MiniMum

Hi Zayda Asher, I hope things settle down for Zayda with her colitis. I am rather new to this forum, but it seems like you and your guys have had a hard time of it. Hi Ruthless, Hope things get sorted out for you - it can be hard not know what sets the allergies off. (and your girl is so gorgeous, her sad eyes just emphasise it) I have got over the shock of seeing so many positives on the intradermal test results a little, and now feel that at least we have something - make that lots of things- to work on. (pretty similar to when my son was diagnosed with a disability). My OH is taking TD to the derm on Friday (huge and crazy work committtments at the moment) and if his ear has cleared up enough, we can start looking at treating the atopy. Be intereting to see what he suggests. Thank so much for the invaluable information and support Zayda Asher. It really does make such a difference knowing there is advise and understanding. I agree entirely about minimisation of chemicals. Unfortunately neem and lavender is just not enough although we did try it for a while. We try to use more natural approaches whenever we can for ourselves, our garden etc, so it seemed the "normal" approach for TD as well when he joined our family - we only went with the chemicals when that didn't work. Maybe living on the edge of a forest is a factor here, and I am sure the climate is as well. Take care

What a topical post I just make my own jerky in the dehydrator. But I have made it using a very very slow oven when had some chicken ready to dry forgetting that I had loaned out my dehydrator I also give carrot and apple pieces I don't use wheat products at all (a personal thing as I don't tolerate it myself) but I will have to try using different flours, thanks for the idea cashew

Thanks, and I agree, it is a shock to see so many reactions on them, poor things Oh do I feel dumb - I thought I had suddenly become allergic to peanuts but instead I realise I'm just TDs allergy indicator I guess I have some more research to do, as well as a diary to keep. I have both allergies and intolerances myself, but don't know about how to check for intolerance with fur people. When the ENT wanted to do remove my sons tonsils, adenoids and put gromits in his ears. I treated him symptomatically, made sure he ate no junk food and boosted his immune system with suppliments. It worked and he didn't end up needing the op. Can this sort of approach work with boosting a dogs immune system? Unfortunately, I can't get away with not giving flea and heartworm treatments. Fleas are one of his allergens and with the climate up here there aren't many (if any) weeks in the year when fleas and mozzies are inactive

Hi, I've been lurking this thread for a while now and thought a lot of thing were relevant to what was happening with our boy. Zayda asher, I think I can really understand to some extent what you are going through. We have just come back from the dermatologist with the intradermal test results. Out 86 allergens TD reacted to all but 11. He only had three 4 s(for red clover) and lots of 3s, but he is only just 12 months old. (I guess the tests are a bit different because of where we live?). We already suspected a few things and pulled them out of the garden, but its not enough. We have also been doing elimination diet, its so slow though. At the moment the main issue is a really bad ear problem (perforated) that has been around since before we took TD in, which the vet said is an effect rather than a cause. Has anyone tried keeping a diary for food and reactions? Yours in itichiness Bec

I got these for my guy thinking they would be okay. But within half an hour of having a small piece he started scratching and he kept it up for most of the night. It was the only new thing he had so it was easy to id what was causing the problem. I don't buy treats anymore - I dehydrate chicken strips myself now. I'm glad Squeak is doing better now

TD acts like a puppy too

What a sweet face your guy has! and he's the same colour as TD TD is nearly 11 months old and is very cuddly. You said you've been doing him for a year now. Does that mean he is about a year old? Poodles go through a coat change sometime before they are 18 months old, and during that time they can seem to matt when you just turn around! TD has allergies so I have to use special shampoo and leave in conditioner, which also helps keep the matts down. If you can get him to a groomer they should be able to help with the knots. Maybe they can suggest a product to help detangle. Cheers Bec

Hi Blossom Yes, we have a mini poodle and we live in Brisbane on the edge of a forest. TD has dense hair all over I spent several hours this morning washing, brushing and clipping him short (except for his poodly ear and head) partly him so we could check for ticks more easily, partly to make it cooler for him. It also happens to make brushing much easier. We haven't had him long and I'm not very good at clipping yet, but it takes weeks to get an appointment with a groomer around here. He is getting used to being clipped now and enjoys being brushed too. This is TD before I clipped him this morning

Hi Blossom, I can really sympathise with the tick thing. I have spoken at length to my vet about tick prevention, and according to him if you live in a ticky area (like I do ) it basically comes down to vigilance - check your pet for ticks every day. Other things can help, but nothing is guaranteed, I'm afraid.

It depends on the mince you buy. If you get the ordinary hamburger grade mince, it has quite a bit of fat. The premium mince has much less. I used to buy medium grade, but TD just doesn't like beef at all. My guy isn't doing too well with bones at the moment even though he likes them, I think due to his ear problems (he came to us with a perforated ear drum, and treatment is long term) so I cut the chicken necks, wings and legs up for him. I spend so much time trying to cut up chicken bone my family gave me a cleaver for my birthday Its fun having a fussy eater isn't it - wouldn't tolerate it in my kids

I'm wondering why he gets frontline plus fortnightly? Thats a lot of chemicals in his system. My guess is ticks - they grow 'em nasty where Blossom lives. If this is the case, then a shorter coat would be better so you can see any ticks better.

This is what worked with my fussy wooly woofer

I agree totally, with the exception that I'd do the same "upgrade" for the human members of the family

Hi Blossom I agree with Hesapandbear, your dog seems to have some rather poodly patches. TD has only been with us since he was 7 months old, and his coat had been neglected so we had to deal with a lot of matts. Now I use a shampoo and leave-in conditioner (Aloveen), and TD also gets Flaxseed oil and his coat doesn't matt anywhere near as easily. I don't know how it would go with Frontline though, as we use something else. He also gets brushed very regularly, every day when he had a fuller coat, but now he is clipped back for summer I can leave it longer without it matting. A groomer could sort the coat out, but they can get very busy, which is why I do my own clipping. Some groomers around here are booked up until after christmas already. Instead of scissoring around his face, have you thought of using a trimmer? They are a lot easier to use and less likely to hurt your dog. My guy used to hate the slicker brush around his face too, but I don't know if he got used to it or getting his coat in better condition helped, but now he seems to enjoy it (except for his paws). But if he really hates his face being brushed I would consider getting it clipped short. Good luck with it Bec

Good luck to you and your puppies

I'm so sorry Mellyo, to lose Mitzi, Oz and Maxz like that You wrote about them so beautifully, you obviously loved them very much. They sound like they were real characters. Bec

Oh, its so sad, I'm so very sorry

Hi Storm So true. We don't know the history of our guy and he came to us with sore ears. After antibiotics, ear washes and drops didn't do much, the vet checked him out (cleaning and hair removal) when we had him desexed. Turns out his eardrum is perforated and he also has allergies which exaserbate it. So now he is have a six week antibiotic course, no drops or liquid of any kind near his ear at all. Took him off dry food and I have also been advised by other DOLers to remove red meat from his diet, which I have done. Since the change in diet he is worrying his ear a LOT less. Hope it all works out for you and him Bec

This thread is just what I was looking for I was just wondering if I could put my easyo back into service Thanks all Bec

Hi reality_22 We give TD sentinal spectrum and the vet says it is good as a wormer and heartwormer. Unfortunately, we found it doesn't do any good with fleas as the poor dog has to be bitten for the flea to be affected. One of my friends uses Neem soap on her Jack Russell who always seems to attract them. I think she gets it from health stores. good luck with it bec

Hi again Kyra I'm sorry you're going through this - its horrible and you feel so helpless. I used to worry myself sick when TD wouldn't eat. Another thing we found (forgot about this one) is that he doesn't like to eat out of a bowl, so he has a plate and he can easily select which peice he wants to eat. My brother in law has a toy poodle who refused what he was given for 5 days straight. The dog won - brother in law felt sorry for him and gave him treats to get him to eat. The dog now will only eat what he wants to, sometimes only eating if the food is put in his mouth. Editd because I forgot someting

We got our little mini when he was seven months old and he wouldn't eat a thing for two days. We thought it was the change of circumstances, but no matter what I offered him, even fillet steak, he would just sniff it and move it around his plate. He would even sit a stare at his plate as if he was starving but just couldn't eat it. We had tried to give him what his previous owner had, but that didn't tempt him at all. I spent a small fortune trying to get him to eat In the end we discovered that he likes his food at room temperture, so I have to take the chill off it before presenting it. We also came to realise that he doesn't have a big appetite and that as long as I kept offering him one tempting morsel after another he was going to keep this up until I gave him just what he wanted. When he did eat I was so relieved I just kept feeding him until he was full. Now I still warm it up, but only leave it down for about 20 minutes and if he doesn't eat it, I take it away and give it to him the next meal (if it goes on too long I do throw it away though). I also only give him enough for that particular meal (he gets two a day), not enough to make up for what he has missed. The hardest part has been training my DH not to give him treats when he hasn't eaten These days he still tries it on, but will eventually eat properly, usually only skips one meal at a time, occasionally two. He hasn't starved himself yet, even though I don't think he will ever be a guts and he will always be a little fussy

Hi Joshua - good question. I alway worry I'm not feeding my little guy right (information overload ?). Looked at the BARF patties, but like other posters have said, thought it was cheaper to do it myself. I cook for my family every day, so I just do TDs at the same time. I don't bother to process or juice the veges as he likes them raw, I just grate them. Or sometimes I will give him half a carrot or zucchini to chew on - he thinks its a treat Egg and yogurt, I'm not sure of how much and how often, but he does get them now and then. But mostly he gets raw meaty bones (little ones for a little dog)