Most Popular Q&As

My one year old GSD has scratched all the hair off of his nose, ears, both his sides, bites at his rear ends both sides, bites and licks at his feet. I have taken him to two different vets now and they both say it is because he is on a raw food diet. He eats chicken, hamburger, beef heart, tripe ox tail, and pork neck bones, raw eggs, yogurt, all feedings he gets salmon oil, vit.(e) super c 2000, and now I have added flax seed oil and more vit. (c) to help boost his immune system. They say I...

I know you are probably busy - so I'll make this as short as possible. I am an RN (feel like I should have known what to do...) who just lost a 3 year old AKC beautiful male shepherd to bloat (fast). Fortunately, the vet had administered pain medication. I read posts on your site from similar BROKEN HEARTED people. You mentioned - no experience of it w/ your dogs? Question #1 - I have a nephew of my dog?s ordered - but am thinking now, I don't want to go thru this again... Is it he...

Hello Cindy, I just have a question. Since reading on your website, and doing quite a bit of my own research I have switched my German Shepherd puppy to a raw diet. She is almost 10 months now, and she has been on it for about 4-5 months. I usually give her either organic beef or chicken, a raw egg yolk a day, and supplement with calcium, vitamin c, vitamin e, and the salmon oil from your website. She also off and on gets things like vegetables, pumpkin, etc... She does really well...

Cali was spayed yesterday and we picked her up today. She is already licking her stitches and the vet said she will need to wear a cone collar for 14 days. He said the bitter apple stuff doesn't usually stop dogs from licking itchy wounds. Should we go along with the collar or try something else?

How do you clean your dog's ears?

I have an English Mastiff that is 1 yr. old. Ever since he was 7 months old we have been in & out the vet's office. He has been on medicine this whole time & he chews on his feet. The vet now thinks Hank has a food allergy. She wants me to put him a new Science Diet food--Z allergy formula. Hank eats about a 20lb. bag a week. This food costs $40.00 a bag. Please help!! Keri

I hope you can answer my question. I have a Golden Retriever that is two years old. Last May (2000) I had her shaved for the summer and her hair was almost completely back by the end of September. This May (2001) I also had her shaved for the summer and it is barely coming back. The only thing that I know that is different is that she has been on Prednisone for Allergies since last December. Do you think that is possible? Or could there be some other reason? Thank you for your help. ...

Ed, great site. I am writing to ask your opinion on my situation. I have a 10 month old female GSD, great temperament and drive. There is one serious problem. She has severe dysplasia in her right hip. She is going to Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine on Dec 12 for a total hip replacement. She has had numerous x rays and I agree with the doctors course of treatment. We had wanted to try the TPO procedure. However the hip was too bad to work with so Total Hip replacement is ...

Ed, I have an eight month old GSD that has already begun to experience hip problems. In your opinion, what would be the best course of action to do what is right for the dog? Thank you for your time. Chad

Hi Cindy, I have not visited your site in a year (when I used it extensively for information on training for our rescue dog). Today I am intrigued by the dehydrated food info. My son has a mini schnauzer (1 yr old) with a very bad spinning problem...that is jumping up from a relaxed state ...spinning as if chasing her tail or trying to sniff her bottom....then sniffing the floor where she was just sitting. It is very sad to see this little girl obsessively spin sometimes for hours. There a...

I have a 14 month old GSD that has been favoring one of its back legs after playing ball or running. I took the dog to the vet and they do not believe that is her hip they think it is her knee. Also, the one knees is bigger on the bad leg (it sticks out father then the normal leg) they gave me Rimadyl for 7 days she was fine while she was on it. I have read on your web site where you talk about the problems of Rimadyl and I am taking her to the vet tomorrow and don't want to give her any ...

My German shepherd is 2 1/2 year old, and he has shifting lameness. It starts in his front then shift to the left rear, then goes back to the front. I have never seen nothing like. The Vet has given him doxycycline tables 100 mg, Deramaxx 100 mg for tick born illness. We have him on Clucosamine Chondroitin. Being that you see some many shepherds have you ever seen such? I know that you are not a Vet. Have you ever experience that in any you've dealt with? I won't bother you again with this.

I have a German Shep. that is 5 years in Oct. I have not had his hips x-rayed because all my friends in training class say anesthetics have risk! He runs agility, I keep jumps low most of the time (18 to 20) inches. He has never shown any sign of a problem, all of the dogs in his pedigree for 5 generations, are breed surveyed except 1. I give a very good Glucosamine supplement. The A frame is 5ft. 6 in., and I think pushing 93 lbs. up that is a pretty good test. The vet says if there is a pro...

I have a 13 month old GSD half German/American blood lines. His parents are both champion show line dogs. The other day during out fetch the ball session Zeus began to favor his left leg. His appetite is unchanged and he does not have a fever however, I have noticed there is now some limping. I called the breeder and she took a look at him. She has over 35 years experience raising and breeding champion GSD's. She explained to me that it appears to be "Pano" and to simply keep an eye...

I came across your website and was reading your questions and answers about hip xrays, dysplasia, etc. I noticed you mentioned that you prelim your dogs between 6 and 10 months of age. Why those ages? I prelimed a male weimaraner at 15 months. He came in as mild dysplasia with Subluxation checked off. I called OFA and spoke to the prelim vet, Dr. Keller. He stated that there was No arthritis or change in the ball or socket, but because there was more subluxation in my guys hip...

Thank you so much for all of the work you have put into your web-site, its content has been invaluable to me...My question is, I put a deposit down on a working-line GSD this past summer, and the pups were just born a few weeks ago. The litter had only 3 pups, and one of which was still-born. Is this a cause for concern? Also, the breeder just found out that the bitch has an eye problem called Pannus. Based on my research, I am getting conflicting information about the likelihood of th...

Dear Mr. Ed Frawley, I have a German Shepherd of 7 month old (65 pound) that has a Babesia infection, I'm feeding with commercial food (Eukanuba), I want to change to a Natural Diet. I asked my Veterinarian but I'm not glad with his answer. Please, can you give me your opinion. Many thanks for your reply. Best Regards, Sergio Panama

I have written to you about dog on dog aggression and your advice and video were quite helpful and effective. My dog will now sit quietly, off lead, and allow a dog to pass her by without twitching. Unfortunately, this April, at the age of 2 1/2, she was diagnosed with auto immune encephalitis of the vestibular region of her brain. Since she was in excellent physical condition, young, and of a breed with immense stamina and ability to try, (American Pit Bull Terrier), we decided to attempt...

We recently had our 2 year old dog Jasper (he is a 90 lb. mixed breed rescue) allergy tested due to his serious paw licking (two rounds of antibotics and steriods later his hind paws are still raw). The elisa testing found he is allergic to: Humans - yes, humans Turkey - ranked highest Beef Pork Eggs Milk wheat catfish corn We want to begin feeding a raw diet to improve his health. Are there any substitutions for eggs? We are currently feeding Eagle Pack Holistic Lamb. The o...

I would like information on sites or from your resources re: Heart worm and flee & tick prevention. I'm no longer comfortable simply applying & giving these preventive medications/insecticides. Thank you for any assistance re: research or knowledge you can provide. Ruth