To Much Skin?

[Emma]

Any advice please, my Landseer is a rescue,4 yrs old, he is only 47kg, so he has weight to gain SLOWLEY, BUT his eyes are covered by big folds of skin when he looks down, infact Shar-pei comes to mind. He also has huge Jowels on his neck. I can feel his spine and he has cow hips. He is a normal height Landseer and apparently the first owner had him in great condition, the other 3 underfed him.

I am feeding raw food, but have to say he is obsessed with brown bread, he just cant get over the smell of toast and just wants bread - I put a piece of beef and a slice of bread on the ground, he ate the bread first!

His bottom teeth are ground down to stubs, and the bottom canines to half size? Any ideas?

He has only learn't to lap in the past few days from my dogs, he was biting the water.

The vet says he needs an eyelift, but I think he should be goal weight first, also I am not sure an eyelid nip and tuck would even make a differance! Maybe if he is chunkier he would look less like a Shar-pai?

Also he is not neutered, but I want to wait till he is healthy - any advice as now I hear rumbling of giant breeds not being neutered?

Any advice is good, Landseers and Newfs are rare here, so I don't feel there are expert vets on the subject.

 

[SheilaT]

First thing....thanks for rescuing this lovely boy!

If he were my boy, I wouldn't worry yet about his droopy eyes, unless they're red, irritated, or have a discharge. I have a girl with really droopy eyes and I just use some allergy drops for her to help with redness and irritations. Some Newfs are just genetically inclined to be droopy-eyed. But, I have known some people to have a tuck done on the eyes when there are constant irritations and medical conditions because of the looseness.

Because of the condition of his teeth, you may want to limit his intake of whole bones, since you're feeding raw. Ground meats shouldn't bother him at all....just be sure to give him a good variety and be sure to add in some organ meat. For his calcium needs, can you have some bone ground with the muscle meat? As for the bread, I'm no expert, but if he has no allergy issues with grains, I don't see a problem with letting him have some bread baked with good whole grains.

There's a recipe here for Satin Balls that are very helpful with putting weight on dogs...but they'll put weight on fairly quickly. However, dogs LOVE them and you don't have to overuse them.

For neutering, I think it's less of a health issue if it's done after the dogs are more mature and the growth plates are closed. But I would wait until he's up to his healthy weight.

 

[Emma]

Thankyou for your help.

Okay! we can get ground bone here, South Africans love meat, so anything is possible. He isn't mad about liver, but likes heart and kidneys, so I hide the liver. He likes veggies too.

I will keep a look out on his eyes. When he is better I will re visit the issue.

I am going to make those satin balls for him now, that sounds like just what we need. I have to admit I did but him pork crackling and roasted it I couldn't resist!

Thank you so much, I am so looking forward to seeing him well.

 

[noblenewf]

The satin balls worked wonders for my Newfie when he was post surgery for his knee and had no appetite. He LOVED them and he gained a nice amount of weight and his coat was GLORIOUS! Make sure you follow the recipe precisely to make sure none of the nutrients are missing causing an imbalance. Good luck! He is one gorgeous Newf and thank you so much for rescuing him!

 

[Emma]

I am so glad I have found this site! It is great to learn from all your experiance, I don't feel alone now. His pedigree is amazing but I am not allowed to own a copy until he is neutered, but to be honest it's of no importance to me, I just want him healthy and happy...

What is so odd is he isn't interested in water...? Is that normal?:shrug:

 

[JackandKelly]

Emma,
From your first post I got the impression that the skin is drooping DOWN over his eyes. I think Sheila is referring to drooping lower lids. I have no advice, just curious if it is the skin on his forehead hanging down over his eyes, or the lower lids drooping?
Have you had him checked for round, whip and hookworms? Also Giardia? These could be causing the weight issue also.

Good luck with him, he is gorgeous and I would love to see more photos
:hugs::hugs:for rescuing him

 

[noblenewf]

I am so glad I have found this site! It is great to learn from all your experiance, I don't feel alone now. His pedigree is amazing but I am not allowed to own a copy until he is neutered, but to be honest it's of no importance to me, I just want him healthy and happy...

What is so odd is he isn't interested in water...? Is that normal?:shrug:

I love this site too! I've met so many nice, informative and helpful people over the few years I've been a member. LOVE IT!

Maybe your Newfie isn't interested in water because in his prior environment he wasn't exposed to it. Do you know much about his background? I think most Newfs have a natural affinity for water- they were made to swim...but that doesn't mean all like the water. My Newf was born loving water. As a puppy he played in his water dish, jumped in every mud puddle and loved swimming. We exposed him very young (like 13 weeks old) to swimming/water. He had a life jacket and learned to swim by watching our other family dogs (Goldens) enjoy the water. Ever since I can't keep him out of the water! :crazy: You can slowly introduce your Newfie to water. I would first just let him get his feet wet and allow him to gradually walk into the water. A beach would be a good option. Also try swimming with him. If he sees you in the water he will likely want to join you (the "rescue" instinct...ha ha). Just make sure his first few times near water are not forced or anxiety provoking for him and he will start to test it out. I found that having other dogs around that like to swim is a good way to show him that water is fun!

 

[Thule's Mom]

I don't have any advice, except I agree with the satin ball option.... I gave the recipe to a friend with a very gaunt border collie and it really did the job for her.. Wow! South Africa... lots of beaches where you live? We will require pictures Emma! Thank you for rescuing this boy! What's his name?

 

[Emma]

Hi Jack&Kelly

He is fully dewormed, and have checked for Giardia. His weight is due to the last owner chaining him up outside and not feeding him, his foster home for 3 months prior to me has already put 10 kg on.

Its a confusing storey:

He was bought in from Canada as a puppy, his first year was with owners who were good to him (except they dumped him), then along came their first child, who was highly allergic to all the animals and he was given away almost overnight, the new owners didn't know what they were getting into, couldn't afford him or handle him, they sold him to a guy who used him to breed with who knows what, he then couldn't cope and gave him to a friend, who tied him up outside and then realized he wasn't a guard dog. He became very thin and maltreated, a neighbour contacted a rescue home, they confiscated him, fostered hm for 3 months, then a vet recomended me to them.

Phew...

Don't ask me how I feel about people!

If you look at you pic of Ty, imagine 2 massive folds on his brow, not a flat forehead. Plus droopy eyes! Gravity is taking over!

Noblenewf - Hi

I agree he hasn't been exposed to water, saying that my black lab who has been on the beach, in the mountains and in our garden that has both swimming pool and river since he was 9 weeks old, only ventures into the sea if my hubby is swimming, never the river or the pool!
Wee only had him a week, my daughter was swimming just now and I noticed more interest from him, early days...

sorry my posts are so long.. just so much to learn and ask
But we ha

 

[JackandKelly]

Wow, what a tough life he has had. Poor guy I am so glad he has you now !! I thought that is what you meant about drooping over his eyes. I am sorry I have no advice on that, but maybe someone else does.

Kelly

 

[Emma]

Kommetjie Beach, Cape Town - Archie (ne Gimley)

 

[Thule's Mom]

Now THAT'S a beach!:shocker: My girl would loose her mind! Hi Archie!:hugs:

 

[Emma]

Can you imagine all the Newfies meeting there for one crazy day of fun!

 

[Thule's Mom]

Can you imagine all the Newfies meeting there for one crazy day of fun!

That would be awesome indeed! Do you have a Newf Club in your area? We don't have a club, as such, but we're a pretty close knit group, here in the St. JOhn's area of Newfoundland. We do get together from time to time, but it's been awhile... the last time was New Years Day... frigid! But the pups loved it.

 

[BlackLightning]

His bottom teeth are ground down to stubs, and the bottom canines to half size? Any ideas?

QUOTE]

It's possible that since he was left out on a chain, he ground his teeth down by chewing on the chain. He is a gorgeous boy and I am happy you found us here at NN!!

 

[Sheila B.]

Emma he's quite magnificent and I know he'll fill out and become healthy with your loving care. Neither of my Newf girls are interested in water. Don't know why. They have a wading pool and even when it's very hot they show no particular interest, other than to drink out of it. Sometimes I wonder if they think all bodies of water are filled with shampoo!

 

[Emma]

We do, but they are breeders clubs, not social, there are very few Newfies here. And South Africa is so enormous the cities are days apart by car.

I think I know most of them in cape town as my grooming parlors are the only ones who will deal with them. Maybe I should try and organise something when he is better.

Sometimes I find here people think they own your dog if its rare and they are breeders, because it's a small industry, with next to no competieion. I don't want to get into doggy politics LOL. The advantage you all have is a huge gene pool and lots of breeders, all the NEWFS I know here are related.

 

[Liisa]

Wow! He's stunning! And I bet he's sooo happy to have found you.

Welcome to NN!!!!

 

[Emma]

I was also thinking he was gnawing to get out of something, or get a chain off. It really upsets me.
All newfs are just so beautiful arn't they... I look at all your pics and just ooh and ahhh, all those different faces, all quite different, but all full of love. And the cheeks just kill me...

 

[Thule's Mom]

We do, but they are breeders clubs, not social, there are very few Newfies here. And South Africa is so enormous the cities are days apart by car.

I think I know most of them in cape town as my grooming parlors are the only ones who will deal with them. Maybe I should try and organise something when he is better.

Sometimes I find here people think they own your dog if its rare and they are breeders, because it's a small industry, with next to no competieion. I don't want to get into doggy politics LOL. The advantage you all have is a huge gene pool and lots of breeders, all the NEWFS I know here are related.

Well, Newfoundland is an Island and the major centers are 100's of miles apart. My girl comes from Ontario, and is spayed; breeding isn't something I have stomach for anyway! I didn't get involved in Conformation either.... Thule's my companion... we mostly just 'hang out'!