Littletown
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 415 |
I don't have Coonhounds, but I found your questions interesting, and decided to reply, since you mentioned that the heat cycles are a problem in many different breeds. I have kept & raised dogs for many years, and over the years, I have fed many different brands of dog food, as well as supplements on occasion (mostly vitamins). My dogs have lived to be 16 years old with no ongoing health issues in any of them.
Just last night, I read an article on a Veterinary website that was talking about all of the reproductive "issues" that have been going on in dogs, particularly during recent years. The article links these issues to GMO grains in the dog food, in addition to dogs having more exposure to both indoor and outdoor "contaminants" (pesticides, etc.). There are also some types of Thyroid problems that are KNOWN to be hereditary. In our breed, we must test for a hereditary condition called "CHG", as it is 100% fatal in young puppies.
I would be interested to know what your thoughts are, as to the cause of reproductive problems in dogs...
1..Does your dog have abnormal heats? Some of my dogs have had abnormal heats, but others had normal heats, during the same year. I notice that heat cycles vary from one year to the next. Some years, the dogs have "false heats", or they come in but don't stay in for more than 3-5 days. The next year, everybody might be normal...
2..Does your feed contain soy products ,grains, or grain
free? Please specify which one. I feed both kibble & canned food; the kibble has CORN in it. Some of the canned food has "SOY PROTEIN".
3..Is your dog hunted less than 10 times or more than
10 times a month? These dogs are Terriers, so they don't coon hunt, but they are always hunting mice, ground squirrels, etc.
4..Have you ever had the dog tested for Lyme or
any other tick borne illness ? NO.
5.. If tested for Lyme or other tick diseases was it
negative or positive? N/A
If positive what disease and did treatment help? Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice, but other drugs are used in conjunction with the Doxy.
6..What type feed and water bowl do you use?
Plastic, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Old frying pan. Over the years, I have used plastic (on occasion), aluminum, and (mostly) stainless steel bowls. I have also used crock bowls, which is what I feed out of.
7..Is your dog kept indoors , kenneled ,tied out or run
free ? The dogs are allowed the run of the house, and they have a fenced-in yard to run in, also.
8..If your dog is tied out what is the consistency of the
ground ? Clay, sand ,gravel , pebbles, etc.? Specify. The yard is part grass, part gravel + dirt mixture (clay & sand).
9..If your dog is kenneled what is the kennel it is
on top? Wire elevated, stall pads, poured
concrete slab ,cement pavers, tenderfoot, etc.
Please specify. I use ex-pens on concrete, with pine wood shavings a few inches thick on top of the concrete. This is if I have to be away for the day. Even then, there are always some dogs loose in my home.
10..Do you use well water or city water for your dogs ? WELL water.
11..Are your dogs kept near the city , country setting,
or farm ? RURAL setting, surrounded by farmland & crops.
12...Did your dog ever exhibit Thyroid issues such
as hair loss ,Lethargy, excessive weight gain. NO, but if it did, I would NOT breed that dog.
13.. Have you ever had the full thyroid panel ran?
Was it normal or abnormal. N/A
14. If it was abnormal did you begin thyroid treatments? N/A
Were they successful in restoring normal heat
cycles? N/A
15..Even if normal thyroid perimeter tests results
did your vet recommend thyroid treatment ? N/A
16..Does or has your dog ever exhibited any allergy
like symptoms? Runny nose , snot in eyes ,etc.? Not to plants, pollen, or molds. Bee stings, yes - but only a couple of dogs have ever been stung, and when their face swelled up, I gave them some Benadryl, and one dose worked like a charm...
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10-14-2016 01:06 AM
