Mike’s Doghouse

So, if you remember from a previous post, Mike’s age is in question. It is possible he is younger than we thought. Normally, this isn’t a big deal, but if he is younger than previously assumed, he rec’d his rabies vaccine too soon and it will need to be repeated. I don’t know if other vaccinations will also need to be redone.

Tonight, while waiting for something to download, I did a search for images of puppy and adult teeth. Not for the squeamish! I managed to find an excellent set of images and explanations on, get this, a Rottweiler site!

Donnerberg Rottweilers in California has a great page of teeth info. The photos are great and include puppy teeth, adult teeth, and various stages in between. These photos will help me to keep an eye on Mike’s teeth. I looked at them this afternoon and I don’t see that much of a difference since last week at the vet’s.

In the morning, I have to collect a urine sample and during the day, collect a fecal sample. Oh goody. Oh joy. In the afternoon, we take another of our dogs, PopCorn, in to the vet’s to get two masses removed from her foot. She’s had a mass from this foot removed before and we knew it would grow back. It did, and brought a friend. PopCorn just had a cancerous tumor (and her spleen) removed two weeks ago. It is a slow-growing cancer, extremely rare, and since this means she’ll be with us at least another year or two, we figure it would be best to make her comfortable. When we take her in (she gets carsick so we always take her in the day before), we’ll give them Mike’s contribution to our growing bill there.

Mike went to the vet yesterday! There’s some weird stuff going on but nothing to be too concerned about yet. He’s on an antibiotic and a dewormer. Thursday I am to collect and take in a urine sample and a fecal sample. Oh, the things we do for our dogs!

Mike may be younger than the original vet paperwork says. He should be getting his first adult teeth this week if he is the age it says. If not, then he is younger and some vaccines may need to be repeated. This is no one’s fault, and could be simply the wrong date was entered into the computer. There were 8 puppies in that litter, at least one other slightly older puppy, and an emaciated adult dog and I’m sure the vet’s office was busy taking care of them vs making sure dates were absolutely correct.

We discussed nutrition. Large breed puppies should not be on puppy food for very long. It can cause them to grow too fast which can create problems such as Panosteitis. This is what Joella had. Some pet food companies have come out with different puppy food for different types or breeds. Mike was getting Iam’s “Smart Puppy” but we switched him to Wellness’s “Just for Puppy”. There are great debates about the role puppy food’s protein content and Panosteitis. Our vet recommended a food less than 26% protein, preferably less than 24%. Our adult dogs now eat Taste of the Wild, a high protein dog food. We started using it to combat Joella’s lethal gas problem. Prior to TotW, our dogs got Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato. We love Wellness’ products and the quality of the ingredients (they don’t do animal by-products). In a week or two, we’ll switch him to the Wellness Adult Fish and Sweet Potato.

For reference (minimum protein):
Taste of the Wild

High Prairie Canine Formula has 32%

Iams

ProActive Health Smart Puppy Large Breed has 26%
ProActive Health Smart Puppy has 28%

Wellness

Super 5 Mix Just for Puppy has 28%
Super 5 Mix Large Breed Puppy Health has 26%
Adult Whitefish and Sweet Potato has 22%

Not long after Mike was rescued, his tail was amputated due to infection and injury. He has an odd habit of growling at then chewing the stub. This happens at least once a day. He did not like the vet messing with the tip of it. It is possible that there is some nerve damage due to the infection and injury. Normal docking of tails does rarely causes this and is done when the pups are just a few days old. When he is neutered in a few months, and if the tail is still bothering him, they will check the tip for possible scar tissue or otherwise compromised nerve. It is quite possible Mike is just being a weird puppy and there is nothing wrong.

Mike was microchipped, too. The vet’s office uses the HomeAgain microchip. This will ensure so that if we are ever separated, he will be able to come home again (pun intended). See my previous post on emergencies.

Mike weighed just 14.5 lbs. He is in a growth spurt and his body is using slightly more than it is taking in. I am feeding him a lunch and we are increasing his morning and evening meal amounts. He should start gaining weight once the internal parasites are gone. Right now he has just two activity levels: all out and full stop.

The vet’s staff all loved Mike. They knew I had been looking for puppy and were looking forward to meeting him.