Marley - DOB 08/05/13
Brindle Staffordshire Bull Terrier - White chest
21/06/13 - Bought Marley home, paid $400 for him.
936g, dehydrated and full of worms. Vet had given ivermectin.
I started herbal wormer also. Coconut oil on his peeling skin, at first I thought he was just covered in food but a bath didn't budge it. Used an oatmeal shampoo on him daily.
Started raw chicken and raw goats milk, and even fed him during the night the first few weeks.
22/06 - 944g
23/06 - 1012 g
24/06 - 1083 g
26/06 - 1183 g
27/06 - 1264 g
28/06 - 1340 g
29/06 - 1425 g
30/06 - 1491 g
01/07 - 1581 g
02/07 - 1632 g
03/07 - 1720 g (8 weeks old) Still way smaller than he should be for this age.
04/07 - 1825 g
05/07 - 1952 g
06/07 - 2060 g
By mid July Marley's skin was clear, and the fur had grown on his belly and chest. He was gaining weight really well. I ended up using Malasab shampoo to help the yeast in his skin. Supplements I was giving were, caprylic acid capsules, EFA mix + LSA, plus raw meaty bones. Used commercial Barf mix some meals.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
I decided after lots of reading that a Staffy would be a great family dog for us. I initially looked at buying through a registered breeder, and at the time I thought I could not justify the $2500 to purchase one. But after all the dramas I have had this year, I have realised these dogs are worth their purchase price, when you have breeders who health test their breeding pairs, and don't breed genetic faults, and where the puppies stay with their mum until they are rehomed at 8 weeks or older. Yes they may not be fed the ultimate raw diet, but at least its better quality dry, and some do include some raw also. This first 8 weeks is crucial to their life long health.
I looked at several litters bred by Back Yard Breeders (ie those who throw 2 dogs together and hope for the best) some puppies did look very healthy etc, but one litter did not. They were so small, all their skin was peeling from their tails and legs, and they had sores on their paw pads. All were so dehydrated, their little bellies looked like prunes and their skin on their back of their necks did not drop at all. The people had no idea. The mother dog had apparently escaped and was hit and killed by a car (the father also got out, but was not killed) when the puppies were only 4 weeks old. Immediately they started them on watered down tinned food, and no extra water, as they thought the puppies would drown in the water bowl. I felt so sorry for these puppies, but initially went away not planning on buying one. But I went back, and Marley was the smallest one out of the 8, and I decided I had to buy him. I knew I would be buying problems, but I didn't care.
I went straight to the vet for a check up, and he was full of worms (saw on scope), and he had gastritis from the worms, he was given an injection of ivermectin. The rest I did at home. Straight away on raw chicken, and raw goats milk, I got up and fed him during the night. He weighed 936 g on that first day at 6 weeks old. To make things worse for him, he was vaccinated 2 days prior to me buying him, but a vet who deemed the entire litter healthy. Unbelievable. Its clear which vets do this just to make money :( Marleys immune system is now very weak, but with time and a few supplements along with the raw diet, I believe it will be strong soon enough.
Following this post, will be dates, and what I did for him on each date, so I can bring this blog up to date on his journey.
I looked at several litters bred by Back Yard Breeders (ie those who throw 2 dogs together and hope for the best) some puppies did look very healthy etc, but one litter did not. They were so small, all their skin was peeling from their tails and legs, and they had sores on their paw pads. All were so dehydrated, their little bellies looked like prunes and their skin on their back of their necks did not drop at all. The people had no idea. The mother dog had apparently escaped and was hit and killed by a car (the father also got out, but was not killed) when the puppies were only 4 weeks old. Immediately they started them on watered down tinned food, and no extra water, as they thought the puppies would drown in the water bowl. I felt so sorry for these puppies, but initially went away not planning on buying one. But I went back, and Marley was the smallest one out of the 8, and I decided I had to buy him. I knew I would be buying problems, but I didn't care.
I went straight to the vet for a check up, and he was full of worms (saw on scope), and he had gastritis from the worms, he was given an injection of ivermectin. The rest I did at home. Straight away on raw chicken, and raw goats milk, I got up and fed him during the night. He weighed 936 g on that first day at 6 weeks old. To make things worse for him, he was vaccinated 2 days prior to me buying him, but a vet who deemed the entire litter healthy. Unbelievable. Its clear which vets do this just to make money :( Marleys immune system is now very weak, but with time and a few supplements along with the raw diet, I believe it will be strong soon enough.
Following this post, will be dates, and what I did for him on each date, so I can bring this blog up to date on his journey.
This is my blog journalling the health of my own dogs, and dogs I have rescued, and how I am bringing them back to optimal health after a bad start to life.
I will do this by following a raw prey model diet, natural medicine and supplements (unless vet medicine really needed) and most of all love and affection. Unfortunately not all of these stories have had happy endings, and it has taught me I cannot save them all and I will no longer focus on rescuing dogs, as in I will no longer go out of my way to find them, and I will no longer support back yard breeders, I will continue reporting these people to the authorities and let them deal with them.
I will do this by following a raw prey model diet, natural medicine and supplements (unless vet medicine really needed) and most of all love and affection. Unfortunately not all of these stories have had happy endings, and it has taught me I cannot save them all and I will no longer focus on rescuing dogs, as in I will no longer go out of my way to find them, and I will no longer support back yard breeders, I will continue reporting these people to the authorities and let them deal with them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)