Community ClicksPuppy-mill dogs aren’t all lost causes in today’s world
Dear Dr. Fox,
I have a little Yorkie who is 10 years old.
She is a former puppy-mill dog whom my husband and I adopted last June.
She is perfect in every way, and we want to give her the best life possible.
But we were wondering if what we feed her is appropriate.
We feed her Science Diet each day, but we also give her two thin slices of turkey bacon each morning when we have breakfast.
She absolutely lives for this.
We mix it in with her Science Diet nuggets.
Is it OK to give her turkey bacon on a regular basis?
Are we doing something we should avoid?
We adopted another puppy-mill dog a few years ago.
She was also 10 years old, and we were able to give her three happy years before losing her.
She was perfect in every way, as well; but I wouldn’t recommend a puppy-mill dog for just anyone, because they require a lot of time, love and attention — they cannot do anything and they must be taught everything.
But what a joy it is to see them climb up stairs or jump on a sofa for the first time.
Imagine a dog sitting in a cage for 10 years, and imagine all the things they don’t have the opportunity to learn.
Someone once asked me what I expected to get from a dog “like that.”
My response: “I don’t expect to get anything. I hope only to give.”
Many puppy-mill dogs have had little human contact.
It took both of our dogs a few months to take a treat from our hands, but the wait was well worth it.
— K.S., St. Louis, Mo.
Dear K.S.,
I hope your letter will be read by many and help put an end to the government’s (U.S. Department of Agriculture) “regulated” commercial puppy-breeding industry. Puppy mills are an abomination.
They are a disgusting and disgraceful reflection of our culture and our spiritual decline as a civilization.
I would urge you to transition your dog onto a home-prepared diet, as per my recipe on my website.
Also on the website, you will find many good brands of dog food — from frozen to canned and dry — that may be best for a small dog with such a stressful and physically/psychologically damaging past.
A little turkey bacon is OK as a treat, but it would be best to get away from all processed meats.
There are some excellent organic and freeze-dried salmon and other meat treats, additive-free, such as PetGuard and Stella & Chewy’s, that would be better for your dog.
In the long run, especially for an older dog whose health may need attention — teeth, gums and kidneys in particular — fresh foods would be best.
Vaccine questions/concerns
Dear Dr. Fox,
Our 8-year-old, 10-pound mini-dachshund receives several vaccines each year:
<<< Bordetella booster
<<< DA2PP booster
<<< Heartworm/Borrelia/E. canis
<<< Lyme-disease booster
<<< Rabies canine booster (every three years)
Are all of these vaccines necessary on a yearly basis?
Are the doses adjusted according to the weight of the dog?
I ask because our dog gets very ill for up to three days after receiving these vaccines.
He won’t move, he won’t eat (or must be coaxed to eat) and is very sore.
He has the same reaction every year, and I wonder if the pain is worth it.
One last question: Do we really need to apply Frontline on a monthly basis for flea/tick prevention?
— J.K., Laurel, Md.
Dear J.K.,
Dogs who have received the “core” vaccinations to protect them against canine distemper, canine hepatitis and parvovirus are good for at least three years, and are probably protected for the rest of their lives.
The vet can run blood tests to confirm this — a much safer protocol than simply revaccinating.
Your old dog is being overvaccinated. The bordetella-disease booster is only needed if your dog is going to soon stay at a boarding kennel.
The Lyme-disease vaccine, which may not give any protection, is only justified if your dog gets exposed to ticks and you can’t check your dog daily and remove any you find during the season.
Vaccine doses are regrettably and inexplicably not adjusted to a dog’s size or body weight.
Check my book Dog Body, Dog Mind or go to my website for flea-control measures.
Frontline and similar products should only be used as a last resort when fleas are out of control.
