JulesP

To be honest I've thought for a while that something was wrong and I had been looking up liver issues. It explains the food and why she is so little. She hasn't had any of the symptoms like vomiting or seizures though. She hasn't been ill but just not 'right' if that makes sense. She has urinary crystals too which explains her inability to hold herself overnight. Maybe she hasn't had more symptoms as I appear to be feeding how you should feed a dog with liver issues anyhow. The operation for the a liver shunt doesn't sound great. My philosophy has always been quality of life over quantity with as non-invasive approach as possible. This will really test me.

Does anyone have any experience with liver disease? Amber has been found to have a liver only a quarter of the size that it should be. She might have a liver shunt. The vet said I could look at surgery. It doesn't sound like a super successful surgery. Or I can treat the symptoms.

Not good news. Her liver is about the quarter of the size that it should be. The vet thinks she may have a liver shunt he is doing a bile test now. He is surprised that she hasn't had more symptoms.

No news yet I forgot to say this morning that the vet could hear a slight heart murmur, that has never been mentioned before in check ups. Thanks for the good wishes. Am trying to be positive and hope that it is just gas.

Someone on here was feeding this food. Can't remember who though. It looks ok. Some of them had brewers yeast in them which is a problem for me so I didn't try it.

I really can't understand why anyone still wants to buy dog food made & owned by Americans. What's wrong with our Aussie foods That way you are supporting Australia & Australians & keeping the "food miles" to a minimum ;) Maybe the OP hasn't found a Aussie food that has worked for them. I haven't. Supercoat Sensitve has come the closest to being ok. It isn't a matter of 'wanting' sometimes. I am not going to feed a product that gives my dog a rash just so I can feed an Australian product.

A year ago I was sitting here with 4 dogs. Currently I only have 1.

Some of the things suggested were - gas, partial blockage, tumor, liver problem, reproductive issues. She looks ready to whelp but I don't think it is a phantom as she is too far out from her last season and she already did the nesting thing approx 6 weeks after her last season. I thought she might be coming into season as she has been weird for a couple of days.

:thumbsup: Totally love this line - Most Border Collies also seem to have a strong sense of what is appropriate (or not) for dog to dog manners as well. ETA: There is no malice in Poppy's behavior she is just 'bossy' and I call her the fun police! She finds happy bouncy goldens the most offensive.

I've just had to leave Amber at the vets for Xrays and blood tests. She has a quite swollen tummy. Hopefully it is just wind and nothing more sinister. I don't think it is a blockage as there is no vomiting, tummy issues and she is eating. For obvious reasons I am pretty distressed.

If it is worse with you and worse on lead then I would suggest that resource guarding of you is coming into play. Poppy does this with me. People are quite surprised when they see the change off lead. If I stand still though she will come back to guard me. I don't think this is fixable but rather something you manage. Does your dog give you great focus etc? I just view these 'quirks' as the flip side of a dog that is high drive and will probably work its butt off for you. Most border collie girls I know do act like this to some degree. My old Fern wasn't too bad. My boy border collies haven't been like it. Poppy is a bit of a handful and Amber is thinking she is a bit good at the moment so I've just started LAT with her. Poppy is funny with the LAT, she puts a paw on my leg to let me know she should get a treat because 'omg there is a dog in my personal space and I didn't glare at it'. If I can't get up a drive way etc I tend to sit the dogs and do a watch me whilst the other dog goes past. Don't stress about it.

I had Brock cremated and then buried his ashes out in the paddock were he loved to play. It seemed like a good place for him. I had Fern cremated too but haven't been able to bring myself to bury her like I intended. I think she would have wanted to stay close to me so I'll find a nice box or something.

Once there is an infection you do need to go to the vets. The eardrum may have a hole in it because of the infection and it would be bad if you squirt anything in her ear.

Is she coming into season?

Duck EP Holistic Select? Novel protein- venison? Goat? I tried rabbit BARF patties and Amber refused to touch them.

That is pretty damn cute

Just remembered that Poppy does love having her rump blow dried She gets this blissed out look on her face.

Mine run and hide. One Birman runs and hides. Bailey, other Birman is starting to get into the grooming thing.

Laws don't stop people from being morons.

As far as I can see they have linked to a different forum not here?

I think anyone whose dog kills someone should be charged with manslaughter. It is unfair however to call the owner of this dog scum as we know nothing about him. The dog sounds like it was normally contained. It getting out was obviously an accident. I doubt he knew that his dog would kill a child if it got out.

Really why are we even having this convo??? Get a border collie The brown ones seem to go faster too.

Maybe compare the ingredients between the old and new versions and see if you can find what the culprit was Brad. Looking at them they are quite different. US version: Chicken, brewers rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), corn germ meal, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), animal digest, dried egg product, salt, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, Vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite. T-4484 Aus version: Chicken, wholegrain wheat, poultry meal (natural source of glucosamine), corn gluten meal, wholegrain yellow corn, brewers rice, beef and/or lamb tallow preserved with mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), oats, soybean meal, wheat by-product, dried yeast, salt, vitamin A supplement, whole egg, fish meal, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, zinc sulphate, iron sulphate, antioxidant, niacin, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), vitamin D3 supplement, manganous oxide, pantothenic acid, copper sulphate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulphate complex (source of vitamin K activity), potassium iodide, natural flavours, sodium selenite, biotin.

Thanks for the extra info Skip. How about a Manchester Terrier?

Another Lab :D