Question by Cybi: Have you ever had to give your dog an enema?
We have a dog with severe problems with her butt right now. She was diagnosed with limber tail; the symptoms seemed to fit the bill, but now the vet thinks he was wrong. She cannot poop naturally and is in pain when she tries. After a week of medication, and two enemas by the Vet…no progression into healing. Now after X-rays they have sent to the radiologists the vet still has no idea what is going on with her. After an incident two months earlier with her butt, he suspected food allergies so we changed her food to an “expensive good” brand. The vet told us that was a crap brand despite what the media said.

Now starting yesterday, we are home cooking her food from here on out to see if we can eliminate food allergies before we pay for a colon biopsy and other extreme issues. Until then, we have to give enemas to our dog if she still can’t pass bile. The vet said he would help us out, but I wanted to see if any owners here have any tips or advice as well.

Best answer:

Answer by greygarious
Since the base of the tail is painful, you’ll need to lift it very gently and no higher than necessary to insert the enema nozzle. I would use the hose and nozzle that comes with hot water bottles rather than a bulb enema. That way you should be able to administer the enema while she is lying on her side. Keep her in that position for at least 3 minutes so it can take effect. Also, I would give her docusate (Colace, Dulcolax), which is a stool softener.

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Question by Felena: Anyone else’s dog ever had this problem?
My dog is a half black lab, half pit bull 1 1/2 year old gal. I took her to the vet a couple months ago trying to figure out if she had mange. the vet insisted she didn’t, and that it was a food allergy. She told me to switch her food to a different protien source and test different foods out to figure out what she was allergic to. Well, I started by eliminating chicken, and other things like corn and wheat, because I’d heard those things commonly cause problems. I’ve tested everything I feed her- I’ve even switched to a natural, home-made diet…her itching and redness never stops. I gave her Benadryl, like the vet said I could, and while she stops itching for a while I can’t tell if it’s cuz it helps or if she is just to sleepy from the pill to care.

Well, the dog is still itchy. And there are more symptoms.

Basically, her fur is thinning. Like, I can see her skin on almost any part of her body. It’s not coming out in clumps or patterns, just in general all over. And She’s itchy, and her skin is red. She’s got some little red bumps, like sores, in various places. I showed these to the vet when she was there.

The wierdest thing about this is that when we pet her now, we get little red bumps on our skin and it burns and feels itchy. I imagine that’s what my poor dog feels like all over all the time. She also become rather aggressive with most dogs which I think is related. I think she feels so messed up she just doesn’t want to be messed with. I could be wrong…

but anyway, I am making an appointment to take her to a different vet. I don’t think it’s an allergy to her food. I am doing my own research on what it could be, but I was wondering if anyone here has had the same problem with their dog? I don’t have a ton of money to throw at a vet who’ll barely take a look at her, but maybe if I can get a few ideas on what it could be we can try doing some tests for some specific problems and get it solved in less time with less money.

Thanks. i appreciate anyone taking the time to try to help us out.

Best answer:

Answer by BYB’s ? Shelter Death
It sounds like she needs some bloodwork done to see if there is anything else going on, like a thyroid problem or a systemic problem. Alopecia and skin problems are often a sign of an underlying disease process.

If the new vet can’t find anything wrong other than allergies, then she should get on the most basic food you can find (like Natural Balance fish & sweet potato) and you should also start eliminating household allergens. Carpet shampoo, febreeze, your shampoo, hair spray, or detergent & fabric softeners could all be triggering an allergic reaction.

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Question by sciencechick: Will there ever be a reason to even attempt a new breed?

Are there any new breeds truly on their way to being recognized by the AKC (or UKC or whatever reputable club you look to)? Could there be any breeds being created now (not just being refined from years ago) that may eventually be recognized?

Should there be? Do you think that the breeds out there should fulfill every possible dog owners needs, or do you think that a new breed (done right) could be beneficial?

Designer dog supporters love to say that “all” purebreds were mutts at some point, and while those origins are not always true and completely unrelated to the random breeding of mutts, does any argument about creating a new breed even matter? Should people either find a breed/ individual dog in a shelter that fits their needs, or is there a niche that has yet to be filled?

I think it would be nice to have a truly hypoallergenic dog but that still doesn’t mean that you can have a one size fits all dog for anyone with allergies, and since they are skin shedding, salivating animal I think it really is pretty impossible.
I am inquisitive
Good answers, but you are forgetting one huge thing Fur and FIction: breeding true! The standard does not mean they breed true- you can write a standard for anything you want it won’t make it reality. No matter how good of a purpose the dog was bred for, how is it a breed without predictable results?

I know that the AKC can’t recognize all breeds, but some of these “breeds” still do not produce predictable results. Mini Aussies are the equivalent of teacups, and even if they were recognized wouldn’t they just be a different size of the Aussie we have?

And Bengal cats are problably the worst breed I have ever heard of as far as “playing God”, its from a wild animal not just making a breed! We domesticated dogs, I have no issue with slectively breeding for a purpose. Bengal cats are a different issue…

Best answer:

Answer by Fur and Fiction
You really love to spark the great debate, don’t you? =]

I do believe there are many breeds in the making. A faily recent one, the Shiloh Shepherd, has gained quite a following.

Though there are many who will disagree with me, I consider the Mini Aussie, Shihloh Shepherd, and Silken Windhound (among others) to be breeds.

I think it all comes down to what our definition of breed is. Some refuse to recognize dogs not registered by the AKC. While I appreicate a good deal of work the AKC does, it cannot be denied that one of the biggest supporters of puppy mills is the AKC. In their own commericals they mention kennel inspections- no doubt inclduing inspections of puppy mills that pay hundreds in fees to register litters each month. And who is one of the largest producer of designer breeds? Puppy mills.

So if the AKC is supporting an industry that makes thousands off of designer breeds, how reputable is the AKC when it comes to definiing what is and is not a breed?

Dogs such as the Catahoula Leopard Dog have been in the United States for decades, yet is still not recognized by the AKC. Does that mean the Catahoula is not a breed?

The same is true for registries in other countries, and while I understand that it is truly impossible to recognize absolutely every breed, there are many people who shun breeds because they are not recognized.

To me, a breed is a dog that has been bred for a purpose (often work related), a dog that has a breed standard set by a parent club, has enthusiasts, and has gained some kind of recognition with reputable breed books.

To answer your question, I do believe there are breeds on their way to being recognized by the AKC. Two breeds were added last year (the Pyrenean Mastiff and Swedish Vallhund), so I am sure there will be more. I also believe breeds can, and will, be created now. However, this is not to say that the correct way to “create” a breed is through designer breeds. I do think a new breed, done correctly, could be beneficial. I would be more than interested in seeing what types of breeds are possible in the future, given the variety of breeds we have today. Dogs have gotten more and more diverse over the past several hundred years, and will continue to do so. I only hope the selective breeding is used for health just as much as it is used to give dogs a new look.

I agree that it would be nice to have a truly hypoallergenic dog, though I think the real cure to that problem would be eliminating “the allergy” rather than the allergen.

EDIT: So many good points. And so my inexperience shines through =]

I agree, breeding true is the most imperitive part of creating a breed. I do wonder how many breed standards have been adjusted because the original standard was either impossible or incorrect (for the work the dog is being bred for)? And so a breed must include predictable results, something I was trying to say yet apparently couldn’t find the right words for!

It isn’t my battle to fight, but I know quite a few people who would argue the skin off anyone for comparing Mini Aussies to teacup dogs. I have seen quite a few well bred Mini Aussies, which is why I have the opinion that I have. The breed has a breed standard, and predictable results when wellbred dogs are used. Unfortunitly, puppy stores have caught onto the Mini Aussie craze (the reason I was involved with Mini Aussie rescue over the summer).

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Question by Noelia M: Both my dog’s hind legs have a swelling/growth in joint “knee.” Size of large marble. Ever seen this?
I just noticed today that my dog’s hind legs have this growth/swelling around the joint towards the “knee.” She’s active and doesn’t flinch/whine when I touch it, but I’m concerned. 2yrs old. Searched for pics online but didn’t see any. Wish I could post one so I can show her legs. Anyone seen this before? She does have bad allergies and is on Prednisone, Conofite Lotion for ears, Cephalexin for infection of skin, and Cortisone shot. She’s crated when I’m not home so she doesn’t rub her body and wears her halo as well. Tends to lick her stomach, paws, and back legs raw. Please help…!

Best answer:

Answer by www.owningdogs.com
My boxer had one of these – it was a hystioma. Basically a non-cancerous tumor. We had to have it removed and sent to a pathologist to make sure though. It cost about $ 480.00.

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Question by *JUST ME*: Has anyone ever got a puppy from hell?
For years now I’ve been wanting a bull terrier puppy,and finally saving and researching I got one for 1500 bucks.Anyways now I wish I didn’t get the little bastard,I hate him.This thing has to be the stupidest puppy I have ever seen in my life.He is mean, He has already destroyed hundreds of dollars worth of things in the short time he has been here.Dosen’t listen what so ever. Eats anything in sight. done spent hundreds of dollars on his damn skin allergies, killed a kitten and and actually ate the hamster. he is only three months old ,but a freaking night mare. I know it’s wrong to hate an animal and usually I love animals I never ran across a animal I didn’t like intell now.
Did I just get a mentally retarded dog are is this whole breed retarded. I know the dicription of the breed is clownish and stubborn. But this is crazy.
So has anyone else got a puppy they regret.
Yes he does have a trainer, and I also try and teach him. but he doesn’t learn NOTHING at all. I really think somethings wrong with him. I have had bully breeds before not a bull terrier, anyways they as well was stubborn and head strong but they did learn.

Best answer:

Answer by corky95621
that is what happens when you do not get a dog that is suited for you. my dog trainer ownes 4 of them and they are fantastic! you cant just expect him to know things YOU need to train him. its not the dog its YOU

ADD: invest in getting a kennel. if he has skin problems try switching his food it will work wonders. when you cannot supervise him put him in his kennel. work on training. youtube can help you with that as well or get a dog trainer but you need to start on that training. my dog trainers bull terriers if she tells them to stay they will not move from that spot for hours until she gives them the release word

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