Mast Cell

[Bernershel]

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Dog's White Christmas-Happy Holidays!!!

[Sariena]

Happy Holidays to you all!!! A little bit of humour for the holidays!

Love,

Sariena Foley, Freckles Jerry Springer and my Turbo Charged Pyr girl!!



Dog's White Christmas

Dog tags ring, are you listenin'?
In the lane, snow is glistening'.
It's yellow, NOT white-I've been there tonight,
Marking up my Winter Wonderland.

Smell that tree? That's my fragrance.
It's a sign for wand'ring vagrants;
"Avoid where I pee, it's MY pro-per-ty!
Marked up as my Winter Wonderland."

In the meadow dad will build a snowman,
following the classical design.
Then I'll lift my leg and let it go Man,
So all the world will know it's mine-mine-mine!

Straight from me to the fencepost,
flows my natural incense boast;
"Stay off of my TURF, this small piece of earth,
I marked it as my Winter Wonderland.

Excellent XMAS card

[tami winner]

I wish that I could send everyone this great xmas card that a friend 
recieved online, but my computer is to slow to even view it, so I am sending 
all of you the web site to go preview this card.

http://www.jacquielawson.com

Click on the xmas cards then preview SNOWDOGS.

This is the BEST card I have ever seen. It is a huge graphic site, and I 
can't even get there from my computer. It is well worth the wait to see 
this. It will make you smile. I am still amazed at how someone can develope 
something like this online.

Have a great holiday, and hug your pups.

Tami Winner
Merced, CA




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Re: Couch Gene!

[Mike Alexander]

- Original Message -
From: "RM Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 2:12 PM
Subject: Couch Gene!


> I am looking for  better durability and something easy to clean.  Is
leather the way to go?


Hi Ruth! Sounds like Timber is living the pampered life. Sophie has recently
discovered that she can get on the couch as well (Sophie is Timber's sister
and litter mate).

My older dog, Bart, is not a Berner, but he is about the same size, and
sheds just as much. When I went looking for a new couch for my TV room a few
years ago, I mentioned to the sales people in every store that I had a large
dog that would be on it, and every one of them said the same thing -
leather. After 4 1/2 years of Bart climbing on that couch regularly, it has
held up great. Barely a mark on it anywhere.

Also, the leather is much much easier to keep free of shedding hairs. Just a
quick wipe with a cloth is all it takes.

Two years ago, I replaced the cloth furniture in my living room. With my
experience with the couch in the TV room, there was no question I was going
to be buying leather again.

Mike Alexander
Stittsville, Ont., Canada

Hip x-ray question

[JSTELMAK]

Fellow L'ers:

When my boy was 8 months old, I had preliminary hip and elbow x-rays done by 
his regular Vet.  His elbows are excellent, but both femoral heads are at a 
"very acute angle" (instead of the head turning into the socket, the head is 
a bit more vertical in the socket).  The Vet. said that he still has a lot of 
growing to do and that, possibly, the head will rotate downward.  Overall, 
the Vet thought the x-rays look good, but I could re-xray at 12 months to see 
if the head has dropped a bit.

Has anyone had any experience with hip x-rays that have "very acute angles of 
the femoral head?"  Did you re-xray at some later point to find that, indeed, 
the head dropped or rotated into the socket?  I'm curious.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Julene Stelmak
Manhattan Beach, CA

Histio study

[Angela Wagenblast]

Pat Long wrote:
>Heidi still needs
~13 control dogs and 21-27 affected with MH.

I have a kit here and will be sending in a sample from a "control dog"
soon.  - my girl Brixi who will be 11 in Feb.

Angela Wagenblast

A Belated Brag

[Kim Morrow]

I received my Dogs in Canada show results yesterday and anxiously looked up
the show results from the shows my puppy had been in during the summer
months.

As I read the results,  I discovered that not only had "Deck" Can Ch Susa's
Fifty Two Pick Up, taken 2 puppy groups and a group 4 while on trip to BC
but he also took a Group 3, beating the #2 Doberman in Canada.  What a
rush!! And all this accomplished at only 6 mos of age.

Well needless to say, it has made my day and I'll be contacting my handler
for my Group 3 rosette!

Thanks for listening.  This is my first boy from my 1st litter so seems
extra special to me.

Kim Morrow
Susa Reg'd
Saskatoon, SK
http://www.bernesedogs.com

The Great Squwak

[Eileen Morgan]

I came home from a riding lesson with Moonlight this morning, and was
stomping about the house like some sort of trooper in my dress boots and
britches, figuring I'd wolf down some lunch and ride my young horse, Belles.
Then, I heard it: an great rumpus of shrieking chickens, cackling and
hollering from the back yard. The dogs poured out of the house through the
dog door, ready for trouble of the fatal kind. Cassie scrabbled out the door
last; someone was already *in* the yard, of course, because someone was
already after the chickens in the first place, but I didn't catch who
started it. The dog area is fenced so that the dogs can't get out, but under
the deck the weave in the woven wire fence is large enough for suicidal
chickens to enter The Dog Zone.

I chased the dogs out the door, and saw Cassie had a young rooster in her
mouth, holding him by the breast with his little head and mini-comb hanging
down. Nessie the Newfie and Mic the Berner boy were in hot pursuit, with
Lliira the Pyr girl bouncing in circles and running in laps.

Enter Eileen, trying to catch Chicken Dog. She's having none of it, and with
all the other dogs zooming around, tails waving, tongues lolling, eyes
rolling, barking madly, it was sort of like trying to get a handle on a car
load of drunk circus clowns tearing around the yard. Cassie eluded my
grasping hands and made a break for the deck . . . and the dog door.

Now I had a carload of drunk circus clowns charging around the house. Lliira
was still mostly just excited about everyone else being excited, and showed
no interest in Mr. Chicken. Nessie and Mic were intent on stealing the
chicken from Cassie, who, since she was last out, either seized the chicken
from someone else or snatched it in a pincer move as someone else chased it
into her path.

We finally ended up in a heap by the downstairs bathroom door, having
flattened furniture and scatter holiday boxes in our wake. I grabbed
Cassie's collar, while she fiercely growled at Nessie, who was shoving along
the side. I bellowed, "That growl better not have been for me!" (it wasn't)
and Cassie instantly spat the chicken out, tossing him several feet in the
bargain. I put my knee in Nessie's face and shouted at her to leave the
room, while dragging a toothy Cassie (all directed at Nessie) to her crate,
which was thankfully in the back room near the bathroom. Cassie crated,
Nessie banished, Mic hovering in the living room, I head back for Mr.
Chicken, who is breathing but looking stunned and poorly. I couldn't decide
if he was just in shock or if he had been really injured (chickens can be
funny that way--they look awful and perk up when ignored, or they look
pretty good and drop dead). So, I carried Mr. Chicken out and tucked him up
in an area across the drive where they like to hang out sometimes; he'll
either bounce back with some peace, or go on to Chicken Heaven.

Just another day at The Mare's Nest.
Eileen Morgan
The Mare's Nest
http://www.enter.net/~edlehman


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Couch Gene!

[RM Johnson]

My puppy Timber (14 weeks) has just shown us that he indeed carries the 
"couch" gene!  He is napping on the couch as I type this. :-)  The 
problem is that our couch is really looking kind of worn at this point 
and I was just on the verge of replacing it.  Can someone please tell me 
if a leather couch will hold up to the wear and tear of two Berners that 
both have the "couch" gene?  Our current couch is a lazy boy with 
recliners on both ends and it is about 8 years old and has much worn 
fabric on the cherished and much coveted doggy end and it also suffers 
from a small tear at the seam on the seat cushion.  I am hesitant to 
replace this one with another fabric type couch.  I am looking for 
better durability and something easy to clean.  Is leather the way to go?

Thanks so much!

Ruth Johnson
Tundra Bernese in
Anchorage, Alaska
with Timber! 14 weeks
Terra and her 3 week old 6-pack! (All are spoken for)

http://home.gci.net/~tundrabmd/

recent losses

[jane heggen]

When I read Suzanne H's post about the Berners that have died recently I
thought "She is reading my mind."  The pain in those posts telling of best
friends leaving is like a being that jumps from the computer to heart,
reminding of past losses.  For those of us that have had time to heal, the
pain is but a small hint, the memories of joy much more powerful now.

The story of Jordon and Hesse has been inspiring, a word that falls far
short.  When I looked at Hesse's beautiful pic today I thought how lucky I
am to hear this story!  Not that the first pictures didn't just about rip my
heart out, they did.  But now, wow, what an amazing gift of healing!

I look to the corner of the love seat, Freckles' spot, where he is curled up
sleeping.  The last few days he has been in my lap whenever possible, I'm
not sure why.  He's had a rough go lately and we have had some long talks.
But, that isn't it now.  I really haven't figured it out.  But it leads me
to think of the BARC puppies, and that assures me of miracles!   The BARC
pups didn't stand a chance, if you've been to an auction you know those
words aren't used for drama, it's the plain truth.  They were quite
literally saved, in my opinion, from hell.  Thank you BARC families, from
the bottom of my heart!  To Gail Miller, who decided to rescue the most tiny
Berner pup of all, what can I say?  Think of the people that have been
touched by the choice you made...

The Bernese Mountain Dog community is quite a unique place in my mind.  It
has an intensity about it that I don't think most people experience.  You
feel each up and down, each sorrow and triumph.  You feel the rage at people
that would dare to use and hurt these dogs.  When I try to explain this to
my family and friends I can't do it, I can't paint a picture that
encompasses what it all means.  It really seems to be some sort of spiritual
bonding, but I'm unable to put my finger on it.  I just know I am a part of
it and it's something I never expected.

When I took Freckles into my home I thought it was a short term
relationship.  He sure has surprised me and Amy.  Whenever we talk about his
difficulties it is always with a "We never dreamed he'd make it, he's
amazing!"

Whether you support what BARC has done or not, I know you have all been
pulling for Freckles.  Thank you!  What a year it has been!

So, while my heart feels the pain of these losses, you are a group of people
willing to face this.  You are unwilling to miss the dance.  It's really
quite a life!

Happy Holidays to you all!

jane heggen & the boys of iowa

RE: Knee surgery at 4 months

[BMDwags]

Hi Tina-

Most orthopedic surgeons will suggest to do ACL surgical repair on a dog over 
40 pounds, and allow the knee to heal on it's own in dogs under that weight 
range.  Since a 4 month old Berner pup is in a grey area as far as weight...I 
imagine he is about 40 pounds or so already...it would need to be determined 
by a veterinary orthopedic surgeon if surgery is indeed necessary.

For instance, if a beagle tears their ACL, many vets will suggest rest and 
anti-inflammatory medication for a few weeks.  However, if it is a 'fat' 
beagle, surgery may be a better option.  If the dog is a large breed adult, 
there is typically no question that surgery is needed.  Basically, that is a 
tough decision to make for a young Berner pup.  He is going to have arthritis 
regardless of surgical intervention or not.  I suppose I would follow the 
advice of a reputable orthopedic surgeon in this particular situation.  If 
she/he suggests surgery, I suppose I would opt for that... and if they do not 
suggest surgery, I suppose I would follow that advice. 

Perhaps ask for several opinions from different ortho specialists?  Can't 
hurt to have varied opinions for such a young dog.

Let us know what happens-
Jennie Hoffnagle
Glenmoore, PA

Re: Dog Fancy - Elevated Bowls

[Eileen Morgan]

- Original Message -
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From all my research I have understood that elevated food bowls were the
way to go for >Berners.  In this months issue of Dog Fancy in the letters
section there is a letter from someone >responding to an article about
bloat.  At the end of the letter it states that elevated bowls make >the
problem worse.  Which is it?  I've been using elevated bowls thinking I'm
helping to avoid >bloat.

Old time wisdom, based on educated guesses from breeders and vets, was that
a raised bowl was something that might help prevent bloat. The Purdue Bloat
study, set up by Dr. Glickman, has demonstrated that the *opposite* is true
and that raised bowls significantly increase bloat risk. The study is
massive, tracking something close to 2,000 dogs, over many years (7 or more,
now, I think).

You can Google and find the original study info and data if you would like.
My buddies in the bio/chem science departments at Penn State looked at the
study parameters and told me it was a very well done study, so i put my
belief in science in this case.

Eileen Morgan
The Mare's Nest
http://www.enter.net/~edlehman


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A Christmas Story for Dog Lovers

[Sariena]

A Christmas Story for Dog Lovers 

Long ago in the deepest of winters all of the animals on Earth were 
abuzz with the news. 

"HE IS BORN! HE IS BORN!" cried the snowy owl. 

"Come one and all, rejoice!" roared the mighty lion. "Bring gifts to 
the new King!" 

The forest grew bright with the din of excitement. Every creature 
was running towards the star. The noise was so loud and joyful that
it traveled distant lands. In a quiet glen, under a bramble bush, a 
small lonely dog raised his head from his slumber and heard the
sounds from afar. 

He raised his little head and wondered. Slowly he raised his tired 
body and sniffed the air. He knew something was amiss - but he knew 
not what.  A voice ever so sweet was singing in the distance, this he 
could hear. The words were not at all clear, but the sound was of 
waterfalls, and misty mornings and everything dear... Eagerly he 
followed the sound and soon saw a star. 

It shone so brightly his little eyes watered. What was this shiny 
thing that happily glowed? What could be happening that would bring 
about such a lovely sight? 

His little legs beat the path for many days. He became tired and 
hungry but still he walked on. He had to follow the sound of that 
voice. The voice that reminded him of warmer and kinder times. He had 
to follow the light of the star. The star told him of happy things to 
come. At last he came into a clearing and his eyes beheld a
mystifying sight. Animals were everywhere, and each had a precious 
gift. Some brought shiny berries from the forest, some brought 
beautiful leaves, and some brought twigs from the rarest of trees and 
even some brought the most precious wildflowers of the fields. 
They were laying these gifts at the entrance of a stable. Above the 
stable the light of the star twinkled more brightly than before. 

He turned to the deer and asked: "What is all this? Where have I 
come?" 

"You have come to see the new King. He is Born. Where are your gifts 
for the child?" asked the deer reproachfully. 

"I have no gifts. I didn't know..." said the lonely little dog with 
his head hung low. 

The deer sneered and snubbed and quickly walked away as he tossed 
his head indignantly. The little dog's body trembled all over, his 
little tail flew between his little legs, and his little head hung 
lower than ever.

He was ashamed. 

And yet...he still wanted to get a little peek at the New King. 
Quietly, ever so carefully, he crept over to the stable. He was so 
small he could easily hide under the other animals. Ever so sleekly
he crept up to the manger and peeked inside. 

"WHO ARE YOU!" boomed the voice of the Lion. "WHY DO YOU DARE NOT 
BRING GIFTS FOR THE NEW KING?" and the little dog cowered, much 
humbled. He laid his little head at the foot of the manger and hid
his eyes. He was ready to be killed by the Lion, and yet he spoke
ever so quietly, ever so meekly, ever so bravely: "I have no gifts, I 
have no berries, or twigs, or bright flowers of the field...all I
have is my life and I will gladly give that, for I have shamed all my
brethren tonight." 

He waited - with his eyes closed, thinking that if he did die 
tonight, at least he would die beneath the cradle of his King. That's 
when a warm and gentle hand was upon him. He did not dare to open his 
eyes, until he heard a woman's voice speak: "Do not fear little one. 
You are safe here. This bramble in your fur speaks of the gift you 
have brought to him."  The lonely little dog opened his eyes and 
looked up at the woman. 

"But I have no gift to offer, save for myself, and that is very 
little..."he shyly protested. 

The woman smiled and scratched his ears. "Little dog, you traveled 
far to see the King. That is gift enough when it comes from your 
heart. What gift is more precious than one given in innocence and 
humility? No little one, you are welcome here." As she spoke she 
raised the little dog up. 

"Behold, your King, the Son of Man. You shall serve him well." And 
the baby smiled. So it came to pass and dog was lonely no more. 

And dog has served man ever since, loyal to a fault, and humble he 
remains. A gift from God to us, for who, but dog will travel miles 
without explanation? Who, but dog will cower from you even if he is 
not wrong? Who, but dog will take a scolding even when he is not to 
blame? Who, but dog is content to die at our feet if he so must? 

Let us care for it well. 

Author unknown 

Re: Begging!!

[Canine-Corner]

Try putting him in a sit-stay or down-stay.  reward him with his kibble- so
that "human' food is just not an option at this time.  Start with very short
sit/down-stays when there is  NO food (use voice positive praise and
petting- Berners respond very well to this!)involved and increase them...
now add distratction- when he is in a sit-stay in the kitchen, open the
refrigerator.  correct him if he gets up- by putting him back in position
exactly where you left him. praise if he stays.  This is a great time to use
a clicker! Follow through the sam eprocedure when food is involved...
My dogs lie down about 5 feet away on the "threshhold" while we eat.  The
dogs were getting too many handouts "oops" drops and spills- aswell as
becoming quite impolite! and rather bold- denying them the 'clean-up' was
going to be an up-hill battle since they very quickly learned the kids and
their chairs are great sources of a grand feast!  When we are done they get
the "OK clean up" and they rush in and get the crumbs (making just 'washing
up' of the table and chairs after a meal very easy!)
I put them in a down stay while we are at the table-
To start this "habit" I sat closest to them and they had leashes on- so that
I could make quick corrections.  In the beginning I was lucky to get a bite
of food, eventually i was able to take a few bites now we can enjoy the
whole the whole meal and rarely do I need to "remind them" to go lie down-
our Lab mix LOVES his fleece throw beds- and he LOVES food! so to re-inforce
the place he should be, we put a bed down for him there.

Here's an exerpt from my obedience classes homework-(i have actually
'combined several weeks of homework here to give you the BIG picture- w/
some explanation that normally is given in class- hope it's coherent!)


LONG SIT/DOWN/STAY: With your dog sitting in HEEL position, sit/down your
dog. Give the command "STAY" with hand signal same as week 1.   If he
*begins* (including thinking about it!) to get up, apply gentle
pressure -down and back, on his shoulder blades -for a down; gentle lift
head up and back w/ leash as demonstrated in class for a sit, repeat STAY
firmly- but smile when you say it (your dog is learning something knew, and
you want to be clear and nice not something to make your dog fear).  (which
is why you should avoid using the  word NO during training... it is very
difficult to say it without sounding cross- and NO can mean so many
things...- instead give a specific command; off/down/sit/leave it...)
Goal: 10 minutes.  Do the same exercise while sitting in a chair next to
your dog (watch TV, read.but be ready to correct!)
the quicker you correct, the quicker your dog will learn what you want.
Goal: 40 minutes!  Release your dog with O.K.  Remember start slow.10
seconds twice to five minutes once, and then increase daily by 2-4 minutes.
(Eventually you pivet in front of your dog; then increase the distance and
the time alternately; and add distractions...)
·  Long sits and downs are useful in gaining control over your dog.  If
your dog is a pacer, gets underfoot when you're preparing a meal, or
believes that everyone who comes to the house has come to see him, use a
long sit or down.  HOWEVER you must be ready to enforce it, place the dog in
position, and correct should he get up, before you release him.  In the
beginning don't expect him to remain in position for any great length of
time.  This is new should he break position before you release, and you don'
t correct, you won't get far with this method.Don't give the command just to
hear yourself say it! Gently help him back in position and give the stay
command firmly.  If he breaks force him into position and give a firmer
stay. not louder, your dog may be many things; deafness is probably not one
of them.  Try to anticipate your dog getting up.  Correct squirms, verbally
or physically by putting him back into position.If he's broken several
times, put him back into position for 15 seconds (or less if you didn't make
it that far) and release WHILE HE IS STILL IN POSITION!!!   Eventually your
dog will do this with distractions, like bouncing balls, kids running about,
someone coming to the door, food dropping on the floor.REMEMBER:  SIT/DOWN &
*STAY* means just that-insist upon it if you gave the command.

Good Luck!
Hope this helps.
~Rebecca (owned by Bernese since 1989)
Canine-Corner "from hair to heel"
Grooming & Training
Red Hook, NY

and/or
Mid-Hudson Kennel Association, Ltd.
Referral Chair/Instructor


"A DOG IS THE ONLY RELATIVE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE SO CHOOSE
WISELY!"



- Original Message -
From: "Karen McFarlane" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Berner List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 11:18 AM
Subject: Begging!!


> Hi to All,
> Could some of you please give me some tips about begging. Since I have
been
> trying Stevie on some new foods, he has turned into a begging machine. How
> does one safely bu

Hesse

[Jordan S. Dill]

Hello all...Hesse continues his recovery and now is looking for trouble:

  

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Dog Fancy - Elevated Bowls

[muffa1]

>From all my research I have understood that elevated food bowls were the way to go 
>for Berners.  In this months issue of Dog Fancy in the letters section there is a 
>letter from someone responding to an article about bloat.  At the end of the letter 
>it states that elevated bowls make the problem worse.  Which is it?  I've been using 
>elevated bowls thinking I'm helping to avoid bloat.

RE: Puppy Leash Training

[Rose Tierney]

Hi,
Your puppy is still very much a baby puppy at ten weeks and in a more
natural setting a mother dog would not allow her youngsters to stray too
far from home. Breeders observe their puppies' world expanding in leaps and
bounds as they mentally mature and their inquisitiveness grows. Nonetheless
any scarey experience will have them going back to the source of comfort
and security. I do not think a ten week old needs to be going far from home
on the leash. Going for a car ride to Puppy Kindergarten and being taken
for visits to neighbours kids and dog friendly houses is great. I don't
take my puppies out into the big world of traffic and smelly car exhausts
until they are a bit older, usually after they have had all their
vaccinations. My Wilma is going for her final shots today and has a date at
PetsMart on the weekend, at sixteen weeks her world has got bigger and she
is ready for more stimulation. Rather like an eight year old she is willing
to try things out but will still hug up to me when she is tired or not
liking something and expects me to protect her. A ten week old puppy is
rather like a two year old toddler, sure she can walk but not too far and
can we keep it somewhere fun:-)

All the best

Rose Tierney
-Original Message-
From: Jay C. Maddox [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: December 17, 2002 11:46 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Puppy Leash Training


Hello All,
I've been reading the Berner digests for a few months now, as I am the
new owner of a Berner pup, Hadley, who is 10 weeks old.  I have a
question regarding leash training.
Hadley is doing great...she can already sit, stay and come.  She is
basically very good on a leash, but we run into problems on our morning
and evening walks from our house.  We live on a busy street, so we cross
the street on our walks to get to a dead-end street that is much more
quiet.  Walking away from the house is a real hassle.  Hadley clearly
doesn't like to leave her house/yard.  Once we're on our dead-end
street, she'll more often than not, park herself and start whimpering.
 I have her on a flexi-lead and will walk to the end of it...she will
come for a treat, but will once again sit in the middle of the street
and whimper.  Often she will beg to be picked up and carried.  I've
taken to "waiting her out", giving her encouragment when she finally
gets off her behind and heads in the right direction, but she can be
stubborn.  I don't want to make walks tramatic for her or drag her down
the street, but she seems like a real homebody.  The walk home is a
joy...and she often breaks into a trot as we get closer to the house.
 If I drive her in the car somewhere (like my workplace), she behaves
perfectly on her leash - it is more of a neighborhood issue.  I think,
perhaps, she sees our yard (11 acres) as a much more "fun" place than
walking on a lousy dead-end street (I should note that we are walking on
a paved street, as much of our 11 acres is now mud and lake after 12
inches of rain during the last week).  I certainly don't expect her to
be perfect at this stage, but does anyone have any suggestions for a
stubborn walker?
Thanks,
Jay Maddox & Hadley
Santa Rosa, CA

What does MS in dogs look like?

[Nell Ward]

In digest 4184 Patti wrote:  Was reading your post about 
Decker,...and just wondered what MS in a dog
"looks like" and how it is diagnosed.  I have never heard of it 
before, but always said that our Berner Holly behaved like a person 
with MS.  You've got my curiosity peaked!

Patti, my dog Sunny was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy 
(canine equivalent of MS) more than two years ago and I have written 
many summaries for the Berner-L.  I think there are many 
manifestations of the disease, just like there are many conditions 
called cancer.  I know of several Berners with this condition.   It 
is an auto-immune disease that causes the myelin sheath of the spinal 
cord to degenerate.  There are a host of neurological signs.

Patt Wiegand and I often compare notes.  Most dogs, including Decker, 
are most effected in their rear.  Some progress to using wheels to 
get around or even drag themselves with their front legs.  Sunny's 
first symptoms were in his rear legs but now he is worse in the 
front.  He drags his front feet and wears the skin off the top of his 
feet.  He wears boots when he goes outside.  Yes, he does have 
trouble getting up and he is starting to drag his rear feet.  Sunny 
has no trouble with incontinence that many DM dogs do.  Sunny is 
burdened by the cold and we are careful to let him back in quickly 
and sometimes cover him.  Decker is improved when the cold is cold 
and is able to decrease his medications when it is cold.

Sunny's beautiful walk is gone (people that see him plodding along 
think he has arthritis) but his wonderful smile is intact.  This 
morning he jumped his front legs up onto our bed for the first time 
in years.  He used to climb one leg at a time.  He is healthier this 
year than last.  We thought it was a miracle that he went on our 
Christmas trip back to KY and IN last year and now he is going again 
this year.  What a blessing he is.

Here are some links.  For more do a google search.
http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm
http://www.petsurgery.com/degenerativemyelopathy.htm
http://spanna.homestead.com/Index.html

Sunny is doing really well.  His treatments include acupuncture, 
Chinese energy medicine, massage, BARF diet, exercise, natural 
hydrocortisone, and various supplements.  What's working.  I don't 
know but I am not willing to try eliminating treatments.

Best wishes with Holly.

Nell

--
Nell and John Ward  -- [EMAIL PROTECTED]
New Bern, North Carolina
Sunshine - 8.5 y.o. male Bernese Mountain Dog, CGC
Pilgrim - 5.75 year old male Bernese Mountain Dog CGC/TDI
In memory of Merlin (Berner), Kasey Anne (Aussie), and Sasha (Amer. Eskimo)

RE: Begging!!

[Rose Tierney]

Hi Karen,
If anyone at anytime has given him a treat while eating he has learned that
this is community feeding time at the trough:-) From now on this stops and
he is totally ignored. If he is being a pest during meal times boot him out
into the garden before he realises the humans are being fed! Don't give in
to him once, no treats cos he looks cute no treats unless he has performed
a command or trick for you and then don't be doing that and munching
yourself. I find with my young dogs that if I growl at them when they think
they can scrounge they back off, remember you are the leading bitch and you
don't give him the food off your plate. If you have leftovers save them for
his breakfast. He is doing the equivalent of the bratty child in the
supermarket doing the "I wants!" and mothers know what happens if they give
in to that too often! Dogs are quick learners and pretty astute teachers,
they realise quickly that as puppies we humans are mush but you have to
start out as you mean to go on. I would not be nagging him with the word
"No" but turn away from him and do not make eye contact though a hard
haughty stare with stiff shoulders and then a disdainful turnaway works
wonders:-) Dogs are far more affected by our postures than the verbal "blah
blah blah" they hear:-)

Rose

RE: SARDS

[Rose Tierney]

Dear Carol,
There is no need to feel uncomfortable going back to the first specialist
to discuss your drug changes. All you need say is that in your desire to
seek as much information about your dog's condition you sought a second
opinion and this alternative drug was suggested that your regular vet
preferred. Smile sweetly and say "I do hope that is okay" and remember its
your dollar on the table:-)

Be sure that it was the second specialist who refused to take your case and
not some front desk person with their own interpretation of policy! If you
want another unbiased opinion contact Dr. David Wilkie at Ohio State
University, he is the opthalmologist that travels to my area for clinics
and he is extremely knowledgable and talks straight.

Rose Tierney

Hugo update (had second disc surgery last Saturday)

[iguanalove]

I really appreciate the kind letters of support from everyone.  I spoke to
the head surgeon who did the April disc surgery and he said in 16 years of
practice, he's never seen a second disc go out on a large breed dog.  So the
other younger surgeon didn't realize it was only dachshunds who are known to
have a potential for reoccurrence (15%).   But here is the difficult part.
I asked him if he fenestrated the disc in question at the April surgery and
he thought he probably did but couldn't access the records at the moment.
Today I got the records and there's no mention of it that I can see, whereas
I can clearly see that this younger surgeon Saturday did fenestrate the next
disc over to avoid having this occur again.

To explain this a little for anyone who is interested -- when one neck disc
ruptures (the first was between c6-c7), there is the danger that later the
next one (between c5-c6) will be affected by the pressure so they make a
small hole in it as an escape valve.  On Saturday the younger surgeon worked
on c5-c6 and then fenestrated c4-c5.  But last April, there's nothing in the
chart to show that the head surgeon (who is quite good) fenestrated c5-c6.
That is disappointing because it raises the question if he had, perhaps we
would not be putting Hugo through this second surgery 8 months later.

Boy, I know more about this stuff than I ever wanted to know!

Hugo is still in the hospital there.  Not much appetite (very unusual for
him).  He'll sit up in a sternum position but not stand yet.  Our house is
very lonely and quiet without him.

Donna and Hugo, SoCal