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Biggest dog in the US
- Thread starter QRTRHRS
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Here's a pic., but it ain't pretty
This is a scan from todays newspaper. It's not a good pic. to begin with, but I'm curious as to what you think. My take is that this dog is grossly overweight and in need of a diet, almost makes me sick to see that someone has allowed their dog to get to this condition, he must have the life expectancy of a common house fly. If you look at his fore legs, they are not built for 300 lbs. IMHO. Maybe 180-200 at the most. The dog next to Moose is a one year old bulldog, according to the paper.
Scott W.
This is a scan from todays newspaper. It's not a good pic. to begin with, but I'm curious as to what you think. My take is that this dog is grossly overweight and in need of a diet, almost makes me sick to see that someone has allowed their dog to get to this condition, he must have the life expectancy of a common house fly. If you look at his fore legs, they are not built for 300 lbs. IMHO. Maybe 180-200 at the most. The dog next to Moose is a one year old bulldog, according to the paper.
Scott W.
WOW!
Hey Scott,
Sorry I asked for a picture.
MAN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Someone call Richard Simmons! 
I would hope to think that maybe it's just the angle that the pic was taken at, but then again, the size of the head compared to the girth of the body would suggest that Moose is way overweight. 
He probably won't last long if that's the case.
Hey Scott,
Sorry I asked for a picture.
MAN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Someone call Richard Simmons! I would hope to think that maybe it's just the angle that the pic was taken at, but then again, the size of the head compared to the girth of the body would suggest that Moose is way overweight. He probably won't last long if that's the case. 
kitties
pnwradar:
is that picture for real? with the photo editing done nowadays, i've gotten so i can't believe my eyes, sometimes... ... i thought we had a big cat--manx cross weighing about 22-24#. and yes, he's overweight. my owmbo put him on a diet. he kept insisting on more food. she tried to ignore him, til one day he bit her on the ankle. we feed him enough now to keep him happy. what the heck, he's about 12 years old now and still appears in good health--and happy.
pnwradar:
is that picture for real? with the photo editing done nowadays, i've gotten so i can't believe my eyes, sometimes... ... i thought we had a big cat--manx cross weighing about 22-24#. and yes, he's overweight. my owmbo put him on a diet. he kept insisting on more food. she tried to ignore him, til one day he bit her on the ankle. we feed him enough now to keep him happy. what the heck, he's about 12 years old now and still appears in good health--and happy.
Re: kitties
You're right, it's a doctored picture. Visit my favorite Urban Legends website for the full story (and a whole lot of other far-fetched tales that have gained new life over the Internet and email.
-jon-
You're right, it's a doctored picture. Visit my favorite Urban Legends website for the full story (and a whole lot of other far-fetched tales that have gained new life over the Internet and email.
-jon-
DBR told me to check out this post (this is his better half). As a veterinarian, I see this all the time. Obesity is one of the most common client education lectures I have to deliver, second only to proper dental care. People kill their pets through kindness, believing that food/treats will make their pets happy. It seems that the football dogs (poodles, pugs, dachshunds) are the most common victims, however Labs and Rotties are right up there as well. You are right, these people do not do their pets any favors and their longevity here on this earth is very threatened by their obesity. Somewhere, underneath all of Moose's fat is a heart that must pump blood through all that excess tissue... that is quite a work-out for an organ that cannot grow stronger (well, it can grow stronger per se, but not without causing other blood output deficiencies). Plus, he's got 6" of fat on either side of his chest that must rise and fall with every breath he takes. That is an effort in itself. An animal's body is constructed with a certain conformation and weight carriage in mind. Moose's obesity places extra strain on bones that simply weren't designed to carry that weight. What happens if Moose has hip dysplasia or some other degenerative bone diseases (ie arthritis)? How would you help that dog get around?
Perhaps the saddest thing about this is that there are people out there who purposefully do this to their dogs for the publicity and attention. I myself have personally encountered two separate individuals who prided themselves on their pet's weights and wanted to contact the newspapers (or in one case, David Letterman) for the news coverage. SICK!
This is obviously a very frustrating aspect of my career. I'll get off my soap box now. By the way, Pit Bull owners... I would trust a Bull Terrier, Pit, etc long before I would trust a Cocker Spaniel. The Pits get such a bad reputation because they do soooo much damage when they do bite, but in reality, you are more likely to get bit by a Poodle or Yorkie (I'm very serious about this) than you are a Pit.
Perhaps the saddest thing about this is that there are people out there who purposefully do this to their dogs for the publicity and attention. I myself have personally encountered two separate individuals who prided themselves on their pet's weights and wanted to contact the newspapers (or in one case, David Letterman) for the news coverage. SICK!
This is obviously a very frustrating aspect of my career. I'll get off my soap box now. By the way, Pit Bull owners... I would trust a Bull Terrier, Pit, etc long before I would trust a Cocker Spaniel. The Pits get such a bad reputation because they do soooo much damage when they do bite, but in reality, you are more likely to get bit by a Poodle or Yorkie (I'm very serious about this) than you are a Pit.
.
RedNuts98
Your question is valid, and often asked.
To put it simply, REAL BONES ARE BAD. I don't care how big it is or how it has been treated, the risks severely outweigh the benefits. When dogs chew bones, they splinter them into smaller pieces which can then obstruct the gut, or worse yet, penetrate it. At the very least, they can wreak havoc on the intestinal lining, scraping along the intestinal walls as the peristaltic contractions push the sharp fragments down the GI tract. I've had clients poo-poo my stance on this, stating that dogs have been eating bones for years only to have them change their own opinions when their dog presents with bloody diarrhea and inappetance (and a rectum full of bone fragments)!
I don't recommend pig's ears or rawhide chews to clients anymore. Unfortunately, they are a wonderful way to contract Salmonella. Most dogs seem to tolerate it, but if you handle the product (or your children do) and you do not use proper hygiene, you could become infected. Nice, huh? They don't warn you about that at the pet stores! There is a company that has developed sterilized rawhides to prevent this, but I still don't recommend them anyway. I have witnessed my own dog choking on a soggy, chewed on, floppy rawhide chip that he decided to inhale instead of swallow. Luckily, the Heimlich maneuver translates to dogs! Another problem that rawhides can cause is intestinal obstruction if the product has not been chewed into small enough pieces. I have had to perform exploratory surgery on a young retriever in order to remove a wad of impacted rawhide. Plus, if your dog has food allergies to beef or pork, these will only exacerbate the problem.
Ideally, you don't want to give your dog items to chew on as this will cause wear on the teeth and may even result in tooth fracture, but if chewing is your only option for providing dental care, there are some more effective options than rawhide or bone. Pedigree Dentabones are good as they chip into smaller pieces and are digestable, but if your dog is an effective chewer, these don't last long (my Lab will eat a large one in 8 minutes!). Nylabone has come up with a plethora of synthetic bone chews that I consider to be safe, however you need to monitor your dog with them and be sure that when the toy is chewed to a point where it can be swallowed, you throw it away. Booda Velvets are great as they are made out of cornstarch and dissolve slowly as your dog chews them. I worry the least about these as they should dissolve in your dog's GI tract if he were to swallow too big a chunk. Nylabone's Gumabones are good for aggressive chewers. I bought an extra large one for my two Labs about 2 months ago and they have only disfigured the ends, plus they are still interested in it and chew on it regularly. Visit your local pet store, you will be overwhelmed by the dental bone section!
Other options include wiping a tartar control gel ("CHX" chlorhexidine oral gel, available at veterinary clinics), or even the toothpastes, on your dog's teeth. If he won't allow you to brush his teeth, but will tolerate your wiping that delicious chicken-flavored toothpaste over his teeth and gums, you will at least be providing enzymatic care to the teeth (the enzymes help kill the bacteria that causes plaque... kind of like a doggie Listerine!). Some pet foods have been developed to aid in dental care as well. Science Diet mades T/D (a tartar control diet) that has been proven to diminish tartar build-up, plus there are many pet food companies that sell tartar control treats. None of these are a replacement for brushing, but they will help owners of dogs that won't tolerate manipulation.
Finally, if the tartar is caked or cemented on the teeth, the only way to remove it is to have your dog's teeth scaled with an ultrasonic scaler while it is anesthetized (they don't seem to cooperate very well when they are awake!). As we don't like to anesthetize animals more often than necessary, anything you do at home to prevent tartar build-up will be beneficial to your pet.
Wow, this lecture takes longer to write than it does to verbally deliver! Sorry to be so wordy, but dental disease is the most common disease suffered by our loyal, furry friends and it is the easiest one to prevent!
K
RedNuts98
Your question is valid, and often asked.
To put it simply, REAL BONES ARE BAD. I don't care how big it is or how it has been treated, the risks severely outweigh the benefits. When dogs chew bones, they splinter them into smaller pieces which can then obstruct the gut, or worse yet, penetrate it. At the very least, they can wreak havoc on the intestinal lining, scraping along the intestinal walls as the peristaltic contractions push the sharp fragments down the GI tract. I've had clients poo-poo my stance on this, stating that dogs have been eating bones for years only to have them change their own opinions when their dog presents with bloody diarrhea and inappetance (and a rectum full of bone fragments)!
I don't recommend pig's ears or rawhide chews to clients anymore. Unfortunately, they are a wonderful way to contract Salmonella. Most dogs seem to tolerate it, but if you handle the product (or your children do) and you do not use proper hygiene, you could become infected. Nice, huh? They don't warn you about that at the pet stores! There is a company that has developed sterilized rawhides to prevent this, but I still don't recommend them anyway. I have witnessed my own dog choking on a soggy, chewed on, floppy rawhide chip that he decided to inhale instead of swallow. Luckily, the Heimlich maneuver translates to dogs! Another problem that rawhides can cause is intestinal obstruction if the product has not been chewed into small enough pieces. I have had to perform exploratory surgery on a young retriever in order to remove a wad of impacted rawhide. Plus, if your dog has food allergies to beef or pork, these will only exacerbate the problem.
Ideally, you don't want to give your dog items to chew on as this will cause wear on the teeth and may even result in tooth fracture, but if chewing is your only option for providing dental care, there are some more effective options than rawhide or bone. Pedigree Dentabones are good as they chip into smaller pieces and are digestable, but if your dog is an effective chewer, these don't last long (my Lab will eat a large one in 8 minutes!). Nylabone has come up with a plethora of synthetic bone chews that I consider to be safe, however you need to monitor your dog with them and be sure that when the toy is chewed to a point where it can be swallowed, you throw it away. Booda Velvets are great as they are made out of cornstarch and dissolve slowly as your dog chews them. I worry the least about these as they should dissolve in your dog's GI tract if he were to swallow too big a chunk. Nylabone's Gumabones are good for aggressive chewers. I bought an extra large one for my two Labs about 2 months ago and they have only disfigured the ends, plus they are still interested in it and chew on it regularly. Visit your local pet store, you will be overwhelmed by the dental bone section!
Other options include wiping a tartar control gel ("CHX" chlorhexidine oral gel, available at veterinary clinics), or even the toothpastes, on your dog's teeth. If he won't allow you to brush his teeth, but will tolerate your wiping that delicious chicken-flavored toothpaste over his teeth and gums, you will at least be providing enzymatic care to the teeth (the enzymes help kill the bacteria that causes plaque... kind of like a doggie Listerine!). Some pet foods have been developed to aid in dental care as well. Science Diet mades T/D (a tartar control diet) that has been proven to diminish tartar build-up, plus there are many pet food companies that sell tartar control treats. None of these are a replacement for brushing, but they will help owners of dogs that won't tolerate manipulation.
Finally, if the tartar is caked or cemented on the teeth, the only way to remove it is to have your dog's teeth scaled with an ultrasonic scaler while it is anesthetized (they don't seem to cooperate very well when they are awake!). As we don't like to anesthetize animals more often than necessary, anything you do at home to prevent tartar build-up will be beneficial to your pet.
Wow, this lecture takes longer to write than it does to verbally deliver! Sorry to be so wordy, but dental disease is the most common disease suffered by our loyal, furry friends and it is the easiest one to prevent!
K
Last edited:
Picture
I've been waiting patiently to see a picture of Moose. Now I'm not sure it was worth the wait. Can the owners be held accountable for Mooses' obeseity? I love big dogs but big fat dogs, fat to the point of being unhealthy, make me sad. Moose needs a new home and a new playmate. Maybe he and Baxter would get along
.
Ok, I'm done whining.
Nick
I've been waiting patiently to see a picture of Moose. Now I'm not sure it was worth the wait. Can the owners be held accountable for Mooses' obeseity? I love big dogs but big fat dogs, fat to the point of being unhealthy, make me sad. Moose needs a new home and a new playmate. Maybe he and Baxter would get along
. Ok, I'm done whining.
Nick
That dog is way too fat.
This is a pic of what my puppy looks like. I dont have a digital camera, or a scanner.
Lets see if I can make this work... ...
She's 6 months old. Today isnt going to be fun for her. She's at the Vet getting spayed.
Eric
This is a pic of what my puppy looks like. I dont have a digital camera, or a scanner.
Lets see if I can make this work... ...
She's 6 months old. Today isnt going to be fun for her. She's at the Vet getting spayed.
Eric
DBR (Doc), you made a good point about monitoring a dog while they are chewing on Nylabone's.
To be honest, before I continue, it may not have been a Nylabone that caused the problem I had. It is possible it was some other brand. Anyway, my French Beauceron (herding dog) started to drool out of one side of his mouth. As best I could, I looked for a tooth problem or something. He is a rescue and coming from a puppy mill, he did not get handled as a pup. So, he does not make certain things like dental exams easy.
Seeing nothing, I watched him for the day. He is a big clutz and runs into stuff so I thought he may have banged his head badly. When it continued, I took him to the vet the next day. They could find nothing but also thought it may be nurological. The drooling got worse that night so I took him to an emergency pet hospital. The vet found nothing. On the way out, another vet saw him. She said, "I heard about you, big guy, let me have a look at you". Beauceron's are somewhat rare by the way. Anyway, she looks in his mouth. I was straddling him this time so my view was different. Just like that we both saw something at the gum line. Turned out he had a piece of artificial bone wedged into the gum kind of hidden by his teeth. Must have been there a few days from the rank smell.
To be honest, before I continue, it may not have been a Nylabone that caused the problem I had. It is possible it was some other brand. Anyway, my French Beauceron (herding dog) started to drool out of one side of his mouth. As best I could, I looked for a tooth problem or something. He is a rescue and coming from a puppy mill, he did not get handled as a pup. So, he does not make certain things like dental exams easy.
Seeing nothing, I watched him for the day. He is a big clutz and runs into stuff so I thought he may have banged his head badly. When it continued, I took him to the vet the next day. They could find nothing but also thought it may be nurological. The drooling got worse that night so I took him to an emergency pet hospital. The vet found nothing. On the way out, another vet saw him. She said, "I heard about you, big guy, let me have a look at you". Beauceron's are somewhat rare by the way. Anyway, she looks in his mouth. I was straddling him this time so my view was different. Just like that we both saw something at the gum line. Turned out he had a piece of artificial bone wedged into the gum kind of hidden by his teeth. Must have been there a few days from the rank smell.
Thanks Scott. That's not an actual pic of her, but theyre almost identical. I wish the quality of the pic was better.
She weighed 47 lbs at the vet yesterday. Vet said she should be about 80 lbs when full grown. When we first got her, she looked very much like a Newfoundland, but now she appears to be more like a black German Shepherd/husky mix.
I know everyone has the smartest dog... . right?
But she really is smart!
Eric
She weighed 47 lbs at the vet yesterday. Vet said she should be about 80 lbs when full grown. When we first got her, she looked very much like a Newfoundland, but now she appears to be more like a black German Shepherd/husky mix.
I know everyone has the smartest dog... . right?
But she really is smart!
Eric
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Renew
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