The Long Tongue of the Lab

It is amazing how two Labrador Retrievers, from the same bloodline but different litters can be so similar and yet so different physically. One of our girls loves to drink water and, if given the chance, she would drink it 24/7! So when she has gone more than 1 hour without water, Cheyenne will start to pant. Now I don't mean the little bit of panting most dogs do, I mean the tongue hanging out of the mouth and walking around as though she had just traveled through the desert for 40 days without so much as a sip of water.

It is hysterical to watch her because her tongue is quite long and it is slender. So, picture it is you may, a small 40 lbs chocolate Lab puppy, walking around panting, with twice the length of a normal dog tongue hanging from her mouth. And to think, it hasn't been above 30 degrees outside yet and she is like this. We could only image what the summer will be like!

Even though her tongue is quite long, she is healthy and there is no reason to seek a vet's advice for this. Simply stated, as long as she can do the following, her health is not at risk:

• Eat normal - without obstruction
• Drink normal
• Pant to cool off
• Close her mouth

Also, we are keeping on eye on her to make sure she doesn't bite her tongue and there are no sores on it. We also brush her tongue when we do their monthly teeth brushing. As long as we are responsible and keep an eye on it, there is no need for concern. Anyway - it part of our daily laughter and without it, well, Cheyenne just wouldn't be Cheyenne.

Labrador Retriever Eye Discharge

I thought this was over! When Dakota was a puppy, she started to develop a colored discharge in the corner of her right eye shortly after we brought her home. We thought it may have been the dog food we put her on at the time and started to switch her to a better dog food to help clear up her eye as well as take care of her dry, flaky skin. Now, at a little over a year old, she has developed the same yellowish colored discharge and her sister, Cheyenne, has decided that Dakota shouldn't be the only one to have it. That initiated my search on the Internet to get more information about eye discharge in Labrador Retrievers and I was able to find the following informative article:


Like their human owners, dogs and cats sometimes wake up with "sleepers" in their eyes -- a crusty discharge that results from the eye's natural self-cleaning efforts. All pets will occasionally have some discharge, although bulgy-eyed breeds such as pugs, Pekingese, and Persian cats are much more prone to it than others.

"If you can wipe away the sleepers in the morning with a damp tissue and they don't accumulate to any extent during the day, then you generally don't have to worry about it," says Nancy Willerton, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Denver. "But when the discharge continues throughout the day, your pet may have an infection."

Eye infections are fairly common, Dr. Willerton adds. They can crop up on their own or when something lodges in the eye. They can also occur when the surface of the eye, called the cornea, gets scratched. A telltale sign of infection is the appearance of the discharge: It will often be thick, yellow, gray, or green. It may form a crust on the eyelids as well.

Pets with viral infections such as feline respiratory disease in cats and canine adenovirus in dogs will often develop runny eyes. "It may start out as a watery discharge but then become thicker as the infection progresses," says Terri McGinnis, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in the San Francisco area and author of The Well Cat Book and The Well Dog Book.

"Dogs and cats are prone to seasonal allergies, and the only sign may be a sticky eye discharge," adds Craig N. Carter, D.V.M., Ph.D., head of epidemiology at Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at Texas A&M University in College Station. Unlike bacterial or viral infections, allergies usually result in a clear discharge, he adds. Your pet may be scratching himself and have bloodshot eyes as well.

A problem in older pets is that the eyes naturally become drier. This makes it easy for the outer portion of the eye to get irritated and inflamed, which can result in a sticky, yellow discharge on the surface of the eyeball.

Finally, some pets have a slight genetic defect called entropion, in which the eyelid turns inward and causes the lashes to brush against the surface of the eye. In cats and some breeds of dogs, like golden and Labrador retrievers, entropion often affects the lower eyelid. In dogs with big heads and loose facial skin, such as Saint Bernards, shar-peis, and Chow Chows, both lids can be affected. Over time entropion can cause irritation and infection, resulting in a discharge.

See Your Vet If...

Your pet has an eye infection

You have a bulgy-eyed breed like a Persian cat or Pekingese dog, or a giant breed of dog like a mastiff

Your pet is scratching a lot and has bloodshot eyes

Your pet won't quit scratching or pawing his eyes

His eyes have turned blue, gray, or cloudy, or he is having trouble getting around

His eyes are frequently bloodshot or dry

There has been a watery or discolored discharge from the eyes for 48 hours or more

Your pet's eyes are bulging

The eyelids are swollen or unable to close

There is a growth on the eye or eyelid

One or both pupils are dilated, or they don't respond to light

Your pet seems very sensitive to light

The eyes are droopy or sunken

The third eyelids are covering the lower parts of the eyes

His eyes are continually moving back and forth

Blood or tiny blood vessels are visible in the center (not the whites) of his eyes

His eyelid appears to be turned inward or outward

So it seems that my Lab Brats may have Conjunctivitis after all! I will give you three guesses where they would have caught that - doggie daycare! Sometimes I have to wonder if the doggie daycare is worth it considering the amount of vet bills we get because they go there. For now though, I will keep my girls calm, keep their eyes clean, and see how they do in a few days. Usually these things clear themselves up - let's just hope it is one of those times.

(Reference: http://home.ivillage.com/pets/symsolve/0,,j8qm,00.html)

When do Lab puppies calm down?

If you are new to the Labrador Retriever world and you have a new puppy, you may be wondering when Lab puppies finally calm down. First, for those that do not know, the Labrador Retriever breed is not for those that want to lay back on the couch and toss back a few beers. Labs are people dogs meaning that they are very sociable and do not like to be left on their own all the time. They have a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. That is why it is important for this breed to get plenty of exercise and social interaction.

Prior to bringing Dakota and Cheyenne into our home, we did a lot of research about the breed and found that many people have their own ideas on the age of maturation. In all honesty, there are differing levels of energy that the Lab will go through during its life and from the age of about 10 weeks old to 5 years old, the energy level can remain quite high. Let's go through the stages that we have come up with, based on our own experience.

Stage 1: Newborn - At this stage, there isn't a lot of energy as the puppy just wants to eat and sleep.

Stage 2: Toddler - This stage starts around 8-10 weeks old and goes until about 5 months old. The energy level is quite high at this time as the puppy is learning all it can about the world and go through many biological changes. It tests its environment with its mouth and as it gets towards the end of this stage, it begins to chew on everything it can to try and get relief from teething. That's right! This is when the puppy starts to lose its puppy teeth and the newer, and larger, adult teeth start breaking through and making the poor pup's mouth tender and sore. It is usually to have some terry cloth towels that have been soaked in water and sitting in your freezer, waiting to be gnawed on!

Stage 3: Adolescent - This is a tough stage and starts around 5 months old and go anywhere up to a year, depending on the dog. Some would call it the terrible twos because all of a sudden, your sweet Lab baby has forgotten everything you have taught it and has the manners of any human teenager out there! Sure, they know not to go on the couch but they will test you again and make sure you meant it. This is when you need to reinforce all your training because if you let them get away with it now, it is harder to break them of it later!

Stage 4: Maturing - Usually this starts around a year old and goes until the 5-year old stage. The level of energy is still high and is equal to a college student or young twenty-something adult. They don't have a care in the world and have great amounts of energy but have slowed down just a bit. They get more comfortable with their surroundings and take a little more time to enjoy life and the company of their owner and family. This is more of an enjoyable time with your family Lab!

Stage 5: Senior - Around 5 years and up, the little puppy you once knew with all the energy level of an energizer bunny is there in spirit but the body is slowing down more. They still have a good amount of energy but nothing compared to stages 2 and 3! Life is good and comfortable.

So, when does a Lab puppy start to calm down? Well, generally it is around stage 4 but can happen before that stage. The one thing people with Labrador Retrievers, or any dog for that matter, need to understand is that each dog is different. Yes, there are certain traits in the Lab breed for which we eagerly welcomed them into our home, but just as human identical twins can have opposite personalities, so can your Labrador Retriever. The key is to be able to learn how to cope throughout the different stages and compromise your time to accommodate your Lab's needed.

For example, if you are in stage 2, there is housebreaking and teething to deal with. Both don't let you get a lot of sleep or rest because you have to keep your eye on that pup and look for the signs that it needs a little help. You puppy also needs help with getting rid of some of that pent up energy it has and it is your responsibility to give it safe and structured ways to expel that energy. Short walks work well on soft surfaces for young pups as well as schedule play times. Some good Lab puppy games to help burn off that energy include:

• Find It - hide treats around the house and help your pup sniff them out
• Laser Tag - use a laser pointer to make the dot move around the floor and your pup will chase it
• Tug of War - use a soft towel if during the teething stage and play a gentle game of tug of war - who knows, you may just pull a baby tooth or two out (which is okay)
• Fetch - throw a soft ball down a hallway and teach the pup to retrieve

There are a number of other games you can play as well. Just "goggle" words like puppy and game but before playing, make sure it is okay to play the game with Labrador Retrievers or other large breed dogs so that you help your dog stay away from hip problems in the future. Whatever you choose to do, high energy levels in Labs are normal during certain stages - just remember to enjoy them while you can because your Lab will only be a puppy once.

Sun Spots

Thank goodness for the sunlight that shines through yonder window! If it weren't for the heat it generates, the house would still be in chaos.

Dakota and Cheyenne decided that they were both the sassiest dogs in the house this morning and were play fighting all over the house. Chairs were pushed into different rooms, the diningroom table was pushed into the kitchen, and the girls were loving the fact that they were destroying my house! It was then that I noticed a peak of sunlight coming through a closed shade and I immediately ran to it and threw the shade open. Both girls stopped, looked at me, and immediately laid down in the sun spots on the livingroom floor.

An hour later and not a peep from either of my Labs. They are both sprawled out on the floor and enjoying the warmth of the sun. I know it wont be long until Cheyenne gets up, tongue hanging out of the side of her mouth, panting like she had just crossed the desert in Cairo, and begging for water. But, until then, I will enjoy my peace and quiet - for the sun will surely move to the western sky and take the sun spots with it before long.

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Popping and Hips

What is that noise? I hear it every time I push on Dakota's rear end to get her to sit. On top of it, sometimes I actually feel the bones pop. Given that she is a year old and still can lay on the floor with her legs sprawled out behind her, I wouldn't normally be concerned. But, given that she is a Labrador Retriever and they are well know for hip dysplasia, a dollar amount keeps flashing in my mind.

From everything I have been able to read, hip dysplasia is common in large and giant breed dogs. An overview of hip dysplasia states:

Difficult to prevent and treat, canine hip dysplasia is among the most studied and the most frustrating diseases in veterinary medicine. Canine hip dysplasia is a developmental orthopedic disease in which an abnormal formation of the hip leads to looseness in the hip joints, causing cartilage damage. Progressive arthritis can result, and when it does, it can be crippling. Hip dysplasia is not the same thing as arthritis in the hips rather, it is the most common cause of arthritis in the hips. (http://www.workingdogs.com/vchipdysplasia.htm)

A former German Shepard of mine had gotten it but at a ripe old age. Dakota is only a year though so I am more concerned. Since Dakota already weighs 88 lbs, we are going to start to get her a little leaner. She is not fat at all but all muscle - either way she can stand to lose a little. We just want to make sure that there isn't too much weight on her hips to aggravate it at all. Sure, there may be no problem at all but why risk it.

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Muddy Labs!

We are exhausted. The brats are fast asleep in their crates and I am not even sure they care that it is dinner time. Why? Today my husband had the bright idea to bring them to a dog park in the area and introduce them to the world of the outdoors and off a lease. Great idea! Just one thing - we forgot that the snow was melting! (laugh)

The girls loved it! They had no idea what was coming as we packed a back pack with a few toys, some water, and a couple of poop bags. Dakota knew something was up because we asked her if she wanted to go bye-bye while we were packing the bag. We got there and they smelled it - other dogs! Upon entering the park, we looked at each other and laughed - every path was mud and there were woods as far as the eyes could see. What have we gotten ourselves into? There was no turning back at this point - the girls were too excited to put back in the car so we looked at each other one more time and the leashes came off.

Dakota looked at me and cocked her head to the side - "What? Are you serious? I can run off the leash??" I smiled at her, raised my arm and threw it out to the side "Okay". Both girls flew off in front of us and to our surprise, we just said their names and they came right back to us. No problems with recall!

They met so many dogs along the way and poor Cheyenne decided she really liked this teen girl and wanted to share the mud all over her body with her. Poor girl never saw it coming. Sure, Dakota is trained not to jump but Cheyenne has some work to be done. Luckily the girl was already muddy from the paths and didn't care. Oh thank you God! So, up and down the hills we went with the girls by our side and stopping every time we saw another group of dogs to chat it up and smell some rear ends (the dogs, not us *laugh*). They ran and ran and I could swear that they thought they had died and gone to doggie heaven.

Put aside the load of mud on the girls, the amount of mud the got on daddy's seats (even though I covered it with a sheet), and the outdoor ice cold bath we had to give the girls (and the bath they gave us), it was a great day! We had so much fun and we will definitely go back - just when it is dry! (smile)

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Well Deserved Sleep & Drooling

Thank you doggie daycare! It was all due to the outstanding work of the staff that our girls were so tuckered out that Cheyenne slept through the night without an accident! Yes, I am going on with talking about Cheyenne's bathroom habits since that is the one thing that is plaguing us at this moment. We decreased the size of her crate and between that and being so tired, she didn't have any accidents.

With that said, we can talk about more enjoyable things - Labrador Retriever Drooling! (laugh) You would think that this beautiful dogs wouldn't have a drooling problem but, as my husband stated a day ago, "I think Dakota has a glandular problem." (laugh) No, she doesn't have any problems - she is a normal Lab. That is why we have three large indoor/outdoor mats surrounding the girls' bowls and keep a couple of old towels handy for when Dakota is done drinking water. It is like Niagara Falls! And she doesn't just drink, she scuba dives! Her whole nose and chin are submerged in the water and she comes up for air once every 5 licks from her bowl. Cheyenne is now starting to do the same thing but not as bad. She is a little more "refined" like I am, whereas Dakota takes after her dad.

If you think that is bad, try eating French fries around Dakota. Last night we actually had to take one of the towels and make it a bib! My husband brought home McDonald's and as we ate on the couch, Dakota sat there, with her Sad Sam eyes, and just drooled all over the place. We gave her a few but place it in front of her and tell her to "leave it" first so that she remembers to never snatch. so, she sat there, keeping a close eye on the French fry in front of her and drool pouring out of both side of her mouth. What a sight! Feeding her special food is always good for a good number of laughs and "ewwwws". Never a dull moment in our house - not with the girls around!

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

24-Hour Bug?

It seems Cheyenne is over her little episode of getting sick all over the place and was so hungry this morning that she was digging in her food bowl after just eating. You may think that is nothing but she was so loud and annoying that my husband had to put some kibble in her treat ball to keep her occupied and out of her metal, clanging, loud, food bowl. *smile*

She didn't have any accidents last night because we got up with her at 3am to let her out. When we took her out, she went and did her business and then it was right back into the crate without a fuss. From what someone told me on one of the Labrador Retriever online forums, some pups revert back to the before housebreaking routine and just need to be taught again. So, we have decided to see where this route takes us and get up once during the night to assist her in learning it all over again. I have to admit that it was great to see her comforter without any wet spots this morning. Let's hope it stays that way!

Now let's hope the girls are tuckered from their day at daycare when they get home tonight. It is snowing and we all know what a couple of lab puppies and some freshly fallen snow means!

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Sick Puppy

Cheyenne had yet another accident in her crate last night and it seems odd because the quilt was wet but there seemed to be a residue on the area as well. No blood or anything and she isn't have difficulty going outside so I don't think it is a urinary tract infection (UTI) but now I am concerned.

Why am I concerned that a 4.5 month old puppy is having accidents all of a sudden? Well, because this morning she threw up all her breakfast and then threw up bile about an hour later. Since then, I have had her crated (and her sister) to keep her calm and in a cool area. She was in there for a few hours this morning and she seems fine now but a little tired (and, of course, I think she is hungry as well). I didn't want to let her run around outside and aggravate it at all but I don't even know what "it" is at this point. Sometimes puppies can have a nausea spell but if it doesn't get any better, then it is back to the vet for us. *sigh* I don't want to think about another vet appointment or making her go through it all again. Last time it was kennel cough and now this. Sure, she could have gotten something from the daycare - wait! The daycare did mention about a protozoan that was going around. Okay, now I am nervous. They sent a notice home a week ago about "giardia" and it is most likely not transmitted easily.

From looking it up, the symptoms include feces that are soft, light-colored, and greasy. Mucus from the large intestine may also indicate that the large intestine is irritated even though the colony of active protozoa remains in the small intestine. Blood tests appear normal with the possible exception of an increase in a type of white blood cells and mild anemia.

Nope, doesn't sound like our puppy. Thank goodness! But, I did call the daycare will typing this blog and found that a number of puppies there have come down with a 24-hour bug that is similar to the 24-hour flu in humans. So, it seems that our little lab may just have a 24-hour bug. So, it is boiled ground beef and rice for her tonight for dinner - and, of course, lots of rest and spoiling. *smile* I will let you know how it goes.

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Dog Training

So we have an accident here and there. Overall though, Cheyenne is doing very well and will only have her accidents by the back door. Yes, it was my fault once again since I wasn't paying attention and thought she was fast asleep in the other room. I told her it was bad (I don't punish) and she understood so well that the next time she had to go to the bathroom, she actually whined so that I wouldn't miss her. What a good girl she is and so smart! Can't put anything past her.

On the other side of the coin is Miss Dakota. She is definitely one spoiled girl and takes after her daddy very much. I have to laugh because if her water is left out too long, she refuses to drink it and will scratch on the dishwasher door for someone to come and fill it with fresh, cold water. She is definitely one of a kind. I have never seen any other dog communicate as well as she can. I just wish we could get her over her small nervousness around little boys and I am not sure how to go about it. If she doesn't get over it, then she wont be a good therapy dog and may even have a problem with any type of agility or dock dog competitions.

Speaking of which, no, we have not entered Dakota into any formal training at this time. It is tax season and let's just say that it was a little setback in the funds area for such things as dog training. That will happen though - just pushed off a little bit.

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Eww - Wet Dogs!

It has been many years since I have lived on the beach. For 24 years, my house was never more than 1 block from the roaring waves and smell of salty air. Back then, I had a German Shepard named Smokey and he was like a brother to me. We used to go walking on the beach and when we would get home, dad would spray him down with the hose. Oh how I hated how he smelled after that and he would just be so excited from the beach that he would want to jump all over me - soaking wet and all!

The wet dog smell had escaped my senses for so long - until today. With the snow melting and the grass soaking wet, my the labs decided they wanted to play and wrestle in the mud. Oh joy! Just what I wanted - two soaking wet, muddy labs! Of course, it is too cold still in Wisconsin to break out the hose so I had to do the best I could with the towels. What? Why didn't I throw them in the tub?? Are you joking?? Dakota would love that! She swims in the bathtub until all the water is outside the bathtub. Last time it took 8 towels to clean up the mess she left in the bathroom! I am sure Cheyenne wouldn't have been that bad but Dakota was still around so, to me, it was still not a good idea. Nonetheless, the girls got dried off and as they entered the house, the smell seeped into everything. I had no choice but to crate the girls (since they were falling asleep anyway), opened all the windows I could, and lit a sweet smelling candle.

Did it work? Yes and no. Every once in a while, the wind blows from the back bedroom, where the girls are crated, passing the candle and heads straight for me. Hmm - new candle smell - maple sugar wet dog. (laugh)

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Finally - Peace Between the Sisters

As I started to write this entry, with Cheyenne and Dakota asleep on the livingroom floor in front of me, Cheyenne started to cry in her sleep. It was one of those soft but long cries and Dakota woke with a start. I saw her out of the corner of my eye as she looked to me for reassurance that Cheyenne was okay. Alas, I didn't make eye contact because I wanted to see what she was going to do. While ignoring Cheyenne's cries and Dakota's eye contact, Dakota got up and slowly walked over to Cheyenne. She then bent down, sniffed her, and then nudged her muzzle slightly. Cheyenne slowly woke from her bad dream and Dakota, satisfied that her baby sister was not in any danger, walked back over to where she was originally, laid down, and went back to sleep. Yes, I can now say without a shadow of a doubt that my girls are finally getting over the annoyance stage with each other.

We aren't sure if it is because Cheyenne is now 17 weeks old and finally starting to lose her baby teeth that Dakota is now treating her as her sister rather than a annoying gnat. Whatever it is, it is finally calming down in our house. Okay, the word calm is wrong because Dakota has also taken off her gloves when playing with Cheyenne and both are playing quite rougher with each other. They are slowly equaling the playing curve and the pleasure of having two Labrador Retrievers in the house is slowly being realized. We are standing strong that we wont get another puppy but we are sure glad we have the two.

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Total Opposites

They say that Labrador Retrievers have certain behaviors or characteristics which they are well known for. They are supposed to be great family pets, love children, high energy, and easily trained. This is why we chose this breed for our family. Ironically, just as identical twins could be as different as night and day, so could Labs. Our Labs happen to be full blood sisters from two different litters. Since they have the same dame and sire, you would think they are similar but, alas, they are opposites. Our gentle giant, Dakota, has been trained very well but is very stubborn and listens only when not distracted. Also, she has a small nervousness around small boys due to a couple of kids that tormented her when she was younger. On the other hand, Cheyenne has not trained as easily, is not stubborn and does things to please me, and is not nervous around any people or children.

Sure, they both have high energy levels and eat whatever you put in front of them. It is funny to me because I thought Dakota was always going to be my therapy dog and go to the hospitals with me but now it seems like Cheyenne may be better suited for it. Dakota seems more of an agility dog or dock dog. Who knows at this time. Since Dakota is over a year old, we have some decisions to make as to her next step of training. As for Cheyenne, we have some time to think about it - right now it is a time for us to collect information and see where the Lab path leads us.

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Kennel Cough Again?

Yep, you heard correctly! Cheyenne has started to cough again. Not just a cleared the throat type of cough but a deep hacking cough that seems like she has a bone stuck in her throat. Dakota is fine and Cheyenne's energy level is high. Text book description - coughs mostly when excited or running around, no changes in energy level or eating, and so on. Luckily I had some left over cough medication from their most recent bout of kennel cough and she hasn't coughed since. So, it means that on Monday we get to spend another $85+ on medications for both Cheyenne and Dakota. Unfortunately, you have to treat all other dogs in the house as though they have it, even if there are no symptoms or else risk it getting bounced around. I don't think the lab brats will mind much since they get their pills wrapped in some American sliced cheese. When I say "Who wants cheese?", both girls come flying around the corner and I am lucky if they don't hip-check one of my knee caps in the process.

As for Cheyenne's housebreaking - well everything was going well until this morning. I put down the water bowl and left it down since she hadn't had an accident all week. Unfortunately, I was wrong to do so because she went and boy did she have to go. She had just gotten done drinking and couldn't make it all the way to the back door fast enough. So, I am going to have to limit her water again to just morning/noon/night and see how well she does. On the positive side though, she was able to last from 10pm to 5am last night without crying to go out and this morning she spent 5 hours in her crate while my husband and I ran errands, without a single accident. It is just like when people hear or touch water and run to the bathroom - except she is a pup.

~Shan
http://www.8pawsup.com

Fast Asleep

Another day of doggie daycare and another day of two big lab girls falling fast asleep after arriving home. It was "give me water and feed me so I can go to sleep" night in our house and we are thankful for these moments of peace.

Cheyenne has lost a couple of her baby teeth - unfortunately none of them were those little vampire fangs she has been digging into everything. We know she is uncomfortable and that she is biting out of necessity but Dakota, most of all, can't wait for this to be over. On a good note though, she is now 16 weeks old and has been found to be laying in front of the back door - waiting for us to get our rear ends in gear and take her out to go potty. I don't want to say how many days it has been since her last accident because I don't want to curse the good fortune that has entered our home. Overall though, she is doing quite well and all biting aside - she is loved greatly.

Then there is the beast, otherwise known as Dakota. What can I say about her except she is our doll. She is a big mush and such a sweet girl. Sure, she gets into trouble every once in a while but she is an angel 99% of the time. Well, maybe she just seems like an angel compared to the little teething devil but I still love opening her crate in the morning, watching her stretch and turn her head up to me as her tail bangs on the wall. Her whole rear end comes alive when she wags her tails - a sight that compares to none.

~Shan
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden