Hello everyone, I have found this forum very useful in the last 2 months since we brought our yellow male lab - Max.
However we have experienced a few problems and I need some advise! Max is a 5 month old yellow lab and we got him from a gun dog breeder for a family pet. He has always been quiet for a puppy (believe it or not!) out of the three males we looked at he was the most laid back, even the breeder commented that he was really chilled! However this has made it difficult to work out if he is ok health wise as he does not bounce about all the time as most other puppies seem to do! He is currently recovering from Juvinile Impetigo and has been on a course of tablets and now the shampoo, he went back to the vets monday and they said that it has cleared up however he is still scatching a lot - Is this normal?

I am feeding him twice a day with Nutro for the large puppy the vet informed us that he was starting to look overweight so we have cut the food back a bit, but he now has blood in his stools (two days now) Do I go back to the vet?

Also he has started to limp sometimes when we walk him (we take him on two to three little walks a day) we think he may have stepped on some glass or a thorn although we can't see any damage. He is also very lazy until we meet someone on a walk and then he picks up!

Sorry for all the questions but I am realy worried as I love him to bits but feel I may be overeacting to every thing! - by the way he has now started sneezing (yesterday) is that nornmal?!

Kate S

Dear Kate
I would advise you to definitely take Max back to the vet. If there is blood in the stools, he is limping slightly and beginning to sneeze it would be good to get your worries alleviated and take him to the vet to have him checked over.
Good luck
Van

I have recently had trouble with feeding Nutro LB puppy and had to come off of it. I now feed Burns. When I rang nutro they said they had never had the problem before but I like you had dogs with blood in the stools.
You don't say how far you are walking Max but my pups do not go out apart from for socialising at 5 mths. This would only be 5 - 10 minutes outside the shops or a park etc to meet new people and smell different things. The exercise Max gets in the garden at the moment is probably fine and definately enough for a pup of this age.
John will be a long soon and he wil help you further

Hi Kate

I would get Max back to see the vet. If he seems rather lazy then he may not be firing on all cylinders and this needs to be investigated. It may be nothing but I would go especially as he has blood in his stools.

The vet can also have a look to see if it is a cut or a thorn or some sort of muscle or ligament damage. If it is he will more than likely need a lot of rest as he may well have been having a bit too much excercise as he is still a baby really.

Let us know how you get on.

Lucy

Thank you for the replies above. I took Max back to the vet on friday and he now has antibiotics for the stools problem, it cleared up straight away and he is now back to normal in that department. However he is back at the vets today as the vet thinks his shoulders are stiffer than they should be so I am now waiting for news of his x rays I am really worried now but know that hei is in the best hands - I just hate leaving him, the look on his face was heartbreaking. I will post what the vet sayes when I know

Kate

Dear kate
I am so glad that you took Max back to the vet, please let us know how he gets on and I wish you and him the best of luck for the x-rays
Van

Well, I collected Max from the vets yesterday and the vet has assured me that he has not got anything serious the limping is due to slight problems with his growth plates between the bones in his front legs. The problem is due to him growing too quickley and the bones not keeping up - so now he is on a controled diet so he doesn't eat too much. Apparently he weighs 23kg!! although he does not look fat. I am relieved that this will sort itself out with a controlled diet and excersise.

Many Thanks for all your words of wisdom

Kate