New BullMastiff owner

[NatalieRose]

Hey guys,

My name is Natalie and yesterday I adopted a 7 year old bullmastiff named Major.

He's a smaller boy at 110lbs and has mild epilepsy. He's pretty well trained but has a few behavior issues that we'll be working on.

any advice or tips are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[angelbears]

Welcome and thank you for adopting. We would love to see some pictures. I have had a few pets with epilepsy. Most mild, a couple not so much. Did they give you meds? If he has a seizure be sure and keep your face away from his. Especially, since you haven't bonded yet and you don't know what his seizures are like. Some dogs will snap at you when they are coming out of one, only because they are out of it and really don't know what they are doing. Some are also blind and very disoriented for a few minutes after coming out of one. I has a 100 pound German Sheppard that as soon as she could would get up and try to run, crashing in to things. I have never been hurt by one of my dogs and nothing was ever broken. Just be careful until you know how Major is going to react.

 

[NatalieRose]

That's great advice thank you.

He is on medicine...phenobarbatol? (sp) something like that.

I was so happy to adopt him. I can work longer hours so getting a puppy seemed unfair but it's hard finding an adult that's good with other dogs and cats. He's great with both in the house but when he sees the cat in the yard he chases. So we'll be working on that with training.

Here is a photo of us right before we left the shelter parking lot Jumped right into my car thank goodness- I couldn't have gotten him in without his cooperation! ha

I just posted a thread in behavior as well- The other thing we're working on is he barks whenever he wants to go out...which is 4 times a night. So I'm going to try a more structured crate/walk regime and see if he can sleep through the night.

 

[angelbears]

Pheno can be very hard on their liver. A vet really should monitor it. I also found that it was cheaper to buy from the pharmacy than the vet.

 

[angelbears]

He is very handsome!

 

[NatalieRose]

Pheno can be very $#@! their liver. A vet really should monitor it. I also found that it was cheaper to buy from the pharmacy than the vet.

Good to know.

Yes his last vet suggested blood draws every 6 months to monitor according to his chart.

My last pet was a cat w/ hypothyroid who also needed regular draws - so I guess I'm just only willing to own expensive special needs pets? ha

 

[Harrygto]

thanks for adopting that good looking older pup

 

[NatalieRose]

thanks for adopting that good looking older pup

7 was the perfect age for me. And come on, look at that face. I was doomed from the start.