Jumabaar

As a Veterinarian, I also buy some of my own dog's meds from the chemist. They are selling them for less than I can get WHOLESALE!! 

For anyone interested in more information on what is know this fb group is my recommendation. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TaurineDCM/?ref=share

Part of the reason they make it complicated can be found in studies. Often with over 50% of the recipes are not meeting the micro and macro nutrient needs of the animals they are intended for. 

Not saying that raw is not achievable, just that current evidence indicates that many people can not get it right. 

Please note that Sudden death may be the first sign of a problem.

We really do not know what is causing this problem BUT by far and large the companies on this list are not even admitting there is a problem let alone trying to work through what the underlying process might be. 

I would suggest talking to your veterinarian and discontinuing feeding grain free foods. 

On 02/07/2019 at 6:19 PM, Rascalmyshadow said:

Oh wonderful we’ve been feeding earthborn holistic instead of Canidae.

Can anyone tell me how long before you would see negative signs in a puppy.

Sudden death may be the first sign of a problem. Best to talk to your veterinarian about this issue. 

22 hours ago, moosmum said:

What should be good news, is that closed stud books have surprisingly little to do with the problems facing breeders of Pedigree Dogs.

 

The main problems are the closed minds tasked with interpreting the instructions laid out by the standards.

.Because they are instructed to be closed to what they don't see already there.

 

Conformation showing isn't even such a problem without that instruction.

The show ring tells them what they should see best, in a good example of a breed standard.

Its the faulty instruction that means the show winner  is the only demonstration of a breed standard that  quantifies its value.

While not obvious ultimately the closed stud books are what is causing most of the health issues but its a gnarly problem. They are opening the registries on a number of breeds to improve genetic diversity and lower COI. 

On 19/05/2019 at 6:51 PM, Two Best Dogs! said:

I disagree, the jafcos are absolutely shocking for airflow. The condensation from the dogs own mouth rebounds back on itself, the whole area heats up quick, it's not good for drinking through and near impossible to reward in. It's really bad for extended walks or anything of duration, especially in warm weather. Night time and cooler weathers possibly suitable but I wouldn't risk it person.

 

Buying a good open muzzle and then filling in the gaps yourself necessary for the dog (it likely won't need as much as those poop eating greyhounds) allows much more airflow. Plus, if it restricts it too much the tape is easy enough to remove and start over.

 

Jafcos....not much adjustment option at alls.

 

(I really hate jafcos sorry!! any other muzzle but a jafco or those fabric bite restriction ones. so badly designed for activity)

Love this and super true!

I do use jafcos- for training because they hold food in them quite well. And I will use them when a dog is a significant bite risk while I am waiting for sedation to kick in. But for every day life they are not a great option. 

There are vets offering titre testing from $60 using vaccicheck. 

It is more expensive to send it off to certain labs. 

vets should (and usually do) report adverse reactions to medications to the manufactures and the AVPMA. 

https://apvma.gov.au/node/309

I recommend titre testing (checking to see if your dog has antibodies) rather than vaccinating so you know if your pet is good to go OR if they are unprotected. 

Reactions to vaccinations are not common. And the most common ones is feeling a little flat (same as humans). 

Less common reactions which are more severe of course DO get a lot more publicity!! So they can be perceived as much more common than they are. I work in with vets offering eastern and western medicine so I tend to see more than I did when I associated more with western medicine because people who have experienced a reaction seek out eastern medicine and concentrate there!! 

I have not found a correlation between vaccine reactions and reactions to other medications, or the other way around. I do understand that it can be stressful when it’s your own pup! But Facebook and forums will be filled with proactive owners who are also seeking information and will confirm your worries disproportionately. 

The best way way to sort through this is to find a veterinarian that you trust and can talk to about your fears so they can discuss individual risk vs reward for any treatment. 

Titre test should indicate if your dog is protected by the vaccinations it has already had. You may be able to freely socialise your dog. 

Not being vaccinated should not impact your dogs reaction at the vet. If he is worried then perhaps seeing a veterinary behaviourist to discuss an appropriate plan would help you ensure your dog is relaxed at the vet so you can provide appropriate treatment without worrying about him being stressed. 

Saliva production is more important than bones for dental health. A dog does not use all it’s teeth to eat bones. They are great mental enrichment which is why my dogs get bones. 

Even if these teeth are removed your dog may still be predisposed to dental problems and may need regular dentals anyway. 

You sound like an amazing and dedicated owner who wants to make sure your pup gets the best possible care. Having some plans in place (pre visit medications) and gathering more data (titre testing) will help you worry less and make sure your pup receives gold standard care. I think it can be useful to write down your concerns in point form and have a consult with your vet without your pup so you can discuss and plan what can be done to systematically address each of your problems. 

It can seem super overwhelming! Particularly when you only have 15 minutes AND you have your dog with you. Booking an extended consult, having a list and leaving you dog at home will make it easier to succeed. 

If the teeth are healthy leave them in. You can always have them removed if they become problematic in the future. 

Many dogs require annual dental procedures and all dogs (and cats) should have a visual dental assessment yearly.

If they are healthy cleaning will get you back to square 1. And so you can play it by ear. 

is the protein measured per weight on the patties (ie there is also water in that percentage) or dry weight which is more comparable to kibble as they have extracted the water. 

. I see leads as safety tools only, rather than a control tool. 

If I want to quickly move a young dog without them being distracted  I use a food magnet. In that moment I am not training I am just managing. This would be my option for the 2min walk to the puppy park. 

On the longer walks I assume your out for enrichment purposes so I would be tempted to say let the pup sniff. I did it with my younger dogs and the can now differentiate between a destination walk and an enrichment walk.  On their walks they are in control within reason. On my walks I have food on me to reward leaving smells. To be honest though- I rarely do this form of walking because it’s so much fun watching my guys explore and experience the world.  

My my strategies would look a little different if it were an older dog or there was a different reason for the behaviour occurring. No one size fits all. 

Please put your puppy back on a high quality puppy food- they have regulated amounts of Calcium to phosphorus. 

It is likely that your pup will improve without adding in vitamin C but it won't hurt. 

Further soft surfaces will actually help your pup start using muscles that stabilise the joints. 

This is a common stage in growing. If it is not looking better in a week please see your Veterinarian or see a rehabilitation therapist. 

Dr Jaime Jackson BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science) CCRT (Certificate in Canine Rehabilitation Therapy). 

To me it looks like a hoarding or health issue rather than this being a case of a puppy mill or deliberate neglect. If this is the case I do hope that the owner gets the help they need. People that do not love their dog don't go to shows and spend money on importing etc. So I feel like compassion should be our number one emotion. 

As a group of dedicated breed and dog enthusiasts we do need to look out for each other. Had this breeder been able to reach out for help, or have help find her earlier then the RSPCA wouldn't have needed to be involved. But as it is I think action did need to be taken for these dogs to receive appropriate care. 

The only issue that I have with the RSPCA is that they have let their own emotions get in the way when they have been posting. I would have liked to see more information on where people who have excessive numbers of pets can find help and advice on how to notice and support people who are facing these types of problems. 

People have had success in teaching dogs to 'notice' the scent and then perform a behaviour to move away from them. They have specific courses in WA for this. 

It is as reliable as a drug detection dog if trained appropriately. Certainly not a one off training session but probably the best way to keep dogs safe.

This is an 18mth old pup so not quite comparable. 

As a vet I spend all of my time assessing physical abnormalities. And I have found a few pups well under 12mths that I have referred for early surgery. Usually these are due to the way bones are growing and early intervention can give better prognosis. 

These may not be black and white cases. I agree that some are done without just cause, but some are done very appropriately. It’s worth looking at every case as an individual to make sure those that need early intervention don’t miss out. 

On 25/07/2018 at 3:15 PM, Dame Danny's Darling said:

A vet once said something to me that I found pretty scary.  He said the mistake was made when they were called “Veterinary Surgeons”.  A surgeon thinks he/she has to operate.  Operations should be considered, considered again and then considered again .... for all animals including the human animal.  

 

This vet also showed me how easy it was to slip dogs’ knees out of joint.  Paraphrasing:  he said that a customer takes their dog to the vet, the vet says, OMG look at this luxating patella, it just slips right out of joint, this dog must be operated upon.  

 

Another mistake that we make (and one that is hard not to because we are not vets) is that we thinks vets love animals, would walk over hot coals to help our animals and have only the deepest ulterior motives in taking up this profession and are extremely skilled. None of these things applies to some vets.  

 

I could relate several more horror stories from over the years, but I want to sleep tonight.    

If it slips out easily then it is not a normal joint.... I check for patella dislocation on all dogs I work on and the vast majority stay in place regardless of what I do. I also get owners to feel the bone slipping out and how easy it is when the tissues are not developed or have been injured.

The eating everything is concerning as it sounds like Pica. I would go to your vet and you may need a referral to a Vet Behaviourist for assessment. I worry your pup will end up with a blockage and need major surgery so acting sooner rather than later is probably going to solve you money. Your vet will do a physical exam and probably run some bloods. This is a list of vets with an interest in Behaviour- some of them work as GPs and so would be a good first port of call https://www.k9events.com/behaviour-vets.html

In addition hunt up a trainer on this site to help you with some training. https://ppgaustralia.net.au They will be able to work through points 2-4 with you. 

This is not a 'rotty' problem. These are not problems that will easily resolve in a class situation. You need good advice that will help you long into the future. 

$400 of that was probably anaesthesia.

Possible additional costs

Pre anaesthetic bloods - maybe $80

Fluids-- $50/80ish

ab- 30

pain relief- 30

Dental xrays -100to200

Then the dental may have taken over an hour to complete- with a veterinarian and a dedicated anaesthesia nurse. Some teeth just take a really long time- even if its a specialist performing the procedure!!

The special dental machine that needs to be payed off + have upkeep.

The special dental tools required for extractions.

The facility, electricity bill, water etc also needs to be paid. 

An equivalent human procedure would be in the thousands with a GA. I think my wisdom teeth had a 3k excess with private health insurance.......

16 hours ago, mita said:

That makes sense to focus on core essentials. 

What's the best kind of exercise therapy?  I'm noticing that people can tend to do the opposite....as soon as there's any limping or other signs of discomfort, they may stop walking the dog because they fear it's causing pain. Is swimming good?

There are rehab professionals that would be able to set up an individualised plan. 

Swimming is great for cardiovascular health but does little to support joints. The muscles that do this only work when resisting gravity- so land based exercises and wading are necessary.

It does seem counterintuitive to exercise a painful dog but that is where a good diagnosis and pain management plan comes into the picture. I will often put dogs on a few different pain meds to allow them to feel comfortable and build muscle. Once they have built some strength we can then reduce their pain meds because they are less painful. 

I think it is worth some investigation to ensure that there is nothing more that you can be doing. a Physical exam by an experienced vet in orthopaedics or rehab should be able to give a lot of information. There should be a list of differential diagnosis ie a list of things it could be. Some of these will respond best to management, others may be surgical with good prognosis. 

Is the shaking due to pain, or is it due to the information not getting to the leg appropriately from the brain, are soft tissues damaged so shaking is a result of instability. 

I do recommend a Veterinarian as first point of call to ensure that a plan is in place to prevent further deterioration. Ideally also a plan to improve your dogs current situation is always ideal. From there you can make an informed decision about what to do/who to see next. They may discuss further diagnostics but they may also decide, based on very specialised knowledge and experience that it is not necessary. 

Right now going to a non-veterinarian may lead to additional pain and suffering if they do something assuming it is one thing but it turns out to be something else.

I prefer beds with good support over heated beds. Henry Hottie is my current australian favourite. Pair it with an area that has no drafts and a blanket and they should stay comfortable. 

If that is not enough then I would be looking at additional support with exercise therapy and meds.

When it comes to arthritis at least the 3 proven treatments are 

Weight management

NSAIDs (anti inflammatory)

Exercise therapy

It is only when you look at all 3 (and then adding in other meds and supplements) that you will get the best results.

Antinol is a new supplement that is also worth looking into.