Re: Muzzles [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=5447.msg68886#msg68886 date=1397751708] No joy, the fabric ones are designed specifically to hold the dogs mouth closed whereas a basket one simply puts a 'cage' around the mouth to prevent anything getting in the way of the teeth! [/quote] Oops sorry jen I had hold of the wrong end of the stick : x
Re: Muzzles No probs Helen thanks for trying. Back to a basket over the head. Now that's an idea. I've now got an image in my head Lauren of you standing with a handful of muzzles in front of a row of snarling beasts doing eeny meeny miney mo ;D ;D ;D. Thanks for all your advice.
Re: Muzzles Turns out working out the size of a muzzle is not exactly straight forward. : I googled size guides for Baskerville ultra. Labrador retriever size 5. Then I googled measurements. Found 3 with slightly different measurements! :-\ Measured S&S . They don't fit any really. If the circumference is right its too long, if the length right circumference too small. I found company of animals UK website and rang. Very helpful. She suggested size 4 for scout and size 5 for Scott as he has bigger circumference. However size 5 would be too long really. :-\ She asked if I'd considered their original Baskerville muzzle as it is more suitable for the long nose breeds and the difference in length and width is not as great. A size 7 would fit both. I'm hoping you might read this lauren. Have you used the original Baskerville and what did you think of it compared to the ultra ? PS I re measured Scott's circumference today it's 1cm less !!! This is why I'm not confident with my measurements. Also it depends how tight I have the string . :-\ . The size 4 would now fit Scott. Oh bother
Re: Muzzles Yep, the normal Baskerville ones are the ones we used most often. The good thing about them is they have a little plastic guard at the end that you can remove and there's about 3/4 inch extra nose space there. They're the ones mostly commonly used anywhere, but they only come in brown. Are your dogs about average size? Looking at an average sized lab in my head a size 7 sounds about right...
Re: Muzzles Thank you Lauren sorry to be a pest. I would say they are quite small for labs but my old lab was big for a Labrador so perhaps that's why. The woman at companion animals who make them told me size 7 when I gave her the measurements. I'll go with those then if you think they are ok. The colour is only for my benefit it doesn't really matter what colour as long as they do the job. Thanks again I really appreciate it.
Re: Muzzles Had to use muzzles for real for the first time this morning. Took Scott to the vet just an upset stomach. He ate pigeon muck last Sunday and had a dodgey stomach Tuesday night. I dosed him up with pro kolin which seemed to work as he was normal for a couple of days but dodgey again this morning. I decided it was problem some bug or other and I'd better take him and of course you know how neurotic I am about diarrhea. : Scott doesn't like the vet coming near him obviously but it's not as much of an ordeal as scout who just has a look of shear terror and panic in his eyes. Thanks to all of Lauren's advice I spent quite a few weeks getting them used to putting on and wearing a muzzle. Starting with just putting their nose in, then fastening it and eventually walking around the yard in it. When the vet was ready to examine Scott I told him 'put your muzzle on' he immediately stuck his nose in and didn't bother with it at all. I think my vet was quite impressed. Scott even took biscuits off me through the bars . Thank you Lauren for all your help and advice about muzzles they are a success. ;D
Re: Muzzles Hope the tummy gets better. That's brill about the muzzle - I bet everyone is more relaxed, hopefully that will help Scott relax a bit more too. Well done you.
Re: Muzzles Sucks you had to use them, but it's good that they didn't mind having them on. I hope it helped everyone to relax a bit more. Hope Scott feels better soon!
Re: Muzzles Jen, I hope Scott is OK now and it's nothing too serious poor boy Very well done for your work with the muzzle, I bet you felt calmer and Scott too xx
Re: Muzzles Great job on working up to this Jen,I know it will have been stressful for you knowing you had a vet visit x What they did they actually diagnose? X
Re: Muzzles Thanks all I was really pleased at how good he was with his muzzle. ;D He didn't really diagnose anything specific Angela just a bug of some sort. :. Scott doesnt seem too bad really (im now touching wood) but as its the weekend and it happened twice in a week I thought it best to see the vet. I probably would have left it 24 hours had it been a weekday. Also my vet is very nice and because my dogs get so stressed if one gets a bug he always tells me if the other starts with it within a few days I can just ring and he will give me the same meds without having to traumatise the dog. Now Scott's been scout's covered if its something catching.
Re: Muzzles A yes from me too. It will take pressure off you, make you feel more relaxed and the dogs will probably pick up on that. And you are not a failure, how can you be when you're thinking of the best thing to do for your furry friends. We all have setbacks, i know i did with meg, but no way is that failure. It's all a learning curve. You're doing brilliant job.
