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by GSDSRULE on 20 September 2009 - 20:09
I agree, Char.
I have been around several mares that had foals and several bitches that had litters, and none
looked as poor as this dog. She has not been cared for, period.
I have been around several mares that had foals and several bitches that had litters, and none
looked as poor as this dog. She has not been cared for, period.
by DDR-DSH on 20 September 2009 - 21:09
I think that some of you people are being a little over-dramatic, here. She's obviously out of coat, at the peak of her shedding. She's already a very gracile build and does not have much in the way of bone or substance, even at her best. Personally, I do not care for this type of a bitch. When this type of a bitch loses a few pounds and is out of coat, she'll look like crap. They were stupid to post pictures of her like this. Anyone who knows better will hide their bitches when they look this bad.. usually, after a litter, but I don't see any trace of residual breast development, so I think she may be a hyperactive, over-exertional type, and maybe this is why they want to sell her. It took me YEARS to learn how to manage the body weight on these fence-running / spinning dogs. I simply give the dog / bitch a lard sandwich (1/2 sandwich), every day or so. They love it, and you should see how the coat blooms and the condition and weight of the dog improves. It's remarkable, really! Some dogs just have behavioral issues and require a higher calorie intake. If you just try to give them more food, it may not help so much.. it tends to run through them and you just end up with a big mess in the kennel. If they don't get enough fat, they burn the protein that they need for muscle / tissue repair, and eventually, they will start to consume their own muscle. The lard works.. trust me! The thing is, that lipids are needed for energy and skin / coat health. Veggie oil helps (especially corn oil) but it is not enough. Now, there is a possibility that the pancreas has been knocked out, and she is not absorbing enough fat from her diet (pancreatic fluids process fats for absorbtion from the digestive tract). I've seen that, also. It can happen from whipworms, for one thing. I'm sure there are other reasons for pancreatitis, or pancreatic insufficiency.. You'd have to do your own homework. Diagnosis is pretty easy.. stools will usually be runny.. Put some on a piece of brown paper and let it dry. If the paper remains dark in places, it will be from oil / fat stains.
Let me ask you all a question.. If all dogs were naturally in a superior condition, all the time, and abuse / neglect were the only reason they would fall from this state of perfection, then why would we need veterinarians? We'd just need police, right? Unfortunately, this is where things are going, now, thanks to know-it-all armchair critics who like to see people punished for things which may or may not involve their knowledge, intent and participation. Why do veterinarians exist?... to work with owners to identify the source of a problem, and to help to find a solution.. which takes time, and money. Do you bust somone and take their dog, when they may have just gotten it off a plane, or taken it in in bad condition as a rescue project?
And, veterinarians have to be paid, too, right? Good care costs money, which many people don't have. When I was flush, I always had the vet do the extras for my dogs. When I was cash strapped, they got the basics, no frills. I mean.. There are people out there who are losing homes, walking around with a throbbing tooth that they cannot afford to have pulled, etc. Is that criminal? Does anyone want to be in that condition, really? Does anyone with the knowledge and means to acquire a nice bitch from two VA parents not care about her condition? These are all things you should be asking yourselves, instead of jumping to conclusions. I knew a very honorable man, many years ago, who actually let his dogs starve. He had 12 to 20 of them, I gather.. Some ended up dead, some had to be PTS, and some were actually eating wood to survive. It was beyond horrible. But, the man had a huge brain tumor, which was not diagnosed until later. He wasn't even feeding himself or caring for himself. What a mess, it was! When the tumor (the size of a grapefruit) was removed, he was OK.
Let me ask you all a question.. If all dogs were naturally in a superior condition, all the time, and abuse / neglect were the only reason they would fall from this state of perfection, then why would we need veterinarians? We'd just need police, right? Unfortunately, this is where things are going, now, thanks to know-it-all armchair critics who like to see people punished for things which may or may not involve their knowledge, intent and participation. Why do veterinarians exist?... to work with owners to identify the source of a problem, and to help to find a solution.. which takes time, and money. Do you bust somone and take their dog, when they may have just gotten it off a plane, or taken it in in bad condition as a rescue project?
And, veterinarians have to be paid, too, right? Good care costs money, which many people don't have. When I was flush, I always had the vet do the extras for my dogs. When I was cash strapped, they got the basics, no frills. I mean.. There are people out there who are losing homes, walking around with a throbbing tooth that they cannot afford to have pulled, etc. Is that criminal? Does anyone want to be in that condition, really? Does anyone with the knowledge and means to acquire a nice bitch from two VA parents not care about her condition? These are all things you should be asking yourselves, instead of jumping to conclusions. I knew a very honorable man, many years ago, who actually let his dogs starve. He had 12 to 20 of them, I gather.. Some ended up dead, some had to be PTS, and some were actually eating wood to survive. It was beyond horrible. But, the man had a huge brain tumor, which was not diagnosed until later. He wasn't even feeding himself or caring for himself. What a mess, it was! When the tumor (the size of a grapefruit) was removed, he was OK.
by DDR-DSH on 20 September 2009 - 21:09
(continued)
Here is something else to think about.. Dr Leon Whitney, DVM, one of America's most prolific and best-loved writers on all subjects of dog health and rearing, said that the dog, of all domestic animals, can lose and gain weight the most rapidly, and dramatically. I have seen this to be true. In a way, they are genetically prepared to respond to times of lean and fat, as hunters, and pack animals, which must share whatever kill they can make ("sharing", in this case, means that the alpha dog gets his fill and everyone else gets what's left, in order of their social ranking). If times and hunting are good, they can bulk up in a week or two, and then if there is not much to eat, they run on their own body reserves for that period of time, often looking bad, but being still quite viable and healthy. I have a saying, that "Normal is a range". There is no one body fat index for dogs.. They must be looked at as individuals, according to breed and behavior. They can be quite healthy and well-functioning within a pretty wide range, which would be normal for them. Upwards of 7 or 8 lbs under ideal could still be OK. Lots of working dog people will keep their dogs ultra lean. I don't agree with that, but..
Those of us who struggle with weight gain should envy the dog. Imagine being able to lose 15% of your body weight in two or three weeks, and still being healthy! I have to point out, though, that only healthy, active dogs seem to lose / gain this fast.. Chronically obese dogs have a very hard time losing weight.. It can take months, even on a very restrictive diet.
And, let's face it.. There is much more of a problem with dog obesity in this country (USA) than there is a trend for dogs being overweight.
This bitch is a skinny little "Twiggy" type, anyway.. insufficient bone and body mass for my liking, even in her best condition. She also has a patchy, faded coat, which is mostly shed out.. this makes her look worse. She is no way in a dangerous condition. If she was, her attitude would show it, and it doesn't. She seems to have a great attitude, very up and perky.
The owner was an idiot to post this picture, especially in a sales presentation, in my opinion.
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