Dogs

» lolasmom - dane/mastiff

I sure hope the lifespan is Loooong! My rottie diesd at 6 years old after a battle with cancer on top of previous hip dysplasia, mange, etc. I felt she was overinbred to start and then hed too much of a toxic load from being over medically-treated (vaccinations, dips, pesticide-laden preventatives orally & externally) in her early months.

So far Lola is a very healthy 3 years+. We cook for her (organic chicken & other meats + veggies - no grains, some dairy, added vitamins & fish oil); she snacks on carrots, apples and bones; via our holistic vet (Dr. Marty Goldstein recently on Oprah), we only vaccinate her with the most needed, risk/reward analyzed vaccines and only when her antibody level titers indicate she needs protection (not annual shots, but rather annual blood tests to check titers). We use nautral herbal sprays and shampoo. We keep an organic, not Chemlawned yard and never use toxins/pesticides in our home. She is very loved and seems happy, she vacations with us, sleeps with us, etc. I hope all this plus her mixed breededness will help her overcome the large pure breed short lifespan. We shall see.

-- posted by lolasmom