Question for dog lovers ? or experts? or?

[TigerLilly]

Originally posted by Hootie
Another good, smaller dog is a PUG! That's what I wanted origonally because of my allergies. But those little pups can be expensive too

Except that pugs tend to have breathing problems, with the smushed nose and all.

For someone who knows, thetalady perhaps, isn't it true that a lot of purebred dogs tend to have certain health problems that go along with their breeds? The results of inbreeding over time, is what I remember hearing. Like, smushed-nose dogs with their breathing problems, and dogs of another breed (can't remember which) that have a high chance of having hip problems, etc? A good reason to go for a mutt, not a purebred!

And yes, I'm the proud owner of a little yappy mutt from the shelter.

[jh124]

dogs of another breed (can't remember which) that have a high chance of having hip problems, etc?

Labs have bad problems with hips. So do some other breeds of large dogs.

I love my mutts! I've had purebred dogs, and I've loved them too, but my mutts are something special

[thetalady]

Originally posted by TigerLilly
Except that pugs tend to have breathing problems, with the smushed nose and all.

For someone who knows, thetalady perhaps, isn't it true that a lot of purebred dogs tend to have certain health problems that go along with their breeds?

Absolutely!

Labs- allergies & hip problems
Bulldogs- horrible allergies & ear infections
Cocker spaniels- serious ear & eye problems
Pugs- breathing & eye problems
Great Danes- bloat
and on & on & on......

Many breeds have problems inherent with their physical characteristics which are the fault of human design. Many breeds are basically man-made, concocted for human vanity rather than functionality.

Other problems can occur due to poor breeding and inbreeding. I am a Lab lover, myself. With this breed, hip dysplasia is simply a common fact of their lives, sort of like arthritis with us.

The AKC site given earlier is good for identifying common problems. I also agree that mixed breeds often seem to be healthier overall than many pure breds. Just depends on the dog. I do have a couple of "All American" dogs myself!

[AGDee]

I adopted the most beautiful, sweet and cuddly Alaskan Malamute from a rescue group. The poor gal was born with juvenile cataracts and had been blind most of her short life (she was 18 months old when I adopted her). The group's national parent group paid for her to have surgery so that she could see again. Since she was blind and very dependent on humans, she's very sweet but suffers from separation anxiety. The poor girl ended up on IVs the last time I boarded her because she was so stressed out that she couldn't eat and was having the runs. She's the perfect dog, when I'm home, but she really is sad and stressed when I go away.

Dee

[sororitygirl2]

Visit dogbreedinfo.com for more information on all sorts of dogs.

As for me, I nominate the rottweiler as BEST BREED EVER!

EDITED TO ADD - The Great Dane is a close second though!

[honeychile]

Originally posted by chantillylace55


get a pomeranian! i adopted mine from the local animal shelter and i can honestly say that he is hands down the best dog i have ever had! i am completely obsessed with him! they are the most loyal, cuddly dogs ever!
xoxo
chantillylace and zero

Who could resist that sweet lil face?!?!?! What a cutie!!!

As for breeds & diseases, Bichons sometimes develop a non-malignant tumor at the back of their throats which causes them to cough. When my lil Buffy goes into a coughing fit, he looks up at us, like "What just happened? I'm so scared!" We're going to see about the possibility of having it removed.

[aggieAXO]

Originally posted by thetalady
Absolutely!

Labs- allergies & hip problems
Bulldogs- horrible allergies & ear infections
Cocker spaniels- serious ear & eye problems
Pugs- breathing & eye problems
Great Danes- bloat
and on & on & on......

Many breeds have problems inherent with their physical characteristics which are the fault of human design. Many breeds are basically man-made, concocted for human vanity rather than functionality.

Other problems can occur due to poor breeding and inbreeding. I am a Lab lover, myself. With this breed, hip dysplasia is simply a common fact of their lives, sort of like arthritis with us.

The AKC site given earlier is good for identifying common problems. I also agree that mixed breeds often seem to be healthier overall than many pure breds. Just depends on the dog. I do have a couple of "All American" dogs myself!

add on:
Labs-bloat
bull dogs-elongated soft palates, breathing problems, labor problems (for those stupid people that "breed" them)
Great Danes-live to about 8-9 years of age (not long enough for me), hip problems
cocker spaniels-behavior problems (many bite believe it or not), skin allergies, cherry eye

no dog is perfect but you need to find the one for you. For example: if you are looking for a running partner do not get a bulldog or chihuahua (I know this seems common sense but we have had many heat stroked bulldogs-hello people they cannot breath as it is).

make sure you budget at least 100$ per month and put this away for possible medical problems/expenses. I just spent 700$ on my cat that was vomiting and that was 1/2 off at the clinic I work at. Bottom line-animals are an expense, they WILL cost you money.

I highly recommend looking into pet insurance also. This is becoming more and more popular and useful but buyer beware there are some bad companies out there so do your research!

[Sister Havana]

AGDee,
My dog had terrible, terrible separation anxiety. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that he had three homes in two weeks. (his original owner brought him to the shelter at age six and a half, because he and the other dog they had were too rough around the new baby, then he was adopted out for less than a week but brought back because the other family also had a baby and he was too nippy around their baby. He's the only baby here though...actually, he's wonderful when we see babies on the street or at the park, he sits there and lets them pet him. I think it's just a matter of him living with and competing for attention with one - he is a major attention hog! but I digress.) He'd pee and poop in the house whenever he was left alone, no matter if we were gone for 5 minutes or 5 hours, no matter how long a walk he was on before we left. My vet recommended I put him on Clomicalm and I finally did that just after Thanksgiving. It's a drug specifically to treat separation anxiety in dogs. Costs around $30/month. Barney will be on it for six months and then he'll be weaned off it, if everything goes well. It took about three weeks to kick in but it's worked WONDERS since it has. I give him a pill once a day in the morning and I no longer come home to surprises in the house! You might want to look into it for your dog.

[aggieAXO]

I have a friend (who is also a vet.) that has her weimi on Clomicalm as he has separation anxiety and it works well. She still cannot kenel him when she goes out of town but she can at least leave the house and not worry about what she is going to find when she comes home from work.

[madmax]

Anyone know anything about Vizslas, Bernese Mountain Dogs or Bearded Collies. I am looking for a new puppy and I have a couple of questions. PM me.

[AlphaXi4983]

i agree, if you want to get a dog, please at least consider adopting a dog. these dogs are homeless and often need a loving home. but be careful, they also usually have a past and you need to be able to deal with that and you need to be very patient. dont think that just becuase you are adopting an older dog that it will come trained and ready to go. my last dog was adopted from an abusive home and we were unable to train him and he had alllllll sorts of issues, but he was the most loving and amazing dog ever. he passed a year ago, but i still think about him all the time.
we actually just bought two westie puppies this past sunday, but i am still on the wesite rescue list in case a good match comes up my westies

[Sister Havana]

Awww...those Westies are just adorable!

(Of course I am SUCH a sucker for terriers!)

[absolutuscchick]

ugh. I am SOOO not a dog fan.

[AGDee]

Thanks for the tip on Clomicalm. I will ask her vet about it. I forgot that she has pics on the internet too (although not her best ones).. this is my Sammigirl (when she was still blind from cataracts)

Samantha

Dee

[honeychile]

I'll have to look into Clomicalm, too. Buffy is actually my mama's dog, but I'm his "other mother". If I have them both in the car to run errands, and my mama gets out to run into a store, Buffy freaks out!! His little heart races, he whimpers, he absolutely pines for my mama - and yet, normally he's okay with just me. I don't want him to have to take a drug because of me, it's more because we're worried that he might stroke out of something from the anxiety!

When my mama leaves him home alone, he either stays in his crate ("Buffy in da house!") or on the window sill. He doesn't have an "accident" problem, except for once when he was sick to his stomach.

Do y'all think Clomicalm is still for him?


Eta: y'all have some gorgeous puppies!!! I was never a dog person, until this little guy left his paw prints on my heart!!