[Castlemaid]

Super! What a great Ambassador for the breed!

 

[RocketDog]

I have only read the beginning pages and the end pages, but I will catch up. Great thread and happy to see her home with you and the two of you, well, being happy.

 

[jetdog]

After reading through this, who could not love this dog?! Fama is simply amazing and I'm so glad she ended up with you where she belongs! Give her a pat for me and an ear scratch too. Thanks you two!

 

[David Winners]

Just switched Fama over to raw, from BB Wilderness, last night. Her ears have been inflamed off and on, and she has itchy periods lasting a few days.

I found whole chickens for $1.35 / pound. I bought 2 and skinned them, to let her adjust for the first few meals, and then cut them up and portioned them into 13 oz bags for meals. She's 65 pounds, so I went with 2.5% per day, split into 2 meals.

I also added her normal supplements, Feedsentiels, Shemp-Oil, Phyt'n Chance, Power of 3 E's and garlic.

2 meals have gone great so far. Good poop this morning.

I plan on keeping her on chicken to see if the inflammation goes away. If this happens, I plan on adding a single protein per week to see how she reacts to them.

Any advice?

 

[Susan_GSD_mom]

I don't feed raw, so I don't have any advice there. Just about your source for chicken. A number of years ago I was cooking for my dogs, one had a ton of allergies, and I found a farmer who raised chickens completely natural, no hormones, no antibiotics, free run, etc. They slaughtered fresh for orders. Do you have anyone near who might supply something similar? Amish farms are a good source, too. I don't even buy chicken that is supposed to be human grade from the supermarkets--too much going on there. I have to be careful because my sister has immune problems. Anyway, that's just a thought.

Susan

 

[wyoung2153]

Also, let me be clear - the bad guys do not want to come in contact with our "fur missiles"

Teehee... fur missles :wild:

As a military member myself, who has deployed numerous times... there is nothing better than watching a MWD and their partner work. There is just something so secure and promising about it, knowing they are there. Can't explain it.. Had the chance on my last one to really get to know a few handlers and their dogs.. even played with a few in the mornings before shifts, just awesome.

Thank you David and Fama for everything you did out there and still continue to do. I just spent a good chunk of the last hour relaying your story to my office when they saw me looking at this thread.. (with the exclaimed "she doesn't have a tail?!")

and thanks Sunflowers for starting this thread!! I can't wait to read more stories! I expecially cannot wait to read the book when it is published!

 

[David Winners]

Thanks Susan. I'm new to this area so I will have to ask around.

Thanks wyoung! And thanks for your service.



Third raw meal tonight. No issues. She really loves the chicken. Stool was loose but not horrible tonight. I'm going to keep everything the same same and see how the poop looks tomorrow.

 

[Blitzkrieg1]

Im not a purist, as cheap raw around here is hard to find at a reasonable price. I try to do one meal once a day or every other day. Add tbsp of feedsential Then do kibble for the second meal. Also I try to throw in human left over food once a day or everyother day. Cooked meat, rice, noodles, egg, sardines etc

I tend to up the raw when I notice more shedding, so far so good.

 

[wyoung2153]

How are things going with Miss Fama?? Any updates?

 

[David Winners]

She's doing great! The transition to raw was easy on her. I've started OM with every meal and no issues. She absolutely loves it and her condition is improving. It's too early to tell if it's the diet helping, because she goes through phases.

She's also dealing very well with me being super busy. I've been in school, studying for the NCO of the month board, and completing some online schools as well. She hasn't been getting exercise as regularly as she is accustomed to, but hasn't been acting out or anything.

I still do Nosework training at least 5 days a week for about an hour, so I'm sure that helps. My girl lives to work. I need to shoot some more video. We've moved on to some more difficult work, including training search patterns which she lost when working with the MPs.

I do take her everywhere I can, so she gets to get out of the house pretty often too. Her favorite stop is the local Ace Hardware. They love her in there, and she enjoys doing OB in the store. The checkout lady wanted to meet her yesterday, so I had Fama jump up on the counter and say hi. It was a big hit lol.

The weather has been pretty hot, but we've been working in the late afternoons and she is acclimated pretty well. She can go for about an hour before wanting to take a break, which is pretty good for detection work. I'd take her down range tomorrow if I could assure a source of food and supplements.

I couldn't be happier, and I think I can say the same for Fama.

 

[carmspack]

whoa -- look how rich her pigment is - looking good .

what is "take her down range tomorrow if I could assure a source of food and supplements" ?

 

[David Winners]

Thanks Carmen!

I would deploy to Afghanistan and put my life in her paws given the opportunity. She is doing that well. Go down range means go to war.

I wish I knew her pedigree.

 

[blackshep]

Raw was a miracle for my dog! I hope it helps her too.

I'd love to see more vids of her doing nosework!

 

[Malachi'sMama]

Wonderful thread. I just love the photos.
My father was a handler for a K9 sentry GSD during Vietnam. His dog was Hitler. The stories are horrific (what few he'll share) and even more horrific are all the dogs that had to be left behind bc they were deemed 'unfit for civilian life'...Hitler didn't get to come home but I love to see stories like this. I hope it's updated frequently!!

 

[wyoung2153]

Thanks for the update! She is looking great!! I get the busy life thing. Titan is learning to be ok with it too

 

[David Winners]

We had company over last night. It's wonderful to be making friends and to finally have something social to do. A really nice couple came over for dinner with their 4 month old baby girl and 16 year old foreign exchange student from Spain.

Initial greetings went very well. They are dog people and were very excited to meet our dogs. Lucian just loves babies and he stuck to the mom like glue while they brought in the baby and transferred her to a bouncy chair. She is a very happy baby, always making those adorable baby noises and kicking her feet to get her chair going. Lucian spent most of the evening with the baby under close supervision at all times.
Whenever the baby would coo, so would Lucian It's like they were having a conversation. Lu laid down by the baby's feet and tickled her with his muzzle and when the baby laughed, he would warble with her. He was very calm and gentle, and everyone got a big laugh out of it. He even went in and supervised the changing of the diapers.

Fama made a new friend in the wife of the visiting couple. After dinner, we were hanging around outside on the patio together. The lady went inside and Fama followed her. They ended up wrestling around on the couch and floor in the living room, which turned into a snuggle fest.

I brought out some Nosework stuff and did a little demo for them. They are interested in training their husky puppy in Nosework and wanted to see what it was all about. Afterward, the lady wanted to do some off leash obedience with Fama. I showed Fama the ball and she watched me give it to the lady. Sit, stand and down went very well, but when she gave the heel command, Fama came to heel position by my side, 20 feet away lol. It took a couple of lures to get Fama to heel with her, but eventually they were popping around the back yard having fun.

The Exchange student has several dogs back in Spain, and was very interested in the dogs. Pud ended up hanging out with him on the outdoor couch on the patio. Pud fell asleep with his head on the boy's lap. He was full of smiles and questions, and wanted to take Pud home with him when they left.

All in all it was a fun and interesting night for humans and dogs alike. Everyone made some friends and shared some stories. We were all content and sleepy by the end of the night.

Good food, good friends, and good dogs. What else is there to make a Saturday night more pleasurable.

 

[David Winners]

Frustrated...

Fama has been doing great after switching to raw... Until 2 days ago.

BLAM!

Crusty ear, itching, keeping herself up scratching at night, pink skin...

Time for allergy testing.

 

[Carriesue]

Frustrated...

Fama has been doing great after switching to raw... Until 2 days ago.

BLAM!

Crusty ear, itching, keeping herself up scratching at night, pink skin...

Time for allergy testing.

I'd bring it up in the raw feeding community Facebook group, they've helped quite a few people out with similar issues. How long has she been on raw? If it's not been long then it could be very possible that she is just going through detox, I'd keep plugging away and don't stop feeding raw! Detox can sometimes take several months especially if they're older. I'd give her some benedryl for now and add in some unrefined coconut oil if you haven't already. Most vets would probably try to put her on some steroids but if it were me I'd avoid that while she could be possibly detoxing.

 

[David Winners]

She's getting coconut oil.

I'm not doing the prednisone thing again. I need to get to the root of the cause, not just treat the symptoms.

I'll post on the FB page. Thanks!

Any recommendations for derm vets in the OKC area anyone?

 

[Sunflowers]

Is she eating chicken?