Muttaburra

Yes, I agree with the above posts about a trip to the vet just to be sure. Worms can cause bleeding (so can lots of other things) so your vet can recommend a good worming program for your puppy as well as talk to you about his upcoming immunisations. Keep in mind it's reeeeeally cold everywhere at the moment, your pup will be missing all the body warmth of his mum and litter mates. Pup will appreciate a nice warm bed away from any draughts. There is an old trick that can be quite effective, use an old wind-up tick tock clock in the room with the pup, the rhythms of the clockwork can be like a mothers heartbeat. Also a radio can be good too. Hope the little mite settles in soon.

Oh dear, sorry Petaj, I didn't realize you were studying Vetinary Science. My comments were more to emphasise how it can be a big jump to go from a Vet like mine who was renowned in the area for his cat expertise, to someone new and new to being a Vet who just didn't seem to have the right "touch" with cats. The treatment and eardrops all worked fine by the way.

Glad to hear the latest on Kal, she seems to have had a bit of fun today. Can't help but laugh a such a big dog breed goofing off like a puppy. I've checked on the effects of Phenobarbitol and some of the side effects match those shown in Kal. They should be tolerable and not too unpleasant, as long as it has the desired anticonvulsant effect on the GM seizures. Here goes, a couple of snippets. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet...arbitonetab.htm The mood alteration apparently settles down after a while, but luckily the mood seems to be not unpleasant for Kal. The urinary mishaps also point to the Phenobarb medication. Hope you have a good day tomorrow, thinking of both of you.

:p So sorry to hear of Kals increasing seizures, hopefully the medication will bring some respite. I am tearful as I read this, knowing how hard you have tried to find the answers. So here are some big hugs for you and Kal, ;) ;) It's certainly good weather for snuggling into a warm blanket and sleeping, and I think all our dogs know and appreciate just how good that is, along with a bit of cooked chicken, life is still good.

Yes blacklabrador, same happened to me, went from top vet in the town, to a raw recruit. Anyway he pushed the ear scope thing quite far down the cats ear (cat had sore ear) once and the cat put up with it. After he had decided what was wrong and what the treatment was he put the earscope down again, he was pretty rough in my opinion. Anyway as soon as he had removed the earscope, the cat thought about it for a few seconds then socked it to him, I don't know if you've ever seen a cat punch with it's paw, well thats what he did, and whacked the guys arm a few times, unfortunately he had his big claws extended at the time. ;) Cat then stopped and just sat there, deciding that justice had been done.

Sounds like a smart vet, interesting about the hair thingy getting blocked etc. Fascinating isn't it? ;)

Jacque and Sean I couldn't say it any better than Labsrule, those 3 years were extra special. Missed your post earlier, I don't come to RB often, I am so hopelessly attached to my own dogs to be reminded. Special thoughts to you all

Petaj, from what I've read, raw potato is just hard for dogs to digest, I have seen it on various lists of what not to feed dogs. Noisy - What! aren't you prepared to stand next to your dog and hold the raw potato onto the lump for 12 hours?? ;) If it's not an abscess or foreing body it wouldn't help anyway. Needle asperation sounds the way to go.

So sorry to hear, it's a sad time now. Cooper had a great innings and the love of a wonderful family.

Xavier, I didn't get the point about the salt, but three dessertspoons neat??? without water?? That's far too much. Wolf82 who has been giving you such advice? The dog is in a risky situation, don't worry if you and the receptionist didn't quite understand each other on the phone, these things happen when emotions run high. Please take it to the vet tonight.

The injection would probably be to make him vomit, and that would need to be done with Vetinary supervision, because if the flannel gets stuck in the dogs throat it could block off his airway and he could choke, or inhale his own vomit. I think the situation is risky. If it was something smaller, say a handkerchief it would not be such a concern.

Yep, hold off on making him vomit. Attempting top make a dog vomit such a large piece of material that is thick and dense should be done under vetinary supervision in case it might get stuck in his throat and cause choking. See what the emergency vet people can tell you on the phone, try to give as much information as possible.

I agree, it sounds like neurological involvement, stroke, seizure, tumor. Whilst wobbly back legs can be from a number of issues like spinal, or medical problems, the holding the head down and walking in circles would point to neurological issues. Do you know what diet the dog is on, or if it is likely to have been in contact with poisons, toxic plants or insects? Have the ears been checked? Further investigation would be the way to go, sooner rather than later.

Between now and when you go to the vet you could try a slice of potato as a poultice on it. (keeping in mind that raw potato is not good for dogs) from memory can upset the dogs digestion if they eat it. A good vet should be able to tell by the feel of a lump, what the nature of the lump is likely to be. Anyway it does sound like it needs attention. Hope it all goes ok.

Do you mean a face washer or something larger?

Rozzie, here's a link to a really nice Natural Health for Dog site. If you page down a bit it discusses Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar as a possible factor in seizure type things. It could have been a Petit Mal epileptic type seizure. Anyway, they suggest the dog has a number of small regular meals throughout the day, instead of one or two main meals. It looked interesting to me. Hope Maddie comes home soon. The link hypoglycemia link

My parents old Chi had the odd seizure in his later years, recovered from them ok. Is there any chance it was something pressing on a nerve in her spine down one side? Was the head following the body perhaps or was it truly floppy. A low stress lifestyle will help and gentle exercise.

Hi Poodlefan regarding the Parvo booster, does the Vaccine batch change annually (during manufacture) to keep up with the latest mutations? Does anyone know? Are they made locally or imported? Has the CSIRO done any studies on it?

I still think that the possibility of Atypical Cushings due to enlarged Adrenal Gland is the one that makes most sense. With any Pituatry involvement to be ascertained. If SO2 food contamination is involved then it is a side issue, the significance depending on the level of contamination (if any). Other than the weight gain with the chicken added, can you remember if there was an overall improvement in other ways? She was having some Vit B supplemention by then as I remember it. If she is gaining weight and is reaching her ideal weight, perhaps it is possible to add a bit more chicken and cut out a good bit more of the Roo. She seemed to improve on the pre-op meds, and then there was some seizures, is there any information that might suggest these two are associated. If so, what would the vet think of reducing those meds by say, about half? Latest Newsletter from QLD health department reports that tests are showing significant number breaches of the amount of SO2 in meat (2006), article in Off Topic. I guess it's a matter of wait and see what the USA connection can come up with, fingers crossed for something tangible. PS, not sure how the Vic health dept works, but I think it could be tested without dobbing in the butcher.

Hmm, with such a short "chain of handling" it's hard to account for the positive SO2 reading, must be to do with calibration, either that or it is picking up SO2 residue from the mincing equipment, containers, or at the first point of origen. I wonder if the health dept or somewhere might be able to do the full test. Years ago I found a lump almost as big as a golfball in a loaf of bread, it was horrible slimy grey stuff and slightly off too, I rang the health dept and a guy actually came to my place to have a look at it. He thought it was likely to be some grunge fallen off the dough mixer. At least it wasn't part of a dead mouse (which was my concern).

Good heavens Erny, it's just not simple is it? Who'd have thought you'd have to calibrate the test differently for Roos, I agree it is inconclusive. :D From what I remember of the SO2 info the amount of milligrams daily makes a difference, below certain levels only has a mild effect, above certain levels more significant. Was there ever a time when she was fed exclusively on the Roo meat? She seemed to improve and put on weight when you added the chicken to the diet? If the test result is due to added SO2 it could be happening somewhere along the chain that your butcher is unaware of. I agree, it would be unlikely to be in chicken, since it's put there to keep meat red. If it has no impact on treatment then the cost just isn't justified. Hopefully the other new blood tests will give you something conclusive on which to base treatment. Hope you have a good week (despite Kal's situation) and get to enjoy some sunshine and good food (for you too!).

I'm glad this has come up. Over the decades I have religiously taken my pets for annual boosters, thinking it was the right thing to do. It's only in the last 12 months that the information about the questionablity of boosters has come to my attention. So this year I did not vaccinate one my dogs. (huge leap of faith for me, I have been so indoctrinated). I had to take her to the vet a couple of days ago and the conversation went something like this. me: "She hasn't been to the vet for about 14months" Vet: "Are her vaccinations up to date?" me: "Yes" Vet: "Ah but it's over 12 months..........." voice trails away, I look up at him with eyebrows slightly raised, vet goes on to say: "Oh but, current research does say that it's alright and about every three years is ok, except for Kennel Cough and Hepatitis, oh but that paper is not published yet, but will be soon, KC and Hep will need annual boosters" End of conversation about vaccinations. Interesting. :D

Rawleighs has been around a loooong time, my Grandma used to buy it from a travelling salesman, I have seen sellers with little market stalls selling it and I think I have seen it on ebay. Rawleigh's Website Link Perhaps if you contact someone at the website and ask what the ointment for that might be (bearing in mind these preparations are for humans, you may want to check that none of the ingredients are toxic specifically to dogs). All their products are marvellous! NOTE, if you click on the "product descriptions" it will take you to another page and there is a Vetinary list there.

Hmm, that's an interesting thought, how about batman?

Cool, will definitely want pictures of Frodo wearing his snood!