westiemum

Bronsonb it was more that I completely ran out of options and Mac was in a lot of pain. And on excision the surgeon said the middle and inner ear was so badly infected we'd never have got on top of it clinically anyway. And Mac was a different dog after his surgery - much brighter and happier. He was probably pain free for the first time in a long time. So for us it was not only the right decision but the only decision. But you might get lucky and it sounds like you're not yet at the end of the drug road yet. As to a dermatologist, you have a diagnosis so I'm not sure what more they could add? Pathology suggests the next antibiotic to try... So I suppose I'm wondering what value a dermatologist could add at this point? Pathology will tell you when you're out of drug options.

Just posting this newly published book here which contains the story of a gorgeous gutsy courageous Australian westie Hailey, her wonderful owners who are great friends of mine and her wheels - and I think a photo of her and my Mac has snuck in as well. Can't wait for my copy to arrive - I'm developing a real interest in canine rehab after seeming to discover how far ahead the US are of us. Thought others might be interested too.

Yes it's a relief to not have to go through all the Propalin administration rigmarole with Mac - carving out hollows in pieces of cheese - he can't have the syrup syringed straight into his mouth because of his open airway and the risk of aspiration - so it was quite a palava twice a day.

Sorry to sound suspicious but are they sure it was the dog? The description of the dog post alleged attack seems to suggest there was no visible evidence on the dog? Or have I mis-read?

Pseudomonas is a real b******. Its highly resistant to most antibiotics and mutates very quickly. Mac my westie ended up having a total left ear ablation after his infection became resistant to every antibiotic known to man. So good luck with it but you are up against it. Having said that yes raw feeding should help but is unlikely to solve the problem IMO. Have a look at the thread Perse posted and go from there. Good luck - sadly I think you'll need it. ETA: Also do a search on Psuedomonas - I'm sure I posted at length about it at one stage - might be in Mac's dementia thread or a thread on its own - can't remember.

Thanks all - was beginning to think I was going crazy and imagining things! Thanks Toshman - I might take him off the Propalin and see how he goes - and if the incontinence returns then I'll switch him back to the Stilboestrel. With any luck the treatment he's had might have done the trick. He certainly seems to have been much more reliable and happy to trot outside of late. We'll see... Yep Perse I'm suspicious that Mac is starting it - so poor little Andy is not really sure whats going on!

Hi All, Mac has been on Propalin for mild incontinence for about three months having previously been on Stilboestrel - and he seems to have become a really angry westie. He and Andy had a really full on fight last night while I was out. The only damage is a deep tooth mark below Mac's left eye. So I gave him an AB and tramadol last night when I got home and he slept comfortably, bathed it this morning and I think it will be OK now I've cleaned it up. I finally got around to reading the flyer which accompanies the Propalin and it says that aggression can be a side effect. I'm seriously thinking of leaving him off the Propalin for a couple of days and then switching him back to Stilboestrel after a discussion with my vet. Has anyone else had this problem with Propalin? What did you do? TIA.

Just horrendous Donatella. Makes my three sleeping on my bed seem sensible for reasons that would never have occurred to me.

Best for a speedy recovery fur Panto. Hope you're OK Panto.

For me the westies are 'the babies' but I'm under no illusion they are anything other than my dogs. My mother calls them her 'grand puppies' and since she does such a brilliant job of doggy daycare to the point Sarah seriously doesn't want to leave, I'm certainly not going to comment or correct. Each to their own - but I draw the line at dressing them up or colouring their fur - I think they're beautiful dogs just the way they are.

Yes - my three go with me as often as possible - and apart from the oohing and aahing over three westies ('how do you tell them apart'?) I'm frequently complimented on how well behaved they are.

Or maybe ditch the collar and use a harness instead?

Damn! I'm in Melbourne the weekend if 15/16 Feb. Otherwise would love to have gone... After it's finished could you please post some online for us interstaters to look at?

Yep Sierra -and often pays to check eBay as well.

Good post HW - as usual.

Be careful about using citronella collars on a long-term basis. My vet hates them - both he and my Mum have seen dogs totally shut down through their long term use. You solve the barking but can create an anxiety disorder which IMO is just as bad. If you are going to try this sort of thing try an Adaptil collar and spray first - worked for my Andy. Or maybe one of the newer vibration collars. If you must use a citronella collar, then I suggest you don't use it long term, take it off the moment the barking subsides or the dog seems quiet, anxious or 'shut-down'. Hope that helps.

You sound like you are at your wits end. I'm sorry it's got to that point for you and your dog. My old Westie Mac at almost 14 had uni-lateral tie-back surgery for laryngeal paralysis - it was life-saving to unblock his closed airway - but the side effect was it effectively de-barked him. He was never a problem barker but I used to be against de-barking surgery. But now I have a de-barked dog I've realised it's not such a big deal - particularly for my very old boy. He's still happy spritely, still highly communicative - he just rasps these days rather than barks. So if you have genuinely tried everything and been really consistent with trying other methods and your vet agrees then I hope the tie-back surgery works for you. Just remember though, like all surgery it has risks including about an hour under GA - so inform yourself of all the risks and decide what you will do if the surgery fails before you go ahead as this type of surgery does fail - will you pay for the surgery again, put up with the barking or ? And as someone else said, go with an experienced vet only - this is tricky surgery - and if it was me I'd only use a specialist veterinary surgeon. But that's me. There was a recent thread somewhere on problem barkers - and the opinion of some posters was there are dogs who simply love the sound of their own voices - they seem to be strong habitual almost instinctive barkers. We are living in closer and closer quarters, in cities and towns, and leading busy lives with long days at work. So maybe this will have to become a more acceptable solution in time. Do I like it? No. Do I understand it's sometimes necessary? Absolutely. Good luck. PS Mini's right - be careful how you post - you'll get great support here if you post carefully.

Glad I'm not the only one that happens to Gretel! Thanks for posting - yes I'm pleased - he's such a lovely dog and if we can control this barking he'll be damn near the perfect cav!

Thanks to the DOL brains trust we are making progress. I've changed him to a shorter lead which seems to help. And tonight we got all the way to the park with barely a bark. If he barked we backtracked and I waited for him to settle and then continued. Different matter when he saw the standard poodles in the house next to the park - but I did what you suggested and reinforced quiet. And I think he'll get better at it. Thanks everyone - not only really pleased with him but really pleased with myself!!

I don't know why the iPad does that but thanks anyway B and D! If anyone can enlighten me feel free! Yes he's not bad for an old boy!!!

My lovely old Mac in the dally's bed - I think he's making the point that he's still top dog amongst the five dogs in my current house-sit despite being 14.5 years.

Do you have to have a face book account?

Yep I forgot the yoghurt - mine get a dollop in the mornings. I use the low lactose Hansell natural yoghurt packets - good for my girls sensitive tummy.

Yep agreed Nekhbet - it's the Westie skin thing that keeps me on low carb and grain-free - mine do so much better without grains - and they get roughage from other sources. But others might find it's not a problem for their dogs.

Oh and basmati rice (lowest GI), sweet potato and pumpkin are also on the menu here. Cooking them is no problem once you get into the habit and it's nutritious, easily available, easy to cook in quantity and dirt cheap Westie food. And to see them do cartwheels at raw dinner time is such a joy which they never do if I have to feed dry - you can see their tails drop and they mouch towards their plates when they realise its dry food. And as someone else said, I know exactly what's going into their bellies - and you can't say that with any processed commercial dog food. Grain free dry food to me is a form of doggy maccas so they only get it occasionally (usually when I've run out or forgotten to unfreeze something). Hope that helps.