I am just back from Tillys first vaccinations and had an interesting time with the vet. I think the vet I saw was actually a young student that has progressed enough to deal with vaccinations - either that or I am getting old and everyone looks too young to work yet!!

So she told me not to microchip Tilly until 6 months when it would be done while she was under for spaying as it is so painful. Now I have had 2 cats and a dog microchipped and none of them had a problem and were certainly not in lots of pain (well no more than a normal vaccination pain). I was also surprised at spaying at 6 months as I had heard 2 years for dogs especially the larger breeds. I pointed out that as soon as she was fully vaccinated at 12 weeks we would be taking her out so if we followed her advice we would have the time between 12 weeks and 6 months with no microchip and what would happen if she got lost.

After that discussion she asked what Tilly was eating/drinking. I replied she has water available 24 hours a day and she was on 4 feeds of a small handful of kibble with meat, cheese or eggs added. I added that we hadn't started her on bones yet but we would be once I could find some that were suitable as I wanted to move onto a meaty bones and raw diet. Well she kicked off at that. Apparently I am putting my puppy at risk by giving her raw meat and I should only be feeding her complete food to avoid worms, choking and various bacterial infections. She also thought that even though her weight was fine that I may be over feeding her. It was at this point that I told her that I was feeding her exactly what the breeder and various bullmastiff books had told me to feed her and she was obviously trhiving on it as she has gained weight since I have had her and is looking in great condition.

I was going to ask about flea tratments for Tilly while I was there. I cant remember how old they have to be before I can start - not that she has fleas but as I have 2 cats that go outside there is a possibility that although they are treated that we could get fleas. I didn't dare ask though as I was worried it would start another lecture!

a different vet is needed me thinks :-)
I would ask for a senior vet to do the micro chipping.
Don't get her spayed at 6 months unless there is a problem, speak to and follow your breeders advice.
Also I haven't met a vet that agrees with raw feeding, but they all wanted to sell me the very expensive stuff that they stock???
My YOUNG vet also mentioned that my girl was slightly on the heavy side as she was loosing the waist line definition, when actually my puppy was so young she was only just getting a waistline LOL (I just ignored it and now she is a beautiful shape at 14 months)
Paula xx

See a different vet.

Hundreds of thousands of puppies are chipped from 6 weeks upwards throughout the Uk every year, what poppycock that it hurts too much and should be done under GA.

Why do we chip them? To make sure if they are stolen or go missing they can be traced, why should your pup be unprotected for 6 months? Go back and see a different vet, one with his/her brain in gear!

Spaying should be done after the first season and midway to the second, doing it at 6 months runs the risk of incontinence, bet she didn't mention that.

Complete puppy food does give a dog everything they need, but nothing wrong with BARF feeding, we also part BARF feed our dogs. Get your best advice from your breeder and others in your breed, sometimes vets are pushing the food that they have a deal with.

Puppy needs wormer and flea treatment, a MUST go back and get some, vet prescribed kills everything egg, larve the lot from other stores they don't, so please go back for those.

See a different vet though or change practice, this one doesn't know there arm from their elbow. :-(

Puppy needs wormer and flea treatment, a MUST go back and get some, vet prescribed kills everything egg, larve the lot from other stores they don't, so please go back for those.

Tilly is up to date on Wormer so no worries there. I have frontline in the house plus they gave me a free smaple in our vets puppy pack I just am not sure what age to give it to her as it doesn't seem to say on the info I have (dont have the box).

This vet is actually the one we moved to as our old vet was terrible. They seem to have alot of students there though but with my old dog she was so ill when we moved her to them that we didn't see anyone but the senior vets or specialists.

She did seem keen on the vets food so maybe it was a badly phrased sales pitch. As to the microchipping I have just called them back on that and Tilly can have it at her 12 weeks jabs but if I wait till and have it done at 6 months and get her spayed at the same time I get a discount. I will not be taking that offer up. Tilly can wait until she has had a season I am not risking bladder issues before she is spayed and I want microchipped before then!

So it seems that she was just bad at talking to people and couldn't clearly put across her points (or sales pitches!)

I've told this story many a time on here (and had my own vet collapse in laughter when I told her!). 5 years ago when I was chipping a litter of my own pups (6 weeks of age -I have even chipped tiny Papillon puppies at 5 weeks -smaller than guinea pig size!) I accidentally fired the gun and chipped my own thumb. I didn't feel it! Didn't notice a thing until I saw blood dripping. The needle is deliberately made so sharp that it doesn't hurt, just like cutting yourself with a blunt knife would hurt a lot more than cutting yourself with a really sharp one.

The Papillon puppies I chipped at 5 weeks didn't even notice the chipping, but they screamed when vaccinated a few weeks later!

I wonder if these vets would pay their clients damages if a puppy less than 6 months old is lost or stolen and cannot be found due to not being microchipped?!

>The needle is deliberately made so sharp that it doesn't hurt,

It can be very variable. A few weeks ago we chipped an 8 week Clumber spaniel puppy, and he yelled the place down, and didn't stop crying loudly for half an hour! We had to ask his owner to sit with him in the reception while we dealt with their other dog's booster, nail clipping etc so that other clients could see that we weren't torturing anything in the consulting room! I've never known such an extreme reaction - usually it's just a squeal.

    >The needle is deliberately made so sharp that it doesn't hurt,

It can be very variable.

How dogs REACT, yes -not if the needle is sharp or not I'd hope! I bet that Clumber pup would also have screamed by something else simple -one of my paps for instance will scream if his ears are groomed or if his scruff is grabbed.

I really think that some of these young vets are being brain washed at uni. they are then launched onto the general population of animal lovers with missionary zeal - time to push their ignore button I think.

> I bet that Clumber pup would also have screamed by something else simple -

He didn't react at all to his vaccination injection.

I really think that some of these young vets are being brain washed at uni. they are then launched onto the general population of animal lovers with missionary zeal - time to push their ignore button I think

I took my GSD for boosters recently (because he goes in kennels). I was a few weeks late and this "slip of a girl" told me I should start again as the kennels wouldn't accept him if I didn't (they did). She then examined him, told me he had a broken canine (which I knew) and that he should have it removed in case it became infected (I declined).
She then asked when I was having him castrated. When I told her I wasn't she gave up and obviously labelled me as a hopeless case.
Felt as if I'd been through the inquisition - all I wanted was a booster!

> I was also surprised at spaying at 6 months as I had heard 2 years for dogs especially the larger breeds.

Yes definately NOT 6 months unless there is a very very good reason...you are right in your thinking...2 years is a much better age....these large breeds need to mature physically and mentally and 6 months is a terrible thing to advise...but unfortunately most vets do!

As for the feeding, i feed raw and have yet to meet a vet that thinks its a good way to feed...most fully recommend the food on their shelf!

Dont think i would want to see that vet again :)

I would print out researrch details of " Early Spay/Neuter" and hand them in at the vets, those sex hormones influence more than just reproduction.

I think all vets are programmed to go through the same info at the pups first visit with it's new owner, mainly things which mean they make more money, my old vet was in the habit of expressing the anal glands of puppies that went there,this meant they needed to go back regularly to get it done in the future too, I would watch them like a hawk after hearing this and have since gone elsewhere.

The vet used by Rhuari's breeder wouldn't microchip till 6 months either, they were in a very quiet area of the country, the vet back home did it for me at 10 weeks old, not a peep out of him or any of the others that have been done since, got Lincoln done at a show at half the vet price.

I don't use frontline any more but I think it can be used from 4 weeks old, check online

Hope your next visit goes better.

A puppy buyer i had a few years ago i told her to wait untill their girl was about 18 months old before she should be spayed (same breed) but they had a intact male in the house as well and their vet put the fear of god into them about how their boy would react to a bitch in season, he basicially told them he would turn on them if he was not allowed near the bitch and they would have to kennel him for about 9 weeks if they wanted to keep him away from the gir so on the vets advice she was spayed at 6 months before her first season. I got a phone call when the bitch was 18 months old asking advice because she had started wetting herself, i suggested they bring her to my vets and i would join them, my vet said it was spay incontinence that was the problem.
The owners were never told of this risk by their own vet and changed vets over to the one i use in the end because they had lost all beliefe in their own. Bullmastiffs are a slow maturing breed and 6 months is way too young i persoanlly recomend about 18 months or at least 2 seasons.

Hi Kesmai, I too have a Bullmastiff (a male though) my little guy was chipped at 8 weeks without any issues and didn't even flinch. He is 23 weeks old this weekend and currently weighs 31kgs.......he looks lean and healthy and the vet saw him only last week for his 5 month worming check and weigh.......we started worming at 8 weeks, even though we have since been told it should have been 3/4 weeks.......but still we have had no ill effect. With regards to flea treatment he was given Frontline from our vets at 12 weeks old and we treat him with the little pippet of frontline on the 21st of each month ........we have been feeding him 3 meals a day to start with Proplan Robust Puppy dry food and recently after recommedations from wonderful Bullie breeders on here he how has Freeflow Chicken and Tripe raw meat with a handful of the proplan and a raw chicken wing as a mid afternoon treat..we will be reducing to 2 meals a day from about 6 months........he loves it......I too feel that you need a change of Vet !!.........I am by no means an expert as this too is my first Bullmastiff but please feel free to contact me with regards to what we have done ( or not) as we are about 14/15 weeks ahead of you !.........oh ! we have also been advised not to have his neutered until at least 9/12 months as they don't mature as quick as the smaller breeds.........Hope this helps ?

Kim
x

I agree with you NOva I think some of our newly qualified vets are listening to hard to the sales pitches and obviously dont have the experience to do other than follow the book . Dont think it applies necessarily just to vets either.  I guess uit swings and roundabouts somethings improve with newly qualified people other things dont.
I will say I have been lucky with my vets and have never had aproblem with raw feeding and their opinon. Most in our practice , I seen a few vets having been there for 25 years either are happy to leave me to it commenting on how healthy my dogs are or  are intrigued with the idea. Except one vet nurse who was convinced my slightly portly chi x(after spaying puts on weight so easily) should be on a vet diet and was horrified when I politely refused the offer of her diet plan.

i am one of the lucky ones my vet shows border collies and also does hemopathic, accupunture, ultrasound and heat treatments, t touch. she also owns the practice and says she has to lay the law down to new vets about set ideas, were there lately and young vet said my dog was under weight she was dispensing medicine and heard my voice and my reply and popped her head around the curtain and informed young vet no that dog is at the correct weight all the rest you must have seen are overweight she shows and her dogs are kept at the correct weight, she chipped my pups in january when she gave them the first jab and general health check(pups where 8 weeks christmas eve and so stayed until the first full weekend of january) she puts food on the table for the pups to eat while she jabs and chips them and not a sqeak was heard of any of the seven

They don't seem to have them anymore but about 10 years back my Vets used to use foreign recently qualified people, took a dog up with a 'hotspot' she used to get them occasionally if she saw a flea which only happened very rarely!

He told us the best thing was to use a 'flea' smoke bomb in the house

The receptionist was a neighbour so when we went out I asked her 'where the **** they got him from'.
South Africa - why? what has he said this time. she then went in to 'sort him out AGAIN'
Chris

> With regards to flea treatment he was given Frontline from our vets at 12 weeks old and we treat him with the little pippet of frontline on the 21st of each month ........

My dogs have not been flea treated for almost 5 years, and I have not seen a flea in all that time.  I do have Fronline spray in stock "just in case", but honestly wonder why people use a chemical into the bloodstream on a monthly basis.  I find it hard to beleive that the majority of dogs really need this, unless they live with cats perhaps.

But then, a lot of you know my opinion on frequent worming, especially knowing results from faecal samples sent to the lab.

Here here jeansw my thoughts exactly

> But then, a lot of you know my opinion on frequent worming, especially knowing results from faecal samples sent to the lab.

I used to live in the US...there it is a routine part of most vet visits to bring a faecal sample to check for evidence of worms before giving a worming treatment....
My first dog here in the UK...I took her in with poo sample in hand...I said here ya go...they looked at me like I was nuts...

I think it is a good idea and only takes a few minutes...

I find it hard to beleive that the majority of dogs really need this, unless they live with cats perhaps.

My dogs live with a very large number of cats and none of them -cats or dogs -have fleas, and none are ever treated for it. :) I too don't like using chemicals for no reason.

one of my paps for instance will scream if his ears are groomed

LOL I thought I had the world's biggest softy, I can't begin to strip his ears and even trying to scissor them he starts to shriek

My daughter has an 11 wk old cross breed bitch, she had her first vaccination at 7wks, never made a sound, at 8wks she was microchipped, screamed the place down and then 2nd vaccination at 10 wks old, not a sound again..is fully wormed up to date..the breeder wormed mum from day 40 to 2 days after whelping. She is lovely little pup, very happy and talks to us all the time. She is going to be spayed as this is what my daughter wants..however the vet has said to take her in for spaying between 4 and 5mths of age..surely this isnt right????

Our JR girl(now aged 10) was done after her 1st season by our old vet and she had no problems at all.
Im a bit concerned as this pup is very small aswell.

So she told me not to microchip Tilly until 6 months when it would be done while she was under for spaying as it is so painful.

I have met people who have been told the same thing. I always chip as soon as the dogs come into my care (so 8-10 weeks) and have never had any problem.

I was also surprised at spaying at 6 months as I had heard 2 years for dogs especially the larger breeds.

1-2 years is how long I would leave it....I personally would not spay under 12 months (medium breed) 2 years (large).

Well she kicked off at that. Apparently I am putting my puppy at risk by giving her raw meat and I should only be feeding her complete food to avoid worms, choking and various bacterial infections.

Some vets do think like this and I do think it depends on the vet. Its purely a personal preference as to raw feed or not.

I would look around for another vet. Though not agreeing with raw feeding would not put me off a vet however all those points combined would make me worry.

Good luck.

I would never spay a bitch before the first season, and it's best left until they're at least 18 months old so they can fully mature.

Change vet... dont spay until 18 months, and get her micro chipped.

Mum has just put Draco over to raw feeding this week and our vet hates the idea, some go straight into raw but id hold off until the puppy was about 6 months as they have delicate tummies. Vets are like our GP's so 9 times out of 10 they are really only good for simple treatments but more unusual cases they have to ask outside experts, they are also 99% unaware of breed specific problems like ear infections in Bullmastiffs as they have floppy ears, I was talking last weekend to a very old and respected breeder within our breed about general skin problems and teenage spots and he reeled off lots of information.

Now Draco our youngest Bullmastiff has blown his coat and has developed teenage spots, the vet warbled about how rare it was etc etc I laughed and said I spoke to someone and they suggested a course of antibiotics at the Bullmastiff League show and that it was infact very common more common that people realise, infact there is a dobaman in out ringcraft doing the same thing. The vet said the breeder didnt know what they were talking about I looked at him and said the breeder knew what it was within 2 minutes you took 10 weeks to diagnose it and then he had to send samples away.

Becasue to took 10 weeks to get sorted Draco got a secondary skin infection and he is now out of the ring until Junior, I am pretty miffed at the vet as he shouldnt have let it get so bad, 10 visits of constant poking at the vets before they took it seriously.

Questionable vet