Merlgwen Bullmastiffs

06/23/2023

Come out and make your Dog all it can be, meet other Dog People and have a Ton of Fun.

Hey everyone we are finally starting our much asked for Handling classes!
Plus we have added a bonus , we are also doing some Rally/Obedience training/classes same night. (Rally classes will be for club members only)
This will be held at Veterans Memorial Park in Ellijay Ga.
6:30pm EVERY Tuesday starting June 27th.
Rally/Obedience classes for members will begin at 7pm.

For the start of these there will be no cost ! Come and get some valuable training on your young dogs and older dogs alike. Minimum age allowed will be 4months (all shots required).
We will require a signed wavier which will be on-site.
Tell everyone who has been asking for these to not miss it.

05/30/2023

Great Weekend getaway at Asheville. Macha, if nothing was Consistent.😏

05/22/2023

Great info.

05/14/2023

Happy Mother’s Day Mom. I think of you often. I’m so grateful for all you did and wish we could still talk.

03/26/2023

Happy 6th Birthday Macha!

03/11/2023

Something more to be on the lookout for.

While at the Texas Pet Sitters Conference recently, we had the chance to hear from Dr. Roy Madigan, a veterinarian, and the principal scientist in the Canine Chagas Treatment Study.

We felt it imperative to share with our clients, and our community, the surprising information we learned.

Chagas disease is a parastic disease that is spread by kissing bugs. Similar to heartworm disease, animals can become infected with Chagas if they're bitten by, or ingest, a kissing bug.

The symptoms of Chagas can show up in a variety of ways. For less severe cases, lethargy, decreased appetite and weight loss may present. In more severe cases, you may see fluid in the abdomen, heart failure, vomiting, and unfortunately, sudden death.

Dr. Madigan estimates that up to 23% of companion dogs in Texas currently are positive for Chagas (compared to about 3.3% that are heartworm positive).

Chagas tends to attack the heart tissue, and is a progressive disease. The most common symptom seen when this happens is arrhythmia. It is also known to attack the brain.

Testing for Chagas is not common. The pet owner usually has to seek it out. There is currently a reliable test called "ELISA" that costs around $120.00. Dr. Madigan tells us that by next year, a new version will be available that will cost around $35.00 and will include a heartworm test. It will be readily available to all veterinary practices. They are currently awaiting approval from the FDA.

The treatment for Chagas is in a pill form and lasts for 12 months. Dr. Madigan reports that while it is 100% effective, it does not fix the harm that has already been done to the body by the parasite.

Our best defense against Chagas is preventative action. Pyrethroid insecticides will kill kissing bugs. Oral flea and tick medicine will kill Chagas.

If you see your pet with a kissing bug, do not squish the bug. Use a plastic baggie to capture it (don't touch it!) and contact https://kissingbug.tamu.edu/contact/ for instructions on how to submit it for testing.

It takes up to three weeks for a pet to test positive after exposure to Chagas, so don't immediately get your pet tested.

It is not only dogs who get Chagas. Cats also are affected. Chagas is the number one cause of seizures in cats.

Humans can also get Chagas. If your pet tests positive, every pet in the house should be tested, as well as all humans.

Antibodies are not effective at preventing reinfection, so a vaccine is not an option. Researchers are currently working to develop a slow-release injectible to protect pets.

Our takeaways:

*Chagas is impacting more pets than most people know. If your pet is showing unusual symptoms, ask your veterinarian to test them for Chagas. The sooner it is detected, the better off your pet will fare.

*Chagas is a treatable disease.

*Be aware of your enviroment. Keep your yard clean. Turn off outdoor lighting. Bring pets inside at night. Remove piles of rocks, leaves or wood near your home. Keep vegetation trimmed regularly. If you find a kissing bug, submit it for testing.

*If your pet tests positive for Chagas, test ALL your pets. Also, test all humans in the house.

For more information, please visit https://kissingbug.tamu.edu and www.vidapharmacal.com

12/30/2022

My old Guy, Cleveland crossed over to be free of his Pain and run with his siblings, parents and family who have preceded him.

09/20/2022

We had a fantastic 4 Day Show, Fast Cat and Dock Diving and best of all, perfect early Fall Weather for it in Macdonald (Cleveland), TN this Weekend.

Macha did good.

09/12/2022

More and more to consider.

08/20/2022

Something to consider.

08/18/2022

Cleveland is into Green, here’s he Solar charging this Morning.

07/30/2022

That bump is halfway between the top of the tail after it turns down and that second curve on the left rear lower leg just above the wide joint before it sort of curves in. Now what I mean?

07/26/2022

Tubby is not a sign of love by you of your Pet. Be responsible and keep your Pet healthy.

07/09/2022

A long very well laid out article on the Pros, but mostly Cons on ‘fixing’ your Dog or Cat early. Don’t just defer to your Vet without familiarizing yourself on the varied affects fixing your baby will and can have from your decision.

Neutering dogs and puppies is an emotive subject. What are the health risks, side-effects & benefits? Serious health consequences can be avoided

07/05/2022

Cleveland sends a Happy Birthday wish to his litter mate Angus.

07/01/2022

Support ABARS

ABARS is selling Magnets and Decals! Purchase them here: https://abarescuestore.bigcartel.com/

06/24/2022

More on Flea control.

Bravecto, Bravecto Plus, Nexgard, Simparica, Simparica Trio, Credelio, Revolution Plus all contain Isoxazoline which is a neurotoxin! ☠️

It is only supposed to be toxic to the parasites however, data is showing the toxicity is NOT limited to parasites and we are seeing many adverse reactions in dogs and cats.

Some adverse reactions that my clients have seen include:
• Aggression
• Personality changes
• Seizures
• Disorientation
• Wobbling or unstable gate
• Sensitivity to touch
• Abnormal vocalizations
• Urinary or f***l incontinence
• Death
I have seen these adverse reactions happen immediately after administration, but I have also worked with cases where the pet parent noticed these reactions days, weeks, or even months later. Sometimes the reactions don’t occur until multiple doses of the medication have been given.

AVOID THIS DRUG!

📎 Here is my detox protocol: https://drjudymorgan.com/blogs/blog/side-effects-from-common-flea-and-tick-products?_pos=2&_sid=4f37b2d66&_ss=r
📎 Safer prevention options: https://drjudymorgan.com/collections/tick-and-flea
📎 Flea and Tick Prevention Article: https://drjudymorgan.com/blogs/blog/flea-and-tick-prevention-revisited?_pos=7&_sid=56a77806b&_ss=r

06/15/2022

Something to consider when selecting Flea Control

Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi's Opening Statement [PDF] On Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. ET, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, will hold a hearing to examine the findings of the Subcommittee’s report entitled “Seresto Flea and Tick Col...

05/02/2022

Now this is interesting.

Are you feeding your dog too often? ⏰🍗⏰🥩⏰🥕🐶

Dogs fed once a day are less likely to be diagnosed with age-related conditions than pooches fed more often, study claims.

In the largest largest study to date of feeding frequency conducted in companion dogs, University of Arizona-led experts analyzed data on 24,238 pet dogs from the US and found:

• Being fed once a day lowered the risk of nine types of canine health problems
• These included cancer, dental issues and either kidney or urinary complications
• Similarly, dogs fed only once daily scored lower on tests of cognitive problems
• But the team said it is too early to advise owners to change their pet's diets

“We view these results as an exciting first step of an ongoing exploration of the impact of diet on companion dogs living in human environments. Given the intense interest in, and popularization of, ‘longevity diets’ such as intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding, these types of studies in dogs are both timely and important. We believe these studies will ultimately offer insights into factors that promote health and longevity for both dogs and humans.” - The Dog Aging Project

The scientists and researchers we interviewed for The Forever Dog book agreed that one meal a day for healthy dogs is ideal, in terms of maximizing autophagy and minimizing metabolic stress.

To learn how to transition your pup to a new eating schedule and create an eating window (which allows your pup to receive the benefits of intermittent fasting while offering the same amount of food) check out the section in our book “Personalized Meals as Medicine” found here: www.foreverdog.com

04/12/2022

Next set of Handling Classes!

04/10/2022

Lazy sunny Sunday Morning. Hope it’s the last sub freezing Morning of this weird Spring. Last Week I was wearing a T Shirt and Yesterday at the Bacon Fest I was triple layered over a thermal Shirt and still felt cold.

03/16/2022

Items for your Pet’s 1st Aid Kit.

03/04/2022

Cleveland is having a rough time. Macha came into heat and a couple of Weeks later when she was ready, he wanted to help. He really has nothing to work with except instinct, and did his best. Unfortunately, his earlier ACL injury impeded and he was conflicted between his duty and the pain. Macha was frustrated and desperate. She wouldn’t leave him alone and Cleve got knocked down. He now is limping; nothing is broken or swollen, but just painful. Macha is going out of heat and now, sympathetic. This is her cuddling him this Morning.

02/22/2022

Those restraints may give you more control, but are continually harmful to the dog when walking.

02/07/2022

From what I gather, Grain free formulations substitute Legumes for Grain and those lack something the Heart needs to function properly.