Best/Worst liked Dog Breeds

[Diomedes]

here's a well done piece on coyotes

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/science/28coyotes.html

[Sgt PSN]

I see at least a dozen of them on a daily basis roaming the desert.  They aren't a huge "problem" where I live because the population isn't that great, but in and around LA it seems like there's a story on the news at least once a month (give or take) about someone's chihuahua getting plucked out of their backyard by one of them.  I consider chihuahuas to be a nuisance anyway, so I appreciate the coyote's efforts to reduce the population. 

[rjs246]

My dog has some sort of cyst or growth in her ear. It's the size of a walnut, doesn't cause her pain when I squeeze it and smells like rotting testicle meat.

Diagnose it for me so I don't have to take her to the vet tomorrow.

[Sgt PSN]

Sounds like some sort of cyst or growth to me.  Probably in her ear. 

[rjs246]

You had me until 'probably'. Then I knew you weren't for realsies.

[Sgt PSN]

Whatevs. 

[Eagles_Legendz]

Chows are by far my favorite.

[smeags]

The thing I didn't know before we got ours was that they are pretty smart dogs.  This one is way more keen than the boxer.

you aren't kidding, i seriously thought of changing otis' name to retard but i was told that's insensitive.

[SD]

My dog has some sort of cyst or growth in her ear. It's the size of a walnut, doesn't cause her pain when I squeeze it and smells like rotting testicle meat.

Diagnose it for me so I don't have to take her to the vet tomorrow.

They aren't painful and probably never will be. You have two options...well 3 really:
1. Take your dog to the vet, have them drain it. Probably cost you some coin
2. Leave it be
3. Drain it yourself with a razor blade

When I was a teenager my Golden Lab had one and we had it drained. They aren't life threatening or something that is going to spread. It probably formed from your dog shaking it's head too much .

[Sgt PSN]

WTF is Rusty doing to his dog that she keeps shaking her head no so much? 

[General_Failure]

Asking her if she watches The Wire.

[PhillyPhreak54]

My dog has some sort of cyst or growth in her ear. It's the size of a walnut, doesn't cause her pain when I squeeze it and smells like rotting testicle meat.

Diagnose it for me so I don't have to take her to the vet tomorrow.

Peculiar smell, that rotten testicle meat.

[smeags]

so otis started barking like crazy last night in our bedroom, i go in to see what the hell his issue is and there he is barking at his reflection in the mirror.  

my only problem with this was i wasn't high at the time so i could really appreciate the moment.

[lurking wierdo]

Speaking of dog food....

Several years ago my vet recommended putting my dog on a more "natural" diet and suggested I try Nature's Variety.  They have canned and dry food along with frozen meat patties and a few other products that you can use to feed your pet.  My dog farging loved the Instinct products as they are entirely natural, made up of meat and vegetables.  Most common dog foods have wheat and other grains serving as the main ingredient which is not part of a dog's natural, instinctive diet.

The dry food isn't cheap, but not overly expensive either.  About $50 for a 40lb bag, which would usually last my dog about a month...give or take.  The canned food is a little on the pricey side and I would buy that and add about 1/4 can of food per day with his dry chow.  The frozen food is expensive and was something I gave to him when I had a few bucks to spare and I'd use it more like a treat rather than just a meal. 

The company is a good company though and takes their product pretty seriously.  There is currently a recall on some of their products, but it was a self inflicted recall that they initiated once they realized there was a problem.  In the 4 years or so I used them though I never had a problem with it.   

I started my dog on this stuff later in his life and after about a week I noticed an increase in his energy and activity, not to mention that his dookies were healthy dookies and I can't recall him having any serious mudd butt after he made the switch.  Anyway, take it for what it's worth.  If nothing else, there's other companies out there who make all natural dog food that would be worth checking out.  The stuff is so much better for your dog than Purina or Science Diet or any other common brand. 

When I got my puppy 3 years ago I took her to the vet and asked him about this:
http://www.dogguide.net/raw-diet-basics.php
He was a brand new vet about 25 years old. He said: "well since this office sells "X" brand (I can't remember what it was) I am supposed to say that Brand X is the only thing you should feed your pet." However he continued, "I can't comment on your diet as I have not researched it, but both my parents are Vets in New Mexico and this is the diet they feed their 11 dogs". Well that sold me. I am happy to say my dog has been eating "raw" since I have had her and she is healthy and well fed.

[smeags]

my dogs get old roy