mita

Good on you for taking such a definite stand on the dog with maggots.

I used to think that people who'd take their dog to a dog groomer would be generally caring of their dogs...until one of the other DOLers, who is a groomer, posted about the disgusting & neglected condition of some of the dogs brought in.

That particular thread was a real eye-opener...so I was shocked, but not surprised, to read your post.

...and our Shelley & Danny will be there for you, Marika, & all the other Shelties, too. You'll see all those lovely faces and know you are indeed in Doggie Heaven. Run free from pain with all your new friends.

the checkout chicks must wonder what the heck i feed my family, with 12 or so tins of sardines at 45 cents each

...or the person behind in the queue. When we had 3 cats & 3 dogs, I've have a huge pile.

One day, a man behind me asked 'Do you own a zoo?'

I've found this thread brilliant...great ideas re feeding dogs.

I've got tibbies...& a breeder showed me how important it was to cut back the hair on the pads...for reasons others have given.

I use a special pair of scissors to do it...they have a curve in the middle & rounded points.

I got them at a pet supplies store...but they are the same as those sold in baby supplies shops.

The curve means it's easy to place the scissors along the hair on the pad...& the rounded points means there's no worries about digging sharp points into the dog.

Thomas was a real gentleman...& he breathed his last in character. God love him.

So pleased Pepsi is doing well. It might make you feel better to know that when Pepsi's blood count was lowest...14. That was considered getting up high for Brock, because he started so low.

It sounds more positive for Pepsi.

Very wise to check about medication.

does anybody know if this lays derment for years and years? does it come back if dogs are run down?

Brockie's vets said he'd had the condition for years... but the fact that he had to take prednisone for a persistent skin allergy, had kept it dormant. But finally it broke thro'...with a vengeance.

Hoping for the best for Pepsi.

Lots of prayers for Pepsi from all of us here. Brockie's blood count was down to 8 at his worst. When transfusions got it to 20, they thought things were looking up. But it kept slumping back.

Let's know how things are going. My heart goes out to your mum & dad.

Zeds_mum, I'm sorry about your Brock. That was exactly the same for Brockie....found in a pool of blood.

Horrible disease...& a horrible way for most people to find out about it.

he shouldn't be being "pumped full of antibiotics" for allergies ,but if he does have severe allergic reactions to things, anti histamines will help make him more comfortable antibiotics are used if, (because of him breaking the skin chewing or scratching) there is an infection in the skin.

You may need to do some serious detective work!

If, as you say, he was fine at the breeders, then check what is growing,covering the soil/sprayed/sprinkled/covering your floors/his bed etc!!!

Wandering Jew creeper,bark mulch,some lawn grasses,pollens from low growing plants, insecticides, carpet cleaners, soap powders,food colourings in chewies or biscuits......allergies can be ANYTHING!

Oh..also fleas, and maybe flea TREATMENTS

Having had a dog allergic to most grasses, and any food colourings, I can sympathise.

See what the vet does in the way of tests, and what management strategies he suggests

best of luck......

Our Gracie is similar to your dog in every way. And pretty much all that Persephone said applies.

My vet gives me some anti-biotics to give immediately, only if the skin is broken or becomes inflamed. The antihistamines he's recommended are polaramine.

And it's necessary to be fanatical about keeping her free of fleas. If one is spotted between Advantix applications, I give her a Capstar tablet (vet advice).

Just 2 other things have helped Gracie enormously.

First, keeping all colourings & preservatives out of her diet. She's never been better than when I changed to Tuckertime Chicken Roll (only available from some vets) with a quality dry food. Some tuna in springwater is added a couple of times a week.

Second, I find keeping her cool in summer a great help...& never leave her with damp hair. Times of high humidity seem to be specially at risk times for her.

Brockie's owners asked to thank you all, most sincerely....for the information & sharing of experiences which gave them huge support at a shocking time. They said it helped them understand the condition & do what they thought was right for Brockie, tho' it broke their hearts.

When they went to be with Brockie for the last time, on Wednesday, he was as fresh as it was possible for him to be....thanks to a last blood transfusion. He was thrilled to see his family.. Tail wagging & giving Tibbie kisses. Cradled in his dad's arms, he gently went to heaven helped along by a sedative before the green needle.

The following night....his dad, a big, tough ex-Navy man...told us he dreamed Brockie came & saw him and gave him the 2 Tibbie kisses which he gave him every morning of his life...on his arm at the edge of the bed or on his leg when he got up. It was Brockie's little ritual...

His family are missing him dreadfully....but his dad feels that Brockie's told him, 'I'm OK now, dad.'

Thanks for all that info, folks. Just the kind of information that's wanted at the moment.

Especially the point that there could be some other pathology behind it, like a tumour ...which explains why the tibbie's vets want to do a scan.

Also that survival may be at much cost to the owners in a number of ways.

Brock the tib's owners honestly didn't think he'd survive when they found him bleeding early Sunday morning. Described as 'buckets of blood.'

Vets found his blood count down to 8%.

Since then, he was given plasma, with disastrous results...vets said it almost killed him. Later they gave him whole blood & his count went up to 20%.

Then the vets gave the diagnosis of Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia & mentioned a prognosis of 1/3 recover, 1/3 survive with ongoing meds, 1/3 die. But could give no idea of where Brock would fit.

Each night since, the owners have been phoned in the early hours of the morning to say that Brock's blood count was down again & asking for permission another blood transfusion.

The vets have established Brockie's had the condition long-term....but the cortisone he takes for his skin allergy has kept it dormant. When it broke thro...it was horrendous, with all that bleeding.

Brockie's owners adore him...but thought very hard yesterday evening, what this will mean for Brockie. In the short-term, the crisis treatment is awful for him and the outcome is totally uncertain...& they now know the condition was/is firmly established in him. They've decided that Brockie will not continue to be put thro' all this.

But they gave permission for a blood transfusion early this morning...deliberately, so that Brockie will feel as best as possible, when his family are with him today while he's helped to heaven. He's 8 1/2 yrs old.

It's an awful condition...no predictability. His family are shattered....this is a specially lovely little dog. Even the staff at the emergency hospital remarked what a great little dog he is. Through all the ups & downs & handling by staff in the last few days, Brockie's quiet tibbie buddhist calm has won them completely.

Brockie, the tibbie next door was rushed to hospital yesterday after being found bleeding from the insides. Diagnosis is Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. He's since had 2 transfusions of whole blood.

Prognosis uncertain. Vet said 1/3 die, 1/3 can live with medication, 1/3 completely recover.

Has anyone had a dog with this condtion?

If so, what was your experience?

Thanks, gillbear & christina (& WDT, too)....just what I wanted to hear! Something that's further down the scale than valium for the run-of-the-mill separation anxiety.

Haven, I saw Tranquil Paste in the Vet Products Direct Catalogue (online, too) $24.95 (guess postage to be added). Maybe check prices on Horse Products sites...& from produce stores.

You can also get a form of Cartrophen in tablet form called Sylvet. You give the dog one tablet/week. It's alittle expensive initially but works out OK in the long term.

Good luck. I also give Traumeel, a homeopathic anti-inflammatory.

Thanks for the info about Sylvet...I didn't know about it. I looked it up on the Net. V. interesting.

http://www.sylvanscientific.com/web-data/S...CaXPS-proof.pdf

Our older Shetlie developed arthritis in her last year. The vet first tried Rimadyl...but that medication didn't agree with her.

Then I was told about Carthrophen injections...& asked the vet would they be suitable for her because they're for osteoarthritis. The vet agreed...& she received a course. They made a huge difference. Not a cure for the condition...but they helped her enormously.

Here's some info.

http://www.arthritis.au.com/htm/vet_01.htm

Believe me, you can actually make quite a big difference in severe anxiety problems with manipulation of the nutrients your dog receives!

Thanks for that, haven. This has made me realize that the one thing missing from my efforts/advice re anxiety problems in dogs...is anything to do with nutrients & diet. Shall have to fix that!

I'll follow up the 5-HTP.

Another one is Nervetona and can be purchased from the chemist, have heard good results for this.

I've followed it up & here's the list of ingredients, seems herbal:

http://www.brauer.com.au/detailedInfo.asp?...t&getPid=36

Also found a horse product called Potties Nervine Powder which seems to be a nutritional supplement based on Vitamin B...added to to horse's food. But the vet products direct catalogue doesn't indicate dogs, too, for this one.

Has anyone heard of Tranquil Paste or used it?

Heard of it. Read of it as part of my research into avoidance motivated aggression. I know Haven has used a product I believe to be the same/similar in that it is a source of tryptophan Tryptophan is a precurser to 5-HT which in turn is an immediate precursor to the production of serotonin. Serotonin being the brain chemical involved in the mediation of anxiety and inhibition of adaptive behaviour.

If you PM Haven to alert her to your query I am sure she'd be able to post here and tell you the name of the substance she has and has used. She has used it with good results on a dog who suffers a high degree of anxiety.

Valium inhibits memory. It can help in calming the dog but not much, if any, learning occurs. IMO Valium is a quick fix (sometimes necessary) but is not necessarily a good behaviour modification therapy.

Thanks for that, Erny. I totally agree with you about Valium...only ever a quick fix...in severe cases...to prevent the initial high reactivity turning habitual. It's then the thorough, consistent behaviour modification strategies which do the trick.

I was wondering if this Tranquil Paste might be a less sledge-hammer way of hosing down the initial anxiety. Sounds promising from your description of its chemical-behavioural connections.

I'm also interested in your comments about Trytophan being possibly made part of a dog's diet. Certainly the magnesium could be...that's strongly present in oats (like oatmeal)....& the B Vitamins (something like Marmite).

This is making me wonder if dietary recommendations would be useful to include when advising re anxiety in dogs.

Cosmolo, thanks for that reference to petark CALM.

I saw an entry in the vet products direct catalogue for a product called Tranquil Paste. It's in a section headed

'Products for Nervous Horses'...but it says Tranquil Paste is for Horses & Dogs.

I was wondering if it'd be useful for dogs....not for serious anxiety problems....but for those 'anxious' symptoms (like the beginnings of separation anxiety) which can occur when settling in a new dog (like a fostered or adopted rescue dog).

For serious separation anxiety, my vet prescribes a low, temporary dose of valium.

But I was wondering if this Tranquil Paste might be useful for a lower scale problem.

In the catalogue, it's described:

"A source of tryptophan, B group vitamins, magnesium & cofactors. Helps induce feelings of relaxation & calm.'

Has anyone heard of Tranquil Paste or used it?

..... both starting to come into maturity ...

Many people get lulled into a false sense of security when their two young dogs get on well. They think friendly interaction will never change, and forget about the hormonal influences that will often alter status and instigate heirarchy challenges. But this is merely my internet opinion.

Engaging a behaviourist is the only way to properly obtain the advice you seek, and is the only person who will be in a position qualified to give it.

Totally agree with your general point that young dogs can get on well. THEN...as the 'maturing' process sets in, so can follow the heirarchial challenges. Have just been discussing that with pet owners of my small breed dog of interest...where it's known that 'maturing' adult age is about 3 yrs (this small breed matures a bit later). And, hey presto....at what age have people found trouble starting to stir?...when around 3 yrs.

I've got a reference somewhere to a dog behaviourist in SA....recommended by a good behaviourist in Qld. If you want it....I could see if I still have it.

Have a personal space place...like a proper dog crate...where the puppy can be placed when getting over-excited. Give the puppy soft toys (which you can get from thrift shops) to play with in that personal space (first cut off anything like plastic eyes that pup can tear off & swallow). Let pup release a lot of its play energy on these toys.

Any time the puppy nips or bites, give a single loud, high-pitched squeal which will startle the pup. The puppy will gradually associate that scarey noise with biting people...so nipping is no longer attractive to him.

Make sure pup goes to puppy preschool...& start the basic obedience. Bottom on ground ('Sit') is what the pup has to do to get treats, pats etc.

For a pup or dog that is growling to dominate, I say 'Down' while gently but firmly putting hand on its back so tummy touches the ground (NO Alpha Roll over), after 5 seconds release & say, 'Good, boy.' A vet dog behaviourist told me to do that a few times a day, anyway, as part of a young bossy dog's training program.

Don't know if it's the same trainer. But few years back, friends booked their Labrador pup into training. Husband, who's an army officer, insisted that he'd take the Lab.

First night, the trainer gave an hour long talk about dog behaviour. Far from wandering, the Lab pup slumped across his dad's boots and went to sleep. Trouble was, he snored LOUDLY. The trainer would admonish dad to stop the noise. So he'd shake Lab awake...only for him to slouch against his leg...& snore and sputter loudly.

This went on a few times...& dad got more and more embarrassed.

When he went home...he told his wife that, from now on, she'd have to take the Lab to 'school night'.

Give one loud, high-piched squeal whenever the puppy nips you. It's what dogs do to correct other dogs who hurt when they're playing.

If you haven't yet taken him to puppy-preschool, it's a good idea. Because they learn there the basic things, like to 'Sit'.

It's a good idea then to get your puppy used to having to 'Sit' before getting nice things like a cuddle or a treat or whatever.

And it helps (like people have said here) for a puppy to have something like a pig's ear (( lots of toys, too) to use for 'approved' chewing.

'

I hesitated for ages about getting our 2 Tibetan Spaniel girls clipped (the breed has a double-coat, & these girls were ex-showgirls, Aus Champions. now desexed pets).

Last summer I did so. They looked beautiful ( tibs have solid little bodies so didn't look like plucked chickens), were more sprightly & bounded around like shorn lambs. Also watching for fleas ticks, & the beginnings of hotspots was much easier. Have got them clipped again this summer.

I take the point that this may alter their full coats...but in this hot climate, I'll wear that. Tho' I notice a difference between the 2 Tibs (from different bloodlines)...one's coat grows back as if it's never been touched, the other goes wavier.

My late Sheltie, Danny, used to do some circling when he was specially excited or stressed. When he saw the cat sitting on the bottom step & didn't want to go past her, he'd do his circling.

I just accepted it as the 'natural' herding behaviour of this working-dog breed popping out. Just like the scent hound dogs go sniffing etc.

Honestly never occurred to me to label it neurotic or obsessive.

Just a suggestion, maybe give your sheltie some outlet for his physical skills by taking him to agility...or having toys to play with.