Shihzoo

I was the one that post the thread last time and my vet said that big dogs - no worries, they will pass it fine. Small dogs - could cause a problem so best to go to the vet as the absortion stuff can expand and cause a blockage.... GOOD LUCK

I'm so sorry about this Sky but your first couple of posts had me in stitches you sound exactly like me when Cibo gets a skin problem although I have learnt now what to do etc but the first couple of times I absolutely freaked out. All the advice everyone has given sounds great

Why don't you measure how much she drinks in a 24 hr period (easier when you only have one dog!). Then google how much she should be drinking and see if it is on par. If she is drinking way more than she should I would take her back to the vet and ask for a urine specific anaylsis test ($5) to be done which checks if her kidneys are working properly. Better safe than sorry! The easiest way to measure is fill a 2 litre jug of water and fill up the water bowl. Top it up when needed from leftover water in jug. At the end of the 24 hrs pour what is left in bowl into the jug and voila.. you have the info you need

Congrats guys - best feeling in the world isn't it!!

Can you not just move their beds when visitors come over?

Otiderm is an ear and wound cleanser - it is used for the removal of accumlated wax deposits. Maybe give that a try - can be bought from pet shops and vets. Otherwise, if that doesn't work, I would be going to the vet in case Misha has an infection.

All the shih tzu fosters I've had through here and and my own shih tzu - none have ever thrown up regularly. Only if they were sick. I am concerned about her licking herself so much though, that can be a sign of allergies... could be to a food?

I had my foster shih tzu at the vet last night to get his desexing stitches out and she said he had an infection. It was the same as what you are describing - flaky skin on his lower back and it SMELLS!! She gave me Rilexine - 2 week course. He has had several malaseb baths but needs the extra meds to kick the infection... I would definately recommend a vet checking him out.

Cibo & whichever foster I have at the time share a packet once a month (sometimes twice) for dinner - how many dinners it lasts depends on size of foster dog though!! Mostly 2 dinners a month. Never had a dog that didn't like it and ingredients seem OK compared to the other choices in a supermarket fridge IMO

OMG I am soo sorry - you poor things Just a tip - diet low in protien is best for a dog with bad kidneys as the kidneys can't cope with protein.

Hi Adam, I think the brand/food itself is good but the fact that you have to buy it from the PP stores is a massive down side. These guys sell cross breeds by staff that are not qualified and often don't know what the actual cross breed is. And by buying anything from them, you are supporting their business and making it possible for them to continue to sell BYB and puppy farm puppies. I think that they are just as good, if not better kibble out there - I LOVE Nutrience Holistic and Cibo is thriving on it. Even my sisters super fussy greyhound absolutely loves it! Edited for spelling - 3 times!

I prefer Revolution but I think they are all similar. The reason I prefer Revolution is that it includes the heart worm treatment in it. www.pricelesspets.com.au has the cheapest prices for all the different flea and also worming treaments around.

;) Emmala and Pandora - me and the dogs are coming over - those games sound like FUUUUUUUUUN! Off to make notes on them for tomorrow!

If you take the urine sample in the morning before you go to the vets - try and get the first one of the day and keep it in the fridge (disgusting I know) but it makes for a more acurate reading unless you are going to be at the vets within 20 mins of collecting the sample... Good Luck!

STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP, I am gonna get in trouble at work beause I am laughing REALLY LOUD while "working".... it's starting to get suss. Edited to add: yes, you can trim it - but it is pretty disgusting when you do it!

I have NO idea what it could be, but thanks for ruining my breakfast (serves me right for opening a topic called Pus :D ) Anyway, I do recommend you take a urine sample - worst case, they don't use it and you've had a giggle trying to get it in the first place! :D

OOHHHH I've never heard of "declawing" it sounds horrid! ;) Mu-shu - you will need to keep an eye on it's dew claws - they are the ones that are removed if they grow back into its foot etc - Cibo still has his but I am fanatical about checking them after hearing all the horror stories!

I have a shih tzu and I always shave his butt with the clippers because of the poop getting stuck - my vet was in stitches when she saw it but as he is a pet and not for show it doesn't matter if it looks funny! And my carpet appreciates it too cause no more butt dragging along the floor!! ;)

My shih tzu has allergies and the vet and I are trying to work out to what exactly so I was feeding Innova Evo (ruling out grains), then Royal Canin, at the moment Eukanuba (skin sensitive one) and next I will be going onto Eagle Pack Holistic Sardine. If none of those work I will have to go to the stuff you can only get at the vets but I have my fingers crossed that Eagle Pack works cause that one is my preference for Cibo. He is so damn fussy though and refused point blank to eat the BARF diet I made for him

I have a fabulous vet - she listens to everything I say and doesn't cut me off or make me feel silly. She explains everything in terms I can understand and also explains how and why things occur. She has given me ointments and other items to take home to help prevent and/or treat Cibo's hot spots and ear yeast infections and eye infections (unfortunately common in shih tzu's due to no snout and floppy ears). She only charges me $20 per consultation if it's for a new problem and $nil if it is about his eyes/ears/hotspots. She gives my fosters cheap consults and free meds where she can. She gives me hints and tips for training him etc Oh, and Cibo ADORES her!!!!

I've been waiting 2 months for my sample....

I would keep him as quiet as you can for a couple of days at least after the stitches come out - just cause of what's happened to date with them.

Heya Emmala, I use Aloveen on Cibo and after I have towel dried him which is a mission - he races round in big circles like his butt is on fire so I hold the towel up and wait... every he passes he gets a quick rub down... Usually this only lasts a couple of minutes cause I am laughing to hard to do any good. I then use my hairdryer - full force but low heat and hold it back from him. As soon as I turn it on he stops his circles and comes flying over to it, he LOVES it - he sits there and puts his head right back and licks his chops like he does when you are scratching his back! When I turn it off he roles over onto his back and "snorts" at me until I turn it back on and do his tummy. But as you know, he is a freak! His coat and skin is great, no ill effects from the hair dryer and I use once a week. Maybe if you scratch Abby's tummy or wherever her fav place is while you blow dry her - then she will relate the dryer to "pampering"??? Good Luck - can't wait to hear how she goes!!!

I use a cream from the vet called Ilium Neocourt - it is an antibiotic, antiinflammatory, anaesthetic skin emollient cream (whatever all that means!!) and then spray the area with "Ban Itch" which is available from the pet shop or vet and it tastes disgusting (it really does, I tasted it one day out of curiosity - digusting I know but hey - now at least I know!! heehee). This stops Cibo chewing on the spot and making it worse and gives the sore time to heal. I put the cream on in the morning then arvo then right before bed and spray at those times and in between if I see him starting to scratch (rare) cause I know the chewing will follow!!!

I feed my shih tzu (7.6kg) chicken necks and chicken wings. The chicken necks I hold one end so he has to chew it as otherwise he GULPS - he's a pig though!! hehee