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Canine Behavior/sex drive of male GSD taking phenobarb
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Question
I have a male GSD diagnosed with epilepsy. His seizures are controlled by 130 mg. of phenobarb daily. I also have a female GSD who came into heat before my boy has been neutered...he does not seem to be interested at all in sex.He is 3.5 years old. Is this because of the phenobarb? Should we go ahead and have him neutered anyway? We do plan on breeding our female at some point, but not to our dog who has epilepsy. What do you suggest?
I would go ahead and get him neutered (but be sure to talk to your vet about safety factors of anesthesia due to his epilepsy. While the drug may be damping his sex drive, some dogs may appear uninterested except for the brief period when the female is actually receptive. Then he might surprise you! Since idiopathic epilepsy usually has a hereditary factor, you sure don't want to risk him breeding. Also he may experience increased stress while she is in season, and stress is a trigger for many epileptic dogs. Sandy Case BFA MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com
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Answers by Expert:
Sandra Case, MEd, CPDT
Expertise
Dog training, Obedience training, competition dog sports with a positive training focus. Some behavior issues (though serious issues such as human aggression are best addressed by in-person help.
Experience
30 years of training my own dogs, 30 years of training for local obedience club, and as my own business. Owner & training director, Positively Canine, LLC. An all-breed, all level positive based dog trainer school in Oklahoma City. Past training directior, Oklahoma City Obedience Training Club (three times) and Sooner Agility Club. Have titled dogs (through Utility/ASCA OTCH. 4 timed Gaines regional competitor, 2 national specialty High in Trials, multiple national rankings) in Obedience, Rally (through EX) in herding/stockdog and Agility. ASCA Obedience judge, all levels, contributing editor on obedience to Aussie Times, behavior consultant and representative Second Time Around Aussie Rescue, behavioral consultant for two local vets, former shelter training volunteer
Organizations
APDT, ASCA, ITASC, OCOTC
Publications
Aussie Times
Education/Credentials
MEd, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer), have attended seminars and workshops with Suzanne Clothier including trainers intensive, Linda Tellington-Jones, Kathy Cascade - including 5 day practioner's introduction, Turid Rugaas, Kay Laurence, Sue Ailsby, Bob Bailey, Brenda Aloff, Chris Zink, Terri Arnold, Diane Bauman, Gary Wilkes, Job Michael Evans, Jane Simmons Moake
Awards and Honors
Multiple National Rankings, HIT 2 national specialties with two dogs, 4 Gaines qualifications
Past/Present Clients
Some can be seen on testimonial page of our website www.positivelycanine.com
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