dogbesotted

Definitely a vet check. My 11yo maremma has chiropractic adjustments every few months. Has done him the world of good.

edited to add:

Casper is a working dog and lives outside guarding my sheep. Rescued at 8 years old and in a terrible state of health. He also gets supplements of glucosamine chondroiton.

Also remember to treat bedding and any area that the dog has access to.

Wow Eddie

What a perfect example of lateral thinking preventing the development of a problem. Those maremma owners well deserve their dog.

raz,

I too am not impressed with debarking. However sometimes when I have a young maremma here who has barked close to non stop for close to 24 hours it does start to have some glimmer of appeal either that or a dog skin rug on the floor LOLs

raz wrote quote:

""Damn nuisance for the poor dog.

So what does the surgery involve? ""

I believe that in this case the vocal cords were cut and they regrew. She has huge scar tissue in the area and no further debarking was possible as it would have compromised her ability to breath. I have been told that a better method is to cauterise the vocal cords.

Not something I would be happy to do but I have not faced the prospect of having my dogs PTS due to a barking issue.

We are becoming more and more dog intolerant and less and less dog responsible. Most dogs bark for a reason and it is best to address that issue but if you do not spend enough time with your dog that is impossible to do.

re debarking:

Just this year I was asked to assist in the rehoming of a beautiful young maremma who was a barker. This poor dog was much loved by her family and had a great relationship with them. but she was a barker. The family tried behaviourists etc etc but she was a barker. Eventually after complaints to coincil and many failed attempts to keep her quieter debarking was suggested. So the lass was debarked. ! All was quieter for around 9 months..then she started barking again. Another debarking was carried out!!!!!!!! One year later I was contacted as she had again regained her bark.

The sweet girl is now living in a rural paradise( for the last 7 months) and has just been introduced to her new canine companion..a yound staffy who was dumped near my place.

She does not bark as much and her new owners have put in an enormous amount of work with her. She is a delight to be with.

ps. she still barks tho and impressively loud.

I confess that I used one for the first time this year..in absolute deperation with a dog that would not shut up. 24/7

Used it for two days. stopped the cycle and she has never returned to the constant barking roputine. She barks when she feels her flock is threatened but now realises that she does have control over her own stop bark button.

Proheart info:

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/proheart6091304.html

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/PH6QA.htm

http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/apr05/050415c.asp

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/FINALVMAC...art%20SR12'

In the Executive Summary it refers to the Proheart SR-12 being used in Australia.

Note this refers to proheart 6 marketed in the uSA. ^ monthly injections

in Australia it is Pro heart 12..yearly injections.

The major concern I harbour is that proheart 6 used in the states is

one third the potencey of the proheart sr12 used here in Australia.

This triple dose has been marketed here since October 2000.

Fort dodge tell our vet the formulations are different but the only

difference I can find between the ausssie proheart and the yankee

one is the extra moxedictin increase in the aust. one.

I prefer to err on the side of caution..rather than convenience.

i would opt for the monthly tablets.

I have a problem giving my dogs a long term injection for something that can be done monthly. There have been incidents of dogs reacting to the injection and given that it takes a year to work through the body I would not take the risk.

proheart in the USA has been recalled ( it is a six month injection there) in Australia proheart12 so far has not been proven to have had reportable side effects but it is the smame product. If you would like more info just ask and i can email you links.

I am assuming that Jaz is a growing pup..the vet should be able to do a skin scraping to rule out demodex.

The bullie breeds are often zinc deficient..so zinc supplementation may be of assistance.

Adding omega oild to his meals..sardines 2 -3 time per week can help.

to decrease itching: bathe in luke warm water, you can rinse him after his usual bath with water and organic apple cider vinegar.

I would change his diet...often these dogs can be sensitive to grains and home prepared meals can avoid this.

Gosh i would not be too worried. My Oscar ( also a maremma) has surgery for a bowel obstruction two years ago..It was touch and go hence involved a long vet stay. Each day i would drive twice to the vet to take him for his walks in the hope he would eventually "go". Vital after bowel sugery. At the end of day two I brought him home as he was NOT going to relieve himself anywhere but in HIS paddock. Immediately on arrival home in his paddock he relaxed and and showed in a most impressive way that all was working again.

If Jasmin is getting constipated regualarly try adding a tablespoon of psyllium husks to her meals. That will keep the stools soft and easy to pass.

Shashas Blean is a nutritional supplement for arthritis and joints.

http://www.vetstop.com.au/info/sasha.asp?id=132&catid=2

I have been using it for several years now for my Divine Miss sophie. The Soph has very bad joints..but has managed to make it through to the ripe old age of 11.5 ( not bad for a great danex irish wolfhound).

Lablover:

So very pleased to hear your pup is heading in the right direction. Phew!

Any ideas yet as to the cause of his illness?

cortisone may have long term adverse effects on your dog. Excessive thirst, excessive urination, liver problems, fur loss, bloating, excessive hunger, weakness in the hindlegs, personality changes, and others.

Cortisone appears to have a place for short term use but remember it does suppress the immune system.

Ok then:

The maremma crew: Oscar and Guiness McGuinness take care of my cashmere goats, Casper and Angelina take care of the ewes and their lambs, Dennys Dog and Margali take care of the dry ewes, and Lucinda and Lucky take care of the weaners. Gina has just arrived( rescue lassie) and she met her first ram today.

Jakie and The Divine Miss Sophie each have a doctorate in sofa hounding.

I have seen the use of a prong collar and electric fence containment work.

a rescue escape artist was impossible to contain safely. I desperation we enquired about the electric containment system. The seller who also does dog training..said that he would come and spend time teaching us how to successfully implement the system.

1. The dog would strain frantically on leash...The prong collar was used to retrain her . I had been very wary of these and in fact thought them cruel and horrible torture devices and was amazed to see how gentle the corrections actually were..we also had them fitted to our necks ( the prong collar, so we could expereince the type of pressure ...

2. once she was walking and esponsive on lead ( like in about 10 mins of gentle walking) we started teaching about the fence boundary. Approaching the boundary with collar on but no impulse. as she got to boundary ( well marked with bright orange tape) she was called back and asked to sit. THen impulse ( a buzz) was added and so on......

3. The owner worked with her morning and evening for two weeks..

4) The result a very relaxed and happy lass who no longer had the need to guard the entier region. she has put on a little weight which she needed and is well adjusted and safe.

Roxanne,

I would like to suggest that you contact the vet who treats my dogs in conjunction with their conventional vet. This vet is a university trained vet who is regarded very highly as a holistic vet as well. A two pronged approach may well work best.

A combination of conventional and complementary treatment. This vet is very practical and down to earth, she also gives lecture etc internationally.

I have 10 large dogs: % are now being treated in this manner ( two for cancer, one for hypothyroidism, one for severe arthritis, and two others get homeopathic threatment for anxiety: two thunderstorm anxiety and one rescue lad who is just a bundle of anxiety.

If you would like her telephone number and contact details let me know.

Cheers