[nagdu] Bailey's Latest--bathing, weight, etc.

[Natalie]

Hi Robert, et al,
Robert, I read with interest your message on Bailey's weight and inquiries 
on bathing.  I totally agree with your reasoning on bathing the dog on your 
own.  I'd rather do it myself and save my money for more pleasurable 
activities for the two of us.  Bathing can be backbreaking, but it is 
doable.  I use my walk-in shower.  In rinsing, one way I can tell if I got 
out all the suds is by ringing out his fur, very much like how we might 
squeeze out our hair.  When there are still suds, one can hear it.  You 
might want to look into Gold Metal shampoos, as well as Sentry.  Both these 
product lines are well-formulated with flea and tick, Shed Less, and 
medicative and moisturizing that provide a great shine.  Every time I use 
these on Liam, along with some On-Coat grooming spray, I've been told his 
shiny black fur is like a shiny black car.  When the sun hits him just 
right, it's almost like he's blue.  In terms of the weight, if the food 
decrease doesn't yield positive results, you might consider having his 
thyroid tested.  Hypothyroidism in dogs, just like in people, make it nigh 
onto impossible to lose weight.  Good luck, and please keep us posted.
Best,
Nat and Liam Joshua

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Hooper" <hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu>
To: "NFB-NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 4:05 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Bailey's Latest--bathing, weight, etc.


> Hello all:
>
> I recently returned from a vet visit and was hoping to share the results 
> of my relentless inquiries. It seems as though Bailey's weight jumped from 
> around 31 kg to about 35 KG since the last visit two months ago. This 
> despite my frequent checks of his body condition. The vet didn't seem to 
> notice any overt physical changes in his appearance, but we both thought 
> it a good idea to cut back on the food. Annova Evo is very calorie-dense 
> and dispenses with many ingredients that might hinder or stop the 
> processing of certain nutrients. I was told to start by removing ten 
> percent of his food intake. So, instead of a cup and a half, I half to 
> find a way to remove 3/20 of a cup of food from his daily meals. After 
> doing the math, I came to the conclusion that instead of his usual 90/60 
> cups of food a meal, he would need 81/60 cups. If I gave him 1-1/3 cups of 
> food per meal, this would equal 80/60 of a cup, thus closest (to within 
> 1/60 of a cup) I can get to a perfect mathematical solut
> ion. Note that I am not that invested in the numbers-I just had a long 
> time to wait in the lobby before being checked out.
> Another topic I discussed was dog bathing-this is something to which I 
> have never been a party. Many family members encouraged me to find a place 
> that would do it for me. I object to this for many reasons (all of which 
> my vet supported and understood). Firstly, many such places are prone to 
> outbreaks of kennel cough, skin infections, improper technique, etc. 
> Secondly, Bailey is a service animal, so I require a higher degree of 
> control-that is, I am loathed to give up my dog to anyone else who does 
> not know how to handle, treat, etc. him. Thirdly, I am one of those 
> "annoying dog Nazis"-that is, I allow very limited interaction between 
> others and my dog. I do not want Bailey to trust others or form bonds with 
> others as he does me. Furthermore, I do not want him to see people as 
> giant petting machines worthy of his attention and thus potential 
> distraction. So, that desire in itself rules out taking him anywhere for 
> bathing purposes.
> Fourthly, I heartily dislike paying for a service that I could just as 
> easily perform myself. Bathing him at home would lessen my inconvenience 
> of having to find transportation to and from a facility, would save me 
> money, etc.
> Now comes my questions regarding bathing. I have done some research about 
> properly bathing dogs at home. I am most worried about the complete 
> rinsing of shampoo-is dog bathing a very daunting task? Bailey hasn't been 
> bathed since I received him in July and he continues not to smell. I 
> regularly groom him, so that should cut down on his odor and dirtiness. I 
> guess my main concern (as it is with most things) is that I'm afraid of 
> not doing it right. If anybody has any assurances, techniques, detailed 
> instructions with schematics and diagrams, etc. to share, I would welcome 
> such.
> I also discussed heart and flea preventatives with my veterinarian, dog 
> anatomy and behavior, and various other such topics. I welcome feedback on 
> all aspects of this message-from its grammatical style to critiques about 
> my personal objections toward taking Bailey to a Dogwash. I look forward 
> to everyone's thoughts and I hope I have provided some brain food on which 
> we can all munch.
> Sincerely,
> Robert Hooper
> Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu<mailto:Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu>
> The Ohio State University
> 0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
> 653 Cuyahoga Court
> Columbus, Ohio 43210
> (740) 856-8195
>
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