Erny

Good idea. I used to catch lots of mice and rats in my 44 gallon drums of feed (before I put heavy metal covers on them). To answer the OP, I wouldn't like my dog eating any dead animal whose stomach was filled with cement.

Thanks for your thoughts, ZA. Whilst I might not follow the suggestions of additional/alternate applications at this stage, I am keeping them all in my mind as a possibility should what I'm doing not work. Anyone, please don't think I am rejecting them. Good point about the Vit E. The ones I am using are Soy based.

I cannot imagine what it is like to have family who show no respect. I guess I am very blessed that way. If you obtained a letter from your Vet saying that Rascal is overweight and must prescribe to an exact diet to avoid detrimental or catastrophic health issues, do you think that would help jerk your Aunt into abiding by the feeding requirements you set down?

I recall the mouse plague we had when I was a teenager. It was so bad that I'd load 6 or 10 traps in the horse feed shed and then saw no point in leaving because by the time the last trap was loaded, the first then the second etc. needed emptying and re-loading again. I used to spend a while just waiting. Any extra's, I'd slam a brick down on them. It was nothing to collect 30 dead mice from the traps inside 20 minutes. After the mouse plague, came the rat plague. The mice and rats in plague form were quite pretty, as it is then that they come out in various colours other than just plain mousey brown.

Can't tell you what might have caused it (all would be guesses) but if it is still there tomorrow, give him a wash (either a body wash using a saturated flannel or a bath) using Calendula Tea. Purchase this from a health food store. If you go to my website (click on signature below) there's details of the Health Food Store I use on the left hand side of the page. That's if you are around the Berwick area, that is.

Hi Mason2009. I can't recall if I've tried the Evening Primrose Oil - I haven't on his ear tips but I might have with all his other prior skin eruptions that we've been through over the past years. Thanks for the suggestion. I will store that one and try these other things first to see how they go. The thing is, this ear tip wound is the result of something going wrong from within, so whilst I do need to help it from the outside to heal and keep clean, I need to really work from the inside out.

Ooooh .... handy

THIS ONE, Lab_Rat. If you haven't had thyroid levels tested (via Dr Jean USA) I would start with that.

And I agree there too, Mita. It can go even further, though, for some other dogs. Take for example a large breed dog 40kg or more. Sometimes the act of the dog jumping unavoidably causing the owner to move (for balance) is enough reinforcement. There would be more examples. "Ignoring" unwanted behaviour is not the bee all and end all, IME. It is an excellent tactic to employ but sometimes the contrast between what will get the dog good things and what will not needs a little more clarity.

I agree. Also, the "ignore" (which I prescribe to as well) is not always successful on its own. So whilst I might agree with what he's saying, it is pretty basic stuff but a reasonable recipe for the novice dog owner. ETA: I don't agree that we should disregard that our domestic dogs evolved from Wolves.

That's very good, Dogsrawesome. I'd say it is one of your best . Excellent detail. Good work .

Oooh .... good. They come in frozen? That suits me :D. Shall (re)visit my local supermarket as well as the health food store, tomorrow.

Last checked in March 2011. I had the same thought, Fordogs, and put it to Dr Jean Dodds. Although I knew this myself, she confirmed that it is very unlikely thyroid levels would have dropped so fast. I am hypothyroid as well and I know what you mean. And a very good one .... two minds think alike :D. ETA: I think, in Mandela's case, the condition relates to food intolerance. I've started with the Vitamin E and Turmeric and need to source the other stuff from the Health Food Store tomorrow. Blueberries? They're expensive, aren't they? Typical :rolleyes: .

Good question, SecretKei and I didn't worry about writing back to Dr Jean to ask. Firstly because I do trust her advice; secondly because she's actually on a working holiday and was good enough to respond to me within 24 hours all the same (and I don't want to bother her more than I need to) and thirdly because somewhere sometime in the not too distant past I've read up about these things and the good qualities they can provide to our dogs (and for that matter, us). I believe the Blueberries are good as antioxidants and the Tumeric is good for arthritis and also for clearing skin issues. Might be more to it but these are the bits I remember. Not sure what the Oregano does.

Although I'd rather his health to not be compromised, the silver lining in this event is that it is at least helping to keep me distracted. If I can get on top of it fairly quickly I'll be happy though.

Thank you for your responses - it is interesting to hear of your thoughts, opinions and experiences. Mandela had the puppy vaccinations (2) but nothing afterwards. No spot-ons, wormers or other drugs (save for thyroxine which actually seemed to solve the ear tip problem, but it has recurred, as mentioned. So I doubt that drugs/vaccines are the problem. I emailed Dr Jean Dodds and, bless her soul, she promptly emailed me back (even though she is working through Italy at the moment - she is such a nice, helpful and dedicated person). Anyway, in short she has told me that dogs with IBD/Leaky Gut are generally most allergic/reactive to beef. I did figure that one out (at least for my boy) and it goes without saying that I ceased feeding it at least 2+ weeks ago. (I realise I didn't explain this in the first post : I began to add a little cooked beef mince to Mandela's Z/D. More to taste than anything else, although partly to experiment. More to this story but irrelevant here.) She's told me I could try vitamin E oil or coconut oil on the ear tip, and to sprinkle some Turmeric and Oregano on his food, and to add blueberries. Also to add Vitamin E and Vitamin C (has given me dosages for each) daily. Has also confirmed I can try treating with Topical Tacrolimus, which my Vet made the suggestion of (because it is not a systemic cortisone). First chance to dash to my local Health Food Store (need to rename it as "Mandela's Health Store" :rolleyes:, but it was closed. Will get to trying out the above and will let you know how I go with it. I welcome my current Vet's willingness to give this thought and help me with it - in the past, a couple of the Vets I've shown it to in the distant past didn't seem too committed, didn't know and basically shrugged it off.

I must live in a great area, as I don't see that sort of thing happening very often and if it does, it is pretty mild (eg. verbal "bad dog") (and doesn't involve an alpha rolls or being "beaten" on an albeit bad recall return). ETA: I seem to be picking on you a lot, recently, Mrs RB. Or is that my imagination. Either way, I don't mean to be singling you out . Just so's you know .

Whoops! Sorry - .... but how could I possibly leave this for people to read and who might assume that e-collars are always used by "zapping", and that there is no 'greatness' about the use of an e-collar? Just for those readers - this is IMO essentially wrong. Use of an e-collar at very low stim (read : uncomfortable tingle) combined with negative reinforcement and a good training methodology involving guidance is not about "zapping". Of course, not to turn this thread discussion into an e-collar (or not) debate :D.

Hhhhmmm ... So, because the hot stove top burnt my hand when I touched it, the stove is forcing me to not touch it? I wouldn't have thought of it in terms of being "forced" not to touch it. I'd just as soon not though.

I did a hair analysis on him ages ago. Not necessarily for this Ear Vesticulosis thing, but for when he was throwing hives/skin eruptions.

Ok - done a bit more reading (not a lot on it, it seems). Ridgeback site suggests hypothyroidism and/or allergy are links to the condition. But I'd like to know more if anyone out there can tell me.

Mandela's skin woes began at around the age of 7 months (saying that without checking) when the inside of his ear flaps flared red, hot and painful. As the flaring settled, I saw the red pin prick looking dots of the skin rash. These resided, save for one (in particular) pin dot at one of his ear tips. This grew to a pimple and over time, despite trying my best to treat it (with and without Veterinary assistance) it became a larger, open wound which refused to heal. Around 15 months later (at which time I'm still trying to manage the ear tip wound) Mandela is diagnosed as having hypothyroidism. I begin him on thyroid medication. Within 2 weeks, his ear tip wound heals, leaving only a patch of thickened albeit healthy enough looking skin. Side note : Also at the time of his ear tip wound, his ear tip on the other ear threatens the same plight. Has a patch of thickened darker skin with no hair on it but hasn't YET opened up as a wound. Also easily breaks open his tail when he whacks it on my walls. This also resolved in the couple of weeks after thyroid medication commenced. More recent times, the ear tip wound has re-opened. Mandela's tail is now opening up more easily, again. This coincided with me adding a small amount of 'other' food to his daily Z/D meals. The Vet who is working with me on this is considering "Idiopathic Ear Margin Vasculitis" as the diagnosis. So, in all of this we are both considering there could be a link between this "Idiopathic Ear Margin Vasculitis" and food intolerances/toxin build-up, and also potentially to hypothyroidism. Well, it is at least a very interesting concept. I'm 'on it' (so to speak) and have enquiries pending before we try for some treatment, but I wondered whether there was anyone here who has experienced this condition; what the treatment was; and what the results were. Breeds predisposed to this condition are listed as including Dachshunds; Chihuahuas; Boxers; and Jack Russells. Apparently Ridgebacks are now seen as a breed also predisposed.

One year is only a second in time, a heart beat, for them who await the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, Mon. One year is a long time but a short time. You'll never ever forget Rex, but it does get easier. I lost Kal, gosh .... about 5 years ago now. I sit on my lounge chair, look up at her picture which resides on the wall nearby, and I softly smile ....... and pray for her to give me the wisdom, knowledge, ability and 'dog sense' to train Mandela to be the best dog he can be, and I thank her for everything she taught me that has allowed me to teach Mandela much of what I have. I agree with you ..... even after these years, I just wanna give her a great big hug. I still miss her, but it eases with more time.

Have you got a linky for the stats on that?

Maybe I can help you? Would you prefer me to guide you through the posts, or use lure? Or hey! I can use the "clicker method".