Garloch

Take care Rockylover. Your decision. Don't be afraid to come back again.

Three things I've learned - Never assume; always treat people the way you would like your grandmother to be treated; and knowledge is power - just be careful how you use that power. The blotchey skin around the abdomen can indicate that there is septicaemia or other similar type of infection. Maybe blood poisoning. Either way, a trip to the vet is definately warranted if its blotchy. Purina is a premium food. You can look at the nutrition panel on the side, and see what the main ingredients are. That is how you tell the difference between one brand and the next. Took me quite a while to find the best food to suit one of mine who gets itchy. There are quite a few people who advocate feeding a raw diet, and this may be what your pup needs if his poo-ing is related to a diet sensitivity. (Think someone else already mentioned grains, which lots of pups are allergic to.) If you feel good about the advice of your vet, and your "gut feeling" about their advice is good - go with it. If not, seek 2nd opinion. Have a search on some of the forums here regarding foods - some great advice. May I suggest that you should research parvo and talk to your vet about what you can do to disinfect your home and garden, and whether the vaccinations your pup has had, are enough to protect it against possible infection. Parvo can live dormant in the soil (under the "right" conditions for between 7 and 10 years, but can also be spread by the spores being whipped up in the wind. That's why parvo "seems" seasonal. Breaks out here every spring. Running around being psycho is good though. If they have enough energy to be psycho, they can't feel too bad. Just remember that pups get sick very quickly, but generally get better very quickly too. Hope the problem is fixed soon.

Rockylover, I'm very sorry for the loss - I know how you feel, and its an awful place to be. Be kind to yourself, and let the negative thoughts go. Good on you for cuddling till the end - I applaude you for your love and kindness. Now to the poo problem. I havent heard of that before, and it must be quite distressing for the puppy as well as you. May I suggest that you go to the vets, or stockfeeds place, SOME petshops, and get something called Protexin. Its a probiotic specifically for animals, and its a bit like Inner Health Plus powder or capsules for humans. It balances the good and bad bacteria in the gut, and at the first hint of runny poo, this is what I reach for. It can be given without any ill effects for quite some time. Its in tiny 2gm sachets and you give one sachet each day - mixed with food or water. Mine lap it out of a bowl, but I have had to gently syringe it into the edge of the mouth, into the cheek pocket. I also agree with the suggestion of bland diet for a couple of days. It can take a couple of days for the tummy to settle down before it starts to get better. This is the same reason that you give a new diet for quite a few days before you may see any improvement. Not sure if you are doing this. Could you indicate what brands of food you are using? I have had good success using premium foods for "sensitive" dogs. Premium foods have much better nutrients with little or no "fillers" in it. Because its really good quality, most of the food is absorbed and there is less "output". This may help with the projectile end of the situation. Did you get the dog from a breeder? If so, you should contact them to see if any of the other pups in the litter might have similar issues. They may be able to shed some light on the problem for you. I do hope the problem is soon resolved. A pup who has runny poo can dehydrate very quickly, and this can be a pretty big issue, pretty quick. Do you know how to check if a pup is dehydrated? Its quite easy. One other thing that you could do is to roll the pup onto its back, in good light, and have a look at the tummy near the hind legs, where you can see the skin. If its red and blotchy, you may have a problem. Not blotchy as in a mark from where they have been lying, I mean blotchy like a faint measles rash on a human. It should be just ordinary dog skin coloured. Hope this helps. Be kind to yourself and keep searching for an answer. If you feel that your vet isn't quite doing it for you - please get a 2nd opinion. I have found a wide variation in the capability levels, and we all have off-days. Garloch.

One thing I was taught by an animal behaviourist is that they need to be taught the same commands in varied places. I used to train the same commands in my back yard over and over, and my dogs would do brilliantly. Then in the park - ignore me. I started to train in the park, and on the beach, and at the shops, and anywhere else I could get my dogs. They learned that the command means the same thing regardless of where you are and what is around.

I like to use Petvite. It comes in powder form in a tub, and can be given easily according to weight. I just sprinkle it over food, and they eat it up. They all get it every day. I feed a mix of home-made wet food, 2/3 premium dry foor, bit of cheese, yoghurt, etc. They don't know any different. They also think their omega 3/6 oil capsules are treats!

Never a silly question! Mine don't necessarily poo every day. Depends on what they've had to eat and drink, what brands you are feeding etc. So sorry, but not much help with that statement. Things to watch out for (that signify a possible problem) are a tight hard tummy, straining with no poo produced, small hard round poo's (like rabbit poo), or what appears to be colic. These all signify some difficulty, and I would seek more advice if pup not "produced" ater 48 hours.

Yep - I use the biolac coat improver. I like it a lot. I also use Omega 3-6 fish oil capsules every day too. Combined, my lot have great fur! If you've not used the coat improver before it smells a lot like ordinary biolac (or skin-kid formula). Wonder if they are the same??

Ruthless - they do not have to be old dogs to succumb to cancer. I had one that died of a brain tumour before his 2nd birthday. I f you wait a week, and later find out a week could have made a difference, you will never forgive yourself. Please go to the vet now, and insist on very thouough checkup.

You mention the bucket-head look that was more annoyance than the op itself. I've seen an inflatable collar that is supposed to be better than the traditional bucket or fancollar. Maadipets site. Anyone used this device before?? I'd love an opinion from someone who has used them. It seems like a good thing to have in the dog 1st aid kit, but its a bit pricey, compared to the normal ones the vet sells.

Redmum - Dealsdirect have them on on a semi-regular basis, but they sell out quite quick. Might be worth phoning them to ask when the next lot are coming??

Very funny Luke...... Piper, I think you are probably correct about the runs. If that develops, may I suggest that you give the dog something called Inner Health Plus. Human health food shops sell it. Its a probiotic and manages the good bacteria in the gut vs the bad bacteria. It normalises things. Depending on size of dog, and presuming you have the powder in the fridge in either powder or capsule, my dogs are aprox 8-10kgs, and they get 1/4 of a teaspoon in a teaspoon of warm water. Don't use a metal measuring spoon as it reacts with the powder and neutralises to effect to some extent. Mine lap it out of a shallow bowl. Will help with any intestinal problem (runs) the dog has. The dog equivalent is called Protexin, and it comes most frequently in little 2gm sachets. Marvellous stuff.

Yay for the pawpaw ointment! And would they be fluffy bunnies in the backyard, or fluffbunny's of dogfur that roll around in the tile floor and gather together in the corner.

I have one who has an itchy scratchy spot and I use the pawpaw ointment to soothe that area. The other wee doggies love to try and lick it off - must like the taste. None of mine have ever ingested it in the 1/4 tube quantity though. If its the Lucas' brand one, its an all natural product I think. Just looked at the tube and its fresh fermented fruit 39mg/g with a bit 0.1 mg/g of potassium sorbate as preservative. Maybe google the potassium sorbate. Or there is always the poisons information centre..........

Roast chicken is the highest value treat in my house. Always do showtraining with roast chicken. The salmon was getting far too expensive, but really good for their coats!

Pegasus - I was looking for another post this morning too, and there is a 2nd post in the general forum this morning which says the vets taken a sample and thinks it might be coccidia. (sp?) and the outcome is unknown.

Yes, Advocate does cover heartworm, and a myriad of other things too including earmites and sarcoptic mange. Clyde - the 12 weeks is a new one on me. Any idea when that changed?? The cynic in me wonders where the 12 week data came from? Vets noticing an increase in heartworm in pups under 6mths old, or the drug companies wanting to make even more money out of us responsible dog loving people.......

Welcome Justin! Yes, monthly doses. According to weight. If there is one tube left, and the other two tubes have been applied over the past two months - personally I would use the last one. There can not have been a hugely significant weight gain in one month, so you should be fine, IMHO. Each tube does quite a big weight range. If they are older than 6 months, and you live in a mosquito area and they are active, don't miss a dose. (Mozzies transmit heartworm.)

Shepmax - I have wirey double-coated longish haired terriers and I use MP brushes. I use the popular size, and the Handy size. Find the smaller (Handy) one better - more easily managed around short legs. And I use the bristle and nylon ones, not the pure bristle. I've tried many cheaper brushes, in an effort to try and save some cash, but IMHO it was false economy. MP every time now. Perhaps you and your dog could go to a show and ask around if you knew someone - maybe you could use one (briefely & under supervision in case you loved it so much you ran away with it ) and get a feel for it?? No doubt about it - they are expensive, but best place I have seen is Petersofkensington.com.au I have bought heaps of different stuff off them in the past and no probs wth delivery or customer service. Very legit. Not certain about what sort of coat your breed has, but hope my comments helped.

Yep - turn your computer off, phone the vets and tell them what your breeder said, and try to get some sleep. If not sleep - then rest and meditate, and think healing toughts. We are there with you...........

Pappylove - poor little charlotte. A sleepover is probably just where she needs to be tonight. Just remember that you can phone them anytime, and go see her tomorrow as often as you need to. Have you contacted her breeder? Possibly there is something that they may be able to identify for you to point your vet in the right direction. Something specific in your breed perhaps? I know from bitter experience that vets are great generalists, but breed specific information is very important. Poor baby. Sending positive healing thoughts her way for you. Let us know how she goes, little darling. Go have a good cry yourself - you will feel a bit better, sleep a bit deeper, and be better able to face the rest of the weekend. She will be better before you know it, and bouncing around madly!

Sorry havent seen anything like this before, but the only thing that springs to mind is maybe blocked anal glands? By all accounts that can be red and sore and nasty. Someone else may be able to help with that suggestion???

Pappylove - poor little darling. Roast chicken in tiny little snippets has always worked for me. No matter how bad they are feeling, the smell gets them every time. Do you have any Nutrigel? It comes in quite big tubes, and is a high energy high nutrient supplement that can sustain life for a few days if that is all you can get into her. Its about $11-$15 depending on where you get it. Troy is the manufacturers brand I think. If you are off to the vets ask them about Protexin. Its a probiotic for animals - similar to Inner Health Plus for humans. I have used inner health plus on my dogs to restore their gut balance, but Protexin is better. The yoghurt will do a similar thing, but is much weaker than the protexin or the inner health plus powder. My dogs are about 8kgs, and since pups they have had 1/8 teaspoon in a teaspoon of warmed water. Mix and measure with plastic as the metal spoons react with the powder and make it less effective. (So I am led to beieve anyway.) Keep us posted on how she goes.

Needs more socialising. When he barks, try to take his focus off the barking by having a toy, or a treat, and only give it when he sits and is quiet. Food is a great motivator. He is barking because he is worried - socialising more will help. Maybe you could go sit quietly on the edge of a field or park while people are playing/walking/etc. Get his attention with treats, so the noise new people are in the background, and he is getting used to them by default. PS - wouldn't do this at a school though, or a busy place to begin with. You can overwhelm them and make them more anxious, which is what I think his difficulty is in the first place. The hackles up is a giveaway about anxiety.

No, personally I wouldn't use one. The cargo holds (even though they must have heating turned on whilst carrying livestock) still get cold midflight. Coolbeds draw heat away from the animal, therefore, when its not 35 degrees, they need to conserve their heat.

Yep - cortisone in small amounts for a full grown dog. Not in a puppy as a first choice. It can cause Cushings Disease in susceptible dogs. Google it. I had a susceptible dog. Not a good outcome. For the itchy feet, simple tinea powder has been known to work wonders. Polaramine (for humans) also works well. If you give them too much they will be very sleepy. Maybe you could ask poeple for their suggestions as to dosage. I'm sorry - I don't know.