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Messages - GracieGirl

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Discussions & Information on Grooming / Re: Have the Dremel - now what?
« on: January 21, 2007, 08:09:43 pm »
When I use a dremel on a terrified dog, I put cotton balls in their ears. The cotton helps to muffle out the sound.

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Discussions & Information on Grooming / Grooming supplies
« on: January 21, 2007, 08:05:53 pm »
The best and easiest affordable way to buy supplies is to ask a groomer. They can tell you what you need to buy for your breed of dog. Some groomers even offer lessons. I used to give lessons on clients dog's while they watched. I told them to bring what they have, so I could tell them what is good or not. They could ask any question they wanted. Then, I gave them a list of what to buy, and where to buy it.

Biggest mistake people do, is buying clippers and blades from superstores. If you plan on keeping your dog forever (lol), then why not invest in good items? Like Sally's for people, we have grooming catalogs and stores for dogs.

Blade sharpening runs an average of $5, clipper repair runs about $20+.  So, don't throw your things out, just ask the nearest groomer where they fix theirs.

P.S. PetEdge.com, Ryan's Pet Supplies.  They both have everything you can imagine: shirts, ribbon, leashes, collars, brushes, shampoos, etc.

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: SNOW IN TUCSON AZ
« on: January 21, 2007, 07:19:55 pm »
A friend of mine said it snowed in Scottsdale also. Here in Surprise (west of Phoenix), it lightly snowed here too.  All you could here is kids outside yelling out "It's Snowing!", as they ran around outside. The elevation here is about 1300 feet.

I still think Arizona has some beautiful weather. From the monsoon light shows (lightning over 1000 strikes), to the scary dust storms (habobs)that can raise dust 3000 feet. Just like in the movie The Mummy.

The last time I remember it snowing in Phoenix area was 1990. What a way to start the new year in Arizona!


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Collars, crates, & other cool things / Craft Idea for Nameplates
« on: January 21, 2007, 06:25:25 pm »
I bought an unfinished wood bone about 6 months ago.  Myself, being the packrat, figured I'd create an idea someday for it.  Well, I got an idea recently, and bought another bone.

I painted both, put stickers and sorts on each of them. Each are personalized for each BRAT! This is better than nameplates on their food bowl stands.

I thought I'd share with everyone. By the way, that's our dobie butt in the pic.   

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Treatment & Preventative Meds / Hyaluronic acid for joints
« on: October 23, 2006, 10:26:14 am »
Gracie, who's large for a doberman, has shown signs of joint problems. At around 9 months, off and on, we'd hear popping sounds coming from her rear lower part of her legs.

She just turned 1 year old, and the popping still doesn't seem to bug her at all. She plays rough with her 4 year old dobe sister. Yet, no cries of pain, etc.

I've read about how Hyaluronic acid helps joint problems. So, I went to a feed store and bought a supplement.  Fluid Action HA Powder by Finish Line. It comes in fluid, or powder form. It's for horses, cats and dogs. It also has glucosamine, msn, vitamin b & c, etc.

This is a new form of doseage, as it used to be only injectable.  I've also heard from other people with joint problems taking hyaluronic acid, but from other companies.

So, if this works on my dogs, then I'll put my hubby on people form for his back and osteoporosis.

Wish us luck!

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Food Discussion & Information / Re: Rating your dog's food...
« on: October 23, 2006, 10:13:11 am »
I did have my dobes on Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice. But, a week ago, I bought Authority Harvest Baked with lamb. It has lamb and salmon meal in it. So, from the points up top, I went from 87 to a score of 116. No gas, poops are good, I'm happy.

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Medical Conditions & Diseases / Re: Popping sound comes and goes
« on: September 04, 2006, 05:47:13 pm »
Husband thinks it's growing spurts, etc. He doesn't want me to take her to the vet about her hips.

So, I backed off the Kirkland Food (gave her bad gas). I only buy our girls Nutro Lamb & Rice. Then, I give them both BumbleBee (tuna maker)Omega-3 fish oil 1000mg a day. Tonight, I bought a bottle of Ultra Plan Glucosamine Chondroitin supreme, from a health vitamin store.

These are the ingredients: Vit C-25mg  Vit E-25iu  Glucosamine hci-250mg  glucosamine sulfate-250mg  chondroitin sulfate 400mg  msm 100mg  citrus bioflavonoids complex 10mg  superoxide dismutase 5 mg

It's amazing, my dogs love eating the softgels whole.

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Medical Conditions & Diseases / Popping sound comes and goes
« on: August 04, 2006, 05:58:00 pm »
 I've read alot od posts here, now I'm scared. It started around 9 months old, she'll be 10 on the 9th. Gracie (fawn doberman)came down the carpeted hall one night, and I kept hearing popping sounds. Almost like knees popping like people have. I only hear it in the house, not outside. It's not constant either, it comes and goes. Sometimes after a few weeks. It only seems to be at
night, or at least that's when it's more common.

Her hips aren't stiff when she walks or runs. She also never seems to be in pain. Her and our other dobe run around the yard and spar alot.

We live in Arizona, so it's not cold, it's just hot. And our dogs sleep on our bed, they are very pampered. I cannot figure this one out. 

Now, Gracie is a big chic!! She's a fawn, and her parents were HUGE! Mama was 90lb, and the father was about 120.
Gracie is about 70lb now, and is almost larger than our 75lb 4 year old black/tan dobe.

Our older eats Kirkland chicken and rice. Gracie eats Nutro Natural choice Lamb & Rice, the other food gave her bad gas. They both also eat one Bumble Bee Fish oil capsule a day for Omega 3. Could these popping sounds be air pockets while she's growing? Everytime I plan on taking her to the vet, it doesn't happen. Should I take her in anyways to get an xray?






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Food Discussion & Information / Re: We're switching Maggie's food...
« on: November 24, 2005, 11:47:19 pm »
We have a black/tan dobie. When she was a pup, I had her on Solid Gold food for puppies. When she got older, I began to feed her the adult food. It gave her dandruff, and itchy skin. I then switched her to other foods, which gave her the most nasty egg farts, lol. It's bad when the dog stinks up the bedroom, and not your husband, haha.

I put her on Iams large breed food, and her coat is perfect. She doesn't itch, has a shiney coat, and no gas (yeehaw).  So, my point is, when finding the right food for your dog, keep an eye on the skin, coat, and definetely gas (irritating tummy).

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Doberman Discussions / Re: Introduction
« on: November 24, 2005, 11:39:18 pm »
We just bought a fawn dobie pup. I'm aware of the skin problems they tend to have. But, a funny thing is, my hubby had alopecia years ago. The doctor gave us a cream for it, and his hair grew back. So, I'll be keeping an eye on our pup.

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Treatment & Preventative Meds / Re: Anal Gland health
« on: November 24, 2005, 11:10:07 pm »
Anal glands are emptied when the dog poops. When a dog poops, there is usually the last "squeeze", which is a fluid that comes out of their colon. Anal glands were once used for marking their territory.  It's common for smaller breeds, and the elderly to have anal gland problems, due to muscles not being strong enough.

Diet does have effect on the anal glands. A high fiber diet is a good place to start. The firmness of the stool makes the dog push harder, which releases the fluid from these glands. Anal glands are two small sacs located at the left and right side of the colon.

Groomers express them from the outside, while the vet does them internally. If your dog scoots along your floor, licks under their tail, or has a smelly rear, their anal glands possibly need to be expressed.

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Doberman Pictures / Re: Dobermans
« on: November 24, 2005, 10:03:33 pm »
We have 2 dobies. One 4 year old natural black/tan girl, and one 6 week old fawn girl. My husband wants our girls to be unique. The older is not docked or cropped, and the younger will be standard.  They're both being raised with our 8 year old son, and have never had any signs of aggression. The only Alpha is this house will always be me, lol ::).

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