HI Carol,

Carol Shenkenberger wrote in a message to Janis Kracht:

CS> With known problems due to heartworm infestation, it seemed natural
CS> to us to watch that.  I dunno if dogs are normally needing reduced
CS> sodium or not, just that they cant need added sodium.

THat's what our vet told us with rOxy, our rOtt that was infested bad with
heartworm. Already told her story too many times in this echo.  Long one
short, we  adopted her off street of inner city NEw ORleans 2 yrs previous
to Katrina.

KNEw she had heartworm infestation before, put her on preventative anyway
to keep any more from developing.  LET her have a pretty easy life. sHe
belonged to drug dealer then dog fighter when drug dealer gunned down on
the street.  She witnessed this.

After Katrina, if Janis didn't tell you, vet here in MEmphis area wanted us
to take her to canine cardiologist, change her diet.  By that point though
she was 12 years old.  had little to enjoy except the food she ate and lots
of table scraps and love. She still made it two more years with us and then
the two strokes finally did her in.

In fact wife just hung little shrine type thing for her on wall of our new
place today. wHen the vet had to take her down they did a plaster paw print
for us and sent us a nice sympathy card. hardest thing I've ever done was
watch the man start that itravenous drip and push the needle in. Haven't
bawled like a baby for years, but did that afternoon.

SOunds like you're on the right track with him and the vets.  They can do
some amazing things to help dogs get over that, but prevention is still so
much easier, and so cost effective.  Makes me angry with people who won't
do it.

NOw we've a Rott, will be a year old in May.  Name Shcatze (German for
sweet one, however it's spelled) and we got her in MInnesota last summer.



 > > we looked that up before taking him).  She revalidates, do NOT jog with
 > > this dog.  Do not let him get too excited running around.  A few jogs in
 > > our backyard running after a ball is ok, but not more than 5 mins and watc
 > > his breathing.  Do not walk him to school and back just now, due to the
 > > females in heat he has to pass by.  (too much excitement).  Under NO
 > > circumstances let him escape to 'breed' as he'd not be up to it.
 > 
 > Oh boy.. that is sad.  Well, you should definitely come over to DogHouse and
 > talk to Richard Webb... he had a dog with heartworm for a number of years.. 
 > sad as well, but the dog made it through Katrina. A fighter I would imagine
 > :)


CS> Ok, I'm here!

WElcome and hope you find us helpful and friendly .

THat sounds like what they told us with ROxy.  POor old girl could barely
climb the stairs when we first adopted her but she got better.

AFter Katrina when we ended up here we lived out in the woods, a couple
nice lakes nearby on our landlord's property.  SHe'd go outside, hang out,
slowly amble down to the lake, get a drink lie in the sun, come back a
couple hours later. SHe was doing so well when she had the first stroke.

CS> Now have 2 large dog vets saying, 'english bulldog or bull mastiff'
CS> in the not too distant past.  This fellow is a very muscular sort
CS> with a broad chest packed with muscle.

That sounds mastiff.  THey're indeed powerful dogs.

My wife can't play with the tug of war rope toy with our Rott anymore. 
Even with brakes locked on her wheelchair young girl can pull wife across
the living room with it now.

CS> Hehe where 'pink boy' wil presumably not be off topic and well
CS> understood! 

Yah I caught that one.  WOuldn't be good for his heart right now. I'm sure
our young girl's going to be coming into heat soon, and we're still
vacillating on what we want to do.  We paid for breeding rights, but either
way wouldn't want her to breed first heat. BUms me out we couldn't have
gone through that still living in the country instead of in town.  Oh well.


 > > (on small family breeders, just simple and well raised)
 > 
 > > -> They're the nicest breeders usually :)
 > 
 Agree mostly.  We got our ROtt in Minnesota from one.

 > > I agree in general.  I saw one as a kid, who raised Saint Bernards though
 > > who I shudder at.
 > 
 > There are always going to be losers, at any trade.. but there are plenty of
 > good people who do it right too :)

yes seen that with quite a few.  tHe place where we got Schatzy was a
working farm. Lady who bred them had a nice air conditioned building for
kennel and outdoor run.  Indoor/outdoor carpet to help them learn that
carpet not place to go. sand nearby to go in, one of those kiddie pools for
them to get wet, and rotties love the water.

Shortly after we got her home, (about a week after we purchased her as we
spent some more time in motel rooms) our vet said she was infected with
coccidia bacteria.  We got the treatment, and followed vet's advice to call
breeding kennel owner. Lady was real upset to hear it, but said she'd check
all her dogs. Btw for those who don't know, Coccidia (spelling) is mostly
endemic in avian creatures.  My aunt fought it in her chickens a couple of
times.  Hence, kennel could have been infected by a pigeon flying over or
something. Breeder lady wanted to be sure we didn't blame her.  I have seen
others that would have just raised their middle fingers and gone on.

GOod luck with him Carol, and keep his posted.  SOme good friendly dog
folks here to help you out.


Regards,
           Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+