InspectorRex

Like others, I ALWAYS feed any type of bone under supervision I have a "scoffer:( or as we call her "hoover" ) but she does not do this with bones and the chicken carcasses I get from the chicken shop( would not nuy from a pet supply place) are about the size of a small turkey

I am no expert on ddog heart murmurs but I have had one for over 20 years now and just have to have regular check-ups with a cardiologist and if I have to have any medical procedures, even dental, I have to go onto antibiotics before and after the procedure. Mine is caused by a faulty Mitral Valve. Did the Vet give you a cause? if not asd for referral to Vet cardiac specialist.I would ask for a referral anyway.

Thanks DOLers, again yes they are very nice at this Clinic and the hours are great: Mon:Friday 8am to 8pm Sat; 8am-2pm Sun: 9am -2pm

Hi all Just took Phoebe back to the Vet to have her wound checked. The Vet was really pleased with the wound -since we put the dry gauze and vet wrap on it it is not moist and no infection :->))). Her temp. was normal too.I saw the wound for the first time today and no wonder poor Phoebe was in pain etc as it is quite a large area that has been stitched Phoebe has had another dry bandage put on and has to have it changed on Monday then all going wll she has the stitches out next Friday. These are lovely Vets- no charge for today or for the next two visits- and they really treat the animals gently and do not try to patronise the owners. Will keep you posted. Colleen

i agree with Tess32- avoid the heartwom injection at all costs Either go with daily Dimmitrol or something like Sentinel but whatever you choose the dog must have a bood test for heartworm( if over 6mths of age) prior to commencing any preventative). I have only ever paid around the $50 mark for vaccinations( that was for Nobivac 3 yearly for C3 and intra-nasal for the KC component)

28.8.2008- Phoebe is a bit more comfortable with the tail being bandaged. She still occasionally goes try and lick it and she gets a firm No Today she had a normal poop and has being peeing more like her normal self. Tomorrow I have to take her back to the Vet for a check-up And Yes Natsu Cahn, Phoebe did give our Vet, Danni, that look of" who me. licking?"

Thanks Shell

I have had Phoebe to the Vet last night and she had a pain relief injection. She slept all night and then this morning had diarrhoea so started her on Peptosyl and boiled chicken and rice. By lunchtime she was walking around crying again so back to the Vet. Vet looked at the wound and said "Miss Phoebe, you have been licking this whilst Mum has not been in the room" so she put an Elizabethan Collar on Phoebe- bad move as Phoebe started to stress then and by 4.30pm I said to Dad maybe we can dry bandage it with gauze and put Vetwrap on it. I rang the Vet and took her back ( took my own Vetwrap and Gauze) and they have done the bandaging and started her on Clavulox and I have to take her back on Friday. My poor baby, the cyst was in such an awkward spot, on the under side of the tail up near the bum but if we did not have it removed it would have gotten even bigger and burst and it could have turned septic. I just want to sit and cuddle her all day as I feel awful for having to put her through this. am I a bad Mother?

Yes Dad and I are relieved.IHF- we are very glad At least the naughty lump was on the under side of her tail and our Vet only took off enough hair to make a sterile surgical site so if you did not know you would not know Phoebe had surgery on her glorious tail. Just as well I did not enter her for the Royal though

Phoebe is home from the Vet after her surgery to have the rather large solid lump removed from her tail. It was not a sebaceous cyst as our Vet first thought- it was an Apocrine Cyst( cyst from the sweat glands in the tail).Hopefully it will not re-occur but as the Vet said with this type of cyst it is a possibility as in the area it is in it is extremely difficult to be 100% sure all is removed as the margin for skin to cover the wound is minimal. At least it was not a tumour. Colleen

Have just come back from the Vet He said he believes the lump on Phoebe's tail is a sebaceous cyst. She is booked in for tomorrow to have it removed as the Vet explained that if left it could grow bigger( he said in his opinion it is quite big already) and cause more problems. So I have to have Phoebe at the Vet tommorrow morning between 7.30-8am So keep paws and fingers crossed that the lump is only a cyst.Poor Phoebe (: Will keep you all posted Love Colleen

Thanks guys, will let you know how things go

What do they do if it is a blocked sebaceous gland??

Hi all I was just giving Phoebe a bit of a groom to try and get some of the mud etc of her legs. I was doing her tail when I noticed a lump about the size of a 5 cent coin in diameter- quite a firm ,solid lump. Have her booked into the Vet tomorrow morning to have it checked. Please keep paws and fingers crossed that it is nothing sinister. I could not bear to lose another Collie, especially Phoebe. Let you know how we go Love Colleen

It has been raining at Hastings on and off since Friday

Yep off to the Vet- don't muck around as dogs dehydrate very quickly

Mine are circlers, then do some, then circle again and finish but nice firm stools now on raw diet

Erny- you need to go and visit my dear friend Kate at Pet Goods Direct on the Sth Gippy Hwy in Cranbourne( near Bunnings etc) and you will find every kind of doggy gear you would ever dream of. Tell her your a friend of IR( use my real name) and you will be well and truly looked after. Can't wait to meet this young lad - wait till the pergola is finished though as you might end up with one very muddy puppy as Phoebe and Gracie are now Mudlarks too

Finally the boy has arrived I like Mandela but for me I would have called him Nelson( as in Mandela) Phoebe and Gracie want to know when is Mandela going to come over for a visit Aunt Erny? We only live a little distance away now(Cranbourne) You will have years of fun with him

Our Collies have bloomed since on a home based diet of 75% raw chicken mince( ie mnced up chicken frames etc) and 25% vegies( pureed carrots, celery, parsley, alfafa and a bit of garlic) plus they each have a chicken carcass each day and once a week have a nice meaty bone to chew on. It took me a lot of convincing that this was the way to go but since they have been on it there has not been one bout of sloopy poops etc. It is heaps cheaper to feed- costs me around $12 per week to feed two adult Collies and it is not much mucking around- one day I buy the vegies and chop them up and put through blender and into the fridge and the nect day I buy the chicken mince and make up 10-12 containers to go into the freezer.

If feeding raw pet chicken mince you need to feed 75% mine to 25% vegies( mine get carrots, celery, alfafa, parsley and garlic put through the blender with their chicken mince). If problem continues perhaps a Vet check is in order to see if something like blocked anal glands is not the culprit and hence causing discomfort when they go to poop

Hi Harold Was the Atopic Dermatitis officially diagnosed by a Veterinary Dermatologist by doing intra-dermal skin testing? You will need a referral from your normal Vet to see the Dermatologist. Hopefully your normal Vet will have done full bloods to rule out any other underlying health issues such as thyroid issues. This is the only way to actually confirm that it is Atopic Dermatitis( I know as I have had a dog with it). This is the very first thing that needs to be done so that it can be ascertained as to what exactly your dog is reacting to, eg air-borne pollens, grasses etc. Once this has been done then the Veterinary Dermatologist can then advise you as to what treatment regime may suit your dog, be it course of allergy vaccines, dietary changes etc. If you want any further info please feel free to PM me. Wei's do suffer from Immune -system related problems so it would be worth your while contacting an established Wei breeder, who tests from the Immune system disorder, and seeking some advice and guidance there.

I would approach the neighbour who has the offending tree with something like " the reason my dog barks is that they loves the nuts form YOUR Plam Tree and are simply waiting for them to come over the fence. as it happens one did fall over the fence , one of the dogs ate it and it cost me XXX of $$$ at the Vet to have it removed". Then say something like" do you think it would be possible for you to either trim the tree back or relocate it and this may resolve your concerns about my dogs barking?"- By putting it to them tactifully like that you are actually putting the ball back in their court so to speak. Let us know how you go Glad Clover is okay- our furkids give us some worrying times but we would not have it any other way would we?

Glad she is okay and I do hope that Palm Tree has been either removed or cordoned off from the dogs to prevent this happening again Doggie Golden Rule- "if it is on the ground it just has to be mine and I can eat it !" and they do!

Wonderful news but alas I agree Canavndra- not enough Vets here in Oz willing to learn Maybe you could email the details to speciclaist ortho Vets like Dr Mark Foley and Dr Ray Ferguson at Monash Vet Clinic here in Vic as I know them personally and are leaders in their field and willing to learn new procedures. Dr Ferguson has not long come back from a trip he made to further his knowledge