Erny

Ta for that. But do you mean by Nobivac's "label claim for 3 years" = 3 year vaccination or do you mean they accept the ordinary 1 year vaccination is good enough for 3 years. I know this is a common thing that is not clearly explained to the general layperson and I tend to get confused by intent as well. Thank you . This is my first day 'back' today, and I'm a bit 'foggy' ..... having to be careful that I understand things properly and so consequently I am careful about going over things again.

Hi. My boy had them. See pictures attached. I thought they were a part of Furunculosis - they very much appeared so, but for him the cause turned out to be an overload of his liver due to digestive disorder, and the inter-digital cysts was one way for the toxins in his body to work their way out because the liver was unable to cope. I bathed his feed regularly with Calendula Tea (which has excellent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities). I would also occasionally use some antiseptic wash (by Vets All Natural) if we'd been anywhere that was particularly mucky. When the cysts were at their worst we'd rest them as otherwise his tearing around on them would cause them to burst and bleed. I treated them this way WHILST I was dealing with diet/body detox and this helped resolve them.

Can this manufacturer be named, Stormie? I didn't realise that ANY manufacturer of the vaccines had a change of protocol on vaccination frequency . I'm pleased that some have though .... that's a bit of progress, isn't it? Or am I somehow confused about this?

We can certainly drink the tea (I've had drinks of it and over days have felt better - mind over matter? ) and I know that if our dogs drink a bit of it there is no harm. Whether it does anything for their system or not - I'm not qualified to say. I have given it to Mandela at times when I thought his stomach could do with a bit of help. I can't tell you there was a miraculous change and it is difficult for me to appropriate any improvement to the drinking of the tea itself. I am so pleased it helped. Keep up the applications until the skin is well settled. You don't have to do the full bath tub routine each time - use the 'flannel wash' technique on the affected areas only.

Where is the stim 'box' sitting - under the chin at the dog's throat? Also, do you have it on firm enough that the two contact points are making contact with the dog's skin? What model Dogtra bark collar do you have?

You forgot to include Calendula Tea :D. Not a shampoo, but that's what makes it so good (apart from it's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities)as it doesn't disturb pH levels as shampoos can. This is to support the skin, rather than to make the "whites whiter than white" though.

The dog had me feeling sorry for him. Well done.

The basis behind barking can sometimes be more complex than what we give credit for and a good part of the solution is to work through what might be the cause. Is it boredom? (Is he well exercised AND mentally stimulated?) Is it inadvertent reinforcement? (He barks because he doesn't like to be alone. Neighbours stick their heads over the fence and/or you come out to tell him not to.) Do the neighbours come home at a certain time and he hears them, and expects them to poke their heads over the fence? Is he anticipating your imminent arrival home?

Not only look for. I swear I saw my old cat at times for a few weeks after he passed. You're lucky, PF. My avatar girl "Kal" (bhcs) didn't 'appear' to me (although I swear I heard her, at times), but she did send me a "Kal fart" (unmistakably distinctive smell, I assure you) in the days after her passing. to you, Noisy. It's tough, even though we know the inevitable will happen, it's still tough.

All the best, K&P. It is nice when we can get if not answers, then at least some direction that takes us down the path of attaining improvement. Good luck . Will look forward to hearing how you go and hoping it will contain good news.

My clients informed me their puppy is not lame and to my knowledge their Vet did not indicate that a symptomatic problem was the reason for the xrays.

Ok - ca ching! I get it. So ok .... if the full body blood work-up showed nothing remarkable, then a USA test for thyroid in order? Is that what you mean? I still don't believe in the thyroid testing we have out here in Oz though.

Because they were worried about their puppy? As I understand it, the pup went in for neutering and the Vet suggested because of the pup's breed and rate of HD (I didn't think BC's were highly represented in that area either) it would be worth doing hip xrays. Then the results came through and the Vet suggested surgery to my clients. They were surprised. They had booked in for training and contacted me to defer it and that's how come I got to know about this. I have suggested to my clients a 2nd opinion by a specialist Vet and to also speak with their breeder. They are aware that I am querying on their behalf here. I was concerned about the surgery under the circumstances but was not confident that my concerns were valid and so I suggested that with their permission, I enquire here.

Hi Rappie. I'm interested in what you said here. I'm not sure what you mean. Apologies if I'm just being daft, but would you mind para-phrasing it?

When my boy was at his worst with skin eruptions; not eating; etc. I drove 3 hours each way to see a Vet whom I knew would think outside the square a little. Back then, I'd had bloods for thyroid done via USA, but my boy was too young for even their tests to detect issues (my dog was 10mo at the time). But the Vet, reading through Mandela's file said "I see you've had the thyroid bloods done properly". Anyway, the real reason for my post here is to tell you that it is worth every bit of the petrol and time driving if it means there is a great Vet at the other end.

Health Food Stores. It'll set you back approximately $8 for a 50g packet. To brew, put a couple of tablespoons full into a coffee plunger. Pour over boiling water. Allow it to steep until tepid or cooled to room temperature. Plunge the plunger and you're good to go. I tend to saturate a flannel with the tea and give my boy a good wetting with it. In your instance, you might want to make the first application a real thorough one. For this, I tend to use a good fist full of the Calendula Tea and put it in the toe of a cut-off stocking. Tie off the open end and let it bob around in a bath-tub of very hot water - about 2 inches deep. When the water is cooled to tepid, pop dog in (rubber mats for grip and to protect bath) and use the Calendula stocking as you might a sponge. The bath helps to get into all the nooks and crannies (eg toes) where you might not if you were only doing a 'body hand-wash'. You can use a towel to dap excess off (I tend to especially do this between toes so they dry more quickly than otherwise) but don't rub it all off. Allow the Calendula to air-dry on.

Thanks. Yes. You (and your Vet) are working on the assumption that fleas continue to cause the skin irritation. This might not necessarily be the case. Use the Calendula Tea - it won't cure, but it does have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities. This can assist in soothing the skin and settling down potential secondary skin infection. Unlike most if not all shampoo, the Calendula Tea doesn't upset the dog's skin's natural pH balance. The fleas might have started the skin irritation but just scratching can keep the cycle going.

K&P - If it were me, I'd cease all chemical applications where absolutely possible. There's something in your previous post I'm not sure about. Are you saying you're not seeing that many fleas but that because of her skin irritations you are assuming there are many fleas around? HERE's a link for info and forms regarding taking bloods and sending them to Dr Dodds. (Not sure if you have these.) You'll need to print the instruction form for the Vet as well. You should do the Profile 5 Plus (formerly 7200) test for this first one. HERE's a link to Dr Dodd's on-line application.

No they don't.

Oh Noisy .... My fingers crossed for some good news and for it not to be as bad as the Vet is thinking.

One Vet I was with when I first asked for (and insisted on) bloods to be drawn so I could check thyroid (via Dr Jean Dodds) was, like yours, convinced there was no thyroid issue, either. I asked the Vet to humour me. Took the bloods and it did eventuate that my boy was hypothyroidic. I agree with PF - and if she hadn't said it, I would have. And I think you're right about sending to Dr Jean Dodds USA for testing. It's a bit like motor mechanics when you tell them your car is running a bit rough. The first thing they often look at are the spark plugs. It's easy to do, doesn't cost a lot to fix and given that the car won't run well unless they are in good condition, it's a pretty logical first place to look at. The spark plugs for cars is as thyroid is for people and animals. I also have questions in my mind such as what your dog is like on different foods? ETA: I agree with Tomas - it does look like something that's coming more from within than from without. ETA: Are those hives itchy for your dog? Are they erupting, or do they go down? What does your dog's coat feel like? (ETA : I feel a "Calendula moment" coming on.) ETA: Sorry - re-read you post. Obviously you will need to get the fleas under control, but you could try stopping with the shampoos and simply using Calendula Tea washes on her. 2-3 times a day for the first one or two days. Then, if it is improving, back it down accordingly. You should see signs of improvement inside the first 24-48 hours (that is my general experience of it) so it is not as though you'll spend weeks before you know if it is doing anything or not.

I wonder if xraying at spay/neuter for these and other breeds known for HD issues is becoming a standard practice for some clinics? I'm curious - if the gap at the hip socket does appear to be a bit wider than one would prefer, is it possible that will resolve on its own, as the pup grows to maturity?

Thank you for putting a name to it, FHRP. That does sound like what the Vet is talking about. A quick read in between me doing other necessary things, suggests that there's not much difference in terms of results between JRP and TPO. Not sure how they've come to that conclusion, what they used as their comparisons though. I do see that the JRP surgery optimum time is 16wo. I have already recommended my clients speak with their breeder and obtain a 2nd opinion from a specialist. I appreciate your comments. These were my initial feelings as well and it is good to know I'm not alone.

I'm looking for thoughts and opinions here. This is a pup owned by some clients. I haven't met them yet, nor their pup. It's a Border Collie. When he went in for neutering, the Vet suggested xrays as "a lot of BC's have HD problems". (The puppy was showing no signs of lameness.) Xrays are taken and the Vet's opinion is that the gap where the thigh bone goes to the hip (sorry - forgotten technical bone terms) and rests in the socket is too big. The Vet recommends surgery. I'm a bit vague on exactly what the procedure would comprise of and understandably the client found it difficult to explain (it sounded convincing at the time it was explained to them by the Vet) but it has something to do with using heat to re-shape something so it will fit better into the joint socket. That doesn't give a guarantee that the pup still won't develop HD. My clients are going back to their breeder to find out the parents' PenHip Scores and I've also recommended the breeder be informed of what's happening as well. The Vet expressed the need for urgency in doing the surgery whilst the growth plates are still soft, suggesting that they really want to look at having it done within the week. I am not suggesting the Vet is wrong but I am saying this somehow doesn't sound right to me. So I'm asking for some urgent opinions from others who might have experienced same or similar, who did have the surgery performed and perhaps those who also did not. And whether it really is as urgent as it is being made out. Some of this info is a bit vague and I expect some clarification will be forthcoming later today. I'll let you know if details differ. But in between times, because surgery is booked for this coming Friday, I was hoping to gather some information for these very concerned puppy-owners.

I think you need to start taking control. NILIF. TOT. Training and Training Classes. So your Aunt goes to bed early . Doesn't mean Rascal has to go as well. ETA: And listen to Staranais :D ... refer next post .