westiemum

Thanks everyone for your replies - very kind. My baby boy seems fine so we'll see how we go - and I'll keep a diary in the meantime.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Hi Everyone,

Just home from a fantastic meet - I'm sure the photos will go up very soon - it was a bit of a westie takeover! Five in all including three fosters!! Two other beautiful girls and my gorgeous boy.

Thanks so much for all your advice - you have no idea what a relief all that is. In answer to your questions:

He was last vaccinated on 29 January with Nobivac C5. This was 4 days after he came out of the dog farm. He also had an x-ray that day to look at his hips because he seemed to have an odd gait (x-rays clear and gait appears fine now - probably something to do with his previous caged environment and that he now has rom to move and run). He was also desexed, had some urgent dental work, was chipped had a GA of course and intraoperative fluids and his pre-anaesthetic profile was normal. He has also had one metacam injection.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Thanks everyone for your replies - really appreciated - it was a shock yesterday afternoon so I'm grateful for your kind words and support - will come back to your questions in detail this afternoon after our Adelaide meet (have to dig out some paper work).

Cheers

Westiemum

Hi Everyone,

It seems my foster boy westie, aged about 4, has had a mild seizure or partial seizure this afternoon. I hung out the last of the washing this afternoon, turned around, he was where he usually is, standing right behind me, with his head tremoring mildly from side to side while standing still, rest of his body still, dilated pupils and a vacant gaze - he really wasn't 'with us'. This went on for about four or five minutes, with the only tremoring in his head and not anywhere in his body.

Scooped him up and raced to the vet - but of course the shaking/tremoring had stopped before we got there - he turned around in the car and licked my face and seemed 'back with us'. He didn't collapse, vomit nor was he incontinent. The vet quickly ruled out other possibilities (Normal temp, not hypoglyceamic - sp? etc) and believes it was a mild seizure. (She said 'White Dog Shaking Syndrome, was a possibility but unlikely).

He's a little quiet but fine (which may be post-ictal but maybe not... not different enough from usual to be sure) and has eaten dinner normally. Although to cap it all off I've just trodden on his paw!!

So I'm now to keep a diary of any further 'episodes' and we'll go from there - and if there is any increase in length or severity of a future episode I'm to try and video it and go straight back to the vet. Its possible it might not happen again and yet it might. Part of the diffculty is that being a dog farm survivor, I don't know his history before 25 January this year - this might be a new problem or a long-term one or indeed a once off - so at the moment its a 'wait and see' game.

So my question to all you knowledgeable DOLers, is does anyone have any experience with the outcome of possibly long-term mild epilepsy episodes like this? I know its unpredictable but would appreciate any wise advice at this point - its been a worrying afternoon.

Thanks for any help or advice.

Westiemum

Thanks Andisa - I think the general opinion is thumbs down - so will save myself the dough I think!

Cheers,

Westiemum

A friend bought one last week, I tried it out and thought it was absolutely useless. We tried it on a swf and could not do anything. By the time it took to do one paw we could have done about 10 dogs using nail clippers. She took it back.

Got to admit when I saw them advertised I thought it sounded great and was looking forward to testing it out - very disappointed with it.

I have a dremel and after seeing the difference I would not bother with the cheap versions at all. Love the dremel - worth paying the extra for it.

Hey thanks guys - really appreciate your advice.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Hi Guys,

Has anyone ever used Pedipaws Nail Trimmer?

Are they any good? Or a bit of a gimmick?

It looks like a variation on a dremmel but with a casing which might help control.

They are quite expensive but could be worth it if they are as good as they say they are.

Grateful for any help and advice.

Cheers,

Westiemum

I think its what yuour dogs do well on - my guys have done brilliantly on Joint guard - my old boy moves well and bounces around like a puppy.

Rappie do you think there is any clinical difference between Glyde and Joint Guard?

Cheers,

Westiemum

Yep suddenly my westie girl started doing real room clearers and her tummy was really gurgling - and the only thing different in her diet was the dried lamb treats - a good dose of natural yoghurt seems to have helped al lot.

Cheers,

Westiemum

do you add youghurt to there food, mine have a spoon of natural yoghurt a day and we rarely get a ponga, worth a try, I use the easigo hme made yoghurt.

Yes thanks dogmad - skin issues and allergies are certainly in my mind the major problem with the breed. I have a foster westie too at the moment (who is in grave danger of becoming a foster failure assuming he continues to ignore the cat so well ) - he's been with me 6 or 7 weeks as of yesterday and is an ex stud dog who has spent his life in a corrugated iron, wire and concrete run - quite sensorily deprived IMO - on touching grass seemingly for the first time he recoiled into a ball and didn't want to put his paws down on it or touch it - very sad to watch. He now loves the grass and is rolling in it and not licking and itching like my old girl - yet you would expect a dog with no experience of grass or 'immunity' (for want of better word) should be licking like madly - but no, he's not, so far. But I must admit I'm waiting for it to happen.

So will be very interested to see how you get on. Please can you let us know?

Cheers,

Westiemum

Thanks guys. As my dog died in 2007 (fox terrier cross) I was wondering if there were any new things I hadn't tried. My vet said if he hadn't died of the brain tumour, I should have been thinking about putting him to sleep because of his allergy which I'd struggled with for 3 years. We tried (through vets and the internet), herbal products, Chinese herbs, lotions and potions. The thing that was best was a cortisone injection which he had every now and then but they stop working eventually. Antihistamines (from vet) that I tried didn't work for him, I would have tried others if I'd known that I could.

Westiemum, I have had 3 westie crosses, 2 are still with me and I'm pretty sure the temp foster dog is a westie cross too. Only 1 of my westie types doesn't chew his paws constantly. The remaining other westie cross is currently on a cortisone course for sore feet. His at least aren't like it all year round.

I'll try some tablets today. I'm one of the % of people who Zyrtec knocks out like being run over by a truck! I'll try giving him some tablets and report back!

This little guy weighs 5 kilos.

Agree with Clyde - don't laugh but when I pull my house down and redevelop my big block the grass is going!! My girl westie in particular licks her paws (all 4) like theres no tomorrow because of what I'm sure is a grass contact allergy - after months of no rain and and dead grass the licking eased off and paw discolouration got better as it seemed whatever the problem in the grass was had finally died off - and last week it rained, the grass recovered a little and she's licking again like mad. ;)

I talked to my great vet about it - he was honest and said 'we are notoriously unsuccessful at treating these things' - and I could try anti-histamines but he wasn't sure it would work in my case and he doesn't like prescribing anti-histamines unnecesssarily - and unless its going to solve the problem I was reluctant to medicate her even short term anyway.

I have been using a cream called Epoc Cream (Evening Primrose Cream) from here which certainly works well in easing her itchiness with frequent application but doesn't solve the problem - it returns on each exposure - but the vet said he thought that would be as good as it was likely to get in my case and recommended I continue to treat her symptomatically with the cream.

Really, after trying a myriad of creams, shampoos and potions I think the only real solution is to eventually get rid of the grass or keep her inside - radical as that might sound. And in my case she would hate not having the backyard to race around in so I persevere with the Epoc cream.

Hope that sort of helps - but my impression is overall that there aren't any real solutions to this problem - but happy to hear of a miracle cure here too if anyone has anything esle to suggest.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Yes and its also being used in Australia with horses with some extraordinary success. Hopefully it won't be long before the procedure is availble for humans with severe arthritic conditions as well.

Charles I came in late on last nights programme but if I remember correctly the joint programme between Kuring-gai Vets and Syd (/) Uni has treated 40-50 dogs so far with a 75% success rate (but they didn't really define 'success'). But I got the impression that this is the only practice/project in the country currently doing the procedure. Do you know if that's right?

Cheers

Westiemum

Sounds hopeful - this technology has been used to repair leg injuries in competition horses in the UK for a while, apparently with a good success rate.

Hey, haven't we got some great vets all over Adelaide!! North, South, East, west and the Hills for Jules. Great to hear!!

Leema interesting your comments on Southern Animal Hospital on South Road at Morphettvale are intersting. I too certainly would use them in emergencies if I lived down that way - I thought they were good through vets when my Mum's old cat got taken there by the RSPCA (when he was boarding there) - but they charged like wounded bulls - that one really hurt!!

Cheers,

Westiemum

Hey, haven't we got some great vets all over Adelaide!! North, South, East, west and the Hills for Jules. Great to hear!!

Leema interesting your comments on Southern Animal Hospital on South Road at Morphettvale. I too thought they were good when my Mum's old cat got taken there by the RSPCA (when he was boarding there) - but they charged like wounded bulls - that one really hurt!!

Cheers,

Westiemum

:cool: :p

I have no doubt you thought you'd found her the perfect home... yet sometimes it just goes wrong...

Kirty big hugs - I'm sure she knew you were there at the end. You were there for her at the end - and that's actually the greatest gift of all you could have given her - and I'm sure she loves you for it.

Westiemum

OOOO Yep! I do adore my two... spoilt as they are!

Yes thanks Jules we're all well - sorry I didn't make last Sunday - just far too much on at the moment.

But I hope we can catch up in the new year. Good luck with the vet search.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Cheers,

Westiemum and the westies :cool:

Hi Jules

Derek Mc Nair at the Parade Norwood Veterinary Clinic - can't recommend him highly enough and worth the travel in my opinion - 8363 5323. And he's reasonably priced.

Closer to you I've heard of a very good vet at Littlehampton - Catherine Motter - 8398 3988 - friends of mine swear by her - but I haven't used her myself.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Hi westimum

Thankyou for those recommendations, especially coming from you !!! (as I know how much you love your 2 and would only want the best for them!)

I might look into the LittleHampton one first ..

Hope you and your gorgeous furbabies are all well?

Hey thanks Aubrey - much appreciated.

Cheers

Westimum

Hi westiemum and Melbomb

The place on Port Rd that sells the Barf Patties is a Pet food shop - it's called:

Pet Food Hindmarsh

326 Port Road

Hindmarsh SA 5007

Ph (08) 8241 5758

http://www.barfsa.com.au/stockists.htm

:cool:

Hi Jules

Derek Mc Nair at the Parade Norwood Veterinary Clinic - can't recommend him highly enough and worth the travel in my opinion - 8363 5323. And he's reasonably priced.

Closer to you I've heard of a very good vet at Littlehampton - Catherine Motter - 8398 3988 - friends of mine swear by her - but I haven't used her myself.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Westiemum

Thanks for the thread Megan and your comments JulesP.

I have the most beautiful healthy senior westies in the whole world who do very well on their current barf/prey diet. I was simply looking at giving them a little more variety in their diet but don't have time to make my own barf and thought the VAN compelte Mix looked interesting - and Megan I see from the other thread you use it - how do you find it?

Cheers

Westiemum

Wheat and corn are only a problem if your dog has an allergy to them.

Hi Megan,

Thanks - yes I did a search and nothing came up - can you give me some clues about the thread?

Thanks

Westiemum

there is a similar thread to this froma while back....doing a search may give you some more info

Hi Poodlefan,

Thanks for that - I didn't realise that oats barley and rice weren't OK - I thought it was just wheat, corn and junk like that.

Cheers

Westiemum

There have been a couple of thread on this product recently.

Opinions are, not surprisingly, divided.

I don't use it as it's mostly indigestible grains.

Hi Aubrey,

Did you say Barf on Port Road at Hindmarsh? Can you give me some directions or a name or address? Is it a butchers or a pet food place? I go down that way for work every now and then so would like to check them out.

Thanks a lot

Westiemum

I often go to central markets to pick up stuff as I am walking distance at work too

There is a great shop on Port Road in Hindmarsh that does barf and raw food... beef, chicken, roo etc.

I often go to a butchers further down Port Road in the shopping centre at Welland... butcher there has cheap off cuts and chicken carcasses.

Woolies in town also do raw food with offcuts, hearts, chicken necks etc.

Hi Everyone,

In another thread I came across a reference to this raw mix which you soak overnight and then add fresh meat. Link here

Has anyone used it, particularly for a reasonable length of time? How did you find it to use? Did your dogs like it?

What do you think of the ingredients?

Complete mix contains a combination of mixed cereal grains (rolled oats, cracked barley, soybean meal, flax seed meal, and whole oats), dried vegetables and fruit, dried garlic, dried parsley, dried barley grass, calcium powder, yeast powder, kelp granules, lecithin granules and vitamin C powder.

Thanks for your thoughts/advice.

Cheers

Westiemum

Yes my guys had the occasional packet for a while - and they're fine. But they certainly won't be getting any more as there's a lesson for me here - and I'm not sure they need them anyway.

Cheers,

Westiemum

All our dogs sleep on the bed/couch & we have no issues.

Respect is earnt by being consistent.

You own a dog & they respect leadership by being treated as a dog & knowing the boundries & the rules which everyone must follow

Spoiling creates monsters .

We love every one of our dogs & yes they are considered spoilt but they now exactly where they stand & what the rules are & if i say jump they ask how high.

Well said settrlvr - that's exactly how it is in my house - and I have two older westies - my 9 year old pf rescue farm boy and my 7 year old ex breeding bitch girl. I got them at ages 6 and 5 respectively. And yes they sleep on my bed and the lounge!!! In fact I'm going to get a bigger bed to accommodate them next time! (And me!) :D and I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. And I have no problem with obedience and discipline at all.

Although I got them as older dogs the issues were still the same - he had to learn who was boss and she is an 'alpha-wanna-be' who absolutely had to quickly learn that I was the alpha bitch of this pack and not her. :D And as settrlvr said absolute consistency and respect , and I would add firm kindness to the boundaries were all key. Nothing without a polite sit first, disciplined walking on the lead, immediate recall - and with her a small group (8 dogs) beginners obedience class using nothing but positive reinforcement worked a treat.

I have not had one place (public or private) where my dogs have not been asked back. I also expect them to behave and 99 times out of hundred they do. They went to a new groomer today for the first time (goldiesrgr8 - thanks tons - great clip ) - who was amazed at how easy they were to groom. And considering their backgrounds they are very good. So yes I do understand some westies are difficult to clip and groom - but not all - and after all if they didn't have some westie spunk they wouldn't be westies.

So I suggest you persevere with respect consistency and kindness to set the boundaries clearly - and consider a small group obedience class - worked wonders for us!

Hope that helps

Cheers,

Westiemum