Erny

She'll love you for it . I used it as a 'treat' (even though it was for medicinal purposes) that he got for sitting or dropping etc. Because my boy wasn't getting out and around and I kept exercise very quiet, I very much focused on passive exercises and of course used the "NILIF" principal to provide mental stimulation. I only asked for what he could give me though. At his worst (ie feeling lethargic), a "five" (hand shake) was sufficient. As I understand it, incubation time before symptoms become apparent is about 10 days. I used to think that you should allow a further 10 days AFTER the symptoms disappear before you considered your dog well and no longer contagious. However I have noted the general concesus of opinion is 14 days. Yes - it is worrisome isn't it? And the 'hacking' sound at the end of a cough is awful. I admit to taking my boy to emergency on the first night. I knew it was CC and I didn't go because I wanted something for it (because there is nothing) but his resperation rate was a bit alarming to me, so I began to wonder if there was something else going on. As it turned out I had to wait for an hour. In that time he got bored and started playing a game of tug, and then perked up. I took him home before seeing the Vet. His respiration rate was still up but not quite as alarming. I monitored him overnight and he was much better by the next morning. For him, the coughing ceased within 24 hours and he was back to full bounce within 48 hours. There was no discharge from his nose. I think he might have caught only a mild dose of it. My biggest concern was that when were at emergency, a parvo case came in . I didn't want to be hanging around there. First couple of days, dose 3 x daily. Then back it off to 2 x daily for the next two or three days. Then back it off again to 1 x daily for the next week. This is just a rough idea and is not formal or strict advice - it's just something that I personally do. I dose with frequency (ie 3 x daily) when the coughing and/or sore throat symptoms are present. As the intensity of the symptoms begin to abate, I begin to drop the dosage. I don't know if this is completely the right approach, but it has worked for me both recently and in the past. Mandela's "AMH treatment" only really went for a total of 1 week because he got over it so quickly.

Get the ACTIVE Manuka Honey and get it from a health food store. Get the one with the highest UMF reading possible. I think that's about 35+. The supermarket variety is about 5+. The higher the UMF the more effective it is in terms of boosting the immune system and aiding recovery/healing. Of course, the higher the UMF the more expensive it is. So be prepared. I know I've paid something in the vicinity of $25 (give or take) for a 250g jar. Sorry to hear Martha has CC. Keep her quiet, warm, free from draft and just keep your eye on her. If you don't think she's been drinking as much as she ought, you can use the AMH in a small amount of water to help keep fluids up. Don't use a full bowl of water as you might find she will over drink and an intake of too much water isn't good either. If any of the other things change (eg. appetite or temp etc) or if breathing begins to sound a little bit laboured, then I'd do a visit to the Vet with her. It is secondary infection that you need to watch out for. Hope she has a speedy recovery.

Just turn up. You need to wait your turn if it is a busy time and the bath boxes are all in use. The one I used to use was like a DIY car wash. Dial in what you want (ie shampoo; flea rinse; water rinse; etc.). However I used to take my own dog's shampoo etc as I preferred to know what was going on her. I also took my own towels as my girl, being a RR, didn't need the blower/dryer. Yes - like cattle driers. Used to pay for the time (just like DIY car wash systems). The water stops running after a certain time, depending on how much money you put into the slot. I could get away with a wash for $4 if I hurried, but perhaps $6 - $8 if I was more thorough and conditioned as well. But I'm talking about a fine coated dog in this instance. Price mentioned here was from the last time I used them, which was a few years ago. I've just had hot/cold water taps installed to my back yard to save mess in the bathroom. But if the weather is frigid I won't wash outside. The place I used with my RR girl (waiting at the Rainbow Bridge now, bless her cotton socks) and which was only about 5 minutes away from me has since closed down. My current boy is also a RR and a good towel off is all he needs. People who groom, or who have dogs with bigger coats and therefore used to dealing with hairy dogs might be able to give you suggestions on driers etc. I would think that a normal hair drier could dry the dog's coat out too much ..... ??? The driers at the DIY place was warm air and it seemed to be the element of lots of air that did the drying rather than the heat of the air, which the way I figure would be less harsh to the dog's coat and skin.

I need to add in here that I am quite astounded in the change in Mandela in this last 24 hour period. The only thing that has changed is the addition of the enzyme additive. I'd swear he looks more 'solid' in body. And good lord!!! The energy that he has is WAY up there! I think we might be heading out for a late night walk - admittedly I've had one of those days and the exercise/training was restricted to the back yard only. But there have been days when I've done less than that and although active enough, he wasn't acting as though he could climb the walls as he is tonight. He is being incredibly playful. I've had these dramatic "up" days before with him though (eg. when I've switched foods; introduced holistic treatments; etc), so ;) ....... fingers crossed that this time it is something related to being spot on with treatment and that it will last. I won't hope too hard just at the moment though.

Assuming recall training is in place for on-lead circumstances, I'd recommend training with an RT. I have used (and coached in the use of) the e-collar - kindly and safely, for dogs who have identified and exploited the difference between on-lead and off-lead. The results are usually very quick and command response becomes considerably more reliable. Note : In case you are unfamiliar with the use of e-collars, I am recommending the low-stim/negative reinforcement methodology. It is NOT about causing your dog unnecessary discomfort or fear. If you wanted to explore further down this track, I'd suggest you check into the laws of your State. In Victoria use of the e-collar is permitted but you must have a letter from your Vet confirming the dog's health is suitable for e-collar application and you also must use under supervision of a trainer suitably qualified. You are also supposed to have the trainer (or Vet - can't remember which without re-checking the law, which was only modified with these conditions back in November of 2008) certify every 6 months. I think you might find that your dog's barking would also diminish without particular effort, if training as per the above. But that's difficult to tell completely without observing the dog first.

IMO an anti-bark e-collar is likely to have less risk of detrimental 'pairing' to the environment than throwing a chain would and done correctly (I always recommend professional advice first) doesn't involve the element of fear that chain throwing would or at the very least could have.

DW - it is fantastic news that you have found this option . And IMO you are making an enormous effort for your boy. Both he and you deserve every bit of good luck that can befall you both, and my wishes for this are with you. I will keep my fingers crossed that this treatment will buy this extra time. Keep your chin up and try not to worry too much. You're doing everything you can .

It was Vet wrap stuff that I used. After I tried the crape bandage. But the suggestion would have been a good one had I not already tried it, so thank you .

Thanks KL. Yes - this has crossed my mind before. When we were kids we didn't look half as hard or vigilantly over our dogs, and they were generally fine I was thinking about this last night as I too am a "salt water solution" remedy person. However I was a bit concerned that the sensation of the salt and perhaps even the small amount of wetness to his ear would have him shaking his head even more. And as that seems to be the crux of the continuing problem I thought it might be self defeating. Active Manuka Honey is what Dr. Bruce suggested I use on it, but I'd run out of it (feeding it to Mandela throughout his issues) and didn't have it on hand to use at the time. I have restocked now though so if the cream I'm using doesn't continue to produce results I'll switch to the AMH and see how that goes.

KL ..... love your home-made cardboard Elizabethan collar! Very ingenious and fantastic that he kept it on. Maybe because it was light weight it made it that bit more comfortable to be able to at least bear with it. I thought of the Elizabethan for my boy, except that he'll still flap his head and what's worse, his ears would constantly flap against the collar. But maybe a combination of snood and elizabethan collar would be the way to go. This might be a bit premature to speak of (and I hope I don't jinx matters) but I recently purchased some Equaderm Cream through "Groomers". I only put a bit on the ear wound last night and I admit to it appearing somewhat better today. If it's not my imagination, the small amount of inflamation/swelling seems to have reduced too. Fingers crossed that this might be all I have to do to get things right with his ear. Can I dare to hope that it will be that easy? I noticed in the last week that Mandela had a bald patch appearing at the tip of his tail. I thought it might have been from him whacking it on the wall when he wags. May it was. But I noticed he was licking at it also, today. So I've used the cream on that too and will see if it helps.

..... Good idea Cowanbree! Thanks. Will see if I can get one today . And somehow train him to leave it on, even if he isn't eating . But worth a go .

Yeah - but it didn't stay on. And he really did 'crack it' with me afterwards. I found that having it on drew more attention to his ears by him than having it off and I became concerned that if I left it on him he'd damage his ear/s even more by trying to scratch it off. Not to mention that I also worried about the bandage slipping back around his neck and him somehow choking as a result. Not sure what to do about his ear. If it doesn't heal and gets far worse the extreme is to remove the tip of his ear. Although I can't see how that will work (apart from the fact I don't want it to become necessary) because then I just have the surgery site to worry about and that would be the same problem . I have to get the wound to dry out. There is a bit of inflamation there and it weighs heavier as a result, which in turn makes him keep shaking his head. The Vet suggested I use a stocking. I tried this but couldn't get the stocking over his head. I must admit to some uncontrollable laughter from me in the struggle - regardless of the fact that I ruined a completely good pair of stockings for the exercise. <sigh> .... fortunately, being a dog trainer, I don't have that much use for stockings these days . Thanks Staffyluv. We're not out of the woods yet and I think success depends on the results of this last faecal test. There's another blood test that can be done (if the faecal test doesn't tell us what we're looking for) but I can't remember what it is about. Bruce said I could have this blood test done locally if we needed it. One step at a time though so I didn't worry about remembering it for now.

I have decided to run with the "sore leg" thread from here on Oonga, particularly considering as how one issue seems to now be crossing with the other issue. But really appreciate your interest . Thanks .

Don't you just love it when your dog is "well" or at the very least well enough to be happy and predominantly uninhibited? Well done for your effort KL - that's got to have a lot to do with how good she feels. Looking forward to a Vet report that reflects this as well . Erny

I don't have techno answer for you, but yes - they are different drugs so too much at once. Or to put it differently, 'unneccessarily' too much at once.

For Mandela's ear, Dr Syme recommended that I 'bandage' it - for no other purpose than stopping him from flapping it and re-opening the wound. It is in a really crappy spot, on the inside right down near the tip of the ear, so it cops the full brunt of the flap, sending sprays of blood all over the place (and yes, on the walls), not to mention the fact that it means it just won't heal. Here's a piccy of my handy work (the ear that's poking out in the 2nd photo is his 'ok' ear) ..... which lasted all of 2 seconds as it fell apart as soon as he shook his head again. Of course he stood perfectly still and didn't try to eat the bandage as I was trying to wrap it and hold the wad of gauze in place under his ear flap ..... not . He is really unimpressed with me right now for doing that to him. I think he's skulked off to bed.

The difference being that the 'monthly' ones release over the whole period of 45 days? Save that the active ingredient in the daily drug is (from what I'm informed) the more 'kinder' drug for the dog. So how do you figure the monthly one is better?

Apparently "selamectin" for parasite prevention/control, is a potent drug with no effective antedote. When I made my enquiries it was recommended to me that if you're in a heart worm area and once the mosquitoes come out, to use either plain daily Dimmitrol [available over internet] or plain monthly Heartgard or Interceptor given every 45 days -- not every 30 days. Published studies from France have shown that these products fully protect against exposures in the prior 45 days. The only potential problem with this schedule is writing down when the next dose is due -- start at beginning of one month and repeat half way into the next month etc. I would NEVER permit the injectable heartworm preventative. And like Poodlefan, I would not treat the animal with an overlap of drugs. IE Intestinal worm medication plus heartworm. Do them at different times.

Agree with Dogdude.

Diet is going to be discussed once he has the results of the fecal test. The additive is a mixture of probiotics, trace elements and anti-oxidants.

DW - I know there is a "Cushings (dog)" support website somewhere. I went there when I thought my avatar girl (now waiting for me at the rainbow bridge, bless her cotton socks) might have had Cushings. Unfortunately she didn't - in her case it was an adrenal tumour unrelated to Cushings or Addisons disease and although surgery (very risky) was scheduled, further complications meant there was nothing I could do for her other than lots of love, palitive care and after a few months, granting her wings to freedom. I had no choice of treatment. Unfortunately, I can't give you the link to the website - that was stored in my other computer which subsequently died, so I've lost those contacts. I'm not sure if it was Dogbesotted, Poodlefan or Staffyluv that might have provided me the link, but perhaps worth contacting them to check. It is to a USA site, but if you can find it you might have many of your questions answered. You'll at least be able to share with people who have gone/going through what you are going through. It is really tough, I know. But I wish for you both lots of strength and joyous times in the time you have, along with success in your elected treatment.

Thank you. Yes - it is good news filled with lots of hope. Dr. Syme is actually hoping it is a matter of the pancreas producing partial function due to atrophy, because it means that Mandela's condition, whilst it will be life long, will be easily treated with the enzyme additive. ETA: :rolleyes: at Oonga. Although if concluding with a positive result meant a drive to Newcastle, I'd do that too . Am glad though that Bruce is only a 2 hour drive each way . ETA: As for Mandela's ear flap issue - the opinion is that this is a reaction to his system not functioning properly (as I've suspected). So if we're on the right track with the enzymes, this should sort out. There is one lesion at the tip of one ear that refuses to heal because he keeps flapping it which in turn keeps opening it up, so I might have to bind his ear flap to his head with a 'sock' for a short while to give it a chance to heal. ETA: Seeing as Mandela's back leg issue could well be related to the problems I've expressed in the Allergy/Food Intolerance, I'm including a link to that thread here. For archive sake and simply 'cause I like things 'filed' neatly .

Ok - I had two threads running because initially I thought they related to two different issues. But as things unfolded it has become suspect that they are related. Simply for archive sake this post is merely so that I can include a link to the other thread, which now really follows on with information about what I thought was allergy and also about my boy's leg issue. My Boy Has Hurt His Leg

I just got back from Castlemaine. No - that's not quite the truth. I got back, made a cup of coffee, fed my dog and now I'm sitting here to let you know how things went. First - Once again Bruce didn't let me down. After having spent almost 1.5 hours in the consult, the upshot is that he does NOT believe Mandela is "a dog for the green dream" . We discussed lots of things (as you could imagine given the length of the consult) and Bruce is sending off another fecal sample to the lab for testing. He's testing not for pancreatitis as that's been done, but he is testing for evidence of perhaps a pancreas that is not fully formed (ie that part of it might have atrophied). If it is this then it means that much of the food Mandela eats isn't processed and passes through. The bowel, being confronted with undigested fat, then throws a hissy fit and hence I end up with motions which go worse before they then again 'get over it' and improve, before they throw yet another hissy fit. These of course are all my words and reflect my interpretation. There was so much to digest (no pun intended) in the form of information and explanation. As for Mandela's legs and back. Bruce did find some 'trigger' (ie sore) points (around the groin and top line near the hips). He feels that they are not skeletal issues but, rather, soft tissue problems. Whilst he's not ignoring this he is not as concerned about them as he is the digestive issue. There is something we can do that might help BUT there is a possibility that the soft tissue issue (say that 3 times fast ) is exacerbated by Mandela's not receiving the nutrition from his food as he should. So in this, we have decided to focus on the digestive issue and keep a mental note of whether he can develop more muscle tone when we have that right. IOW, if fixing the digestive issue resolves the back leg issue, then we'll know that in a way one was connected to the other. If not, then we'll talk more on what we'll do about the leg issue. Bruce hypothesised that the drama of the weekend before last (when he was yelping in pain) could well have been cramp as our chiro suggested, maybe even brought on by being crated and perhaps laying uncomfortably (bearing in mind him being a bit uncomfortable in the muscles in the first place). So this issue is 'on hold' for the moment. I have digestive enzymes to add to Mandela's regular Eagle Pack diet for the time being. Once the test results from this latest fecal sample comes back, then we are going to discuss diet. But Bruce preferably wants to work out what's going on first. So in this, Bruce and I will be talking some more in a few working days' time. All in all, Bruce was quite positive and I feel oh so much better for having made the trip up there and back. The only thing I'm upset about is that Bruce didn't ask me out on a date . I mean ..... he is definitely easy on the eye :wink:. ETA: I showed Bruce the results of the various tests that I had had done previously, one of which was the test for thryoid function. He agreed that it was important that this had been done to rule it out and as he read through it a quiet smile formed and he said "I see you had the proper one done". So thanks Dr. Dodds :rolleyes:. For the information, education, making it a possibility and for the assistance in arranging it .

Night time in itself can be a major distraction and a cause of different behaviour in dogs to that which they exhibit during daylight hours, just as it is with us. If I'm walking at night I'm not necessarily 'scared' as such but I am more wary of anything and everything in my environment compared to daylight hours where I am considerably more relaxed and where natural peripheral vision plays a big part of taking things 'in'. Top that with the shadows that are cast by the lighting as well. Are you able to rig up a spot-light in your yard and practice your exercises in that environment, to get her used to this? And/Or work under the street lights if you take her out for walks after dark? (But if the latter, only if you are safe doing so.)