Pep

Re the camera ... I would if I could but unfortunately the only camera I have went on the fritz last week. A description is the best I can do at this stage. Re the impetigo ... she did have spots on her belly that cleared within days of the salt treatment. Her body was checked daily but perhaps some spots were missed??? There's nothing there now but it makes sense ... cheers for the feedback!

I have an all back Labrador puppy who appears to be healthy and happy (vet checked just over a week ago). Last night when she went to bed she was all black! This morning, I noticed she had silvery white specks on her legs. I thought she must have brushed against something (although I couldn't think what) so bent down to dust her off, only to find to my surprise that the dust was a collection of white hairs randomly dotted across the front of each leg between her paw and knee joint. They're single strands, no clumps of white, and only appear on the lower legs. The rest of her coat is shiny black and she has experienced no hair loss except for the usual shedding of the puppy coat. Her mother was black and her father yellow. I have never encountered this before and wondered what it might be. Any suggestions?

My 11 week old Lab loves Nature's Gift Natural Semi-Dry. You can buy little bags of it for about $1.98 from the supermarket or a 1.5KG bag for about $6.00. They're a smallish kibble, inexpensive, Australian made and owned, plus they keep extremely well. They come in a few different flavours but I've found she likes chicken the best. My older Lab, who sadly passed away a few months back, also loved the chicken. As pure bred Labs are prone to over-eating, I reduce the daily allowance of dry kibble by about 1/2 cup and then mix 1/4 cup of dry kibble with 1/4 cup of Nature's Gift (my puppy is on the small kibble Science Diet). This makes 1/2 cup of treats for the day which so far has been plenty in terms of training and reward. As I measure out her daily allowance every day and keep it separate, if I require more treats whilst training, I simply take a handful of regular kibble from her quota. To compensate for the small amount she's fed in the evening, I add a few small pieces of freshly cooked chicken and a tiny spoonful of boiled rice to the remaining kibble. This fills her up without overfeeding. My puppy had terrible trouble with her stomach when she was about six to seven weeks old so her diet has been monitored carefully under vet supervision. My Vet also suggested that my pup can now have raw chicken necks as a treat in addition to her regular allowance. If she swallows them too quickly though I am too substitute the necks for a raw wing. The wings however are not to be given daily as wings are fattier than necks. I asked if she could have beef bones at 11 weeks but was told that these may shatter her puppy teeth so I'll be avoiding them for now. Instead my Vet suggested I buy a rack of brisket bones which are softer. These will aid in teeth cleaning and are less likely to cause damage to the puppy. I haven't tried the brisket yet as I want to leave it another week but the necks proved popular. Will let you know how the brisket goes once they've been trialled.

Have just returned from the Vet. Given the initial negative response I received to my post, I thought it best to confirm the diagnosis. I am happy to say that my suspicions were correct. My pup does have a mild case of Puppy Pyoderma (Impetigo) and, as anticipated, does not require medication. Whilst anti-bacterial lotions can be used to treat this condition (I've since found out that Isopropyl Alcohol should be diluted - which was my original forum enquiry), my Vet suggested I try the old fashioned remedy of warm salty water. It will help to clean the spots and at the same time is 100% safe for the dog. The spots are not contagious nor do they make my puppy ill so she'll be able to go to puppy training as usual. Best of all I got the reassurance I was seeking. Needless to say I am pleased I brought her appointment forward. Despite my experience with dogs, a new puppy is like starting the process all over again. Each pup is unique and it goes without saying, you're never too old to learn!

As mentioned I already have a vet's appointment. I was not asking for a 'prescription'. I must say I find your response a little harsh. I was enquiring in regards to non-prescription ointments and lotions, the sort which are purchased over the counter at the local supermarket or pet store. This is not my first puppy. I am a seasoned dog owner (40 years plus). Over time treatments change. My last puppy was 10 years ago so I was simply trying to ascertain current recommendations. It is only through application that we learn what works and what doesn't, what is harmful and what is not. I shall assume that you misinterpreted the original message and thus not take offence at the impolite reply. It certainly is not my intent to rub people the wrong way. I am here to discuss puppy issues in an open and friendly forum. I hope you agree.

You could try re-training on training pads that have an attractant; then gradually work the pads towards the patio door and eventually outside onto the grass. If you have two primary poop locations, then try working the mats slowly towards each other and then a single mat out onto the patio. Although I can't say it worked for my pup who would sniff at the mat then face her butt away from the pad to relieve herself. Others swear by them though so it's just a thought! You might also like to invest in an enzyme eliminator for when accidents occur inside. S.O.X. works like a treat. Our pup favoured the lounge room until we completely removed all traces of previous accidents with S.O.X. Now she takes herself outside and when the door's closed, will wait until it's opened and go accordingly. She's an 11 week old Lab. In regards to the rain, I can sympathise. Our girl also had to get use to this new sensation. At one stage she was literally blown away in gale force winds whilst doing a number 2 (she managed to keep one foot on the ground). It was funny for us but obviously unsettling for her. Next time I made sure to pick her up and then gentle drop her forward onto the spot where I wanted her to go - rain or shine - gale force winds or the still of the night; the routine never changed. Each time I would repeat this procedure using the same command: "Toile! Quick, go toile." This seemed to do the trick. To get her to do a number 2, I would grab a plastic bag and then make sure she saw me picking up one of her previous deposits - again, rain or shine. I would make a big fuss about it saying how wonderful she was and how happy I was. Not that she understood what I was saying but she could tell from my voice that I was pleased. This time I would say: "Toile! Quick, go toile. Number 2!" It surprised me how quickly she got the idea to poop. Each time she made a deposit I would pick it up and congratulate her and give her a small treat. I also made eye contact whilst she was pooping but I didn't speak until she had completely finished. Of course it'll only work if they have a poop to scoop. Your little one was no doubt frightened by the noise of the storm and the physical sensation of getting wet. The only way to get over this is to introduce the pup to different noise levels and of course water sensations but do it gradually. To mimic rain, try a hand held shower nozzle that fits onto a standard tap. Start with the gentlest of water flows and allow the puppy to play and splash in the laundry or bath tub. If you are worried about water restrictions try attaching the shower hose to your water tank (if you have one that is). As they become accustomed to the sensation you can then increase the water flow to the point where you can run it across the puppy's face without frightening the poor thing. A water can works equally as well and in your case perhaps better, in that you can use it on the grass. Again, it's just a thought!

She's due to see the vet next week. Besides the spots on her belly she's in good health. Her living conditions are usually pristine and she is by nature a clean dog. The bacterial infection has most likely arisen as a result of the recent rains we've had here in QLD. Whilst she was kept fairly dry indoors, she still had to go outside to do her business. Despite our vigilant drying routine she's inevitably been a little damp which, I am assuming, is why the impetigo set in. Topical or oral antibiotics are only prescribed in severe cases. This is a mild dose which if caught now will clear fairly quickly. The general treatment is hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, or benzoyl peroxide applied twice daily. It's just that I read that isopropyl is a suitable alternative. I was wondering if anyone had tried Isocol??? Are there any brand names which are better than others? I am open to suggestions.

My 11 week old Lab has, within the last 24 hours, developed Puppy Impetigo (Puppy Pyoderma, Juvenile Pustular Dermatitis) on her hairless stomach. Isopropyl has been suggested as a possible treatment. I was wondering if this would include Isocol anti-bacterial lotion? As far as I am aware Isocol is 100% Isopropyl Alcohol. Should I dilute with water before I dab it on the spots or apply straight to the skin? Are there any risk factors I should know about? As I wish to treat the area ASAP but do not wish to harm my puppy, advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!