Pepper 🌶️

[MichiH]

I would love too, as she is really growing up to be a sweet, confident, and loving Doberman. I thought after her heat she’d be back in full swing. She’s calmed down a bit and is such a love with family and my boys friends. I would need to look into the AKC Good Citizen as I have no idea how it works. I do agree she would excel. Thank you for you kind words

 

[Katyusharocket]

I wondered if her heat would be the start of slowing down for her.

Here is a link to general CGC info from AKC.

Training Resources – American Kennel Club

www.akc.org

This is a link to the 10 test items you can look through to see if it's something you would like to do, or think about how close she is to each item. CGC Test Items – American Kennel Club

The AKC site can help you find an evaluator too, if you wish. Just type find an evaluator into their search box. Each evaluator sets their own fee. Mine was $40 for CGC but she charges only $35 for CGCA.

 

[Ravenbird]

The AKC site can help you find an evaluator too, if you wish. Just type find an evaluator into their search box. Each evaluator sets their own fee. Mine was $40 for CGC but she charges only $35 for CGCA.

Great advice - I'd forgotten there was the AKC list! We have a small kennel club in my town and the president of the club is an evaluator for CGC's and Trick Dog. She doesn't charge anything for club members to take the test. Kennel clubs can help with other stuff too. Ours is too small to have shows or trials, but it was hugely beneficial for Asha as a puppy to get together with other people & dogs. She teaches basic obedience and rally and another member has an agility field and they teach that. They also got the Rattlesnake avoidance clinic put together (open to non-members) and they do some community work. I think AKC lists kennel clubs too so if there's one near you it might be fun to get involved. Your kids might like that kind of activity too, I think they are old enough to do things like that with Pepper?

 

[Katyusharocket]

Your kids might like that kind of activity too, I think they are old enough to do things like that with Pepper?

This is golden too. I have a club about 40 miles away. I'm not involved yet, but do hang out with several members and organizers of that club because we are serving therapy events together. Our evaluator is both an organizer of the club and also evaluates the therapy dogs. But yes, giving youth the opportunity to be involved in a kennel club is all kinds of winning. The dog wins. The kids win. The club wins. The parents win too, IMHO, as long as everyone is enjoying it.

 

[MichiH]

This is golden too. I have a club about 40 miles away. I'm not involved yet, but do hang out with several members and organizers of that club because we are serving therapy events together. Our evaluator is both an organizer of the club and also evaluates the therapy dogs. But yes, giving youth the opportunity to be involved in a kennel club is all kinds of winning. The dog wins. The kids win. The club wins. The parents win too, IMHO, as long as everyone is enjoying it.

That’s awesome! Exactly is all enjoy then it’s a win win!

 

[MichiH]

Back at it again day 2 of TMI - yellow liquid diarrhea. We had a good run for 2 weeks totally normal!

I want to pull my hair out and I feel bad for Pepper constantly having an upset stomach. I do wonder if she got a bird my cat once again left in the mulch. I didn’t fully see it all, but a portion of it which I was able to get rid of.

Called vet same protocol, monitor her, up all night every hour this is the worse case yet. She cannot hold it at all.

Fingers crossed this clears up today back on the chicken and rice for a few days

 

[MichiH]

This thread should be Pepper and her constant issues

 

[Ravenbird]

This thread should be Pepper and her constant issues

It's got to be the most frustrating thing in the world. I was just wondering if you've ever had bloodwork panel done to check things like liver & thyroid and red & white cell count etc. ? Doesn't seem to have anything to do with the stools, but if something else is out of whack it could affect everyday digestion maybe?

I did think of you the other day Asha had loose stool - what I call soft-serve ice cream look: not as bad as a cow pattie, but not a turd either. She had no change in diet, no off leash hike where she could have picked up something to eat, just out of the blue 2 days of soft serve. I did nothing (she was acting normal) and it went away. But watery diarrhea that can't be held, that's totally different. There has to be some kind of work-up a vet could suggest, whether blood work or MRI or something.

 

[MichiH]

It's got to be the most frustrating thing in the world. I was just wondering if you've ever had bloodwork panel done to check things like liver & thyroid and red & white cell count etc. ? Doesn't seem to have anything to do with the stools, but if something else is out of whack it could affect everyday digestion maybe?

I did think of you the other day Asha had loose stool - what I call soft-serve ice cream look: not as bad as a cow pattie, but not a turd either. She had no change in diet, no off leash hike where she could have picked up something to eat, just out of the blue 2 days of soft serve. I did nothing (she was acting normal) and it went away. But watery diarrhea that can't be held, that's totally different. There has to be some kind of work-up a vet could suggest, whether blood work or MRI or something.

It really is frustrating and now on no sleep for us both. I was so happy she was back to normal. Her pooping is now a stressful event for me I am always worried about her poop

I will see how today goes and make an appointment if no improvement. I am also going to ask about bloodwork as well. She is tired today and whinny. No reaction when I press on her belly and hungry as can be.

Aww poor girl and you too, when they have bm issues it’s always a concern. It is a relief that Asha isn’t an eater of all non food items, you are lucky. Glad she is back to normal now!

 

[Katyusharocket]

This thread should be Pepper and her constant issues

Ya this is unsettling. I remember me being one of the people telling you a while back that "oh puppy tummies can be unstable and just wait it out, it should settle". This doesn't seem like that anymore. I agree with @Ravenbird on the liver/thyroid tests, Dobies (i have read) often have thyroid stuff going on? I feel for you, it's just so hard to watch when they don't feel well and they don't have words to tell us what it's like.

Maybe a partial bird could do it?

Other than the vet's help, the only thing I can think of, and maybe you're already doing it, is a probiotic, like every day of her life probiotic (even if it's raw goat's milk or whatever). the other thing I wonder is if you give her a monthly oral flea/tick/heartworm preventative? My dogs all pooped puddles after their first dose of Nexgard plus? I don't know I am just grabbing at straws, I admit. Something is going on with your poor Pepper and I hope you can learn what it is soon!

I'm really glad she's hungry though.

 

[MichiH]

Ya this is unsettling. I remember me being one of the people telling you a while back that "oh puppy tummies can be unstable and just wait it out, it should settle". This doesn't seem like that anymore. I agree with @Ravenbird on the liver/thyroid tests, Dobies (i have read) often have thyroid stuff going on? I feel for you, it's just so hard to watch when they don't feel well and they don't have words to tell us what it's like.

Maybe a partial bird could do it?

Other than the vet's help, the only thing I can think of, and maybe you're already doing it, is a probiotic, like every day of her life probiotic (even if it's raw goat's milk or whatever). the other thing I wonder is if you give her a monthly oral flea/tick/heartworm preventative? My dogs all pooped puddles after their first dose of Nexgard plus? I don't know I am just grabbing at straws, I admit. Something is going on with your poor Pepper and I hope you can learn what it is soon!

I'm really glad she's hungry though.

Thank you!

I am going to drop off a stool sample today. I do know for a fact she got into the litter box this week, there isn’t anything in there, but litter that’s been used. Also, the bird a possibility.

I just don’t understand how things are normal and then not normal so often. I do know she has a sensitive stomach. She also eats stuff she isn’t supposed to and I mail watch her 24/7.

Maybe her stool will have something in it as I would hope she doesn’t have any major issues going on.

I did her simparico trio about 2 weeks ago, good thing to check though.

 

[JanS]

I do wonder if she got a bird my cat once again left in the mulch. I didn’t fully see it all, but a portion of it which I was able to get rid of.

I did some checking when Olive was sick and one of the things she had (forget which now) can come from munching on a healthy bird since they carry some sort of bacteria. She was crunching on a dead bird a couple days before she was diagnosed.

Oh I found it.

What is campylobacteriosis infection?

​

Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial intestinal infection caused by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter upsaliensis. It is a major cause of human bacterial enteritis, although it is considered a normal bacterium in the intestinal tract of many animals and birds.

Campylobacter Infection in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals

Campylobacter infection or Campylobacterosis is a bacterial intestinal infection cased by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter upsaliensis. It is a major cause of human bacterial enteritis although it is considered a normal bacterium in the intestinal tract of many animals and birds.

vcahospitals.com

 

[Katyusharocket]

Oh I found it.

Good thing to check. I had forgotten about it but my Zeke had that, It was probably 15 years ago now or more, but it was kinda brutal like that now that I am remembering it. I never knew what he picked it up from. Black Lab, always eating everything.

 

[MichiH]

Thank you all! I dropped her stool sample off this am and hope to hear today if they find anything. She took her walk today no problem and devoured her lunch. Now she’s sleepy which is expected after last night.

 

[remy]

This will probably be a little annoying to do, but try writing down everything she eats (along with the time and quantity) plus when she poops and if it was diarrhea, soft, normal, etc… Also write down (again with the time) if she gets into anything she shouldn’t have. Did she eat a leaf? Get into the cat box? Steal food from the garbage? Get fluff out of a toy? Write it all down! Look at your notes after a few days and see if you notice any trends. Maybe this could help to pinpoint what is causing her issues!

 

[Rits]

I think AKC lists kennel clubs too so if there's one near you it might be fun to get involved.

Yup! Great way to find obedience classes or join a club as they might put on trials and always need volunteers. Sometimes a great way to get private lessons or tips from some of the long time members with upper titles.

Clubs & Delegates Archive

www.akc.org

wonder if she got a bird my cat once again left in the mulch.

Is it possible for the kitty to stay inside? Outdoor cats don't have a great life expectancy due to all the dangers anyways and they put a lot of damage on our song bird population. That would cut down on Pepper getting old nasty dead birds and probably help out her guts a lot...

 

[Cferg]

@MichiH disclaimer I’m not a vet in any way. But when Stassi eats something that upsets her GI. What I found gets her back to normal quicker is to stop giving her any food. Purging her system so to speak. After 24 hrs of no food I start off with an 1/8th of her daily kibble rations. Then a 1/4 on her next feeding. So by the 4th feeding on the second day she’s back to full amount. I see no harm in a dog going a day without food. And Stassi has an extremely high metabolism so for her it usually takes only 12 hrs, to go from uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea to keeping water down. So after 24 hrs I slowly start her back on food.

 

[Ddski5]

Freyja on the norm has good solid poops. But on the occasion when she puts out a loose cow patty, it can be traced to her ingesting some she should not. If I can’t figure it out, the I go to wife and girls asking. It is usually identified as cat/chicken poop, crawfish boil, chocolate, etc..
I give a probiotic 2x week normally but if she gets loose then I give it 2x day until it clears up. Freyja use to have bad gas until wife started giving her 1-2 teaspoons of her yogurt she eats ate lunch. I believe this has eliminated her bad gas.

I recently introduced pumpkin seed oil and corn silk to her diet because it’s recommended as a homeopathic urinary incontinence treatment. Nope…second day of using, she gets loose yellow cow patties.

Such sensitive stomachs Dobermans have. For many, any change in what they ingest causes loose bowels.

 

[Ravenbird]

@MichiH - Just checking on you & Pepper - haven't seen an update. I just saw this article and thought of you. Study is across the country from you, but maybe look into IBD? Hope things are OK.

Dog volunteers needed for study to fight canine inflammatory bowel disease

New research at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine will hopefully lead to a better understanding of inflammatory bowel disease in canines and more effective treatments.

news.wsu.edu

 

[MichiH]

Hi! Missed you all! Been getting the house together as we are discussing moving in the spring. Lots of work that I don’t enjoy at all.

Pepper is almost 1! Still having issues with her bms. Somedays normal and for week normal. Then she flares up and back to diarrhea here and there. It’s frustrating and I feel for her. For instance past 2 days normal during the day and up at 2:30 am with an explosion. She does wake me and I am thankful for that.

I am going to transition to Munster when she turns 1, which is 9/24. @JanS i know you use it and which one to do feed your crew?

I can’t figure out what is going on and of course she does eat things she shouldn’t, I catch her in the act on our walks and correct, but she’ll grab a goose turd quickly. I try to avoid those areas and sometimes I don’t relaize they’re in the grass.

Here she is she’s as sweet as can be and doing well otherwise. A petite thing. Someone asked if she were a mini last week she is 24.5 inches weight 68 pounds so not a mini