More Dog Questions

[TxAg]

Recently, in another thread, I asked for help addressing which food members felt was best for their dog. Turns out it was a no-brainer to keep my new dog on the premium food she was already on pre adoption. (Nature's Recipe - Venison).

So here are a few more questions. I'd just like to make sure I'm within the realm of normalcy. For what it's worth, she's an inside dog that gets a walk, jog, or dog park activity nearly every day.

1) When feeding premium food, how often does your dog drop a deuce? Is it always solid? I'm assuming the dog has routine which leads to him eating near the same time each day.

2) For dogs that spend the majority of their time inside, how often do you bathe them? I know too much bathing can strip natural oils from the coat...but nobody wants a stinky dog in the house.

[erikm1981]

Mine eat at night drop once in morning and sometimes right before bed. The little one gets bathed every 2 weeks because he has long hair the 2 bulldogs once a month, or as needed. One Yorkie and 2 pitbulls inside,, I need a much bigger house.

[Bullrdr82]

OK. Here goes my thinking:

1. Both my dogs are on premium food. The go outside in the morning and when I get home from work. Not sure when they do what, but they go everytime I let them out. Unless they have gotten alot of treats, or have been under a great deal of stress, the stool is normally solid. Both eat at about 7:00 am and then again about 7:00 pm during the week and then about 8:30 or so on the weekends.

2. My lab gets a bath about once a month. For some reason, if she doesn't get a bath, she starts to stink. I have her on fish oil pills for her skin and coat, so this helps a bit as well. THe husky gets a bath about once every three months or so. This all changes if we go to the deer lease or something, as they will get a bath when we get home.

I am not sure how old your pup is but just an FYI, do NOT take your pup to the dog park until it has been COMPLETELY vaccinated. You run the risk of getting a lot of different stuff while there, and you do not subject them to that.

[TxAg]

Thanks guys. I adopted her from an agency here in town. She's a little over a year old...she's completely vetted I'm told. I'll get the vet records when they clear my check...should be Friday.

By the way, if anyone has a good vet recommendation in Dallas I'm all ears. I'm off 75 and Henderson.

[Deer Tracks]

1) When feeding premium food, how often does your dog drop a deuce? Is it always solid? I'm assuming the dog has routine which leads to him eating near the same time each day.

I have high energy dogs. They stay indoors when we are gone (I don't trust the neighbors to close the gate.) We walk for 30-45 minutes a day during the week and sometimes that is coupled with a little disc throwing. Honestly, they poop a lot...but I think that's because they like marking places with their poop. My male will intentionally poop on an object to mark it and my female hikes her leg to mark trees and utility poles. They are really egotistical dogs. Sometimes on our walks they'll each poop twice but the stools will be very small. Some dogs have really gross soft yellow colored poop (thanks, corn and grain!) On good food their poop should be dark colored and firm.
Raw, uncooked bones produce white poop.

2) For dogs that spend the majority of their time inside, how often do you bathe them? I know too much bathing can strip natural oils from the coat...but nobody wants a stinky dog in the house.

Use a shampoo that doesn't contain soap like Bio-groom or Sulfodene. I bathe my dogs once or twice a week and they never have dry skin.

[Jaspro]

1) When feeding premium food, how often does your dog drop a deuce? Is it always solid? I'm assuming the dog has routine which leads to him eating near the same time each day.
Digger usually goes in the evening. He spends about 45 minutes out doors in the mornings before I leave for work and then in the evenings when I get home we usually spend an hour or two outside swimming or him fetching a tennis ball(this is uaually when he takes care of most of his business). His pro plan is left out for him to eat free choice but of an evening I mix him a small bowl of feed with some canned food and he usually has it all eaten by morning.

2) For dogs that spend the majority of their time inside, how often do you bathe them? I know too much bathing can strip natural oils from the coat...but nobody wants a stinky dog in the house.

I don't bath Digger near as often as I should. He has an odor but he really doesn't "stink" but he usually goes swimming in the pond at least 2 or 3 times a week so that helps.