trifecta

Having had a dog who would self mutilate she was so itchy, I recommend the following: 1/ Firstly, a topical application of something like Neocort ointment to relieve redness & irritation. 2/ Start an elimination diet. First, feed only foods that you know Bub is not allergic to... maybe chicken or turkey & rice for starters. Then over a period of weeks add individual food stuffs & monitor Bub for itchiness. I would recommend pumpkin to start with, then carrots, green leafy vegetables etc., (all raw/pulped of course). I would be cautious with potatoes - they are the same family as tomatoes, the deadly nightshade family, to which allergies are well documented. 3/ Try & keep Bub away from areas in your yard with plants known to cause allergies. In this way you MAY be able to build up a picture of what triggers Bub's allergies. In my dog's case she was extremely allergic to legumes... whether they were ingested as beans, peas, lentils, soya etc., or by contact, clover & lucerne the main offenders here. She was also allergic to grains. In fact keeping her out of the stable area so she could not hoover up feed spillages, & away from the horses in general, as she had a liking for their droppings, solved a lot of our/her problems! We also consulted a homoeopathic vet who prescribed a constitutional remedy for her. This fixed a multitude of behavioural as well as physical maladies. Over time she needed her remedy less & less, & would only need it when an outbreak occurred. A homoeopathic vet will tell you this is because the dog is now pretty much 'balanced", while vets that I have worked with have told me that dogs usually improve with age as they become desensitised to the stimuli. You certainly have my sympathies, an itchy dog drives itself & its owner insane with the continual, licking, nibbling, scratching & worrying of itchy skin.... especially during the night when the house is quiet!

Just to summarise, Bowen is much more than massage, it is often referred to as the homeopathy of bodywork, stimulating the body to heal itself, often profoundly. Some of the conditions responding favourably to Bowenwork include; Sciatica & back pain Digestive & bowel problems Respiratory problems Hormonal irregularities Lymphatc & circulatory problems Sports & other traumatic injuries A dog undergoing Bowen therapy may change body shape; the animal looks as if it has gained weight where in reality the muscles relax, the coat may become softer & silkier & may change colour as nutrition returns to it. White becomes whiter, black - blacker, reds & browns - richer in colour. However on a cautionary note for anyone who is thinking of undertaking any animal therapy course for the purpose of going into practice, the last person to touch an animal in any therapeutic manner is responsible if that animal dies. Insurance is therefore highly recommended & is only available to qualified, accredited practioners. Make sure that any course undertaken provides this qualification, otherwise you are on your own.

shmoo, I had another e-mail for Tina Spurling but it is on another PC that has died. I can only suggest phoning her if you are interested in finding out about Bowen.

The Bowtech Bowen course for small animals is co-ordinated by Tina Spurling [email protected]. Phone 0418 726778. CCmrt & EMRT (Equine) courses are held in every state.

I have partially completed a human Bowen course. Bowen is so much more than massage. Many masseurs actually go on to train in Bowen. There is a small animal course affiliated with Bowtech, which teaches closest to Tom Bowen's methods. I will find out the e-mail address for you, shmoo, & post it here when i find it ;)

Have just reread my post & thought it sounded a bit mercenary Would like to add that this dog was responsibly rehomed & found a wonderful family with whom he lived out his years very happily; he just wasn't what my acquaintance wanted in a trial dog.

I have an acquaintance who was very competitive in obedience & agility. She purchased a puppy with a view to trialling, but he never made the grade upon maturity. Due to a council limit on the number of dogs able to be kept in one household in her shire, she rehomed this dog & purchased another, who incidentally went on to make the top grade in the obedience, agility & show ring. I personally could not do it, but it was more than a hobby to her... more like an obsession

Peas are fine as long as your dog is not allergic to legumes. Interestingly enough I had a dog who had a contact allergy to clover. She also was allergic to any legumes; could not eat peas, beans or even the horse feed, & of course the manure as horses do not process their food very well. Yes, fruit & vegies should be fed raw, when did you last see wild dogs sitting around the campfire cooking dinner! :D

Hi varicool Sory to read about Harvey; hope the vets can get to the bottom of this. Buggers, aren't they, our furkids? Always wait til holiday time....

Believe me BARF is cheaper than feeding commercial, packaged, pre-prepared foods. Also fewer & less odorous faeces to pick up! Better health, long lived dogs, fewer visits to the vets, less need for worm & flea preparations; basically cost effective all round!

Rozzie, a concreter could probably pour a topping on the existing slab & bring that up to a polished finish. Would be costly I imagine. ETA You could rip up the carpet & lay slate or tiles though!

Rabbit is the perfect dog food. Good lean meaty bones & I am told they do not have hydatid tapeworms..... can anyone verify this?

Stitching can only be done on fresh wounds; so this hanging piece will be cut off cleanly by the vet. It will then heal quickly as there is good blood supply to the lips. Hopefully it won't look too bad.... may make him look mean, though! ;)

Yes, leg lifting in bitches (micturition) is a dominance thing. Also the kicking action after urination or defecation is not spreading it far & wide, but is away of marking the ground with the scent glands between the pads. LOL, Enforcing "I've been here" I suppose!

Chooka, you might want to check out Megaderm. Has minerals & vitamins as well as oils that are needed for healthy skin.

Is self-promotion allowed on this forum? :D

Post deleted after KayeL's editing! :D

Holly, my vet was charging $44 for a packet of 30. A packet of 30 lasted my 22kg dog 4 months. Compare this to Metacam which is something like $100 for the large bottle. This vet's mark up on all drugs, however, is very low when compared to other practices where I have worked. Mobic is made by Boehringer Ingelheim. Maybe you could discuss this topic with your vet & ask him to speak to the drug reps re supply? And yes, anne is correct; it is certainly a prescription only medicine!

Holly, the human meloxicam (metacam) is marketed as Mobic. My vet actually prescribes this over metacam. Firstly it is cheaper, &, secondly because it is in tablet form & not a suspension there are no drawbacks about the animal getting the correct dose if it is not mixed properly prior to administration. The only problem would be the unsuitability of the tablet form for small dogs, as one quarter of a 7.5mg tablet is enough to treat a 20-25kg dog.

Yes, you're looking at a cost of $1500 minimum for antivenene treatment. My advice is to consider how much veterinary treatment is affordable before the event; taking into consideration age of pet, state of health etc. It can save considerable angst if such an awful event does occur as these decisions are hard to make when emotions are running high.

Sounds like it could be cystitis Erny, in which case she will be in a lot of trouble if she has to wait until next Tuesday to see her vet!

I'm with espinay. I feed BARF. My dogs look like they have been oiled! Don't forget adequate exercise.... fit, well dogs are always shiny!

Take every day as it comes. Try not to dwell on the inevitable. Enjoy every minute with your beloved friend. You will know when the time has come. Pop into the rescue forum.... there is a thread there about Theo, an aging newfy x who was rescued from the pound with a heart condition. Theo has just spent the last three months surrounded by love & was sent to rainbow bridge with his family around him instead of dying alone & afraid in the pound.

I would be interested to know the diet of the said 'smelly' dogs. I believe a shiny, healthy coat is the result of what is put into the dog, not on it! Exercise is also an important factor of a healthy coat. I have mainly had coated breeds & have practised minimal washing. Dogs are inside/outside dogs & the house has never smelt doggy... (I've even dared to ask my friends! )

Speckymagee you need help! Enrol tomorrow!