Quote: Tracy Collins

Yes. The condition he described about the stomach is commonly called "bloat" and it kills quickly. It would be worth your while to do a little reading about it (here, or google it.)

It is a too-common condition with deep-chested breeds like GSDs. If you know the signs and get medical help quickly, the dog may survive. I have experience with this. Sometimes, there's no "cause" (like exercise after eating)--it just happens. But if it does, you have minutes to react.

Yes, bloat is very serious; as Tracy says, it is a life-threatening condition. Since it sounds like this is your first dog, you may want to familiarize yourself with where your nearest 24-hour emergency vet is located. I am not trying to scare you, but if you own dogs long enough, stuff will happen (just as it does with people), and you may find yourself with an emergency in the middle of the night or a weekend. Knowing in advance where to take your dog can save precious time. It sounds like you are comfortable with this new vet, so you might want to ask who they recommend for a nearby emergency clinic.

I will look into the nearest vet hospital. Yes This is my first GSD since I was 17. I love this breed and have wanted one for a long time. I've owned parrots most my life and was afraid of a dog killing my bird..I still don't leave them unattended but Eliot hasn't made a move on Ben, my bird, heck something outside 2 days ago scared Ben and Eliot ran,jumped up in the window growling to protect Ben..Ben even barks like Eliot now..lol. I am going to read about bloat and as you said..establish measures for emergency. Thank you all for your help.

 Quote: Robert overbeek

I agree on the vaccinations, our laws here are must have rabbie shot by 16 weeks old. That's nuts!! Eliot was sick as heck after having it. Once again thank you for your in sites.

I disagree that it's nuts. In a state with an abundance of wildlife that can carry the disease and easily come into contact with my dogs, 16 weeks is prudent IMO. Rabies is always fatal but easily preventable. While I'm definitely in favor of minimum vaccinations, parvo, distemper and rabies are all things that I WANT my dogs vaccinated for (separately) at youngish age.

I can only go by what my breeders and a few professional trainers I know have spoken with me about.. I will leave this confrontation to one with more knowledge knowledge. I KNOW it made my pup violently sick and very aggressive.

Vaccinations save lives. They aren't nuts.

Everyone should be concerned about routine over-vaccination and (perhaps) combination vaccines. The mentality of "annual shots" has been discredited long ago as bad science. But don't make the mistake of thinking that all vaccinations are bad (they aren't). OVER vaccination is bad. (This is a little bit like the double dosing on flea meds we discussed before. One dose is good. Doubling up is the problem.)

Every responsible dog owner should have their dog/pup vaccinated according to the newest protocols. After that, annual titer tests will show whether or not they are still covered, and then you will know exactly what further shots are needed, if any. I love trainers and breeders. But they aren't immunologists. Take medical and science advice from those that are.

Makes sence to me.Actually I have found it very difficult getting a straight answer when it comes to the dog world. That's exactly why I came on this site. In my short experience I have found so much ego that it really makes it hard for a person new to gsds to do what's BEST for my DOG.a simple question and I'm responded to as if I am below the person answering..I'm not referring to this thread..but in general. All I want is a healthy well behaved and happy companion...My vet gave the rabies,kennel cough and another shot..mixed injection on a 14 week old teething pup...that's what I Kent by nuts.

Awe Robert. I do feel for you. There's an ocean of information out there and a contradiction for each statement being made.

Like your experience, every dog is as different as the responses you are getting. Those "ego" responses are what they know to be true for them, what they've been taught or are their experiences. They may be right in their world but it may not work in yours, or it may. Like us, someone can be deathly allergic to peanuts and I can't shovel them down quick enough.

This is great board for bouncing those issues off of. You'll get a variety of true experience responses and some of the best medical expertise and advice there is out there, even though they humbly claim not to be experts.

Personally, we're up North, no rabies regulations but they are recommended. My guys got the puppy protocol after their initial mixed 3 way shots and that's it. We do have a tick issue in the spring and my dogs have thick coats so I choose to go at that one aggressively. Advantix in March, April and May. No heart worm issues so not something I have experience with.

A natural diet, daily life style training and exercise and we couldn't ask for healthier, happier companions.

Your eyes got opened quickly. You're off to a great start. Congrats on your new pup!