Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Name: Zoey

Breed: Saint Bernard

Birthday: June 10, 2004.

Her July outfit: When I read about the contest, I had a picture in my head of Zoey dressed up as the statue of liberty. I can’t sew, so I was going to go to the party store to look for a fake statue of liberty hat and flame. But then I read jabear’s post that photoshopping was allowed. This was music to my ears! I love playing with photoshop. One fresh smiling Zoey picture, a google search for ‘statue of liberty’ and a couple hours later, Voila! I tried to make it look like I made the costume, but my secret is out now

Her September outfit: For September I contemplated sneaking zoey into my classroom at school for some photos but figured I'd get in too much trouble  So, I pulled out photoshop once again. One shot of zoey looking stern, combined with one sciency chalkboard picture and one puppet, and voila: Einstein Zoey

Best traits: She’s a total love-bug! She is the most affectionate dog ever.

Worst traits: She sometimes has selective hearing of commands when there isn’t food involved.

Favorite treat: Cheese, leftover steak, and Frosty Paws. Oh, and bully sticks.

Least favorite food: The only food she’s ever turned down was green peas. She was intently watching me cook one day and begging for me to drop a piece, so I threw her a green pea to see what she would do. She sniffed it, licked it, picked it up in her mouth, and then promptly dropped it. Once she decided I wasn’t cooking anything good, she left the kitchen.

Favorite Toy: Anything she can play tug of war with or destroy.

Favorite place to hang out in the house: Anywhere mom and dad are. If I leave the room for a second she will follow me, and she particularly loves laying on my bed or at my feet when I’m on the couch.


Best dog friend: Right now I’d probably say Dickens. He hangs out at the pet store, and when ever we go there (at least once a week) the two of them will run around and play until they’re so tired they pass out. I call him her boyfriend because sometimes he gets a little too friendly. Good thing she’s been fixed or I’d end up with a litter of black lab/saint mixes!

Favorite memory: It is so hard to pick! I love her so much there are just too many!  I guess I would have to say the day we brought her home since that’s when she came into our lives. We brought a toy for her to chew on the ride home, but all she wanted was to cuddle up to me. She sat in my lap and nuzzled me the whole ride home and I knew that I loved her right away.

A few days ago I was looking at Zoey's tail up close and noticed that it is covered in scales. When I touch it too look up close, she flinches and tries to nip at my hand, so obviously it is uncomfortable for her. The best description I could give is that it looks as if someone sprinkled cornmeal  on the skin of her tail. But it's just her tail. Besides this, her skin looks good and her fur is soft and shiny.

I am trying to figure out what possible causes there could be for her tail issue. We did switch her food a month or so ago, but I assume that if that was the cause she would have this all over and not just on the tail. She gets frontline regularly, so I don't think it could be a flea allergy. I spend time each day grooming her and have never seen any traces of insects or parasites, and again I would think that if that is the problem it would be all over and not just the tail. Her puppy-daddy thinks that we must have missed rinsing off all the shampoo off her tail during her last bath (probably about a month ago) and that it dried the skin out. Would that cause such flaky skin? Does anyone know what else could cause this?

There is a thread already about what food everyone uses, but I was wondering what supplements everyone uses.

I give Zoey a glucosamine/chondroitin/msm supplement for her hips, and  am trying to decide if I should add anything else. I have been spending a lot of time looking at her skin lately because of the extra brushing for summer shedding, and I noticed it is looking pretty dry right now, so I was trying to decide if I should give her another supplement for her skin. One thing I know is that you have to be careful when you supplement because you can accidentally do more harm than good if you oversupplement without realizing it, so I am cautious about adding more.

I am wondering what other people use for supplements. Also, if you supplement with 'regular food', is there a specific reason (ie, that a certain food is good for the skin or the eyes or whatever)?

I want to start making homemade frozen treats for my Saint so I can save money on frosty paws and also make smaller sized ones so that I can give them to her more often.

I searched the net and found these two recipes over and over:

Home Made Frosty Paws
Obtained from the Show Dog Magazine web site.

32 oz. vanilla yogurt
1 mashed banana or one large jar of baby fruit
2 Tblsp. peanut butter
2 Tblsp. honey

Blend all together and freeze in either 3 oz. paper cusp or ice cube trays. Microwave just a few seconds before serving.

Note: Baby meat can be substitued instead of the fruit and peanut butter.


Icy Paws
Obtained from the Show Dog Magazine web site.
2 (32oz.) plain or vanilla yogurt
1 small (8oz.) can of tuna in water
2 tsp. garlic power
24 3 oz. plastic cups (not paper)

Open yogurt, if they are full to the top use a spoon & scoop out one cup. (these will be frozen as plain yogurt). Put half of the can of tuna in each yogurt container add the garlic power (1 tsp. in each) & stir thoroughly.Use a spoon & scoop the mixture into the cups. Place on a tray & freeze overnight. Makes about 24 treats.

VARIATIONS:
Natural Flea Preventation: Mix in garlic powder, brewers yeast & fennel seed.
Veggie Delight: Mix in cooked peas or other vegetables.
Chicken Icy Paws: use canned chicken instead of tuna
Potassiam Boost: Add in a mashed banana.

I am also considering mixing yogurt with pureed pumpkin to freeze for those  days when her output is a little too soft.

Has anyone tried these or any other homemade frozen treat recipes? Any suggestions for me?