mita

I'd say there's some physiological tendency in dogs (& people) to certain weight ranges their bodies keep returning to. Not simply a case of what owner does. My experience is being congratulated by Diet Nazi Vet for 1 slim, trim dog....& frowned at for the other. Only difference we can find....is that one female was desexed after 1 litter of puppies at age 3 yrs. The other had a number of litters of puppies before being desexed closer to age 8 years. Makes me interested in any evidence if hormonal activity has relation to weight gain in female dogs.

We have 2 Tibetan Spaniel females...10 yrs & 11 yrs. Both gold, from different bloodlines. They have exactly the same foods, the same portions, the same exercise. Both healthy as small horses. One is slim and trim....the other is a definite fat girl. The foods selected, for both, are low-fat because the slim one has a tendency to tummy upsets if food is fatty....& the fat one needs no extra fat. Treats are limited....& handouts of any human food are forbidden (by order of our Diet Nazi Vet). No one can explain why one is slim....the other fat.

I scratched (oops!) around trying to find the right words for what Gracie does.... & you've got it spot on.

Dru, thanks for that description of Aloveen. I've heard people speak well of it. From your description I can see why. That's motivated me to give it a try. It was sheer caution that was making me stick to Epi-Soothe only. I've been really impressed with Pyohex Medicated Foam, for when a hotspot is just starting. The vet recommended it only a month or so ago, so I'm new to using it. I find it brilliant for prventing the next stage, inflammation & infection.

So right! This is exactly what the vet demonstrated to me....with Grace the tib who has the skin allergies, & Angel the tib who does not. He just ran his fingers up Grace's back thro' her hair & she sort of flattened with the ecstasy of someone scratching an itchy spot... and her legs started to move as if she were scratching. He said this super-responsiveness was a sign of dogs with skin allergies. He did the same to Angel....who just beamed as if she were being patted.

Em, it's not the Fido's Shampoo I use....it's the Fido's Fre-Itch Rinse. You use the Rinse after you completely wash out whatever shampoo is in the dog's coat. In clean water, you put some of the Rinse & give the dog a final soak....& that Rinse stays on its skin, you don't wash it out. Great for anti-itching. I've heard good things of aloveen, too (haven't used it tho'). Also Malaseb if the skin looks sore (but I use Pyohex Medicated Foam if there's any skin broken or inflammed skin).

Em, I use Epi-Soothe Shampoo (from the vet)...just a little, even mixed with some water. Then I add a little Fido's Fre-Itch Rinse to the rinse water. Let's know what things work for your dog. My experience is that different things seem to work for different itchy dogs.

Our tib girl's getting the spring itches that can turn into hot-spots. Our vet recommended a couple of Polaramine (anti-histamines) per day. But you'd need to check that with your vet. They help our tib....but not the tib next door who also gets spring itches. This time of year, I also give the tib a mini bath often to get rid of any pollens or whatever where she's in contact with the ground....rear end, paws, under tummy, chest, around face. I fill a baby bath with just enough water for her to sit it....& with the very mildest shampoo (I get one from the vet) just wash those parts. I also add things high in Omega oils to her food for skin health....tuna in springwater, little linseed (flaxseed) oil (Melrose brand...from pharmacies, health food shops).

This UK pet health site on poisoning, gives as an example, a dog eating the owner's contraceptive pills. Also provides guidelines for First Aid. http://www.pethealthcare.co.uk/dogs/welldo...a_poisoning.asp

The hardest decision you could ever make, Dougal....I totally agree. But also the most loving to bring peace & freedom from pain, to your wonderful Barney. I heard someone say beautiful words about their beloved dog that had gone to the Rainbow Bridge. "Always in my mind, forever in my heart.' So Barney will be with you in spirit.

I agree...& unnecessary, when there are unharmful & environmentally friendly items that can be used to deter. But it may be that folk didn't know about them. I didn't until I came upon Skeddadle by accident when I was looking for something else in KMart. In the same gardening section I accidentally came upon a roll of strong garden mesh, made from recycled plastic....which we then used to reinforce a fence while waiting for the new one to be put up. The mesh is much safer than chicken wire with its sharp bits that can damage the pets' eyes.

Here's the info I promised: An Australian Co, Multicrop, makes some products to repel dogs & cats from specific areas....safely for the animal & the environment. Comes in various types...spray, gel, granules. And has cute names like Skedaddle & Scat. They only have to be used sparingly & contain things like citronella oil & eucalyptus oil. The website with pics & details of these product is: http://www.multicrop.com.au/animal.htm I've got a container of Skedaddle & there's interesting information about dog & cat behaviour on the label along with the directions for use. It says things like blood & bone, composts & certain soils actually attract dogs. And it sets out the garden plants that cats are attracted to....& those they don't like. I guess the products would be found in gardening sections of stores( I got Skedaddle at KMart). Multicrop is based at Bayswater in Victoria (phone 03 8720 2100)

You can buy a product in the gardening section of stores like KMart. It's designed to be sprinkled on gardens, paths, verandahs...or anywhere...to deter cats & dogs from walking there. You don't have to use much & it does no harm to the animals & wildlife. I'll post the name of it tomorrow. We have some....it's down in the storeroom.

Angel & Gracie get 2-3 cans of tuna in springwater a week...tuna for skin health & in springwater because they're senior dogs that tend to put on weight. I avoid the brine because I wonder about saltiness...I just don't know. In their younger, slimmer days tuna in oil would have been OK.

What a beautiful girl....one of those dogs you automatically want to hug. So lovely that the last thing she knew was being hugged in her Mum's arms. She'll rest well over the Rainbow Bridge, dreaming of all those cuddles & the folks who loved her so much.

I agree with the folk who said that allergies lie behind hot spots. Our Grace, the tib, lived first 8 years of her life in NSW as a show dog...NO skin problems at all. We adopted her & got her desexed. A bubbly red thingy appeared on the suture line within days. Took her to another vet for second opinion....& he said it was an allergy to the type of suture material used for the internal stitches (which dissolve). She was given cortisone to help it settle. But that allergic reaction was the trigger for hot spots appearing....for the first time in her 8 years. With help from the vet, I manage hot spots by: .giving Grace a diet that's pretty bland (chicken/rice/veggies base) & no preservatives or artif. colours. .soon as she shows some itching at a spot, I give her some Polaramine antihistamines (vet advice) .I cut the hair around so the spot doesn't get irritated .then gently dab (not drag across the spot) some Betadine (vet advice). (the vet said the problem is that bacteria which normally sits on the skin, gets inside because of chewed broken skin). .if infection does set in, the vet gives a course of antibiotics. I've also found that damp hair or damp skin seems to trigger off an irritation for Gracie. Also humid weather... Most of Gracie's hot spots appear around her bottom end. Also a sign that her allergy might be stirring is that the inside of her ears look very red. The vet has prescribed dermotic ear drops....which I also rub over the inside of the ear flap.

Birni, I just caught up, too. Bless you for battling for every comfort & care for Kiya. I saw a lovely tribute by someone for his dog that had gone to the Rainbow Bridge: 'Always in my mind, forever in my heart.' So it will be with Kiya...at peace, out of pain, & still much, much loved. Hugs.

Our tibbie girls used to get a weekly hydrobath from neighbour. But I found it stripped their skin too much of oils. Now I only give them a weekly Bottom & Blouse bath. I use a baby bath, fill it with a couple of inches of water...just enough for the tibs to sit in. I dilute a mild shampoo in some water & give their rear end, underbelly, & chest a good wash. With a dampened cotton face-washer, I give the remainder a rub over. Pics of the old days when in the hydrobath (Angel & neghbour tib, Brockie).

I also found Metacam worked brilliantly with our elderly sheltie who had arthritis in the back legs. Also she was one of the lucky dogs who was helped greatly by a course of carthrophen injections. As a supplement, she had Sasha's Blend sprinkled on her food.

Oh, Trace...hugs & hugs now for you, too. Dear Stewie will have the care that only the greatest love can give. God love him, too.

Just checking in for any news.

Thanks, folks. This experience has taught me the importance of lump-hunting. Schnauzer, here's hoping for the same outcome. And I'd recommend highly the paper dogbesotted found to anyone whose dog has a lump found with dodgy cells. It covered the whole range of possiblities...

Angel's surgery went well. And thanks to the paper that dogbesotted had sent me....I was able to understand what the vet reported afterwards. He started to excise the lump...then looked at the cells under the microscope. The dodgy cells are granular & didn't look to him like fully formed mast cells. He said they could be part of the body's natural response to the 'death' of some fat....because he also found some bacteria. Or they could be mast cells in their very earliest form. The lump will be sent for pathology to determine exactly what they are. If they're only body response cells...just excising the lump will be enough. If they're very early mast cells...it may also be enough for a cure, tho' another op may be needed to take extra tissue away. Right now...it doesn't look like the worst case scenario. Only the path. report will give some finality. Thanks again for the support. Even the vet was impressed with the background info & examples I'd got from fellow DOLers.

Allerzeit, it shows there's something very special about Stewie...we all automatically wanted to hug him. But gently.

Oh, Allerzeit, I'm so sorry that you've got a waiting game re a definite diagnosis. I'm sending every warm wish of hope in the meantime. Stewie is beautiful..he reminds me of Bob, a Rottie that I picked out as the best dog at a doggie day some time back. I'd never known what big beaming good natures Rotties have. Please give Stewie a hug from me. And my thoughts are with you.