Quote: Anne Jones

I would also do some research on the Lyme shot if I were you.

I personally would never give it to my dogs. Not going to get into the whole vaccination protocal thing here, there are plenty of threads about this....but that & lepto(alot of bad reactions to this one & only covers a couple of the strains out there) are ones that should never be given. JMO

You should do the research & make an informed decision for your pup.

ETA...to get a clean catch...slip a cup or something under him just after he starts to pee. Let the first few drop go & stick it under him then. That way it is a cleaner catch for the vet to test.

This dog is going to spend a LOT of time on public parkland. Unlike many here, I do not own a farm or expansive property. We have tons of parks, trails, streams, lakes near us...but it's all public property.

Thanks for the pee-catching tip. I will do that. :thumbup:

I have acres of woods on the other side of my back fence, I live on a 1/3 acre BTW. My dogs go everywhere I do & are worked in multiple venues, parks, wooded areas, beaches, fields with tall grass etc, etc. I also live in CT where Lyme disease(named after the town Lyme,CT) was first diagnosed.

I have tracked my dogs in often knee high & higher grass areas daily for years & worked searches in wooded areas weekly during PP & SchH work etc for a number of years. I have never found a tick on my dogs nor have they had or tested positive for Lyme. I use frontline + year round & a natural holistic coat spray (that I mentioned in another thread)when I am going to be in heavly infested areas.

I still would not give that vaccine to my dogs. But hey that's JMO. I have done the research thru the years on vaccinations. It is an individual decision. I just suggested that you look into it, that's all. Your dog, your choice.

Well, I gave him Frontline Plus, against my better judgment. And it made him wobble around like a little drunken sailor. So I'm looking for options.

Can you provide me the name of your holistic coat spray? That sounds more up my alley. I do not want to vaccinate if I don't have to.

Just a heads up, that even the Lyme vaccine won't mean your dog won't get a tick-borne illness (the effectiveness of the vaccine is hotly debated but I won't get into that). We've got erhlichia, rocky mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis in our neck of the woods (Massachusetts). Generally, the ticks and associated diseases increase in number as you go further south (maybe Lyme is the exception).

I use advantix. I used Frontline plus and was still getting ticks on my dogs. I tried herbal sprays and they didn't work. My dogs run in woodsy areas by the river a lot. When we got home they regularly had over 20 ticks crawling around on their coats this past spring with herbal stuff before I got them on advantix. My shepherd nearly died of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in April- she had a lesion on her brain stem and was lucky to recover.

I've never vaccinated for Lyme, never will, soon won't have to when I move out of the tick belt. But please be careful for your dog's sake. These diseases aren't anything to mess around with- Rocky Mountain and Erhlichia can be very serious. Though I really don't like adding pesticides to my dog, I've decided it is well worth it. The topical pesticides are the only things that have worked for me. I've also heard good things about the preventic collar but couldn't use that with my two as they chew on each other's necks in play frequently and the collar is toxic to eat.

These diseases don't mess around.

Wow, this thread took a big turn...but an informative one nonetheless!

Please keep any and all replies coming. Thank you all very much.

Ross,

I always shut my Roger's water off by 6- 6:30 pm. I do work from home so he does get breaks from the crate during the day, and water at those times.

What time does your Roger go in/come out of the crate?
Does he have any water during that time?

Ross, This is my post from yesterday's flea & tick thread: If you look at the thread, Joyce put a linc up to the product. I use frontline plus, I have acres of woods right on the otherside of my fenced yard, but when I know that my dogs are going to be out working or playing in areas that are far more tick or flea prone,like the woods or beach or high grass areas....I use a product that I get from Dr. Martin Goldstein's office. He us located about 15 min from my home in South Salem, NY & I used him as my vet for 4 years until his prices when thru the roof & I couldn't afford him anymore, unfortunately.

I get a product called: Quantum 100% Natural Herbal Coat Conditioning Spray. It is a 100% natural flea & tick repellent & it works great. I still take a run up to his office in the early spring & pick of a couple of bottles to have on hand. I mostly just spray their lower body,legs,tails & under neck areas, rub it into their coat & I have as yet to finds a tick on my dogs even when out in the deep grass or woods. I am sure that you can order it from them, as I know that they will ship out items to clients. I think that actual practice name is Smith Ridge Vetenary Clinic. I think that Cindy added him to her list of holistic vets that she compiled from forum members a number of years ago & I am sure is listed her somewhere.

Ross, I also have a young Malinois (5 months old). I know you mentioned that you and your wife both work so he is crated a lot, but this is a very high energy breed that requires a ton of stimulation to stay happy and content. I stay at home full time with our kids, but I still have to give Vader a minimum of a 45 minute walk at night. If I am unable to give him exercise right before bed, he will wake us up wanting to play. I agree with the others about taking away the water earlier in the evening but also try to really exercise him and wear him out before bedtime. If he continues to wake you up, perhaps offering him a chew bone to entertain himself could help too. Hang in there...I know it's tough!

 Quote: Olivia Brown

this is a very high energy breed that requires a ton of stimulation to stay happy and content.

Really? The folks at the pet store didn't tell me that. Maybe I should sue them.

So, things are a lot better after cutting off the water. He's now waking us up ahead of the alarm, which I don't mind since he's quiet for another hour after that until he actually heard it. Then it's game time!

 Quote: Tammy

What time does your Roger go in/come out of the crate?
Does he have any water during that time?

In by 9, out by 5. No water during that time. Should I get him one of those things people mount on their gerbil cages? He is generally intelligent enough to regulate his drinking, in my observation thus far.

 Quote: Ross Rapoport

... In by 9, out by 5. No water during that time. Should I get him one of those things people mount on their gerbil cages?

My dogs don't get up in the night to drink water between (in my case) 10 and 6. None of them ever have. I think he'll live. But if you do get a giant gerbil-waterer, please post links to pics (in use).