Good morning everyone. My name is Cat (short for Cathy) and I am owned by a beautiful 7 month old Pr named Angel. I've been having some minor problems with her that I'm hoping someone can help me out with. The chewing thing I can deal with (we didn't REALLY need that love seat after all), it's food issues that have me concerned and possible health issues related to the food.
My husband got Angel for me as a Christmas gift. I had been longing for a Pyr for quite some time, so she was a welcomed surprise. I had done plenty of homework and her breeder is a very reputable lady with excellent bloodlines in her Pyrs.
Angel was 17 weeks and weighed in at about 46# when she arrived. The breeder told us to keep her on the Iam's large puppy, original flavored food for 2 yrs. She also gets a cooked egg every morning and a cooked chicken liver very evening. She HATES the food! She will eat the "special" food in the morning and evening, but forget the dry food.
I have also had to take her to the vet every 2 weeks (5 visits in 10 weeks). All for minor problems. First dermatitis, then a problem with her left front leg that my vet feels was a strain, then a hot spot, then a re-check on her bald behind (we were ALL very happy when the "funnel" could come off"). She has been on antibiotics twice and anti-inflamatories once with injections of each twice respectively.
Additionally, she is now only up to 56.4# (she's gained about half of what the breeder said she would), which doesn't seem to be in keeping with the growth rate for her breed. I worried that it might be the h/w preventative and/or the fle/tick preventative causing the skin problems so ave taken her off Flarabits (sp?) and Front Line Plus and switched her to Revolution.
All in all, she is a happy, healthy, beautiful girl but I think I need to find a food she will eat that is good for her. Her breeder does health guarentee her dogs as long as they are kept on the Iam's or Pedigree, due to cancer causing additives in most other foods. However, like a child with some problems we are beyond attached to this girl and would not give her up.
I keep the Genomiacine spray handy as well as the Bitter Apple and a sharp look out for any potential hot spots lurking. I've begun adding olive oil (of which the vet heartily agreed) to her food and have mixed her daily treats in her dry food to entice her to eat something. Her coat (what's not been shaved off) is beautiful and silky. My vet says she's a perfect example of the breed and that the breeder knows her "stuff", so I know these are just minor issues that can be corrected. I'm just hoping someone has an answer out there, other than raw meat!
Look forward to some answers~
Cat and Angel
Cat
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