Puppy Crate Training
Written by jemke1 on Thursday, August 5, 2010 – 12:57 pm -Crate training is a very popular and effective technique for teaching your dog right from wrong; this method includes teaching rules of eliminating, sleeping arrangements, and keeping your dog from being destructive when you are out amongst many other benefits.
A dog crate is a metal and plastic cage for your dog to sleep in or be in while you are away, the crate helps give your dog a secure place to live while in your home and a place to retreat to when things get a bit to hectic as they do in many family homes today.
You should make your dog feel as comfortable as you can in their crate; this should include putting a bowl of water with your dog in their crate, a nice easily cleanable blanket and put them in an area that is widely used by the family so they always feel part of what is going on.
To crate train you must choose a correctly sized crate that your dog or puppy will be able to grow into with time and they will not be too cramped or have too much space. If your dog has a crate that is too small they won’t want to live there or go there and if the crate is too large it leads to eliminating problems.
Dogs will naturally not want to eliminate in their place of sleep so as you dog gets used to its new sleeping area it will want to go to the toilet only when they are let out so be sure to take them to their appropriate place for eliminating when they are let out, then reward them for behaving in the correct manner.
When you are out, your dog can be closed in their crate to ensure common bad behavioural problems don’t happen while you are out such as chewing, biting and eliminating in the house. Be sure not to keep your dog in their crate for longer than about 4 hours and to let them go to the toilet on a regular basis.
Always reward your dog for using the crate in the correct way and be sure all members of the family know that the dog should not be pestered in their crate. As long as this rule is followed then you won’t go far wrong and you will begin to notice great improvements in your dog’s behaviour immediately.
Tags: Crate, training
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My weimaraner has been having some skin problems…his coat has become very blotchy and discolored, any help?
Written by jemke1 on Monday, June 14, 2010 – 12:20 pm -Took him to the vet yesterday, they dont know and are referring me to a animal dermatologist. They think it is breed specific….Any weim owners out there that can help??
I do put fish oil in his food everyday….
Tags: Coat, skin problems, weimaraner, weimaraners
Posted in weimaraner health problems | 3 Comments »
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Bone Disease on Dogs
Written by jemke1 on Saturday, April 10, 2010 – 7:47 pm -Hypertrophic osteodystrophy or HOD is a condition that affects young large breed dogs. HOD is a bone disease that affects the rapid growing bones of large dogs and may occur between ages of 2 and 7 months.
The breeds that are at high risk for HOD are Boxers, Chesapeake Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner, although there can be exceptions to this rule. Male large dog breeds are more affected than females.
There is no known of Hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Possible causes are; bacterial infections, canine distemper, virus infection, vaccination with distemper virus or vitamin C deficiency. is also speculated, hence the decreased uptake of Vitamin C and/or increased uptake of other vitamins and minerals other than vitamin C. The excessive calcium supplementation is also included as one possibility. There may be a link to recent vaccination with a modified live vaccine, but no specific vaccine has been implicated. on Weinmaraner dog prevent the possibility of vaccine-induced HOD.
The signs and symptoms of HOD strict in often to be mild to moderate painful swelling of the growth plates in the leg bones of dogs. It most commonly affects the ends of the radius, ulna (the long bones from the elbow to the wrist) and tibia (the long bone from the knee to the hock). Lameness may vary from mild to severe, reluctance to stand if multiple limbs are affected. Fever, anorexia, loss of appetite and depressions are noticed. Swelling and heat are commonly present over the affected bones. Some clinical signs also includes diarrhea, discharge from the eyes, tonsillitis, thickening of the foot pads, pneumonia, and abnormal development of the enamel of the teeth. Dogs suffering really proper petsafe and care.
X-ray signs of HOD are more clearly noticed. A line of lucency where the bone has been destroyed is usually found to be parallel to the growth plates of the affected bones. X-rays show a dark line at the metaphysis, which can progress to new bone growth on the outside of that area. This represents microfractures in the metaphysis and bone proliferation to bridge the defect in the periosteum. Some signs seen on microscope are also clear. The growth plate is normal, but blood vessels adjacent to the growth plate are frequently dilated. Bleeding in the bone adjacent to the growth plate and extensive death of the bone adjacent to the growth plate. Adjacent to the line of lucency is a zone of increased density of bone that corresponds to collapsed of layers of dead bone. The outer layer of the bone (periosteum) is thickened with new bone formation.
The treatment for HOD is generally supportive since this is a very painful condition and these disease is usually self-limiting which can last a few weeks. Treatment includes intravenous fluid therapy, anti-inflammatories and painkillers such as buffered aspirin or carprofen (Rimadyl) are given and needed enough rest on their comfortable pet beds. In addition, the animals are usually given a broad-spectrum antibiotic since bacterial infection is suspected. Since the dog might be too irritable and uncomfortable, strict rest on a comfortable warm bed is recommended. Feeding a nutritious, highly palatable food will help to encourage some dogs to eat. In severe cases steroids may need to be given to control the pain, but because of the possibility of this being a bacterial disease their use may be contraindicated due to their immunosuppressive qualities. Supplementation of Vitamin C is contraindicated due to an increase in calcium levels in the blood, possibly worsening the disease. Permanent skeletal deformity can occur, recurrence can be a problem until the dog reaches maturity and dogs usually do not die of the disease rather are euthanatized if recovery is poor or if clinical signs are severe.
Hannah Serrano
Tags: Bone, Disease, dogs
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Does your Weimaraner have skin problems?
Written by jemke1 on Saturday, April 10, 2010 – 7:41 pm -Our Weimaraner gets little bumps on his head in the summer and then when they go away, they leave little tiny bald spots. The spots also must itch because he rubs his head on the floor all the time. This year seems to be worse. Does anyone else have this problem, and is there a solution? Thanks!
Tags: weimaraner
Posted in weimaraner health problems | 9 Comments »
Chiots Braque de Weimar – Weimaraner puppies
Written by jemke1 on Saturday, April 10, 2010 – 7:35 pm -Tags: puppies, weimar, weimaraner
Posted in weimaraner puppies | 2 Comments »
