How fortunate has your Dog been Healthwise?
Discussion
Hi all,
Just wondering if my boy has, thus far, lived an exceptionally charmed life?
Bought him home June 2008 at 8 weeks after his puppy jab and aside from a front leg sprain at 15 months old, which fully healed in 1 week he has never had any problems whatsoever.
He has spent all his life going to work with me, mainly on different building sites and living on various boats in different Marinas and generally been in contact with all manner of god knows what in both environments.
Now, over 6 yrs later, no visits to the vets at all, no booster jabs (he has only ever had the single one at 8 weeks) not so much as a single scratch, nothing!
Have the two of us just been unbelievably blessed or has anyone else here shared similar good fortune?
Just wondering if my boy has, thus far, lived an exceptionally charmed life?
Bought him home June 2008 at 8 weeks after his puppy jab and aside from a front leg sprain at 15 months old, which fully healed in 1 week he has never had any problems whatsoever.
He has spent all his life going to work with me, mainly on different building sites and living on various boats in different Marinas and generally been in contact with all manner of god knows what in both environments.
Now, over 6 yrs later, no visits to the vets at all, no booster jabs (he has only ever had the single one at 8 weeks) not so much as a single scratch, nothing!
Have the two of us just been unbelievably blessed or has anyone else here shared similar good fortune?
I dont want to say as I think I will curse it!
One rescue mixed terrier, 4 years old:
Seems tough dog
1 visit to vet due to poisoned dog bone : was fine after a day,shame about the kitchen plastered in vom and st
1 visit due to bad eyes, healed up over winter. Vet perscribed medication @ $50 a month for the rest of his life, thankfully seems to have healed up
2 x visits after losing fights with my other dog and the wounds going infected, was OK in the end
1 x visit due to Kennel cough when we got him
One Mixed collie/terrier (mainly Collie) @ 2.5 years old:
No vets visit
I did have to call the vets when he ate 60 of my partners thyroid tablets , they said he should be fine, he was
He has also eaten:
A bible
A rotten gammon joint, including wrapping
olive oil bottle lid
cigarettes in street
bubble gum in street
lots and lots of cat st
coasters
padded envelope
ALL the pockets out of my trousers and shorts....DOnt ask....
Various other things
I'm pretty lucky, the main issue we have is that they occasionally fight when we go away and they are not in their usual home, our first terrier usually loses and the wound gets infected. I thought our first dog was "tough" but our second dog seems like granite, he lived rough for the first few months. He also paces himself through the day and gets lots of sleep, where as our first terrier works himself into a frenzy at times and knakeres himself out to collapse!
Collies are odd as on the one hand they can worry themselves to death, on the other hand they have the "brains" to cope well with life, where as terriers are just bloody nuts, as there is no "Off" button
One rescue mixed terrier, 4 years old:
Seems tough dog
1 visit to vet due to poisoned dog bone : was fine after a day,shame about the kitchen plastered in vom and st
1 visit due to bad eyes, healed up over winter. Vet perscribed medication @ $50 a month for the rest of his life, thankfully seems to have healed up
2 x visits after losing fights with my other dog and the wounds going infected, was OK in the end
1 x visit due to Kennel cough when we got him
One Mixed collie/terrier (mainly Collie) @ 2.5 years old:
No vets visit
I did have to call the vets when he ate 60 of my partners thyroid tablets , they said he should be fine, he was
He has also eaten:
A bible
A rotten gammon joint, including wrapping
olive oil bottle lid
cigarettes in street
bubble gum in street
lots and lots of cat st
coasters
padded envelope
ALL the pockets out of my trousers and shorts....DOnt ask....
Various other things
I'm pretty lucky, the main issue we have is that they occasionally fight when we go away and they are not in their usual home, our first terrier usually loses and the wound gets infected. I thought our first dog was "tough" but our second dog seems like granite, he lived rough for the first few months. He also paces himself through the day and gets lots of sleep, where as our first terrier works himself into a frenzy at times and knakeres himself out to collapse!
Collies are odd as on the one hand they can worry themselves to death, on the other hand they have the "brains" to cope well with life, where as terriers are just bloody nuts, as there is no "Off" button
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Wednesday 20th August 09:24
StuntmanMike said:
Mine are documented on here, apart from his elbows which seem to be perfect now, no problems, he had his boosters and the vet said he was in very good nick.
We are now looking for a second one as no one let's him play with their dog, which is a shame because he is very sociable.
Hi Mike,We are now looking for a second one as no one let's him play with their dog, which is a shame because he is very sociable.
I spend most of my time on the Boat when not working.
It's a shame other dog owners are apprehensive with your boy as it is so very important so socialize a Mastiff. although
Bullys in particular can be intolerent to other male dogs after they hit approx 3 yrs old.
Unfortunately mine has been attacked 3 times now by different Staffs and he has taken a distinct dislike to the breed so i have to watch him around all other dogs, although he will happily play with any bhes.
Good to hear your boy is now in good health mate!
Has anyone else, aside from me never bothered with the yearly booster jabs?
Edited by keslake on Wednesday 20th August 13:11
I've had dogs constantly since I was fourteen and, touch wood, they have all been healthy, hardy buggars... except for Phoebe who is one of the current two.
As well as all her jabs, she has been spayed (big deal!) had an op to remove a stone from her bowel, 3 days and she was home with no ill effects and then she had an op to remove the knuckle end of an 'indestructable' bone... that didn't go so well!
On the day she was supposed to be coming home she developed peritonitus and they had to operate again in a big hurry and she lost loads of internal bits due to abcesses(sp?) - spleen, bowel, stomach all sorts and she was 'touch and go' for three weeks! Strangely one day she was MUCH worse and looked like that was it. Then she just got better! 10:30 deaths door, 2:30 outside playing with her ball!
Now, at six she's got arthritus and it's getting worse and worse. Treatment continues...
Also, she was a rescue and though we got her at four months, she was terrified of people and would literally drool, eyes bulge, shake if anyone even came to the house. She has got over that a fair bit, but she's only really got over her terror in the last year.
She's not a 'hardy' dog at all... but she's utterly beautiful, loyal, trustworthy and just allround wonderful. Just wish we could sort her bloody legs out!
The other dog (Chester) is a Basset cross and apart from doing his leg a nasty when he was young (which resulted in my wife making me buy a pram so she could push him around on the daily walks with Phoebe - he was at the age when socialisation was important granted, but I would never have bloody done it) he's been fine... touch wood.
Vets bills have been... interesting!
As well as all her jabs, she has been spayed (big deal!) had an op to remove a stone from her bowel, 3 days and she was home with no ill effects and then she had an op to remove the knuckle end of an 'indestructable' bone... that didn't go so well!
On the day she was supposed to be coming home she developed peritonitus and they had to operate again in a big hurry and she lost loads of internal bits due to abcesses(sp?) - spleen, bowel, stomach all sorts and she was 'touch and go' for three weeks! Strangely one day she was MUCH worse and looked like that was it. Then she just got better! 10:30 deaths door, 2:30 outside playing with her ball!
Now, at six she's got arthritus and it's getting worse and worse. Treatment continues...
Also, she was a rescue and though we got her at four months, she was terrified of people and would literally drool, eyes bulge, shake if anyone even came to the house. She has got over that a fair bit, but she's only really got over her terror in the last year.
She's not a 'hardy' dog at all... but she's utterly beautiful, loyal, trustworthy and just allround wonderful. Just wish we could sort her bloody legs out!
The other dog (Chester) is a Basset cross and apart from doing his leg a nasty when he was young (which resulted in my wife making me buy a pram so she could push him around on the daily walks with Phoebe - he was at the age when socialisation was important granted, but I would never have bloody done it) he's been fine... touch wood.
Vets bills have been... interesting!
We have not been fortunate all all.
Collie - When he was a pup he started limping. Went to vets.
On the day we got our Springer we went out for a walk and the Collie ripped his nail, so off to emergency vets.
At about 2 yrs old he started having fits. Plenty of vets and specialists later he is diagnosed with Epilepsy. Now it's regular trips to the vet for check ups and pills.
Springer - When we had her spayed, the vet in our opinion didn't stitch her that well. 5 days later she burst her stitches and her guts fell out. Over to the emergency vets to have them put back in, cleaned up and stitched up. It was not her running about as she was not being walked apart from on lead round block (5 mins) and in garden on lead for toilet. She was (and still is 2 1/2 years later) crated at night.
Apart from that the dogs have been healthy. Just waiting to see if the Collie has another seizure tomorrow morning as he is showing some of the signs from before he had his last one.
Collie - When he was a pup he started limping. Went to vets.
On the day we got our Springer we went out for a walk and the Collie ripped his nail, so off to emergency vets.
At about 2 yrs old he started having fits. Plenty of vets and specialists later he is diagnosed with Epilepsy. Now it's regular trips to the vet for check ups and pills.
Springer - When we had her spayed, the vet in our opinion didn't stitch her that well. 5 days later she burst her stitches and her guts fell out. Over to the emergency vets to have them put back in, cleaned up and stitched up. It was not her running about as she was not being walked apart from on lead round block (5 mins) and in garden on lead for toilet. She was (and still is 2 1/2 years later) crated at night.
Apart from that the dogs have been healthy. Just waiting to see if the Collie has another seizure tomorrow morning as he is showing some of the signs from before he had his last one.
I cannot emphasize enough how you are on thin ice with regards to Parvovirus if you have not kept up the dogs boosters. Doesnt matter how fit your dog is, it could easily die from such an infection. Why not vaccinate? Cost? Ethical objections? Scientific objections? If you ever see parvo in dogs you will never ever miss your dogs boosters again. I understand that vaccination is seen primarily like insurance, only needed when you have an accident or get stopped by the BiB, but it is similarly unpredictable as to when your dog will step in the crap left by another dog whose owner chose not to vaccinate. Your dog. your choice. I've seen the disease and vaccinate all my dogs and dont worry if my feet have been in contact with dogs suffering from parvo.
Thevet said:
I cannot emphasize enough how you are on thin ice with regards to Parvovirus if you have not kept up the dogs boosters. Doesnt matter how fit your dog is, it could easily die from such an infection. Why not vaccinate? Cost? Ethical objections? Scientific objections? If you ever see parvo in dogs you will never ever miss your dogs boosters again. I understand that vaccination is seen primarily like insurance, only needed when you have an accident or get stopped by the BiB, but it is similarly unpredictable as to when your dog will step in the crap left by another dog whose owner chose not to vaccinate. Your dog. your choice. I've seen the disease and vaccinate all my dogs and dont worry if my feet have been in contact with dogs suffering from parvo.
We've got a parvo outbreak in Bristol at the mo, causing panic among dog owners, lots of calls asking for advice. I would strike a balance and suggest titre testing if not keen to vaccinate.StuntmanMike said:
Keslake you have read on here about my dog, one thing I would stress to you is our insurance made it very clear, it would be void without boosters, so we have them.
I've never bothered with insurance Mike as i was quoted £40 per month so instead set up a £40 per month transfer to a separate account for emergencies and have built up a decent fund as i have never had to use it, touch wood.keslake said:
StuntmanMike said:
Keslake you have read on here about my dog, one thing I would stress to you is our insurance made it very clear, it would be void without boosters, so we have them.
I've never bothered with insurance Mike as i was quoted £40 per month so instead set up a £40 per month transfer to a separate account for emergencies and have built up a decent fund as i have never had to use it, touch wood.AdiT said:
Plenty of people "self insure" like that.
"...Bought him home June 2008 at 8 weeks after his puppy jab..."
Did he only have a single jab? I thought it was usualy a course of 2-3 jabs at intervals.
I picked him up from the breeder the day he had his first jab so as far as i am aware it was only the one."...Bought him home June 2008 at 8 weeks after his puppy jab..."
Did he only have a single jab? I thought it was usualy a course of 2-3 jabs at intervals.
Please don't get me wrong, if my boy needed treatment i would spend whatever was needed.....i just hope after this thread i haven't put a curse on us!
Maybe because he has been in contact with all manner of god knows what he has built up his immune system himself?
Or maybe we have just been one of the fortunate ones.
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