Erny

Lol ..... what I was going to say. Give her a good wash over with the Calendula Tea and leave it in to dry. Immediate sooth is only one of the great effects of this tea. ETA: Use the tea to bath her eyes as well. Can feed her the spent tea by mixing it with her meal time meat. If this is a once-off (eg. maybe came into contact with something a bit different that she doesn't always come into contact with, or ate something different), you might find the Calendula Tea will save you the Vet's visit and fee, as well as avoid administration of anti-biotic and cortisone drugs, but it will help in the interim anyway. If it does help, you might want to question antibiotic/cortisone, if that's what the Vet prescribes, and perhaps run some bloods as a preliminary investigation as to what might be the cause of the irritation.

I enjoy reading everyone's comments, thoughts, opinions. I enjoy when those comments, thoughts and opinions are countered. Because I know very little in terms of the nitty gritty behind natural based remedies/treatments yet am very interested in their use, I will read someone's post and think "yep .... that makes sense", because that's all I know, or it backs up to other things I've read and come to understand. But then I read someone else's countering point and/or expanded explanation and I think "ahhhh .... yep, now I can see the points being made in the information being extended to the rest of us readers" and that's how I begin to learn and extend on what I've learnt. Your posts too, Essential Dog, are valuable, and all add up to education. Steve's posts make further points, acknowledging yours, but explaining differences. And again, it all bundles up to "education". Could I possibly ramble the nitty gritty's of it all to someone else, off the top of my head? Lol, nup. I'm not quite that proficient in all of this. But, just the reading of it all opens my eyes to the nuances .... nuances that I didn't even realise existed. I never saw it as Steve trying to make you justify your self or your business. I saw it as good, healthy, all round discussion that was very informative and educational. Thank you, Steve, and ED, for your contributions. And to everyone else who have contributed their thoughts and opinions as these also raise points to think about and adopt or to think about and reject but keep in the back of one's mind. All valuable :).

Agree about avoiding blow-drying where possible, as that in itself has a drying affect to the skin.

So it really needs to become a Federal Government Registry. That would make more sense to me anyway, as it is a permanent ID and should be able to cope with migration within the States.

I agree with Huski. When Pro-K9's Agility Training Courses were running, our only pre-requisite was basic (i.e. our "Foundation") training. The initial part of the Agility Course is centred on equipment approach which was 'steady as she goes' and essentially on lead and motivational reward. As the dogs (and handlers) moved through the courses, the dogs more naturally learnt to focus to handler and ergo, the handler acquired the control that began to permit off lead work. IMO, teaching Agility is totally complimentary to and enhances obedience training, if managed in the right ways.

Calendula Tea has antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has astringent action. Topically it has been used to reduce skin irritation and decrease swelling for insects stings and spider bites. Aloe Vera can also help sooth and speed up healing. I'd go with the Calendula Tea as a wash and, if you wish to use both, the Aloe Vera as an after gel. I use Aloe Vera straight from the plant - cut off a leaf and slice it as I need it.

Without seeing, and even then, without professional observation of it, it's a guess .... but it could be related to yeast and secondary skin infection. Give your dog a good all over soaking with Calendula Tea. Then use Calendula Tea (brewed daily) on the spot or spots which were or become visually affected, until the skin is back to healthy and normal. In a week, give your dog another good all over soaking with Calendula Tea. Feed the spent tea leaves to your dog, mixed in with his meat. If the problem reoccurs, check diet or, if you already suspect his diet could be improved/better, tweak it up now :).

RRs are the sort of dog who essentially enjoy being around you. In general, if you're sitting, they're happy to sit with you. Yet they are just as ready and enthusiastic to get up for a run or outing with you when you're ready. I took on my first RR way back when I worked (from home) for long hours. I wanted a dog who would be happy to simply be around me. BUT I also made sure that my dog received daily exercise (both mentally and physically) because I knew that "just being around me" wasn't going to fulfil everything for her (or any dog) .... it's just that I find the RR somewhat less demanding in that way - they can *cope* with less than some other breed types, but not on a long-term basis. I went for a mature RR (my girl was nearly 7yo when I rescued her - that's her in my avatar, bhcs) as I also knew that, given the hours my job demanded of me, I wouldn't have the time to be able to dedicate myself to toilet training and all the other typical puppy behaviours and training that need work until they learn how to live and behave around humans. I had the time to give, but it needed to be when it suited me in the day (even sometimes very late at night), not the other way around. RRs need to be able to stretch their legs. They loooove coursing. Just because you don't have a back yard doesn't mean you can't have a dog, but it does mean that you need to be able to make up for the fact that you don't have a back yard. This would mean being able to run your dog off lead in a safe area, a good few times a week, amongst other things. Also don't forget that just like any other dog, they need training - at the very least for mental stimulation sake, but also for community/social sake. Whatever you tell yourself your property/living conditions doesn't provide, ask yourself what you can and will do to make up for that. And I think that will answer your question as to whether it can still prove suitable, regardless of what breed of dog you go for. By the sounds of it though, I think you would enjoy taking on a more mature dog (RRs don't mature until about 4yo ..... in my dog's case, 5yo and still counting :laugh: ), if it doesn't already have pre-existing behavioural issues.

Lol .... same here, when I first purchased it. But by comparison to Vet visits, cheap at half the cost, and healthy :D. My pantry always has AMH sitting in it ..... ready for whenever and whatever I need it for.

Really? Wonder what the use of it is then .... save for revenue.

Direct from teaspoon - most dogs love it. Or, if you need to, can include with yoghurt as cavNrott has suggested. Sometimes, if I want to make sure my dog keeps hydrated, I'll mix some in a little bit of warm water, melt and mix it through .... then I'll add a bit more cold water in. My dog usually laps it all up. And yes - health food store. It is pricey - so be prepared to fall backwards .... but it is great stuff and excellent to keep in the pantry for both human and animal use when needed.

And now that you know it is CC, use the AMH a few times each day until the coughing stops, and then just a bit more. Better than commercial cough medicine, in my books.

Just to be clear - that's not what I was suggesting. But in the interim of seeing a Vet, the AMH would soothe and act as antibacterial agent. And if it was only a scratch it would help sooth and stop the cough, which would give the OP a good indication of whether there was a stuck bone or not.

Give him a teaspoon of Active Manuka Honey (highest UMF as possible) a few times each day for the next couple of days, or until the coughing/gagging stops, whichever is the sooner.

Four Paws K9 Training

Calendula Tea (both the liquid and the spent tea itself if included with the dogs' food) can assist in cases of vomiting, nausea, gastroenteritis.

Oi!! That's "Erny's Tea" by Steve :laugh: Sorry, I'll now refer to it as ET :laugh: :laugh:

:laugh:

I know what you mean too, Corrie. But I think it would be a very easy thing to register via the Microchip Register, a notation that the dog was at large and returned to owners. This record could appear to anyone authorised to scan and read the National Register. If it were at the very least a first time occurrence, I think people deserve a bit of a chance and to know there's a friendly, understanding and empathetic hand in society. If a child was found wandering down the street and you knew where he lived and it was very unusual for this to occur (and perhaps had never occurred before), would you guide him back home or would you call DOCS to come pick him up and take him away from his home territory and made to wait until the parents phoned the right departments and found him? At most, I would call the police to explain I'd found a child (especially if he was far enough away from home to warrant driving him ..... I don't want to be found inadvertently guilty of kidnap or accused of some other related crime - that, and I think it's good if children are taught not to go with strangers anyway). The child would't be held to ransom for a fine. He would be returned to his parents. And there may have been something out of the usual that gave rise to something like that happening. If it was that this child was found wandering more frequently, the police would definitely have this on record and THEN perhaps DOCS would be called into the picture. And what if you knew the dog and his owners? And to your knowledge escape was not a frequent occurrence? Perhaps it is your neighbour's dog? Working on the premise you purport, you would have this dog at the pound regardless. Even if the neighbours were also actually nice people. Sometimes it's not about "blame". Sometimes we are just human. And sometimes things are out of our control, as much as we might work hard to cover all contingencies.

Did that law actually come in as specifically as that? I know that it was proposed, and many Vets quickly adopted it before it was law. To those who feel it should be a matter of "go to pound for the sake of a fine against owners" -: I disagree that it should be a case of "straight to the pound". If the dog is chipped and owner can be easily found and contacted, the dog should be kept out of the shelter environment. It is less stressful to the dog that way. If it is recorded that it is a recurring incident, that's a different kettle of fish and the owners should then be held accountable. But sometimes 'things' out of owners' control does happen and I do not agree that it should be a strike against the owners for a rare or first time occurrence. When Council Registration fees were introduced, the reasoning behind registration (that was given) was that your dog could be identified and returned to you (and/or they contacted you). The whole system has escalated to the point of stress for the dogs and money making value. I think we can find a reasonable middle road. Calgary has. Their model of laws work more 'hand-in-hand'. I'm sick of the "hit them quick, one way street" attitudes of Councils and of some people. I have found a couple of dogs over the last while. Both (different) Vets confirmed that if the owners couldn't be contacted by end of day, yes, the dog would go to the pound. Once you walked into the Vet's, it was very much a hand and grab at the dog to take it over. The first Vet did find the owner via the chip and the dog was collected. Turned out the owners were away, and a friend was appointed to look after the dog. Not sure what happened to allow the dog to escape. The other dog I found not far down from a Vet Clinic, so that was the first place I went. They scanned and came up with chip info. They would only tell me that the dog would go to the pound if owner not found before end of day or sooner. I found the owner (and it was very evident that it WAS the owner) a few doors down from the Vet's. Later I found out the Vet knew who the owner was as the dog was a client of theirs, but they had given me no indication of this earlier.

I like what you've written, Corvus. Need a "like" button here on DOL.

Oi!! That's "Erny's Tea" by Steve :laugh:

Don't know if it is on their website, Juice. I know Dr Bruce is looking into it and has expressed interest in including it as a part of his Vet practice. A big part of what I love about Dr Bruce is that his mind is always open and searching for natural based remedies and treatments and for non-invasive investigative methods, and is one of the few Vets around who don't merely jump to the drugs cabinet for every little symptom if it can be avoided. He looks at the well-being and welfare of the animal in a holistic fashion. The person I use for hair-dna testing is Ross Wilson of Coburg Health and Nutrition (Coburg, Victoria). 03 9354 8007. It can be done by post - no need to take your dog in. Probably the biggest down-fall of distance is the postage charge on top of the cost of the supplements. They don't always run out all at once and so you have to think ahead when ordering to save postal fees. Their normal practice is that people visit for follow-ups every 3 to 6 weeks, but I think they're getting used to me (and other of my friends who also have followed this practice) who are all too far away and too time poor for any regular visits.

Because I used the Transfer Factor quite a lot (for myself and for my dog) I became an 'agent' for it. I can supply it if anyone's interested/wanting it. Email me (is better than PMing) for price. The Transfer Factor "supports" the immune system, rather than "boosting" it. When there's an over active immune system, we want to avoid boosting it. Just a play on words, so to speak, but an important one to consider and understand.

Thanks. I didn't know they ran bloods for that sort of thing either. I've had a saliva test run (via Dr Jean Dodds) to check for food intolerances. It was a bit of a guide, but as USA produce is fed differently than ours and because the tests were only just new, I wasn't completely convinced. The hair-DNA test analysis can point to food sensitivities. The cost is $125.00 and that includes a re-test. Not pushing nor intending to harp (I think I've mentioned the hair-DNA in this thread earlier??), but in my experience, it is worth doing.