Delayed post

Last Saturday Isaac made a trip to Bethany’s soccer game. This wasn’t a first for Isaac, but he did get A LOT more attention from kiddies of all ages and sizes. Though he seems to really like to mouth Noah and me when we play, he kept his chompers to himself with everyone that gave him a pat. He was also good about simply letting them approach without lurching forward on the leash to great every bi-ped that walks by.

Though he likes to grab on to me when he gets out of his kennel or crate after a nap, he seems to have a respectful/responsible mouth with those that simply want to give him a pet.

Don’t get me wrong he jumped up and grabbed me in the arm pit last week while playing in the backyard and it was a little over the top, but with everyone besides Noah and me he seems to realize/understand the teeth don’t get to touch skin.

I wish Noah would comply with the rules a little more, he is still on the litter-mate level with Isaac. Though Isaac will kennel and crate up for the boy, an leaves him alone until Noah decides he’s going to engage…which is generally every time he sees the dog. I need to keep an eye on the two of them. He walks on the lead for him and tolerates that Noah can’t just pet him, but needs to show affection with giant squeezes and high pitched excitement. As Isaac gets closer to sexual maturity I need to continue to ween Noah from his over the top excitement level (over the top 100% of the time, not just occasionally). Read this if you have kids and dog(s)

Overall Isaac has responded to socialization with dogs and humans quite well.

Happy Birthday (7 months)

(Have no idea who this is, but he showed up with a cake!)

Added new pictures

I’ve added new pictures of Isaac (since he’s around 7 months old). Here is a link to the page where they can be found.

Isaac refuses to cooperate when having his picture taken!

Encountered first Snake

On a trip to the the Sportsmans Club Isaac stumbled across his first snake. He was more than perlexed when it ran off into the weeds.

Weight and a limp update

Isaac is a lean 65 lbs and the limp in the front left has gotten noticeably better (though still there). His back right seems to be bugging him a little (making the rounds).

Panosteitis

Isaac limping Update

Since it appears that Isaac is suffering from Pano he’s been taking a break from anything other than simply hanging around.

Yesterday he took a visit to the gun club in the AM and slept under the picinic table while the .45 ACPs and whimpy 9 MM were clearing tables. Then we watched some people shoot trap…he thought about swimming (opted to wade instead).

Today Isaac watched while Noah shot his new 20 Gauge at the skeet field and then sent a few down range at the pattern boards. Isaac seems cool with anything up to a .45 ACP at 20 yards, the 20 or 12 guage gets a little reaction out of him, but he doesn’t freak.

One issue is that he seems to like chasing the orange pieces of clay that Noah is supposed to be shooting (leash required when items are flying).

Isaac also got to clear the soccer filed of about 500 geese today. He was surprised when he realized they could fly.

One interesting fact is that this was the first weekend where soccer wouldn’t have conflicted with Schutzhund Club and Isaac was limping too much to go. I suppose he could have made an appearance, but he just seems to not be to happy about that front left leg (until this weekend he’s been OK with it, but is in some obvious discomfort right now…even vocalized yesterday).

Identify this (if you can)!

It has been some time (I know it doesn’t seem like it) since Isaac has had diarrhea, but it’s back. This time I (we) might be able to identify what is causing it. I found the following chunks in his poo, let me know if you can identify it.

I walked around the yard and I didn’t see any mushrooms, he had a bully stick on Tuesday night, and last night while Noah was at soccer we walked around the ‘gardens’ next to the dog park as well as the prairie restoration area to the west of the ‘gardens’ (though I didn’t see him grab anything.

He didn’t watch the VP debate with me so it’s not that!

(click to enlarge)

Whit’s response :I would need to see the size – and touch it!  I can’t tell from a pic.  Looks like a banana! All I can say is that trust me she doesn’t want to touch it….smelly!

Here is a picture for ’size’ reference (it’s a regular sharpie). The pieces are the size of a cashew.

Here is one cut in half

Here is why I think it’s a bully. The consistent line down the pieces look like if you cut the bully stick length wise.

Touch of a limp leg

Isaac has a touch of a limp in his front left leg so I’ve limited his activity. He’s been getting fairly fiesty with the two hose game and I am hoping that it’s not pano (panosteitis). Not sure I completely understand pano though (seems to be a disease some say, some disagree), the vet described it in my last GSD as shin splints/growing pains and that rest was the answer. I’ve checked and it’s not anything in his nails or pads. I think his brain doesn’t realize that he’s a 65 or 70 pound growing dog and not a 12 week old puppy.

After a couple days of rest we’ll see if things are the same, better, or worse and go from there.

Update – 10-2-2008

The limp/lameness has rotated between the two front legs (currently seems to be his front left). Again he doesn’t seem to be too bothered by it, and I haven’t taken him to the vet.

I’ve checked the pads, nails, dew claw, and sholder/legs to see if he is guarding anything. He guards EVERYTHING chomp chomp, just kidding…seems all is well from that perspective. From past experience I think I am going to ride it out without a visit to the vet, because the only option is x-rays to check for gray darker spots in the legs (where the bone appears denser). Then there still isn’t a lot they can do except rest and time.

Here is more information:

http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/lpano.htm
http://www.bodeus.com/health.htm#pano
http://www.gsdhelpline.com/pano.htm

I am considering the following product (not that they have proven anything helps some claim Vitamin C)

http://www.k9power.com/joint_strong.php

The only issue is one suggestion is to cut back on the percentage of protien and this would add 16% to what he currently gets with his Canidae which provides 24%.

Just as the stomach issues end the leg issues begin…at least he’s happy and likes Kerry and Noah (in that order) A LOT.