Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Does anyone know about diabetes in dogs?  I was just wondering because the blood panel taken yesterday before Sapphire's spay showed elevated glucose.  It is probably nothing, but the vet did say that diabetes is a possibilty, so she has to go back for another sample in a few weeks.

Sofia

Sapphire's getting spay today. Just a little nervous with all the anesthesia issues esp with LGDs. Thank goodness for BP monitors and EKG's! I should have her home by 1pm. Sofia wants to take her school work and stay at the Vets. (I doubt she'll get much done...too much fun to be social there.)

Deena

This appeared in Kuvasz Connection, a yahoo group:

"from the ACA Legislative committee:

Bill HR2744 is before Congress, it passed the House before we knew of it and
committees meet THIS WEEK to make a decision.

HR2744 requires that all pets be microchipped and requires a very particular
frequency for the microchip. That frequency is 134.2 kHz. However in the
USA, we DO NOT use that frequency. We use the industry standard of 125 kHz.
So if this bill passes, not only would every rescue, shelter, vet and
disaster group have to start over, but the system as we know it would fall
apart. These foreign frequency chips cannot be detected or read by 99% of
the scanners in operation in the US. It is quite simply not what we use
here.

The Bill is being supported by the HSUS.

CALL to OBJECT

http://www.senate.gov/

http://www.house.gov/"

and then this:

"If you are interested in more info on the different scan rates, and who uses
what, and why the change has been suggested, this is a pretty good website
http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pa_shelter_resources_microchip.
It is nearly inevitable that the US will adopt the ISO standard because
that's the whole purpose behind having ISO standards (they are supposed to
be internationall y universal). There are companies currently using 134.2 in
the US and companies developing scanners that pick up all three frequencies
(there are already incompatibilit ies between the two 125 mh chips)."

After looking into it, I have some bad news.  The bill passed the Senate on September 22nd.  While it does not actually mention microchipping, the commitee had recommended it, and the the bill contained the ambiguous phrase:

of which $33,340,000 shall be available for a National Animal Identification program

f" class="bbc_link" target="_blank">http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h2744pp.txt.pd f (Go to p. 101, lines 14-16)

With the commitee's recommendation, it is likely that this money will be used to enforce these new (in the U.S.) microchips in pets.  They shouldn't be able to tell us whether we should microchip our pets or not, nor should Congress require a new microchip frequency.

Please tell your Congressmen, Senators, and all state representative s that it is not acceptable to use this money to force pet owner to microchip their pets or to force people to use a new frequency.

Sofia

Edited: to change thread title

Thought we might have some fun today, let's see if this holds true, I'm an elm. According to my husband true, except I am obedient.
Sapphire is Hornbeam tree, lets hope she does dream of lovers. Gucci is a Weeping Willow...well. ...maybe.

What are you? And what is your dog? (You can tell us about your hubby or wife if you want. )

Find your birthday and then find your tree. This is really cool and
somewhat accurate.  Then send it to all your friends, including the one
who sent it to you, so they can find out what tree they fell from, but
don't forget to change the subject line to your tree...

Dec 23 to Jan 01       Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11        Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24        Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03        Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08        Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18        Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28        Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10       Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20       Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only)             Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31       Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10        Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20        Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30        Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14       Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24       Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03       Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13        Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23        Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only)             Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04        Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14          Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25          Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04        Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13       Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23       Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02       Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12       Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22        Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only)             Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03        Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13        Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23        Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11        Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21       Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01       Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11        Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21        Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only)             Beech Tree

YOUR TREE
(in alphabetical order)

Apple Tree (the Love) -- quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal,
and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous,
sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender
partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate
partner.

Ash Tree (! the Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive,
demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented,
likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover,
sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.

Beech Tree (the Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime
companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

Birch Tree (the inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant,
friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (the Confidence) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt,
likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (the Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive,
well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born
diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard
worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (the Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes
what life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it , strives to be
content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and
affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied,
faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to
gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

 

Elm Tree (the Noble-mindedness) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes,
modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree (the Sensibility) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed,
honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, few sexual relationships, great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (the Mysterious) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well,
loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them,
hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness
after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish,
many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (the Extraordinary) -- charming, sense of humor, very
demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting
impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite
moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of
judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (the Good Taste) -- of cool beauty, cares for its looks
and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as
possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and
acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is
seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of
its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (the Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life
dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good
ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear
tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make
sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough
time to use them, can become a complainer, gre! at leadership qualities, is
jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of
imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud,
self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many
complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to
impress.

Oak Tree (the Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting,
independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground,
person of action.

 

Olive Tree (the Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings,
reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful,
calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of
jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.


Pine Tree (the Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and
harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry,
not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly
in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low self
esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (the Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not
very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and
pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great
artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable
in any situation, takes partnership Seriously.

Rowan Tree (the Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without
egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even
complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic,
passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree (the Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and fu! ll of contrasts,
often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions,
spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon
partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very
jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow (the Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family
life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves
anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places,
restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live
with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others Laugh.
 
 

Learn Chinese in 5 Minutes
 
 
1)   That's not right......... .............. ...Sum Ting Wong
2)   Are you harboring a fugitive?..........Hu Yu Hai Ding
3)   See me ASAP.......... .............. ....Kum Hia Nao
4)   Stupid Man........... .............. ......Dum Fok
5)   Small Horse......... .............. ......Tai Ni Po Ni
6)   Did you go to the beach?.............. ....Wai Yu So Tan
7)   I bumped into a coffee table......... ...Ai Bang Mai Fa Kin Ni
   I think you need a face lift.......... ........ Chin Tu Fat
9)   It's very dark in here.......... .............. Wai So Dim
10) I thought you were on a diet.......... ......Wai Yu Mun Ching
11) This is a tow away zone.......... .......No Pah King
12) Our meeting is scheduled for next week.......... ...Wai Yu Kum Nao
13) Staying out of sight......... .............. .....Lei Ying Lo
14) He's cleaning his automobile.... .............. ....Wa Shing Ka
15) Your body odor is offensive..... .............. .Yu Stin Ki Pu
16) Great......... .............. .............. ..........Fa Kin Su Pah

> Are They Male Or Female?
>
>
> ZIPLOC BAGS - male, because they hold everything in, but you can 
> always
> see right through them.
>
> SHOE - male, because it is usually unpolished, with its tongue hanging
> out.
>
> COPIER - female, because once turned off, it takes a while to warm up.
>
> TIRE - male, because it goes bald and often is over inflated.
>
> HOT AIR BALLOON - male, because to get it to go anywhere you have to
> light a fire under it ... and, of course, there's the hot air part.
>
> SPONGES - female, because they are soft and squeezable and retain
> water.
>
> SUBWAY - male, because it uses the same old lines to pick people up.
>
> HOURGLASS - female, because over time, the weight shifts to the 
> bottom.
>
> HAMMER - male, because it hasn't evolved much over the last 5,000
> years, but it's handy to have around.
>
> REMOTE CONTROL - female! Ha! You thought we'd say male. But consider,
> it gives men pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't
> always know the right buttons to push, he keeps trying.

"How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?"
 
Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we have our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?
Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.
Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!
Rottweiler: Make me.
 Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.
Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!
German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I lead these people from the dark, check to make sure I don't miss any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one takes advantage of the situation. 
Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.
Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb!
 Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
 Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.
Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there.....
 Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?
Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...  
Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

 "Dogs do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is: How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?"

> > All of which proves, once again, that while dogs have masters, cats have staff.

What is a Cat?

 Cats do what they want. They rarely listen to you. They're totally unpredictable. When you want to play, they want to be alone. When you want to be alone, they want to play. They expect you to cater to their every whim. They're moody. They leave hair everywhere.

 Conclusion: They're tiny women in little fur coats. 

What is a Dog?
 
 Dogs spend all day sprawled on the most comfortable piece of furniture in the house. They can hear a package of food opening half a block! away, but don't hear you when you're in the next room. They can look dumb and lovable at the same time. They growl when they are not happy. When you want to play, they want to play. When you want to be alone, they want to play. They leave their toys everywhere. They do disgusting things with their mouths and then try to give you a kiss. They go right for your crotch as soon as they meet you.

 Conclusion: They're tiny men in little fur coats.

As everyone who read the two threads (1 in Kuvasz Discussions and 1 in Great Pyrenees) is aware, I was very concerned about Sapphire's fearfulness last week, although I probably overreacted at first.

However, I thought you might like an update on how Sapphire is doing after one week.

I have been walking her every evening; there were only two days when almost no one was out.  I was unable to walk Sapphire on two of the mornings, but usually no one is out in the mornings anyway.  She sometimes completely panic, usually because she is afraid of someone or has seen a trash can being moved or a bicycle being ridden.  Her tail gets curled way between her legs, her ears are down and flat against her head, and she just RUNS.  There is some improvement here: she is doing this less and less, but she still gets scared.  Now, rather than run, she often starts going fast, but not running, toward home; she then pulls against the leash, and if I am already going in that direction, she pulls me along faster than I would like to go.  Except when she is scared like this, she doesn't pull, so I think of the pulling as a fear issue rather than a leash training issue.  Whenever she sees someone, she gives an alert/slightly nervous look: ears up but not fully forward, tail down.  This is distinct from her very alert/agressive look: eyes fully up and fully forward, tail held almost straight up and often waving it also.  Sometimes she barks at these people; sometimes she does nothing.  When the person approaches, however, Sapphire often backs away and barks, which I correct by a tug to prevent her pulling on the leash or sheltering behind me.  On a better note, she will allow anyone, once I get her to stand still, to hold out their hand to her; if she doesn't like them she will back away and sometimes bark.  If they persist and attempt to pet her (I allowed one man who seemed to understand the danger posed by a fearful dog to attempt petting her after she backed away from him in this manner) she gives a warning growl and would probably snap.  Otherwise, they can pet her.  She has adjusted to most of the other things she sees on walks, except cars that pass nearby.  She wants to run in the opposite direction, but I would rather it stays that way.    The last thing I want is for Sapphire, should she ever be out in the road, to think that running cars are okay.

The aggressive attitude I mentioned never comes except when someone comes into our house and she is upset and barking/growling.  After she realizes that we don't mind, which generally takes several minutes even with sharp leash corrections, she occasionally givers her alert look (without any nervousness in it) and barks some more.  So this seems to be improving, although not as fast as I would have liked.

Overall, this seems to be the case.  There is some improvement, but it is slow and will take lots of time and effort to solve.  So, I'm learning that training dogs takes time, especially when the dog doesn't have a very people-oriented, really-wants-to-please-you attitude.

As an aside, she has an ENTIRELY different attitude at Petsmart. The class we took previously did help, but it was not in the way we had hoped.    We went there this Saturday for the socialization, even though the class was cancelled for the next two weeks and we will have to cancel our enrollment in it.  Once she realized where we were, she hurried in to find the trainer and enthusiastical ly greeted everyone we saw at first with her friendly attitude.  Her ears were way back, so that you couldn't see them from the front, whole rear end wagged along with her tail, and she rushed toward people, trying to sniff them.  Once she got over that, she acted a little more wary of people, but is still far more cooperative with people, tolerating all of them unless they approach her.  There are a few people that she doesn't like and barks at when they come towards us, but she is fine with almost everyone.  She is also less nervous around dogs there, but she is quite wary enough to get away from those that growl, snap, or otherwise act aggressive.  The difference is so big it would absolutely hilarious if it weren't for the disappointment of her behavior in our neighborhood.  I still think it is a little funny.

 

I will probably post pictures of Sapphire this weekend.

Sofia