Annmarie

My 2 year old siberian husky seems to suffer from having a very sensitive stomach. He is seen by the vet reguarly and is healthy over-all. I recently took him off his store bought dog food and decided to go "all natural" assuming it'd favor with him more. Ingredients such as beef, chicken, eggs, dog friendly vegetables, and rice. Everything appeared to be going fine at first. Now, here he is again with his upset tummy. When he pukes, the food shows very minimal signs of digestion. Same thing was happening with his kibble. He's also sensative to certain things... Like non-natural rawhide chews (we're finding this out now). He's not a sickly dog, he just has digestive issues.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Any knowledge of "friendly" foods for him or reasons why he may not be digesting properly. What can I add to his meals to help or is there an excellent brand of kibble you know from experience is great? He's done this since he was a puppy. It's his trademark. Thanks!

I really need some advice right now before I rush myself into the hospital from all this stress. I'm 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant. Last week Friday to be exact, my regular Advanced Practice Midwife, at my OBG office, did a cervical exam on me. The results were 2cm dialated and 80% effaced. The next day, I lost my bloody show and have continued to pass regular mucus since. My pending labor symptoms have increased dramatically. I'm having nausea, diarrhea, my swelling has trippled, I can barely use the bathroom and i'm in a lot of pain. For the past 3 days, it feels as though my bones are breaking. My ribs are horribly bruised, my baby has dropped even lower to the point you can feel the buldge of his head around my private areas. I've been having very consistent contractions that start when it's dark and stop when it's light out. These are not simple braxton hicks. They are about 8-10 minutes apart and will continue for a good 6 hours despite my movement and water consumption. Now, I have not slept in two days because of the pain. I can barely stand to support myself standing right now. It feels like someone is pulling my legs apart... My bones feel as though they're separating. This has brought on massive swelling, pain and cramping and inhibits my ability use my lower part of my body for much. Not to mention my back is constantly cramping.

So here's the catch. I went to my last scheduled appointment today. Unfortunately my regular dr is on call with Labor and Delivery this week. So in her place was another OBG I never particuarly cared for. She didn't take time to answer my questions. She spent about 5 minutes with me and brushed off all my pain and obvious problems as being "normal." Then came the cervical exam. She finished and told me I was "maybe only 1cm dialated and.... Maybe 50% effaced... Not much." I'm so irate! Is this normal to be advancing this much and have exam results half the results from a prior visit? Can I safely assume this OBG from today is giving me false information from her lack of professionalism? I've avoided messing with L&D completely. I am considering going in for a more accurate exam later today. In my situation, would you do the same? Sorry, i'm caught between my ethics of not bothering emergency staff and my stress of what is going on. Help me, advice please. This is all way too much.

My two year old Siberian Husky recently went through another "blow" session as normal. However, after blowing his undercoat, he is suddenly massively shedding his top coat. All over his body, his fur is falling out. Petting him leaves handfulls and handfulls of top coat. I've owned the breed for many years and have only seen this happen one other time. In particular, it was him. Last year I had switched dog foods and he had adverse reactions to it. Vomiting, stiffness and again, losing his coat (not undercoat). Well, we went back to the normal food. Everything has been fine until now. The only changes that have occured is i've substituted their regular animal bones with rawhides. I bought many many rawhide rolls and they've devoured quite a few in the past week. He's not showing "allergy" symptoms like chewing on his paws. Nor is he vomiting or acting sickly as he did in the past when he switched foods.

What can this be? Is it likely the rawhide is causing this? He'll be going to the vet this week... Although I know they'll only ask me what has changed in his diet. Any advice would be amazing, please and thank you in advance!

Okay i'm feeling desperate at this point. I'm 39 weeks pregnant. At 38 weeks, I was examined and said to be 80% effaced, 2cm dialated. I lost my bloody show and my mucus plug. I'm having many many very loose stools and now starting to have hot flashes followed by the urge to puke. The baby feels like he's crowning. I can barely use the bathroom without feeling as though I need to squeeze my muscles and hold him in. All my areas are swollen double in size. I can barely sleep, it pains me to walk, to sit... And forbid I need to pick something up off the floor. I'm leaking colustrum and my baby is so low, you can touch his head.

I was supposed to have an induction scheduled this week Friday. Now, they moved it to Monday stating they were too busy. I'm very frustrated. I'm scared that because he's so low, my water will break before active contractions begin. My hospital is 45 minutes away from me... In good city traffic conditions.

Is there anything you have done specifically that assisted in helping your labor move along? I've read all about different methods online. I've tried vigorous walking, yoga squatting and even a night of "love making" which all hurt me like hell and none seemed to make it happen. I know by now, my effacement has to be at least in the 90% percentile if not more. I can tell from the increase in pressure since my last appointment.

What did you do, in detail, and what worked for you? (In example, if you walked... How much walking did you do?)

I'm right at 39 weeks pregnant. A week ago I was having on and off timed contractions for about 30 hours total. During those contractions, I had dialated to what I "felt" was about 4cm. This past Friday, two days ago, I was examined and told I had 80% effacement and a rough 2cm dialated. Dr was able to touch our sons head. Now, yesterday, I lost my plug/show and continued to all day. Since my contraction spell earlier in the week, I have not experienced any more contractions. However, I have obvious intense pressure making me feel like I have to "use the bathroom" - his head is sitting so low.

Question. My husband and I have the bags packed and ready. I'm in so much discomfort and my Dr. is surprised my water has not yet broken because of how low our son is. We're considering having sex, against my comfort zone right now, in attempts to help labor. I am very very swollen in that area and this will not be a pleasant experience for me. I feel like i'm scheduling a cervical exam with my husband! So before I go through with this, how many of you tried sex to stimulate and help labor? Did it work? What were the results? Silly man is getting anxious!

I have a question for women who have gone through the process of labor. I'm 2 weeks away from my due date. Over the past two weeks, i've been having an entirely new magnitude of Braxton Hicks contractions. They have progressively become more painful/uncomfortable which I know is expected as my date comes close. Recently, on top of the abdominal contractions, i've been having groin and pelvic contractions. Literally feeling like my baby is pushing down and will soon poke his head out to say "hey ma!" They are not completely rhythmic but are very close. I was experiencing them for a few hours last night. It felt like a charlie horse muscle cramp on both sides of my groin. I know the difference between ligament stretching and baby dropping. Hr already has dropped. My question is, did anyone else experience this? Is it still considered a BH contraction or more likely the pre-real deal? I am monitoring them when they come. I also have my cervical exam this Friday to see "where i'm at". I've been having all the symptoms of labor for the past week. Very soft frequent stools, dropped baby, can barely walk from discomfort, increased urination, lots of contractions, discharge (no mucous plug yet or water), and everything else. I like to hear personal experience vs by the book information. So please, did you experience this and what was the result for you?

I just thought i'd ask a random question for the pure amusement of it.

I have three adult dogs who share the food and water bowls. I have noticed one too many times that my dogs will perfectly split up the food. You literally look at the bowl and see exactly half gone. Straight down the middle of the bowl. Not 1/3... Not even a piece of kibble gone astray. Everytime the bowl is filled, they will take turns eating. One will eat half. The next will come along and re-organize the food by shuffling with her nose and eat again, half. The last then comes along to finish it off.

Does anyone else have dogs who do this? Or have other strange habits? It cracks my husband and I up each time we see it. We just have courteous dogs I think!

I'm expecting my first child in less than 3 weeks and I plan to be a breast feeding mother, if nature allows me to do so. Well, i'm spending some time today researching breast feeding. What to expect and how to do it properly... You get the idea. Then, I came across a ranting youtube video of how breast feeding in any and all public places is perfectly acceptable and should not be looked down on by anyone... Basically. Now, I, even though I plan to breast feed, found this to be offensive. Also, well... Stupid. My question is partially my opinion/rant but i'd like to know how other people view this as well. Or stories of how they managed to feed while out of the house. Society in general has become openly disgusting. It ranges from what's on TV, in every movie, how people of all ages dress, present themselves, what's on every magazine cover in stores and what music on mainstream radio talks about. I always have felt society globally is going way too far with the push of sexual obscenities. Now, taking that and talking about public breast feeding... The video basically stated,"who cares if you're eating dinner and you see my nipple, i'm feeding my child!" My, oh my. What happened to common sense and respect? Breast feeding or just simple day to day clothing and talking? Where is the common sense? It's natural? Yea it is. All animals breast feed? Yes they do... BUT, when did a dog get an erection from seeing another dog nurse? Humans have sexual minds and arousing capabilities. Don't you think exposing yourself in front of a crowd of people is wrong? I don't care what the reason. Wanting to flaunt what you look like in a bikini, wanting to feed your baby, or wanting to land a hot date. Where and why is discretion being taken away? I plan to breast feed my son. I plan to feed him in public wether by pumped breast milk in a bottle or naturally. But, why am I going to expose myself to the public? Why am I going to put mine and my sons safety at risk? Why, because my son is hungry at that exact moment? It can't wait long enough for me to find a safe and discrete location? I would never expose my private areas for any reason. So what, you're breast feeding. Your breasts are still private! Why, if your baby needs to be fed, can you not go to your car and hang up a visor? Go in the public rest room? Go in that corner over in that area where no one notices you? I understand covers are annoying. In that case, move your butt out of the public eye and nurse. There is mo reason for a person to display so much lack of common sense. Breast feeding is not an excuse! I don't care where you're from. If I have a wedgie, do I pick it out in front of everyone? No, I go some place discreet. Now, on the safety side... When you expose yourself in public, feeding or not feeding, how do you know that on-looker isn't planning to follow you home? How do you know you re not affecting that couple over there trying to enjoy their anniversary without having to see your breasts? Ok, tell them it's their fault for looking? No, it's your fault for displaying it in a place that'll draw attention to you! Of course people will notice. Also, granted, crap is everywhere now. My house is empty of dirty movies and we don't have tv for obvious reasons. We don't want "in your face" content in our home... Just as you don't want it in public. Sometimes it cannot be avoided. For example, you cannot go to a grocery store without seeing magazines posted with half naked women or men on the cocer, or conversatons about sex positions and such. However, when a person, couplr, or family leave their home to go have a nice dinner at an appropriate restaurant, why should they be subjected to your stupidity? They didn't go to a place looking for it, so why subject them to it? When you go to a beach, it's expected to see offensive things. If you go to a bar or a party, it's expected. If you go to nursing, birthing or parenting classes, it's expected on an educational level. If I go to the bank... Do I expect it? No, because it's the bank, not your nursery. So while I know it's natural, I also understand sexual attraction is natural. I know breasts in humans are uaed for more than feeding a newborn. Therefore, respect should be taken. No matter what country you are from. I'm from Italy. So cultural ignorance has nothing to do with it. What men find sexually arousing in other countries is NO different from what they find sexually arousing in the US. Use your brain. Be safe, be courteous and protect yourself. Don't invite trouble to come to you.

With that said, what are your opinions on the subject and how did you manage to feed while in oublic places? All arguments are allowed! Thank you :) first time mother here.

Why does it seem as though there are entirely way too many people asking the same redundant questions in Pregnancy? All I come across is "help, am I pregnant!?". Is there any particular reason posters number 1-14 cannot google symptoms of pregnancy... Or read all the other repetative questions and answers? Just looking for an insight on why this seems to be so common?

Now, for my other important question, i'm scheduled to have my cervix checked tomorrow and was told quote, "it's not as painful as labor" - per my practicioner. Has anyone had the cervix check performed and can you explain how intense the pain is? If it's anything like my contractions, i'm going to have a long day tomorrow! Ai ai ai :(

I'm 36 weeks pregnant right now with my first child. Today at my appointment, they discussed with me that I have a choice to induce my labor in two more weeks or wait out the pregnancy. This is a tough idea for me to wrap around my mind. I've been thinking about the pros and cons. Also, we feel so anxious to finally almost have our son here. I'd like to hear opinions from individuals who induced or waited. What they feel is a better option. What they know now would have been better either way. Please be detailed enough for me to pull inspiration from it. In terms of health, we're both perfect in health. Zero complications the entire pregnancy.

I am 32.5 weeks pregnant with my first child. He officially "dropped" today further down into my pelvis. He has been in head down position for at least two confirmed weeks. I'm not experiencing braxton hicks contractions often. I'm so lucky to have one every few days. But, I am a little nervous as to why he dropped so soo. I've read about it online and understand 4 weeks after dropping is the normal. I would really enjoy having some non-scripted insight from other mothers. His health is excellent. He measures spot on and has an excellent heart beat. Zero pregnancy complications and/or symptoms. I've been lucky. Started doing my whiney mother bird nesting thing a few days ago. Have been "nesting" since. I know it's normal but again, kind of interested to see if this is all related to one another. Also, practicioner will be open on monday for verification. So mothers, how long after you dropped did you deliver? What were the events that lead up to it?

I'm completely fed up with Craigslist. The site has become un-usable for me. I've apparently been labeled as a spammer and I haven't used my account for months. I try to post a listing for some furniture I'm giving away for free and I can't do it. My listing is continuously ghosted. The help desk is of no help at all. No one from Craigslist emails me back to help fix the problem. Therefore, I want to delete my account. I went into my account and see no option for deleting my participation at all. Went in the help forum and there isn't anything for this. Does anyone know if this is possible? I'm so frustrated with that ridiculous site. I hate, hate, hate it. Please help!

I'm starting off in a small business and i've been trying to find a website that offers free web page hosting. I found one called "WEBS" who seemed promising until their site began to have glitches. I can't even edit my site. I tried Zoomshare... It's terrible. I'm unable to edit any content or add. These are all free hosting sites. Are there any that you can reccomend that you KNOW will work? Also i've noticed a lot of these sites make you believe it's free only to bribe you into paying. I'd love to pay for a more advanced site in the future but for now, I just need to find one worthy of investing into. Please help!

How safe is it to spay and neuter puppies between 8 to 10 weeks of age? I've had mixed answers on this including differen't opinions from differen't vets. I've had some people say it's not possible and others claim it's do-able. Knowledge and opinions please!

Since I became pregnant, 30 weeks ago, I lost any and all desire to... Well... Participate in any sexual activities especially intercourse. Not only have I lost my desire but, I feel an extreme amount of pain. I understand being "tighter" is due to increased blood flow and such. However, my pain is more of a burning... Or raw sensation. It does not matter the type of lubrication used. Trust me when I say my husband in despair has already formulated many ideas. All my pap's have come back as normal. I don't have any infection of any sort. Again, the pain is not stabbing or cramping. It literally feels like my husband is made of sand paper. I'm wanting to see if any other women out there experienced the same sensation? What caused it? Did it go away after birth? Again, I know it's not due to any abnormalities. I feel bad for not only myself but my husband. I'd love to find some commonalities in others' experiences so I can say... "ha! I'm not defective!"

I'm curious to know how many other people have noticed a sudden increase in dog theft. I used to go online, for example: craigslist and see dogs for sale, adoption or people asking to adopt. Now, when I go on craigslist, all I see are: missing dog, dog stolen, have you seen... Etc. First, has this literally become a new fad to steal dogs? For re-sale or to keep because people don't want to pay to find one on their own? I know a handfull of people whose dogs were microchipped and tagged... Still never found. It seems microchipping is useless. I've been hearing rumors of a GPS microchip that requires a subscription. When the dog goes missing, the company activates the chip and locates the dog. Is this true? Does anyone know what company it is making these?

I'm a little upset right now. I was looking for Siberian Huskies online and came across an ad for "Alusky" puppies. When I viewed the ad, it stated parental dogs: CKC registered malamute and CKC registered siberian husky. They then stated they were going to register the puppies as CKC. CKC what? I was so upset by this that I emailed them asking how... Why... Etc. The response I received was, "CKC registers mixed breeds." Does anyone know if this is true? I know CKC is the less aggressive Kennel Club and they don't make a person jump through hoops to register their dog as pure bred. But now, openly giving mixed dogs breeding papers? I have a "CKC" Siberian Husky that has always seemed a little odd to me. Several features on my husky pushes the breed standard by AKC. I've been hearing it's possible to DNA test your dog for canine percentage? If this is true, do all or most vets do this? I'm so disappointed in now. Someone out there, please offer some insight

In the past month, i've been hearing a chewing noise in my walls. It travels but never makes an appearance. I'm not sure what type of rodent it is and it seems to only be one. I'm hoping it's not building a nest for more. I live in a very clean home, raised off the ground. The property I live on has literally no wildlife. Lots of spiders and fire ants but that's about it. This rodent appeared out of no where. I'm on the verge of punching a hole into my wall and crushing it. It's destroying my walls. What can I do? How do I kill it? It hasn't chewed into my house for me to set up bait traps. Do I need to make a hole in my wall and set bait inside? I need reccomendations, advice, and what poison works the best. This is new for me.

So, I'm 6 months pregnant as of now. I had my OBGYN appointment this morning in which the doctor became concerned with my lack of weight gain. The first trimester of my pregnancy, I lost 7lbs due to severe nausea. Now, in the second trimester, my nausea ceased and I was able to start eating comfortably. Truth, I have a full stomach all day. I have not been very physically active. Nor have I been eating diet related health foods. My diet ranges anywhere from Orange Juice to Lasagna to Toaster Strudles and Whole Milk... You get the idea. My intake of food doesn't lack calories in the least. So, since the onset and ending of my second trimester, i've apparently only gained back 3lbs. 3lbs being almost all baby. They've measured my son. He seems fat and happy. No pregnancy related complications. I have not fallen into a diabetic state or anemia. I take my prenatals and supplements. The Dr. Is concerned I may become severely underweight after having my son. She believes the pregnancy may have sped up my metabolism not to mention the life inside of me stripping away my resources. I am 5'6 and weighed about 145 lbs pre-pregnancy. I wasn't underweight nor overweight.

Has anyone else experienced something similiar? Was there any complications associated with the proper weight gain and development of the baby due to your lack of weight gain? Did you have any health issues arise because of the loss in weight?

My husband and I got a house a few months back. The house was in terrible shape to say the least. We've been going through remodeling one area at a time. the toilet in the guest bathroom has serious urine stains in the bowl. The toilet is ceramic and appears to be newer. I started working in it this week. The stains will not come off by scrubbing. I filled the toilet with bleach and they went from being brown colored to a yellow but still not gone. I've repeated this several times and it hasn't gotten better. Does anyone know of a way to remove these stains without having to paint or replace the toilet? Also, we have well water. Thank you.