixture and the father could have been anything - the pups were conceived by accident and you would take one home with no idea of what it would be and it would grow into the dog you trained it to be. No idea of what went into the mix but the important thing was the love you gave it and the training it received.

Counting the dogs I've had as a child and in adullthood I've had some wonderful dogs that could never be labelled as anything other than mutts or mongrels but they were loyal, faithful companions and they were loved and cared for with all the love and dedication that could be lavished on a dog - no high class champion show dog could have been loved more but these dogs had no label. One dog in particular that I had when I was 17 was the strangest looking dog I've ever seen, broken coated, about the size of a collie but with the face of a terrier and the highly strung attitude of a thoroughbred race horse. He was a great dog but we never even wondered what he was - he looked like his mother and all we knew of his father was that he was very agile as he had scaled a 6 ft wall to do the deed then escape!

If someone asked me what he was I didn't hesitate to say that he was a mongrel. No one took offence, no one thought I was being uncaring about him. I was simply stating that we did not know what he was!

Nowadays everyone wants to know what their dog is made of or, if they know what the parents were, they want to coin a name for the cross. While no one wants to encourage indiscriminate breeding or breeding of two dogs of the same breed by ignorant or uncaring breeders there are still lots of mixed breed dogs out there. Why can't they just be loved for who or what they are instead of the need to glamorise them by giving a fancy new name?

Lets hear it for the mongrels and mutts who are every bit as valuable as any show dog even if we don't know what they are.

I've very much enjoyed the articles that you've been posting. However, if I could offer a suggestion, I think it would be very helpful if the membership were allowed to comment on these articles which at the present time is not possible.

I find I learn a great deal from reading the various opinions and experiences of the membership. There exists here a wonderful opportunity for debate and an exchange of ideas. There are so many very knowledgeable people in this forum. I would really like to "get their take" on the articles that you've posted. I think it would prove to be informative and educational for us all.

I'd be grateful if you'd give some thought to this request.

Thanks!!!

It is horrible. When I read this news in chihuahua.dormitory.Police on Friday found about 150 dead dogs packed in freezers in the basement of a

Michigan house littered with feces and trash where more than 110 live dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, were rescued this week.

I have just read a lovely story in chihuahua.dormitory.
Charlie, the lovely chihuahua, is so so so adorable. here is part of the story, share with you all:
charlie saw snow for the first time last year. he didn’t know what it was at first, but he soon started to run and play with the other dogs in it. charlie loves to pose for pictures. everytime he sees me with the camera in my hand, he will stay still and pose to give mommy that special picture.

charlie is so tiny that he was already 9 months old when he finally was able to go up and down stairs. even now charlie can’t jump up onto the sofa and forget about him jumping off it. i have to lift him up onto it and then also put him down on the floor when he wants to get off.

Can these dogs get really big? Just got a new female puppy. So cute , and my dad said , this could end up being a great , strong dog. If i give it the right training.

My breeder met all of these requirements except I took my pups home at 8 and 9 weeks old. She said she evaluated them on an individual basis and looked at how the pup was doing and how big it was and whether or not the owner would be home with it during the day. People who work during the day had to wait until 10 weeks. That sounded ok to me.

Hello, I am new to the board. I know this is not the right section to post that in, my apologize for doing so.

I am looking to obtain my first dog in about a month, when I comeback from the Middleeast to the United States. I am looking to obtain a Entlebucher Mountain Dog and was wondering what the price range would be. Also, how rare would it be to come across a Entlebucher in the United States?

I have read information regarding how to raise them and such, just having a little trouble getting an acual price range.

Thank you for your time,

Chris.

This doggie hangs eight in the surf. Cute. Well, a dog's got to have a hobby!
Top doggie | Fraser Coast Pets | Animal and Dog News in Fraser Coast | Fraser Coast Chronicle

Of all the things we do with our dogs, the game they seem to like the best is "Find It!". This is like canine hide and seek. We execute it like this: We set the dogs up in a room on sit/stays. If your dog does not know this command, or is not solid on it, use a helper to hold the dog out of site. Grab a favorite toy, a stuffed toy works great because it can capture and hold your scent best, but anything will work, such as a tennis ball or kong toy. If your dog is of the sporting group or a mix thereof, the scenting part will come naturally. If not, still give this a try, its a great mental workout, and most dogs will love it, not only for the challenge, but for the interaction with you.

Rub your hands over the toy well and then place the toy in front of the dog’s nose so they know what they are looking for. If the dog licks or bites the toy, that is even better, because his own scent will be on it as well as yours. Leave the dog out of site and place the toy in an obvious location in another room. To start out, be obvious so success will follow. Return to your dog, place your hands in front of his nose and say, "Find It!" in an energetic, fun voice. Some dogs will understand immediately how the game is played. They will hunt down the toy and either bring it to you or at the very least grab it and "celebrate it". This is where you make a big deal by lots of verbal praise, whooping and hollering!

For the dog who is confused lead him into the room where you have placed the toy and repeat the command. Watch him and give him a chance, if he is still confused in a few seconds show it to him and repeat the command. When he grabs it, give lots of verbal praise. Repeat the game and the dog will catch on.

This is a fantastic bad weather day activity to burn off energy. But it is a great outside game too. Use the same method, we sit/stay in the garage and hide in the yard, under bushes or in the seats of the patio furniture, etc.

Remember to increase the difficulty of the game. You will be astounded at your dog's progression.

Ways to increase mental work besides increasing the difficulty are to teach the dog the command for "drop". When he finds the toy, hold out your hand and say drop. Some will get it right away, make sure to praise. For those who don't, pry apart the jaw and repeat the command. When the toy is released, use lots of verbal praise and go immediately into another round of play. For the dog who wants you to chase him with the toy, totally ignore it. Turn your back and walk away unconcerned, this will extinguish the undesired behavior when repeated enough. You can also teach a command for returning back to the designated sit/stay position also. Use a phrase like, "Get Ready!" or "Line Up". If repeated consistently, they will catch on.

This is a great bonding game, which you know I love, building the companionship between you and your dog. It also fulfills the mental and physical needs our dogs have that come from generations of working for humans. Try it today!!

The educated dog owner/lover knows the danger of Backyard breeders. However, have you ever bought another animal from a ByB situation?

My family has had it's moment's. I know for a fact my first dog was an ill-bred lab. But I love the memories I have of Arthur (named for the cartoon Ardvark)I suppose I'm guilty now as an adult. I bought a bearded dragon from Petsmart not to long ago, knowing full well that alot of their animals (while it will say hatched in capitvity) were once in the whild, or their grandparents were wild caught. I've had rabbit's from petstores. I can only regret that my money went to support more poaching of wildlife. However, I'll not regret getting my lizard. He's a sweetie, and I don't think I'd change my mind were I given a second chance. What's your guilty animal moment?

Lara's biological mom and dad were blessed with a litter of beautiful puppies on October 23rd. Two days later on October 25th, one of Lara's sisters from a litter before her and a "handsome young Jack that she took a fancy to, had their own litter. This is Trinity's very first litter. Lara's biological mom has had several litters - generally a year and a half to two years apart. Both moms and their babes are doing well!

This will probably be Zola's last litter so, I'm really torn about getting one of the puppies. I'd love for Lara to have a playmate!!! If I do decide on taking another puppy, it will once again be a pet quality pup who will be spayed/neutered. This is the part where you guys are supposed to talk me out of it!!!

I don't know how many of each sex there are or how many are show quality as opposed to pet quality at this point although I'm waiting to hear!!! I'll post the website when she has pictures of them!

Hello

Each dog is an individual requiring its own certain amount of food to maintain optimum body condition. The feeding charts and guidelines supplied by the dog food manufacturer are only rough estimates. The amount that any individual dog requires may be more or less than recommended. Obviously, working dogs, dogs that get a lot of exercise, pregnant and lactating dogs require substantially more food.

The dog owner must be able to determine how much is the proper amount for their particular dog. Although it seems obvious that undernutrition and starvation are bad for the dog, overnutrition and obesity can be just as bad for the dog's health and are much more common. Once a dog becomes overweight, it can be very difficult to get it back to its ideal weight.

Puppies should gain weight steadily but not be allowed to get fat. An adult dog should be well muscled but not obese. A good rule of thumb is that you should not be able to see the dog's ribs, but you should be able to feel them under the skin by lightly running your hands along its sides. If you are unable to feel the ribs, or have to push in to feel them, the dog is overweight.

Many people feel that an overweight dog is a happy dog. This is not true! Obesity is extremely damaging to a dog and greatly reduces its life expectancy and quality of life. Obesity decreases immune function, stresses the heart and lungs, damages the joints and increases the risk for certain types of cancer. It is not kind to overfeed a dog; it is cruel and unhealthy.

Keep sharing and reading

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Hello

Keep all hair out of your pet's eyes since scratches to the cornea (the clear membrane across the surface of the eye) can result from contact with hair. Trim the hair using only blunt-nosed scissors, cutting parallel to the edge of the eyelid. This is especially important where the skin folds near the eyes in breeds like Pekingese, Lhasa Apso and Maltese.

Keep eyes clear of mucus at all times. Infections are often caused by bacteria that overgrow on mucus. Use a sterile eyewash and/or eye wipes to keep eye area clean.

Apply a protective ophthalmic ointment under the top lid to protect the eyes before bathing, facial cleanings, and insecticide treatment. Even "tearless" shampoos can irritate if too much gets in the eyes or if it is not rinsed out soon enough.

Keep sharing and reading

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