Erny

Tatelina - it is but one of the strategies that assists with desensitising a dog to its fear. It doesn't always work, or it doesn't always work immediately. But it certainly is something that I always recommend both in desensitisation practice and also in habituation (ie where the item is novel and fear hasn't been learnt).

Looks good, Oonga :rolleyes:. I'll be looking forward to being there.

Look on the bright side. SOMEONE at least gets to retire that bit earlier than he/she otherwise might. Oh - and I can sympathise with you at the notion/concern of paranoia. But it is often hard to ignore that voice in your head that might be telling you something isn't right. And sometimes it is a good thing that we don't ignore it. Sometimes these things are really difficult for the Vets too - because they don't get to see the dog in the situation under which symptoms reveal themselves. So you need to be very clear, factual, thorough (but simultaneously succinct) when you make your description to the Vet. Similarly, the Vet needs to be capable of listening and taking things on board. It might be nothing Nick. No one here can tell you that it is or isn't and can only throw up suggestions that hint to some possibility. There is something else in the back of my mind. I think it is called laryngeal collapse or something like that. Although if this were the case I would have thought you would hear breathing noises that are similar to those of elongated palate. But as I am not a Vet and have not actually come across a dog that I know has the condition (although there is one that I suspect has .... elongated palate having been ruled out) I am not saying that I am familiar with all the clinical symptoms involved in it. In the meantime, I'd just watch your dog. Take note of exercise time/exertion. The weather. Excitability/stress/emotion at the time. Length of time to her flopping down. Activity beforehand. And watch for variations.

Borzoimom .... your poor dog!!! But so glad that you have found this method making inroads to recovery from the trauma (thank heavens it wasn't worse for either of you! ). Patting the item of concern is not to me bizarre (although it might seem that way to those who haven't heard it before). All you are doing is : Demonstrating that this "thing" is not an item of concern - that YOU are not worried about it. Promoting natural curiosity. (IE ... What is that which Mum is so interested in?) Making the item (rather than the dog) the focal point and subject of calm, unstressed curiosity - rather than setting up tensions which your dog can pick up from. Not pushing your dog to "go see that item". I mean after all, if you won't pat it and show it nice, fond, relaxed attention, why should your dog? It is one of the tactics that I commonly demonstrate/explain/encourage to the people I work with who have had dogs suffer similar traumas. I do it also for dogs who are scared of other dogs. IOW, I go pat the other dog. Glad this is working for you. What age was your dog when the incident occurred? If it was outside of his critical period (ie 8-16 weeks) and assuming that inside that period your dog had socialised to the vacuum without harm or trauma, then him being able to draw on those earlier (permanent) memories would certainly be assisting his recovery. Well done. :p

Agree with the above, for bone structure reasons too. Agree again. Slow and steady wins the race IMO. Don't concentrate on weight gain to the exclusion of bone growth and development. Sudden/fast weight gain on young bones is not a good thing. So long as your pup is steadily gaining weight and is sufficiently nourished, being on the leaner side is more desirable than soft growing bones having to bear the sudden onset of weight gain. I also agree about the goats' milk too. Wish I'd known about it earlier when my recent fellow (RR) was a baby pup (also underfed/undernourished - only 3.5kgs at 8wo). He's 9mo now but in his case the recent introduction of goats' milk is helping alot with other matters. Cottage cheese and yogurt is also something I now include in his diet, amongst other things. I also feed Eagle Pack as I have done from early days with him and have seen him do very well on it. Go for the puppy large/giant breed variety. I use the holistic select. Your pup has been removed from his mum and litter mates very early it seems. Don't forget to give consideration towards making up for the socialisation he'd normally be receiving from them. If you haven't already, look around for a really reputable dog school who will have people that can guide you in appropriate socialisation measures.

Does your dog's gait change (eg become irregular) before your dog "drops to the ground"? Probably not the case, but one of my thoughts was Exercise Induced Collapse, although this is more commonly seen in Labradors. Refer the following link for some info, scroll down to "Description of Collapse" and click on the link to video footage. I'm uncertain whether with EIC there can be moderate to extreme cases or whether all dogs who have the condition exhibit similarly. EIC Information Does your dog snore or make breathing noises (whilst sleeping or otherwise)?

Agree with the above. In many cases, anal gland issues relate back to diet. When the stools are firmer they press/squeeze the anal glands (not pierce) on their passage through causing the anal glands to express (as they should) when your dog defacates. This is scenting the faeces as nature intended. When the anal glands aren't regularly expressed they build up with the fluid that is created by the glands and this can lead to uncomfortable/painful anal gland impaction, not to mention a smelly dog and which is quite likely why you are experiencing this mucky (and expensive ) problem. It would be a lot more comfortable for your dog and of course more economical and convenient for you if your dog's anal glands would express naturally, so I concur that a change in diet to include things such as chicken wings (introduce gradually - don't go so overboard as to cause upset tummy or constipation) would probably prove an advantage. If dry food is to be a component of your dog's diet, I have had good results with Eagle Pack.

Is that John Richardson? No ..... he's "DogTech" isn't he?

That would be awesome to watch. Wish it could be here in Melbourne too . Actually - perhaps some of the authorities down here should take the trip. They might learn something of Sch that they didn't know or understand before.

Ok - although I think the above is a bit harsh given the amount of help that is given by trainer/behaviourists in their own time to many people on this board. However, if not getting a behaviourist in to assist is what the person wants, yet wants good advice or opinion, then the least should be that a true picture of what is occurring should be described in as best detail as possible. Granted - some people don't know what detail to give. But some descriptions are sorely and unnecessarily lacking. I'm often helping people out on this forum, but it can be just as frustrating if not more so when obvious detail is omitted from the outset. Sorry ..... maybe I'm just over-tired .

You? Anal? Naaaaahhhhh. I don't believe it!! ETA: Better word - "perfectionist" me thinks .

But that relies on YOU presenting an accurate picture. And that isn't what has occurred, it seems. That's why it is next to impossible to give an opinion (or advice for that matter) that is worth much to your specific scenario. Ummm ... because your scenario isn't specifically specific . Is this a "real" situation? From the opinions/advice/tips you gain from here, are you applying (or do you intend to apply) them to a "real" situation by way of giving advice to someone in particular? Or is it a general/theoretical question? Regardless, you need to set the scene a bit more accurately. This is why, in the course of my consultations, I ask questions of the owners. I can't rely on the owners being able to depict the details of the picture for me, nor do I expect them to. I need to know what the situation is before I can give an opinion or give advice. I pair those questions with my own observations as well, because as you see here, the picture you at first paint isn't necessarily the same picture others see.

Nah ..... A crate is a nice, comfortable, safe place to be and/or rest. So if the crate will help you in this instance, go ahead and use it . Oh - and crate "training" is only about your dog building up a positive association with the crate and being able to cope with being left in the crate for periods at a time without stressing. Chewing a bone whilst in the crate is a good way to achieving that.

I will use free shaping to 'capture' something I wish to promote. I don't use it as a single method and similar to the luring method, I wean off rewarding the offered behaviour fairly quickly, transferring it to a behaviour which is only rewarded when I ask for it. I don't seem to have a problem with the method in the fashion that I use it. ETA: Oh .... except for the "closing drawers" trick. My boy loooooves to close drawers (a 'free shaped' trick). Inconvenient when you DON'T want a drawer closed .

Following is a copy/paste of a post made in another (UK) forum I visit. Due to the terms of this forum I am unable to link you there. It provides a LOT of reading and information - so much so that I have not finished reading it thoroughly nor checked the information given by the links it references. But I figured there would be many here on DOL that would enjoy reading it. Note that I am not the author. It is prepared by Kris L Christine. Kris doesn't seem to carry initials after her name (which does not purport that what she writes is wrong or insignificant) but seems to have been very active in endeavouring to spread the news and information on vaccinations and vaccination frequency and moreover in trying to bring about regulation that will oblige Veterinarians to disclose the affects/effects of vaccinations so that the owners of the animals that are presented to them for care may make informed medical choices for their animals. Note that this is not occurring in our Country, but IMO it would be a good move if it was. It is a long post packed with informative thoughts and suggestions. "VACCINES--Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo There is much confusion in the general public about the duration of immunity of canine vaccines. Below is a copy of my testimony and model disclosure submitted to Maine's Agriculture Committee in support of LD 429, the nation's first pet vaccine disclosure legislation, which was introduced on my behalf by Representative Peter Rines of Wiscasset. PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST THIS MESSAGE. February 27, 2005 TO: The Agriculture, Conservation and Forest Committee RE: LD 429, An Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms My name is Kris Christine and I live with my family in Maine. Before I begin my testimony, I’d like to advise the committee that one of the world’s leading veterinary research scientists, Dr. W. Jean Dodds, wanted to be here today to testify in support of LD429, but could not do so because of prior commitments. With her permission, in the attachments to my testimony, I have included her letter to Representative Peter Rines dated February 17, 2005 (Attachment 5) resolutely endorsing this first-in-the-nation veterinary vaccine disclosure legislation. I am here today to respectfully urge this committee to recommend passage of LD429 – An Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms because pet owners need the scientifically proven durations of immunity (how long vaccines are effective for) in order to make informed medical choices for their animals. Many Maine veterinarians have failed to inform clients that most core veterinary vaccines protect for seven or more years, and pet owners, unaware that their animals don’t need booster vaccinations more often, have unwittingly given their companions useless booster shots – taking an unnecessary toll on their finances and animals’ health. The human equivalent would be physicians vaccinating patients against tetanus once every year, two years, or three years and not disclosing that the vaccines are known to be protective for 10 years. For years veterinarians have sent pet owners annual, biennial and triennial reminders for redundant booster shots and justified it with vaccine manufacturers’ labeled recommendations. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Principles of Vaccination (Attachment 6), “..revaccination frequency recommendations found on many vaccine labels is based on historical precedent, not on scientific data … [and] does not resolve the question about average or maximum duration of immunity [Page 2] and..may fail to adequately inform practitioners about optimal use of the product…[Page 4] .” As the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital states it: “…booster vaccine recommendations for vaccines other than rabies virus have been determined arbitrarily by manufacturers.” Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chairman of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, is at the forefront of vaccine research and is one of the world’s leading authorities on veterinary vaccines. His challenge study results form the scientific base of the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature (Attachment 7). These studies are based on science – they are not arbitrary. The public, however, cannot access this data. The American Animal Hospital Association only makes this report available to veterinarians, not private citizens, and Maine’s pet owners are unaware that the AAHA Guidelines state on Page 18 that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” They further state that hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have been proven to protect for a minimum of 7 years by challenge and up to 9 and 10 years based on antibody count. So, unless the Legislature passes LD429 requiring veterinarians to provide vaccine disclosure forms, dog owners who receive an annual, biennial, or triennial reminders for booster shots will not know that nationally-accepted scientific studies have demonstrated that animals are protected a minimum of 7 years after vaccination with the distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2 vaccines (see Page 12 AAHA 2003 Guidelines attached, and Table 1, Pages 3 and 4). "My own pets are vaccinated once or twice as pups and kittens, then never again except for rabies,” Wall Street Journal reporter Rhonda L. Rundle quoted Dr. Ronald Schultz in a July 31, 2002 article entitled Annual Pet Vaccinations may be Unnecessary, Fatal (Attachment 2). Dr. Schultz knows something the pet-owning public doesn’t – he knows there’s no benefit in overvaccinating animals because immunity is not enhanced, but the risk of harmful adverse reactions is increased. He also knows that most core veterinary vaccines are protective for at least seven years, if not for the lifetime of the animal. The first entry under Appendix 2 of the AAHA Guidelines (Attachment 7) “Important Vaccination ‘Do’s and Don’ts” is “Do Not Vaccinate Needlessly – Don’t revaccinate more often than is needed and only with the vaccines that prevent diseases for which that animal is at risk.” They also caution veterinarians: “Do Not Assume that Vaccines Cannot Harm a Patient – Vaccines are potent medically active agents and have the very real potential of producing adverse events.” Very few pet owners have had this disclosed to them. The AVMA’s Principles of Vaccination (Attachment 6) states that “Unnecessary stimulation of the immune system does not result in enhanced disease resistance, and may increase the risk of adverse post-vaccination events.” (page 2) They elaborate by reporting that: “Possible adverse events include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders, transient infections, and/or long-term infected carrier states. In addition, a causal association in cats between injection sites and the subsequent development of a malignant tumor is the subject of ongoing research.”(Page 2) Referring to adverse reactions from vaccines, the Wall Street Journal article cited above (Attachment 2) reports: “In cats there has been a large increase in hyperthyroidism and cancerous tumors between the shoulder blades where vaccines typically are injected.” With modified live virus vaccines (distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis), some animals can actually contract the same disease which they are being inoculated against. If the public knew an animal’s immunity to disease is not increased by overvaccination, they would certainly not consent to expose their pets to potential harm by giving them excessive booster shots. Veterinary vaccines are potent biologic drugs – most having proven durations of immunity much longer than the annual, biennial or triennial booster frequencies recommended by vaccine manufacturers and veterinarians. They also carry the very real risk of serious adverse side affects and should not be administered more often than necessary to maintain immunity. The extended durations of immunity for vaccines is not “new” or “recent” science as some members of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) have claimed. AAHA reveals on Page 2 of their Guidelines that ideal reduced vaccination protocols were recommended by vaccinology experts beginning in 1978. A Veterinary Practice News article entitled “Managing Vaccine Changes” (Attachment 3) by veterinarian Dennis M. McCurnin, reports that: “Change has been discussed for the past 15 years and now has started to move across the country." According to a September 1, 2004 article in the DVM veterinary news magazine (Attachment 1), the 312 member Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) “champions full disclosure of vaccine information to pet owners.” MVMA president, Dr. Bill Bryant, is quoted as stating: “Its time for something like this to come out … disclosure forms will be an important resource to have available, [and] if it goes before the Legislature, we’d likely support it.” It is time. Pet owners have the right to know the scientifically proven durations of immunity for the veterinary vaccines given their animals, as well as the potential adverse side effects and benefits. LD 429 would make that standardized information available to all pet owners. Respectfully submitted, Kris L. Christine Attachments MODEL CANINE CORE VACCINE DISCLOSURE FORM Prepared by Kris L. Christine Vaccines have played a significant role in enabling animals to live longer and healthier lives. Thorough evaluations of the risks of the disease, and those potentially associated with the vaccine, compared to the benefits of vaccination for the patient, are necessary in crafting optimal health recommendations that include vaccination. The proper application of vaccines to animal populations has enhanced their health and welfare, and prolonged their life-spans. The risks to animal health from non-vaccination are significant. However, vaccination is a potent medical procedure associated with both benefits and risks for the patient. Adverse events, including some that are potentially severe, can be unintended consequences of vaccination. Because vaccinating an animal which is already immune to a disease does not increase their immunity, but does expose them to the risk of adverse reactions, it is important to avoid overvaccination. Blood titers can help determine whether an animal’s antibody count is at protective levels. The risks associated with the core canine diseases are as follows: 1. Distemper – high rates of morbidity and mortality from respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological abnormalities; a widespread disease 2. Parvovirus – high rates of morbidity and mortality resulting primarily from gastrointestinal disease; this disease has worldwide distribution; 3. Canine Adenovirus – high rates of morbidity and mortality from liver dysfunction 4. Rabies – nearly universally fatal neurological disease. Infected animals are a potential source for human infection, thus vaccination is mandated by law in most states. The risks associated with vaccination are as follows: Possible adverse events from vaccination include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders such as hyper/hypothyroidism, polyarthritis, allergies, transient infections, and/or long-term infected carrier states. In addition, a causal association in cats between injection sites and the subsequent development of a malignant tumor is the subject of ongoing research. Optimal immune responses are obtained by vaccines administered singly three to four weeks apart rather than in combination shots. Single vaccine administration also reduces the likelihood of adverse events as well as increasing the animal’s immune response. Only healthy animals should be vaccinated. Except for the rabies vaccine, manufacturers’ labeled revaccination recommendations are based on limited scientific data and do not contain information on the vaccine’s maximum duration of immunity. The tables below contain the minimum duration of immunity data from the canine vaccine studies performed by Dr. Ronald Schultz, Professor and Chair of the Pathobiological Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, which form the scientific base of the American Animal Hospital’s 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature. If your animal experiences any of the following symptoms after vaccination, you should contact your veterinary care provider immediately: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, uncontrollable trembling, lack of coordination, seizures or a hard lump at the vaccination site which doesn’t disappear after a couple of weeks. __________________________________________________ _______________________________________ Table 1: Minimum Duration of Immunity for Canine Vaccines Vaccine Minimum Duration Methods Used to Of Immunity Determine Immunity Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) Rockborn Strain 7 years/15 years challenge/serology Onderstepoort Strain 5 years/9 years challenge/serology Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) 7 years/9 years challenge-CAV-1/serology Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) 7 years challenge/serology Canine Rabies 3 years/7 years challenge/serology Data from Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What we know and Don’t Know by Dr. Ronald D. Schultz, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. Note: Challenge studies are those in which an animal is vaccinated, isolated for a number of years, and then injected with high doses of virulent virus to test its immunity to disease. Serology is the method of counting antibody levels in the blood to determine an animal’s immunity. Duration of Immunity: The Rabies Vaccine Challenge - Show #185 Animal Talk Radio Show 7/30/08 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/animalt...lenge-Show-186 Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm What Everyone Needs to Know about Canine Vaccines, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.puliclub.org/CHF/AKC2007C...20Vaccines.htm Vaccination: An Overview Dr. Melissa Kennedy, DVM360 http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com....jsp?id=568351 World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF) The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm . The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf . Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/ October 1, 2002 DVM Newsletter article entitled, AVMA, AAHA to Release Vaccine Positions, http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/a...l.jsp?id=35171 July 1, 2003 DVM Newsletter article entitled, What Do We Tell Our Clients?, Developing thorough plan to educate staff on changing vaccine protocols essential for maintaining solid relationships with clients and ensuring quality care http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/a...l.jsp?id=61696 July 1, 2003, DVM Newsletter article, Developing Common Sense Strategies for Fiscal Responsibility: Using an interactive template to plan service protocol changes http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/a...l.jsp?id=61694 Animal Wellness Magazine Article Vol. 8 Issue 6, How Often Does he REALLY Need A Rabies Shot Animal Wellness Magazine - devoted to natural health in animals The Rabies Challenge Animal Wise Radio Interview Listen to Animal Wise (scroll down to The Rabies Challenge 12/9/07) The Vaccine Challenge Animal Talk Naturally Online Radio Show » The Vaccine Challenge - Show #91 Rabies Shot Killed my Poodle May 28, 2008 Channel 5 News WCVB http://www.thebostonchannel.com:80/n...ss=bos&taf=bos US Declared Canine-Rabies Free -- CDC Announces at Inaugural World Rabies Day Symposium CDC Press Release - September 7, 2007 Rabies Prevention -- United States, 1991 Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP), Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly March 22, 1991 / 40(RR03);1-19 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00041987.htm "A fully vaccinated dog or cat is unlikely to become infected with rabies, although rare cases have been reported (48). In a nationwide study of rabies among dogs and cats in 1988, only one dog and two cats that were vaccinated contracted rabies (49). All three of these animals had received only single doses of vaccine; no documented vaccine failures occurred among dogs or cats that had received two vaccinations. "

Don't know if you've read this, Calsonic350z, and I'm not sure of the reliability of the source (names are referenced, so it shouldn't be too difficult for you to check on it), but it seems the latest news is that the occurrence of Cold Tail has a basis in Muscle Fatigue and can be found to affect dogs who wag their tails back and forth a lot. "Latest Information regarding Limber Tail" In other readings, it is suggested that Cold Tail re-occurs in less than half of dogs affected. I don't know what "less than half" represents in actual percentage, but it seems that it does re-occur. This probably doesn't really answer your question very well, but it is a condition for which there seems to be no conclusion as to the exact reason it occurs in the first place and that much of it is conjecture and guess work based on the activity patterns of those dogs who have been afflicted.

BD - Glad to hear all is well. I didn't realise there was so much 'leading up' work in a "specialty". Good for you and I hope your brood do well . Cosmolo - thanks for the well wishes. I will be glad for Mandela when he is well but I also know I'll be very relieved of the worry myself. Sometimes the concern I feel is akin to panic (not quite) when I see him looking so thin. Jigsaw - thanks also for your thoughts. I am permitting Mandela to free feed at the moment. Not something I would ordinarily recommend for various reasons, but at the moment, I don't care. Just happy to see food going down his throat. He was a bit more enthusiastic for his Eagle Pack this morning and ate more of it again tonight. Still not up to par with the quantity he would be on if things were 'right'. Thank heavens for the goats' milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs and sardines. These, along with the holistic medications are providing him with sustenance at the moment. Hoping that all of this together will help his system heal and see his appetite and ability to eat improve. It's early days yet but I am hopeful that he'll return to full health and that with Carol's help we'll have thwarted the need for exploration under General Anesthetic.

I'm not sure I understand the reason for this question. Is it that engaging a behaviourist/trainer has been recommended, but that you need answers as to what the owner should do in the absence of engaging a behaviourist? What is meant by "... already have taken it on board"? Has a behaviourist already been consulted?

I agree that 1 vaccination can bring about a reaction in some dogs. In that case, it is a matter of vaccinate or not (at all). I don't think I agree with that, as I think vaccinations do have many pluses, even though there are for some dogs, some negatives. However, once the dog is vaccinated and immunity is confirmed (titre test) I don't see the point of regularly stressing the dog's immune system by re-vaccinating at the frequency that has been the accepted routine for past decades. To do so only increases the potential for health issues - whether they be in the short or the longer term. IMO, there are a good number of health issues which our dogs commonly suffer at some stage in their lives that many people don't draw a connection to vaccinations, but for which there is a potential connection.

Andrisa said what I was thinking. I like the idea of the protective cover, though. I use a dremel and a guard help to keep enquiring noses off the grinder would be helpful. Wouldn't have it with that little 'nail hole' - I like to be able to see what the nail is doing at the point of contact with the grinder. But a semi-circular guard would be a good idea.

You need to be consistent about showing her that your other dog's mat is not the mat you want her to go to and be consistent about showing her the mat you do want her to go to. Obviously, be consistent about rewarding your pup when she goes to the correct mat. Because consistency is the key, have you tried crate training her? Crating is not a substitution to your training but it will assist with the consistency side of things. She wouldn't be able to climb out of a crate. Provided there were no issues between the two dogs, I'm not sure I'd be too concerned about dogs swapping mats - but I presume you have a reason for wanting each dog in a particular spot?

I am with PetPlan. I spoke with them and they confirmed that it means they will not cover for those things which the dog is not vaccinated for (in so far as the usual diseases are concerned). The dog IS covered for other things outside of those.

You need to double check though, as I suspect she did not articulate the situation very well to you (and I find it occurs frequently enough unless you specifically clarify with them whether they are saying your dog would be covered for nothing at all, regardless of whether the issue was, say, a car accident wound - heaven forbid - or some other completely unrelated veterinary event). I would be highly surprised if it is as you understand it.

My highlights Alanglen. This type of statement tends to come up each time there is a discussion on whether to annually vaccinate or not. So just a reminder that no-one is saying to not vaccinate. The discussion of the change of routine in relation to vaccination protocol is about not OVER-vaccinating, which in itself can result in some pretty devastating and fatal conditions. Some people seem to confuse what is actually being said.

I don't think that's quite true, Willis08. I think you'll find that they will insure, but you would not be covered if your dog was afflicted by any one of the diseases for which vaccinations are routinely given but which you haven't given.