Beef, It is NOT what is for dinner for Jack

[Jennifer and Jack]

Well I finally took Jack to the vet today, It was not our normal vet but we have seen her before, Jack's penis (sorry if TMI) and entire abdomen are visible inflamed. His little pee pee looks like a golf ball...THat just happen today.

 

  The vet feels like it is an allergy of some type that is causing him to lick... He doesn't lick his paws, the spot it effects him is his belly and groin. He also had a slightly elevated urine PH again 7.5 7 is normal, He didn't have any crystals in his urine, She offered antibiotics, I declined because she was on the fence about it especially after seeing the swelling.

 

Jack had a shower and was groomed today by me with puppy shampoo. I am now giving him hydroxyzine q 8 hours as needed. I just gave him some and he is out cold taking a nap with my mom. The only thing that has changed is the flavor Orijen I have fed him. We think it is beef that he is allergic too.

 

The last time he had itchiness was when he was on beef so I am taking him off it all together, though he loves it.

 

Back to fish Orijen for now. I hope that this helps, If his groin area does not improve we will do antibiotics for the urine.

 

I was flabbergasted at how expensive it was today. Things my regular vet does complementary, I got charge an arm and a leg for, including cutting nails. His urine test that used to be 15 I was charge 45 for. When I asked about it the receptionist told me my regular vet has always given me a huge discount and I just didn't know it.

 

I finally worked the courage up to give Jack the Lepto shot and this vet wouldn't give it!!! She said not safe for small dogs but if I insisted she would give it, but she did add more and more little dogs are coming down with it. Rubber room please......

 

 

I also got put in my place when I told them what I learned from the green paw website about K9 advantix and this vet said it is not toxic to dogs, and "dogs do not have receptors for this type of medication, only the bugs do.. I almost believed her until she said "we would never sell anything but the best for the dogs" as I looked around and saw piles of bags of Science Diet and Purina crap.

 

So Beef, It's not what is for dinner for Jack anymore!!! Hopefully his kidneys are not acting up with his PH again.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Poor little Jack, that's sounds really uncomfortable. Hope he is feeling better soon.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Rooney is on K9 Advantix II  - what is the problem with it?  He was on Comfortis but that doesn't protect against ticks.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Oh and I hear you about the cost - Stuart was at the vets today and I now have

20.00 adoption application fee

810.00 adoption fee

135.78 6/7 Atlanta vet

178.32 6/15 Home vet

for a grand total of $1,044.10 for a RESCUE PUPPY

What The Dog was I thinking?  P.S. He is a lovey little guy but I'm gunna have to take out a loan.  LOL

 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Jane, that's a pretty stiff "adoption fee"  but we all know you know he's worth every penny of it. You might have to stop dyeing that hair of yours...so you look "our" age - wink wink (our little inside tale).

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

OMG - you are so right!  No more hair dyeing for me!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Speaking of hair dyeing, I really did move my highlight/cut appt last month so I could pay for PERI's SUMMERCUT and daycare. Seriously. 

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

And you haven't even mentioned the cost of the trip!  But he is so cute and we all know worth every penny of it!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am in no position to speak of what the problem is with K9 advantix because I don't know my butt from my elbow.... I read on the green paw website that someone posted on here about the different flea medications. Three paws meant the most toxic to dogs, K9 advantix came up three paws totally toxic, Jack has been on it for a good six months and he has done great, no ticks or fleas and it also repels them. I was very happy until I read the report

Frontline plus came up two paws, less toxic then K9 advantix, Jack was on that but got fleas. Revolution he was on and got ticks.

 

They said Comfortis is the least toxic to dogs and safe to give to them as well as Program. When I shared this with my vet, (the vet that was covering, she very quickly and firmly put me in my place) and said that dogs don't have receptors to absorb this medication only bugs do. She also told me their office would never sell something bad for dogs, and it is filled with Science diet that she wanted me to start Jack on, and I told her that she doesn't know me very well

 

Jane they are worth every penny but so expensive.. and the little things add up before you know it. I could not take on another puppy because I could never afford to properly care for it, Jack is little so he needs his anal glands expressed every eight weeks, I have to buy a ton of stuff to keep his teeth clean because he won't chew on anything. I am not complaining, it just kills ya to spend so much, That was a huge amount of money you paid for your adorable puppy.. but people need to know what they are getting into when they adopt... it is not cheaper...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'll have to look at it again, but I don't think the ratings meant most toxic to dogs. I think they rated them on what was most toxic to humans.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

For example, here's what the Green Paws site has to say about one ingredient in Frontline, fipronil:

Fipronil -- 

Fipronil is considered a possible human carcinogen. [source] It also blocks a neural pathway responsible for preventing excessive stimulation resulting in over-excitation of the nervous system in both insects and humans. Fipronil binds less readily with mammalian nervous receptors than insect receptors, reducing its toxic effect in humans. Signs of poisoning from fipronil may include sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, agitation, weakness, and tonic clonic seizures. When exposed to sunlight, fipronil breaks down into a compound nine to ten times as potent as fipronil itself. Studies have shown that fipronil residues from pet fur can get transferred onto a wipe or a child's hand. Fipronil is also suspected to disrupt the endocrine system. [source] Fipronil is listed as a least-toxic chemical control by the Integrated Pest Management Practitioner. It is listed on EcoWise Certified IPM Program Materials List. 

 

It really seems that the focus is more on the possible harmful effects to you & your family than to the dog.

 

[Jennifer and Jack]

http://www.simplesteps.org/greenpaws-products

 

Karen are we reading the same site?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep. My quote was from the Frontline Plus section, where they tell the ingredients and what each one is. If you click on Frontline plus and scroll down to fipronil, you'll see it.

The whole Green Paws site seems to be geared toward the environmental issues as they affect people, more than pets.