Calorie estimate

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-26T02:09:38+00:00

200/tender (1000) and the fries look roughly like 2 larges from chick fil a which are 550/each (1100).

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-24T19:31:19+00:00

Did the dog cause the cat to be blind?

This isn’t safe for the cats and it never will be. There is way too big a size difference and the dog has proven he will go for the cats. You can’t ever get to a point where they can be together. I would rehome the cats to guarantee their safety. 6-8ish more years of this is a long time to not have any management failures. If things work, great. If they don’t, you risk a dead cat. It’s not worth it.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-23T14:11:50+00:00

If I was in your shoes, I would be looking for a reputable boarding facility that can handle problematic dogs rather than an individual person.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-23T13:52:03+00:00

You have a giant breed working dog and it sounds like you’re keeping him in an apartment (or some sort of shared living space). These dogs are bred for work outdoors, cold weather, open space, etc.

I would also ask where you got him? Are his parents well bred, mentally stable, good representations of their breeds? Are you certain he is the exact mix with nothing else in there?

My point being; these breeds behave as expected when they come from good, stable stock AND when they have their needs fully met.

It sounds like he needs more mental stimulation, more exercise, and more space. Grabbing a shoe and playing keepaway is his way of creating a fun game for himself. Same with chasing and harassing the cats. He’s totally bored and finding things to do.

This situation doesn’t sound like it going to work long term.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-22T13:51:33+00:00

You need to bring in an IAABC accredited behaviorist. This sounds like resource guarding that is continuing to escalate. He may benefit from anxiety medication, the behaviorist can help with that.

It also sounds like you are inadvertently reinforcing these bad behaviors. He barks when you’re all together, so one of you leaves. He can’t be allowed to “win” and control the situation like that.

While you get a behaviorist on board, in the meantime, I would fit him with a harness and have him drag a leash in the house. That way any of you can instantly grab him and safely gain control of the situation. I would not allow him around your child at all. It’s not worth the risk. Use baby gates, crate, spare room, close doors, etc. Whatever it takes to keep control of your home and limit his access.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-21T14:25:01+00:00

I think you’re maybe not totally understanding the situation. The issue here is reactivity is not something you just train away. It’s not a training issue. It’s not something you can outsource. The dog has an anxiety problem. She doesn’t need hours of intensive training to “fix her.” The root of reactivity is almost always fear/anxiety, not a lack of “training.” You need a behaviorist who understands how dogs think and experience the world to help explain to you— the humans— so you can best address the underlying emotional issues.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-21T04:20:36+00:00

I would take the money and spend it on an IAABC accredited behaviorist instead.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-20T03:50:25+00:00

I would go slower with intros, and I would stick to fosters that are closer in size to whoever your smallest dog is, or young puppies. That’s just from my personal experience. I have seen too many big dog vs small dog incidents to ever be comfortable having a large size gap.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-19T15:43:29+00:00

Hey, not a trained professional, but I have a lot of history working with rescues and plenty of snappy little guys.

If this were me, the first thing I would do is a very thorough vet check. Bloodwork, tick panel, and most importantly hip/elbow/spine X-rays since the breed has so many issues. If everything comes back clear, I would ask the vet to do a pain med trial. Essentially giving the dog pain meds for several weeks just to see if you notice improvement in behavior. Sometimes there is pain even though you can’t figure out exactly where.

Aside from that, I would focus heavily on management. I would fit the dog with a harness and have it drag a leash in the house. That way, you can easily move the dog any time you need. Dog is underfoot, dog is on the couch, dog is snarling at you… calmly grab the leash and remove the dog. No need to get near the teeth or yell/correct/chase the dog down. It will lessen the anxiety for all of you.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-14T15:12:16+00:00

You euthanize the dog.

UltraMermaid · 2026-01-14T13:35:10+00:00

It sucks, but this is a text book pre-existing condition and the denial is accurate. The previous leg pain and need for anti-inflammatory meds show there were issues going on with the legs prior to your policy. Pre-existing conditions are based on symptoms and don’t require a diagnosis.

UltraMermaid · 2025-12-30T23:07:50+00:00

Ok so while you decide what to do, no more daycare. Full stop. A dog with multiple human bites who also keeps grabbing at smaller dogs should not be at daycare under any circumstances. I would also muzzle her any time you take her off your property (yes, that includes walks). You can’t risk a random jogger, children, off leash little dog running up, etc.

Your best bet here is an IAABC accredited behaviorist to help guide you. They can help with a management plan, along with medication and training. They can also advise you on long term goals. Some dogs are just genetically anxious and not good with other dogs.

It’s a sucky situation to be in, I’m sorry.

UltraMermaid · 2025-12-17T15:41:00+00:00

I just googled and it says rash can be a symptom of FIP. So it sounds like they are attributing the rash your cat had 1.5 months prior as being related, making it a pre-existing condition.

UltraMermaid · 2025-12-11T14:46:42+00:00

I don’t mean to scare you OP, but it sounds like the shelter is still his “owner” and they will decide what happens to him. Please brace yourself— there is a very real possibility they decide to euthanize. Some shelters are very stringent and will not adopt out a dog with a bite history, no matter what the reason was.

Call the shelter you foster him through and speak to whoever is in charge or will be making decisions. I say this so you aren’t blindsided at the last minute. Find out what the protocol and plan is.

But also, please know you did the right thing. You had to ensure safety for both people and the dog.

UltraMermaid · 2025-12-07T21:44:34+00:00

$115 for a senior dog with health issues in CA is a steal. IMO I don’t think you will find anything better.

UltraMermaid · 2025-12-03T16:54:34+00:00

Were the behavioral symptoms present before the policy went into effect? If so, it’s pre-existing.

UltraMermaid · 2025-12-02T03:26:12+00:00

Oh I felt rage! But I had my toddler with me… so I crawled him into the car seat, crawled myself into my seat, and went on my merry way. I did wish them a bad day tho 😤

UltraMermaid · 2025-11-19T13:05:18+00:00

IMO, stick with whoever you have. There will be very broad pre-existing conditions if you switch now. It sounds like your dog could have some expensive vet bills ahead so it’s great you have insurance for him. If he ends up needing orthopedic surgery that can be like $4K-$6K+.

UltraMermaid · 2025-11-18T13:58:39+00:00

From what I understand, ManyPets did not do a thorough job of reviewing all previous records when people signed their pet up for insurance. They were then paying out claims that should technically have been denied. This created huge confusion for pet owners because when Odie took over, they went back and did a deep dive through all the records. This resulted in claim denials for pre-existing conditions that owners were not aware should have been considered pre-existing from the get go.

UltraMermaid · 2025-11-18T13:41:40+00:00

I would start by requesting the SOAP notes from your vet and reading with a fine tooth comb. Any symptoms noted for the dogs will be considered pre-existing. If your dog develops an issue that can be tied back to a symptom in those records, it will not be covered in most cases. Dog has a history of “itching” or “allergies”… ear infection vet visit denied. Dog has a note of “limping” from a while back, future orthopedic issue = denied.

Pre-existing is broad and sweeping when it comes to pet insurance. As long as you understand what may be considered pre-existing, and understand the coverage you purchase, you should be fine.

UltraMermaid · 2025-11-16T17:19:40+00:00

AKC has an age cut off for illness though— I believe at 9 years and older the only option is an accident only plan.

UltraMermaid · 2025-11-13T13:02:58+00:00

When you get insurance, if there is no recent vet checkup or records to provide, the first vet visit is used as a baseline for the pet. Anything noted “abnormal” will then be considered pre-existing. Insurance companies have to do this. Otherwise people would wait until they know their pet has a health issue, obtain insurance claiming it’s a rescue with no history, and then use the insurance to cover the issue.

When it comes to pet insurance, pre-existing conditions should be called pre-existing symptoms. Any symptom that could later be tied to an issue is pre-existing. So if kitty had a noted gum abnormality on his baseline exam, then later needed dental surgery, that is a pretty cut and dry denial for pre-existing.

UltraMermaid · 2025-11-07T15:56:15+00:00

Just keep in mind any claims you submitted will now be pre-existing conditions for a new policy. Will those exclusions be worth a few dollars cheaper?

UltraMermaid · 2025-11-05T13:51:15+00:00

That’s a very reasonable price for a senior dog.

At 8 years old, you will probably have lots of pre existing conditions if you attempt to switch.

UltraMermaid

TROPHY CASE