SmoothieGirl

Just used it, can you believe it, never thought I'd have to do that. Not reporting the OP, but the clip attached has embedded flashes of war clips that disturbing and will be upsetting to some. Its like it has a bug in it or something, or has been tampered with.

I recognise that pretty puppy! Hi Jules, saw you at Herding the other week, I'm the Smooth Collie owner, der, you'll see her in my signature. Great photo - let's hope she keeps that enthusiasm up for everything.

Haven't had to use it yet, hope I never have too. Interesting though, where as some of you like the fiery 'ok corral' style of posting, I find I start to yawn and wonder when the thread will get back on topic. I'm a fiery kinda girl and love a good debate in real life, but I don't like it on the forum when it gets snippy and personal, I tend to walk away from those threads, I left high school a long time ago.

Is that from the ANKC rules or a state site Showdog? I'm pretty sure I registered as an associate prior to my girl's desexing - but maybe I'm muddled.

Jed I like that. Its always fascinated me that they call moggys Domestic Short Hair or Domestic Long Hair. When I got my first cat and the vet clinic wrote this on her vaccination card, I thought they were mad. She really doesn't need a fancy pants name, she's just a grey and white tooty pat, but very well loved of course.

Sorry late to this thread...Dyz, where have you been herding? Do you remember little Bronte, well we are aiming for her HT at the end of April, or at the very least an attempt at it. Well done on the CCD too, the plan is to start trialing for that the second half of this year. Probably take us a while to get that though

Showdog, I agree with you to a point. But my dogs reactions are not a result of poor diet, poor grooming, being unfit or any of the typical lack of care triggers. My Dobe had beautiful skin and coat, never an issue with her health until she was diagnosed late in life with sarcoma. However my current girl clearly has some issues and they are not confined to one spot - I damn well wish they were, that might help with diagnosis. But when a dog is scratching and biting itself to bits, fluffing around second guessing what might or might not be going on isn't always realistic, hence we go to the vet for some 'expert assistance'. I've had this problem in one dog, they have probably seen it in hundreds, so I look to them for help. You have been very lucky to date with your dogs skin health and I hope that continues for you, but not all of us have been as lucky. Perhaps it seems like all our dogs have allergies and skin reactions, but consider, this is a dog forum, dog owners who care generally post here and this is the health section after all, so the concentration is skewed. Personally I would prefer never to have to post here, but for Bronte's sake, I seek all the advice and information I can gather and you, my fine people, probably know a whole lot more than me. Cheers

Incubation for my girl was about six days, she picked it up at dog club on a Sat (another club dog came down with it too, so was able to pinpoint it) and she started coughing on the following Thurs night. Typically of Bronte, she also came down with mild pnuemonia, so we ended up in emergency that night. She is the kid in class that gets every sniffle going round and trips over every pebble on the path - so unlucky health wise.

Up to 8 weeks I believe. But the PAWS rep has been desperately trying to give me boxes of it to use, but he's never been able to answer my questions about them so I've previously declined. I understand your reluctance then. What has Orbit's dermatologist said about it?

I'd push them pretty hard for the referral CD. January wasn't that long ago and really its not fair of them to suggest that approach as its just another out of pocket expense to you and it should be your decision to escalate the diagnosis options. I'm pretty sure that I just rang the specialist clinic and made the appointment myself, then advised my vet clinic to fax a summary of her records to them. My vet was fully supportive, but I didn't need them to arrange a referral as such. Maybe its different in Vic though. Good luck, hope you have some success soon.

Tricky isn't it. My Dobe was an open mouth and slip down the throat girl, no problems. Bronte on the other hand is clearly smarter and much more sensitive and turns into a wiggle worm so I can't even hold her muzzle. I now use a medium sized piece of diced fresh meat, use a knife to create a small pocket in it and pop them in there. If she's in an obliging mood I just give her this one and then her meal. If she's being a little difficult I give her two diced pieces with no meat in quick succession, then the 'laced' one, then another normal one. The trick is to get her eating the first few without suspicion, slip in the tabletted one and then have the last one right in front of her ready to gobble so she eats up really quick to get that last one. Its not always foolproof, sometimes you have to have a second go (how do they manage to eat the meat and spit out the tablet?) but its a lot less stressful on her and me.

I was given vastly different information. My vet said 48 hours after the last cough she could socialise. My dog day care centre were happy to accept her back after that too, as was another day care centre where we do some formal training classes. Just so you know there was a study done in the States that suggested SOME dogs still shed the bug up to three months after symptoms cease. I read this on DOL and panicked. But when I raised it with my vet, he said it was a very restricted study, only a very small percentage of the dogs demonstrated this and the likelihood that a dog that is not coughing will pass it on is miniscule. So don't fret like I did. I'm lucky in that the vets at my clinic get very excited about keeping up with veterinary advancements, I've noticed a few times now.

Stormie I'll be really interested to see how you go. Have you been given any information to suggest how long it will be before it has any impact?

Good work SAS! Much more useful information than I was able to provide.

MM - Check out my post on this thread http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...30&start=30 There is evidence that some dogs suffer from a skin barrier deficiency, this can be a contributing factor in some dogs suffering atopic allergies.

Luckily Bronte can't read this thread, or she'd be drooling all over the keyboard. Until we started this damn elimination diet they were her training treats and she would do anything for them. Can't wait to get back to them (pretty sure she has atopic allergies), nor can she.

Encouraged by a post Stormie made in response to my thread about an itchy dog I have taken my girl to see a Canine Dermatologist. We are three weeks into our six week elimination diet before starting allergy testing. Its challenging, because she is super itchy but can't really have any medication to alleviate it, but I'm thinking long term here. I just try to distract her as much as possible, wear her out at the park so she will sleep, rather than stay awake itching. She has lost a lot of coat, but I think its just a case of biting the bullet and doing this properly rather than just treating the symptoms. Interestingly the Dermatologist said that contrary to popular belief the larger percentage of allergic reactions are not food related, but are in fact atopic. Also, there is now new evidence that dogs with contact allergies also have a tendency to lack something (??) in their skin to produce the natural skin barrier that most dogs have. The medical community often see this in humans with persistent atopic allergies as well apparently. Personally, I really wouldn't worry about changing his diet until you have seen the Dermatologist, that way they can talk you through it and be part of the journey with you and support you through it. Bronte got to the point of breaking skin with her itching and biting last week and they have prescibed a specific cortesoid atopic cream to take the edge off, but I can only use it three days a week and must withhold it 10 days before the end of her food trial so as not to impact the allergy tests. Doing an elimination diet by myself would have left me without options and a very frustrated dog ripping herself to bits. My girl is on venison and pumpkin, she was on sweet potato but stopped eating it and the specialist clinic said it was important that she got her carbs as they are brain food after all (and I'm not into dumb dogs). They were happy for me to change the carb, as opposed to her not eating any at all. They also have her on Vit B and Safflower Oil to balance out the diet. I have made her training treats myself by slow cooking small bits of venison (yep, lots and lots of hand chopping) in the oven. This is a very time consuming process, but hey we are nutty for our dogs aren't we. I hope you get referred to a specialist really soon and take some comfort in their extra expertise and understanding. PM me anytime if you just want to allergy vent

I'd lay money they are evil!!! :D I've adored Rosie since the first photo I saw of her, but that third one makes me want to sneak over to your place and 'acquire' her for myself, god damn she is so cute.

Happy B'Day Oscar. Man, I just want to cuddle him and squish that squishable face.

Grammar like that generally suggests an international scam. Doubt its based in the US.

L.Tails you are living a more social life than many of us. Looking forward to your update when you can get to it. Missed you round here

The UK have very liberal attitudes to their canine pals and they are much more companions that many Aussie dogs. As a result more of their dog population are better trained and have very good 'community citizen' skills in wide ranging social situations. One reason why I would consider moving back - Bronte would just love it. Mind you while the UK are liberal, France is just loose loose loose, their dogs really do go everywhere.

Typically the media are muddling and fumbling with the details, I just read two news stories in three minutes one from nine.msn and one from abc. One had her at 57 and the dog a pit bull, the other had her at 67 and the dog a pit bull, staffy cross. Either way a terrible incident for all parties involved. Lets just hope we don't see the usual knee jerk repercussions directed at the responsible dog community from the authorities.

OMG Aussie3 that just made it sound even worse.

I don't know the in's and out's of rental agreements, but perhaps there is another option. Could you find a temporary home for Coco, until your lease is up, and then prior to that find another property (that does allow dogs) to rent?