Dear Dr. Forsythe: I want to get a dog and I really like Labradors. Do they make good guard dogs? Also, can you tell me if they shed? Thanks.
Kristin, Sonoma
Dear Kristin: Sorry, but they are not the best guard dogs. Some can be a little protective and a few will bark if they see something coming they don’t like, especially if it is coming towards their yard. But if you really want a guard dog for any sort of protection, the Labrador is not a great choice. They are a great choice for a hunting dog, a companion, a family dog and a pet to smooch and love. They usually do a good job as an “alarm barker” to announce the arrival of someone. Then, as your “friend” (or burglar for that matter!) comes through the door, they will do a great job trouncing around and wagging their tail, smiling and bubbling up with joy, overflowing with happiness and love.
Labradors do shed, since they have a double coat. This means they have a soft, downy undercoat and a harder guard coat. The two coats help keep the pet warm and dry while swimming in cold water and retrieving ducks. Generally, they will shed their coat twice a year, which is called “blowing” their coat. If you get a lab, you should plan on brushing the pet with a “slicker” type of brush about once a week to keep the pet clean.
I cannot recommend the Labrador enough as a wonderful pet to help fill your life with joy and happiness. I see many of them at my hospital, and they are such wonderful pets and companions. Most of them are firmly tasked on raising children, and they are bonded to the kids in their family, integrated as household “treasures” and family members. How amazing is that?
But although I love Labradors, for guard purposes, you may want to consider a breed such as a Doberman Pinscher. This breed that makes an excellent guard dog, sheds very little and is smart, sweet, and very loyal. Perhaps you should go to a dog show and check out this special and phenomenal breed of dog, then write me back and let me know what you think, OK?
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My four-year-old Bullmastiff has a discharge from her back end that has been draining off and on for a week. This started about three weeks after her last heat cycle ended. We are concerned about this infection and suspect she may even have a foxtail embedded in her private parts. She seems fine otherwise, so would an antibiotic fix this?
Bella’s dad
Dear Bella’s dad: While a foxtail is always a possibility, it is far more likely that your girl has pyometra, an infection in her uterus that happens frequently with “intact” females after an estrus cycle. These pets develop a “not so fresh feeling” and with an open pyometra, the infection just begins to drain out. (More difficult do diagnose is a “closed” pyometra, because the cervix is closed so there is no puss draining out to notice grossly). Clinical signs include excessive drinking, anorexia, and even vomiting. The infection can be life-threatening and most veterinarians will perform an emergency spay to remove the infected uterus and save the pet’s life. I urge you to contact your veterinarian immediately and have Bella checked for this problem via blood work and an X-ray. And yes, antibiotics will help fix it, but usually they are given in conjunction with surgery, not instead of it.
Good luck with your special girl.
Dr. F
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