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INFO:
Why You Should Vaccinate
(and Other Responsibilities)
By Scot Billings |
DISCLAIMER
This page Links you to
Articles and Protocol areas which contain important Information. Please
do
NOT accept the info you
read on this page or ANY other page in this or any website as GOSPEL.
Instead, read, learn,
study some more, then form your own conclusion after consulting with your
own Veterinarian.
Owner Responsibilities
First I would like to clear up a few misconceptions. A number
of authors, including Anna Katherine Nicholas, mention reports that on
Egyptian Monuments dating several thousand years B.C. there are drawings
of dogs closely resembling our Great Danes, and written descriptions of
such in Chinese literature of 1121 B.C. which basically makes Great Danes
in the "Wild" quite a few thousand years ago. During that time
they have been under the care & protection, in varying states, of Humans.
Either way they are "domesticated".
Now if we want to have everything the way it was "In the wild" we would
need to accept the concept that if I desire a particular woman I am allowed
to just go over, hit her on the head with my club or a rock, & drag
her back to my "cave". I think there are quite a few list members
who would object to that idea.
Great Danes, & most canines, have been domesticated animals for hundreds
of centuries. Being domesticated means that we are totally
responsible for their well-being so we are morally responsible for their
health, good or bad.
To give you just a few of the reasons that IMNSHO we can NOT just let nature
"take it's course", we will start with the "pre-litter" time.
To try to control diseases we need to either have vaccines
given by a Vet or research and use nosodes. In most states
you must give Rabies vaccines, not should but MUST. IMNSHO
if you have a bitch you are obligated to do 1 of 2 things: watch her closely
for a while after her season since many bitches are no longer "spotting"
when they ovulate, nor have they been for some time; or get her spayed
since you are not able to watch her. If you are not ready to
watch & assist in the raising of your dependents (which is what the
puppies are) then you should spay a bitch asap since that is no more than
"Preventative Medicine". Preventative from not only pregnancy
but also ill health. This is one of the reasons for a fenced
yard since without a fence you are sure to have her attacked by other canines
belonging to people who are disobeying the law since most areas have leash
laws.
Consider how much assistance and/or care you give through the whelping.
The thought that a bitch is responsible for all of her whelping is, to
put it very mildly, extremely irresponsible and uncaring.
As soon as any indication is made that whelping is imminent it is your
obligation to stay with the bitch and regularly keep in contact with the
Vet that you have taken her to for pre-natal care. In our case
recently we were lucky enough to have Gypsy start whelping at 8:05 A.M.
unlike many of our other bitches that have started between 10 P.M. and
1 A.M. & gone thru the night & into the next day. One
of the 2 of us was with the bitch every minute once she started & gave
assistance (pit shots) as needed during the whelping. We also
have always broken the sack & done everything we could to make sure
the
puppies were breathing regularly
as well as dry before we put them on the bitch to feed. We
do NOT do this because we find it enjoyable or relaxing, but rather because
it is OUR obligation.
Now we get to puppies after the whelping. I will make this as short
as possible although I can't make it very sweet. Our days,
and into the night, are spent helping the puppies find a teat since their
eyes are not open yet, weighing them at least once a day to be sure they
are gaining weight. The first day they may lose a small amount
but from then on any loss is an indication of sickness or a bitch drying
up. There is also the duty of cleaning up after them when the
"Mom" misses something. All of this is still not really that
enjoyable but it IS an obligation.
Now we get to placement which ends up a rather large job since if you don't
do it completely or correctly you have the Obligation to correct your error
by taking, or buying, the puppy back.
Now another few expenses are considered by some as choice.
I will agree that there is no obligation to cropping but IMNSHO it is recommended.
Dew Claws is a different story IMO. They should be removed
sometime prior to the end of the 3rd day after birth. This
litter a week ago had them removed a few hours after whelping.
This is done at that time because it is less trauma, less expensive, &
quicker healing. The reasons for doing it include the elimination
of future injury & possible loss (painful), & most important in
case the new owner allows a breeding to occur either intentionally or because
of irresponsibility. Of course it is no problem at all if you
don't care about the bitch enough to eliminate the pain the dew claw will
cause in breeding.
Sorry for the length but I thought it might be good to see another point
of view.
Scot Billings - Rokadane
- Union Michigan USA
Fawns & Brindles bred
to WIN! - (your Heart)
Mailto:rokadane@greatdane.com
Website - http://www.gdr.com/rokadane
Voice: 616/641-5336
Fax: 616/641-7871 |
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