> HI Carol,

Hi!

 > 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 sho
 > we  adopted her off street of inner city NEw ORleans 2 yrs previous to Katri

Nod:

 
 > 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 belonge

Cash is to be on it forever.  He still tests positive but due to treatment
record, they say he's safe for other dogs to be around as well as our rescue
kitty Daisy.  Daisy however will also be put on preventive.

 > 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.

;-)  Glad she had a nice long run there!  Cash is apt to be somewhat short
lived due to this, but he should be healthy with decent care.

 > 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 so
 > 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.

Yes, my neighbors dont.  They cant afford it they say.

 >  > > 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.
 >  >
 > WElcome and hope you find us helpful and friendly .

I'm sure I will!  I tried a newsgroup (no need to mention which one) and they
were awful!

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

Thats what we are hoping.  In May, if all goes to plan, he should no longer
test positive.  (some sort of antibody thing that will drift away by then).

 > 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.

Yes, but he's considerably smaller, at 17.5 at shoulder and not quite as
'burley' looking.  We have fun guessing but it doesnt really matter, other
than you'll see me call hims a 'beagle' (he is a mix though) and the weights
and feeding amounts wont match what your mind tells you a beagle needs or
should weigh.

 > 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 liv
 > room with it now.

Grin, I can picture that one!  I bet they understand instinctively to be
gentle with her too.

 > 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 o
 > young girl's going to be coming into heat soon, and we're still vacillating 
 > what we want to do.  We paid for breeding rights, but either way wouldn't wa
 > her to breed first heat. BUms me out we couldn't have gone through that stil
 > living in the country instead of in town.  Oh well.

Yeah, won't be so much fun for a week or so in the city but little other
option.  How you gonna keep the boy away?  Put him in a temp place?  Like a
pet hotel?


 >  > > (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.

Yes, and sure, some arent very good but my experiences with knowing such
folks, are that in general most are pretty careful, especially if they have
just one breeding pair.  Some web article says thats the worst sort, but my
own experiences over the years says otherwise (unless you are looking for
show-dog stuff).

Anyways, across the street they are doing the last breeding of an english
bulldog pair.  4th time? and they checked with the vet to make sure she's up
for it first.  None of the previous liters have had any problem pups.  (Now
I'm forgetting how many times she's had pups, maybe this is 5th?  Anyways,
last time she's to have any.  They will have her neutered after this set).

English buuldog pups can go for 1500$ or more but these go to local neighbors
at 500$ after being housebroken and all that.  The wife came over to help me
look over the house for puppy safe issues for Cash before he came home.

For the 500$ pups, you get all medical records (all shots are done), a
pre-paid 6 month supply of heartguard, pre-payed 
neuter/spay
with appointment based on age of pup, and a pre-paid next checkup.  Now, I don 
't know what she charges for the one that don't find local homes within the
mile or so radius, but the shots and such are the same.  (I think they have to
 go to the followup appointment to get the heartguard as the pup has to be
weighted etc).

To me, these folks are the 'good kind'.

 > Shortly after we got her home, (about a week after we purchased her as we sp
 > 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.  Henc
 > kennel could have been infected by a pigeon flying over or something. Breede
 > lady wanted to be sure we didn't blame her.  I have seen others that would h
 > just raised their middle fingers and gone on.

Grin, can happen.  There's several things Cash had to be vaccinated for that
are prevalant in the local area.  With his heartworm problems, these other
things if he got them wouldnt be mild ailments easy to fix later but major
issues.

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

Yup!  Thats why I'm here!
          xxcarol
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