Good advice from Gladys. Socialization and training are key - especially with a beagle or other hound type dog.
The breeder should be able to tell you what kind of puppy chow the wee one was eating. It's best not to switch too quickly to a new kind. (I feed my two Girls the BARF diet - Biologically Appropriate Raw Food - but I doubt very much that you'll want to get into that right away.) Lamb and rice kibble is a good kind of puppy food. When we place puppies, they are usually 2 - 3 months and we suggest that they start eating adult dog food after three months. Feeding puppy chow for a long time can cause bones and muscles to develop too quickly and we don't want that as it can cause hip displasia in some breeds. It is much higher calorie than adult dog food and you want a slow and steady growth for the wee one.
I strongly suggest that you take your pup to a vet for a check-up and to schedule appropriate shots as soon as possible as he/she should not be with other dogs or in public places until they've been given.
Good luck but rely on patience and skill. And we want pictures!

Sheesh, this is more work then bringing a preemie home. Unfortunately Ariel was being given mostly table scraps. Right now she's eating doggie treats and crying. Thanks for all the advice.

Lydia

Yep, she'll be crying tonight too! :D

Ruth is right about the switching to adult food when the pup is three months old. Puppy food has too much protein/calories in it and can lead to fast growth spurts, which should be discouraged, especially in large breed dogs.

Do you know what other breed Ariel might be, other than beagle? Yes, post pictures!!!!

Ruth, when I had my beloved rotties, I tried the BARF diet. And that is exactly what I got from my dogs....lots of it...and lots of other stuff out the other end. :lol: I didn't stick with the diet (what else is new?) and switched to a good quality food they tolerated pretty well. But I know of others who have had really good results from BARF.

This is a great thread...
My family used to have a literal zoo here! but we've narrowed it down over the years....now all we have is:
Gidget: aka Puh, a 5 mth old lhaso apso/pekingese mix that we got from a neighbor...she's the most fun little dog ever! We had had cocker spaniels in the past and they aren't the brightest dogs!! This little girl is very smart...She was housebroken very quickly! I was amazed. Now she's my walking companion! as long as it isn't too hot outside..she is pretty close to the ground, so she tends to over heat! I wish I had a digital pic to show you, she is soooooo cute. she's white and I guess you'd call it apricot? very light in color.
The crate is the key in training the pups!!! She heads in there for a nap during the day a lot of times.

We also have Chili...the chinchilla, he's a real sweetie...loves to have his chin scratched, but really doesn't like to be held...he's fun to watch hop around the house. We don't keep him out, I'm afraid of what the pup might do to him...although the pup will get right up in his face at his cage and they'll just look at each other, touching noses! I'm not sure how old he is...he was given to us, and the was given to the person who gave him to us...so I haven't a clue how old he is.

I have a small aquarium with a bunch of different tetras in it. It's a nice calming thing to look at...I would love a larger tank!

we have had hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits (giant lop), rat, cockatiel, finches, parakeet, crawfish, cats, dogs, and 2 chickens.
The chickens are a hilarious story!!!!
I had gone to Wal-Mart to buy some chicken for lunch from their deli, and when I got out of my car I saw these 2 buggy boys running around the parking lot...I asked them what they were doing and they said trying to catch this little chicken...they said they'd been after it for 45 min!!! I saw the little terrified thing sitting on top of a car tire...so I walked up to it slowly, and just gently reached up from both sides of the tire and grabbed it! those guys were shocked!!! I said Now what am I supposed to do with it! I told them to go get me a box or something!!! I came with that little chick and my hubby was freaking out! I said, "Sorry honey, they were all out of chicken tenders, so I bought the kit!" LOL anyway i had a little fenced in area where we used to let the rabbit run loose..I made a little teepee shaped hut for it to hide in and it became a very happy little chickie...but then it turned into a rooster!!! and started crowing all the time..He was very sweet, loved the kids..when they would go into the cage to feed him, he'd jump on their shoulders...we ended up giving him to an older couple that had room to let him roam around...we really missed him!! his name was Rocky Rooster!

Wow, such great pet stories! :) Love hearing about your experiences! :D

SammyPajammy~~OMG what a house full!!!!!

Me~~I don't want this to become a downer for the thread but want to report an update on my Yorkie-Poo Kasey. She will be 13 this year and had been having a UTI that was not going away after antibiotics. Well, in the past few weeks we found out that she had bladder stones and she had surgery to remove them. A biopsy of the bladder wall came back Saturday and it is Transitional Cell cancer. We will treat her medically but she has maybe 3-6 months left with us. I will love her as much as I can in the meantime.
If anybody has been through this or had a pet put to sleep, could you PM me and let me know how your process went and what I can do to make it a better experience for her.

Oh Sammy, I'm sorry. Hugs to you and Poo Kasey.

Ariel slept most of last night, she was wore out. At least when she's tired she rests. DD just keeps going.

Lydia

Oh, Sil! :grouphug: :cry: I'm so very sorry!

Try to keep her eating and drinking as much as you can. When she stops eating and drinking, you are near the end. See what the doc can give her to make her comfy and do all you can to give her a soft place to sleep and lots of comfort (knowing you, you do this already!).

Staying with your pet when they are put to sleep is a personal decision, obviously. The one pet I've had put to sleep was so very sick, and I decided to stay with her when they did it. I can't tell you how much peace that decision has given me. As soon as the soul left her body, she relaxed and looked so peaceful. She had been in so much pain before, and her body showed it. After the shot, she looked so at peace...and that's how I remember her. :cry:

A friend of mine had a dog that hated car rides. She was able to find a local vet that would make house calls to put animals to sleep. That allowed her pup to die at home, which was infinitely more comfortable for her.

I hope that helps. I hope you also know that we'll all be here for you, okay? :grouphug:

:cry: Oh Sil....I'm so sorry to hear about your baby! I can only imagine what you're going through right now. The loss of a pet is so hard. Laurie, as always, has some great advice for you. Make her comfortable and cherish the time you've had and have left with your sweet dog. :grouphug:

Thank you guys so much for your prayers and suggestions. I plan on making a cement pawprint of Kasey (and one for Shelby, too) to use as a marker for her final resting place which will be in my garden. I also just bought an adorable stuffed dog blanket for her that I will keep (see attached pic). When the time comes to put her to sleep I will stay with her during the process. I want her to have something familiar and comforting to have with her at the vet so I plan on making a chennille (sp?) blanket and pillow in the next few weeks. Hopefully her and my scent will be on it by that time. They will be buried with her along with her toys.
So, although I am sad that this is happening, I also feel much better knowing that I have the opportunity to plan ahead alittle.

Aw, Sil, as I said in my PM, I really feel for you and know you will do the very best thing for your darling. (((SIL)) I think the paw print idea is very touching and wish I'd thought of it for my dogs.

Sil, that blanket is beautiful! I love the idea of a chenile pillow and blankie. Having your scent on things she takes with her to the vet will make her feel so much more comfortable. :grouphug: The pawprint idea is beautiful.

Your garden has to be the most beautiful and restful place in the world...what a lovely place to lay Kasey to rest when it's time. :grouphug:

Actually, the pawprint idea came from our very own Barb. Thanks Barb!!! :yes:
I love the dog blanket (dog is actually attached to the blanket). I also bought one that has a Golden Retriever attached to it for a friend who just had a baby boy.

Sil, I am so sorry that your furbaby is near the end of this life. You have a difficult time ahead, but staying with your Kasey at the end is a wonderful gift to her.

When it was time to let my beloved dogs go, I have stayed with them. The vet has always been a not so pleasant place for them, and I felt that they appreciated my being there and somehow they were reassured by my presence. The message is in their eyes.

It was particularly difficult for me when I had to let go of my rottie Gator, my heart dog. He was 13 years old and on that August morning had his second stroke in 6 months. (Amazingly, he had come around pretty well after the first stroke, and I spent a lot of time with him, assisting him as he learned to walk straight again, find the ball, etc.) The first stroke was very stressful for him and he cried for days out of frustration. (He was an active dog, even at 13, and in his younger years, competed in agility and obedience trials.) I called our vet and she pretty much confirmed what I already knew: that this was the end, as she suspected a brain tumor. So I spent the morning with him, brushing him, walking him slowly to his favorite spots, giving him treats, kissing his muzzle, which he loved. And I clipped some fur from him, which I have to this day, along with his toys and his beloved ball.

Damn, I miss that dog! But I will be forever grateful for the gift of his loyalty, protection and most of all, his love.

I can tell you that your Kasey loves you to pieces and appreciates all that you have done for her and are doing for her now. When it is time for her to be put to sleep, she will take great comfort in your presence.

And she is only leaving this life. She will not leave you, as she will remain in your heart.

Sil-

Please let me add my thoughts of concern for what you are facing. It is so difficult. Fortunately, God gave the animals the wonderful gift of not understanding their own mortality. Know that the other animal lovers here all feel for you and Kasey couldn't have a better, more caring mom.

I've been there when my poodle was put to sleep and we knew it was time because his CHF (for which he had taken Lasix for two years) started to give him breathing trouble despite the medication. The knowledge that we gave him a good life yet didn't try to keep him with us when he was in pain helped and, in time, we were able to make another poodle a part of our family.

I have friends from all walks of life -- all ages, races, genders, gay, straight, foreign-born, native Angelenos, you get the drift. However, there is one thing that everyone I am close to has in common: they don't think that pets are "just animals". I can't relate to people who feel that way.

Amen, SoCal. Unfortunately, there are lots of people out there that feel that way. :( So many times, people think it's amusing to make jokes about eating my rabbits. :mad: I've started to counter with comments about how I think their children would taste good with ketchup. (SBD-safe, of course. ;) )

I hate it when someone loses a pet and people say, "Well, it's just a ___" No...it's a member of my family.

My 5 year old cat is sick! I noticed on Friday he was sleeping in my closet and he seemed groggy to me, but thought he was just tired. On Saturday we were in and out, but mentioned to my husband, "Have you seen the cat?" I had this feeling and was worried about him. Sunday I called for him and he meowed at me, and was under the stairs on the deck. He looked like I woke him up, and didn't think too much about it. Later I called him again and he came inside about 5 minutes later. He looked weak, tired and I looked at his sides - he looked gaunt to me. Then he sat down and started to dry heave and his poor throat sounded like he had been throwing up a lot. He retreated under a chair where we gave him a blanket and he stayed all day and all night. This morning DH offered tuna juice, and he didn't take it! Just now, he yowled a bit and DD moved him near the tuna. He didn't eat it but heaved up some bile and then went back and lied down. He also seems hot to us, and he's just lethargic. I have an appt. at 9:30 for the vet, but it's onoy 7:20 now... it's going to be a long 2 hours. He's my daughter's best friend - and she already lost his sister. DH doesn't want to spend a lot of money on the cat, but if all he needs is some fluids and antibiotics, I say we get him fixed up! I understand not wanting to do major surgery or anything... but he will get better then I want to make him get better. Sighh..... sorry to go on and on, but I couldn't think of anywhere else to write this! Thanks for listening :)

Aw, Christy, there is nothing so sad as a sick pet! I always wish they could talk to us for 30 seconds every day to tell us what's wrong. Please let us know what the vet says and does. Soft pets to your fur baby and hugs to you! I can so relate to your worry!

My Girls are exhausted today after a whole afternoon of long walks and doggie playing with Bailey, Lucy's sister and Hershey's daughter from the same litter. We had lots of muddy paws in the kitchen and Lucy the brat managed to deliberately tip over the communal water dish which was great fun for all the furries! I took her to Church yesterday morning but it obviously didn't do much good. :(

This pic is about 18 months old, but it's my DD and our big ol' cat Maxx... I was looking for it earlier, but found it this morning. The full size was too big - this is just the thumbnail. I don't know how to get the bigger pic in there!


http://www.murfturf.com/gallery/murp...s/100_0917.JPG

Christy~~ Is Maxx the cat who is sick??
I am so sorry to hear that your cat is not feeling well. Pets are so much like children~they always tend to get sick after office hours or Friday evenings! What's up with that??? I know that the waiting is so hard and it is especially difficult when you want to do something to help them but can't. You are doing the right thing (IMO) by taking him to the vet. Hopefully it will be something minor both in treatment and cost. Whether we like it or not, cost is a factor for those who don't have alot of extra money sitting around. I'm sure that you and your vet will make the best decision for your kitty and your family.

Please come back here soon and let us know how he is doing!!!!
In the meantime, {{{{{ BIG HUG}}}}} :grouphug: and prayers :angel: to you.

Thank you all for your kind words of support and encouragement for my little Kasey. So far, she seems to be doing fine. She has lost alot of weight but she is eating and drinking normally and still enjoys her walks around the garden. I'll post a pic of her with her Doggie Blanket once it arrives.

Ruth, you are too funny :rofl:

Christy, I'm so sorry! I hope that you had good news at the vet and that they are able to do much to make Maxx feel better. :grouphug:

:lol3: Ruth, you are killing me here! ;)

Well, she did sleep during the sermon - with her head on the Bible as a pillow! That may have been the problem.

Shouldn't she be even better as a result of osmosis? ;)

That is so wild that you take the fur baby to church with you. I would say sleeping through the sermon might be a problem but then again maybe it went into her subleminal (sp? no clue) and she will come around in a day or 2! lol Ugh! Cable went out luckily I noticed so I waited for it to come back on so I did not lose my post!
I hope Hottie let's us know about her kitty soon.

Mr. Maxx is at my feet and seeming to do much better.

He was very dehydrated and had a fever. He weighed in at 12 lbs. Now last summer he was 18, and we put him on weight management - I think he was around 15 lbs before he got sick. They kept him there and gave him fluids and antibiotics. Seems he got an infection and stopped eating. Because he had stopped eating and drinking, he got fatty liver disease (or something like that.) We need to force feed him a high cal food tonight and keep watch.

He came home and walked around, drank some water. He wanted to go out, so I hurried and got him a litterbox ready (he's an indoor-outdoor cat, we only use litterboxes when we go out of town) He peed alot! (Due to fluids I think) But when offered food he didn't take it. He's resting, but he seems brighter and more alert. I'll give him some EnerCal tonight if he hasn't eaten yet.

He goes back tomorrow for a check. We just hope there isn't irreversible damage to the liver. It's a wait and see thing.

Thanks for your support. It's been rough. Poor DD is hanging in there. She's 12. I had to tell her that it could be bad, but the vet thinks he's going to turn around. If it happened suddenly, she'd be much worse. Hubby is being good - even though it cost $257! We really can't spend too much more on him, so I hope all is well.

Thanks again!

Christy~I am so happy to hear that Maxx is doing better. Keep us posted.

I'm glad Maxx is on the way to recovery. PLease do keep us in the loop.

Christy, so glad Maxx is on the mend! Scary about the fatty liver issues. I didn't realize they could get that sick so quickly just from not eating and drinking. Hope he feels much better and starts eating soon! I wish there was good pet insurance...I just think no one should have to decide between their pet's health and having enough money to take care of their family. :cry:

Sassy, Princess is a doll! What a cutie-pie! Our Lady does not like baths but she tolerates them. Still, I doubt I could get a picture in or hold her in the tub with one hand! :lol: Your girl is very well-behaved!

How do you do the photo? I tried to link the bigger picture and it wouldn't load it? Maybe too big?

Maxx ate last night! Some soft cat food and this morning DH opened tuna again, and he yowled like crazy for some (the cat, not my DH!) So Maxx drank the tuna juice, ate some cat food, seems to have drank and took his antibiotic this morning. :)

Thanks guys!

Princess is a cutie! My Bailey is terrible in the bath - and she really stinks right now.

my cat
 

With all these dogs around, I'm scared to talk about JoJo the cat.

But she loves her new brother, Quinn the fish. HB brought her fish when she moved in (sadly, she lost her two cats in the "divorce") and I was worried about JoJo. But she doesn't jump normally and doesn't go after him at all.

She does however, meow at the top of her lungs when I get home and feed him! She's jealous! It's so cute. So I pick her up, she lays across my arms and she paws at him through the tank's glass. Then she gets tired of it and jumps down...

Until he moves. :lol: Then she watches him from the floor.

:lol:

HB wants another cat. JoJo feels like my cat, although she loves her, but I've tried the other cat thing once with JoJo (it was her sister) about a year after they parted ways and her sister went after JoJo and she didn't take too kindly to it.

Any other cat lovers out there want to give me advice? I'd love another cat, especially to keep JoJo company when we are at work. But I am afraid to -- not only for JoJo's sake but my sanity. Little kitties chasing after one another and all. JoJo is 3. Maybe get a younger cat???

Jenn, having two cats can work out really well or it can be a problem. Usually, though, as long as you have enough space for one cat to get away from the other if annoyed, they will work out. You might see if a shelter will let you take JoJo with you to check out cats and see if she responds well to one in particular. A young cat may be good because JoJo can more easily assert her dominance. On the other hand, the younger cat's desire to play might annoy JoJo. Depends on how frisky JoJo is. It's worth trying, though. Glad JoJo doesn't go after the fish. Must provide some entertainment for her while you're at work, though. ;)

JoJo is a beauty...love that last pic with the pink paws, nose, and ear. :)

Christy, try uploading your pics to www.photobucket.com. You can then just copy the URL under the picture and post it here using this code: [IMG*]the URL[/IMG*] with no * symbol (had to put that in there so it would show up on here). That way you don't have to resize. :)

my pics are on a website and I did that, but got a red X instead. Hmm... have to play with it some more.

Make sure you are linking to the URL for the picture not for the page the pictures are on. That won't work with the IMG codes. If you want to just post the website in your post, we can go look at them there. Your call. :)

Thank Laurie

JoJo is a bit frisky, and likes to play. I think it's more me. I hate the hissing, which I know all cats do.

We may try to foster a kitten and see how that works first. JoJo is an SPCA baby and I'd like to do that again.

JoJo used to climb our curtains as a baby. We got her when she was 9 months old. My friend fostered her and my ex and I would cat sit for Jo and the other 3 cats she had (one being Jo's sister). I took Jo's sister (Beth ---Little Women theme much?) in when the ex and I split and Beth went after Jo (causing Jo to pee all over the place)

Jo apparently was the dominent one way back when. Maybe it was Beth's way of getting back at her? LOL.

LOL about Beth getting back at Jo (love the Little Women theme! :D )...I totally know what you mean. My MIL's first dog was much bigger than the puppy she fostered, then adopted (she's known as a 'foster failure' :lol: ) and attacked him regularly. He grew up into a huge dog at least 1/3 bigger than her, and now he thumps her back regularly. ;)

Fostering would be an ideal situation! I love it when people adopt and foster. There are so many babies out there that are killed because they aren't adopted. :(

I saw a guy walking his dog the other day near the gym. The dog was very obviously not neutered. :o The gym is in a poor area of town...so I don't know if he just couldn't afford it, but I felt like stopping him to tell him about the low-cost spay/neuter program. I just hate the thought of more unwanted animals... :cry:

Okay...off the soapbox (or maybe you're still laughing at the thought of me checking out a dog's 'equipment'! :lol: )... I agree about the hissing. It gets my hackles up. But you never know...maybe Jo will love the new kitten! :D

:lol: How did you know I'd be laughing at that :lol:

I hope Jo will love new baby X :)

Maxx is back at 100% I'd like to report :)

Eating, drinking, jumping up on things, roaming around etc. It's such a great thing. I'm beaming with joy - really I am! He's taking antibiotics still. And he's being spoiled with canned cat food and being allowed to sleep on the couch!

I know that prayers were answered on this one!

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Great news! The Girls and I send regards and a little bag of catnip!