Kajirin

OMGG how gorgeous 

13 hours ago, Caitlin888 said:

Hi everyone thanks for the advice. We took him to the vet and she said he had a mild paw infection and said to clean his foot in water with salt and then gave us a cream to put on. Unfortunately it has been 5 days since we went to the vet and still hasn’t recovered as he keeps licking his paws and pulling his paws away when we try to touch them. Maybe I will try some apple cider vinger and distilled water 

Apple cider is really only good for yeast as it kills it off.  If your dog has a mild infection, I'd go with the salt water paw soaks twice a day.  Salt water will help stave off infections.  Heh even my GP recommends salt water foot soaks when I've had foot skin issues with getting wet feet in shoes over winter.  Even better if you live near a beach, the dog can wade through salt water 

I'd be looking into an elizabethan collar in the interim when using the paw cream, so the dog can't get to his paws and lick them.  Needs time to heal and stop the constant licking process.

Scout used to get irritated paws, also yeast.  Soaked them in apple cider vinegar diluted in water then would pat dry.  The yeast/itchies cleared up and he stopped licking them.  Also kept a spray bottle in the fridge with apple cider vinegar, distilled water and green tea - used that as a spray on when he came in from outside [especially after being on damp ground].

Have been reading about people who's dogs have had severe reactions to flea/tick/worming meds.  Possibly google the company brand and see what other's have had happen, may get hits in forums or facebook groups etc., try for Australian accounts first.  There should also be some form of side effects information out there somewhere.

My brother's Lab had issues with a flea/tick spot on medication [forget which brand now] - ended up getting weakness/paralysis in the rear legs.  Which was a side effect of the particular brand 

39 minutes ago, asal said:

Trouble is today as your dog gets to the geriatric stage anyone spotting it is a risk they will phone the grim reaper (rspca) heard so many stories of devastated familes having their aged pet taken and euthanased 'for its best interests', make sure that you keep them out of sight of Joe public. 

Our very aged Indi died in his sleep, I hope his equally aged granddaughter has the same privilege, she sleeps so soundly could qualify as sleeps like the dead 

Yes  have heard of this also happening...right around the country.

I was with Scout when he had a massive heart attack and died in my arms 2 months ago.  He had been sleeping on and off for three hours, then made a whimpering noise, then the heart attack happened and he passed - all in a span of maybe 2 minutes.  At the time he was having his heart attack he was out of it, his body was going through the motions.  So yes I think they do pass somewhat peacefully - he wasn't thrashing around or anything like that.  In fact I wasn't sure he had actually passed until I checked his vitals.

Just annoyed I can never find a seat cover to actually attach properly with no rear headrests [just moulded ones as part of the seat]. 

Absolutely wonderful to hear, Happity birthday ol man 

Scout was multi talented - he was great at finding underground water leaks in piping and digging them up for me.  He had a ball doing that   Also one night there was someone lurking around the shed, I let him out and he chased whoever it was off up the drive...then returned to 'protect'.

Sarge has yet to grow into his protectiveness as he's on his own now.  He is barking now at unusual noises - which is good.  He is also good at finding skinks and frogs that have come inside and not hurting them lol.  But that's about the extent of his 'talents' so far  

You can also be on the lookout for vets who perform partial spays [females - removal of the uterus only] or vasectomies [males].  They will technically be 'desexed', but they keep their hormone producing bits to allow proper growth when maturing.  Whether this would be in accordance with the state's laws I'm not sure.  But something to mull over with your vet.

Depends on the lines and the breeding, some are all dog, some can be chill.

Have you thought about working line GSDs?

I don't think asking for a price is a forbidden question.  Once you explain what you are looking for and what you intend to do with the said pup...no harm in asking for current pricing.  It is a factor that needs to be taken into consideration, sometimes saving up for beforehand.

Noticed family pets have been affected now.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/police-dog-dead-eight-more-sick-due-to-rare-cluster-illness/news-story/6de1452b70c7adb63b1d276460268c53

 

Quote

Police dog dead, more sick due to ‘rare’ cluster illness

Aneeka Simonis, EXCLUSIVE, Sunday Mail (SA)
March 24, 2018 10:25pm

 

A POPULAR premium dog food linked to the deaths of several police dogs is now believed responsible for several fatalities involving family pets.

The Sunday Herald Sun has learned that at least two pet dogs have died after eating Advance Dermocare, which was on Saturday pulled from shelves at 500 pet stores nationwide by its manufacturer.

 

UPDATE: PREMIUM DOG FOOD LINKED TO SEVERAL FAMILY PET DEATHS

 

Advance Dermocare dog food is being tested.
At least three pet dogs were on Saturday seriously ill with the incurable disease megaesophagus.

Two of them were likely to be euthanised if their condition did not improve.

The disease causes a dog’s oesophagus to become abnormally enlarged. The animal loses its ability to swallow or absorb nutrients.

HAS YOUR DOG BECOME ILL AFTER EATING ADVANCE DERMOCARE? EMAIL [email protected]

Devastated owners — who bought the “top shelf” food because they believed it was better for their pets — said they watched their cherished animals “waste away”.

They are demanding answers to ensure no more animals are harmed.

Veterinary experts are urgently testing samples of the dog food in a bid to find the cause.

Anthony Brown, from Melbourne, who was forced to have his pet Rooney put down a fortnight ago, said the seven-year-old dalmatian had lost half his body weight within weeks.

“He was skin and bones — we couldn’t work out what had happened,’’ Mr Brown said. “It just came out of the blue.”

The family spent $9000 in X-rays, biopsies, surgery and medications.

Vets finally diagnosed Rooney with megaesophagus.

“It was upsetting watching our otherwise healthy dog fade away,” Mr Brown said.

“We bought the food from the vet thinking it was top shelf. We need to find out what is causing it so it can’t happen again.”

Issues with Advance Dermocare were sparked after the recent death of a Victoria Police dog. Eight others are sick, with two expected to be euthanised.

Labradors are among the dog squad breeds affected by the illness. File picture: David Caird
The disease has now killed almost a dozen police dogs in several states.

Another pet owner Paul O’Shannassy — whose three-year-old Irish setter Paddy died within three days of becoming sick — said it was “very quick and unexpected”.

Other owners were anxiously watching the condition of sick pets.

Adelaide residents Laura and Aaron O’Toole told the Sunday Herald Sun vets may have to euthanise their family dog, nine-year-old Stan, tomorrow. The adored labradoodle won’t eat or drink and has lost 5kg since falling ill more than a week ago.

“It’s pretty much a death sentence,” Ms O’Toole said.

“We take him to the vet every day so he can be put on a drip. They pretty much told us that there won’t be a good outcome.”

Surely there'd be more cases Australia wide if it was the food?  

German Shepherds and Labs can be prone to this, recommendations are to remove those who may have it in their lines from breeding.  Could be more to it as it is a cluster in two states 

Lots of huggles Westiemum, so sad when they have to say goodbye, forever in your heart though she will be 

5 hours ago, stellnme said:

A fitting and lovely tribute to a sweet boy - made me teary.

When I watched the video after completing it I howled.  Was the first time I could actually cry over him in a fortnight.  Think I've been suffering from severe delayed grief.  Making the video was so therapeutic, brought back so many happy memories

Made a memorial video of Scout today - he would have turned 12...my St patrick's day pup
 

Sounds like she's on the mend good and proper...excellent!

Here's to hoping she comes good again, the little miss scoffalot.

Sarge did similar the other week, had an irritated throat from scoffing down his roo straps [they were a little bit drier than normal].  He was swallowing a lot and threw up a bit.  Just let his throat calm down and gave him soft food.

My beautiful neighbours came over this morning with a mini excavator and dug the hole for me.  The ground is hard packed clay, especially as it's been summer.  That helped me so much  and made things quicker.  They were so sad, as they were only talking to Scout last night.  But he is at peace now 

My dear old Scout passed away this morning at 6:25 am.  He woke me up at at around 3 am not acting right, so I sat with him on the couch, just rubbing his back and stroking his old head.  It looked like he had a massive heart attack at the end, but he was quite out of it, so I don't think he felt much happening.  Will miss my dear old boy and he was just shy of his 12th birthday which would've been on the 17th of this month 

Scout will be 12 on the 17th of this month.  He has slowed down, sleeps a lot more - but will still awaken at his feeding times [his demanding internal timer lol] and wait as I get his food ready.  He still has his lively times and plays with my younger boy...he will race around the house playing four legs and bouncing here, there and everywhere [but then sleeps it off].  He is really grey of muzzle now with just a T shape of black from his eyebrows to nose [black faced, red Boxer].  Can see in his back legs, they're not as supportive as they once were - when he stands for longer than 2 minutes in one spot, his back end starts sagging towards the ground [down in the pasterns as I call it].  But he has always had a bit of a dicky back leg from an old injury when he was a pup.

Every time I go past him, I always kiss his old head [he doesn't wake up when I do this, so not disturbing him].  If his eyes are open, then he gets a kiss and a hug - quite often he just lays on the couch watching all that goes on.  Always take time out to sit with him and give him bum rubs or just rub his back.  If he's doing forward rolls on the couch he gets belly rubs lol.  I just enjoy each day I have him. 

He still can jump up on my bed [sometimes if he's feeling stiff he needs a hand up] and still enjoys his cuddles and snoozing with me [I don't even mind he prefers to have his butt pointed in my direction and lets off the odd obnoxious effluvium ].

But ol Scout is looking his age, my brother does notice it more than I do, as he only visits once or twice a year [he lives interstate].

What a horrid situation

The council here put a dangerous dog order on the bloke up the road dogs after they attacked a dog very severely [dog almost died].  Now whether or not it was 'just a dog' and not a human I don't know, but nothing much has changed with how he keeps his dogs [kind of bloke that doesn't really give a flying monkey's and does as he wants].  The dogs are still there and this happened months ago.

I don't think this is one that can be 'fought' as it is stipulated in the act it doesn't matter if there was an injury or not - if the dog chases, harasses,  lunges etc...the damage has been done.

Not all 'suburban' dogs do well on farms/country areas [depending on the nature of the dog].  The order will follow the dog I believe and you have to inform the new council area of the order [so technically the dog would be in the same predicament].  Rural areas have rural fencing, so not all 'dog safe'.

A muzzle is only warranted when in public, same with a physical restraint.  At home as long as there is fencing and the dog cannot escape and the dog remains inside when it can't be supervised.

There are other alternatives for exercise [mental and physical, apart from normal leashed walks] - dog treadmill, brain games around the home, trick training etc.  Just depends on how far the family is willing to go to keep their dog happy with changing circumstances.