Papillon Kisses

You can get it from health food stores.

I didn’t go and later found out that the NSW papillon club was there.

Oh sorry, misunderstood.

Compression garments make Malcolm more anxious – he freezes and trembles in place. A looser tshirt or jumper can make him feeling better, though. I have yet to try a TTouch wrap; some practitioners say they can benefit dogs for whom the Thundershirt and similar garments are too much. It sounds like there’s more to it than this, but have the owners considered whether they are expecting too much from their older dog? Some people worry about their dogs not being comfortable at dog parks, markets, cafés, etc. when the dog would rather be a happy homebody. Mentioning just in case. Please encourage them to get a comphrehensive vet check including bloods and whatnot if they haven’t, as an anxious senior could very well have something else going on. It’s also good to have a baseline of organ function before starting medication. Good luck!

Welcome! I have an anxious dog of my own so know all the ins and outs of treatment and training. Here are links to the two veterinary behaviourists you have in ACT. http://www.innersouthvets.com.au/ http://www.hallvet.com.au/ And here’s a recommended behavioural trainer. You’ll be wanting a home consult not obedience classes. Anxiety is not an obediance problem. http://www.caninecoach.com.au/aboutus.html Be sure to take your Shepherd to the vet for a comprehensive checkup too, as sometimes other medical problems cause or contribute to behaviour problems. Good luck!

A vet behaviourist told me all dogs should have 2-3 meals a day to keep them feeling their best. Our GP vet has also said splitting the food is better on their tummys. What I do for my Chi x is portion out his food each day into a measuring cup then split that into his meals. And all of his food is used for enrichment games (food dispensing toys etc) or training. He no longer has a standard bowl. ETA. Just saw you asked about snacks before bed. Mal has a bedtime routine which he loves as it culminates in his favourite dental chew.

If it’s OCD then she will need medical treatment and should not be bred from. I would query some sort of GI problem though since it happens after eating. Perhaps a referral to an internal medicine specialist would be advisable if your GP vet can’t help.

I think you should speak to your vet. They can advise you how much to feed and look into any problems.

Oh, an 18 year old with dementia? Have you discussed treatment with a vet?

Hi Stitch, I think this might help you. http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/resource-guarding-treatment-and-prevention

Toothbrushing is great. Just use one for dogs.

It looks so out of place!

So... bought anything yet?

Scent games may also tire dog out and be calming at the same time e.g. https://www.dog-games.co.uk/sprinkles-tm/ or just hiding food around the house.

I think, in Zena’s mum’s case, considering why this dog is barking and addressing that beats either of these options. Is this the dog you’ve talked about elsewhere, Zena’s mum? It’s highly likely that it is stressed. It is having a hard time, not giving you one, as frustrating as I know it is (believe me, I have a dog who barks incessantly when stressed due to his anxiety disorder). If you are willing to spend money, may I suggest Adaptil and Zylkene instead. You can also try a ttouch half wrap using a scarf or bandage, or alternatively a T-shirt wrapped firmly, as a DYI Thundershirt; playing some gentle classical music; keeping the dog with you if separation is the problem; a quiet place in case external noises are a problem - perhaps a covered crate with door open? Perhaps fashion a bellyband for the toiliting issue. Wrap: http://www.allpetseducationandtraining.com.au/ttouch-wrap.html Sample of the best music for dogs I’ve found but any will do: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f-szLQy7JHg

http://kb.rspca.org.au/Should-I-use-an-anti-barking-collar-to-treat-my-dogs-barking-problem_446.html

I haven’t purchased it myself, but others recommend JW brand toys. You can get a hollee roller and stuff it with strips of fabric, with or without treats, for dogs to destuff.

Not Australian but well-made. Planet Dog Busy Buddy Kyjen / Outward Hound Kong (they have loads of toys, not just the classic Kongs) Snuffle mat (home made or numerous Aus sellers) Buster (cube, maze) Zippy Paws* Oh, there’s also Aussie Dog Products but I associate them with dogs for staffies and lions. *have not bought but the burrows look so cute for dogs who like soft squeaky toys!

Best to ask your vet about the meds, scratching and swelling. Have you looked online to see whether you can get the medication cheaper? Even if you need to pay a script writing fee, you may still be ahead. There was a recent thread about pet medications.

If you’re on Facebook, join the Canine Enrichment group and search for things like crate rest and surgery. There are lots of ways to tire dogs out mentally when exercise is restricted.

We experienced that with Vetmedin but in the same council area!

Yep, Mal had dental surgery last year. We put him under knowing that two teeth would have to come out. One GP vet who had only found one of those teeth, refused to operate as they thought it wasn’t that bad and reckoned if I flushed the periodontal pocket daily the ligament would magically reattach. Anyway, we booked him in for surgery with a veterinary dentist at the specialist hospital as Mal is older and has health conditions. He ended up a needed a LOT of teeth out and a gum graft where disease had eaten a hole between his mouth and nose. BTW, most of those teeth looked bright and shiny because I brush his teeth daily etc... but they were rotten/barely attached below the gum line!!!! Maybe if the first vet hadn’t scared me into leaving it, the disease wouldn’t have got that bad or expensive to repair. TL/DR: book in the surgery, Girrafez. Get it done somewhere/by someone special if your dog has issues, plus all the pre GA bloodwork and fluids for increased safety, X-rays and whatever else they recommend. Dental disease is painful and does all sorts of nasty stuff to the body like fractured jaws* and organ damage. *what would have eventually happened if he didn’t have surgery. Remember, only two teeth looked like they needed out.

My favourite harness is the Perfect Fit but the cost probably makes it prohibitive for a puppy. Perhaps get a simple H/Roman style harness to start? Re front attaching harnesses see this https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/20_4/features/Best-Dog-Harnesses-2017_21622-1.html

A number of vets and nurses I’ve spoken to say they cannot obtain the medications for anywhere close to what you can buy yourself (because of the PBS, bulk buying potential etc) and that their markups are piddly.

I have people looking at me funny wondering why I gave my son Malcolm the middle name Dog.