angelbundy

Jehtro is at the Vet's today having bloods run & faecal/urine tests as he hasn't gained weight since he arrived, and in the last month has lost 2kg. He is on a premium diet, fed at least twice daily (3 times if we are home during the day), UTD with Advocate and has been wormed twice and treated for Spirometra two weeks ago. He has lost 1kg since treatment. Other than weight loss, he has had an increased appetite, and his coat is rough and shedding more. No vomiting or diarhoea, no increase in fluid intake or urine... He is a BC cross. Any ideas? Obviously Vet's are doing everything and will be in touch today, but I am also looking for any other ideas

Yep, thyroid check. Endocrine disorders can cause problems with hair regrowth. My understanding was Spitz breeds shouldn't be clipped; but I don't understand why clipping hair would stop regrowth, when the genes are there for the long coats> Clipping doesn't alter the genetics

The three year vaccine from Fort Dodge covers the most relevant strain of Parvo, especially if the new strain affecting USA, UK and Asia hits here. Your dog will still require a yearly booster for kennel cough, Intranasal is the best and most effective. For some reason, some of the Black & Tan breeds (GSD, Rottis, Kelpies, Dobes) are more likely to have vaccine reactions in general, something about the uptake of the vaccine. I haven't had experience with the Intervet vaccine. They are trying to move toward the 3 yr vaccines, but there seems to be a lot of resistance. Vets are worried clients won't get yearly checks and will forget their yearly KC booster. There are theories that once the puppy course of vaccination is complete, dogs carry immunity for up to 7 yrs (not for KC though) anyway, even with only the yearly vaccine. I wouldn't be risking it though! The three year vaccines contain more (and more effective?) antigens, and testing/experience in other countries has shown the immunity to last for more than three years.

The fact that your 'friends' treat their clients like crap with dodgy bills for people they don't like says a lot. And you have the audacity to complain about the mark-up on drugs. You pay a consultation fee for your consultation (funnily enough)... that covers the time your vet takes to see your animal and give them a thorough check-up. You have every right to refuse the medication, but your consultation doesn't include meds, so yes, you still have to pay it. And just like you can't walk in to any Dr surgery and get a script without seeing the Dr, you can't walk in and demand the medication without a consult. Then you have the treatment or medication charges, which will probably include a nominal dispensing fee, the medication and a mark-up. Compared to the mark-up on some products it is minimal. Even pharmacies mark-up their medications, if you are in the unfortunate position of being on a non-PBS medication, you'd know about it. Personally, if you want cut price vet care, you tend to get cut price service. I know of a few 'cheap' vets, and they end up costing their clients more in the long run when someone has to fix up the issues they've caused. And funnily enough, a few of them have been in hot water with the AVA for malpractice... And for those complaining about the treatment their animals require... Come and see what goes on in a clinic. I can tell you now the dog with bladder stones is not as simple as you make out. If you can find the food cheaper, buy it elsewhere. But pulling a crystal out of the urethre wouldn't fix the problems, I can bet you there are more crystals brewing in the bladder and the food will help to change the pH of the bladder to not only break down existing crystals but prevent new ones forming. Your fees also would have included sedation, x-rays, medications (I imagine) and consumables we use as we treat animals (in your dogs instance their would have been saline, catheters etc). Not to mention the staff looking after your animal and monitoring it. Or by all means, go on holiday. Or pay your plumber to unblock your dog. I'd pay to see that!

He has only been with us for a week, having come from a shelter environment where he felt very stressed. I have started mixing a little advance can food through, and it seems to be doing the trick. Will try adding a bit of lamb flaps and meat over the next few days... he had a few soft stools after arriving and I didn't want to aggravate his tummy. He is a bit of a stress head, and won't eat around competition... Will see how he goes over the next week, he's going in for his weigh in tomorrow to see if he's gained anything, although I doubt it because he's had such a big change this last week!

I have Jethro on EaglePack's Active dog feed, but he doesn't get to anywhere near his RDI of the feed... He only eats about half of his feed and then seems full. And now he won't eat breakfast, and I need to get some coverage over his ribs and spine! What other foods have people had success with for helping to put weight on with fussy eaters? He won't even eat my Lab's Hills J/D, which surprised me because both my dogs and my cats love this, the cats will steal from the dogs or try break into the bag! My next try was going to be a puppy food, does this sound like a good option?

Where are these classes held? A lot of vet clinics hold PPS, run by outside trainers using the vet clinics premises. If this is the case here, I would be complaining to the vet as well as the trainer. When little Cougar went to PPS, we had 4 1 hr sessions, with LOTS of interaction, and we were told to limit the treats as they upset little tummies very easily! I really enjoyed our sessions, and Cougar really got the benefits, as he was really bad with other dogs whn we first got him, and now he's great. I would also really struggle with the "no" thing, as i have always given a growl to stop unwanted behaviours!

Ours have Jalna plain bio dynamic? yogurt. Good stuff! Our adult lab gets a dessertspoon everyday, a teaspoon for the littlies! They love it. Our lab also gets eggs once a week, haven't tried sardines. We give them to the cats at the shelter though.

Not sure about the whole hoof, but I am yet to meet a dog that won't happily clean up after the farrier visits our horses! I second that!!

I think you'll find the unpleasant smell comes mostly from the supplements!! I had a huge problem with the smell of brewers yeast, garlic, kelp etc when I was pregnant... I also use human grade meat, so, no smell there.

I am thinking of getting some samples, see what she likes best. I have heard of the royal canin Lab food, does anyone know if its any good? It is really only to supplement her home cooked dinners. We were feeding Supercoat mostly, and the lab has been doing great on it, but my sis's chiX has always been a bit thin, and will only eat so much dry food, & I refuse to pay for cans of water! So I went back to raw meat, rice, veg etc, and they have both gained weight and look really good. Have to ration the lab , but the little guy is heaps better! And of course, they love me more

I agree, didn't like the dentabones for our lab, & my puppy wouldn't touch them. Raw bones are great for outside or on tiles etc, we just keep dogs confined to easy clean areas. I don't like leaving our dogs with bones if we are not home, our lab has nearly choked in the past, & I'm just too scared now. Also, with 2 dogs, we have to keep them apart. My old dog refused to eat on the hard floors, would only eat on carpet!!

Look out it's Me or the Dog Just kidding!!! I'm glad she is doing better. She clearly has You and Glenn figured out, next she will only eat off the fine china I had to beg & plead like crazy just to get a soft serve after my caesar... You guys are much nicer than my OH

Isn't it funny how they are all so different? Some dogs go thru surgery as though nothing has happened, while others sook, cry and let you know how mean you are for putting them thru it al I'm glad she is ok, I find the girls seem to be a bit worse off, maybe 'cos they are under a bit longer? More involved? But then it could just be my girls, big sooks! Hope all goes well Monday, my vet used to ask us in for a follow up check too, then stitches out after 10 days... Our boy didn't even get stitches, they just used the skin glue. I bet she is playing up the sympathy!

Thanks heaps, wasn't too sure if it was ok to post price replies or to pm them... Still feeling my way around. I think I'll definitely keep looking around for suppliers, it seems the store is charging almost $10-20 more than others are...