Papillon Kisses

Thank you both, and Snook I've spent most of the day crying but your messages made me feel a bit better. He's back home, exhausted and hungry but under instructions to only be fed small amounts at a time which displeases him! Exhaustion suddenly hit me too. I think he's still pulling to one side... or at least was when I first brought him home... but the vet said all is fine and just to watch him. Apparently in the post-ictal state he was very reactive and stressed (rather than just attention barking as the nurse said) so they couldn't take bloods, but if he has more seizures they will run some more tests. The vet thought he would have to come off Prozac if he kept having seizures He also played when we got home but then took a little tumble, he seems to be a bit weak in his back legs or maybe he pulled a muscle. When I found him in his state this morning he was in this strange, stiff, wide stance where he was completely tilted to one side, and then when I got him to lay on his mat he was still pulling to the one side and kind of moving about in a wavy manner with that intense glazed look in his eyes. Anyway. I have turned his beloved gas heater on for him even though it's not cold.

Thank you Snook. I called the vet and asked them to call her. Hoping they will do so. Also sent our VB an email (I spoke to her earlier). They say he is alert and barking to get the nurse's attention whenever she checks on him.

VB didn't think it sounded like a seizure. I'm concerned it was/is something else.

They said the majority of seizures are idiopathic, meaning they don't know the cause, and he could just have the first big one and then none ever again, or one every few months, or a lot. I called our VB and she said it's not his medication... the Gabapentin actually reduces seizure risk and he's been on Prozac too long for it to be that (and the Prozac risk is very rare) They're monitoring him so if he has another they can give him Valium to stop it. They have made him a cocoon with towels and my old dressing gown to support him cause he can't even lay down properly. When I dropped off the dressing gown (it calms him) he barked/howled when he heard me so I'm taking that as a good sign in a way, that he's more with it. They said to call around four/five pm. It only happened at 11. I hope there's no dogs barking and whatnot as that would stress him. It was quiet when I was there so maybe he's the only one in. I'm so scared. Our papillon started having seizures before he died and then another big one with lots of frothing and that same look on his face when he was dying.

Didn't necessarily want to start a new thread. Malcolm's had a seizure and is with the vet for the day. He's still all tilted to one side and falling over but mostly responsive just a bit glazed/scared. My little boy.

Pets Need A Life Too is looking at bringing them into Australia if there's enough interest. So if anyone is interested, I'd suggest getting in touch.

That's what I use with Malcolm and it does seem to help a little. My parents are also using one of the puppy albums for their puppy. In that case there seems to be a fair bit of classical conditioning involved... pun not intended but awesome all the same. :D It was initially played when the puppy was tired and relaxed and sleepy and now when it goes on it's the signal to relax.

I think so too. It is the hardest thing we ever have to do, to be brave and strong and let them go. It is one last gift of love. (I couldn't, and nature was cruel instead.) My heart hurts for you, Nelsona. I know that pain and the yearning to look into those loving eyes forever. He will always be your heart dog. Be strong. xx

I'm sorry for your loss MadWoofter.

Haha, I'm imagining a 'fist bump' but with the snoot! :D :laugh:

You're right that you don't need to punish or be harsh, but you don't need to spit either! And the 'alpha' dominance theory stuff is false. You might like to read this: http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org/ And this: https://www.ava.com.au/sites/default/files/AVA_website/pdfs/Reward-based-training-brochure-WEB.pdf :)

Thank you. :) He had quite a bad week anxiety-wise, so I'm pleased we were able to get anywhere.

You know I am tempted to keep it off. I can hear even quiet door knocking, and the loudness of the doorbell is kind of objectionable. I wish I could turn it down. In any case, I decided to remove the behaviour chain component in the interim and just focus on DS/CC, and he's now calmly sitting or laying down on his mat when the recording plays at its loudest. I did what you said TSD and split the doorbell work down into very short segments. The actual doorbell recording is 9 seconds, so just three of them a few times a day in addition to the protocol task. It will be a big jump to the actual doorbell though. We think Malcolm becomes more reactive when he's not feeling well from medication changes etc. Now that it's settling in his system he seems to be calming down and learning more again. I think I might bump him up to Task 12 tomorrow.

The dog was declared a nuisance for wandering though, not got biting.

Aloveen wash + calendula tea rinse for Malcolm today. He was stinky (sorry Mal) and excessively licking his legs and paws, which for him can be grass related in the warmer months. Bumping this thread as I know there's been some itchy dog posts of late. :)

Hi Dave! Perhaps ask your vet whether your dog can have Greenies? My pack says the crude fat is min 4% max 7% so perhaps they are ok. They may possibly not follow your feeding preferences, but there is strong clinical evidence for their effectiveness against plaque and tartar. They have the Veterinary Oral Health Centre (VOHC) seal of approval and that's not something that is given lightly. I don't know much about pancreatic diets apart from them having to be low fat, but if Mischa were my dog I would check back with the vet before feeding anything whether a dry food or dog roll. And as others have said, kangaroo + pumpkin is not a complete diet and will cause deficiencies in the long term. In short I agree with JulesP that you sometimes have to set aside your feeding preferences for the good of your dog. And always always check with your vet if your dog has a health problem! Something may be fine for someone else's dog but not for yours. Is there a reason why you need to feed a single protein? Allergies?

I like to think of them as party poodles. Always up for a dance, a mocktail, good tunes, canapés. :D

A better choice in the interim would be to trial an Adaptil diffuser and/or collar. From one of the leading experts on separation anxiety: http://malenademartini.com/separation-anxiety-faq/ Please see a vet behaviourist and a positive-reinforcement based behavioural trainer.

That's so sweet Simply Grand. :)

Haha, thanks for the compliment. And yes, Mal has the dapper thing down to a fine art even when sprinkled with dirt. :D The session went well. Some LATing and BATing and general desensitisation. I learnt that sometimes during LAT Malcolm will look in the general direction of but anywhere OTHER than at the scary thing, then back at me to get his reward. I have to be careful not to accidentally reward him when he hasn't done the work! Something to watch out for. Oh and congrats on the new job!

If you have access to it, an alternative to CCTV is to use a GoPro positioned where the most action is likely to be; if the barking is enough to warrant a council complaint it should still be picked up I think. You can also apparently setup skype on an iPad to automatically answer when called but I've never done it.

I'm not in SA, but I would make an appointment to see a vet behaviourist ASAP and ask them to recommend a behavioural trainer.

For a year or two after the movie came out, small children would frequently point and exclaim "Red Dog!" when we walked or ran past. We still get it from time to time. My lil' miniature Kelpie. :laugh:

Love it Skip. :D We walked past some cars on our walk yesterday and Malcolm started doing a search. :laugh:

That is fantastic! It can be hard for dogs to progress to air scenting. Malcolm has now progressed to Intermediate Nosework. They have taken away the boxes! Last class we were getting them into the habit of checking the perimeters and corners of the field before tackling the insides. I am finding having a dedicated Nosework harness helpful as he switches off better once it is removed.