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Original poster

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3

975 replies

BiteyShark · 14/07/2017 10:28

Continuation of the support thread.... anyone is welcome whether they have new or older puppies, just want a chat or are battling with ongoing puppy problems.

I thought I would start this thread off as I am hoping it might be the last one I need support from as BiteyPup is now 9.5 months old and we have survived the early puppy months and his teenage antics seem to be subsiding. Still working on our relationship and recall but it's getting better and can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel (fingers crossed) Wine

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Original poster
BiteyShark · 18/08/2017 08:46

I am just glad I had arranged to be at home for 2 weeks as we are clearly going to need all the time to recover. Our vets work Saturday morning and said if his bowls don't sort themselves out by end Friday I can pick up a prescription which seems highly likely at the moment.

I could kick myself as we upset him so much trying all the different things to stop him licking and ironically the medical suit upset him the most so he was fighting and stressed which probably contributed to his swollen bits Sad. The least worst option is a comfy cone which I am not removing now until he gets better.

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bluetongue · 18/08/2017 10:13

Oh Biteyshark your poor boy Sad Hand and paw to hold here. Try not to blame yourself. You were just trying to do your best for him.

In all honesty I've probably been a bit casual about stopping Bluepuppy getting to his stitches. Just been lucky that he's been okay.

Sounds like things are improving for Pizzapup. Wooden floors / tiles do make life much easier

Soubriquet · 18/08/2017 10:26

Do you think she's tired? That's a rawhide chew she's fallen asleep with Grin

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3
Original poster
BiteyShark · 18/08/2017 10:35

Soubriquet she is just saving it for later Envy

Sounds like things are going well for PizzaPup.

It can't be long now blue until you get the all clear from bluepups neutering? Mine won't be till end of next week but I doubt it will happen unless his swelling has gone.

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bluetongue · 18/08/2017 12:09

Stitches come out Monday Bitey.

Bit worried about our first group training class coming up. There's going to be so many distractions there and he doesn't even respond to sit at the moment unless food is on offer.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 18/08/2017 12:27

Oh BiteyDog used to be in the naughty corner quite a bit at first during training. We are still one of the youngest and he certainly isn't the most badly behaved anymore so practice does make it better.

As I have got to know everyone each week we all have a laugh on who is the 'worst' that week so remember you are all there because you and the dog need training. As our instructor often says if the dog did what he was told each time we would not need to be there Grin

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roundtable · 18/08/2017 13:24

Oh no! It sounds like Biteypup has been having a dreadful time (and you too).

My phone is playing up so I can't write loads. Round pup has put on 1kg each time we've been to vets (monthly) and is 18.2kg now. They think she shouldn't get too much bigger and should stop growing around 12 months. She's still not had her first season yet. The rescue centre will neuter after that they've said.

Good luck to all the new pups! I'm glad I didn't have to do all the getting up for toileting. Grin

towelpintpeanuts · 18/08/2017 15:50

Halloo everyone! Back from hols and catching up on the news and the new puppies - welcome all :-) We had such a lovely time down in Devon - towelpup climbed toors, went to the beach, and met free range ponies, sheep and cows all with a calmness I wasn't expecting! All the walks meant we had some awesome lie-ins too :-)

Gosh, biteypup sounds like he's had a hard time of it: hope it's going better today?

I'm doing a bit neutering debate at the moment - my breeder is anti-neutering, and as towelpup has been an anxious little chap, my behaviouralist/trainer also said she'd try and avoid it if possible as he needs all the hormone confidence he can get! My natural inclination would be to neuter to avoid any unwanted pregnancies, but both their advice is giving me pause I must say. I'm certainly planning to wait as long as feasible (with the proviso that feasible = a time when I have 2 weeks clear to nurse a grumpy pup ;-)

Antiboop - we have a schnauzer and have been through (and largely out the other end!) of the manic barking phase - they do have a very piercing bark don't they?! I'm just working on barking at people coming into the house now, pretty much, but it's been a lot of work I have to say.

Soubriquet · 18/08/2017 16:47

You have a female dog towel?

It's good to neuter them yes but with nervous dogs it can some times be a good idea not to.

But it comes with a risk. Unnetuered females are at a risk of pyometra and if she gets that, it can kill her. It's rare but it does happen

towelpintpeanuts · 18/08/2017 20:40

No, he's a boy Soub - so lowers risk of testicular/prostate cancer but less clear cut than if he'd been a girl where as I understand it the risk of not neutering is more substantial in health terms.

Veterinari · 18/08/2017 20:57

Neutering actually increases his risk of prostate cancer but reduces the risk of prostrate hyperplasia (benign). Testicular cancer is pretty rare (though a potential risk)

I'd also suggest waiting if he's nervous, you can always neuter him when he's older and more emotionally stable

towelpintpeanuts · 18/08/2017 21:04

Thanks vet for that expert view and love a paper :-) that's really helpful and adds to my sense of wait and see for now.

My vet is generally in favour of late neutering anyway so had talked about year plus - does that sound sensible for a mini schnauzer from your perspective??

TheAntiBoop · 18/08/2017 21:08

Thanks towel. Luckily pup is at the stage where he wins everyone over so he gets away with the yapping!!

Interesting to hear about the neutering. Pup has a small hernia which the vet said he would sort when neutering so we didn't want to leave it too late

Veterinari · 18/08/2017 21:11

Probably around a year would be the earliest I would suggest - I actually wouldn't think in terms of age but asses him in terms of his maturity, emotional resilience and behaviour, and just play it by ear.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 18/08/2017 21:30

Well we aren't a good advertisement for stress free neutering Wink. I have some tablets now to help his bowls so fingers crossed that part of him starts to improve soon as the poor boy needs his strength to get over everything else.

Glad you had a good holiday towel, it's sounds like it was a nice rest.

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towelpintpeanuts · 18/08/2017 21:40

:-) Sorry bitey - didn't mean to make you feel worse: it does sound like you guys had a hard time for some reason! Hoping that the tablets work wonders for you (well, biteypup!)

Original poster
BiteyShark · 18/08/2017 21:48

It's ok towel he hasn't been too bad today because apart from his bowels being bad he has been relatively calm which is helping.

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towelpintpeanuts · 18/08/2017 21:50

Glad to hear it :-)

Original poster
BiteyShark · 18/08/2017 21:58

And one of the benefits of BiteyDogs favourite sleeping position being on his back with his legs in the air is you can get a really good look at his bits Grin. The swollen and bruised scrotum hasn't got any bigger from this morning so that is something. It's a good job no one can overhear our discussions in this household as it's all about poos and genitals at the moment Blush

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Original poster
BiteyShark · 19/08/2017 06:11

Phew we finally had a night where he didn't need to run to the toilet every couple of hours. Think the paste and tablets might be finally kicking in. Poor thing is so hungry all the time at the moment, really hoping he starts digesting some of his food soon.

I think he has now decided the spare bed is officially BiteyDog's bed. Think we will be in for a few rough nights when he is better and has to sleep in his crate again as he loves having a double bed to sprawl across whilst his mum strokes him Grin

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DeepfriedPizza · 19/08/2017 06:57

We had a rough night last night. She wouldn't settle on her own so dh had to sleep with her on the sofa. Don't know how to break the habit.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 19/08/2017 07:11

DeepfriedPizza the early weeks are bloody hard and tiring. Some people sleep close to them initially and do the gradual retreat so they sleep further and further away.

I preferto sleep in a different room and just get up, plonk outside with no fuss, then back in his crate again (repeat many times until they got it Grin). In fact I am fully expecting to have to go back to this approach for a few days when BiteyDog recovers and goes back in his crate.

It will take a bit of time for you to find the approach that works for you and PizzaPup. When things weren't working for me I researched other techniques and tried them out as I am a firm believer that one model doesn't fit all.

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DeepfriedPizza · 19/08/2017 11:50

I'm going to try crate training her properly, I think, she would retreat to her crate on the first few days but has got comfy on the sofa instead.

SkeletonSkins · 19/08/2017 22:31

You're still early days Pizza, id keep going. Pup has been through so much and is bound to be overwhelmed. Honestly took a couple of weeks for our pup to settle at night and he had a much more stable puppydem than yours.

Bitey sounds like things are going in the right direction, he's been through the mill bless him. Hope he's not in much pain.

towel how fab does your holiday sound! Sounds like a fab time and I bet pup has built his confidence loads with all those different circumstances. Re neutering I would definitely hold off if there's nerves there - we are. If it was a bitch I'd agree it needs doing but boys you can afford to hold off. If you were really worried about the impact of it, you can get an injection with is like a temporary neutering I think and removes the hormones. Might give you an idea how it would impact his personality? Personally I'm going to hold of but think I will get it done - mostly because he's short coated and I don't want to see them!!!

We are away for a few days this weekend, up at the Edinburgh Fringe. Having a fabulous time but both dogs are at my parents after a last minute dog care failure. I was so so worried as he's such a mummy's boy and spends every evening sat on my knee! But he's been great apparently - a bit off his food but other than that has settled, even at night which I was worried about.

Very much looking forward to seeing them both tomorrow though!