Can Allergies Coexist with a Rescue Dog Like Duke?

[turbo]

Any changes to his air pollution trick?

No. That's a major talent of his, and I doubt he'll give up performing anytime soon.

 

[Borek]

I just wondered if - after being feed such a mixture - he is not even better.

 

[turbo]

I just wondered if - after being feed such a mixture - he is not even better.

I don't think that it's a matter of imbalance in his system or some disorder. He is as healthy as can be. As dlgoff mentioned a while back, it may be a built-in function of the Lab bloodline. Duke's stools, urination habits, etc all seem just as normal as can be, and he is happy and alert. When he farts and let's a really potent one go, I say "Duke!", and he rolls his eyes to look at me, as if wondering what the fuss is about.

 

[turbo]

BTW, the fathers of my best buddy in HS and my (for a while) steady GF had black labs out of the same litter (they were both inveterate duck-hunters) and both of those dogs could come up with some impressively powerful flatulence, so dlgoff may have a point re: the breed.

 

[dlgoff]

Although gas production is a natural part of the digestive process, some pets produce more than others and are not always fun to be around. Here are a few ways to reduce flatulence in dogs:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1571&aid=253"
I don't believe any of their solutions will work with Duke. Labs are labs.

 

[turbo]

My wife took Duke to the vet for his rabies/parvo/etc updates recently. The vets (both female) exclaimed how beautiful his coat was, and my wife explained that I comb him a bit every night with a de-shedder. Then they weighed him and though he has lost a pound since his last checkup, the head vet had to wonder why she had called him "underweight" last time because he looks so sleek, and her understudy said "Look at that butt" when preparing and administering his shots. They commented on his beautiful teeth and gums, and my wife told them that she bakes all his treats using whole grains - nothing commercial. The head vet then said that his nails were so perfectly trimmed and asked "Where do you take him?" and my wife said "I take him to my husband." They told her that Duke had the perfect home and wondered why he was not adopted from the shelter sooner.

It's supposed to be hot this weekend, so we're going to take him to the lake and (hopefully) teach him how to swim. He loves the water, and will wade as deep as he can without floating, but no swimming yet. With those big webbed feet and powerful shoulders, he'll be a natural.

 

[turbo]

Swimming update! We went for a "4th" cookout at the camp of some very dear friends. My wife got into the lake along with our lady friend and I threw balls into the water from the dock. Duke charged in after them, and since he had friends in deeper water cheering him on, he swam out to get them and bring them back to me. It was a hoot! He still hasn't gotten the hang of keeping his big webbed paws in the water for maximum efficiency, and picks his front paws out of the water and slams them down, churning up the lake. Still, he motors along pretty good, for all the inefficiency. I think we might have to put his "outward hound" life-jacket on him and let him swim in that a bit until he figures out how to make the dog-paddle work out for him without all the splashing. A big chocolate Lab from the next camp over showed up wanting to chase the balls, too, and that spurred Duke into greater efforts. He is crashed out on his bed next to my computer, not snoring, not making dreaming vocalizations, not twitching his feet. He is in a coma. Hitting the lake is good exercise for this boy.

 

[dlgoff]

With the hot weather there, take advantage and take him swimming often. By the end of summer you won't be able to out swim him.

 

[turbo]

With the hot weather there, take advantage and take him swimming often. By the end of summer you won't be able to out swim him.

I should have filmed him with my Panasonic pocket camera. It was a hoot watching him try to swim. He acted like he could keep himself afloat by pawing at the surface of the water.

 

[turbo]

Here is an mpeg of Duke at his favorite game. He comes to me with his favorite (only, actually) ball, and if I try to take it from him, he growls and wrinkles up his lips menacingly - tail wagging all the while. It's a big file, so if you want to take a look, dial-up is out of the question, apart from an all-night download.

http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x318/turbo-1/?action=view&current=20100713_105903.mp4