Erny

.... not just "folk" (friend's dogs)

As it is, I don't have a collar on my dog when we're at home and especially not when he's home alone. But most definitely I would not have collars on dogs when there is more than one of them. If I found myself in a situation where them wearing a collar in my absence was absolutely necessary (imagination prevents me from thinking of such an instance though), I would have them wear nothing less than a 'break-away' collar, however if your dogs fool around with each others' collars you'd probably find them more off (and chewed) than on. Flava (DOL member) lost one of her dogs this way. It was a very sad and tragic evening when she came home and found him.

That cracks me up. And he's giving a look as though this is what the 'done thing' is. Get a look at his little pecky legs hangin' in the air. ETA: Was it Ed who was watching TV?

Thank you . It's the most positive I've felt for the past couple of months or so.

Thanks BE. As it turns out, I've ordered a freezer and am awaiting delivery so that will solve any issues pertaining to storage. But in the interim, I'm not feeding him the goats' milk etc. for another 3 weeks - this to give the new EP formula time without complicating anything with extra foods. So storage isn't an issue just at the moment. But appreciate the info. 'cause you just never know down the track . ETA: Apart from which, Andisa lives about 5 minutes from me and she's been great in keeping the milk in her freezers for me. Up until now, I've been picking up 2 or 3 bottles at a time from her.

Thyroid test results : "Thyroid levels are excellent." Dr. Jean Dodds wrote :

Update : In the past couple of weeks or so, Mandela has without doubt improved, but not completely. Still 'iffy' on his eating regime. And in the last 48 hours had become really itchy - breaking out in scabby sores down the inside of his back legs and also at the inside tips of his ears. I spoke to the people at Eagle Pack (who were extremely helpful) who in turn put me on to a person who gave me some additional advice. The upshot is : I've switched him over from EP holistic large breed puppy formula to the EP Duck. Twenty minutes before he has a meal, I give him AMH + Slippery Elm Powder. In his meal I add Spiruline powder. I still give him an acidopholus tablet each morning and he also gets a small amount of Bi-carb (as per Carol Freeman's advice, supported by the person I spoke to yesterday). Well - in a space of less than 24 hours, what a difference !!! Eating his EP Duck with gusto (all of it!) and on top of this world!! Doesn't appear to be itchy, or at least, not half as itchy (I'll be able to tell more by the end of the day, seeing as it was only yesterday afternoon that we switched over). I'm still holding my breath and don't wish to jinx this great step forward too soon, but I am delighted by what I see in such a short period of time. He's on this 'diet' for 3 weeks with no other foods to be added. All being well, I then re-introduce things such as RMB's ..... one at a time, so I can see what affects what. Well, that's the plan. For now, I'm just over the moon that my boy is eating with enthusiasm and is looking all the stronger (both physically and energy wise) for it. Fingers crossed :rolleyes:. ETA: Results of his thyroid/auto immune blood tests via Dr. Jean Dodds USA expected soon. ETA: I'm changing the Title of this thread to "Allergy/Intolerance" as that's closer to what I believe has been going on. ETA: Oh and I almost forgot - he also now receives a Vitamin C tab daily. At the moment, it's on 'introductory dosage' - if his system shows he's coping with it, the mg will be increased gradually until 2000 mg.

Wish her good luck and let her know there's nothing to it . And she'll reflect back and wonder why she was so worried about it in the first place .

If space is what you think your pup needs, is there some (safe) way that you can put the crate in the bathroom doorway - just outside the bathroom (with the crate door hooked open). This way, the crate won't be taking any of the floor space in the bathroom. Also, if you have a slippery tiled bathroom floor, you might want to think about putting down something non-slip for your pup.

I agree with Puggy that diet, if it is going to help, is most effective when the pup is quite young. But at 6 months of age, I'd suggest a good diet might help - even if it is just in a smaller way, but might prove just enough to thwart off surgery being necessary later on after growth has finished. Any little bit of good is good. Puggy - would growth plates be closed at 6 months? I know this is a smaller dog than my boy (who is 'large breed'), and perhaps that makes the difference?

I'm afraid I can't help you with what you're asking for, Dogmad ..... but I will say that the giving of injections, once you've done the first and the second, becomes a matter of fact routine and you do 'get over it'. I used to administer the cartrophen injections to my horse (not to mention penicillin when one or other of them needed it). I remember the first time - the worst was not knowing what to expect. I psyched myself up, had my horse all ready, and got a real shock with how effortlessly the needle slid in that I forgot to let go of the syringe and accidentally pulled it back out! It really is nothing - no resistance at all and nothing as horrifying as the thought might be to your Mum's friend. When you give them regularly (as you would for diabetes) it'll become no different than the routine of giving a tablet. That probably won't help - if your Mum's friend is simply a person that can't by any stretch of the imagination come to grips with doing the first one, but on the off-chance that it will help her, please re-assure her from me that you do get used to it and it becomes a non-event.

Sounds to me this little one has your measure. And this is something you need to change ..... quickly. If you're not sure what to do and how, then please get some help. This behaviour is only likely to worsen as your pup matures. You have a chance now to circumvent the issue becoming more serious than it is. Like Settrlvr - growling at me because I wouldn't make room would last 5 seconds .... even less, here. And I wouldn't at all be happy to feel "not game" to wake my dog up, although I do like to warn them of my impending approach first, to be fair.

Assuming your pup's diet is good (resulting in firm - not rock hard, though) stools and in the absence of anything physically being wrong, then yes.

Laeral ..... I don't know what method you're using with the e-collar training. What has the trainer who is guiding you in this suggested?

Could be hot spots? Coincidentally, my boy's suffering these as well at the moment. Was suspicious at first, but as at tonight I've noticed many more. He's been itchy (especially over the last couple of days) and these are obviously bugging him. I've been battling with a tummy issue as well (with him, not me) which has improved a bit. We're booked in for another visit with our holistic lady day after tomorrow. I've given his leg/groin a bit of a spray with Dr. Bruce Symes antiseptic wash, which contains alovera. I'm hoping that will take out some of the heat and itchiness for the moment.

Oh, poor Bud!! One of those things I guess that comes with living to the very good age that he has. Kelpie-i ..... what about a belly band that he can use when he sleeps over-night? Seems they also come in colours, so you could pick Bud's favourite one (although he has to like either green, white or blue) . Dog Healthcare : Male No-Leak Wrap I didn't know that incontinence in male dogs couldn't be helped with Veterinary science?

I had him on straight Eagle Pack Holistic (Large Breed) Puppy. That way I felt I could better control the balance of protein to his diet and whilst aiming for weight gain (as he was under-weight), but running the fine line of simultaneously trying to slow down growth.

That's what a Vet suggested to me when I took my boy in to see him with concerns of 'deformity' in growth of his front legs. A visit to a specialist resulted in the "Carpal Laxity Syndrome" diagnosis with "diet" and careful weight gain being the preferred 'treatment'. No 'forced' exercise. Just free running. Slippery floors are a no-no and can hazard this sort of condition, although in my boy's case, slippery surfaces were already covered. Here's a picture of my boy's legs back then (about 10 or 11 wo at the time of photo). The problem showed up in his right leg first, 3 days after coming here. His right leg was the worse affected. Usually both legs are affected (as were his) but it is most common that one is worse than the other (as was his). And here's one of his front legs 2 months further on from the above photo. Only just now do I realise I don't seem to have any of him in the 'sit' position with photo front on, but I think you might get the gist from this one that his legs had by then straightened considerably (notice the lean on his outside toes in the first photo, then compare to the second). Growth plates still very open at that stage, with much more growing to do, so the knees appear knobbly (as opposed to knuckled over). He's 10mo now and his knees aren't so 'big' now. I think specialist opinion definitely the way to go.

How long do you walk her on lead for each day? When did you think you first noticed her knees "not looking right"? Look forward to the photo's. I know what you mean about it being difficult to get photo's of them - I was in the same boat with my boy when I needed to take photo's when he was 8wo . Difficult (to say the least) when you don't have someone available to hold them in position at the time.

I think a picture would speak a thousand words ..... Can you take one or two and put them up here Mplsv? My boy had carpal laxity syndrome aka "knuckling over" quite badly. Good and careful diet and these have straightened out quite ok.

How old is Daisy? And yes - a 'name' to what is supposedly wrong with her knees would help us out here. Maybe she will need surgery. But don't be panicked into it. When you know more, spend some time checking around and pulling in information. Without wishing to give you false hope, I have found some Vets quite quick to recommend surgery ....... even for something that diet ended up straightening out or for something that a course of anti-inflammatory tablets fixed up. If surgery does look like it is definitely on the cards, I'd go for a specialist opinion first. ETA: Also let us know where you are located, as we may be able to recommend a specialist to see. ETA: Pers - I couldn't see the dog's age, but it obviously seems you and I are thinking on the same page. Your post was submitted whilst I was still typing.

I purchased this through Angus & Robertson the other day. Actually, it was another book I purchased, and they had a special 'deal' going that meant I could purchase the Merck Veterinary Manual for $10. Don't know if the 'deal' is still going and whether it is valid in all A & R branches. I haven't had a chance to have a real solid read through it, but have read some and the info is interesting, written fairly clearly so you don't have to be a Vet to understand it, and is informative. Being a Vet manual, I did mentally note that many (or most?) of the recommendations given relate to Veterinary practice (ie surgery; drugs) rather than also offering alternative or less invasive procedures. But that's in respect to only the few things I've read in it so far.

Congratulations, Little Tails! I love the essence of the pure delight that is shining through in this .... your thread about your new puppy . And I wish for you and for Marnie many years of "pure delight" together. What a great Mum you have.

What material is the BARF one made of that is not favourable?

Not sure if you were asking this of me, Love_ASD. But I don't routinely worm my dog (just more drugs). I will worm when I think he might need to be wormed. In recent times I've been receiving reminders from a Vet that my dog is overdue for worming. As it turns out he's been unwell (digestive issues) so I wasn't going to give him a wormer even if I'd otherwise been inclined to. As he had to have fecal sample tests (for the digestive issue) I asked for them to check for worm infestation as well and tests in that regard have come back negative, so I don't see any point in plying him with unnecessary drugs for worms that aren't likely there. This doesn't quite answer your question (ie what 'other' wormer) but when it comes to it, I'm not sure what I will use. I don't routinely use spot-on's either. He doesn't have fleas; I don't have a flea issue here (touch wood) and in Victoria, we don't have the tick problem that so many other places do. So again, I don't see the point in bombarding him with chemicals from those things either. Whatever I do use, when and if I feel it is warranted and necessary, will be whatever I can find that is the 'kindest' on the dog's system, yet simultaneously effective for the purpose I prescribe it. Although I did use them routinely through his early puppy period (wisely or not), I don't think the 'chewable' wormers are the 'best' in this respect. But I'd have to go back to my readings/research to confirm this as I've part way forgotten what I did read back then.