How We Do Leg Quarters

2016 Blizzard

This was only a few months ago, now we have heat.

GIARDIA

GIARDIA & COCCIDIA
Both Giardia and Coccidia are common protozoan infestations which I call invaders. Both have the same clinical symptoms, which is why I recommend that you treat both one after the other. I feel Coccidia should be treated for 14-21 days with Sulfadimethoxine (Albon) and Giardia should be treated for 5 days with Fenbendazole (Safeguard). If your first choice of treatment works then great you have solved the issue, if not proceed with the treatment plan, but please always consult with your veterinarian and/or an educated breeder/owner before medicating your dog.

WHAT IS GIARDIA AND WHO DO I ASK?

An invasion (infection) of microscopic parasitic protozoan (single celled organisms) that cling to the surface of the intestine, and/or floats around free in the mucous lining the intestine of dogs, humans, and other animals. A dog can be diagnosed with Giardia by either clinical or fecal evaluation by a veterinarian or an educated breeder.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AS WELL AS WHAT HARM/RISK ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AN INFECTION?

From a totally fine healthy normally acting dog, to a fatigued loss of appetite mild recurring diarrhea consisting of soft light-colored stool with mucus, to the severe case of weight loss listlessness the straining acute explosive diarrhea with small amounts of blood; Giardia simply was made to multiply in large numbers and interfere with nutrient absorption (Malabsorption).

HOW CAN AN INFECTION BE TREATED FOR LESS?

Good thing effective treatments are available without having a prescription:

 1. Metronidazole (Flagyl) is often the first choice for many which is only 50%-70% effective in most cases. A product called Fish-Zole 250 milligram 60 count bottle for $41.99 or Fish Zole Forte 500 milligram 60 count bottle for $59.99 which is non-prescription Metronidazole bottled and labeled for fish tank use.(current price as of 05/26/2016). These tablets are the exact same size, color, and even have the same markings as the tablets that you would get from your veterinarian.

 2. Safeguard (Fenbendazole) is my first choice for going at Giardia its inexpensive, very safe, and is 96% effective. Most people use the Goat form of Safe-guard, but I tend to stick with the Equine or Cattle form of it. The Goat form is 125 milliliters for about $20.00 will treat 125 pounds of dog, and the Equines 25 gram paste for about $10.00 will treat 110 pounds of dog.

WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED DOSAGE?

1. Metronidazole for adult dogs 250 milligrams per 25 pounds twice daily, for puppies 125 milligrams (1/2 tablet) per 8 to 12 pounds twice daily for a total of 10 days.
2. Fenbendazole for adults and puppies is 1 cc per 5 pounds of weight for 5 days. Then retreated in 2 weeks (treat week, off week, treat week) to ensure that the problem is taken care of.

BUT I HAVE MULTIPLE DOGS OR A KENNELS, WHAT THEN AND HOW DO I ELIMINATE IT?

If the invaders are present in a single dog but you have multiple dogs or a kennel don't worry, it can be approached in two ways, one is isolation and treatment of infected dog and the other mass treatment of all dogs. Either way you will need to treat for 5 days followed up in 2 weeks with another 5 days of treatment. The way I go about it is, if one of my dogs become invaded I treat all of them to be safe.
Next,the kennel area and yard must be cleaned with disinfectant throughly, this is essential so that you are able to prevent the spread of these invaders. You will need to use bleach at 1:10 water ratio, or quaternary ammonium disinfectants. Let it set for 30 minutes for hard surfaces (not dirt or grass)and then rinse thoroughly if you don't use an dial sprayer. After that all you need to do is let it completely dry before letting the dogs back into the yard or kennels. The disinfection of grass and dirt is almost impossible, such area should are regarded as contaminated for at least a month after the invaded dog has been in that area. This is one of the main reasons I spray down my grass and dirt at least twice a week with bleach and quaternary ammonium, but not on the same days.

HOW CAN AN INVASION BE PREVENTED?

I'm just going to keep 100 with you, its very difficult to prevent an invasion because it is known that Giardia can be carried by seemingly healthy dogs into a new home or kennel setting. What I do is when bringing a new dog into the home or kennel, is treat the dog immediately for 5 days. You also should try your best to prevent your dogs from drinking foul water that may contain large numbers of cysts; places like a rivers, puddles, ponds, and so on although this cannot be prevented 100% of the time. If you are using non-chlorinated water from places like a well, lake, or stream, I recommend that you boil all of your dog's drinking water unless you have another form of purification that you use. And finally, moist and cool conditions favor the survival of the invader; so, by keeping everything clean, disinfected, and dry you should be getting the upper hand toward preventing a major invasion.

This is not all of the information about Giardia but its a quick run down summed up and simplified for the youngest mind.

Intense Workout "The Program"

THE PROGRAM

So lets began with the understanding that all dogs are different and so are their exercise and nutritional requirements; but most importantly we must agree that from the beginning we must start with a seemingly healthy dog. Not many people have the ability to condition a dog, it takes dedication, hard work, and a lot of time. I have spent a great deal of time with dogs over the years, of all calibers, which helped me formulate this 8 week program that will benefit the dog as well as the owner. Being able to properly build a bond by stimulating your dog mentally and psychically through feeding and exercising is a very task oriented and dedicated job.

The dog is walked everyday no matter rain, sleet, snow, or shine; its an extremely important part of the program. This tool burns fat, tones muscle, builds endurance, plus more but it takes "DEDICATION". After I walk/work my dogs in the evenings I give them a rub down from head to toe, then place them into their kennels with fresh water, in a clean water dish and allow them to rest for an hour. After that hour of rest they're fed and only feed once daily, this keeps the dogs on a regular stool cycle and I also try to get the dogs to empty out before a workout. If they must eat 2 meals feed 1/4 of the daily rations in the morning and 3/4 in the evening. I have learned that a full bellied dog when worked can and most likely become sick and weak and if the stomach is empty the dog will burn up its extra fat and begin to tone up.

6. Basic Rules to FOLLOW:

1. Take your time follow the guide and don't push your dog too hard when starting out.
2. If the dog seems to be losing too much weight, feed them more food.
3. If the dog seems to be gaining too much weight, feed less and walk/work more.
4. If the dog seems to be tired or not feeling good, rest them.
5. If you're lazy and don't walk/work your dog, he won't be in shape.
6. Take water out with you by week 5 or if its above 75 degrees and rest the dog if and when needed.

Tools you will need:

6 Foot Leather Leash - Or just a good 6 foot leash
Walking Harness - I don't use collars it can become harsh on the dogs neck.
Water Bowl/Bottle - Fresh water as well
Tennis Balls & Racquet - To run sprints and get your dog excited
Flirt Pole -
Quality Feed - I feed a Raw Diet so it is based off of the food I feed, if you feed kibble use that instead of the blends that are stated.
Clean Food Bowls - Wash daily
Bone Broth - To make Bone Broth place 2 pound of Beef Marrow Bones, 1 pounds of Chicken Feet, and 1 pounds of Chicken Necks into a 2-3 gallon pot. Add: 1-1/2 cups of Apple Cider Vinegar, 6 cloves of Garlic, 3 inch piece of Ginger, and then fill the pot up with water covering the bone with water             up to 2 to 3 inches above the bones. Cook over night on low (at least 12 hours)

For the first 4 weeks I do the following and follow this very closely, this is to pre condition the dog while getting you started in the right direction for what's to come, and this will take "DEDICATION" on your part.

Weeks 1-2. Exercise/Feeding (30 minutes goal)
Monday: walk 5 minutes morning, 10 minutes evening/feed Chicken Blend
Tuesday: walk 5 minutes morning, 15 minutes evening/feed Chicken Blend
Wednesday: walk 10 minutes morning, 15 minutes evening/feed Chicken Blend
Thursday: walk 5 minutes morning, 20 minutes evening-rub down after walk/feed Chicken Blend with Yogurt
Friday: walk 25 minutes evening-jog on home stretch-rub down after walk/feed Chicken Blend with Chicken Necks
Saturday: walk 5 minutes morning, 5 minutes walk-5 minutes Jog-5 minutes home afternoon-rub down, 10 minutes evening/feed Chicken Blend
Sunday: walk 30 minutes evening-rub down/Feed 1/4 normal meal size Chicken Necks + 1 cup Bone Broth

Weeks 3-4.Exercise/Feeding (45 minutes goal)
Monday: walk 10 minutes morning, 15 minutes evening/feed Frankenstein Blend
Tuesday: walk 10 minutes morning, 20 minutes evening/feed Frankenstein with Yogurt
Wednesday: walk 5 minutes morning, 30 minutes evening-rub down/feed Frankenstein and Skinless Chopped Chicken
Thursday: walk 10 minutes morning, 30 evening/feed Frankenstein and Skinless Chopped Chicken
Friday: walk 10 minutes morning, 15 minutes-5 minutes sprints-15 minutes home evening-rub down/feed Chopped Chicken and Chicken Necks
Saturday: walk 30 minutes evening/feed 1/4 normal meal size Chicken Necks + 1 cup Bone Broth
Sunday: walk 10 minutes morning, 35 minutes evening/feed Chicken Blend

Weeks 5-6. Exercise/Feeding (60 minutes goal)
Monday: walk 10 minutes morning, 30 minutes evening/feed Chicken Blend with Yogurt and Skinless Chopped Chicken
Tuesday: walk 10 minutes morning, 35 minutes evening/feed Chicken Blend and Chicken Necks
Wednesday:walk 10 minutes morning, 40 minutes evening-rub down/feed Chicken Necks and Frankenstein
Thursday: walk 5 minutes morning, 20 minutes-5 minutes Flirt Pole-20 minutes home evening-rub down/feed Chicken Necks and Frankenstein
Friday: walk 30 minutes evening/Feed 1/4 normal meal Chicken Necks + 1 cup Bone Broth
Saturday: walk 10 minutes morning, 20 minutes-5 minutes Sprints-20 minutes home evening-rub down/feed Beef and Chicken Blend
Sunday: walk 20 minutes morning, 40 minutes evening-rub down/feed Beef Blend

Weeks 7-8. Exercise/Feeding (90 minutes goal)
Monday: walk 10 minutes morning, 40 minutes evening-rub down/feed Beef Blend with Yogurt
Tuesday: walk 10 minutes morning, 45 evening/feed Beef Blend with Skinless Chopped Chicken
Wednesday: walk 15 minutes morning, 20 minutes-5 minutes Flirt Pole-20 minutes home evening-rub down/feed Beef Blend and Beef Neck Bones
Thursday: walk 30 minutes evening/feed 1/4 normal meal size Chicken Necks + 1 cup of Bone Broth
Friday: walk 10 minutes morning, 60 minutes evening-rub down/feed Chicken Necks and Skinless Chopped Chicken
Saturday: walk 25 minutes morning, 60 minutes evening-rub down/feeding Beef Blend and Skinless Chopped Chicken
Sunday: walk 30 minutes morning, 60 minutes evening-rub down/feed Frankenstein and Beef Neck Bones

Finally
You must apply common sense because this is only a outlined guide; it's dedication, hard work, and a lot of time that finds any success with The Program.
Best of luck.