From: jkl@fsl.noaa.gov (Jennifer Longstaff)
Subject: Dog moves to Colorado, has problems, HELP!
Keywords: bleeding paw pads, diarrhea
Organization: Forecast Systems Lab, NOAA - Boulder CO, USA
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 19:56:36 GMT

I'm "dog-sitting" for 8 months while my parents are in Poland with
the Peace Corps.  The dog is Casey, a 9-year-old spayed female
Golden Retriever.  I flew out to Seattle to get her, then back with
her last week.  So as of now, she's been here (Boulder) for one week.

Since it's too cold to keep her outside during the day, she stays in
the enclosed front plant room (south-facing windows in half of it; shade
in other half.  temperature during the day between 50 and 70).  She gets
to go out and run around (chase the tennis ball, sniff things, etc) for 
1/2 hour in the morning, 1/2 hour late afternoon after work, then for a 
long walk (on leash) before bedtime.

My parents had her on a Science Diet Lamb/Rice food which I wasn't able
to find, so I got her IAMS Lamb/Rice.  (The folks are pretty insistent
that she get a lamb/rice diet; urinary stuff a few years ago that the
lamb/rice cleared up.)  So all week I've been giving her the IAMS.  Plus
Saturday afternoon when I was out she nosed open the big plastic canister
with the food in it and chowed down on about four helpings (I've since
put the canister behind closed closet door).

Anyway, that's the background.  Now to the problems.

Sunday morning during tennis-ball chasing I noticed her pads on her
paws were bleeding in places.  I thought it might be due to the dry
climate here, plus the snow (crunchy, granular) she had been running
around on all week.  I bathed her feet and smeared vaseline on her pads
for moisture.  

Sunday night she seemed restless and for good reason; this morning I awoke
to find 5 piles of diarrhea that had occurred during the night.  She's a
very fastidious dog and would *never* go indoors unless it was an emergency.

Now, my questions are:
(1) on paw pads: should I try to toughen them up, or continue bathing
her paws and putting vaseline on?  Is there something better than
vaseline to smear on them?  Should I get her some of those little doggie
booties to wear (she does like to go out for long hikes, so the boots
might be good to have for that, anyway)?

(2) on diarrhea: could the IAMS diet be causing it?  did her Saturday-
afternoon pig-out cause it?  The plane ride out here last week?  Just
the change of scenery?  How should I clear it up?  I gave her some plain
yogurt this morning; will that help or hurt?  (I presently have a call
in to the vet about this, and am calling all the vets and pet stores
looking for the Science Diet lamb/rice but no luck finding it so far).

I have had dogs while growing up, and have had many roommates with dogs,
so I'm somewhat familiar with caring for them, although I would call myself
"a cat person."  (don't flame me, here in the dog group!  I love dogs;
I love all animals but love cats best.)  So any suggestions you dog-lovers
have regarding any of my new-adopt-a-dog questions would be appreciated!

Either post, if you think the information is useful to all, or send email
if the information is specific to my situation.
Thanks a lot!

- Jennifer
  jkl@md.fsl.noaa.gov



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