Worried for my baby

[JassAndKane]

Hey guys so I recently got a 6 week old cane corso puppy from a guy who received him as a gift but couldn't keep because his mom was allergic. (I don't believe it, and I know the puppy is far too young to leave his moms care)

At first look he seemed a little down, eyes were low and a little cloudy. but a few days later he cheered up. started running and getting used to the house.

But! now hes gotten really down again. His eyes have serious green boogies. and just the other day he had a nose bleed. I took him to the vet and the vet said "your dog is sick and has an infection" he didnt specify what and I received Calvamox (15ml I think). Ive been giving it to him regularly as per the instructions and his boogies have reduced and he had a big nose bleed out burst but now it seems to have stopped all togther now. So safe to say the meds are doing something.

However my concerns arise after doing lots of google research. (He is my first puppy afterall, and I want the best for him) and finding all these diseases and infections young pups can get worry s me.
After trying to get more history on my puppy this is what I found.
What I found out about my boy is that hes not pure corso. but rather 1/4 Pit aswell.
Also found out he had no shots or vaccinations. So he got all these during that initial vet visit which was at (7weeks)
He had a deworming done as well.
I got him at 6weeks but i believe he was for sale at 5weeks, So i know he didnt receieve much of his mother milk.

For these reasons I feel hes more weak and prone to catching something. Currently I think he may have Distemper. I asked the vet and he said "no no not at all. just a small cut in his nose that got infected but should heal just fine with the antibiotics" I felt more at ease hearing that but still feel off.

Cloudy eyes,Green eye boogies.Sniffles. I dont know if any of it normal or minor etc.

Any related help wouild very very much appreciated!

 

[caudex]

Do you know where Mama is? Would her owner take him back for two weeks, since the pup has aready been paid for? I suppose not, if they were selling him so young. Otherwise, maybe someone can suggest an adequate substitute.

Baby needs milk, and is being set up for health problems without it.

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome and so sorry to hear about your pup's health. You can try giving him some goat's milk for a couple of weeks.

What are you feeding him? You can also add some cooked or raw meat, i.e. hamburger, chicken breasts or ground turkey to his food but once you start adding toppers, he will always want toppers. It is a hard habit to break.

I see pit in his face but his features will change as he matures. Regardless of his breed, he is adorable!

The following tips/suggestions are based on my experience as a dog mommy, forum member*s posts and volunteering at an animal shelter for a year.

*CRATE THE PUP

You want to crate train the pup. Make sure you have a blanket, stuffed animal (about their size) and white noise (ticking clock or ipod with soft music) so the pup can sleep. The pup is used to cuddling with siblings.

Make the crate the pup*s happy place to go to when he wants to sleep, decompress or just hang out.

*SECURE THE PUP NEAR THE FAMILY

You want to keep the pup in a room with a family member. Mastiffs need to be near their family members.

*FOOD

Find out what kind of food the shelter/rescue/breeder was feeding the pup and continue to feed it to the pup until you transition to a newer food because most shelters/rescues/breeders use the cheapest food, meaning it is not very good for the pup.

Slow transition to the new food is as follows to prevent diarrhea. If at any time during the transition, the pup has diarrhea return to previous amounts of food per feeding. If you are switching flavors made by the same manufacturer, you should not have to do a slow transition.

Amount per feeding:

Day 1-4 ¾ cup of old food and ¼ cup of new food.

Day 5-9 ½ cup of old food and ½ cup of new food.

Day 10-14 ¾ cup of new food and ¼ cup of old food

Day 15 Start 100% of new food

Generally, mastiffs are allergic to grain and chicken found in kibble. You can check www.dogfoodadvisor.com for dog food ratings and customer feedback. Mastiff puppies can eat Large Breed puppy or adult food and they can continue to eat the food all of their lives or you can switch them to a Large Breed Adult Food at about 8-10 months.

Check out Acana Regionals, Wellness Core, Earthborn Holistics, Fromm*s or Taste of the Wild. Chewy.com is a great place to order dog food.

You may want to check out the raw diet for your pup. Check out the sub forum on raw diet that has a wealth of information. It is not recommended to feed the pup kibble (one with grains) and raw food. Dr. Becker talks about this in one of her videos. Search Dr. Becker*s videos on youtube.com for a lot of great information regarding the raw diet. There are 3 parts to the series. Well worth the time to watch the videos.

*PUP NOT EATING WHEN YOU FIRST BRING THEM HOME

They are not used to their new environment and this is a natural behavior. Take the pup to a quiet place at meal times and sit and hand feed the pup. This will help the pup to eat when they are placed in a calm atmosphere, help you to bond with the pup and help the pup establish trust with you. As they become settled, they will naturally follow your routine.

*PROTECT THE PUP FROM DISEASE

Keep the pup in your yard and place newspapers down where they will walk on the ground. Keep the pup away from dog areas unless they have had their 2nd round of shots, 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round of shots is best so they will have some immunity to the infectious diseases, i.e. Parvo. This is very important!

*HOUSE TRAINING YOUR PUP

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/house-training-your-puppy

*SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE AND SOCIALIZE SOME MORE

Socialize after they*ve had at least 2 round of shots preferably 3 rounds of shots to be safe. Prior to the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] or 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round of shots, keep the pup in your own yard. If that is not possible, bring newspapers with you for the pup to walk on. Avoid dog parks and areas with a heavy traffic of animals.

Socialization can be the human park while the pup is on leash, riding in the car, sitting at the park or shopping center/mall, etc.

Tell strangers and strangers with pups “no touch, no talk, no look” at your pup as they approach. Bring your pup to sit while they approach. Have your pup approach the strangers and allow the pup to sniff them. Have a calm, controlled meeting. This shows your pup the correct way to greet strangers and other pups.

*TRAINING YOUR PUP

Start basic commands and reward with motivational treats (fav food or fav toy). Train for about 5 minutes per day and slowly increase the training time. Teach one command at a time. Once they master one command, move onto another command.


Number one command is sit. Teach the pup to sit, by placing a treat in front of his head and move it to the back causing him to sit to get the treat. When the pup sits, tell them good sit and give them the treat.

Second command should be "focus/look" This will help you tremendously when the pup is over 100 lbs. Put the pup into sit. With a treat in your hand (let the pup smell it), put the treat up to your eyes and tell the pup to look or focus. They may only do this for about 1-2 seconds. As soon as they look at your eyes, reward them. Generally, mastiffs do not like to look anyone in the eyes for long because that means a challenge to them.

Other commands are "down/off", "leave it," "wait" (short pause), "stay" (pausing until you release), drop it and "quiet/calm".

When you are training and when the pup does not do as you ask, then tell him no in a calm, stern voice and redirect back to the command. The only time a stern and loud NO should be used is when they are doing something that can cause harm to themselves or others.


Praise is the most powerful tool you have and the dog WANTS to please you. Show them clearly what you want, notice and praise when they comply, and learning goes much faster and pleasant for you both.

Mastiffs can be extremely stubborn and if you get frustrated with them, they will shut down and stop listening to you. Mastiffs do not do well with yelling or hitting. Hitting can result in some unwanted mastiff behavior meaning fear aggression, which equals biting.

*LEASH TRAINING

Have the wear the leash around the house to get used to it. Once they are used to the leash around their neck, then you can start the leash training. Have lots of motivational rewards on hand while doing the training. Consistency and patience is key.

If the dog pulls, do not walk until they stop and turn to look at you, then thank them with a motivational reward and start walking again. Tell him it's ok to walk by you start walking. When you have to stop, tell him stop or wait and tell him sit. Titan knows that when we are walking and I say, "wait," he has to stop and sit and wait for me to begin walking again. Requires a lot of consistent training and patience. Do this inside the house and then move to outside.

If they nip at you because they want to play, do the same. Stop, sit and wait. Reward the dog with motivational reward when they do the commands.


*PUPPY BITING/NIPPING/AROUND CHILDREN

Puppies will chew/bite anything they can find unless you re-direct the chewing/biting. Provide frozen washcloths or small towels, nylabones, ropes, deer antlers, Kongs with frozen yogurt so they can chew to their heart*s desire. Some people use boxes, be aware that the pup will continue to chew all boxes.

If you puppy is biting/nipping, then try the following. This behavior can sometimes take a lot of patience and consistency in training.

They bite and growl because that is how they played with their siblings.
When they bite, tell them “OW” in a high-pitched voice and “NO” in a stern, calm voice. NEVER HIT OR YELL AT A MASTIFF. Hitting can lead to fear aggression and yelling causes the pup to shut down on you and ignore you.

When the pup stops biting, tell them to sit and re-direct to one of the chew toys.

**Do not allow children and pup on the floor together. Pup will see them as playmates and nip at them. Picture the pup playing with their siblings.

Keep the pup on leash while the children are on the floor so you can have control of the pup. Pup and children should not be allowed to play alone.

Have the children hand fed the pup and help with training, i.e. teach the pup to sit, stay and come. This helps the pup to see them as non-playmates but as people in authority. These activities are great bonding exercises.

*EXERCISE

Puppies can exercise with natural movements and free play like running, stretching, playing on soft surfaces (grass and dirt). This type of exercise is actually healthy and good for their developing bodies but they do need to be able to pace themselves.

Structured exercise/play on hard surfaces and where they don't have they ability to pace themselves is where you need to be very careful. This type of exercise could harm the pup*s joints and bones. Puppies should not do any excessive exercise, i.e. walking, jumping, running and navigate stairs for the first 12 months to avoid injury.

Stairs should be maneuvered while on leash (even in the house) especially going down the stairs. Stairs should have carpet or rubber matting to give the pup traction. Mastiffs should be assisted up and down stairs until they are about age 12 months to prevent injury.

Most mastiffs can be very lazy but they still need to exercise. Generally, the amount of time to exercise is 5 minutes per each month of age.

*YOUR PUP AND HEAT (NOT THE FEMALE HEAT)

Remember, mastiffs do not tolerate heat. In the heat, reduce walk/exercise times. Have clean water available at all times. I freeze towels to either place on Titan or put on the floor for him to lie on in the summer to cool him off. Buy a kiddies* pool for the pup to play in to keep cool.

*DE-SEXING YOUR PUP

Mastiffs should not be neutered/spayed until 18 months to 2 years. NO MATTER what the vet says. Early neutering can cause growth problems and health issues. **Remember, you must be a very responsible dog owner to not neuter your pet to prevent unwanted pregnancies.**


Health Issues Linked to Spaying and Neutering Dogs


Enjoy your baby! Have lots of patience! The pup will reward you with love and loyalty!

 

[angelbears]

First I'm not a vet so take anything I say with a grain of salt. Speaking of vets, it sounds like you are not comfortable with yours. Is it possible that you can get a 2nd opinion?

Cloudy eyes,Green eye boogies.Sniffles. I dont know if any of it normal or minor etc. No, this is not normal and does seem to indicate an infection. With a puppy this young you want to make sure that he stays hydrated and is eating. How is his poop?

Right now his immune system is weak I would not be taking him anywhere or around other animals until he is stronger. Most puppies are going to have short bursts of energy then crash/sleep.

Because he is so young I would be contacting a vet if he misses a meal, stops drinking water, has diarrhea, or becomes lethargic.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[DennasMom]

1st thing. Stop worrying... relax. take a breath.
2nd - there's LOADS of great people here with lots of good advice (many with better advice than mine).

As for my advice... This little guy is yours now, and lives in the moment.
Join him there (in the moment). It's one of the best gifts my dogs ever gave me - the ability to stop thinking about the past and distant future, and just live in the moment.

So... for this moment -
Keep the puppy well fed, hydrated comfortable and relaxed, minimize stressors (new people and places can be introduced when he's feeling better), and avoid potential unknown germs (i.e. public parks or places where strange dogs hang out, in particular).

Then wait for the meds to do their work.

Get the best food you can for him (good protein, no grains, no corn, 1-1.5% calcium) and mix it with some water to soften it up a bit and let him eat his fill for at least 20 minutes 3x a day.

Goats milk is great for puppies, and if you can find it raw (normally sold for pet consumption only), it can help get his gut bugs in shape, which is good for a lasting immune system.
Once he's done with his antibiotics, you might want to consider adding in a probiotic to re-populate his gut bugs as fast as you can (good gut bugs are very important to the immune system).

Puppies do wean off of mother's milk in the 5 week time frame, so he could be just fine from that standpoint - and now that he's over 7 weeks old, he'd be on "solid" food now, anyway.
He probably was just exposed to something overwhelming at his young age, and is really, really lucky to have landed with someone who cares so much for his future.

Don't forget - lots of snuggle time to relax together - getting past this first hurdle (illness) can be a great bonding experience for you two.
So glad he found you!

...and... I'm also not a vet... so if you don't see improvements with the meds, rest and good food... I agree with AB... a second vet opinion might be a very good idea.

 

[jpw0025]

Any vomiting? Diarrhea? Green nasal discharge IS a symptom of Distemper, but I have seen it many many times in conjunction with other illnesses. I agree with what was said above, keep that baby hydrated with plenty of water WITH SUGAR. Like you're making sweet tea (I see you live in Canada, so you may not have the same ideals as us Southerners when it comes to tea makin' ;] ). Goats milk is good to supplement a "real food" diet, especially for a pup so young.

I don't like the way your vet sounds honestly I would expect mine (even if I weren't employed by him) to give me a detailed diagnosis, or at least tell me if he were unsure and wanted to run more tests, etc. Such a young pup with the symptoms you are describing is NOT normal and does not at all sound like "an infected cut in the nose". Now I'm only a tech so I of course am not as educated as he/she is, but I would recommend a second opinion. Good luck, and keep us informed!

 

[khplaw]

Oh my goodness. So many challenges for such a young one. Does he have a name? Others are right in saying that he is VERY lucky to have found his way into your life. A second opinion sounds like a great idea, or if not able to get one, ask the vet you saw for a more detailed explanation of his condition. If the vet balks or doesn;t provide answers you understand and see as realistic, find a new vet. I would certainly continue the antibiotics. If you are not able to find goats milk there are commercially available mother's milk substitutes. He should be into soft foods, but if the only way to keep him hydrated is to offer milk, by all means but try to avoid diarrhea as a result. My thinking would be to offer him anything he will eat or drink to rebuild his strength and worry about what he will expect later.

Yes, this is a blessed moment for bonding. Keep him with you, touching you whenever possible. Contact comfort is vital for animals who are unwell. When you cannot be there, get him a stuffed animal he can snuggle with and dress it in your old smelly tee shirt. The comfort of your touch heals in and of itself. He needs to know he is worthy of a good life, such as the one he will have with you. My Sophie was healthy upon arrival (except for a bit of dehydration, the runs and a UTI), and she was almost never out of my arms. I got one of those on the front baby carriers and put her in it. She slept alot, right over my heartbeat, and I believe that made oodles of difference. We slept on the livingroom floor for the first couple of weeks, together. She learned that she could turn to me for anything because I was always within reach. Take your pup out of doors in the baby carrier but not letting his feet down owing to his challenged immune system. He needs fresh air and to know that life gets better. Some people put them in strollers before they can make contact with the ground. You are together and he is safe. I always felt a specially warmed heart when she would roll over and snuggle up, with her neck across mine, breathing puppy breath. Those are treasured memories.

You are wise to have tapped into the wisdom this forum provides. Everyone here had an interest in providing the best possible care for the proper rearing of a mentally and physically healthy corso. These dogs are special, full blood or not. They require special training to ensure they are well socialized and trained. When they grow, they become stronger of body and mind that you will expect and it happens quickly. Let him get on hie feet, and then begin with obedience training. Little things like sit, and when he gets it right, throw him a party to celebrate. Build on his obedience repertoire, constantly providing positive reinforcement. These dogs want to please their people and delight in learning new things.

It would benefit you greatly to read posts on this forum as to how to work with these dogs. Consistency is key! You must be the Alpha without being aggressive, but rather assertive. Most texts on raising corso state that this is not a dog for a first time dog owner. I believe that you will, with proper care, and the help of experienced and sucessful owners. succeed in raising a safe and happy, dependable socially responsible dog. We are all here for you! POSITIVE reinforcement, consistency and kisses and cuddles go a long way.

The part of me that is upset with the person who sold this pup at such a young age would like to have a few choice words with that individual about responsibility, though I suspect they would fall on deaf ears. I am thankful that the individual who passed him along to you for your ownership and care had sense enough to do exactly that.

You are in for the adventure of your life, one that you will share with a dedicated and intensely loyal companion who wants nothing more than to learn and to please you. I must say that you have touched my heart with your willingness to do whatever it takes. Rest assured, we are all here to help as and when we can. Relax and take a breath is right. Settle in for the long haul and enjoy the trip!

 

[JassAndKane]

Welcome and so sorry to hear about your pup's health. You can try giving him some goat's milk for a couple of weeks.

What are you feeding him? You can also add some cooked or raw meat, i.e. hamburger, chicken breasts or ground turkey to his food but once you start adding toppers, he will always want toppers. It is a hard habit to break.

I see pit in his face but his features will change as he matures. Regardless of his breed, he is adorable!

The following tips/suggestions are based on my experience as a dog mommy, forum member*s posts and volunteering at an animal shelter for a year.

*CRATE THE PUP

You want to crate train the pup. Make sure you have a blanket, stuffed animal (about their size) and white noise (ticking clock or ipod with soft music) so the pup can sleep. The pup is used to cuddling with siblings.

Make the crate the pup*s happy place to go to when he wants to sleep, decompress or just hang out.

*SECURE THE PUP NEAR THE FAMILY

You want to keep the pup in a room with a family member. Mastiffs need to be near their family members.

*FOOD

Find out what kind of food the shelter/rescue/breeder was feeding the pup and continue to feed it to the pup until you transition to a newer food because most shelters/rescues/breeders use the cheapest food, meaning it is not very good for the pup.

Slow transition to the new food is as follows to prevent diarrhea. If at any time during the transition, the pup has diarrhea return to previous amounts of food per feeding. If you are switching flavors made by the same manufacturer, you should not have to do a slow transition.

Amount per feeding:

Day 1-4 ¾ cup of old food and ¼ cup of new food.

Day 5-9 ½ cup of old food and ½ cup of new food.

Day 10-14 ¾ cup of new food and ¼ cup of old food

Day 15 Start 100% of new food

Generally, mastiffs are allergic to grain and chicken found in kibble. You can check www.dogfoodadvisor.com for dog food ratings and customer feedback. Mastiff puppies can eat Large Breed puppy or adult food and they can continue to eat the food all of their lives or you can switch them to a Large Breed Adult Food at about 8-10 months.

Check out Acana Regionals, Wellness Core, Earthborn Holistics, Fromm*s or Taste of the Wild. Chewy.com is a great place to order dog food.

You may want to check out the raw diet for your pup. Check out the sub forum on raw diet that has a wealth of information. It is not recommended to feed the pup kibble (one with grains) and raw food. Dr. Becker talks about this in one of her videos. Search Dr. Becker*s videos on youtube.com for a lot of great information regarding the raw diet. There are 3 parts to the series. Well worth the time to watch the videos.

*PUP NOT EATING WHEN YOU FIRST BRING THEM HOME

They are not used to their new environment and this is a natural behavior. Take the pup to a quiet place at meal times and sit and hand feed the pup. This will help the pup to eat when they are placed in a calm atmosphere, help you to bond with the pup and help the pup establish trust with you. As they become settled, they will naturally follow your routine.

*PROTECT THE PUP FROM DISEASE

Keep the pup in your yard and place newspapers down where they will walk on the ground. Keep the pup away from dog areas unless they have had their 2nd round of shots, 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round of shots is best so they will have some immunity to the infectious diseases, i.e. Parvo. This is very important!

*HOUSE TRAINING YOUR PUP

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/house-training-your-puppy

*SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE AND SOCIALIZE SOME MORE

Socialize after they*ve had at least 2 round of shots preferably 3 rounds of shots to be safe. Prior to the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] or 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round of shots, keep the pup in your own yard. If that is not possible, bring newspapers with you for the pup to walk on. Avoid dog parks and areas with a heavy traffic of animals.

Socialization can be the human park while the pup is on leash, riding in the car, sitting at the park or shopping center/mall, etc.

Tell strangers and strangers with pups “no touch, no talk, no look†at your pup as they approach. Bring your pup to sit while they approach. Have your pup approach the strangers and allow the pup to sniff them. Have a calm, controlled meeting. This shows your pup the correct way to greet strangers and other pups.

*TRAINING YOUR PUP

Start basic commands and reward with motivational treats (fav food or fav toy). Train for about 5 minutes per day and slowly increase the training time. Teach one command at a time. Once they master one command, move onto another command.


Number one command is sit. Teach the pup to sit, by placing a treat in front of his head and move it to the back causing him to sit to get the treat. When the pup sits, tell them good sit and give them the treat.

Second command should be "focus/look" This will help you tremendously when the pup is over 100 lbs. Put the pup into sit. With a treat in your hand (let the pup smell it), put the treat up to your eyes and tell the pup to look or focus. They may only do this for about 1-2 seconds. As soon as they look at your eyes, reward them. Generally, mastiffs do not like to look anyone in the eyes for long because that means a challenge to them.

Other commands are "down/off", "leave it," "wait" (short pause), "stay" (pausing until you release), drop it and "quiet/calm".

When you are training and when the pup does not do as you ask, then tell him no in a calm, stern voice and redirect back to the command. The only time a stern and loud NO should be used is when they are doing something that can cause harm to themselves or others.


Praise is the most powerful tool you have and the dog WANTS to please you. Show them clearly what you want, notice and praise when they comply, and learning goes much faster and pleasant for you both.

Mastiffs can be extremely stubborn and if you get frustrated with them, they will shut down and stop listening to you. Mastiffs do not do well with yelling or hitting. Hitting can result in some unwanted mastiff behavior meaning fear aggression, which equals biting.

*LEASH TRAINING

Have the wear the leash around the house to get used to it. Once they are used to the leash around their neck, then you can start the leash training. Have lots of motivational rewards on hand while doing the training. Consistency and patience is key.

If the dog pulls, do not walk until they stop and turn to look at you, then thank them with a motivational reward and start walking again. Tell him it's ok to walk by you start walking. When you have to stop, tell him stop or wait and tell him sit. Titan knows that when we are walking and I say, "wait," he has to stop and sit and wait for me to begin walking again. Requires a lot of consistent training and patience. Do this inside the house and then move to outside.

If they nip at you because they want to play, do the same. Stop, sit and wait. Reward the dog with motivational reward when they do the commands.


*PUPPY BITING/NIPPING/AROUND CHILDREN

Puppies will chew/bite anything they can find unless you re-direct the chewing/biting. Provide frozen washcloths or small towels, nylabones, ropes, deer antlers, Kongs with frozen yogurt so they can chew to their heart*s desire. Some people use boxes, be aware that the pup will continue to chew all boxes.

If you puppy is biting/nipping, then try the following. This behavior can sometimes take a lot of patience and consistency in training.

They bite and growl because that is how they played with their siblings.
When they bite, tell them “OW†in a high-pitched voice and “NO†in a stern, calm voice. NEVER HIT OR YELL AT A MASTIFF. Hitting can lead to fear aggression and yelling causes the pup to shut down on you and ignore you.

When the pup stops biting, tell them to sit and re-direct to one of the chew toys.

**Do not allow children and pup on the floor together. Pup will see them as playmates and nip at them. Picture the pup playing with their siblings.

Keep the pup on leash while the children are on the floor so you can have control of the pup. Pup and children should not be allowed to play alone.

Have the children hand fed the pup and help with training, i.e. teach the pup to sit, stay and come. This helps the pup to see them as non-playmates but as people in authority. These activities are great bonding exercises.

*EXERCISE

Puppies can exercise with natural movements and free play like running, stretching, playing on soft surfaces (gr$#@! and dirt). This type of exercise is actually healthy and good for their developing bodies but they do need to be able to pace themselves.

Structured exercise/play on hard surfaces and where they don't have they ability to pace themselves is where you need to be very careful. This type of exercise could harm the pup*s joints and bones. Puppies should not do any excessive exercise, i.e. walking, jumping, running and navigate stairs for the first 12 months to avoid injury.

Stairs should be maneuvered while on leash (even in the house) especially going down the stairs. Stairs should have carpet or rubber matting to give the pup traction. Mastiffs should be $#@!isted up and down stairs until they are about age 12 months to prevent injury.

Most mastiffs can be very lazy but they still need to exercise. Generally, the amount of time to exercise is 5 minutes per each month of age.

*YOUR PUP AND HEAT (NOT THE FEMALE HEAT)

Remember, mastiffs do not tolerate heat. In the heat, reduce walk/exercise times. Have clean water available at all times. I freeze towels to either place on Titan or put on the floor for him to lie on in the summer to cool him off. Buy a kiddies* pool for the pup to play in to keep cool.

*DE-SEXING YOUR PUP

Mastiffs should not be neutered/spayed until 18 months to 2 years. NO MATTER what the vet says. Early neutering can cause growth problems and health issues. **Remember, you must be a very responsible dog owner to not neuter your pet to prevent unwanted pregnancies.**


Health Issues Linked to Spaying and Neutering Dogs


Enjoy your baby! Have lots of patience! The pup will reward you with love and loyalty!

Thank you so much for these tips. I have been looking around and memorizing things from different sources and its great to have all this info already made!

Currently I am feeding him Taste Of The Wild, High Prairie Puppy. and ive given him some unsauced beef hamburger before a couple of times. He loves it and gets so excited for it

 

[musicdeb]

Yes, puppies go crazy over meat. Good to hear that he's eating a high quality food. Keep us posted on the little guy!

 

[JassAndKane]

First I'm not a vet so take anything I say with a grain of salt. Speaking of vets, it sounds like you are not comfortable with yours. Is it possible that you can get a 2nd opinion?

Cloudy eyes,Green eye boogies.Sniffles. I dont know if any of it normal or minor etc. No, this is not normal and does seem to indicate an infection. With a puppy this young you want to make sure that he stays hydrated and is eating. How is his poop?

Right now his immune system is weak I would not be taking him anywhere or around other animals until he is stronger. Most puppies are going to have short bursts of energy then crash/sleep.

Because he is so young I would be contacting a vet if he misses a meal, stops drinking water, has diarrhea, or becomes lethargic.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I do trust him, he seems like a nice guy and really cares for animals but I feel like he just looked, came to an immediate conclusion and sent me off.

and as for Kane hes pretty energetic, he hasnt missed or neglected any meals or water so that should be a good sign. and his poop is very normal nothing off about it

 

[JassAndKane]

1st thing. Stop worrying... relax. take a breath.
2nd - there's LOADS of great people here with lots of good advice (many with better advice than mine).

As for my advice... This little guy is yours now, and lives in the moment.
Join him there (in the moment). It's one of the best gifts my dogs ever gave me - the ability to stop thinking about the past and distant future, and just live in the moment.

So... for this moment -
Keep the puppy well fed, hydrated comfortable and relaxed, minimize stressors (new people and places can be introduced when he's feeling better), and avoid potential unknown germs (i.e. public parks or places where strange dogs hang out, in particular).

Then wait for the meds to do their work.

Get the best food you can for him (good protein, no grains, no corn, 1-1.5% calcium) and mix it with some water to soften it up a bit and let him eat his fill for at least 20 minutes 3x a day.

Goats milk is great for puppies, and if you can find it raw (normally sold for pet consumption only), it can help get his gut bugs in shape, which is good for a lasting immune system.
Once he's done with his antibiotics, you might want to consider adding in a probiotic to re-populate his gut bugs as fast as you can (good gut bugs are very important to the immune system).

Puppies do wean off of mother's milk in the 5 week time frame, so he could be just fine from that standpoint - and now that he's over 7 weeks old, he'd be on "solid" food now, anyway.
He probably was just exposed to something overwhelming at his young age, and is really, really lucky to have landed with someone who cares so much for his future.

Don't forget - lots of snuggle time to relax together - getting past this first hurdle (illness) can be a great bonding experience for you two.
So glad he found you!

...and... I'm also not a vet... so if you don't see improvements with the meds, rest and good food... I agree with AB... a second vet opinion might be a very good idea.

Oh yea i completely agree. I try my best to relax and just enjoy our time together. Hes a really funny and playful guy which is why I get down knowing something isnt right.

Currently I have been feeding him Taste Of The Wild High Prarie Puppy Food. I do add the water just to help his new teeth out. and Could you explain the 20mins 3x a day please?

and I will look for goat milk. I have been reading up on it and im sure itll help him out. And what would you recommend as a probiotic ?

 

[JassAndKane]

Any vomiting? Diarrhea? Green nasal discharge IS a symptom of Distemper, but I have seen it many many times in conjunction with other illnesses. I agree with what was said above, keep that baby hydrated with plenty of water WITH SUGAR. Like you're making sweet tea (I see you live in Canada, so you may not have the same ideals as us Southerners when it comes to tea makin' ;] ). Goats milk is good to supplement a "real food" diet, especially for a pup so young.

I don't like the way your vet sounds honestly I would expect mine (even if I weren't employed by him) to give me a detailed diagnosis, or at least tell me if he were unsure and wanted to run more tests, etc. Such a young pup with the symptoms you are describing is NOT normal and does not at all sound like "an infected cut in the nose". Now I'm only a tech so I of course am not as educated as he/she is, but I would recommend a second opinion. Good luck, and keep us informed!

Nope no vomiting or diarrhea. and he has greenish EYE charge. As for his nose it stays wet. usually some white boogers. but this is after the whole nose bleeding incident. and at what ratio of water to sugar do you recommend? and yea unfortunely no southerners touch over here aha. I am for sure gonna try out the goats milk to get him stronger, do you know how often and how much I should give? And yes I agree completely I am gonna get the opinions of a few other vets!

Thank you for the info

 

[JassAndKane]

Oh my goodness. So many challenges for such a young one. Does he have a name? Others are right in saying that he is VERY lucky to have found his way into your life. A second opinion sounds like a great idea, or if not able to get one, ask the vet you saw for a more detailed explanation of his condition. If the vet balks or doesn;t provide answers you understand and see as realistic, find a new vet. I would certainly continue the antibiotics. If you are not able to find goats milk there are commercially available mother's milk substitutes. He should be into soft foods, but if the only way to keep him hydrated is to offer milk, by all means but try to avoid diarrhea as a result. My thinking would be to offer him anything he will eat or drink to rebuild his strength and worry about what he will expect later.

Yes, this is a blessed moment for bonding. Keep him with you, touching you whenever possible. Contact comfort is vital for animals who are unwell. When you cannot be there, get him a stuffed animal he can snuggle with and dress it in your old smelly tee shirt. The comfort of your touch heals in and of itself. He needs to know he is worthy of a good life, such as the one he will have with you. My Sophie was healthy upon arrival (except for a bit of dehydration, the runs and a UTI), and she was almost never out of my arms. I got one of those on the front baby carriers and put her in it. She slept alot, right over my heartbeat, and I believe that made oodles of difference. We slept on the livingroom floor for the first couple of weeks, together. She learned that she could turn to me for anything because I was always within reach. Take your pup out of doors in the baby carrier but not letting his feet down owing to his challenged immune system. He needs fresh air and to know that life gets better. Some people put them in strollers before they can make contact with the ground. You are together and he is safe. I always felt a specially warmed heart when she would roll over and snuggle up, with her neck across mine, breathing puppy breath. Those are treasured memories.

You are wise to have tapped into the wisdom this forum provides. Everyone here had an interest in providing the best possible care for the proper rearing of a mentally and physically healthy corso. These dogs are special, full blood or not. They require special training to ensure they are well socialized and trained. When they grow, they become stronger of body and mind that you will expect and it happens quickly. Let him get on hie feet, and then begin with obedience training. Little things like sit, and when he gets it right, throw him a party to celebrate. Build on his obedience repertoire, constantly providing positive reinforcement. These dogs want to please their people and delight in learning new things.

It would benefit you greatly to read posts on this forum as to how to work with these dogs. Consistency is key! You must be the Alpha without being aggressive, but rather $#@!ertive. Most texts on raising corso state that this is not a dog for a first time dog owner. I believe that you will, with proper care, and the help of experienced and sucessful owners. succeed in raising a safe and happy, dependable socially responsible dog. We are all here for you! POSITIVE reinforcement, consistency and kisses and cuddles go a long way.

The part of me that is upset with the person who sold this pup at such a young age would like to have a few choice words with that individual about responsibility, though I suspect they would fall on deaf ears. I am thankful that the individual who passed him along to you for your ownership and care had sense enough to do exactly that.

You are in for the adventure of your life, one that you will share with a dedicated and intensely loyal companion who wants nothing more than to learn and to please you. I must say that you have touched my heart with your willingness to do whatever it takes. Rest $#@!ured, we are all here to help as and when we can. Relax and take a breath is right. Settle in for the long haul and enjoy the trip!

I know I feel so bad for him, and his name is "Kane" I am looking around for good vets around my area to get a 2nd ( or 3rd and 4th) opinion.

I feel pretty comfortable giving him different food as he pretty much eats everything and never loses his appetite and still manages to have a consistent stool.

And I agree with you so much. My puppy barely ever leaves me or my brothers side. He insists on sleeping beside us lay next to us whenever he can. and with a face like his its hard to not give in. He is really a good thing for me as he really lightens up my day which is why I wanna return that and have whatevers the best for him.

 

[khplaw]

Glad to hear that he is eating and drinking well and thriving. For some reason I thought the situation was more dire, but you have it handled beautifully. So pleased that he seeks your company. And you are right, they do brighten up your day. How can you be upset with that face! Even when Sophie does something I would prefer she not do, I make the correction and try SO hard not to giggle. I have MS and staying active is important, and having a good attitude is as well. Couldn't have picked a better dog! Kane is a great name! Enjoy!

 

[Mag-Pie]

Welcome to the forum. Kane is a great name for your cute new puppy. I wish you and him many happy and healthy years together.

I have no advice to add, since I never dealt with a puppy BUT you've already gotten some great advice from the other experienced members. This forum is truly amazing, many people on here are very serious about their mastiffs and have the knowledge and experience to help you out with anything and everything. Reading through all the threads has helped me out a lot, and I've gotten very helpful advice on dealing specifically with my own CC; there is such a wealth of information here. Keep us posted on your progress, sounds like you got a good handle on Kanes' situations. He will grow fast so don't blink! And enjoy every moment with him. Cheers!

"The part of me that is upset with the person who sold this pup at such a young age would like to have a few choice words with that individual about responsibility, though I suspect they would fall on deaf ears. I am thankful that the individual who passed him along to you for your ownership and care had sense enough to do exactly that.

You are in for the adventure of your life, one that you will share with a dedicated and intensely loyal companion who wants nothing more than to learn and to please you. I must say that you have touched my heart with your willingness to do whatever it takes. Rest assured, we are all here to help as and when we can. Relax and take a breath is right. Settle in for the long haul and enjoy the trip!"

Absolutely. ^^^ I'm with khplaw.