Katdogs

My Stevie (half Lab, half Golden Retriever) doesn't like walking much until very late evening. Being a black dog, she seems to feel the heat really badly. If there's sunshine, even if it doesn't seem really hot to me, she'll dodge from tree to tree and shady spot to shady spot, and not want to continue into a long stretch of sunshine. So we walk either very early (not often!) or very late.

Stevie & Jodie both started limping after being at the park the other day. Big zoomies and a couple of crash-tackles happened, we were there for a lot longer than usual talking to people. Hopefully it's just muscle strain. Jodie seemed to be ok next morning, Stevie's still a bit hoppity on her front legs - we can't quite work out the site of the problem, seems to be high in her shoulders. I've started Joint Guard last night (should have started a year ago probably), and while I was at the shop I was looking for some sort of pain relief. If it was me I'd want paracetemol or voltaren, is there a dog equivalent readily available? There was a type of gel to rub into the muscles but Stevie's got such loose skin and thick coat, it would be hard to get it to rub into the joints themselves. Also, even though it's a mixture of camphor and menthol, she'd lick it off for sure. Any ideas on a bit of pain relief? If it doesn't settle down in a couple of days we'll take her to the vet for a check-up.

Just to make sure I've got all bases covered, is there a single good supplement to add to the mix of barf patties, chicken frames/necks, turkey necks, vegies, fish and eggs that I feed? I'm mainly worried about glucosomine for Stevie's joints, and other general vitamins and minerals supplement. Do they come in powders rather than capsules?

Our KelpieX is obsessed by her ball. It's more important than food, other dogs, other people. It is sad to see her at the back door when we say 'no Jodie, ball stays outside' and she just can't get it to drop out of her mouth, it's like a green tumour, always there. There's a ball one step behind me, wherever I walk/move/sit. In fact even if I check the chair first, there'll be a ball gently placed under me when I sit down. We're getting used to it. What's really good is that it gives her a reason to run really fast at the park (she beat a greyhound and mastiff the other night), so she can get puffed without exhausting me. We just have to check that none of the other dogs are as ball-obsessed - not many are, most will get the message quickly that all balls are hers. Also she's good at playing with children, they like her game of rolling the ball towards them then sometimes grabbing it back at the last second. She likes to take her ball onto the top of a table out the back and bounce it off, then chase it around the yard. It keeps her busy and happy. And very very focussed on us if we're holding the ball! It doesn't stop her cuddling up for TV time and generally being a sweet girl.

Update: Stevie's lump is almost gone. There's just some weird looking hairs and a dry patch of skin, no real lump at all any more!

We've been experimenting this last couple of weeks. I've finally found a food that Stevie wouldn't eat! Neither dog would eat the chicken livers I gave them last night. Jodie didn't touch it at all, and Stevie picked some up and then spat it back out. They had chicken necks as well and ate those, but wouldn't have the liver. They both ate the kidney (I think it was lamb) that I got from the butcher, but didn't seem very impressed by it. Chicken frames and necks, turkey necks, and general 'bones' (lamb and veal off-cuts from the butcher) seem to be the favourite. They both loved fresh sardines. Jodie daintily ate hers one at a time, picking the fish up head first then nibbling down to the tail. Stevie grabbed two or three at a time and gulped them down. Our cat wouldn't eat hers though, Jodie finished it for her. I think next time I'll try 'red spot whiting', they're cheaper and about the same size as the sardines.

OK I've ordered just 'the BARF diet' book. Anyone near Central want to share in the pureed fruit and vegies from my friendly juice shop man? I was presented with about 4kg of carrot and apple today! It just gets chucked out normally, so if I only use some of it and chuck the rest it's no more waste. I've asked him to do more of a mixture - celery, beetroot, banana, etc. Just in two days our local beetles and ants are very happy with their new diet too!

I can get both Ian Billinghurst books, but is the new one better than the other? Also I've just asked the guy in the juice shop downstairs from my work, he normally just chucks out the pulp as he goes along. If I give him a container he can fill it with carrot, beet, celery, apple etc, pulped. Is it a problem if there's lots of citrus or should he be picky? He's a great guy, has an overweight rescue StaffyX but has never thought to feed it anything other than tinned food so I can educate him at the same time! And Myskva if I walk into Roselands fish shop what sort of fish should I get? Sardines/mackeral/whitebait, just anything small?

I know I can get hold of Billinghurst 'The BARF Diet' from the BARF website. Should I just go with this as a guide, or are there better books available? I don't need convincing. I've got Royal Canin in reserve and it's served us well, but Stevie is developing ongoing ear problems and the preservatives may be a factor. I can get the frozen BARF patties locally but these are very expensive, so I want to do at least half of the meals myself. I need to sort out some ratios/quantities of vegies to meat, and supplements such as glucosomine or fish oil, that sort of thing. So far this week the diet has been: * Sunday breakfast Lamb bones * Sunday night chopped vegies (pumpkin, sweet potato, broccoli, brussel sprout) + glucosomine capsule * Monday morning BARF patties * Monday night chopped vegies (as above but carrot instead of pumpkin) microwaved softer + splash of ACV * Tuesday morning turkey necks and a bit of pear. * Tuesday night is probably just a bit of carrot and an egg, maybe some yoghurt. Too many vegies? And can they be chopped instead of pureed? The dogs don't seem to mind chomping away at them. Please hold my hand! It feels like I'm spending more time on dog food than our own food at the moment.

We've just been through a lump mystery with Stevie. First vet looked, showed it to the more senior vet, tried to get fluid out of it with a needle because it looked like a big blister, then said they'd never seen anything quite like it before, take her home and keep an eye on it. We looked at it every day and worried about it. Couple of months later, another vet took several samples with a needle (wasn't fussed if fluid or not) and set them up on slides, had a quick look herself under microscope and sent off for proper pathology. Samples taken late Friday evening, results in by the Tuesday evening. Definitive answer and can be reassured now - she's ok. We won't wait next time, we'll insist on pathology straight away (or at least check that this particular vet is on roster). We've discussed and planned that we won't be doing chemo or other massive (and massively expensive) interventions and treatments with our dogs, for their comfort as well as ours, but the peace of mind of knowing what we're dealing with is worth the pathology tests.

Now there's a name, I can search DOL for previous threads. The vet brought out her book on skin things but none of the photos looked right, it's soggy-puffy not tight-puffy, and still has hair growing through it, so she said the needle/slide pathology would give some indication otherwise then anesthetic and full biopsy (or just take it off). Now we know that's not necessary unless it changes or gets much bigger.

Vet took some needle samples and sent them for pathology. Stevie has a 'histiocytoma', a benign tumour that should just go away of its own accord. It looks a bit different to the usual, apparently, but the pathology is definitive. So thank Dog for that! http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_histiocytoma.html The typical patient is a young adult dog (usually less than 2 years of age) with a round eroded growth somewhere on the front half of its body. What Might this Growth be? The good news is that the patient is probably too young to have a serious malignancy; still, one wants to be certain. The ringworm fungus can produce some raised round reactions called “kerions” which can look similar. The chances, are, however, that the growth in question is a “histiocytoma,” a common benign tumor which will eventually go away by itself. The histiocytoma is a tumor originating from what is called a “Langerhans cell.” This cell lives in the skin and serves as part of the immune system by processing incoming antigens and presenting them to other immunologic cells. The histiocyotoma is especially common in Labrador retrievers, Staffordshire terriers, Boxers, and Dachshunds. It is not related to the malignant process called “histiocytosis.” Finding Out For Sure: Most of the time the tumor is small enough for easy removal and the diagnosis comes up on the biopsy report, confirming that the tumor is benign and will not grow back. If the tumor is in a location where removal is not easy (such as the middle of the ear flap or dangerously close to the eye) there are two other options: biopsy of a small piece of growth or cytology exam. Biopsy may require sedation depending on the location of the growth. Sometimes a local anesthetic is enough. A small piece of tissue is snipped off and sent to the lab for analysis. In a few days we will know for sure exactly what the growth is. Less costly but also less accurately, cells can be withdrawn from the lesion by a needle or simply collected from the tumor surface by pressing a microscope slide to the tumor surface. This omits the ability to see the architecture of the tissue and just the cells are available for examination. This may be enough for the lab to confirm the identity of the growth in question. What to do with a Histiocytoma On the average, a histiocytoma undergoes regression by itself within three months. This process may be itchy or may lead to minor infection. Removal of the histiocytoma is the fastest routine to resolution but, since they do go away on their own, leaving the growth along is reasonable (as long as we know for sure it is a histiocytoma). Topical therapy with a product containing DMSO and a cortisone derivative is helpful in controlling symptoms of irritation.

Yep that's what it looks like, except very faded most of the time. I'm going to ask for a biopsy/sample to be taken, can they do that without anaesthetic?

Stevie had a big lump appear on her chest a few months ago. About 50c piece sized, looks like a birthmark or mole type thing. About 5mm high off the skin, but that varies. The fur grows through it but is sort-of spaced out. Went to vet and three of them looked at it, hadn't seen anything like it, they tried a needle in it but no fluid came out. They said it didn't look like an infection or a foreign body, very strange, but just keep an eye on it. It didn't seem to worry Stevie at all. We've noticed it fade but still there with clear edges, sometimes a bit puffier other times flatter, but no really dramatic change. On Sunday when Stevie was really wet, we noticed it again had puffed more, a bit darker than usual, but thought maybe we noticed it because of her wet fur making it easier to see. So last night she nibbled at it and licked at it a lot, leaving a bit of blood on the surface. There's a darker spot in the middle that looks like a blood blister. It's not like the 'hot spot' type infection she had all over her face once before, those were clearly blisters and changed into sores overnight. I'm worried now that it's either hurting her, or at least she'll chew at it just because it's there. The only difference to her life this week was being soaking wet on Sunday, then ear irritation through the week, so she's been on antibiotics for that (got the old ones out of the cupboard, haven't been to the vet yet). We'll take her to the vet tonight, but please does anyone have any idea what it might be? I just want to know what sort of questions to check through with the vet.

She's been on Royal Canin all her life - large breed puppy until about 13 months old, then slowly moved across to Lab, which she's been on for over a year now. She gets some bits and pieces for fun/variety - sardines, eggs, bones - but usually only for one meal per week. Plus of course pegs, soft toys, grass, hardwood - whatever she feels like chewing for the day! She has had hot spot as well, it was scary how fast it went all over her face, but the vet thought that might have been spider or wandering jew. We have started the antibiotics again, will do that for a week or so to clear up the current infection then re-assess food and ongoing ear maintenance.

She's been on the same kibble for over a year now, so I hope it isn't that. I'll have a look at the ear drops at our local supplies place, but I thought they were mainly for ongoing cleaning, not specifically for swimmers ear. If they're mainly alcohol anyway, I'll give them a go! We want to find something better than regular antibiotics!

I'll run all the suggestions past the vet, don't worry. Stevie's already perfected the floppy slide ("I'm sitting I'm sitting I'm sliding...") to get away from ear drops, we've had to put antibiotics in so much, so we go the knee crunch and hold from behind.

That sounds so simple! Thanks

Stevie seems to get sore ears very easily after being wet. Even if she hasn't been swimming, just splashing in puddles or walking in the rain makes them very dirty and sore deep inside. I can only clean as far as I can reach, but can I use drops like swimmers use to help dry the ears? I think they're alcohol based. Colloidal silver has been suggested in General thread as well. Will any damage be done if we use human drops? Or is there any other way of cleaning and drying the ears way down deep?

Thanks, I'd use saline solution automatically on humans, but don't like just guessing with the dogs! Whites of the eyes are white except when she's just woken up. Haven't checked the inside of the eyelids. Unless it gets a lot worse, I'll hang off going to the vet for a bit longer. We're going overseas and the dogs and cat are going into boarding at beginning of October, so I was going to take them in for a general checkup a couple of weeks before then anyway.

Stevie's eyes are sore. It could be because Jodie licks them a lot, or it could be Jodie licks them a lot because they're a bit weepy. She's rubbed them with her paw a couple of times that I've seen, but they didn't seem too bad, the 'weep' is clear and there isn't much of it, certainly no sign of infection as such. I thought it was just from being out in cold windy weather. However, I've noticed that the very edges of her eyelids are now looking a bit strange, sort-of dry, and it's been going on for a couple of weeks now (not the Jodie-licking, the extra bits). Dear DOL bible, should I be looking at vet or home remedy? If home remedy, what?

Name: Katrina Age (optional): XXXX Location: Riverwood NSW Rescue Group: DABS Time in Rescue: I guess 10 months, but that's only because of the FF Who can vouch for: Norma/Chinaplate, maybe Paul from PNH Preferred Breed: Large enough to cope with 35kg Stevie, small enough to lift easily. Otherwise no preference. I do feel for the old scruffies, though, like the dog I had when I was a child. Experience (if any): see below. Microchip, Vaccination, Desexing, Heartworm test, worming, flea treatment, vet work if required: whatever's necessary but desexing is important basic training/teach manners - yes, we've managed with Stevie & Jodie. Stevie teaches manners better than I do. house train dogs - yes, but dogs have access to outside at all times so only half-training! Dogs inside the home or outside - in when we're home, out when not (full cover and biggish yard) Are you prepared to give extra care for a submissive nervous dog - no, I know I can't put the time into it. Paul (Panlewis) did a house inspection for Paws'n'hooves, but the dog I was to foster for them was adopted before she got to me! Then I tried fostering twice through DABS. First time didn't work out very well for the little dog because he became too attached and I couldn't leave him by himself, even for sleep. He was a very very upset little dog. Second time didn't work out because we failed, Jodie is permanently with us now. Because I work full-time and now know that foster dogs need full-time attention at least to begin with, and also because my OH and our cat think two big dogs is plenty, I can't help at all much. Maybe I could help with overnights/weekends from Fairford Road/Canterbury Pound, because it's very close by my house. However, I have epilepsy and not allowed to drive, so can't help with transport (though I can walk to Fairford Rd if necessary). Best I can do is donate funds and goodies where I can - Hi Powerlegs! However, I'm due for a lotto win sometime in the next couple of weeks, so will help a lot more then... In the meantime, I feel very humble, reading about everyone else's great work!

Stevie started with RC large breed puppy, that's what we were told she was weaned onto, and haven't seen any reason to change except to move across to Lab Adult when she was about 15 months. She actually lost weight when we moved to the adult version, we were able to increase the amount she eats (to her great pleasure). Because it's easier than buying and storing two types of food, we also feed Jodie the Kelpie X on it. When we got Jodie as a foster, she had been on tinned and basic food for some months, and the difference in her appearance now is amazing. They are both shiny glowing healthy dogs who get lots of compliments. I'd rather have an Australian food premium dry or to have time and knowledge to do BARF (or money to do BARF patties), but otherwise it's been great.

I've just found out that the Pet Food Plus near us has BARF patties. Bought one lot and the dogs LOVED it, but $12 for 18 patties (which would last only three days if that's all we used) it's pretty pricy. Also our freezer isn't big enough to hold much! I might have to look into buying a super premium food processor!

Our local pet supply place doesn't have these products, and the guy I spoke to doesn't seem to have heard much about them. Where can I get them? Are they available over the internet for home delivery? Can I get smaller samples, rather than spending the big amount from the outset? I wouldn't mind giving them a try, but they just don't seem to be easy to get hold of near me. Couple of other questions: Are any of these products made in Australia? Is there a 'Lab' type version like RC, with the big chunks she has to slow down and chew? Stevie just vacuums up most food without chewing. Also, Urban Animal magazine has been doing an analysis of foods, I haven't had a chance to pick up the latest issue yet but it's available on the net - http://www.urbananimal.net/pdf/issue11/3feed.pdf I'm off to do some more research!