Blue Rose Goldens

05/17/2026

My breeding journey has come to an end. Liddy did not pass her heart clearance. Though the cardiologist said we could try again and see if she outgrows it, it’s not something I’m willing to do. Health comes 1st. I just hope my journey has made some of you aware of the money and love that goes into ethical breeding. Enjoy your dogs! 💕🐾

05/13/2026

Liddy busy at work with Mom today.

05/05/2026

CRATE TRAINING FOR DOGS AND PUPPIES

I'm a big supporter of crate training, if done properly, and used correctly with ethical intent. Crates were a massive benefit to my two dogs during recovery from back surgery. Two others chose it as place of safety when they arrived from a puppy mill. Even today, the crates (doors remain open) are available and open to any of my dogs who want a quiet place to relax. It's their choice. They can just as easily chose a couch, a king sized bed, one of 27 dog beds around the home, the shade of the tree or a place on the rug.

Crates should not be used as a punishment or to keep your pet confined while at work for long hours or for HUMAN convenience (e.g. leaving paw prints on the floor). Some dogs soil themselves and the crate if left too long during toilet training (I am not a fan of using it for toilet training).

Crating a terrified or aggressive animal in a crate while exposing them to stimuli that place them over threshold is inhumane and cruel. I hear these horrible stories from clients who were advised by some vets and trainers to do this. You will make the situation worse and your pet will lose faith and trust in you.

Crating does not replace mental stimulation, enrichment or other need fulfillment exercises.

04/24/2026

Although lameness is the hallmark sign, Lyme disease can affect multiple organ systems in veterinary patients. This article examines the broader clinical picture.

04/19/2026

▪️GIARDIA IN DOGS

▪️What is Giardia in dogs?

Giardia is a common intestinal parasite in dogs. In general, dogs carrying this parasite hardly suffer from anything. However, in sensitive dogs, such as puppies or dogs with reduced immunity, the parasite can cause health problems.

▪️Symptoms of Giardia in dogs

The most common symptoms of Giardia are:

variable to persistent diarrhea
abdominal pain
blood and/or mucus in stool
vomiting
decreased appetite and lethargy

The degree of symptoms varies greatly from dog to dog. Many dogs carry the parasite and have no symptoms whatsoever. If dogs become infected with Giardia, it takes an average of 1 to 2 weeks until symptoms appear – if they appear.

▪️How do dogs get infected with Giardia?

Dogs infected with Giardia excrete the parasite in their faeces. These parasites end up in an environment where it can infect another dog. This happens, for example, by eating (infected) grass, drinking from puddles or licking his or her paws with which the dog has stepped into infected surface. The owner can also carry it into the house via shoes, which sometimes also causes dogs to become infected.

▪️Diagnosis Giardia

To determine that your dog has Giardia, we need a stool sample. The stool should be as fresh as possible. If it is not possible to bring the stool to us right away, make sure it is kept cool (in the refrigerator). We examine the stool on the presence of the Giardia parasite and have the results for you the same day.

We do the screening for Giardia using a SNAP test. This test contains a soluble Giardia antigen. One can also look under the microscope to see if the parasite is in the stool, but the SNAP test gives a more reliable result.

▪️How is Giardia in dogs treated?

It is important to treat both the dog and the environment against Giardia.

▪️Treatment of the dog

Initially, we are going to treat the Giardia with Panacur (Fenbendazole) for 5 days. Because Giardia is highly contagious, we recommend treating all animals in the household with Panacur, even if they have no symptoms. This is because healthy animals can excrete the parasite just as well so you have a chance of reinfection.
To treat the diarrhea and optimize resistance in the intestines, we recommend start giving light digestible food (e.g. Hill’s I/D) and probiotics for a while.
Because there is a risk of your dog re-infecting himself/herself, it is wise to wash him/her with a dog shampoo on the 3rd and 5th day of the treatment.
Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the Panacur or use a second medicine (Metronidazole) if the Panacur has insufficient effect.
Treating the environment

Giardia can remain in the environment for a long time, therefore it is possible for the dog to get reinfected. The colder and more humid the environment, the longer Giardia remains infectious. Therefore, it is important to treat the environment properly.

Hot water kills the parasite. Wash the rugs your dog lies on as often and as hot as possible.
Water and food bowls should be washed with boiling water every day. Leave the boiling water in the bowls for at least 1 minute.
Chlorine or Quaternary ammonium salts kills the parasite and thus can be used for cleaning the area. This should soak in for at least 5 minutes and be rinsed thoroughly.
Is your dog’s Giardia contagious to humans?

Some Giardia strains can also be infectious to humans. So good hygiene is very important. Wash your hands immediately after contact with your dog.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/giardia-infection-treatment-and-prevention

04/13/2026

What’s your dog out doing on this nice day? Cash is working on his “catching the ball in the air” skills.

04/11/2026

PLEASE make sure your dogs are up to date. Vaccines are not a money grab for veterinarians….though there is a markup. Vaccines are necessary to keep your pet safe!

This is just a reminder that folks should be ensuring that their dogs are current on not just rabies vaccines but also distemper vaccines. We have had raccoons present with canine distemper for several years now with the symptoms listed below.
Now we are getting raccoons who present as lethargic, no discharge from eyes or nose, no falling or circling or any other symptoms of distemper or rabies.
The raccoon we picked up yesterday was only lethargic otherwise it appeared very healthy. We thought possibly hit by car with internal injuries. Off to the rehabber it went. Today we got notification from our rehabber that the raccoon actually had a new strain of canine distemper, NJ variant, that doesnt present with any of the typical signs.
Please make sure you have your dogs vaccinated. Per our rehabber, you can transfer it to your pets if you're walking in an area where a sick raccoon was. She disposed of the carrier we had the raccoon in.
If you are a Belchertown resident and see a raccoon displaying any of the signs in the image, do not approach it. Instead reach out to Belchertown Animal Control at 413-519-1754
If you have any questions about distemper please contact your vet.

04/05/2026

Happy Easter from Liddy and our other fur babies.

04/05/2026

04/04/2026

Hello all! While not a litter of my own, a very dear friend has 6 Golden Retriever puppies for sale. Born 12/10/25, 2 males and 4 females available. First pics are mom and dad. Puppies are in the comments. Call or text me for more info or if you would like to meet them.