InspectorRex

Yes dogs do get Inflammatory Bowel Disease, this is different condition from irritiable bowel syndrome( I had one with severe IBD) and the only way it can be accurately diagnosed is by endoscopy. Can you collect a poop sample and get a Vet to do both a faecal float and analysis? This dog needs to seek a Vet IMHO In the interim stick with only steamed rice and boiled skinless chicken breast fillets and nothing else

I totally agree with Nekbet- get this dog to a Vet ASAP.

Personally I would not use a Mobile Dog Wash. I did many many years ago and my dog got a horrendous skin infection that resulted in many Vet trips and major hair loss- not a good look on a Collie . I have my own hydrobath, dryer etc so can do my own . The Vet here in Cranbourne West has a great set-up and is disinfected after every dog( I used their bath and dryer until we had our pergola built and had somewhere to set up my gear).

I had this happen a few years ago with my Vet(now ex-vet) when Phoebe had the C5.The lump was huge . I took her to another Vet who applied massage and bowen therapy to the area and the lump subsided I NO longer use the normal C vaccine that alot of Vets still use. Our dogs have the NOBIVAC 3 yearly for Distemper/Parvo/Hepatitis and NOBIVAC Intra-Nasal Kennel Cough Vaccine annually( and I only do that because our dogs go to Boarding Kennels/obedience clubs etc). The Vet charges the same price as if it were C5 but at least the dogs are not getting golf-ball size lumps as they did with the needle C5.

I live in Cranbourne West also- send me a PM as one of the local Vet clinics here does grooming or can can DIY for less than $10.I can also recommend a fantastic groomer within20 mins of here

Dr Barry Haywood in Cranbourne South is excellent and he loves the dogs too. The only others I would take my dogs to are Monash Vet Clinic( Dr's Ray Ferguson or Mark Foley) in Clayton or Dr Kate Haines in Morwell.

Grumpette- if I can survive the abdominal surgery the you can survive the assignments olaky

Good advice Rappie Never in all our years of owning dogs have we used Dettol- it can cause too manny side affects. Warm salty water or betadine, or Calendula cream(natural rememdy and works wonders)

Keep us up to date on future meets please. I couldn't make this one as just out of hospital after abdominal surgery but by early November I should be okay. Starting off again in obedience after many years break( have titled to CDX and former ANKC Obed. Judge) so be kind to me and the Collies if I can make it hey

Oh I feel for you and Beau Having been there a few years aog now when the Vet( not the regular who was on leave at the time) wanted to do an x-ray of my show girl and I said she will be fine and stand stay for you Nup they had to give her a GA and the idiot Vet caused a thiopentone(sp?) skin slough and ignored it and also failed to tell me! Three days later about 4inces of skin started to come of her leg and she couldn't walk. I raced her to the Vet and demanded to see the Head Vet- he was just as mortified as me and agreed that the Practice would meet all the Vet costs to try and remedy the injury. I had to have her at the Vets every other day and in the end the "error" caused severe osteomyelitis and she bleed internally and had to be PTS. This stupid Vet was very lucky our girl was Titled and that we did not take legal action against her. She NEVER laid hand on any of our dogs ever again and I here she has now "left" the practice.

be interested too to find out which company. If it excludes eye disorders you had better hope that your Collie never develops PRA or "dry-eye( kerato-conjunctivitis).Pre-existing conditions are never covered or if they are you have to serve waitng periods just like human health insurance I had it years ago and when my Collie needed treatment for dry-eye they would not pay because she had a blocked tear duct as a puppy(8 weeks old). Also when my other Collie needed urgent dental work for hypoplasia( tumours around the teeth) they would not pay for that either as they considered it to be "cosmetic") even though we did not know until the biopsies came back that the tumours were benign MEthinks better to put $$ in a separate bank account when you can for emergencies or have a stand-by credit card.Also GE finance now have a finance option for Vet treatments BTW where did you get your Collie from

PM the wonderful Charles Kuntz- he is a Specialist Vet Surgeon and he is just super IMHO- if he cannot assist you he will point you in the right direction. He has saved many a friends dogs when no other Vet could

I congratulate the Border Collie people with the way they have been proactive in genetic testing . A lot of breed clubs could learn from this

I would not use it on a breed that is Ivermectin Sensitive( Collies, Aussies, Shelties etc) unless they have been DNA tested as CLEAR for the Ivermectin Sensitivity- dna test costs about $60 here in Oz

have a look at www.busteralert.com definitely would not use any mectin products unless the dog was DNA Tested as Clear for the Ivermectin Sensitivity

Thanks Gayle

I am looking into Herding and just wondering how others started out? TIA

Michelle, Collies "drop their coat" seasonally and when this happens it is time to give them a good hydrobath and dry to get rid of the dead coat.PM me if you need further info

Have you had any luck Heidi in finding somewhere where you can use a hydrobath and turbo dryer? What part of Melbourne are you in?

My heart goes out to you.All of us here on DOL have been there I do agree with Sandgrubber though- Vet's do make mistakes( in our case the mistake cost the life of my Champion bitch) so it may be worth taking your furkid for a second opinion. You need a diagnosis too. Send Charles Kuntz a PM- he is a wonderful Specialist Vet who is a member on this forum. I am sure he will help point you in the right direction

Ring the AVA for a list of Vet Opthamologists in your State.

The best way to get the old coat out is a good hydrobath and turbodry as the dryer blows all of the dead coat out. If you don't have these check and see if your Vet Clinic has them that you can yuse. I have my own bath and dryer but if I didn't our Vet Clinic only charges $5 for a DIY hydrobath and turbodry

I use Popantel for all wormer and Dimmitrol daily for heartworm prevention- bought from The Vet Shed( online store and very helpful). Great prices too

Where would you source Ledum? Just out of interest as I like natural remedies

did you take your furkid to the Vet??