Tiggy2--

As your fellow-in-rescue, I appreciate your sharing that with us all...

I am full of angry stories from my days with German Shepherd rescue and try not to relate too many of them here on a training board, although once in awhile it's too much for me.

The bitch I'm working right now is one of the greatest working animals I've ever seen. She was four hours from euthanasia when I adopted her.

The world is full of dogs that are purchased, chained "out in back," left to their own devices, and then one day the "owners" wonder--WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS DOG? WHY DOES HE ACT THIS WAY?

--and if they're LUCKY, these dogs end up with us.

Most of them get taken to the vet, or the pound, and pay the ultimate price for their "canine foolishness." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Pete Felknor

Besides worms can my dogs contract a serious illness from rolling in a dead animal or catching mice and such? And by the way I do not want to get rid of my dogs or put them to sleep because of this. I simply want to know the reasons behind this behaviour and any concerns that I should have.

It is entirely possible for your dogs to catch tapeworms from eating wild critters (heartworm????), but I have never heard of a dog catching anything from rolling in stuff. Though, I am sure it's entirely possible to contract mange or mites and such....but, who am I? I don't know for sure, though. I'm just talking off the top of my head here.

As far as bad habits, it's true that the vast majority of dogs that are surrendered to shelters are given up due to "behavior problems". I'm certain that only a tiny percentage of those are genetic disorders. Probably most of them for things like digging, barking, and escaping I imagine.

The dog has to ingest the flea in order to get tape worm. Heart worm is transferred from the bite of a mosquito. I dont know if it can be transferred any other way. Ground hogs (woodchucks) are carriers. We hunt hogs alot and I have never heard of anyone having a heartworm problem from them. As far as getting rid of dogs just because the do what dogs do really sucks. My wife and I do a lot of gardening and a shovel to a hunt terrier is like a shotgun to a bird dog. If I plant a new rose bush or just dig in my compost pile the dogs have to be put up. If they find the new plant within a few days of putting it in, they will dig it up for sure. 6-7 yrs ago when I had to bury an old dog, I was bummed out and didn't put the other ones up. You guessed it! that is what terriers do. They Dig like deamons. To ask why They roll in carrion, crap, etc, kill innocent bunnies and birds. They are dogs. Even though I am new to this board, I can probably speak for most everyone and say "We love them BECAUSE of their instincts and behaviors." Some instincts are just a little less lovable than others. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

This thread is more of a health thread so I am going to move it to that section.

Here we go.

I guess that you can look at it this way, if you leave them out enough and they eat enough wild critters, then it will cut down on you feed bill!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Jeannette,
It might lower the cost of feeding, :rolleyes: but the additional cost it manifest are very expensive. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Just kidding, all Natural BARF Diet, As Nature Intended!! There will not be many over weight K-9's. Ha! Ha!

On a serious note: Everyone should try to limit the exposure of their K-9's to any dead wildlife.
As everyone has posted it causes so many unforseen problems. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Originally posted by oldearthdog:
The dog has to ingest the flea in order to get tape worm. Heart worm is transferred from the bite of a mosquito Actually, ingesting rodents, such as mice, can result in infection.

http://www.vetlist.com/worms/tapewormsdogs.html

According to the site linked above, roundworms can also be transmitted this way. However, heartworm larvae need to be incubated inside a mosquito to be viable, according to the site linked below:

http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=292

L. Swanston
I ment to say dogs ingesting rodents with fleas.
Article you brought up was good one. It commented that dogs and cats can get tapeworm just by self grooming if they ingest fleas off of there own bodies. It makes you wonder how many of our wild canids suffer short life spans because of infestation. They must have iron stomachs also, because road kill probably makes up a good percentage of their diet in certain areas.