Staff'n'Toller

Whole Dog Journal had an article on it a while back...I haven't had a subscription for about 8mths. Basically they are pro limited Vaccines and limited everything else, but said there is no point playing with the devil- treat for heartworm using a conventional product. Mel.

Thanks kja, I was hoping you'd reply.

Ok so I'm pretty sure I'm heading back to Arnhem Land this year and I have the twin lenses that come with the Canon 400D. I'm waiting on 'understanding exposure' to come in the mail so hopefully I can take some half decent shots. I need a lens that can just stay on the camera whilst I'm working but I can grab it at a moments' notice and I might be taking close range shots and longer range type shots but don't really have time to be swapping them over. I read a review quite a while back about the 18-200? so just wondered what brand I should get (I assume Sigma?) and what price I should be paying for it, if in fact that is the best one for the job. I also want to do quite a lot of sunset and beach shots and I have a small tripod for that. I can take a few lenses I will have a backpack. Thanks, Mel.

Dr Gaille Perry and Dr Linda Beer also consult from this practice and they both have multiple dogs..Gaille I think 3 and Linda 4 or more, so I would still consider giving SADS a call and booking a consultation. Whilst re-homing may be your only option, it's not really fair to handball this problem onto someone else. Best she is assessed first. Mel.

I have used Georgia from Optimal too.

I have a walkydog also and *I* couldn't bike without it...Geordie is fine, I however am a bit unco. Good to know Mandy runs 2 kelpies on one... Yes the walkydog lead is quite short (although you could replace it with a longer one if needed) and there is no way they get in front of the front wheel. Mel.

It's very worthwhile doing skin scrapings just in case it's demodex, and find a new Vet. A Vet that won't give your dog a cortisone shot and some tablets in the interim is not worth your money or time. If he continues to scratch himself red raw he will end up with deep skin infections as well. Where in QLD are you? Some members might be able to suggest a Vet. Not sure if you're in Brissy but Powderpuff on this forum has a great Vet who will help you out or can refer you on to a Dermatology Vet if you need. Mel.

Is he desexed? Are you taking him to regular training sessions for your own benefit? He needs to learn some self control, also that when you ask for his attention, it's in his best interest to give it to you.

How old is your friends dog? Adult dogs quite often come back from boarding & training and do very well for a number of weeks before their owners get slack, don't continue on with their training and the dogs work it all out and go back to normal. Bye bye $500+. Fear is no way to train a dog - particularly a 4mth old Golden - neither is punishment so forget the chain and forget Bark Busters. Send him to the in-laws with pigs ears, raw bones and show them how to stuff a kong, give them a lead and ask them to take him for a 20 min walk twice a day- a 'sniffing' walk not a heel-by-my-side-at-all-times-walk, ensure they will give him the stuff to do that you provided them with. You bought a Gundog- they mouth! It's up to you to teach him to soft mouth then not at all, no choker chain is going to do it for you. Tired dogs are quiet dogs, and the same goes for pups, what is his timetable each day? What are you doing to keep him mentally and physically fulfilled? Puppy school is also about early socialisation, very basic training and some behavioural problem solving. If you are getting no help with the mouthing then it is time that you and your pup move on to further training, as others have suggested, so that you have trainers that you can check-in with weekly to help you chart your progress. Kong website Buster Cube Aussie dog toys Barking and Bite Inhibition Self control Lucky last...might be the best one though. It takes a pack to raise a puppy! Mel.

No probs.

40-60ml per kg per day.

As puggles has said if a dog presents at the clinic who has been having regular seizures or are getting more regular then we run a full profile to rule out anything else then start the dog on Phenobarbitone for its weight. The essential thing is though, that we start doing Phenobarb assays (measuring the levels in the blood) some weeks after starting the meds to ascertain whether the levels are within a healthy range now and is this reducing the seizure activity. If not - usually further investigation is warranted. Although you are well within your rights to ask for a Specialist workup from the get go if you wish. Mel.

Well you can start feeding L/d if the Vet agrees, next step would be ultrasound +/- biopsies if you are concerned there is something insidious there. MRI is less invasive but I think the general feeling is still is that you should do an ultrasound guided biopsy to get conclusive negative results. Reduce the cortisone further (if you can) and re-test the liver enzymes down the track. Very hard when you have a drug like cortisone masking or sabotaging your real values. Natural therapies definitely worth looking into IMO. Mel.

I have a 'matt breaker' which certainly works well, and you can buy replacement blades for it. Mel.

Interestingly we found the best one for a Grey is the Kumalong, because it has extra pieces in the sides.

So all you agility peeps- how did ya go? (Might be a bit early yet) Mel.

It's too early to tell quite honestly.

Sensitive stomach or sensitive skin? The other nurse at work and I both feed our cats RC and we discovered that the pet shop lines and the vet line costs are identical. So you might want to look at 14kg bags of Hypoallergenic or Skin Support from your Vet, depending on the problem. Mel.

How was the Polyarthritis diagnosed?

If it was Pancreatitis she would absolutely have sore guts and Lipase /Amylase is generally through the roof....if it is normal then there is no indication that they should run a SpecCPL. Mel.

If it flares up again you would be well advised to start doing some test and rule things out rather than just try this and that. You need to know what it isn't. I would agree with the Giardia testing and EPI, then if no joy, a Naturopathic consult is worth a try. Pentosyl may just be a band-aid solution for what is a bigger problem. Mel.

This may help out a bit... 'Ring my bell'. Mel.

I don't think they have given us a minimum age but I can check the leaflet tomorrow at work. Obviously if you implanted a 6mth dog with it and you wanted the growth factors - well - they would be inhibited. Mine first had his @ 15mths? (can't remember). Mel.

The issue is that *as far as I know* we can't titre test for Bordatella or Parainfluenza at this stage.

If you're working in a Vet Clinic at the moment you should be able to source the Lamb Crumbles- Aussie Pet Health Treats make nice thin ones. The newest thing I've found is tucker time sample rolls see if you can get some from your wholesaler. Mel.