It's time to get this little blog going again. Seems like it is in start and stop traffic, but hopefully the road is clearing out a little and I can get some posts going. I thought it appropriate to get started with a report on Bentley's visit to our new vet for his third year check up. I find it hard to believe that it has been just over three years since I drove to
Splendor Farms to pick up this little baby; time flies by when you have four little dachshunds to keep you company!
 |
| Bentley at 6 weeks - a little warm, brown, fuzzy puppy! |
I really like our new vet clinic,
Loop 410 Veterinary Hospital. The vets and staff are so nice, and offer top notch dog care plus great client service. They texted me a reminder about the appointment which was very convenient. Plus, they are very efficient and that means a lot to me.
The first item was the weigh in. We had to laugh because Bentley was almost too long for the little dog scale. But when he tipped the scale at 15.8 pounds I was so surprised! Almost, but not quite, a standard dachshund. He is not overweight and the vet asked me if I thought he was too skinny. Not at all, he is perfect.
 |
| Six months, April 2011 |
When they took him in the back to do blood work and get the fecal specimen I was worried because he was gone so long. I was afraid that he wasn't cooperating, but there was nothing to worry about. I think he was socializing! When they brought him back he didn't want to come into the examination room and was balking at the door and twisting around. I realized that he didn't see me so I leaned down and gave the command, "Bentley, come to me" and he was across the room and in my arms in a flash! Mama, mama, save me!
Of course, he was good during the exam. Although he didn't want his mouth examined. The vet said it was probably because he had just had the Bordetella drops in his nose. He was pronounced perfectly healthy!
 |
| Growing up - February 2012 |
I discussed his coat at length with the vet. His diet is good and the salmon oil supplement is good, too. He did give me a prescription fatty acid supplement to try. It is a 60 day supply, so we'll see what happens.
I also discussed the leg lifting problem and that I was thinking about getting Bentley neutered. He said that at this point it probably would not stop the leg lifting and it would just make him fat. No, I do not want him fat, absolutely not. So I think I will just have to live with the intact male dog! Interestingly, the vet said that they rarely see an intact male dog.
 |
| May 2013 |
His tests came back negative for heartworms and parasites, so he is healthy inside and out! We left with our 6-month supply of Trifexis to keep on staying healthy; even though it is expensive it is the most practical solution for prevention of heartworms and fleas. Great check up Bentley!
Glad he's healthy! Nola had her 3 year check up in November. 10.5lbs, heartworm and parasite free, perfect teeth, incredible muscle tone, and just perfect!
ReplyDeleteI do want to comment on the neutering thing, and I sincerely hope I don't come across as a...snob, or know it all, or something like that. While there is a very slight propensity to gain weight in altered dogs, fixing a dog does not make them fat. Bad diets and lazy owners do, which you obviously are not! Three of my dogs are altered (2 females, 1 male. All 3 years old), and they are the best conditioned dachshunds my vet has ever seen. There isn't an ounce of fat on any of them. They're fed well and get tons of exercise. In fact, my dogs are all at a better weight and condition now than they were prior to altering!
I got my male neutered partly because he was lifting his leg on EVERYTHING, both inside and out. It stopped it indoors completely, and greatly reduced it outdoors.
DM
I enjoyed reading about Bentley--he is a handsome fellow! Interesting comment from Nola, too (well, apparently, Nola's human) because I don't recall hearing the "altered dogs gain weight" theory at all. All of our dogs are altered, and none of them gained undesirable weight. I do credit Rand, though, that he is great at watching them, and if one is down, he ups the food slightly until he or she is back to normal, and if one seems to be up a bit, he cuts back slightly until she or he is back to normal. Since all but 2 of our dogs are older dogs, structured exercise does not really play a part in their routine, however--they get it going out in the huge fenced yard during their regular exercise potty breaks.
ReplyDeleteI had always thought that the old saying that spaying/neutering a dog made them fat was just a fable. But apparently, there can be some truth to it. I think that because Bentley is already 3 and that he is a dachshund (who are prone to have weight problems) was why the vet stated that he would gain weight from the neutering. I know that I have constant problems with trying to keep Sawyer's weight under control; the girls are fairly slim and trim!
Delete