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Mercsmom

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Posts posted by Mercsmom

    Ok. That Was Weird. Joe Just Growled At Me.

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Not really helpful, but whenever I hear something like this I remember a quote from Clifford Simak's SF novel City (Nathaniel is a dog):

     

    "There's lots of things that dogs know that men don't know," bragged Nathaniel. "We can see things and hear things that men can't see nor hear. Sometimes we howl at night, and people cuss us out. But if they could see and hear what we do they'd be scared too stiff to move."

     

    :nod:nod

     

    "If you're grumpy and you know it show your teeth! If you're grumpy and you know it show your teeth! If you're grumpy and you know it and you really want to show, if you're grumpy and you know it show your teeth!"

     

    Random, meaningless grumpy moment? One too many Kardashian stories on the news? Gas pains? Who knows, but it's not worth worrying too much about.

     

    One Karsashian (any Kardashian) would do it to me. ggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

    Hermaphrodite Greyhound

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    How long has it been since she came off the track??? It could be that she has an enlarged clitoris secondary to the hormones that are given to keep the girls from cycling while on the track. If that's the case things may return normal given a bit more time.

     

    That's what I was thinking though xrays should answer that.

     

    I hope the well-endowed howndie has a nice androgynous name.

    Murray 7.15.03-1.8.16

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    I, too, missed the news somehow.

     

    We are so very sorry for your loss.

    What a long journey you all had together. I am gratified to think of you and Burke and Bee Wiseman did to heel this poor sweet soul. I am saddened by your loss.

    I think Rocket put it best. Now, he's having stinky fish at the Bridge's all you can eat buffet and he'll no longer feel fear of storms or being alone. :brokenheart

     

    Elizabeth, Richard, and Mercury

    Senior Fecal Incontinence

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    What Robin said is exactly my experience.

    Liberty had nerve damage and arthritis of the spine. the dog does not know the poo is falling out. That's why you have very clean dogs leaving poo behind. It especially happened when Liberty went to get up. The vet explained the biomechanical reasons for that.

    I learned to watch for the tail rising. She'd be sound asleep and the tail would start to go up. I'd grab a tissue and "make a catch". Done. Fortunately, her poo remained well formed (I said many a prayer of thanksgiving for that).

    As long as she was enjoying life, it was fine with me.

    Trust me, fecal incontinence is much easier to deal with than urinary.

    Liberty only wore dog panties at night or when left home alone. Again, if poo is well formed, this isn't like a diaper. She'd go to stand up and the poo would fall out. It would essentially roll around in the panties. I'd take them off, roll the poo into the toilet and toss the panties in the wash (or even do a quick sink laundry).

    Another Trazadone Question

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Thank you for all the info. on Ace, especially the links. This actually gives me hope that there's something out there that'll curb fireworks anxiety.

    Funny thing: The other night we had an electrical storm. Merc does not mind thunder. But, immediately after the storm, someone had fireworks (far off and a lower caliber noise than the thunder) THAT bothered him. How the heck did he know the difference???

    Another Trazadone Question

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I have no experience but will share with you what the vet told us when we asked about spooking and "fireworks meds". I specifically asked about Trazadone since it is grey-friendly and others on this site have had good luck with it.

    He said that Trazadone is essentially an SSRI. That means it is designed for chronic anxiety not acute. In his opinion, Trazadone wouldn't help the situation at all unless used every day, and then, he doubted it's effectiveness for acute or unexpected spooking ( read "fireworks" "truck backfire" "gunshot" "men dropping lumber").

    I noticed that when Mercury spooked at a lumber site, he'd spook at nearly everything for weeks. It has taken a week after the 4th to start to return to normal.

    The vet prescribed Acepromazine. Dosage: 1/2 - 2 tablets. I gave him 1/2 a tablet which turned him into a zombie who still got upset with fireworks.

    *sigh*

    I'm wondering if our plans to be a therapy dog are going to be derailed by spooking.

    Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread. Just wanted to weigh in.

     

    Best of luck.

    Please Help! Antsy And Anxious For No Reason?

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Dogs can very often sense things of which we are not aware. When my Liberty would pace at night, the vet mentioned that there might be construction going on somewhere that's producing a sound unpleasant to her but unheard by us.

    Add to that: build up of static electricity, mice in the walls, a strange sound on TV, tripping over a rug and being convinced it's out to get you and.... ghosts.

    It's a wonder they don't freak out more often.

    Peeing Where He Ought'nt - Nonchalance

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

     

    Peeing when you leave work: Do you give him the chance on grass to go pee or do you walk directly to your car? Do you say, "Go pee, Merc," or whatever words you use, and let him sniff and wander for a few minutes?

     

    I try to give his breakfast by 7 a.m. since I have leave around 8:30 (started waking up earlier just to accomplish this). He goes out twice on his own after breakfast. Then, before work, I accompany him. Yes, we have commands ("go widdles", "do poops"). I stand next to him until he does a significant widdle. Then, it's belly band time and I go off to work.

    The water management seems to be the key. Less when he has to hold it, more when I'm home with him, all he wants when we're going out walking. He gets plenty during the day (I'm measuring to make sure) but the timing is precise.

    Peeing Where He Ought'nt - Nonchalance

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Measuring his fluid intake makes a lot of sense.

    We'll have Dr. Bob do a work up on his kidney beans, etc.

    I don know if he comes over to my chair in the evening and puts his head in my lap rather than getting up in the chair with me that mean "out, Mummy". It's when we walk out of my office building across the nice grass and he doesn't stop, but then gets in the car and pees (on the rubber car mat, not the white leather upholstery) that kills me.

     

    BTW, if anyone ever tries to tell you all weather floor mats aren't worth every penny, don't believe them!

    Peeing Where He Ought'nt - Nonchalance

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    See, I'm not thinking it's excessive drinking. It's just infrequent drinking, only once or twice a day, so he loads up. I've been told (many of you might know better) that this is "common at the track", that they're offered water twice a day with meals, so that's the pattern they establish.

    I have no trouble following up with the vet to be sure of proper health.

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