Mana

Big big bugger. Back to wishing for another quick fix and that my dog will wake up to himself. I came home today to find my new expensive sheets have been pulled off the line so I might take you up on that one Mana PS..just in case someone takes that the wrong way I would never actually hurt my dog. How about I trade you a new set of sheets if you can insert some commonsense into my big black bundle of canine neuroses aka Ruski? I don't think there was anything in your post that went even remotely near suggesting you would hurt your dogs... Thanks for the information K Yeates.

Bugger eh? Ah well, back to the drawing board and the long slow process... Anyone got any spitz breeds or leashed dogs they'd like to sacrifice to my desensitisation program?

This is a sort of sideways suggestion, and maybe not a goer with Holly and Brodie in the yard too... but bones? Big juicy ones? The only way I can quietly leave the house with Ruski staying behind, or the pups staying behind, is to occupy everyone with big bones first.

Oh and does anyone have a description of cattle ticks / dog ticks vs paralysis ticks? I've only ever come across the paralysis ticks and don't know what the others look like? Bigger? Boofier? more Bloated?

Given that when we were living down the coast, we would remove on average 5-10 ticks from the dogs each day, I can't recommend taking a dog to a vet as soon as you see a tick. I've heard the warnings about heads staying in, extra toxins being injected if the tick is stressed etc, but after we lost one dog to tick poisoning (before we knew better) we removed all ticks as soon as we found them and never had a dog become wobbly, nor have infections nor problems at the tick bite site. Of course take the advice you feel more comfortable with (if it's feasible) but firmly and swiftly pulling ticks, killing them and (if neccessary- rarely) swabbing with antiseptic, has proved effective and safe in my experience.

I've just been reading about thyroid diseases - hyperthyroidism is rarer in dogs than cats (apparently) but one of the symptoms can be a prominant adam's apple - I don't know whether goitres prompt thyroid disorders or vice versa but just thought I'd mention it.

When you lift the tail to the "flag pole" position, full sacs will be more pronounced and so easier to get your fingers around... :thumbsup:

I've always done it from below - 4 and 8 oclock - if people are doing it from above (10/2 oclock) what are you squeezing? I think there's only two glands/sacs aren't there?

Hope you get good news from the specialist David. Thinking of you and Bess.

Thanks for that Lablover. I will ask about it - the dog in question may be seeing a vet. behaviourist in the near future so they will probably be a good person to start with, failing that I'll ask at the uni vet clinic. Seems to me though that if the behaviour is learnt behaviour in a desexed male, a hormonal treatment may not be too effective, particularly if the idea about desexing and hormones affecting other dogs' reactions (rather than the desexed dog's behaviour) is true. Certainly more of a concern for the breeders, but even for us the problems of long term effects from hormone treatments are worth keeping in mind. Thanks for your reply Lablover.

So was this the right product? It does say in that blurb that behavioural changes are a sort of side effect... Just wondering if Suprelorin ® was the one K9Force etc were referring to cause I'd want to know exactly what I was asking for if my vet hadn't heard of it. Would it help at all in desexed males? Presumably they're not producing any testosterone once they're desexed, are they?

Oh no... Could it be a bit of bleeding from the biopsy - maybe she's dislodged the scabs? Hope you get some good news tomorrow when you go to get the stitches out... You've got me worrying about two of mine, now, who both do snorting sort of drawbacks when they greet you...

I've heard different people say different lengths of time, but maybe in a few weeks the "boy-juice" will have dissipated a bit, sas... I've been told everything from 2 weeks to a year for the testosterone levels to settle...

Maybe try doing it externally first? I think a dog will react more negatively to a finger up the bum than a bit of a squeeze from the outside. I have to do it semi-regularly for one of the dogs here, if there's someone to hold her front end and calm her down she's quite placid about it, as long as I don't take too long. (Some of our previous dogs I would not have dared to try it though.) I think maybe the feeling is a bit of a relief if it's done quickly and calmly? I've never done it internally though. I lift her tail upright and use the other hand to pinch-squeeze the glands upwards towards her anus. Note though - when bending over the dog's rear end, do not lower your head! The material is wetter than you might expect and can squirt like a water pistol. Place a papertowel or something right up against where you're working so the liquid just runs down over your gloves rather than squirts. (Sorry, but better you know in advance, yeah? )

K9: lol, it wont change the dogs outward appearance other than the fact the dog may not display aggressive body language. That's sort of what I meant, but I'm also trying to understand how it fits in with desexing reducing the challenges faced by the desexed dog - by "appearance" I meant pheremones/smells etc as well... So it sounds like this implant might hormonally calm the implanted dog, thus affecting its behaviour, as opposed to desexing which (in males at least), might help by reducing the challenges the desexed dog is faced with - ie affecting the behaviour of other dogs? Have I made sense this time?

Well, she's still grinning in that photo David! Thanks for the update - I know ants and bees etc can play havoc around dog's noses and mouths, but would have thought it would be more an acute thing, not a really prolonged swelling and would have gone down by now? If it is a bacterial infection, maybe the antibiotics aren't quite nailing it? I know with some infections it's necessary to culture some of the mucous or infected fluid so you can choose the right antibiotic... I'm not expert, but just a thought. From what they said it sounds like they're going to do some more tests when they take her stitches out? Here's hoping they can clear up her snot problems, make her more comfortable and put your mind at rest! All the best.

Do you know whether it affects the implanted dog's behaviour, or does it change the way the dog appears to other potential challengers? Sounds like it might be very useful even in the short term during retraining and desensitisation?

Probably the same reason I eat chocolate . dogs are scavengers and survive on a wide range of foods. They are nothing if not adaptable. The key however is whather you are interested in what they can eat to survive, or what makes them thrive. My lot literally hoover up the bird seed. With the same level of enthusiasm that they show for the occasional bits of kibble that we give the local currawongs and ducks. I think it's largely pure jealousy! "If they get it, I want it too!" Needless to say it comes out exactly as it goes in... I know a dog in Canberra who showed absolutley no interest in vegetables at all - her people couldn't get her to eat them. Then one day she went out to where these people's horse is agisted, and saw the horse being fed carrots, and now she can't get enough of them. Carrots apparently form the major part of her diet now... (no, don't ask me about the nutritional value of that! ) "If the horse gets them, no way I'm not!"

Last we heard I think things were actually on the up... Any update on Bess, David? Hope she's doing well! (maybe you could edit the title to the thread with the good news you got )

I wonder how the implant differs in hormonal effect from a desexing operation? I was speaking to a behaviourist this week (Delta and NDTF trained) who said that it was now "pretty much scientifically proven" (I have no idea about his basis for saying this) that (in male dogs at least) desexing doesn't reduce aggressive tendencies, but rather reduces the desire of other dogs to challenge. i.e. the changes noted in behaviour after desexing are not in fact due to the dog mellowing, but are actually due to the reduction in the challenges the dog faces, since he's not giving off Big Entire Male Testosterone Vibes anymore. Have others heard this?

So on that basis, used as a supplement on barf would be fine... (which is how I'm using it). But I'm still wondering about mita's comment about the mystery spray.... Christina77 - you sure it couldn't have been something else that made her sick? Maybe she was into some snails or a bit of dead bird or something?

Oh wonderful news for you and Bess! Please let us know what happens!

Try pouring some of the blood or meat- or fish-juice from your mince/necks/bones/flaps/fish etc over it. I have a lab female staying with me who is on a serious labrador boot camp weight reduction regime, and in the morning when the others get meaty breakfast she gets a couple of spoonfuls of veges/fruits with the sardine juice or chicken water mixed through. She wouldn't eat it otherwise, but no hesitation if she can smell the bloooooooooooodddd.

Deadly nightshade family... apparently a nono... What Vegetables? thread Which I think means eggplant's out as well. Anyone know their botany? I think it might also be an idea to avoid toms for arthritic dogs? I know human friends with arthritis have had to cut out tomatoes and other acidic fruits to prevent very bad flareups. No idea about the tear staining, sorry dogcop!

David - are you in Sydney? My Sydney vet is a homeopath as well - I've not had to consult her about cancer but she is well regarded by those who use her. I can PM you her details if you'd like to have a chat with her.