Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Lyn - He is doing so much better.  Thank you for asking.  I remember my husband and I standing in the Emergency Vet's Hospital when they handed us the estimate after the first seizure and we both knew that he was ours and we wanted to whatever we could for him (if you have ever seen a 6'4"inch big tough army guy cry over a puppy).

The first couple of months were the hardest with all of the growth Saints do.  But now that he has leveled out at a slim 162lbs it is much easier to manage.

It's funny because we have fostered a couple of other Saints with seizures now and I am constantly amazed by how many people won't pay for suce an inexpensive medicine.  His phenobarbitol is like 8 bucks a month.  It's a pill and I can had it to him and he will eat it.

I can tell you we have numerous problems with Gabe. And the BYB told us that both of the parents were healthy. 

We got Gabe from FL (we live in Washington, DC) and he was shipped to us early (at 7 weeks) on 12/23 last year.  When I picked him up from the airport and got him home I noticed that he was ver wobbly and very disoriented.  I called the breeder to let her know that he had arrived.  And that he was wobbly.  She said it was because he had gotten his 7-way the day before and not to worry.

Over the course of the next week we all adjusted.  The wobbling got better and everyone was a happy camper.  On New Years Eve we came home for find our poor little guy coated in drool and foaming at the mouth a little.  I called the vet who said there was nothing to worry about he was probably stressed because it was the first time he was left alone.

As I hung up the phone with her I looked over and saw Gabe having was appeared to be a seizure.  I called her back and she told us to take him to the hospital.  Which we promptly did.  After we got home (thousands of dollars later) I called the breeder and explained the events to her.  At which point she told us it was an upset stomach and to give him yogurt to clear it up.

We have done so many tests on my little man; many trips to different hospitals for testing; it was determined he had epilepitic.  I called her again and explained the situation; she then told my husband and I she would give us our money back; needless to say we never saw it.

We ended up suing her for breach of contract in small claims; it wasn't the money it was the principle.

But she actually had the gall to use us a reference for her next litter.

But I feel you pain because every time we asked we were told both the parents were healthy and she had never had any other seizures in any of her other dogs and that it must be something we were doing.

Gabe has a fascination with rawhide.  Like no other dog I have ever known.  Which I think is wonderful because he has never eaten anything that he shouldn't (like my favorite heels). 

But the rawhide seems to get caked on there causing his fur to get all hard and sticky on his front paws (I am assuming its a combo of drool and wet rawhide).  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to wash this off? 

By the end of the week (he gets a bone when mommy leaves for work) he looks like no one cares about him.  The front paws are a mixture of dirt, drool, rawhide, and god knows what else he has gotten into in the course of the week.  He is averaging what we call a mini bath every Saturday to wash it off (which he thinks is the cruelest thing ever)  I am almost embarassed to take him out because I fear people think we dont take care of him.

Not only that its starting to stain his pretty white paws.

Any suggestions?

Thank you everyone for all fo the responses.  Gabe's head is getting bigger by the minute. 

We have had a really hard time finding other big dog owners in our area.  We seems ot have a huge influx of Yorkies and other small dogs.

Gabe is truly facinated that dogs come in such small packages.  Suprisingly Gabe thinks he is the welcoming commitee for our neighborhood.

And everyone what wonderfully beautiful dogs you all have.

Hi!  I am Gabe's the St. Bernards Human.  My name is Shannon. Gabe took over our house almost a year ago today.  He turns a year old tomorrow. 

We have had our ups and downs since we got him; and a whole lot of laughs.  It seems like everyday I am laughing at him (wait should that be with him?)

I just wanted to introduce ourselves to the rest of the group.

Look forward to chatting with you.

Shannon