Bulldog Information

This information we have acquired is from people that own

American Bulldogs. This information is not proven by

a vet, and is only information that we thought may be

useful to others. We decided to put this miscellaneous info.

on our site for people so that it may be useful for health concerns or just

general bulldog knowledge. We hope that this info. proves helpful to owners.

If you would like to add info to our page feel free to e-mail us at bullyabs@yahoo.com

Thank You,

Cliff and Melissa Hammer

HAMMERS AMERICAN BULLDOGS

What qualities do our dogs need?

Here at Hammer's American Bulldogs we are striving to produce a better bulldog by being selective in choosing our breeding stock. In order for a dog to qualify in our program it must possess many attributes to help better the fantastic breed. We have and will turn dogs away that do not fit the criteria needed for our program.

Stable temperment: We are trying to produce a stable tempered dog that will be able to be for breeding as well as being the families beloved pet.

Conformation: Dogs that are severely cowhocked, swayed backed, poorly angulated, or any other severe conformation flaws will not be accepted.

Hips: All stock will be x-rayed either by OFA or Pennhip for breedable hips. No dog with signs of DJD ( Degenerative Joint Disease) will be used in our program.

Overall function: A dog must be put together correctly to function well. We only accept dogs that will be able to excel in movement for work ability.

The perfect American bulldog!

As breeder's we know that producing the perfect dog is almost impossible. Dogs like any species have flaws. We are in this breed to try to produce a dog that will best suit the breed characteristics, and be a fine example for the breed. This is how we try to contribute to helping better the breed in our own little way.

The ideal dog we are trying to produce as far as type is:-

Males = 90-110 lbs. 24 in.- 25in.Tall

Females = 75-95 lbs. 22in.-24in. Tall

Moderate bully

Conformationally correct

Very functional

Pet quality dogs

"Why is my dog pet quality" We hear it all to often. You sell your bulldog puppy to a happy pet owner and a year later you hear about the litter of pups they just had. Never a good thing for us breeders to hear when we work so hard to insure that the pet pups we sell are indeed just pets. To many times pet owners will have many reasons why they think their dog should be bred. " He's the best dog I have ever owned I want one just like him", My kids want to see the miracle of birth", She would be happier if she had puppies she 's very motherly", "Puppies are fun!!", " My male needs to be a male, he's mouting everything" I got to say I think I have heard it all, but let me tell you why not to breed your pet dog.

Why is it a pet?

When us breeders sell a dog as pet quality we feel it is just that... Pet Quality. Most breeders will sell as pets due to minor structural or conformation flaws that most pet owners may not even notice. To breeders this makes them not breed worthy, and it is an important part of being a good breeder. Also when the dog is an adult and ready at the approx. age of 2 for breeding, tests need to be done to see if the dog is of quality. Just because your dog is pretty, or sweet does not mean it's breed worthy. Not all puppies are going to grow up to be breeding quality and it is our job as breeders to determine this.

This is only one reason not to breed your pet. Let me tell you more....

Hip Dysplasia

A fault of the American Bulldog that the pet owner might not see is Hip Dysplasia. This disease runs very high in this breed causing the dogs to be lame or to be in pain. This is a disease of the hips that breaks the hip bones down. In some cases if to bad the dog will have to be euthanized or the hips on the dog will have to be replaced. Last I heard it was $2500.00 a hip. Yikes! Your dog can run and jump 6 ft in the air and may have hip dysplasia. This is genetic and has a high chance of being passed to puppies even if the dog is bred to another dog without hip dysplasia. There is no way of telling if your dog has it without having a x-ray done at your vet. This is one of the many genetic diseases a dog can pass to it's puppies. To find out what other genetic diseases your dog could have please call your vet!

Shelters

Dogs are dying everyday in dog shelters. To many mixed dogs, and even unwanted purebred dogs are sitting in a little cage at a shelter just waiting for a new owner to pick them and take them home, but all to often there time comes up and they haven't been picked yet, and they must be euthanized to make more space for new dogs that come to the shelter . This do to many irresponsible breedings done by pet owners who didn't do the right thing or breeders who breed anything they can find( puppy millers, see this down the page)

Please spay or neuter your pets!

Why should I spay or neuter my pet?

Good reasons to spay or neuter

*Males have a low chance of contracting testicular cancer

This is a cancer of the testicals. Their chances are high if not neutered.

*Males will be less likely to mount everything in site including your kids.

Face it their is nothing pretty about seeing your male on top of your little ones trying to do his job as a male. Neutering will help control those urges.

*Males and females will be less likely to be dominant.

When not spayed or neutered dogs have the tendency to show more aggression and/or dominance. It is natures way of showing who the pack leader is.

*Females will not have heat cycles and you wont have to worry about the mess they make during this time.

If not spayed they will bleed quite a bit, and will try to find a male to mate with. They have been known to dart out of doors to find a male to breed with when they are ready.

*Breeding a female takes a lot out of her.

Females lose most of their weight after whelping puppies. They need to be on vitamins and watched very carefully to insure they stay healthy and recover well. They can have many problems as a mom including infections, fevers, mastitus (infection of the nipples) and much more.

*Some females are not good moms.

You may think she is a good momma, but wait till she has puppies. Females can get very aggressive towards owners when they have puppies. She feels she needs to protect them and you as the owner could get bit by an over protective mom. Some moms will lay on the puppies or eat their puppies, or totally reject the puppies. All females take motherhood differently just as we humans do. Do you know what your dog is going to be like?

*In general males and females tend to live longer and healthier lives if spayed or neutered

As your pet what you want most is for your pet to be healthy and live a long happy life with your and your family. Spaying or neutering is one way to help insure a longer healthier life for your beloved pet.

These are some of the reasons why we believe that pets should remain pets. We hope this has helped you understand that as breeders we take breeding the right quality dog very seriously, and only share this information to help conserve our fantastic breed. We wish all pet owners the best of luck on their family pet and the longest most healthiest lives their pet can have.

Thank you, Melissa Hammer

Hammer's American Bulldogs

Please visit the guarantee page for the pet contract if you are interested in purchasing a pet through us.

100% Johnson Bulldog

You asked a loaded question but I think I can answer it as I have debated this quite extensively with 100%ers and I have learned their thought process. I think?

100% JDJ means 100% John D Johnson lines and no one elses. Mr. Johnson started with#1) Dick the Bruiser and #2)Mac The Masher both White English Bulldog with no true known pedigree.#3) Lady Tuffie,#4)Scott's Flamstead Corky Ann,#5) Hegwoods Gypsy Bell,#6)Scott's Dixie Bell all these also without Pedigree's just Old Southern White Bulldogs....Later he outcrossed to a female Alan Scott found , again a white southern Bulldog with no pedigree,Mr, J called her Sweet Lady Maiden. Then in the 70's he outcrossed to an AKC Bulldog West Champs High Hopes, and his last outcross in the late 70's to Nation's Dolley. These are the hand full of dogs that created the John D Johnson line. If your dog has any blood even one millionth of blood from a dog Mr. J did not select you do not have a 100% JDJ Bulldog. The Gene pool is shut and has been for over 30years and it looks like it will stay that way....at least on paper,,....people could always outcross and just lie about it, perhaps some already have.
The 100% JDJ has been a good sales tool for breeders, because somehow it can be misinterpreted as 100% Pure American Bulldog , distinct from other American bulldogs. Not that any 100% JDJ Breeders would ever try to perpetuate that Myth with newbies....LOL

Mr.J got 4 of his foundation dog through Alan Scott, who just found them , White English non registered bulldogs , 4 he found himself, white english non registered Bulldogs and one AKC bulldog. The gene pool was shut with this handful and has been linebred/inbred for the last 30 years.
Mr. J named the breed American Pit Bulldog and he and Alan Scott got them Registered with NKC, then Mr. j and Alan Scott had a riff over an NKC show Scott organized were Dixieman Beat King Kong, that is when Mr. J found the ARF and switched all his dog to them..... later Joe Painter suggested they drop the Pit and our breed became just American Bulldog.
Many people have bred and owned White English Bulldogs down south, much longer than Mr. J, the American Bulldog is derived from the Southern Bulldog and is certainly not more pure and sadly in many the AB of today has veered far from these original Old Southern Bulldogs like Dick the Bruiser, Mac the Masher, and are too sloppy to fill the shoes of the original legendary Southern Bulldog. What makes a breed , Paper or being able to perform the task it was developed for.

Look at Dick the Bruiser, Sandman the Great, Dixieman.....and then look at quote 100% JDJ dogs and tell me you don't see a difference and a marked deterioration of the original type.
This is true in many Bully J Type lines also, but they are free to outcross to improve their dogs.

Until we have dogs better or as good as the original foundation Stock, that have the same breed type the only purity we have is pure 100% BS

One can not solve the problems of this breed ,with the attitudes & beliefs that caused the problems......and certainly no improvement is possible if you don't acknowledge there are problems
......and just because puppies sell for good money to gullible newbie puppy buyers doesn't mean everything is fine and dandy

Three year rabies vaccination

FAQ

Did you know that when you go to your vet and ask for a 3 year rabies vaccination for your dog, you often get the same vaccination that is given for the yearly shot. You just pay the vet more because you asked for a 3 year vaccination, no difference in the vaccine. I've known that for quite some time. Here's a vet that is honest and plans and doing something about it.

Comments

Rabies vaccine is exactly the same for three or one year. The difference is if your state recognizes that the vaccine will protect for one or three years. Here where we live, we are very close to two other state lines. The state we live in does not recognize it as a three year vaccine, but I believe both of the other states do. Many out of state people use vets here and their rabies shots are good for three years, but ours is only good for one. There have been changes in this from year to year, but the state is calling the shots on how long it is good for. I can see where some vets may try to take advantage of this, although here rabies shots are the same price.

Article the FAQ was based on……….

Critter Fixer Pet Hospital
Bob Rogers, DVM
5703 Louetta Spring, Texas 77379
281-370-3262

April 17, 2002

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548

Dear Sirs,

I hereby file a complaint against all licensed Veterinarians engaged in companion animal practice in the State of Texas for violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, rule 573.26 which states; Licensed veterinarians shall conduct their practice with honesty, integrity, and fair dealing to clients in time and services rendered, and in the amount charged for services, facilities, appliances and drugs.

I assert that the present practice of marketing of vaccinations for companion animals constitutes fraud by misrepresentation, fraud by silence, theft by deception, and undue influence by all Veterinarians engaged in companion animal practice in this state.

Recommending, administering, and charging for Canine Corona vaccinations for adult dogs is fraud by misrepresentation, fraud by silence, theft by deception, and undue influence given the literature that states:

1. Dogs over eight weeks of age are not susceptible to canine corona virus disease. Disease produced by canine corona virus has never been demonstrated in adult dogs. Dogs over eight weeks of age that are immunized against canine parvovirus will not develop symptoms of canine corona virus disease. Addition of an unnecessary antigen to the vaccination protocol will result in a lesser immunity to the important diseases like parvovirus and distemper, and increase the risk of adverse reactions.

2. Immunologists doubt that Canine corona virus vaccine works, as it would require secretory mucosal IgA antibodies to protect against corona virus and a parenteral vaccine does not accomplish this very well. Twenty-two Schools of Veterinary Medicine including Texas A&M University do not recommend canine corona virus vaccine.

3. Gastroenteroligists at Schools of Veterinary Medicine including Dr Michael Willard at Texas A&M University have stated that they have only seen one case of corona virus disease in a dog in ten years.

On several occasions large numbers of dogs have died from adverse reactions to corona virus vaccine.

a reasonable client would not elect corona virus vaccination for an adult dog if presented this information.

Recommending, administering, and charging for re-administration of modified live vaccines like Canine Distemper, Canine Parvovirus, Feline Panleukopenia, injectable Feline Rhinotracheitis, and injectable Feline Calicivirus on an semi-annual, annual, bi-annual or tri-annual basis is theft by deception, fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence, and undue influence given the literature that states:

1. The USDA Center for Biologic and Therapeutic Agents asserts that there is no scientific data to support label claims for annual re-administration of modified live vaccines, and label claims must be backed by scientific data.

2. It is the consensus of immunologist that a modified live virus vaccine must replicate in order to stimulate the immune system, and antibodies from a previous vaccination will block the replication of the new vaccinate virus. The immune status of the patient is not enhanced in any way. There is no benefit to the patient. The client is paying for something with insignificant or no effect, except that the patient is being exposed to unnecessary risk of an adverse reaction.

3. A temporal association has been demonstrated between vaccinations and the development of Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.

4. It has been demonstrated that the duration of immunity for Canine Distemper virus is 7 years by challenge, and 15 years by serology; for Canine Parvovirus is 7 years by challenge, for Feline Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus is 7.5 years by challenge.

A reasonable client would not elect re-administration of any of the above stated vaccinations for a previously immunized pet if provided with the above information.

The recommendation for administration of Leptospirosis vaccination in Texas is theft by deception, fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence and undue influence given the fact that:

1. Although Leptospirosis is re-emerging as an endemic disease for dogs in some areas of the country, Leptospirosis in dogs in Texas is a very rare disease. According to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab there are only an average of twelve cases of Leptospirosis documented in dogs in Texas per year. Factors to identify those dogs that are at risk have not been identified. Given that there are over 6 million dogs in Texas, the risk of leptospirosis disease to a dog is less than 2 in a million.

2. The commonly used vaccine only contains serovars Lepto. canicola, and Lepto icterohaemorrhagiae, and no cross protection is provided against the other three serovars diagnosed in Texas. Newer vaccines containing Lepto pomona, and Lepto rippotyphosa are available but the duration of immunity is less than one year. To provide protection for a dog against Leptospirosis would require two vaccines with four serovars twice per year.

3. Although humans can develop Leptospirosis, the spread of Lepto. from a dog to a human has never been documented and is thought to be a very low risk. Given that the risk of an adverse reaction, a reasonable client would not elect Vaccination of their pet if provided with the above information.

The recommendation of Lyme disease vaccine for dogs residing in Texas is fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence and undue influence given the literature that states:

1. The Texas Department of Health only reports an average of 70 cases of Human Lyme disease per year in Texas, all of which were likely acquired when people were traveling out of the state.

2. Julie Rawlings reported in her research on the incidence of the lyme disease organism in ticks in Texas State Parks for the Texas Department of Health that the Borrelia burgdorferi organism is not present in sufficient numbers or in the suitable tick vector for dogs for Lyme disease to be endemic in Texas.

3. Eighty per cent of Lyme disease cases in the U.S. are found in the nine New England States and Wisconsin.

4. Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine has not documented one case of Lyme disease in a dog acquired in Texas. Testing on shelter dogs has not revealed a single case.

5. Dr Jacobson, Cornell University has documented a temporal relationship in over 327 cases of dogs, which acquired polyarthritis after the Lyme disease vaccine.

A reasonable client would not elect Lyme disease vaccine for their pet if given this information on the risks vs. the benefit.

The recommendation for vaccination of cats with an adjuvanted vaccine without offering a safer alternative vaccine is fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence, and undue influence given the literature that states:

1. Adjuvanted vaccines have been incriminated as a cause of Injection Site Fibro sarcoma in cats.

2. 1:1000 cats vaccinated develop this type of cancer, which is 100% fatal.

3. Safer alternative non-adjuvanted vaccines are available.

A reasonable client would not elect adjuvanted vaccines for their cat if given this information.

The recommendation for vaccination of cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine is fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence, and undue influence given the literature that states:

1. Feline Infectious peritonitis is a rare disease.

2. Eight percent of adult cats carry the normal flora avirulent Feline Corona Virus. On rare occasions this Corona Virus mutates to become a virulent feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus. Every mutation is a different variant and there is no cross protection. This vaccine does not and cannot work.

3. Independent studies have not confirmed the manufacturers claims for efficacy.

4. Twenty-two Schools of Veterinary Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners does not recommend this vaccine.

A reasonable client would not elect this vaccine if given this information.

The recommendation of annual Feline Leukemia Vaccine for adult cats, and cats that are not at risk is theft by deception, fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence, and undue influence given the literature that states:

1. Cats over one year of age, if not previously infected, are immune to Feline Leukemia virus infection whether they are vaccinated or not.

2. Adjuvanted Feline leukemia vaccine can cause Injection Site Fibro sarcomas, a fatal type of cancer. This type of cancer is thought to occur in 1:10,000 cats vaccinated.

3. Only cats less than one year of age and at risk cats should be vaccinated against Feline Leukemia virus.

A reasonable client would not elect this vaccine for their cat if given this information.

The recommendation of annual rabies vaccination for dogs and cats with three-year duration of immunity vaccine is theft by deception, fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence, and undue influence given that:

1. The vaccines has been licensed by the USDA and proven to have duration of immunity of three years by the USDA and seven years by serology by Dr Ron Schultz, therefore annual re-administration the client is paying for something with no benefit.

2. Beyond the second vaccination, no data exist to demonstrate that the immune status of the pet is enhanced.

3. The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians recommendation is for vaccination of dogs and cats for rabies at four months, one year later, and then every three years subsequently. This recommendation has been proven effective in 33 States in the United States.

The recommendation of blood tests for antibody titers on dogs and cats in order to determine if re-administration of vaccine is indicated is fraud by misrepresentation, misrepresentation by silence, and undue influence given the literature that states:

1. The duration of immunity to infectious disease agents is controlled by memory cells, B & T lymphocytes. Once programmed, memory cells persist for life. The presence of memory cells is not taken into effect when testing for antibody titers.

2. Even in the absence of an antibody titer, memory cells are capable of mounting an adequate immune response in an immunized patient. A negative titer does not indicate lack of immunity, or the ability of a vaccine to significantly enhance the immune status of a patient.

3. A positive titer has not been demonstrated by challenge studies to indicate immunity.

4. The client is paying for a test when a Veterinarian can make no claims about the test results.

5. It has been proven that the re-administration of modified live vaccines has no effect, and that duration of immunity is 7 years or more.

A reasonable client would not elect this test if given this information.

I have brought these deceptive trade practices to the attention of this Board by writing six letters to the board, and appearing before the Board at three Board meetings. The Board members have demonstrated, by the questions that they have asked me, that they are uniformed on these issues, that they have not read the literature that I have sent to support my assertions, and that they have not read the letters I have written. On every occasion the Board members have refused to take any action on these matters.

The Board has also ignored my request to deny approval of Continuing Education credit for seminars on Vaccination of Companion Animals provided by Pfizer Animal Health drug company which are fraudulent by omission of material facts, a conflict of interest, and thereby influence Veterinarians to continue deceptive trade practice in the marketing of vaccines.

The people of the State of Texas have paid over $360 million dollars per year for vaccinations that are unnecessary and potentially harmful to their pets. Over 600,000 pets suffer every year from adverse reactions to unnecessary vaccinations. Many of them die.

A survey by the American Animal Hospital Association shows that less than 7% of Veterinarians have updated their vaccination recommendations, in spite of the fact that these new recommendations have been published twice in every major Veterinary Medical Journal since 1995.

Given that it is the compact of this Board with the State of Texas to protect the people of Texas, and whereby it is provided in the Texas Administrative Code Title 22, Part 24, Chapter 577, Subchapter B, Rule 577.16: Responsibilities of the Board (a) The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is responsible for establishing policies and promulgating rules to establish and maintain a high standard of integrity, skills, and practice in the profession of Veterinary medicine in accordance with the Veterinary Licensing Act, I hereby assert that the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners must take demonstrated and thorough action to stop the deceptive trade practices and fraud in the marketing of vaccinations for companion animals.

A reasonable solution would be for the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to request an opinion from the Attorney General on these issues, and for the Texas State Board to issue a policy statement in the Board Notes indicating a Board policy prohibiting each of the practices I have outlined above.

An alternative solution would be to notify every Veterinarian engaged in companion animal practice in this state of the complaint that has been filed against them and prosecute each and every complaint.

If demonstrated and thorough action to stop the deceptive trade practices has not been taken by this Board within ninety days of receipt of this letter I will file a class action suit against the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners on behalf of the people of Texas, for negligence in the execution of their responsibilities, and I will request a Court order to instruct the Board to perform their duties.

Sincerely,

Dr Robert L Rogers

The above statements are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Double impact injection

anyone use this double impact injection? supposed to be the same as ivermect??? what would be the dose to weight ? thank you for any info ?

Is the same thing.

Dosage: .10th CC per 10lbs Orally..

Or Mix

14 cc's Ivomec to 86 cc's Propeline Glycol..
Mix well.. this will make 100 cc's of the mixture.....(enough for 1000 lbs of dogs) Store in Fridge.

Of that mixture give 1 cc per 10 lbs. also orally.

Cheap A.I. kit (for the experienced) :

I have a save money tip for a A.I. kit ???here goes if you like !take a fish air line (for the air pump) rubber gloves like at the e.r. or your doc. uses a 15 cc syringe and a mason jar lol I have had many of pups with this kit and seen kits from vets that cost in the hundreds also sum cheaper but this one cost about 4 bucks!! just thought I would share it lol

WHAT TO FEED YOUR PUPPY

As for what I feed, I use Nutro Natural Choice High energy for my 3 year old male, and Kasco Puppy for my 8 month old female. The Kasco has done well (I am pleasantly surprised), as her coat is shiny, and she has energy to spare. It is also not very expensive ($20 for 40 lbs.). But, to that I add one half to one pound of ground beef at night, as well as glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Ester-C, and fish oil. As for the joint supplements, you can either use ones in the pet store or online, but you can use human grade versions, and use 1/4 the human dose per 25 lbs. of dog. On the protein content, I should note that it is good to monitor the dog's urination, as if it is too strong, it might indicate it is throwing off too much excess ammonia (from the breakdown of excess amino acids/protein). But if the animal is active at all, it needs quite a bit of protein.

Well, that is where you exercise portion control. Regular puppy is better balanced than large breed formulas. And it isn't just the rate of weight gain, but the composition (I know Johnson dogs tend to have a higher set point, and tend to lay down more fat, but it may be an issue of lack of exercise?). You want the bones to develop properly, and also want muscle mass to develop to aid in bone density. I have fed mine puppy food (30% protein, 21% fat) from 12 weeks on, and it is the same feed she was weaned on. The higher protein and fat tend to keep the animal leaner, and the higher mineral content aids in bone development

I have noticed that if the food is high in protein it has caused the tendon development to be irregular making the legs bow out terribly. Fat, protein and calcium content needs to be evenly balanced in order to provide proper nutriton to the puppy's growing body. Large breed dog food, or adult dog food is what I would recommend.

Before and after pics. Apollo Great Dane

Before and after pics. Panda American Bulldog

Hair loss

We have a 9 month pup. Has hair loss. Taken him to the vets and they did a skin scrape. No sign of mange parasites. Switched diets. still losing hair. Anyone else ever come across this?

(Spotting), told the vet we wanted to take him to a skin specialist. They took a deep scrape and found parasites!!!!gave us some antibiotics. they said it wasn't mange but another parasite.

Drag to cart transition

..I drag 3-5 days a week with 2 of my bulldogs.. I do this for conditioning only as well as bonding, not for sport comp. my question is... after dragging' light/moderate weight in this fashion for a while..does this make a transition to cartwork tuffer?..(heavier weights plus wheeled cart, etc) I'd like to start a bit of cart training now that I have some space to put a layout.. but don't know if it's worth it, they stay in pretty good shape just off the drag/walks.. stupid question, just curious .. you guys are the pros!....

Your dog looks in great shape. If he is drag pulling the only transition that he will need to a cart, is to learn to drag the weight to you rather than have you lead him with it. When dragging weight sit and stay the dog then have him pull the weight to you. Break the walks up into short pulls to you, or back and forth pulls rather than just a long walk. Really praise him for pulling the weight to you. Then work him once a week or so with heavy weight the same way. Start out light to medium and then increase the weight after a few pulls. You'll soon learn his ability and can judge the weight needed from there. Above all never let him fail the pull. If he needs help, help him. Try to let him do most of the work but never let him not make the pull. When you make the switch to a cart, if he has been dragging heavy weight to you, it will take very little for him to get the idea.

Ear infections

Does anyone have a home remedy that works well for fungal ear infections?...I heard that athlete's foot medications work well?

A: You may have luck with alcohol and white vinegar at a 50/50 mix. The vinegar kills bacteria and fungus and the alcohol disinfects while evaporating out so you do not have fluid build up and make it any worse. DO NOT use peroxide!

A: Ears get yeast infections, try any products for human females, a generic will work just fine and it works damn fast! just squirt a little in and rub it in gently. It works 20 times better than what your Vet will give you. Forget the flush's, Try Vag-A-Heal!

Food preparations

Q: What are some good food preparations for feeding Bulldogs? I want to know about the BARF diet compared to dry food. And if dry is better, which one is the best. This is not meant to start a "DEBATE!" I am getting a new pup and need more info to ensure that I am doing this right.

A: I use a mix of Raw meats and Diamond dog food. Diamond may not be the BEST but it is very good and mixing in the raw I think completes it. I have been told my many other breeders that they also use Diamond and have had good luck. I have had a lot of luck since we have been feeding raw meat. We don't have any allergies etc.... Also I have noticed with the raw meat I feed less, spend less and, they poop less. JMO you have to find what works for you.

How to remove stains under dogs eyes!

A:I've tried bee pollen as a daily supplement but have had better luck with feeding a Tums or Rolaid tablet daily in their kibble. It changes the acidic balance of their tears and hence, no more staining. It's bacteria in the tears that actually causes the staining. To take the stains away (this sounds crazy but it works way better than the over the counter junk that doesn't work) Mix equal parts of Milk of Magnesia and Peroxide, use Corn Starch with it to form a paste; work well into the stained area and allow to dry overnight. Wash it off in the morning and repeat for a couple nights. It works, look at Tess....very little staining.

Q:one of my females had an allergy reaction to a flea bite ,took her to the vets and they gave me some frontline along with some medicated shampoo ,itching stopped for a while but strarted back up again ,some of the skin irritation went away but she still scratches is their anything else I can use on her skin any good shampoos ,out their .

A: (Neem Oil) have found it to be a great asset in my doggie (and human) arsonal! It is great for the, hot spots, rub makes, playing too hard places, eat! I use the stuff in the aloe Vera base for the dogs but there is so much out there. I love it so much I have planted a few new trees! LOL

Check it out:

Heart Murmur

My vet said that one of our young bulldogs had a heart murmur. He also said that on a scale from one to ten it was at one. Anyone have this before? Any suggestions?

Murmurs are graded in severity from 1 to 6, with 1 being the softest murmur that can be heard and 6 being loud enough that it's evident before the stethoscope even touches the chest. Murmurs graded at 4 to 6 can often be felt if the hand is placed at the right spot on the chest. Some cardiac murmurs, especially in puppies, are innocent, meaning they eventually disappear. This type of murmur, also common in children, is usually no cause for alarm. It's often not possible to determine whether a murmur is innocent until the dog reaches two or three years of age. To avoid passing on genetic defects to another generation, it's important to refrain from breeding a dog until it has been cleared of any problems. A dog with a hereditary heart problem, even one that has been repaired, (should not be bred).

the severity of the murmur as to what is going on. Is the young dog lethargic or does he run and play like anyone his age? Do his mucous tissues appear pale at times? What prompted you to have his heart listened to or was it just a routine check-up? If the murmur is pronounced, I would have a chest x-ray to see if there is an enlargement of the heart. That could signal a much more serious problem that you would not be aware of without an x-ray. Best of luck with your pup...hopefully it is not bad and he will live a long and happy life.

Can this pop up from a healthy bloodline?

Heart murmurs may be the result of a birth defect, or congenital malformation. Congenital heart murmurs are typically seen in young dogs and are hereditary. Although there is no way yet to prevent heart murmurs and the diseases associated with them, responsible breeders work to eliminate carriers from their breeding programs.

looking at this pup (he's ten months old) you wouldn't think there was a thing wrong with him. He has excellent wind he can run and play and he's non stop about it. We just took him and two other of our AB'S in to have there hips checked and he always gives complete exam on dogs when checking hips before he puts them under. Dr Lau (in Conn) said that he detected a murmur. Then he said on a scale from 1-6 it was at one.. He said that it was mild. (that we have to wait and see how it develops) Nothing in any of his siblings and they have all been checked. ( I just wanted to hear other's experience in this situation.
I've had many dogs checked over the yrs. This was a first for a mild heart murmur. Any input would be appreciated.

he will be o.k. then. Just monitor him...who knows, it could resolve itself...best of luck with him!

We had a pup in our first litter with a minor murmor,she was also the runt. After having her re-checked by our vet we decided to place her as a pet and make the new owner aware of the problem. The people who chose her were not bothered by the problem at all. Our vet said at the time this would be best for her and the new owner should follow up at in intervals of 3 mos. By a year and a half she was cleared as it being very minor and no health threat posed.

We had one this year in a litter, a white male. The vet told his owners that it was rated a 2, and then they checked him a few weeks later and it was gone. Sometimes the pups aren't finished cooking before they pop out of the oven. At your pups age, it still could straighten out itself, but by all means don't let the dog waste away, keep him working, if he's going to pass away at least let him pass away working.

I had a female pitbull named Baby who had a slight heart murmur. She was a extreme high drive dog that did incredible bite work and was a super athlete she was a great swimmer real fast runner with great stamina. She had to be put down last October for an inoperable tumor in her intestines. She was 13 years old And the best dog I ever owned.

Muscle up the rear

I want to make my dog's legs stronger .. he has a nice end on him any way but I want to bulk him up some in the rear.. any I deas on how?

GET UR WEIGHT PULL HARNESS FOR STARTERS ONE THAT FITS WELL START TRAINING HIM WITH A CARDIO WORK OUT (LIGHT WEIGHT LONG DISTANCE)

Hygroma

Hygromas are thought to be the body's reaction to repeated trauma to an area in which bone lines close to the surface of the skin. Usually they occur on elbows. They are a collection of serum in a thick capsule that the body builds to cushion the area. Affected dogs are not usually lame. If these are small, just providing padding over the area can allow them to either maintain their present size or even shrink. However, since they can get to be pretty large and will occasionally get infected, it is not uncommon for veterinarians to recommend surgical drainage, usually with post-operative bandaging to protect the area. If they get really large and then infected, it can be necessary to do skin grafting to fix the defect made in removing the hygroma.

________________________________________________________________________________

My dog has a soft swelling on his elbow that will not go away. My veterinarian said it was an elbow hygroma.Can you give me any information about hygromas?

A problem of young, large-breed dogs

A hygroma is a fluid-filled cavity, encased by dense fibrous tissue, which develops under the skin on the side of one or both elbows. Hygromas are caused by repeated trauma over bony prominences. Hygromas are typically non-painful swellings, but they become very painful if they become infected. Most hygromas occur in young, large-breed dogs before a protective callus has time to form over the bony elbow of the front legs or other bony areas. Hygromas can occur over any bony prominence or pressure point, including the pelvis or hocks.

Treatment for a non-infected hygroma is the elimination of the repeated trauma. The use of a soft, padded bed, or bandage over the bony area is often very beneficial. It is important to keep the animal's weight in a normal range to reduce the pressure on the bony areas, therefore helping to reduce the hygroma. The removal of the fluid by aspiration with a needle and syringe is often of very little benefit and may introduce an infection.

Surgery is usually avoided, unless the hygroma is infected and in need of drainage, or if there are other complications requiring procedures such as skin grafting. If surgery is necessary, complications can occur, and will need treatment, which may require repeated visits to the veterinarian. Antibiotics and soaks may also be given to treat infected hygromas.

Talk to your veterinarian about the hygroma and what he or she recommends as far as specific treatment for your dog.

08/01/00

Liver color spots

What could cause a litter of abs to have liver spotted coats and noses. These are liver not pink with lack of pigment. I have never seen it till recently, what could make this type of color come out of abs?

Usually the red/liver nose is a washout of a darker color like blue/gray is a fade out to black bred to black bred to black etc. This however is not always the case, it can be the doubling up on a breed infusion or a throw back etc.

It all is directly related to the genes carried by the dogs. A blue dog will not have a red (liver) nose and a red dog should never have a grey nose. A blue or blue fawn is a diluted gene where the black is shown as grey. The blue nose with be a grey charcoal color the nose will go the same color as the coat base. It is harder to see in a red coat since there are so many different colors of red-tan that are available. But the red nose is only associated with a red (including red shaded brindle) coat color this is suppose to be only link to a true brown infusion rather than a true red. There is a really good article available in December Dog Fancy. It will also talk about the brindle, merle, piebald, etc. But the dilute itself has appeared in the Johnson line several years back. It is not a new infusion of a different breed (in most circumstances).
I have a blue fawn male (100% JDJ)who carries the blue diluted gene. When he produces brindles they sometimes will carry his dilute gene and will be a blue brindle. Same would go for a red dilute gene. And no it doesn't mean that a dog was inbred or breed to the same color over again to get the dilute. The dilute comes from the genes present in the dog already.

Misc.

Last time I had a pup with one rose ear and one laid down I used Vet Bond, you can also use super glue. Make sure you strip all oils off first with alcohol.
For those of you that do your own dew claw removal Vet Bond is the best thing for instantly bonding the cut and stopping the bleeding. Scarring is minimal if you do it right. I wouldn't recommend this procedure if they're unfamiliar with it.
Another thing new owners may have a problem with is eating it's own waste. Suggest adding MSG to their food, cheaper then Forbid.
I soften American cheese in the micro and use it to wrap any pills (even powdered meds) that I need to give them. Don't just stick it in their mouth, tease them a little, that way they will attack it as soon as they can get it.
As far as house training a bulldog goes...hide all the furniture and good luck.

Multiple Pets May Decrease Children’s Allergy Risk

Children raised in a house with two or more dogs or cats during the first year of life may be less likely to develop allergic diseases as compared with children raised without pets, according to a study in the August 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

"The striking finding here is that high pet exposure early in life appears to protect against not only pet allergy but also other types of common allergies, such as allergy to dust mites, ragweed, and grass," says Marshall Plaut, M.D., chief of the allergic mechanisms section at NIAID. "Other studies have suggested a protective effect of pet exposure on allergy and asthma symptoms, but generally have looked only at whether pet exposure reduced pet allergy. This new finding changes the way scientists think about pet exposure; scientists must now figure out how pet exposure causes a general shift of the immune system away from an allergic response."

In their paper, lead author Dennis R. Ownby, M.D., of the Medical College of Georgia, and colleagues suggest that bacteria carried by pets may be responsible for suppressing the immune system's allergic response. These bacteria release molecules called endotoxins, and endotoxins are believed to shift the developing immune system away from responding to allergens through a class of lymphocytes called Th-2 cells, which are associated with allergic reactions. Instead, endotoxins may stimulate the immune system to activate Th-1 cells, which may block allergic reactions.

The researchers followed 474 children from birth to six or seven years of age. When the children were one year old, the researchers contacted parents by telephone to find out how many pets were in the home. When the children were two years old, researchers measured the level of dust mite allergen in their bedrooms. When the children were six or seven, the researchers tested them for allergic antibodies to common allergens by two approaches - a skin prick test and a blood measurement.

After adjusting for factors such as dust mite allergen levels, parental smoking, and current dog or cat ownership, the researchers found that children exposed to two or more dogs or cats during the first year of life were on average 66 to 77 percent less likely to have any allergic antibodies to common allergens, as compared with children exposed to only one or no pets during their first year.

"Our findings suggest an area of research with many possibilities, one that could potentially bear fruit over the next decade or so," says Dr. Ownby. "If we could find out exactly what it is about pets or the bacteria they carry that prevents the allergic response, scientists might be able to develop a new allergy therapy based on that knowledge."

NIAID is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAID supports basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious and immune-mediated illnesses, including HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, illness from potential agents of bioterrorism, tuberculosis, malaria, autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies.

NIEHS is the component of NIH that conducts and supports research on the environmental causes and triggers of disease and our human susceptibility to them.

Reference: DR Ownby et al. Exposure to dogs and cats in the first year of life and risk of allergic sensitization at 6 to 7 years of age. Journal of the American Medical Association 288(8): 963-72 (2002).

Press releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by NIH/National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Nursing mother with pancreitis

I know a lady and her dog had pups and she had Canine Pancreitis. Will this pass to her pups? The b###h is down a little now and the lady wants to medicate the mom. Will this cause nursing pups to get sick?

Pancreitis is a painful condition that needs a veterinarians care. You have to be very careful when medicating a nursing mother....anything given to the mother can and will be taken in by the pups when nursing....call a vet! don't take the chance of losing all of them!

Puppy being shy...is this bad temperament?

If a pup seems shy and timid around strangers at 4 months old, can you still change him by building his conference through socialization. Or is there no hope. I was always told that it's easy to bring out drive in a bulldog it's calmness that hard to establish.
He's been very easy to train and listens well, but since I'm looking to do some personal perfection work with him when he's older, I don't want to waist my time and create a fair bitter.
I'd like to hear from those out there that have some experience with this subject.

It is my personal opinion that Temperament is 60%Genetic,
40%Enviroment/socialization.

It is a fact that between the age of 6wks and 16 wks heavy socialization can help mold a dogs temperament for the better.....the same pup with little or no socialization would be very different.
That base natural temperament has to be there or you will have a less than desirable dog. It is the pup that with little to no socialization that is still be confident,outgoing,unruffled,despite his disadvantage of not having that early socialization.Ofcourse you want that type dog at 7-8wks so you can do all the conditioning/imprinting/socialization.

Sounds to me you might want to choose a different pup, ABs mature slow but if he is like this at 4mo olds you are going to be throwing your efforts at the wrong dog.

All dogs are different in personality and development....with the right trainer and the effort the dog can be conditioned for the game of sport work.
Put it is my belief you would just have a dog with a sub-par temperament trained and conditioned to mask his true self. Many a Fear biters are trained in bite work, I have been at trials where off the field the dog is ski dish and weak nerved. That is why many times when the decoy puts even slight stress on the dog they won't engage. Many are just playing a game purely in prey drive and they have been conditioned this is fun.....but in reality if they were to take a hard hit or they get charged they would not engage.

I am not expert on this but If I were to take all the time and expense,Id want a hard dog that could handle the pressure of a more realistic fight with the bad guy.

Socializing should start as soon as possible. I think we spoke about this before Oscar. This is much easier for me living in Brooklyn than it is for you Because of where you live. You just don't have the everyday stimulation in the dogs environment that I have. You can always make a dog better but if you have a soft dog it takes a lot of work and you would be better off picking a better prospect. But you can take a very shy dog and slowly build him up to hit a sleve.You need a very good helper to build the dogs confidence and you need to go slow.

If it was me I would attempt to socailize him for a bit more. I would also have already started with rag and tug work with him if you are looking to work him. Start getting him to get fired up on the rag, after he gets to the point when upon seeing the rag he gets lit up, let a friend play tug with him. All the while petting and talking to him while tugging. This will help socialize him by realizing that people are fun and we can play. This will also help desensitize him for further bitework when he gets older.It will help hi with stick hits and objects later.
This is very condensed, just something to relieve your thoughts. I would find a GOOD trainer in your area. If you want a working dog you must start NOW not at a yr old. Much easier to put a good foundation in a puppy. Get his grip development and out taught now. Much easier

Purina Study Facts;
Purina® Life Plan™ Makes It Easier to Feed Properly
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (May 6, 2002)
What dog owner wouldn’t want more healthy years with his pet? A new study from Nestlé Purina PetCare shows pet owners may have the power of longevity in their own hands.

In the first-ever lifelong canine diet restriction study, Purina researchers have proven that a dog’s median life span can be extended by 15 percent – nearly two years for the Labrador Retrievers in this study – by feeding to ideal body condition through diet restriction, according to findings published in the current edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The 14-year Purina "Life Span" study found that dogs that consumed 25 percent fewer calories than their littermates during their lifetimes maintained a lean or ideal body condition*, resulting in a longer life. According to experts, the study provides the most significant data to date on the effects of diet restriction as the ...

1 First diet restriction study completed for the entire life span of a larger mammal;
2 First completed study to document that diet restriction increases survival time in mammals larger than rodents;
3 First study to achieve these health benefits for dogs with moderate reduction of food intake (25 percent versus the 30 percent to 50 percent typically used in rodent studies)

Red flagging a puppy miller

I think I've uncovered a true puppy miller near where I live. About once a month he's runs an ad in the local shopper for CKC reg. AB's with parents on site for $150 apiece. I want to call and question him about his dogs, acting interested to see what I can find out. I have some certain questions in mind to ask him, but would like some additional ?'s and advice from you guys. Anything would be appreciated.

Red-Flagging a Dog Breeder

He won't let you see the puppy's parents (the father may not always be on site, this is normal).

He won't let you see his breeding facility.

He can not produce registration papers for the parents.

He does not have the registration papers for the
current litter of puppies.

He has no pedigrees on either of the parents.
None of his puppies come with guarantees.

None of his dogs have been checked for genetic diseases.

None of his dogs have been Ofa's.

None of his dogs have been certified

He does not want to know if anything has happened to your dog (that came from him).

He breeds a lot of unrecognized breeds - Cock-a-poos, Spoodles, Labradoodles and the like.

No veterinary health checks of the puppies from birth.

No mandatory spaying/neutering of pet quality animals.

No mandatory vaccinations (at least basic ones), no de-worming.

Breeding solely for "pet quality" means breeding for money - not for the betterment of anything.

Does not breed to better the overall conformation or working style of the breed.

Does not know the history of his chosen breed.

His dogs appear to be in ill-health.

He always has puppies for sale, sometimes two or three litters at a time.

Does not have veterinary records for at least the mother on hand.

His dogs have no titles, either showing, working, or sports, whatever the animals are being bred for.

He won't give references from owners of pups from previous litters.

He doesn't ask any questions about the environment you offer the pup, just wants to see the cheque (and prefers cash).

The puppies are ready to go before they should be (under eight weeks of age).

Advertises "rare" colors, sizes, etc (such as "rare" white Dobermans, or Great Danes, "king-sized" German Shepherds, etc.)

Advertises or sells their pups for greatly reduced prices.

Sells to pet stores, puppy brokers, wholesalers, etc.

BREEDS before the age of two.

If you think you've found a puppy mill:

Collect the facts.

What's the name of the facility/breeder, where are they located, what breeds are involved, how are they being cared for (clean water, food, shelter, sanitation, veterinary care), how are they identified (collars with tags, tattoos, microchips?), how are they housed (together or separately), who are they selling to (brokers, pet stores, labs, public)?

Document the facts. Write down your observations. Be objective--not emotional. Take a friend for your safety and to corroborate your observations. B
e prepared to write, write, write, and call, call, call till the cows come home. Putting a mill out of business takes a lot of time, effort and commitment.

Contact:
Your local humane society or SPCA can act in cases of abuse or neglect

Your local Better Business Bureau can register complaints

Your local health department can deal with threats to public health (sanitation, disease)

Your state veterinarian and state APHIS Veterinary Services Area Office

Your USDA Animal Care contact can investigate licensed breeders and unlicensed brokers

For violations of record-keeping (proper paperwork) and identification (no id on each and every dog) practices:

For "AKC" advertised or registered dogs: AKC Investigations and Inspections Department; 5580 Centerview Drive; Raleigh, NC 27606-3390; 919-854-0152.

For "UKC" advertised or registered dogs: United Kennel Club; 100 East Kilgore Avenue; Kalamazoo, MI 49001-5598; 616-343-9020

For failure to collect and report sales or income tax. Your state Department of Revenue

Your local media, kennel clubs, and anyone else who will listen!

For more detailed information and access to databases, visit the Puppy Mills site (

www.nopuppymills.com) and/or contact BKC (info@badgerkennelclub.com) for additional information.