aspenleaf

Oooookkkaaaaaayyy....

Hi guys, Just wanted to pick your experienced brains on separation anxiety and your guesses as to how a rescue dog that you know absolutely nothing about's it's history may have come to have this condition. I realise this is a dumb question and it's 'anyone's guess' but to all of you in rescue who have had many dogs through your doors, have you had any known reasons or any theories as to how some of your dogs may have ended up with separation anxiety. My situation for example, is that I have a four year old female Ridgeback x (possibly Lab - she certainly has the apetite of a Lab) who has probably had a litter for every season (wrong wording I know) who was surrendered to a pound for 'scratching at the back door'. Now I realise that 'scratching at the back door' can mean 'separation anxiety' but in your speculative minds, what are you thoughts as to how she could have ended up with separation anxiety? It is mild. She howls a little (softly) and yes, she scratches (kills) the back flyscreen (OH has drilled a piece of masonite onto the door so she can scratch all she likes) and scratches at the side gate (don't care about that either). I just wonder all the time as to a) has she had this all her life, if so, how would owners live with that for four years and not have tried to sort it out (maybe they tried, who knows) b) could it be caused by having several litters c) could it be caused by the pups being separated from her earlier than normal d) then I know you can have 'change in living circumstances' etc It's bizarre because she's not an anxious dog, sorry, she doesn't appear to be an anxious dog. She's VERY lazy. She just lies around all day. Of course she's exercised daily and taken to offleash dog areas etc but she's so calm and VERY submissive. If I didn't exercise her, she'd just lay around all day. She's obedient, house trained, excellent on a lead, well mannered, polite, good with dogs, great with children, wants to kill cats and is quiet. I am using the ignore method etc and not making a big deal of comings and goings and to be honest, it's not a severe case, it is I believe a mild case but I just keep wondering how this came about. We've had her for two and a half months so it's still early days. I bought the book 'I'll be home soon' which is fabulous. It actually says that CSA should be cured between 6-8 weeks using their method. Ours isn't cured but we're working on it. So come on all you experienced rescuers, what are your theories as to how she may have or any of your dogs that have had CSA ended up with it? Thank you. Me xox

Hi Huski, Thank you. Yes, she's beautiful. No. He crossed the rainbow bridge in July. He was killed by a car. I didn't post because I was ashamed.

Yes, that's very interesting about the Bio Zet. My washing machine uses that to wash our clothes in. Hi Dee, Tessa is lovely thank you for asking. I want to take some pics but OH has taken the camera down South ie Melbs. Tessa is still destroying our back door and side gate when we're out but we're working on it. It's been two months already. I'm hoping that the separation anxiety or bad behaviour will start to calm down. I'm hoping for a visit by the lovely behaviourist but she is flat out at the moment. I'm bloody well determined to nip this behaviour in the bud. I've read 'I'll be home soon', seen two billion episodes of Cesar Milan, and seen the Fennell DVD. I've just got to be patient. Other than that, she's the best dog in the world. How's Honey doing? I've been following your thread. xox.

OMG! I've done it. Has anyone ever tried Milton on a wee patch in carpet to eliminate the odour? Tessa did a wee in my daughter's room the other day. I was cleaning it and cleaning it, then we had the rain and the humidity and the smell was disgusting! When I clean the mouse cage every morning, I wash the treadmill using a Chux and detergent. It doesn't get rid of that amonia so I tried Milton and it worked perfectly and have been doing that ever since. So I thought I'd try it on the wee patch in my daughter's room and it has worked! Sure her room smelt like the local swimming school at first, but now it's totally neutral. I'm so excited about that. Not sure whether I'll get a huge bleached look on the carpet (I'd say so) but if anyone has a carpet or mat that they don't care about getting a bleached look on, try the Milton. It's bloody great.

Oh wow! I was thinking that the egg may give him the high gloss! Hehe. Wow, what a weight. God he's devine. I know what you mean about the patting. My Mom's cat (black Persian) used to get held alot and patted all the time, the children were obsessed with him and by the time we went home, he was all greasy. Poor thing. All their grubby mits. I'm going to try some chicken mince. Tessa eats anything but I've always used the steak and the red meats. I don't really experiment with chicken so much. I like to pop a salmon oil tablet in there too. My in laws take alot of fish oil and they swear by it being great for well being. Take care xox

Oh! She's beautiful! You are a saint Caz, you really are. Everytime you post a photo and Rocko is in it, I'm always amazed at how glossy he is. What do you feed him?

You're wonderful. Thank you for sharing. PS I just love Rocko. I love your piccies of him.

That's wonderful news! You bring tears to my eyes K9 Angel.

K9 Angel, you are much more than a K9 Angel. I can't find the words to describe your kindness.

RIP Evie. Run free with our Austin. *deelee, you are a brave and very good person. You did the kindest thing for Evie. Time will heal. You will never forget her. You tried your very very best. I take my hat off to you. You have so much love to give an animal. Bless you and your family. xoxoxoxox.

Eeeeek....you have three children under five and want to add a puppy to the mix? I take my hat off to you. That's alot of work.

Thank you to everyone who have provided me with some practical and helpful information. Inspector Rex, what are you trying to convey here regarding your PetPlan comment? Do you think that your comment about having this insurance is a helpful one to me. I remember when I left the hospital after having my third child one of the nurses said to me 'just get plenty of rest so your milk supply doesn't get affected'. You know, it's just unrealistic. Because I have gone through it I know that when my friends give birth two, three, four times, I would never make a comment like 'get plenty of rest' because it just isn't going to happen. So, when we have three young children and a dog that is hyperactive, crate rest for these periods of time is just not going to happen, especially no jumping. I have limited finances hence surgery not being an option. My dog would go absolutely nuts being crated for that long. Thank you once again to everyone who has helped me for my situation, not theirs. I will never visit here again.

Surgery is not an option as we can't afford it. Also this crate rest would be difficult for me as a mother with three young children and a husband who travels overseas for work alot. My workload is hectic, so surgery and post surgery is financially and physically out of my reach. It's so difficult to keep him calm as the three children are constantly playing with him and he's jumping around alot. I will stick with conservative treatment ie, fish oil and cartrophen and less of an exercise regime. At the moment, I'm walking him at 35 minute blocks, once or twice per day. Thanks everyone for your input.

Thank you everybody for your replies. We will keep up the fish oil as it worked on our last Boxer x. He eats raw meat, rice, vegetables and a dry puppy kibble. He is due for another cartrophen injection in a month's time. He appears very happy and is hardly limping at all however the Vet said that with the touch test, he is yelping, this is why he wasn't happy with the conservative treatment. He is crate trained but we have given the crate back to the people we borrowed it off and he now sleeps in 'his office' as we call it. It's a little bathroom off our deck. It's lovely and cosy but would be hard to 'rest' him. He's so overly hyperactive as the lovely Boxers are.

Good evening everybody, Our 6 month old Boxer x Labrador (BYB) has been diagnosed with OCD of the Elbow. Does anybody have any advice or suggestions? He has had a four week course of Cartrophen and our vet is not happy with his progress. He believes he is in need of surgery. I have been researching OCD (Osteochondrosis) on the internet and it's all very negative. I am trying fish oil tablets. Any other suggestions. Surgery is not an option for us right now. Has anybody had experience with this condition? Thank you.

Our big, fat pup is getting desexed on Thursday! Wish him luck. My three year old son overheard me telling my husband that Darby's balls will be no longer and he shouted out 'Darby's going to have no bum'.

Wow! Thank you very much for your responses. Amazing how the reactions differ, just like humans as previously mentioned. Well, considering I suffer hay fever, I have plenty of antihistamines here at home (pity they don't work for me - the vet would probably be able to help me more..hehe). Will keep a very watchful eye on him.

Hi everyone, Just a question. Our pup's Mom (black labrador) had a bee allergy apparently. What is the chance that my pup has it? If he is in fact allergic to a bee sting, what would I do and how long would I have? Would I race to the vet ASAP? What are the symptoms? Apparently his mother's face blew up. Would my pup have the same reaction? Just need to be prepared. Thank you.