2 very different questions- re: spay and flatulence
Question #1 - at what age did you spay your female puppies...my breeder suggested waiting as long as possible but because I do use a kennel I can't wait too long or I need to refrain from kennelling her for a few months. I want to plan ahead as she is nearing 6 months. Question #2 - is flatulence just something we need to get used to or has anyone had luck with a particular food. She is currently eating Chicken Soup for the Large Breed Puppy's Soul. She came home on Pro Plan originally. Is this a common problem? Is it because the muscles are lax without a tail to wag? or is it just my girl? I'm looking forward to everyone's thoughts...thanks, Nancy |
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| Her breeder is absolutely correct - the longer you can wait, the better for her. Especially since growth plates probably don't close in this breed until over a year old, well over for males especially. I prefer mine go through at least one season and not be spayed before 18 mos old, but most pet owners are under all kinds of pressures to alter their dogs and so relatively few are able to manage that. Flatulence - no, it has nothing to do with them being docked. The food may just be too rich for her stomach. From what I read here it seems a lot of OES do well on Pro Plan. If she was doing well on this when she came, perhaps something to consider switching back to? Or trying some other kind of food till you find one that works for her. Some dogs are gassier than others, but it's not something that you have to live with though, no  Kristine |
| Hello...I'm a very new Sheepie owner, but just wanted to let you know that my 4 month old girl had a really hard time with Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul as well. My breeder said to slowly transition it to her at 4 months from Purina Puppy Chow and it didn't agree with her either. It made her very gassy, her stools were loose, and she seemed to have digestive distress. I could hear her stomach gurgling when she laid down and knew something was up. My vet told me that type of food was way too rich for her and said I should switch her back to Purina since she did well on that. Her coat has been beautiful and shiny and her weight has been great, so I switched back immediately and all the problems stopped! Also, I was told to wait until 6 or 7 months to spay my girl, but my vet prefers to do it at 6 months, so that's what I'm going to do. It seems like everyone does it at different time frames. I'm now wondering when the ideal time is to actual do it... |
| Ditto, wait as long as possible for spay. Gas Bags: sometimes a food sensitivity. My first girl could not go near soy. May have to try various foods to see which one suits her tummy. Also dogs who get too much or a strange variety of foods (Jack) will be gas bags. |
| Hi Nancy, Just out of curiosity, why did you take her off of the ProPlan? Libby, as with all of my pups and dogs, did/do extremely well on the ProPlan. I would recommend switching her back. As for spaying, I still stick to the recommendation I gave you  My dogs rarely ever have their first heat before they are a year old. Suzy is 13 months old and is just now having her first heat. |
| Many vets encourage spaying early to help elminate any unplanned litters. If you are a responsible owner (if you have one of Amber's I am sure you are ), wait to let her develop. I echo eveyone else on the food. We've run into that with a few foods in our household as well. Not sure where you got the food from, but the big chains (Petsmart, Petco) will give full refund if the bag is over 1/2 full. We've taken back food an 2 ocassions with no problems. I always keep children's liquid gas relief on hand as well, just incase. I've never given it to a puppy though  ...might want to ask your vet, just to make sure it's okay for a puppy.OH, AND SHE IS ADORABLE!!!  |
| Young pups are growing quickly, perhaps that is contributing to the gas problem. If it really isn't that bad, just an occassional emission, I'd relax. Yeah, yeah, the vets push early spay, communities even charge extra for unspay licesnse. As said above, what if she naturally would come into season after a year old, then spaying now would have been far, far too early. It might very well mean you can't kennel her for awhile.......unless your job hinges on it.....it's put my own personal needs second for awhile to developing a sound dog that doesn't have problems later because of early spaying. (I think of Shane and Sam and their bone cancer..and Jack's orthopedic problems..maybe early spay related.) |
| I wish we had listened to Amber and waited longer to have Mady spayed. The vet scared me, talking about bigger blood vessels the bigger she is, longer under anesthetic so more risks etc. and that scared us. We know more now for next time. As for the gas, I remember Mady going through a brief phase of that, but she outgrew it. It only happens now if she has been visiting Grandma and got too many goodies. We have had her on the Proplan the entire time and, not to be gross or anything, but her poops are generally terrific. Again, only impacted by too many goodies. |
| Thanks for the input from everyone... Hi Amber..to answer your question about why I changed her in the first place from Pro Plan...OMG, she could almost lift the roof off the house...she is still smelly but in a slightly milder manner. (This does not diminish her cute factor though.) She has not had any people food and only gets very occasional treats. She might just have a sensitive tummy because when I tried those little training bits her stools became very loose. As for the spay, I am trying to hold off as long as possible...I like to take her to Doggy Day Care for the socialization aspect, but we will have to amuse orselves in other manners for a while. Once June gets here, we will go to the lake and she will be busy there. Nancy |
| It is common for people to panic if their pups get a bit of mushy poops and immediately blame the food and switch them, which usually makes things worse. You have to remember that puppies have immature digestive systems so it could be the stick they chewed in the yard, for example, that might give them some mushy poops. It passes. Obviously worry and a trip to the vets would come in if the pup has pure liquid diarrhea as they can dehydrate quickly. But that would not necessarily mean it was the food. So.....as I was writing this I noticed you replied. I am not sure the gas was from the food......probably just a growing puppy. And I would not label her as having a sensitive tummy....she is a growing puppy. Like I mentioned, since the ProPlan was the first food she was given here as a pup, that is what I would recommend going back to. All of my dogs are on it and are very healthy, have great coats, and nice poops. Any new photos? |
| Hold off on the spay as long as possible.....at least until she goes thru 1 heat cycle ormore. Some people actually kennel (board) their girls when they are in heat so there are kennels out there that will work with you. If you are talking doggie day care, well then you might just have to keep her at home with you & entertain her for 21 days. Sort of the samae as not being allowed to take them to obedience class during that time frame. Actually, it's not all that bad & a later spy provides may benefits for your girl through out her lifetime. As for the gas.............I feed Purina Pro Plan Lamb & Rice Shredded Blend with very little gas problem. Also might try Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach. It works good for dogs with a sensitive intestinal tract. |
| My dalmo has a very sensitive gut and gets terrible flatulence and dermatitis from lots of foods. I have had great success with ProPlan Sensitive Skin and Stomach, both for his itchies and his smellies. |
| I agree with the comments to look at gently switching food. We have all sorts of problems with one of ours any time he eats chicken, beef, or wheat. (vomiting, itchies, gas, and general grouchiness) You'd think that would make life impossible, but we get him ProPlan turkey and barley and life is grand. I have no idea why turkey would be so different from chicken, but our vet says that lots of dogs with chicken issues do great on turkey, so I think it just goes to show that food can really make a difference. We also had previous sheepies on the turkey and barley for other reasons, so it just seems to be the magic wand for us around here. With Hudson (our delicate flower) if we go too far off his very strict regimen we know immediately. He throws up on us when we're in bed in the wee hours immediately after our transgression. Can't tell someone any more directly than that. |
| Amber I have added a few new pics in Puppies 1st album although she was sorely in need of a bath that day. Thanks to everyone for their input. We are so loving our little sheepie...I have no idea why I waited so long to get one. She is so well mannered but playful and cuddly. And yes Mady's Mum, it is very dangerous territory to be looking at puppy pics (Charm is adorable). Nancy  |
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