(Don't) Drink Up

I hate anything health related.

There.

I said it.

And actually... I feel a little bit better now.

(Are YOU interested in dog health? Check out DawgBusiness, a blog about dog health!)

This dog, she likes to pee.

And drink water.

....Until she throws it right back up.

Well, not "until," considering that she'll re-drink her throw-up water and re-throw it up. And drink it again.

Does this scream health issue to you?

It screams ISSUE to me, at the very least.

The "Who Me?" Face

I took in a urine sample; the vet said her pH was fine, there were no proteins, the concentration was good, there was no blood, etc, etc, etc.

Now, that might suggest that nothing is wrong.

Believe you me, SOMETHING is wrong.

Dogs should not pee four to five times in five minutes of being outside.

Especially when the first pee was HUGE.

And then.... squat, trickle, trickle. Squat, trickle, trickle....

 

But then, Koda has no idea she's crazy.

Of course....she wouldn't.

Down to business. 

Excessive drinking, or a change in your dog's drinking habits, is serious and should be discussed with your vet.

Don't believe me? Check this out: Symptoms to Watch For in Your Dog: Excessive Drinking

The urine sample virtually rules out kidney, liver, and - I believe - diabetes.

But something, SOMETHING is going on in my dog's brain - something that is telling her that she is thirsty and needs to drink all the water she can handle, whine at the water dish when there isn't any left, and check to see if there is water to drink... oh, we'll say at least five times per hour.

If I had a piece of real bacon to give her... she'd check the water dish first.

No lie. 

FOOD FIGHT!

Inspired by Kenzo the Hovawart's Kibble Quest!

A blog all about 

DOG FOOD!

This is crap food.

I wouldn't feed this crap to Michael Vick.

Why is it crap food?

Because it's marketed to YOU.

Does YOUR dog food have different colored kibbles? Red, brown, darker brown, etc.

If it does, it's crap. Don't feed it to your dog.

Is your dog food shaped like bones, puppies, t-bone steaks, or vegetables?

This is marketed toward you. Trust me when I say that your dog couldn't care less what shape his food is in. He chews, swallows, and waits for it to come out the other end. It's crap; don't feed it to your dog.

Are there cute puppies or dogs on the bag that make you coo and want to hug something?
 It's really crap if they have to sink so low that the put irresistible pictures of puppies running and playing fetch on the bag. Marketing 101; class, pay attention: This is designed to draw your eye, because the quality of the food is all but zilch. A good dog food company DOES NOT WASTE MONEY ON CUTE PICTURES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO.  

Do you have to feed two to three (or more) cups of food to equal the nutritional value of a different dog food?

You do if you're feeding Purina, Alpo, Iam, Eukanuba, Kibbles N Bits, Pedigree, Beneful, etc. There are more foods on the "bad list" than there ever will be on the good list.

By the way, check out the good list! It's on The Whole Dog Journal's site. Just click the link. You'll also be happy to know that the Whole Dog Journal doesn't get paid for their research. Not by any dog food company, and they make their decisions on what is good and what is crap based on science, continuing research and evaluation, and the love of animals.

Going with that, if you have to feed two, three, four times as much as someone who has done a little research, YOU HAVE TO PICK UP TWO, THREE, OR FOUR TIMES AS MUCH DOG POOP.

In fact, your dog will have to go out more.

Not only that, but his poop will look terrible - it's almost as if you threw his food into a blender, added water, and dumped it in your yard. Did he even DIGEST that, or did he swallow and push it out?

If the main ingredient is corn...He basically swallowed and pushed it out.

A lot of people don't realize, but a lot of dog's have grain allergies - and grain is included in all of the above-mentioned food. Unfortunately, the crap state of your dog's crap often goes unnoticed, because people don't know any better.

GET EDUCATED.

If you feed your dog crap food to save a buck now, you'll pay for it ten fold in the long run.

I can all but hear the, "But JJ, your dog food costs $50!! $50!! Mine costs like $20...maybe!"
Yes, but mine lasts longer, because I feed less to equal the same nutritional value. My dog is healthier because of better ingredients and less to process, so less trips to the vet. My dog food is also much less likely to be recalled; there's a life-saver. Also, because I feed less, the ingredients are easier to process, there are no dyes or artificial preservatives... my dog is less likely to get cancer. 
 

Feed better; feed less.

Exercise, play, and train more.

For the love of dog!

Oh, and check out The Whole Dog Journal's Research Section! Click a paw to read a post!

Because of them, the current trend is toward making better dog food. As people become more educated about their dog's health, they demand more. The current crap-brand companies are losing out on enough consumers that they're trending toward better ingredients. 

Now that is for the love of dog.

We personally feed Acana and Orijin, Champion Petfoods.
And, occasionally, Taste of Wild.

The Infamous Austrailian Border Collie

In preparation for a stellar ball catch!

Have I mentioned I want a border collie?

Because apparently an Australian Shepherd isn't enough of a nut for me.

I want this insane focus.

This undeniable drive to get up and GOOOO!

THROW THE BALL ALREADY!

Of course, the above is how I feel about not having much time for Koda in the first place.

Who made these stupid schedules anyway?

And who decided that I have to work three jobs?

(Me, of course. So I want to buy a house, sue me...)

I promised Koda a big yard.

We quickly get tired of seeing signs like this.

Excuse me, but for the record, MY DOG IS BETTER BEHAVED THAN YOUR CHILD.

She's the model of canine-good-behavior.

(At least when people are looking...ehehee....)

So, in conclusion, I would like a Border Collie.

I shall call him spike.

And teach him Treiball.

And Agility, rally, flyball, obedience, herding, fetch, and anything other dog-thing I can think of.

We might even just make stuff up.

Anyone want to have one less Border Collie?

The Making of the K-O-D-A

I did some research, decided an Australian Shepherd was probably my best bet, and looked up some breeders.

The first one tried to eat my boot - the dog, not the breeder. More on that never.
She sent me a picture of this dog - who wasn't present. In fact, I later found out that if you Google "Red Merle Aussie" this picture pops up. Hmmm. Reputable? I think not.

I should be rewarded with a cookie for good behavior. I may be a submissive coward, but I can throw a hell of a left hook, and the state of the dogs made me want to do things to her that would make a serial killer sit up and take notes.

I don't like humans.

And I really like puppies.


Not two weeks later, a lady named Karen decided to bring her Aussie, Gabby, to our puppy class. After a short conversation in the parking lot, I learned she was a breeder, and she was having a red merle litter a month or so later.

Maybe I needed a freaking puppy after all.













Meet Gypsy, resident mommy of a - get this - actually reputable breeder. She's such a lovely dog and I think she might like to show off how gorgeous her puppies are. ^-^;;

Hi, Koda; you're coming home with me.