OzzieLioness

Oh the delivery was no problem for the dog. It was this 1 kg dog that she'd bred - weirdest thing I've ever seen. Perfectly proportioned (except for the testes) but incredibly small! I was always terrified when I visited and could not see where he was - thought I'd tread on him and kill him! I think it must be a small breeds thing, after reading what you said - and others I have heard about!

My aunt had miniature poodles for as long as I could remember. There was only once she bred a miniature girl she had and it was mated with a toy. She had 2 puppies. One was small like it's sire - but the other one could sit in the palm of a SMALL hand when it "grew up" I have no idea what went wrong - he was perfectly proportioned; just incredibly, ridiculously small (except for the testicles, which were a toy poodle size on a TINY dog and just for his health, he was neutered). I never thought it was right to breed her like that.

Are you keeping it scrupulously clean and dry? Have you gone the cortisone ointment route too? Manuka put out a great cream for problem areas like this ... think it's called Manuka Doggie Balm. At any rate, I would be very reluctant to put a 14 year old dog under an anesthetic if I had not tried everything else first. Good luck! I hope you can find an answer that works for your dog and you.

Fantastic info .... thank you for that! I saw an interesting comment by a dog groomer about Cavs being desexed too early and it affecting their coats? Have you ever come across this? I know it's not a serious health issue, but it got my interest

As far as I have seen, you have NOT quibbled ... just asked about what would be "fair" Someone did comment that you might as well ask how long is a piece of string - and while I may agree with the intent of the comment, to me, saying it in that way is just insulting What I would say to you is that demand for anything - whether its a car, or a dog, will drive prices up as you already undoubtedly know .... sometimes unfairly so! "Covid puppies" are a prime example. Inflation has certainly hit the cost of just purchasing a dog! Look to the breed associations - they will be your best guide, I think. Perhaps if you were more specific with mentioning a breed in mind? Good luck!

We have been considering a Cav ... but this has been very enlightening, so thank you for talking about your experiences .... I had a Saint with so many problems, I had not choice but to end his suffering ... and I have not been ready for another dog until now .... I don't know if I could cope well if this sort of thing happened again.

I guess people just miss the whole point. Mehhh It must be this thread

I've had 2 purebred Dobes ... one came docked and the other had her tail. It is my belief that dogs that are born with a tail should keep it, unless it is causing them pain or discomfort/health issues. It is one of the ways they express emotions! Doing it for aesthetics is just abhorrent, to me. I have never come across a NST - so I learned something tonight .... but I don't believe it makes it a good idea to breed to it. As for Stumpy tails, my sister once had a Australian Cattle Dog Stumpy Tail and the ONLY one of the litter of 8 that was "normal" .... to look at! Then she bred her a couple of years later to a top ACD and she had 2 pups ... sadly, they were like something out of a horror movie with spinal and anal deformities and had to be put down. She also of course desexed her dog.

I also agree that in the absense of ANYTHING else .... it's probably an old dog thing. My sisters 14 year old White Shepherd will, from time to time poop while he's inside laying down. She tried feeding at different times etc., but it didnt stop it. He's inside a lot because he has a little pink on his nose and so he's never out in full sun. It's a small thing and we dont worry about it for such an awesome dog and so much love from him. I hope you can work it out

I've only had one experience with this - a Doberman I had got a big belly, and had milk It was over on Day 64 and never reoccured.

Explained: Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis & Kennel Cough Updated July 24, 2021 Distemper appears to be increasing again, probably due to low vaccination rates. An Australian study for the years 2006-2014 found 29 confirmed and 19 suspected cases, always in un-vaccinated dogs (Wyllie et al, 2016). Explained: Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis & Kennel Cough In Dogs (walkervillevet.com.au)

Epidemiology and clinical presentation of canine distemper disease in dogs and ferrets in Australia, 2006-2014 A total of 48 individually affected dogs and ferrets in 27 case groups were identified, including eight confirmed case groups (> one individual). Confirmed cases were more common in summer and on the central coast of New South Wales and southern Victoria, and occurred exclusively in young, unvaccinated dogs. For dogs there was no obvious sex predilection. A mortality rate of 100% in ferrets and up to 77% in dogs was estimated. Neurological, gastrointestinal and respiratory were the most commonly reported systems affected in dogs and ferrets. There was no evidence that any large, unreported outbreaks occurred during the study period. Conclusions: Continuation of vaccination against canine distemper virus is justified within Australia, particularly for younger dogs. Veterinarians should continue to consider distemper in their differential diagnosis of cases with neurological, gastrointestinal and respiratory presentation. Epidemiology and clinical presentation of canine distemper disease in dogs and ferrets in Australia, 2006-2014 - PubMed (nih.gov)

If people think its rare or non existent, with the way costs keep climbing, there WILL be people who don't vaccinate because of the mistaken belief that distemper doesn't occur. It is so preventable ... and vaccination is something I will NOT budge on. It does not take long for it to get up and running again ... 16 August, 2018 .... "The Tasmanian Government has written to vets warning them to be on the lookout for distemper after the virus killed a puppy owned by someone who has traded dogs across the state. Distemper is contagious and potentially lethal viral disease that attacks a dog's respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. It was once common in Australia in the 1960s and 70s but vaccination efforts reduced the threat to sporadic cases. But vets in Tasmania have received a letter from Emma Watkins from the Government's Animal Biosecurity and Welfare Branch warning them of a recent case where a Hobart dog owner took a sick puppy to a clinic where it died from distemper. "Although this pup presented in Hobart it would be worth being on the alert all over the state as the owners had a history of trading dogs and puppies throughout the state," she said. The dog that died was a mixed breed, but Ms Watkins would not say which Hobart vet clinic treated the sick puppy. Ms Arnott said she vaccinated dogs from six weeks of age, and very young puppies could benefit from their mother's vaccination. "As long as the mother dogs are vaccinated and have very good immunity they will pass that onto their puppies," she said. "As soon as they stop feeding their puppies and passing that immunity on, if you get those pups vaccinated you will have no trouble at all with distemper. "That is why we haven't seen it in Australia for 30-plus years, really." Ms Watkins said distemper was not a concern if people were vaccinating their dogs. Tasmanian vets warned after pup dies from now-rare distemper disease - ABC News

Serious question .... When was distemper made rare? It still exists and to say its almost unknown is, to my thinking, a dangerous thing to state. People will end up stopping vaccinating for it as money gets tighter .... and it is as prices for everything skyrocket .... and then it will be roaring back with a vengeance killing half the dogs unlucky enough to get it.

O-M-G What a brave young woman