Erny

It is not quite such a simple test as there is more to it than just testing for T4 for an accurate diagnosis. The trouble is, our Aussie laboratories do not have the facilities to enable them to do the FULL panel test (T4, T3, T3aa, T4aa, etc), which is why I prefer thyroid tests to be conducted by Dr Jean Dodds, in the USA, especially in the younger dogs when it might not show up in though our testing. A bit more expensive because you'll need to pay for the International Courier, but not completely unaffordable. If the test is done here in Australia and it came up as "positive" then I'd be inclined to believe it. But if it came up as "negative" then I'd only wonder if it is a true result and to me the expense for the Aussie test would be a waste because I'd feel I'd only need to have it redone in the USA. Also, the USA analysis is a bit more specific than our Aussie "small, medium, and large" dogs analysis. However I agree that the symptom the OP has described is not really enough to determine thyroid as being a likely cause of the problem, but if the OP wants to rule it out then the blood test is the way to go. Are there any other possible contributing causes? For example, does your BC happens chance to have a tail that tends to curl up and over? I have seen this on a standard poodle and the rubbing of the tail on the back causes the coat to be flattened and more wiry at that spot. Or does your BC chew there?

Puppy Power - they sell on ebay but also sell direct. They have a warehouse in Dandenong South. Great people to deal with too, and you can take your dog with you if you need help sizing a crate to suit. PM me if you want their phone number.

Scent would also play a part, I'm sure.

Can you think of a simpler, more plausible explanation? If so, then that is probably the best explanation. I think they do. I also think they do. Recently working with a client and her dog who is fear aggressive to other dogs. Her dog would react whenever the owner walked her dog past any house which housed a dog. One of the things I coached the owner in doing was to walk as though on a mission; to avoid being hesitant; to walk as though the other dog was not behind the fence and that this was not a trouble spot. IOW, be calm and assertive. In an instant, her dog stopped reacting and walked with her. It was text book. I wish I had it on video.

I would be more concerned about the danger element and the possibility that even accidentally, the pup might receive a fright/traumatic experience which, being inside its critical period of learning, would last for the rest of its life. Parvo can be picked up even when a pup is kept in isolation at home. During that period of confinement/isolation what is definitely not going to happen is good positive socialisation to 'out in the big wide world' experiences. If the pup's owner had the pup at some frequently dog populated location, then I would be saying different, but at a shopping complex, if done carefully and safely (which it was not) then I would think this a good thing.

That's much a matter of the right approach and taking it easy with the introduction of it. ie Desensitision or habituation.

Aahhhhh. So there are different types of inflammation? I didn't know that. Thanks Staranais.

If she thought you and your partner were leaders, she wouldn't feel the need to defend you. I think yourselves and your folks need someone to come over and help you straighten out how your dog sees and perceives things as it strikes me there is a bit of a mix up here. Not uncommon, but does need to be ironed out so your dog can start to understand and begin to behave better.

Pardon my hijack, Mita - I hope you don't mind. And pardon what is likely to be a really really dumb question, and I'm not even sure how I will phrase it. But here goes. When the dog is having an endoscopy for the purpose of diagnosing (or not) IBD, what else could "inflammation" actually be? I mean, if a dog has colitis or runny poop, isn't it going to follow that the bowel is irritated? So, this is making me think that the endoscopy can identify the inflammation as specifically IBD as opposed to irritated just because of some other reason. I so hope this doesn't sound as silly as it does just typing it. I know what I mean :D.

I just wanted to add ..... I have not heard of clinical signs of thyroid disease being evident in a pup of 8 weeks of age. That doesn't mean it is not possible (just might mean that I haven't heard of it), but it would make me want to query it with Dr Jean Dodds to see with her as to whether further testing for thyroid dysfunction would be recommended.

Exactly my thoughts as I was reading the OP. She will, even though it might be slowly at first. When you are using food lure, let her win a treat for successive approximation. IOW, when she goes towards a bow at the front (even if it is only a little bit, but the best she will give) then let her 'win' the treat in your hand. This will get her to know that with a little bit of work, she will win and will start her to become interested in problem solving. Depending on how the dog is about it, this is where I might use a little "Guide, Show Place" combination - but if you're not sure how to do that properly it is easiest and best to have someone who does know how to do it properly, to show you. But I digress a little. Ok - so you repeat the wins a couple of times, then the next time hold out for just a little bit more - and treat. Once you have her in a full front play bow position, release and jackpot her. All of this of course should ideally be done incrementally, always finishing on a high note and then let her go about the business of digesting what she just learnt (and I don't mean digestion of the food treats!! lol). If you work this way you should find each couple of practice times getting easier and easier and closer and closer towards your goal. I use "yes" instead of the "click" from a clicker. Clickers definitely have a popular following and many have achieved really good results with its use, but I prefer to have a free hand. Just personal choice, similar method.

My disclaimer is that I'm not a Vet so I can only tell you what I know from what I have researched, what I've understood and from my own experience and I definitely do not want to stand on someone else's toes. There can be other clinical signs - whether there "must" be is another matter. If it were me : I'd run whatever other bloods your Vet wants to run, and if it is going to be under the same 'blood run' and not cost you extra, then I'd allow the thyroid re-test, but from what I do know, and given that you've run it before, I think it is too soon. Generally, 12mo (approximately) is the earliest for testing. I'd then have the thyroid bloods done around then if I still felt there was a problem and I've have them sent to Dr Jean Dodds in the USA. Cost is about $115.00US plus cost of international courier (approximately $71.00AUS). Plus your Vet's fee for drawing the blood (which needs to be spun down to serum for international shipping - not a hard thing for them to do assuming they have a centrifugal machine). IF it was to be thyroid, it means Thyroxine tabs for the rest of her life. They aren't all that expensive and the medication, assuming it is treating the right cause for her condition, is generally quite effective. ETA: What a sweet and trusting face your dog has. I'm sure she knows how much you care and want the best for her. I wish for her lots of stubble that continues to grow to normal coat. I think she is quite beautiful.

Can't help you with the answer to your question, but good on you for all the hard yacka you've been putting in as an effort towards helping the problem and great to hear about the stubble. These 'little' things are quite the milestone, aren't they? I'm not saying that thyroid is the problem but I note you say you've had it checked and it is normal. Nine months of age is young in any instance, to have it checked, so don't completely rule it out - it could still be a contributing factor to your dog's issues but the disease not developed sufficiently to be detected by the blood tests. And also bear in mind that the Aussie Laboratories don't have the facilities to test as thoroughly as those in the USA do. Not only that, but the analysis of the bloods tends to be different out here (not as exact). My boy's tests (through Dr Jean Dodds in the USA) when he was 10mo came back as "excellent levels". I ran tests again 12 months later and they came in as "very low". Good luck - I hope you have found the very things that will see your dog on the track to full coat and skin health. Although from you post you are putting up a brave face against those who cast negative comments, it still hurts - but you're doing the right thing by scorning those people. They just don't have a clue. Good on you

um, arent't they the same thing!?!? the one in our garden was stumpy tailed with a blue tongue! Possibly - but the way I know them is I refer to "Blue Tongue Lizards" as being the ones with a tail. And I refer to those who have a stump as the "Stumpy Tail". . Someone else would know better than I, I'm sure

There have been "reasons" suggested as to why the dog and/or handler may have responded they way they each did, but I do not see anywhere where those reasons have been "put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense". The reason the dog bit might have been fear. The reason the handler reacted the way he/she did might have been an adrenaline related response. Initially (from the OP) it seemed as though the person who was bitten left the scene without taking the handler's name etc. Further on it seems that the dog-handler left the OP's friend where she was, without taking the time or effort to check she was ok. So comments before this revelation need to be read in context with the knowledge at the time. The handler could have responded better but I can understand a knee jerk response, even if in hindsight (and ain't we all experts then) it was a silly one. But the handler could have made sure the OP's friend was ok and not simply left the OP's friend where she was. IMO I think what the handler said is far less of a serious 'crime' (so to speak) than the handler just walking off.

This happened to me a few days ago too. Switched viewing options back to "standard" (even though I hadn't touched it beforehand) and it was fine. Happened to me again about 24 hours later. Rinse and repeat and have had no further issues. This happened to another DOLer some couple of months or so ago as well.

I agree. I read/heard that frequent expressing of anal glands can cause the exact problem we are trying to fix in that the body becomes used to producing a certain amount of anal gland fluid and the more we express, the more it gets used to producing and when we stop manually expressing, the anal gland sacs tend to over fill, even if diet and subsequent faecel deposits are all good. Don't know or understand the truth of it, but it makes sense to me.

Please point out the posts that "justify" or "excuse" a dog biting anyone.

Oh . That poor lizard. How sad. I love the blueys. And the stumpy tails.

And I'm sorry SnF. I feel as though I am just "raining on your parade" so to speak, as I've been contrary to each of your thoughts in your two related threads.

LMS - There is nothing to say that the dog-handler wouldn't have. Perhaps there was too much adrenaline and too little time before SnF's friend left the scene for clear thinking to reign.

Peripheral vision means to the side. All of that in a nanno second. Yes - I can see how it is possible for you to be being a bit unreasonable in your expectations of response time of the dog owner. We weren't there though - so the actuality of it is something we would not be able to attest to. You're placing assumptions, SnF. Both dog and handler might have been startled. How can you assume the handler would have known the dog to be a fear biter? What do you mean by "relatively long leash"? Nothing wrong with a long leash. Had the handler had some warning of your friend's approach from behind, perhaps the lead might have been shortened. There is too much room here for assumptions. ETA: Regardless, in the eyes of the law the handler and dog are in the wrong for the mere fact that the dog bit.

I really think that is for your friend's therapist to advise, not a canine behaviourist. There are numerous things that can be suggested, but we don't know your friend nor are we experts of the human mind. What we might think of doing might be too much for your friend and in opposition to what your friend's therapist, who would know her better, would suggest.

It was a silly thing to say, under the circumstance, but I'd imagine the dog's owner would have been in a bit of a shocked state as well, and probably did wish he/she could have known and been a bit more ready to steady her dog back - perhaps the comment was an initial knee jerk reaction/response. Just as your friend, having been hurt, responded without thinking by leaving without the presence of mind to take name/number etc. I'm not defending the owner of the dog, but just want to create some balance - some benefit of the doubt, if you will, rather than take the assumption that the dog's owner didn't care. I can well imagine the thoughts the dog's owner might be having about his/her dog's fate as well. I work with a number of dogs who need more work on people running past them (from the front and from behind) as doing so can trigger the 'chase' response, but many times in these situations it can be just the sheer fright/surprise of it, especially with a jogger whose approach is fairly silent. I hope your friend is ok and heals both physically and mentally. I do understand the trauma of a bite. I have also had the bejeebees frightened out of me with a person unexpectedly running past me from behind. ETA: And like TH has mentioned, likewise with cyclists whom are even more dangerous because it is so easy to unknowingly step into their path at the last minute.

I'm no expert either - but if it were me, and if this is almost a one off, then in the absence of any other problems or signs, I'd not be rushing down to the Vet and would just store the incident as a mental note. There are others here on DOL more experienced and knowledgeable in the "health" field whom I'm sure would be able to provide more valuable information than I have. But often these people lurk in the "Health Forum" and so it might be better if you ask Troy to shift your thread to over there?