Erny

Any updates, PandaGirl?

My boy has irritable bowel. He's been on Vet's All Natural "Allerblend" diet since May this year and there's been a considerable improvement. He gets Roo Tail bones - I don't feed him a lot of them and tbh he wouldn't eat a lot of them, but he seems ok when he does eat them. His food treats comprise of the VAN "Medi-treats/Skin Support". And that's it. What we've been doing is sticking to one protein source only and I believe that 'game' meat is the easiest on them. I think this has helped sort a few things out. He still has a rotten bowel movement more often than I'd prefer, but his stools over these past months have at least been much better (firmer) than they had been in the preceding weeks. More recently my Vet put me onto some Chinese Herbal supplements and one of these has actually made even more of a difference to the quality of his stools. It is such a joy not to have to scrape poops out of the lawn . I think part of his issue relates to him being a bit high on nerves.

If I'm working with a dog who is tense, I like it when I see it yawn. Sure - it's a sign that the dog is stressed, but to me it also means the dog's tension is easing enough to be able to give that yawn. And yes, the yawn helps to release tension. There are some signals that indicate tension, yet another dog might show the same as calming signals. All these signals need to be read contextually - both in relation to the other of the dog's body language as well as in relation to the environment and the situation that the dog is in.

From what I have been able to gather, Eagle Pack Holistic is changing its packaging and will be known as Holistic Select from about December, and will be dropping the Eagle Pack name. There will be some slight changes such as excess salt taken out of the Adult formulas and glucosamine taken from the puppy formulas and one of the live bacteria taken from all formulas because apparently it has been discovered that it does not survive the cooking process. Apart from that, I'm told there are not any changes.

I don't see any peoblems with your grammar, SnT . :p

I'm not the expert, but I used to feed it according to how my girl's stools were. When they were looking as though they were getting towards going soft again (and hence wouldn't express the anal glands, as has occurred in your case, it seems) then I'd feed some steamed pumpkin. Someone else might be more expert than my limited experience in this respect is, but I'm inclined to think it would be a matter of playing it by ear. You don't want to feed so much that you end up with too much fibre (assuming that is possible if pumpkin is fed too often).

My dog loves cooked pumpkin. If your dog likes it too, you won't have any problems. Mash it up and mix your other foods in with it.

LOL .... did you finish your cuppa yet? Initially, I gave my boy a couple of douses with the C.Tea inside one day. He was covered with hundreds of swollen hives - had more bumps than flat skin, along with rashes and pimples on the inside of his back legs. He was so itchy at one point that he gave a shiver. Bless him, he was pretty good about not scratching when I asked him. The next day, the hives were half the size and the scabs from where they had erupted had dried (the scabs were previously greasy and there was redness underneath, indicating infection). I gave him another couple of dousings (I used a saturated flannel and rubbed the tea in over his body with it) the next day. I didn't plan it ..... I just did it when I saw him irritating at his skin and/or if his skin looked angry in any way. The two times in a day (morning/late afternoon) over those first couple of days seemed to be enough. After that, I went to once a day for a couple of days. Then it panned out to once every couple of days, to here and there every few days and/or whenever a new hive popped its way to the surface. As I said - I had no strict plan. I just did it according to whether there was any new activity on the skin; how comfortable/uncomfortable he was with his skin; how much redness there was; etc. In the end it was just an every now and again application, just directed at the few spots that might have developed. In fact, I've just given him an all-over-body rub down with a flannel saturated in the C-Tea because I've noticed him rubbing himself a bit in the past few days. This is the first time in a few months that I've used it. He barely gets hives at all now (*touch wood*). His diet, coupled with the application of the C-Tea has, it seems, allowed his system to work things out. His age and period of development could also have been an affect (although his litter brother suffered hives from way, way earlier, so perhaps not?), so with any luck, we've worked through that.

No info from me, sorry. But I am curious as to how it can change (permanently or otherwise) the shape of the dog's head .

Actually, Merijigs, you made comments that were your own judgement that it seems you formed merely off what you saw and heard by this Nick Branson fellow. A fairly narrow field to base such a judgement or form an opinion on, from what I can gather. Echoing Kelpie-i, I too wonder whether they're to do anything with the results of their survey, or whether it will end up somewhere at the back of a dark room, collecting dust.

Boiled or steamed pumpkin?

And you've mentioned this again to them? IE That the aggression is ever since she hit her head? And they're ignoring that? If that's the case, I'd not be happy. It might not be the cause, but it isn't something that should be overlooked or dismissed out of hand, IMO.

What other 'tests' did they do, though ..... I presume they checked for potential damage when she hit her head? If they didn't, what did they say about it when you told them, and do they have a reason why they have thought to not go that route? Don't understand why they'd say they wouldn't send bloods to OS. They draw the bloods, give them to you (or hold them at their clinic if they'd prefer), you arrange for international courier to have them taken and sent to Dr. Dodds. The most complicated part about it all from your point of view is the paperwork that's necessary for the international courier and customs. The most complicated part from your Vet's point of view is knowing what tests are required - Dr. Dodd's information on this (all information is downloadable from her website) tells them the info they need. But if the aggressive behaviour began pretty much directly after she hit her head, I'd be focussing on that - at least to rule it out as a reason. It bothers me that you say she is aggressive and then looks horrified at having been aggressive and I'm wondering about the possibility of some sort of epilepsy. But hey - unless we're there and we can see her it is a bigger guessing game than it would be even if we could see her, and we could be throwing up endless ideas and possibilities until the cows come home. The only good that would do would be to have your head go into a spin. So my next step (if it were me) would be to have her head AND neck checked (xrayed, and/or whatever it is they do with heads) and clear that. THEN I'd look at getting bloods done for thyroid, through Dr. Jean Dodds.

What "tests" were they? And if you do go for thyroid tests, arrange for the bloods to be sent to, tested and analysed by Dr. Jean Dodds in the USA. Recently some tests were done over there and these showed up low thyroid. The owner had some tests run here and they showed up 'normal'. The owner also showed the USA test results to an Aussie Vet who at first considered them to be 'normal' by Aussie standards (if I remember rightly, the Vet has since had a change of mind). The owner's dog also seems to be improving from the medication albeit that it is only early days yet.

Fair enough. But I need to question whether your above seemingly judgemental comments are all born from what you saw and heard on the Landline segment? BTW .... I disagree about the "many trainers ... increase the level of physical discomfort ... rather than ... figure out why the dog didn't learn". Did you question the mode of operandum of the survey upon which he supposedly based his statement, and whether he was relying on those to make that statement? Or do you just believe him because he said it? I'm not purposefully being antagonistic, Merijigs. I'm just trying to work out where you are coming from and what your somewhat pointed opinions are based on.

.... While you're at it, can you grab a cold tinny .

No - it's ok Merijigs. I'm not here to convince you. I'm only questioning your knowledge of and experience in the use of e-collars though, given you were the one to raise the subject of them, implying negativity in the first place (but without revealing why or how) they would be so awful for obedience training.

Are you referring to my post, Merijigs? If so, my response to both of your (above) posts would be "Really? How so?"

Good use of the e-collar IMO is often kinder than traditional methods of and other training tools dog training - for obedience and for other things. It is a matter of knowing and understanding how the e-collar can be and often is used by those who are experienced at it, before deciding on an opinion of whether it is good or bad . Oh - and anyone who does know and understand the e-collar do not refer to them as "shock" collars. Back in the 'olden' days, they were that. The collars of today are far more sophisticated now ..... they've developed a long way from the 'shock' collars of yesteryear, as have the method of use.

I am so pleased to hear this feedback - and moreover, am pleased to hear that the Calendula is helping so much. I think it is a great 'first place' to start with so we can try to avoid the application of any drug or chemical (including shampoos) leaving things such as those as a last resort. .... I'm really happy for these results. Thanks for reporting them in. ETA: For anyone who is reading : The Calendula Tea wash is NOT a cure for the allergy itself. What it does is helps to stop secondary skin infection, which is usually what we see as a result of the allergy (red, pustulous skin/skin lesions). So if you use the Calendula and get good results, please don't forget that you also need to give mind to what it is that's the reason for the allergy and why the dog's system is causing it to be allergic to that.

Fantastic! I'm glad you are getting great results. I have found the same for my boy, and cannot believe more people aren't onto trying that before they resort to any chemical treatment, including shampoos and ESPECIALLY cortisone and antibiotics, which seems to often be the first course of treatment so many go to first. I would apply once a day until the redness disappears - this shouldn't take more than a couple of days or so, if my boy was anything to go by. Then drop it back to every two or three days, or unless you spot ANY sign of redness. I have found the earlier you get onto it the better and faster the result. And it also means you can just treat the 'spot' rather than a larger part of her body. Keep the antihistamine in the cupboard should you need it (ie if scratching is causing damage) but otherwise, just use the Calendula. (Oops! Just read you didn't need to use any ) And I'd avoid using any shampoos at all. I haven't bathed my boy since last April/May. The only times he really smelt was when his skin was acting up - a yeasty smell - but the Calendula freshened that up as well. It's a bit easier with a short-haired dog, I know. ETA: I took Mandela to a park today for a run (and training and all the things that go with a 'walk' ). There is a man-made lake there and he went for a swim. The water tends to smell up a bit - it's not exactly rank, but ducks and all sorts share it. When we got home I hosed him off with warm/tepid water. His coat and skin is as shiny and squeaky clean as it would have been if I'd bathed him in shampoo ...... which further confirms that 'suds' aren't really always as necessary as we think it is . ETA: I have Mandela on the VAN "Allerblend" diet (especially for allergy dogs). Between that, the VAN "Skin support Medi-treats", Roo-tails for bones and the Calendula Tea - that's ALL he gets (for the moment, until I think he is ready for a "diet challenge") and I haven't had need to use the Calendula tea for about 2 months now. Initially he was covered in at least 200 hives - these broke and threatened skin infection. The Calendula stopped that in its tracks and with his diet he barely gets any hives at all now.

Thanks WM .... don't worry for now though. I spoke to my sister and she didn't think Dad would use the Wii that much if at all - I don't want to spend that sort of money only to find he won't use it. I didn't know that she has Wii so next time the folks are over we're going to set up a game and see how interested they are in it. But thanks again for the offer of the info. It would still be good to know what the oldies enjoy though, as the idea is not completely off the list. In the meantime, I'm getting him some PJ's. ..... boring, compared to my idea I know. But hey . Dad is 85 years old today and I'm very proud of how fit, strong and well he is. He always finds time to have a game of ball with my dog whenever I go over there. Sometimes Dad sits in a chair and throws the ball from there. Mandela doesn't care, and Dad's taught him to drop the ball back in his lap so he doesn't have to bend down for it. Sorry for the OT.

This, from Wikipedia : Dirofilaria Immitis - Wikipedia

My Vet suggested to me to have anti-histamines on hand, but to only use them if my dog's scratching was damaging his already damaged skin. In the meantime, to bath with Calendula Tea. The latter did the trick and the anti-histamines remain unopened in the medicine cabinet.