The Three Dog Blog » Pets Medicine

Nuheart: Soluble Heartworm Tablets

Three Dog Blogger — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:18:38 +0000

We normally give our Dogs Nuheart now once a month to ensure that they stay free of heartworms. We don’t need to use Heartgard Plus as intestinal worms are not really an issue. But the other month I made a mistake and bought a similar sounding product but I really wish that I hadn’t.

Nuheart is one of the only heartworm tablets that is soluble. If you buy Nuheart then you will find that the monthly dose to prevent heartworms is simplicity itself. No trying to tempt the Dogs with a treat with a hidden pill, and certainly no trying to maybe massage their throat to get them to swallow a pill.

I had forgotten just how awkward it was to try to get the Girls to swallow their pills. We had been using Nuheart for such a long time that we had not had the experience. It is not easy.

With Nuheart we simple dissolve in some water and put on to the Dog’s food, they don’t even know that they have been medicated.

If you have been having any problems with getting your Dog to swallow a pill then this is what you should try, or Heartgard Plus if you also wish to treat for intestinal worms at the same time.

In Other News

Now that the weather has begun to warm up I realize the joy of a tired out Dog. It has seemed like a long winter and the Dogs seem to have been full of energy every day. We have tried our best to get them to be worn out, but with 3 Dogs it is not always the easiest thing in the world. A run off the leash is what is needed, and they do get that, but not all at once. A certain pack mentality seems to be in real evidence when all three are loose, so two of the Girls need to take it in turns to have their freedom, it makes for less than exhausted Dogs.

But the warm weather has meant that they no longer have the same amount of energy and are spending a lot more time sleeping, which is certainly good news for the owner of this Dog Blog.

If it carries on at this rate then by the Summer they will be pretty much motionless for the whole day. It means a nice early walk as I am now getting woken up way too early by a few very loud birds in the tree outside the house, it is great to see the Sun rise, but not perfect for someone who needs a good eight hours to function, at least I can take an afternoon Siesta though without feeling guilty!

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Generic Advantix

Three Dog Blogger — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:58:23 +0000

Being quite involved in the world of pets meds this is just a note to let anyone that is interested know that Generic Advantix is now available and for a very low price. It is a perfect replacement for Frontline and is currently over half the price. The generic K9 Advantix works just as well as the branded form but is available for about half the price. We even ordered it ourselves as we have found it is more suitable for the Dogs here in Spain. Here is the link to buy:

Buy Discount Generic K9 Advantix

We have found it to be very efficient at ensuring the Dogs do not have fleas and more importantly for us it really is very effective at stopping ticks. They can be a real problem as the Dogs are always in and out of the rough grass (yes, even in Spain) and the woods.

We did try to buy generic Advantix a while ago but it went out of stock within days so we have now quickly placed a bulk order to take advantage of the prices while it is still available. We have not heard back just how long it will remain in stock for so if you do currently use it I would suggest that you buy sooner rather than later.

Here is just what you can expect from K9 Advantix:

K9 Advantix stops fleas from biting in less than 5 minutes, begins killing fleas within the first hour of application and eliminates 98%-100% of adult fleas and ticks within 12 hours of use. Repels and kills ticks before they attach themselves to your dog, while also repelling and killing mosquitoes before they can bite. The active ingredients, imidacloprid and permethrin, work together for a quick knockdown by affecting the flea, mosquito or tick’s nervous system. Because K9 Advantix provides such quick knockdown of these insects it can helpful in limiting the spread of the West Nile Virus and Lyme disease. It is also ideal for dogs suffering from Flea Allergy Dermatitis.

We decided to use it as an alternative to Frontline Plus as leishmania is a common problem in Europe and it is recommended by local vets as providing more protection. And although not a heartworm medicine it does cut down the chances greatly of the Dogs being bitten by mosquitoes so if you do not currently use a heartworm medicine it will lower the chances of infection.

The prices are ridiculously low so even if you use Frontline or something similar you may like to swap while the generic K9 Advantix is still on offer. The price for a large Dog for a six month supply is $34 so it is about half the price of Frontline Plus, and for smaller Dogs the price simply gets ridiculous. I really do recommend it highly. It gets rid of fleas in minutes, stops ticks ever attaching and helps to stop mosquito bites too so it about as good as it gets. We have now swapped from Frontline as the cover is better and it is about half the price. Take a look at the prices via the above link. I was amazed how cheap it is and I deal with pet meds supplies on a daily basis and bought it while it is still available.

Hope this helps.

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Leaks No More Treating a Dog’s Urinary Incontinence Naturally

Three Dog Blogger — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:32:37 +0000

We have mentioned previously here on one of the best Dog Blogs about our Daisy Dog’s Urinary Incontinence. There are a lot of reasons why the problem can arise but it seems Daisy’s is a hormonal issue, leading to her having less control over her bladder than she or we would like.

Well we’ve recently been trialing Leaks No More from HomeoPet as we didn’t want to get her onto stronger medication unnecessarily. We found the best price Leaks No More from Amazon. Buy Leaks No More best price from the link we provide.

Click to buy Leaks No More (best price online)

Urinary Incontinence in Dogs is one of those really awkward problems. In Daisy’s case she can go weeks without a problem, and then have a week of leaking whenever she is really relaxed in the evening. The leakages themselves can leave a dog far more likely to pick up urinary tract infections which can of course lead to even more leaks. Cider vinegar worked well for us to alleviate this side of the problem, but still Daisy experiences random times of urinary incontinence. It is obviously a problem practically (thank heavens for tiled floors) but a bigger concern is how distressed our Daisy seems to get when she realizes she’s had an accident.

I have to say I tend to be a little sceptical about herbal pet medicines but we really didn’t want to start her on stronger medication at such a young age. In general with hormonal incontinence in dogs any medication that works is likely to be needed regularly throughout their life. So, for a little under $10 we thought we’d give Leaks No More a go.

We used the ‘all natural’ remedy for around a month and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. After a few days Daisy seemed to stop leaking and we really didn’t notice a return of the problem until our little bottle had run out. Then with a fortnight waiting for a new supply (Spanish post is notoriously erratic) she returned to her intermittent wet ways. Now we’ve just started the second bottle and things seem to be drier again.

I am not sure that Leaks no More is any kind of miracle cure but at first glance it does seem to be working for her. I hope it continues as even prescription meds to treat hormonal incontinence in dogs can be very unreliable. It seems every dog is different and the effectiveness of each treatment varies considerably from patient to patient.

For us, it seems to be improving things and so we shall continue unless we see any return of regular incontinence for our dog, Daisy. The fact that the maker’s and all the key online pet med sites confirm there are no known side effects from the product means I am happy to trial it for now.

I would be really interested to hear if anyone else has used this herbal pet remedy. There are lots of customer reviews on amazon and it seems that many people are happy but that doesn’t always prove anything I know! There is no miracle cure to treat all urinary incontinence in dogs unfortunately so it is impossible to recommend a particular pet medication and be sure it will work.

Because our dog’s urinary incontinence comes and goes it is really hard to be completely sure if a treatment is working, but fingers crossed, so far so good, so for now we shall continue treating her with Leaks No More.

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Pet Meds: The Best Prices For Pet Med Purchases

Three Dog Blogger — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:57:52 +0000

Many people use 1800 PetMeds to buy there online Pet Meds. This is without comparing prices from other stores and this means that often we pay more than we need to. The reality is that many online stores that are popular such as 1800petmeds and sites like Fosters and Smith are not the best places to get your Pet Med products.

To get the best possible prices it really does pay to shop around. You should always perform price comparisons to ensure that you are paying the lowest possible prices. All too often we simply go with a name that we know rather than checking that we really are getting the lowest prices. Simply looking at a few products and checking how much they are on other sites does no take long but it really can be the difference between being able to afford our Dogs medication or not. Cheap pet meds (from sites like this one linked to) means the difference between us making regular purchases when we need to or maybe having to miss treatments because of the cost.

I have been in this situation and it is only by shopping around properly and comparing prices that makes the meds affordable.

Where To Buy Pet Meds Cheap

Many people do not realize it but Amazon Pet Meds Store actually have some of the lowest prices online for all non-prescription pet meds. Take a look and I bet that they beat 1800petmeds prices for a lot of items.

It really does pay to shop around to ensure that what you are buying is for the best price. Every six months or so it is certainly worth comparing the prices again as different sites have better prices for certain products and prices change all the time.

Hopefully you will now do some price comparisons before you buy and I am sure that this will certainly allow you to make some very good savings on what you buy.

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Canadian Heartworm Medicine

Three Dog Blogger — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:54:51 +0000

Today we are going to take a look at the option of buying Canadian Heartworm Medicine on the Dog Blog. A lot of Dog owners take the decision to give a monthly heartworm pill to ensure that adult heartworms never develop, and it can be a rather costly business for some owners. There are lots of options for preventing heartworms from growing, and if you know where to look you can buy them for a very affordable price. Generics are becoming a lot more popular as they can be purchased for such a low price, although for whatever reasons (probably Brand trust), names like Heartgard and Revolution are still the best sellers.

Before we get to the issue of Canadian Meds and the pros and cons of buying from Canada here are some links where you can make the purchases and also read some interesting information on the whole issue of whether or not to use a heartworm med at all, and a good read about prescription meds from Canada for people:

Buy Canadian Heartworm Medicine

Prescription free Canadian Heartworm Medicine

Wikipedia Heartworm page

The American Heartworm Society page for Dog owners

An article on Suddenly Senior all about the legality of buying cheap prescription drugs in general from Canada. Interesting reading for anyone who wants to buy cheap prescription medication for people as well as Dogs. I recommend you read this.

It is, of course, our decision whether or not we feel that we should use any treatment at all. The risk is not large for many Dogs, while some areas can be real problems, i.e areas with high numbers of mosquitoes. But, on to the issue of Canadian heartworm medicine.

Why Buy Canadian Heartworm Medicine?

The simple fact is that in the US and the UK basically all heartworm meds require a prescription from the vets. This is to ensure that no animals are given the medication if they have adult heartworms, which can be dangerous. As long as a Dog has been given the all clear then it is safe to give the medication on a monthly basis.

The problem arises that it takes time to get the prescription and prices are normally much higher to buy from the vets than online. More owners have now discovered that by buying from Canada they do not require a prescription for many of the most popular heartworm meds. Not all of them, but a number of brands and generics. Combined with low prices this is a very appealing option. As long as we know that are pet does not have adult heartworms or has been already regularly treated with a medication then we run no risk of any adverse effects, prescription or not. Even for the prescription heartworm meds the prices are very much lower in many cases.

This is why people are searching for Canadian heartworm medicine online.

But Is It Legal?

This is the question. It is still a grey area for people searching where to buy cheap meds from Canada. Canadian sites have on their pages a disclaimer that the FDA has taken the position that virtually all prescription meds shipped to non Canadian residents from Canada may, in most cases, be breaking the law. The problem is that it is not an open and shut case. There is no emphatic yes or no. Virtually all? In most cases? This is simply confusing but what I have found is that no one gets in to trouble for buying prescription meds from Canada. And as they do not need a prescription for many of our options there is no problem as far as I can see. Many more people are also buying their own prescription meds from Canada to make big savings so why not for the Dogs? Whether it is prescription based or not in Canada.

This is obviously all that the Canadian based sites have to inform their visitors of. So there is no definite position on the legality, as far as I can see. What I do know is that tens of thousands of US and UK based Dog owners buy from Canada every month and I have not heard of any problems regarding any legal issues. This is for meds that require a prescription in all countries and for those that do not require a prescription in Canada.

So, should you buy from Canada?

That is entirely up to you. I have heard of no problems as the legality of doing this is pretty inconclusive for the prescription ones. How would anyone even know what is in the package shipped to your door?

In reality it is simply up to the individual whether they think it is right as the legal side is not definite but does hint that we should not really do this. But with the Internet opening up borders and allowing us to buy items from anywhere in the world to save money and time it is difficult to see this ever being concluded.

Whatever you do and wherever you buy heartworm medication from you must ensure that your Dog has been cleared by a Vet if they have not received a monthly treatment for more than three months.

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Dog Glucosamine – Dog Chew Glucosamine

Three Dog Blogger — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:56:10 +0000

Today we are going to take a good long look at Dog Glucosamine here at one of the best Dog Blogs online. At least I like to think so anyway Just kidding readers. Anyway, over the past few years there has been a lot of interest in Dog Glucosamine and at the Arthritis and Glucosamine website there are a lot of pretty amazing claims for what it can do.

With a lot of pain relief meds for Dogs being prescription only and relatively expensive Dog Glucosamine is an OTC med that can be purchased with no prescription and can be simply given to the pooch in a number of very accessible ways. So, lets get going shall we?

What Is Dog Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is actually naturally present in our Dogs, it is found in the cartilage, the synovial fluid and in connecting tissues. However it can break down and lead to arthritic conditions, problems with mobility, and stiffness and pain. This non steroidal medication has been shown to improve the life of quite a number of Dogs with many of these common conditions.

How Glucosamine For Dogs Works

It helps to ease the pain because it seems that it has anti- inflammatory properties. This means it really can help to ease the pain that Dogs get as a result of any number of common conditions.

It is distributed about the body and to the tissue and can help to repair tissue, cartilage and reduce painful swelling. In numerous tests it has been seen to greatly improve the well being of our older Dogs who suffer from many conditions normal to aging as mentioned above. it can also help to repair cartilage and to improve th overall well being of our pets as well as be a real benefit for painful conditions and stiffness, and that is just the beginning of the claims.

What Options Are There?

From pills, to tablets to Glucosamine chews, there are a number of options. The best seller at the moment is a chewie that is just like a treat. You can take a look at it via the image. Read the reviews and you will be pretty amazed. I am sure that Amazon did not make them up. It seems to help for so many problems it is very difficult to discount it before other options are considered.

What Can Glucosamine For Dogs Help With

In many case studies it has been shown to help for numerous common problems. But, what many owners are now doing is using it as a supplement for their Dog from a young age. In this way they are hoping that breakdown of cartilage, loss of synovial fluids and general degeneration of the body can be slowed or halted to a greater or lesser extent.

It has been shown to help with many arthritic conditions in older Dogs. Giving them a freedom from pain and a new lease on life. Personally if I had been a little more knowledgeable when our old Dog Sam became old and very stiff I would have tried it whatever the cost. I still feel so bad that I simply assumed that he was old and it was his time. I assumed that all pain relief meds and the like would have been of no use and he was simply old. Now I would try a few things like Glucosamine Dog Treats simply to see what happened. Things have moved on a lot in the last few years and our Girls will surely be grateful for that when they begin to slow down (which will be no time soon though).

Anyway, Glucosamine has been shown to help for all manner of conditions, from arthritis, swelling, degeneration of cartilage, tendons and ligaments, the healing of wounds, recovering from disc regeneration and so much more it sounds like a miracle. Now, it does not work for all Dogs and for all conditions, there is no such thing as a miracle cure for any of them. But it may be of help to many Dogs and may certainly be worth trying.

Reading the reviews on Amazon here it is apparent that it has been miraculous for some Dogs and not as successful for others. But the overall impression if you take a look at the various products available and read the reviews is that it can be extremely beneficial for quite a number of Dogs.

Take a look at the options on Amazon here. Read the reviews of the various products and see what you think. It may just be what you have been looking for.

If you have used it with good or poor results then it would be great to hear about it in the comments section.

Bovine Colostrum Capsules For Dogs

Three Dog Blogger — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:12:23 +0000

Regular readers will know that I am fairly involved in running a few websites that deal with pet meds. Today, while doing some research I came across something I had never heard of before, and that was Colostrum. Now, if you know all about it then please do not scoff, I am a man and really do not know very much about lactation, especially when it comes to lactating Cows!

Anyway, I looked up Colostrum on Wikipedia and I must say I was quite interested in what I read. I then read a very interesting article on a holistic pet care site here that I found very informative. Here are a few interesting snippets:

Bovine Colostrum provides instant antibody protection and destruction of infective bacteria, viruses, fungi and cancer cells. It is an old remedy that was relied upon before the advent of chemical companies churning out chemicals and antibiotics.

Colostrum’s healing affects are multifaceted. I have become a believer and recommend it in all ill animals and people no matter what the cause, in arthritic, allergic and autoimmune conditions. I have found it has reduced my allergy expressions of migraines and psoriasis since I have been taking 2 capsules 3 xs daily. Colostrum comes in capsules or in loose powdered form. I find mixing the powder with a small amount of milk is quite palatable to cats and dogs

It certainly made for some interesting reading. Delving deeper it seems that many Dog owners are looking for bovine Colostrum to give to their pets to help alleviate all manner of problems. Small Dogs can be given a capsule twice a day and larger Dogs can have 2 capsules twice a day. There is no need to buy colostrum specifically for Dogs, you can simply choose from the many available offers here on Amazon for a lot of choice. Here is another quote I came across:

Hundreds of studies by some of the world’s most respected doctors, researchers and scientists have shown that the components in colostrum can help destroy viruses, bacteria, yeasts and parasites and powerfully boost immune function as well as help increase vitality and stamina. It has also been used to help relive symptoms of sinusitis, asthma, herpes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Go to www.colostrumresearch.org for more research information.

Note that colostrum is not species specific so this applies as much to giving to humans as it does to Dogs. It should also be noted that the calf will always have been given the colostrum first as without it it would very likely not survive and we can rest assured that farmers would consider the calf much more important. From what I have read it can aid greatly in improving the health of young puppies that may not have had enough of their mothers milk for the first day or two after they were born. This often happens if the puppy is born in to a large litter.

How To Give To Dogs

Simply pick your brand, although this brand is the bestseller so I would stick with that, and simply then open up the capsule and sprinkle on your pets food. It is said to help greatly in so many Dogs that the arguments for giving it are quite strong.

You don’t need a Dog specific brand as it will all work in exactly the same way. It is seen as especially useful if young pups are weak and not doing as well as their siblings. Here is yet another quote from an avid advocate:

I have found that puppies and kittens that are not thriving respond within days to supplementation with bovine colostrum fed four times per day, mixed with water. I dose them at 1/8th to _ tsp depending on the size of the newborn. Once they are stable, I reduce the frequency on once per day and the amount to 1/3 tsp up to 25 pounds per body weight believe that colostrum from their mothers is not adequate or not being utilized by the newborn.

So, if your Dog is lethargic, has allergies, diarrhea, ulcers, viral infections and so many other ailments that I could go on and on, then there is a surprising amount of anecdotal evidence that colostrum is very effective at aiding recovery.

I obviously have no personal knowledge of using colostrum and this is not in any way advice or a guarantee that colostrum will work. I simply found it extremely interesting and wanted to offer up a little of what I found, and there is a very strong case for the many benefits bovine colostrum can give to your Dog.

If you have used it yourself or for your Dogs then please leave a comment so me and other readers can hear about the effects (or not) it had.

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A Look At Pain Relief For Dogs

Three Dog Blogger — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:18:49 +0000

This guest post here at the Dog Blog is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dr. Wright enjoys spending time with her dogs and taking them on vacations to see new things. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right system for you, help you install it, and help train your pet to use the new system. Dog Fence DIY even carries the Petsafe Stubborn Dog system for the larger dogs.

As a dog owner, we really don’t like to see our dogs hurting. It’s distressing, and we want to do something to help him straight away. Sometimes, if he’s not yelping or obviously limping, it’s not as easy to tell if he’s in pain.

There are some things to look for to tell if he’s sore. He’ll be a bit quieter than normal, and may not be as interested in his favorite activities. He may also be off his food. One big giveaway is that he’s grumpier than usual, and may even behave out of character, for example he may snap at people when he’s never done that before.

There are lots of medical conditions which can cause pain in our dogs, such as arthritis, injuries, cancer, and abdominal disease. As well as treating your dog to resolve the particular condition, an important part of managing these problems is reducing pain.

Most veterinarians also now recognize that even the most routine surgical procedures, such as neutering, can be uncomfortable, and will prescribe pain medication for you to give your dog at home.

Pain relief medication for dogs comes in several forms: injection, tablet, oral liquids or even patches that are applied to the skin. The choice of medication for your dog depends on many factors – the risk of side effects, the severity of the pain, and of course, whether or not your dog will allow you to give him a pill.

The most common type of pain medications that are used in our dogs are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAID’s. Some brand names you may be familiar with are Derramax, Metacam and Rimadyl for Dogs. These drugs are in the same family of drugs as aspirin and acetaminophen. They are very useful in treating arthritis, or in keeping your dog comfortable after surgery.

Unfortunately, drugs can have side effects, and the NSAID’s are no exception. They can cause kidney problems and ulcers in the stomach if used incorrectly, so do follow your vet’s guidelines if your dog has been prescribed these drugs.

On a similar note, never give your medication to a dog. Although there are many human medications that can be used in dogs, some of our drugs are positively dangerous. Ibuprofen can very quickly cause severe stomach bleeding in dogs. Aspirin can be beneficial to your dog, but again, don’t use it without veterinary advice, or your dog may develop a stomach ulcer.

For stronger pain, narcotics are very effective. Veterinarians often use these to treat cancer, and to keep dogs comfortable after orthopedic surgery. They are effective, but because there is the potential for them to be abused by a dog’s owner, their use is very tightly regulated.

Don’t rule out natural therapies in the management of pain in your dog. Acupuncture can be very useful, and even if it doesn’t completely stop the pain, it can reduce it enough so that you can use a lower dose of drug. This means that your dog has less of a risk of developing side effects.

These days, there is no need for any dog to suffer pain. If you can quickly recognize that he’s sore, and have him treated by your vet straight away, he’ll feel comfortable again very quickly.

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Snuggie Blankets For Dogs-Dog Snuggies For The Shivering Pooch

Three Dog Blogger — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:26:02 +0000

Living in Spain as we all do here we don’t need a Snuggie Blanket but for those in cooler climates then it is Snuggie time. You can Buy A Cheap Snuggie Here for yourself or buy a Snuggie For Dogs Here. If you live in the UK and are fed up with the high heating bills then you can Buy A Snuggie Here If You Live In The UK. You and the Dogs will be about as warm as it is possible to be.

Apparently the Snuggie blankets with sleeves has pretty much taken the US by storm and is on about every persons Christmas list. Personally I never feel the cold and I am not sure that I would look any more handsome with a Snuggie Zebra Blanket on. But apparently Zebra Snuggie Blanket is actually the most popular of them all. Proves how much I know about the tastes of those in the US.

Mrs. Three Dog Blogger feels the cold a lot more than I do so I can’t wait to see what she looks like but I think I will be getting her a Pink Snuggie to match fair skin. I am sure she will be over the moon.

Now, on to the Dogs. Apparently many Dog owners are buying the Dog Snuggie as a little treat for their shivering pooches. One size does not fit all so use this Snuggie For Dogs (All Sizes) link to see which one your Dog will need. Apparently they are machine washable, suitable for nearly all Dogs and have an easy velcro system to adjust the Dog Snuggie to the right size.

How they pee I am not too sure but apparently even the big dudes can easily be dressed with a simple step in system. They can be worn even with collars and leads and if you don’t mind a few stares from the fashion police you can keep the Dog Snuggie on when going for a walk in the park. The Snuggie for Dogs Reviews fall in to two definite camps. It is either that their Dog loves it or you are a cruel person for trying to humiliate your Dog by putting it in a walking blanket like a cheap Snuggie.

The consensus seems to be that some Dogs love them for in the house but for walking I just don’t really get how they have a pee. Am I missing something or is that important area left exposed?

So, blue or pink, which one do you think Faye would prefer?

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Homemade Dog Food- Totally Free Range

Three Dog Blogger — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:56:46 +0000

We all tend to high levels of anthropomorphism with our Dogs. We talk to them, ask them questions and give them many human traits that they simply do not have. Yesterday brought it home to me once again that we must not forget the true nature of Dogs and that is one of being a pack animal and a hunter and scavenger.

Firstly, this is all Mrs. Three Dog Bloggers fault so this time I am guilt free.

Any regular readers of the Dog Blog know we live a pretty remote existence and are fairly Self Sufficient. We grow veggies, preserve food, and keep chickens. Now, back when we first had chickens it was when we just had our old boy Sam. He was getting on (about 16) and pretty deaf and slowing down. At that time we used to let the chickens out of their compound quite often for a bite of grass and to roam around the land. Sam would give them a sniff and that was about it.

Sam, just saying hello.

When we got Daisy and Faye we reverted to keeping the chickens in a fenced area as they were young pups and full of mischief. Anyway, one day the chickens escaped and suffice to say they had a brief yet fairly exciting last few moments.

Fast forward 2 years and we have 4 chickens that give us an egg each most days but are absolutely never let out of a caged area. It is fox proofed and covered top to bottom in chicken wire so they absolutely cannot escape.

Yesterday we were coming back from an evening walk with the three bone munchers when the two that were not on a lead, Daisy and Faye, suddenly ran like loons to the vegetable plot.

Lots of squawking began and I legged it after them. There was the two girls about to dine on a nice free range chicken. I still have a sore throat from yelling at them and they stopped for a second and the chicken flapped over a terrace wall and hid under a Myrtle bush. The Dogs were there in a flash. More yelling and they finally came back to me and in to the house they went.

Now, in over 2 or 3 years of the new rules regarding the chicken enclosure this was the first time one of us had forgotten to close the door and make sure they were secure. They obviously took the opportunity to totally destroy the leeks and onions that are growing on the veg plot and get up to all other kinds of mischief.

My point is that we must not forget the true nature of many Dogs. If something runs they will chase it, and if they catch it a quick shake of the head and it will be dead. For many Dogs this will mean the blood lust takes over and have no doubt that they will eat what they kill. Not all Dogs have this mentality but many do and we should remember this.

It brought it home to me yesterday that yes Daisy may be a shy girl but when she gets a hunting instinct she will be as naughty as the next Dog and close her ears to commands until you shout yourself hoarse. Daisy is a full on hunter which is apparent in the way she stalks the other girls in a stealthy manner and there is no doubt that if she caught something that she chased then she would kill and eat it.

Let’s all remember this when we are out and about with the bone munchers. Think about the animals that may be around you when walking the Dogs on farmland. At least here in Europe keepers of livestock have every right to kill a Dog that worries their animals. Back when we lived in the UK and Sam was much younger he once swam a river so he could chase a herd of Cows. If a farmer were present it would have been the end of him.

So, Mrs. Three Dog Blogger is a very naughty girl but as she is normally the one that works her magic with a perfect poached egg set on a salad with crispy bacon and shavings of parmesan cheese all is forgiven.

(belly rumble)

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