Tummy troubles with the french kangaroo.

Woof has had on going issues with his stomach ever since I first adopted him. But it has become more and more common with each year. What used to be a once or twice episode a year has turned into every few months. Trips to several vets, doing my own internet searching and talking to people in online groups and forums all kinds of ideas have come to. The very first thing that was ever suggested was IBD but he didn't have all the usual signs. Seizures, obstipation, ulcers, eating stuff he shouldn't, some sort of blockage... it goes on. He's been on lactulose, meloxicam, sulcrate sulfate, tramadol, pepcid and cerenia.

Last week he was in the worst pain I have ever seen him during one of these episodes. It started at around 3am and lasted until well into the afternoon. He was running into walls and even urinated all over the floor and himself. It was heartbreaking. I brought him into work that day as the vet clinic is upstairs and we decided to do an x-ray. X-rays showed no blockages but that he was filled to the brim with gas and very little poop. Vet said definitely a digestive issue without doing a biopsy and scope we can't be sure if it's something like IBD both of which are hard on the dog. So we decided to do a diet change to a gastro food for a few months to see if that does anything for him. She gave him some pepcid, a tramadol and cerenia to try and ease the discomfort. The next day I brought him in again just to recheck, he wasn't in plain discomfort anymore but we both felt that his abdomen was still pretty tense and probably still bothering him just not to the level it was the previous day, more pepcid was given to ease him.

I've always done a rotation diet with my current dogs, ever bag we either change brand and/or flavor. We've got four brands in the rotation, Orijen, Acana (grain free), Go! (grain free) and Boreal. I also include raw turkey necks whenever I can. After some looking and thought I knew that Natural Balance had an LID line that was good for dogs with allergies and sensitivities. I opted to go with a novel protein and picked up a bag and a few cans of the potato & duck LID. He'll be on this now for a few months and hopefully it'll do something for him to help with is issues. Me, my partner and the dogs live in the basement "apartment" of my parents house for the time being, my father likes to feed the dogs various things, various times a day despite being told not to. Prior to moving in Boone and Woof had never gotten people food and very rarely dog treats since moving in it has been a constant battle to stop it. Now with Woof;s issue it is vital that he not get any extras for awhile so we can see if the diet change will do anything for him. Of course my father hasn't gone for it and continue to sneak him small bits of this and that with the reasoning of "it's only a small piece". Yes a small piece countless times a day when we are trying to figure out his digestive issues. To try and get some common ground I went out and got a bag of NB LID treats that matched his food, and told my father if he MUST feed him to only feed him these treats. We'll see how well this works.

Boone got quicked

When I first got Boone I was horribly afraid to cut his nails. They were black, my Lab mixes were black and we had a few bad experiences with cutting nails even by groomers. There was one groomer her cut his quick on every nail, didn't tell me, I put him in the car and left to go home when home my back seat had blood everywhere. The blood never came out fully and my poor dog was worse then ever before for his nails. This was before I was taught how to do them properly. Boone was also very touchy about his paws (still is) and was very quick to bite in fear. So I left them... horrible move on my part. I could have taken him to a groomer but he was such a nervous dog and after the whole thing with my previous dog I didn't want to. I did get them cut once in a blue moon by myself or with a groomer friend but not as often as I should have. Understandably they grew, the quicks grew and he had long nails, that no matter how often I cut them (once a week for two years) I couldn't get them to shorten to a healthy length.

Boone's new, healthy feet.

So I had them quicked. He was given a mild sedation, his nails were cut to a nice short length. There was some mild bleeding but nothing some quickstop didn't fix and a pain injections and was all over in a couple of minutes. He can now walk more comfortably, his nails aren't causing his toes to be splayed out or for him to stand unnaturally to compensate for his long nails and his nails aren't getting caught in things like the deck boards. Better yet, no more clicking! The first couple of days he walked a little funny, as if he was still compensating for his longer nails but a little over a week later we're all good now. He seems happier and more comfortable, even less touchy about his paws (although still not a big fan of it).

Overgrown nails

I once thought this procedure was cruel but in the case of a dog who is in discomfort and risking permanent injury this is a instant fix. I certainly recommend it, under sedation to anyone who's dog's nails and quicks are overgrown and then to stay on a frequent nail trimming schedule to prevent it from happening again. Overgrown nails can cause permanent damage to a dog's joints and structure. Tendons stretch, toes twist, arthritis sets in, the dog overcompensates and therefore shifts to using other parts of the body that aren't normally used to hold the majority of the weight and then they become affected. Every step the dog takes and those nails bounce off the ground it causes pain.

Shave Down, Smack Down

Woof is a Border Collie/Siberian Husky so he's double coated. The majority of feelings on double coated dogs getting shaved is basically the same as sticking your head into an alligators mouth, you don't do it, you don't even think about it. It's religious, the world will end. However I have shaved Woof and I would again if the mood struck me. I accept the risks and it makes it easier on me and him, there are times where the last thing I want to do is groom my own dogs at the end of the day after doing everyone else's. I'm tired, busy or personal stuff happens and things get pushed aside. Instead of letting him mat or build up massive amounts of undercoat that end up tumble weeding down my hallways, I shave him.

Lion cut on a Pom.

I love the look of dogs in their natural coats, but I also understand that sometimes it's just not feasible all the time for everyone, even to groomers who preach that you not shave down a double coated dog. But when a family member is the hospital for months on end and you are there every day for hours or when you have to travel more than usual due to work, sometimes it just doesn't get done as often as it should. It's understandable. Sometimes people (myself included) just want to do it for fun, something different that they saw and liked such as a lion cut. Woof has sported lions cuts a few times now. I think they're cute.

There are plenty of reasons people want their DD dog shaved...

This dog has developed "coat funk" from being shaved.

•  The dog will be cooler.  These dogs lose their ability to regulate body temperate as efficiently, their coats act as insulation for both cold and hot weather. It will trap the cooler air closer to the body while keeping the hot rays from the sunburn prone skin. Keep the dog's coat well brushed out and free of undercoat will help this flow better and in turn keep the door cooler in the heat. You can also shave a strip on their stomachs to allow them to lay on a cool surface to help it a little more and since it is on the underside of the dog it is less likely to become sun burnt. Dog's don't sweat through their skin so shaving them is not necessary to keep them cool. The coat may never grow back the same, it may grow back the undercoat but not the top coat in areas giving it a patchy look. 
• My dog has hot spots. Some people will say they've been told to shave their dogs because they keep getting hot spots. Hot spots are a skin irritation that are caused by laying on rough surfaces, excessive licking, matting, or trauma that ends up getting moist and harboring bacteria. They can be avoided by frequent grooming to prevent mats and excessive undercoat, having a well padded area to lay on and keeping them dry and clean. Sometimes medication from a veterinarian is needed.
• S/he sheds too much. Shedding will not suddenly stop if you shave your dog. DD dogs, shed, you cannot stop shedding it is a natural thing that must happen. Their hair is shorter so the shedding hair is smaller and not as noticeable and only appears to be smaller.

And more besides that. Unless the dog is matted and there is no choice generally it shouldn't be done but if the owner understands the risks and still wants it done then I do do it. It doesn't make them or myself bad owners and I'm honestly tired of hearing it. It has come up on some dog forums and facebook groups that I have shaved Woof and there are mixed reactions from people. Some will say while they don't like it and wouldn't do it to their dog if someone else wants to go for it, some quite like it and others will get very upset saying how silly, unnatural and mean it is, trying to get others to side with them and even go as far as call it abuse.

Golden Retriever shaved

I will say this, my dogs are not abused, nor will they ever be in my care. My dogs are not "poor pups" are not embarrassed or suffering. That is incredibley offensive and even extreme to say such things. Not everyone will enjoy it or want to do it to their dogs and that's fine, to each their own but be respectful to those that do it. There are far worse things out there to get upset over and try to rally troops for in regards to animals unfairness. If you want to shave your DD dog then fine, know the risks though and if something happens don't blame the groomer, or the vet or anyone else, you made the choice to want it done remember that.

Welcome to the Island Mutts blog!

I'm a 20 something pet groomer living in Newfoundland with three dogs and my common law partner. This blog is mainly to just ramble and muse, about dog related things, my own dogs and what I come across at my business. So let me introduce the three boys.

 First is Boone, I was working at the Toronto Humane Society when he came in as a little 3 month old puppy. I ended up adopting him 2 months later. Our best guess and the best guess of others has been that he is a German Shepherd x Australian Cattle Dog, he's 5 year old.

Second is Woof, who I adopted when he was 2 years old.  A co worker and I found him on the Toronto Animal Services website one day, the next I was down there applying for adoption. He was a transfer from a Quebec shelter who had gotten him from a puppy mill, he is also 5 years old. He's  Border Collie x Siberian Husky.

Third is Ranger, my common law partner bought him before we met from what he now sees was a back yard breeder at 6 weeks old. He's a Lab and just turned 5 years this month.