Papillon Kisses

Those tests have no evidence base unfortunately. They also bring up false negatives and positives (including on fake samples!), so those who get results have essentially thrown spaghetti at the wall and lucked out with something happening to stick. https://www.vngpets.com/post/hair-and-saliva-testing-for-food-allergens-don-t-waste-your-money

I suspect it may be more of a case that when breeders are specifically selecting for certain colours other things get unintentionally baked in.

Hi Georgia, a few things I’d suggest. 1. Keep a short diary / notes and see if you can pick up on any patterns with the behaviour change. Things like exercise, food, weather, or changes in routine could provide clues. 2. Get a wellness exam at the vet, including bloods and considering whether your dog may have pain or discomfort anywhere in their body. If nothing comes from it, you will at least have a baseline should anything happen in the future. 3. When discussing this with your vet, try to be specific about the behaviour changes you’re seeing. In addition to energy levels and whether you’ve picked up on any patterns, they’ll probably ask about appetite, any vomiting diarrhoea or constipation, and any changes in the way your dog is moving (e.g. limping or reluctance to go for walks, play, climb stairs, jump up on furniture if that is their usual resting spot). A millennial vet would probably interpret emo as your dog seeming lethargic and losing interest in activities they usually enjoy, but others may be confused (as seen in this thread). Vets love doing wellness exams and preventative care, so don’t feel silly or awkward about getting things checked out. Attentive pet parents can sometimes pick up on little things before they become big problems. And if nothing is wrong, it will put your worries at ease and give you some baseline health data.

In case you’re new to seizures, be aware that sometimes vets just have you keep an eye on things and come back in if they keep occurring. It’s not uncommon for dogs to have one seizure and then no others for the rest of their lives, or have them at some other low frequency, and it’s decided that the risks of medication (side effects) would outweigh the benefits. This is not to make you fear medication if your dog needs it, just to explain that there is a tipping point like with other medications.

Some people say it helps. I didn’t think it did anything. I like to look for products that carry the VOHC seal. https://vohc.org/accepted-products/ Gold standard care is frequent toothbrushing using an enzymatic dog friendly toothpaste and getting dentals at the frequency recommended by the vet.

I think that’s poor reporting since it’s not a direct quote from a vet. Usually vaccinations are part of the pet’s annual wellness exam so a number of things are being checked and as well additional diagnostics or care where needed e.g. bloods. However an unaware client or reporter may not register that, thinking well I went to the vet for their “annual shots” so that’s all I’m paying for. ~$100 was the cost of a long consult at our vet maybe 8 years ago.

Would it show on blood tests?

You could also look for a long ramp that runs alongside the length of the bed if you can make that work in your space. It will provide a more moderate incline; little dogs can slip slide around even on a good quality non slip surface due to their coefficient of friction. I’ve seen some relatively skinny ones marketed towards Dachshunds and other smalls. On a related note, I’d suggest checking out Canine Arthritis Management. On Facebook they have a group called “CAM Product Share and Reviews AUSTRALIA” which may be another good place to ask this question. It’s best to avoid it anyway due to the wear and tear on their joints, but your boy’s increasing reluctance to jump up and down is a sign of pain. Dogs are very, very good at hiding pain. So talk to your vet so you can get treatment started for whatever is painful in his body (probably arthritis) and delay progression of the disease. By the time you see him yelping, whimpering and limping his pain will be severe. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TzgqyPMv7Tk

Are you unable to add your race bred girl to a national registry as well? I had Malcolm on both NSW & CAR. Just need to remember to update both if your details change.

Congratulations, Team Albert

It’s good for people who may forget to dose their dog, which is more than you might think. Vets saw heartworm cases plummet after they were brought out. @Kazm Malcolm never had side effects with Proheart but together with his vet we decided to switch to oral meds (Milbemax) when he became more medically fragile because they trusted me to remember to give them. I hope Molly feels better soon.

Or soon to post suspicious looking links that scream scammer or hacker.

Her ill health and pain would be contributing to her changed behaviour: up to 80% of dogs with problem behaviour have chronic pain of some description which when treated improves their behaviour or resolves the problem entirely. However, it sounds like she may also have a genetic predisposition to anxiety which was impacted by her spay – these days it’s understood that hormones help with confidence. And given her age we can also start to wonder about canine cognitive dysfunction (dementia), though if you ask me, 10 isn’t super old for a chi! I’d see how she goes with her treatment, but if her fearfulness and barking continue I would go back to your vet. If they are unable to help you, which is possible as it’s a bit of a niche area, look for one with a special interest or further qualifications in behaviour. They can determine whether she has an anxiety disorder or CCD, and if so what treatment she needs to feel better. Once she feels better you should see her behaviour improve. In the meantime you could try things like playing calming music for dogs - I really like Through a Dog’s Ear, and giving lots of other enrichment opportunities focused on relaxation and supporting cognitive function. Scent-based activities can be particularly calming and suitable for dogs of all ages and abilities. Some over the counter products that can be suitable for mild to moderate fear/anxiety/stress include Adaptil, Zylkene, Purina Calming Care, and certain speciality diets from Royal Canin and Hills. These products may not necessarily be suitable costwise or appropriate for her as an individual, and you should speak to your vet. I just know that many people are tempted to go out and buy stuff that is suggested to them online, and these are at least evidence-based unlike most things on the market. Finally, don’t let her age make you think that improvement with her fearfulness and barking isn’t possible. My chi mix was only diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and canine compulsive disorder (doggy OCD) at 10 despite being anxious from the get-go. Getting a diagnosis and treatment plan from a veterinary behaviourist along with ensuring contributing chronic illnesses were treated made a huge difference in his quality of life. He lived to ~15.5 so that was a 3rd of his life spent feeling better within himself and consequently behaving in less exasperating ways (he too communicated his feelings by barking a lot). Some links for you: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/2/318 https://www.anzcvs.org.au/chapters/veterinary+behaviour+chapter https://dogdementia.com https://www.amatterofmannersdogtraining.com/single-post/2017/06/18/enrichment-for-fearful-dogs

That’s obscene. Edit. My reaction is more about the $1,500 adoption fee.

It won’t stop a dog determined to attack, but for everything else you’d be surprised at how often a big handful of treats thrown at a dog can stop them in their tracks, giving you time to make a getaway while they sniff them out. I once stopped a reactive dog who had escaped from the circus by throwing liver treats of all things. As a bonus, you don’t risk aggravating the situation or scaring your own dog in the process.