Erny

Thanks Skunk. So no relationship to the vaccine? I've not heard of skull plate causing really large lumps at the back of pup's heads (I presume it is a growth developmental thing), although perhaps my imagination is building this to be a bigger picture than it is.

What does your Vet mean by "joint capsule" Skunk? And Murve - why is it quite normal for Dobes to have an affected joint capsule? I know that dogs can have vaccine reactions and I know that for black and tan dogs this can be worse, but I thought that was a soft tissue reaction, not a joint reaction, which is why I'm interested.

I couldn't unequivocally or formally advise you on this without seeing the dog to assess and for that I ask that you receive this as my disclaimer, but do take into account that a dog's hands is its mouth. By the sounds of it, your dog had every 'right' to say "hey! watch it!! that hurts!!" and did well to avoid the contact of her teeth on your son. I think that is a big plus and shows harm was purposefully avoided. A good sign - a dog that wants to avoid doing injury. If you don't want the risk of any accident occurring ever or ever .... don't own a dog at all. For that matter, don't own a cat; don't cross the road; don't drive a car; etc. etc. if you know what I mean. However, YOU need to protect your dog as much as it is your obligation to protect your child and it would have been good if you could have made sure that your son didn't lay on your dog so recently after she'd had the surgery. But then, we're all great experts in hindsight and sometimes we do slip up - but when those things happen it pulls us back up again and we become aware that we need to keep our socks hiked up. If you really would like to have more expert opinion, engage the services of an expert to come assess your dog and give his/her opinion. ETA: Gosh - there were no replies at the time I started writing this post. I'm either very slow at typing or everyone is really fast. Or both. But I see we're all pretty much saying the same thing. IE That we'd appreciate a dog who demonstrates excellent bite inhibition.

I agree with Nekhbet. I have utilised a head-collar or two in cases of handler physical limitation as well - but what should also be taken into account is the handler's ability to be able to use the head collar with sensitivity as well. The bridge of the nose and the area under the dogs' eyes is very sensitive and vulnerable. Some dogs continue to pull into the head-collar and a degree of handler agility is required to help avoid it coming up into and underneath the eye. I might suggest the use of a no-pull harness however IMO these people would need a tool that affords them a bit more directional control than a harness to ensure the dogs don't get caught up in the walking sticks.

Don't give up. With new tastes, introduce them a bit at a time. What they at first walk away from they may come to enjoy. Some foods can be an acquired taste.

And people with off-lead dogs who aren't able to control them need to be careful too as it could be their dog who traumatises another dog who might not ever have been aggressive but exhibits (and therefore learns) aggression due to an inappropriate affront. Everyone needs to be careful and thoughtful, regardless.

Ahh, lol ... yeah. That's DOL, :chuckle:

I don't blame the OP for that though - his dog was injured, and badly by the sounds of it. Adrenaline and emotion and the potential for some 'right' on his side .... it can lead to being cross and not necessarily without grounding to be so. ETA: Mind you - I didn't think it was heated. The OP described a stressful event and then asked a question.

??? Do you really think the "right to be annoyed" should be based on which dog bears the harm of an aggressive incident? (And for the purposes of this thread I'm leaving out the "mental harm" component so as not to complicate conversation, however "mental harm" is often not considered in these matters when it can be just as bad if not sometimes worse than the physical harm endured.) I am not going to venture into the "which one is right" debate here, but do bear in mind that none of us were there other than the OP and that nothing has been stated unequivocally or otherwise that the other dog might have been able to misinterpret the OP's dog's approach. I am fairly certain that if someone comes charging at/towards me and doesn't look like stopping (not even sure whether that's happened or not), I won't be sitting back and waiting until harm is caused to me before I do something to protect myself. The overall point I'm trying to make here is that there are details missing and open to interpretation and imagination. To the OP : I am really sorry for your dog's injuries and I hope your dog recovers from them well and swiftly.

I think I'd like to be your customer, Nekhbet :)

Phooey. Yes .... a bit far. Thanks anyway, for letting me know. If I'm ever passing through that way I'll keep them in mind :).

What location are these butchers in? I'd like to go there to get some rabbit if they aren't ridiculously far away :). ETA: I'm not a canine dietician but as a general rule I tend to think in terms of what my dog has had in a week, rather than what he has had every day. If that's any help to you.

Mumtoshelley - is this a private or commercial source? I've been trying to source some and the only (pure) rabbit meat I've been able to get had preservatives (pet quality). ..... oh, other than from the local supermarket - cleaned - and they charged $20 per kilogram!!

My boy is fed twice a day - evening meal doesn't make a difference. Once he's fed I'm usually on the couch watching TV (or at the computer answering emails) - then I hear him. He knows that zoomies inside the house are not allowed. If the door to the outside is closed, he gets in the lounge area, throws himself into play bows, looks to one side of him then to another (as though interacting with his imaginary friend) and throws himself out of the play bow and straight into a mid-air spin. Repeats a few times, maybe followed by a bit of a run down the hall way. Grabs one of his toys along the way and comes to find me. I admit to his antics bringing a smile to my face.

thanks Erny. It's a really fun beach for dogs, we went when the tide was out, so lots of shallows to splash in and rocks to explore, we all loved it, people and dogs. Is it busy?

Thanks cavNrott. It is a continuous run of problems, I'll admit. Appreciate your sympathy/empathy :). I just keep up a war against the symptoms to make him as comfortable as possible whilst I'm doing as much as I can to hit the nail on the head as far as what the cause might be. Mandela is such an intelligent dog - he blows me away with his quick IQ. He's a lot of dog and more than I expected. I hope he'll be around for a long time and I purposely named him "Mandela" for this reason. Life would be boring without him.

As per the Title, Mandela has developed ulcers on his gums. I suspect these relate to auto-immune issues and I will be taking him to a Vet/Professional for consultation and treatment (I've read that in some instances the ulcers are due to a reaction to plaque on teeth and that the only resolution to the problem is to remove all the teeth .... OMG, no!!! - I hope the Proden PlaqueOff hurries up and does its job!!!). In the meantime, to soothe them and to try to help stop infection I am going to irrigate them with some Calendula Tea - just for today and tomorrow and until I can get him to the Vet. Is there a worth in adding a little salt to the Calendula liquid that I use to irrigate them with? Will it do harm to Mandela?

Lol at your above post, Meea. No training component in my boy's behaviour following a meal. I too am wary about running dogs after food and have worked to avoid it. But regardless of that, lunie tunes zoomies and activity that looks like "play with pretend other doggy" is what my boy does.

Lol .... my boy often likes to run a zoomie after a poop too. "Yay!! That's in!!" ..... "Yay!! That's out!!"

Fantastic photos Kirislin. They obviously had a great time. I love the last one. Quite solitary in a shared kind of way. I think that would make a really good poster photo for the wall :).

This one is mine. Goes bazerko and generally loves to run a zoomie after a feed. My previous (avatar) girl "Kal" (bhcs) generally settled more after a feed.

I'm sorry, Cowanbree. It is pretty clear you didn't write here asking for sympathies but rather, asking for answers. I'm afraid I can't help you with the latter but I also cannot help myself from extending to you my condolences for what has occurred, and for the shock, loss and confusion you must be feeling right now. I do hope you find the answers and I hope in doing so they allow you some closure so that you can turn more quickly to healing from the hurt of what has happened. RIP Reeve

Not excusing any or all else these people might have been doing that could be held as inhumane, but I wonder if 'selling dog meat' has been misconstrued and mis-interpreted? I know of people who say they buy dogs' meat at a certain pet store. I know they mean "pet meat for their dogs". Possible?

Thanks Cosmolo. I don't presume she is mobile is she?

I'd like to know too. At the moment, I need one that will visit the house. But if that's not possible, then one that is reasonably local to me. I'm Berwick (SE suburb) Melbourne. Cheers :). Erny