Rappie

It can be just displaying a submissive behaviour in order to appease the human, or to solicit attention - it might be affection, but can also stem from anxiety or stress. As Corvus mentioned earlier, dominance and submission are relative and can be dynamic in any given relationship. For a different perspective, there is an excellent article titled "Dispelling the Dominance Myth" by Sarah Heath available from the WSAVA 2007 site. I think it's easy to get too hung up on dominance / submission without looking further in to particular behaviours.

Not necessarily. It would really depend on the method employed. 'Grey' areas mean the cues and / or expectations are not clear. One method may take longer because it involves separate steps, or because approximations are rewarded while the boundaries are shifted (not a grey area, just asking for 'more of the same') or because the trainer waits for each skill to be well established before moving on. Passing of time isn't stressful, but spending a long time being confused is. Both my dogs can assume a "dead" position if I make a particular hand signal and say "BANG". One already had a tendency to just flop on her side - so I took the 'easy' way with her by adding a command and a reward. The other dog needs more structure, so it became a process of "sit - drop - rollover - stick your legs up in the air a bit more - stay", then developing that further. The second method takes longer, but it suited that dog better.

I have worked briefly with Robert Stabler - he does an excellent job. I would fully expect that the medications are only one part of the treatment plan for this dog. Medication isn't a solution, it facilitates behavioural modification by reducing anxiety levels and thus increases the potential for success. Realistically, it's difficult to 'fix' issues like this, but the aim is to give the dog (and owner) the skills to cope with situations a lot better.

I think in some situations their could be a relationship between a longer time frame and effects on the dog. It also depends on the use of the word 'stress' and the training methods employed. If the expectations are clear and the dog is appropriately rewarded, then the fact that one method is 'slower' should not be such a problem. I don't think the time taken is the stressor, but any 'grey' areas definitely have the potential to increase anxiety.

Hills, Eukanuba and Royal Canin all make a prescription renal diets. A home made diet is possible, but I would recommend that she discusses it with her vet - they should be able to provide her with some appropriate recipes as a starting point.

I would consider the possibility of a neck injury (either muscular, spinal or a nerve entrapment from spasming muscles) given that he is stiff on manipulation and it occured acutely after jumping off the couch. He is on appropriate treatment if this is the cause, however I obviously have no personal knowledge of your dog. I would also suggest strict rest and once improved, discouraging jumping from heights (even small ones).

Joint Guard is safe to give with the medications he is on already.

Clyde - PM sent

I haven't got time right now to do a 'skin' post right now but feel to PM me if you want to and I can reply when I've got time to scratch (*grin*). I believe dermatology gives Charles the heebies, but it doesn't scare me To answer the most pressing question, Megaderm is the schiznit...

If you think the eye is more painful and going cloudy then I would stop putting the ointment and get the earliest appointment you can in the morning (even if you turn up early and wait). Amacin (and any other steroid containing eye medications) should not go in an eye with a damaged cornea, but it is really important to keep antibiotic cover up. It's appropriate for a sore eye, inflamed eye that is fluoroscein negative but I always warn clients to do as you do, and keep an eye out for any changes. It's possible that further scratching has caused additional damage.

Increasing fibre with sources like pumpkin, sweet potato, Metamucil etc should all hopefully increase the "soft bulk" of faeces which may assist with expressing the anal sacs. A bigger stool has more chance of putting pressure on the glands but should not requires additional straining to expel. Bones will create small, harder faeces.

Age isn't a disease, and by itself is not barrier to putting an animal under a general anaesthetic. There is potential risk associated with any GA, whether or not there is an increased risk really depends on your dog's general health. Does she have any concurrent illness or problems - liver or kidney disease, heart murmurs etc? We (myself and other vets at the hospital I work in) frequently anaesthetise older animals and try to do it as safely as possible by running preanaesthetic blood profile (or full blood panels if neccessary), ensuring they are on intravenous fluids and creating a balanced anaesthesia plan for each patient. It is ultimately up to you whether you want to go ahead but I would discuss the options fully with your vet to get an idea of risks from the tumours, versus risk from GA (and whether there are more concerns that her age, which is just a number).

Yes and yes. The Rimadyl is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory as you would know. Any trauma to soft tissue (including surgery) can cause inflammation of the tissue, and although the soft palate resection is helping to improve the brachycephalic situation any swelling of the caudal pharynx is potentially a problem. The Rimadyl will help to minimise the swelling, I would expect that there would also be an injection given at the time of surgery to cover the first 24 hours, but this may be included in the anaesthetic cost. Both the Rimadyl tablets and chews for a small dog are of a reasonably small size that could either be hidden or crushed in soft food. Antibiotics are also a given for oral surgery - the mouth is full of bacteria. They are NOT indicated for sterile surgery such as a spey unless the surgery time exceeds 90mins or there was a breach of sterility. Again, the tablets can be crushed in soft food.

We have treated two serious cases of acquired Fanconi syndrome 'suspected' to be related to chicken jerky treats. It involved daily blood tests, teetering electrolyte levels, lots of fingernail biting and 3-4 weeks in hospital on fluids (for 2 small dogs). Thankfully they recovered well and are doing fine, but it was very worrying for a while.

There are different vaccines available. The Protech Adult 3 yearly vaccine has been 'tweaked' to ensure 3 year duration, but its not just 3 times as much vaccine. It's also not exactly the same as the Protech C3. There are other vaccine available (such as the Nobivac C3) which offer the 10 week finish that can penetrate maternal antibodies.

It may well work, and lots of people might do it, but it's not an approved or registered use of the product. This means that the product can be prescribed by a veterinarian for a specific purpose if no other product is available for that species (as was done in the study). It also helps if there is a well accepted, widely published protocol for the use of the alternate product (such as ivermectin or doramectin for demodex). Otherwise, if theres a registered product for a specific purpose in a specific species then that is what should be used.

I think the flush is going through registration at the moment, when I have asked the reps about a prepared solution they've told me to 'watch this space'. The lukewarm water means not warm, not cold tap water, tepid even. Prepared solutions are already going be be at room temperature, not cold and if they are cold they should be warmed even in a pocket or arm pit. Pouring a cold fluid (or an irritant) into an ear canal, particularly one that doesn't have a tympanic membrane (ear drum) can cause neurological signs such as a head tilt or nystagmus (flicking eyes) due to irritation of the middle ear.

Sounds like a good plan. Also keep in mind that what you saw may not have been how things were when the vet examined the dog. I have seem some cases where a the nail bed has been traumatised by a nail catching on something, but it hasn't been pulled off but they are very painful. A week or two later once the nail has grown a bit further, the now loose nail comes off a lot more easily.

Without naming the company specifically, the brand involved in the cases that I am aware of is quite well known - not a random brand in a $2 shop.

We have recently treated two small dogs for acquired Fanconi syndrome (a type of kidney disease) suspected of being related to imported chicken jerky treats. I'm also aware of at least 6 other suspect cases in the local area with the same brand of jerky treats having been eaten in the last few months.

Were the T4 levels checked with a blood test at this time, or is she on a thyroxine trial? Is she still on a diet?

Have her thyroid levels been checked lately? If you're concerned about something internal, then perhaps you could discuss some general blood work up with your vet. Most of the pathology companies have a senior / wellness profile that includes full blood count, biochemistry and a TT4 level at a slightly reduced price. Having two cranial cruciate repairs done is a big deal, if the stifle joints are stable then I would get my vet to do a thorough exam to try to locate any other sources of pain. If it hasn't already been done it might be worthwhile considering radiographs of the stifles and hips / spine, or investigating acupuncture or physio. Cruciate repairs return stability to the joint, but they are still once injured joints and may not be 100% depending on the damage done.

I would take a (mental) step back and assess the whole dog. If he's experienced an FCE that resulted in neurological dysfunction then pain could definitely be playing a part, whether it be local, nerve pain, phantom pain, DJD from altered gait etc. Acupuncture (and possibly physio) would be worth considering, it would also be worth discussing pain relief with your vet as there are several different classes of medication that could help. It's also important to treat any infection completely, self trauma and acral lick granulomas can require antibiotic treatment of weeks to months. Preventing access to the site can be useful - either elizabethan collars or bandaging the limb. Poocow mentioned SABS and this is also something that I would also consider - SABS is Sydney Animal Behaviour Service, headed by Dr Kersti Seksel (a registered behavioural medicine specialist). Repetitive licking can be related to anxiety and pain as well as other causes. If medical treatment does not help, I would certainly consider getting a behavioural assessment.

I can't really give specific advice about what you should do. It's really up to you do choose which tests you can afford and what will give you peace of mind.

It wasn't a specific recommendation either way If you're willing and happy to send the bloods to Dr Dodds, then that would be fine. If one of my clients wanted to do that, I'd be interested in the results. On the other hand, a common response to offering some more specialised blood tests is "HOW MUCH!?!?!....I'm paying for your next BMW / private jet etc". Some of the tests can be run here and would work as a halfway point, but different tests can be run in the US.