mita

Bebete, that's brilliant!

That's wonderful news about Jessie. I'm very impressed how thorough your vet is.....finding the embedded grass seed & giving her fluids. Just the kind of vet who'd be ready & able to answer your questions about ongoing care. Jessie will be feeling so much better from now on.

I was a jibbering idiot with our 19 yr old. But the vet-dentist told me he had just done the dental work on the tigers at Dreamworld, so our littlie was a piece of cake. And he'd be taking great care with the anaesthetic. In hindsight, I'd have been better off asking about after-care (any pain relief, need for antibiotics). Best wishes for Jessie, she'll do fine. And I bet you notice a difference in her general health & comfort when the infected teeth are gone.

I know how you're feeling about Jessie. I once had a small 19 yr old dog that had to be put under anaesthesia to have a couple of teeth removed & the rest cleaned. She came thro' fine & lived nearly another 3 yrs. That liver count is still only a tiny bit above the normal limit, so I wouldn't worry too much about. From my experience, I'd ask the vet about after-care for Jessie when she comes home....like any need for pain relief or antibiotics. Also ask about dietary needs of an older dog. With our 19 yr old dog, a uni vet told us that the older dog needed less protein in their diet to go easy on the liver. I don't know if that could apply to Jessie.

I just googled RestoraCalm & this info came up. Have you heard of it being used with dogs? http://www.bioceuticals.com.au/product.asp...p;productid=202 Kamuzz, thanks for that link. Brilliant, comprehensive info on the behaviour meds. It also mentions the drugs for 'cognitive decline' or dementia. I've bookmarked it.....shall be referring to it often.

Thanks for that, Poodle Mum. You've cleared up something that was puzzling me. This vet mentioned that the anti-anxiety meds he was referring to, took a while to properly kick in. And you've explained why. You're right....a previously highly strung out dog, when medicated, could appear 'too doped'....when they're only relaxed compared to what they used to be.

Thanks, Clyde. I only guessed that Buspar might be one of the 'new anti-anxiety meds that this vet was talking about. If it was around 10 yrs ago....then Buspar can't be one. Nor Clomicalm....it's been around for yonks, too. Yep, I've know people who've taken their dogs off Comicalm because it zonked their dogs out too much....even at low dose. I'm really puzzled what 'new' meds he could be talking about.

I can only speak as a client of Ithaca TAFE grooming in Qld. They have a practice grooming service where the general public can bring their dogs in. I used to take our Sheltie, Shelley. A couple of students would be assigned to her, supervised by a teacher. On every occasion, they did a brilliant job. And they were specially good at handling Shelley who was a drama queen & nut-case. I was very happy with their work....& Shelley used to trot out as happy as Larry and very beautifully groomed. I liked the way they used to tell me anything they'd noticed which might need attention. And Shelley would get a report card where there were ticks next to icons to rate her behaviour etc. She got a lot of angels (which stunned me!).

A respected vet animal behaviourist mentioned that 'newer' anti-anxiety meds for dogs (with things like separation anxiety) are now available. On prescription, of course. I'd already heard of the use of Valium, Xanax & Clomicalm. The only one I'd not heard of before is Buspar/BuSpar/Buspirone Has anyone had Buspar prescribed for their dog? If, so, what were the results? Or does anyone know of other anti-anxiety meds....which may be the 'newer' ones? Incidentally, there seems a strong trend to use such meds in conjunction with a well-planned behaviour mod program. With which I agree.

I was talking to an experienced vet whose opinion I value....only last week...about skin allergies in dogs. She said the same thing about chicken not being good for such dogs, because of the the additives which promote rapid growth.

I'm no expert, so only a guess. Isn't getting up high a sign of dominance in dogs? Not that dominance is a bad thing.....just means doggie confidence boosting, I'd think.

Our female sheltie was reluctant all her life to go to the toot anywhere else except her own backyard. Nothing could persuade her otherwise. Probably only ever, if she were bursting after hours & hours out. She lived until she was 15 yrs....so her bladder & bowel must have stood up well. The male sheltie was the opposite....every 20 feet, when outdoors....he'd mark something.

The neighbours are innocently rewarding & reinforcing her barking by popping up over the fence in response to her barking. As they say, she gets all excited because she loves the attention. So she's learned that barking brings her human attention. Even a person saying a firm 'No', is giving attention. All the same to the dog. One way of approaching things is for her to learn that her barking sets off something scarey. And also for the neighbours....& anyone else to make sure they only reward her with attention, when she's quiet (that's the time to pop up & say 'Good girl.') When she's being quiet. The barking linked with something scary....needs a couple of big pans that will make one hell of a bang with hit together. Dog barks....then (out of sight) give one hell of a bang of the pans. One only. Then if dog barks further....one other hell of a bang. The hope is that the dog learns that its barking makes that scarey, mystery sound happen. So quiet is better. Important thing is that the dog doesn't see who'd doing it & how. That's a time....as soon as she falls quiet, to pop up & say 'Good girl.' Also something in the dog's mouth can deter barking. Huge bone....some kind of play toy with food in it. I heard recently about a product which was at the vet's. Called a Husher....a muzzle-type thingy that lets the dog eat, breathe, drink. chew, whatever. But it has a section on top of the dog's muzzle that exerts a standard gentle pressure. Apparently the theory is that's how dogs 'hush' other dogs by exerting gentle pressure on their muzzle. I've never used this product, don't know anyone who has.....nor do I know how successful it is or how individual dogs respond to it. Maybe someone else knows more.

BC, after reading the replies, I looked up the Lure Coursing Qld website...& found that even tho' it's usually thought of with the sighthounds, other breeds take part. I found in the race results chihuahuas, cocker spaniels, poodles. We used to have Shetlies...with a male Sheltie that would have loved something like this. But the real speedy ones are the Tibbies. Sammi easily beat a whippet in just a made-up race at the park. So I'd love to see Tibs get into it.

Thank you for the info! Lure-coursing sounds perfect. If a Chi like Harvey can do it, so could a Tib. I'd thought that the smallest dogs which could take part would be whippets.

Tibetan Spaniels can run like the wind. They're the only small breed with hare-feet like the sighthounds. It would be great if there was an organised dog running sport they could participate in. If some Tibbies could do so.... & do well & enjoy it, it would be something to recommend to new Tibbie owners. Because they're cute little dogs with beautiful coats, many people assume they're lapdog types. But they are confident, sturdy & very speedy dogs on those harefeet. Our neighbours called their Tibbie 'Brock' after Peter Brock because of his running speed. The fastest one I've met is Brock's 'cousin'...a small female, Sammi, who is a blur when running. So I'd be interested to know if there is a running sport that such a small dog could take part in.

When I had a dog that had a tendency to skin allergies, flaxseed oil was recommended for that. Now we have a dog that's getting older, 13 yrs, & this time the vet recommended fish oil to help her joints as she ages.

My guess would be something to do with the back, too. I hope you can find someone to give you a diagnosis.

A true hero dog....& a very handsome one, too. Sounds like he was much admired, respected & loved by his human military colleagues.

I had a Tibbie foster that used to do that. Real soft sweetie at home, & totally obedient. But out walking on a leash was a different matter, whenever he spotted another dog coming along on a lead (behind fences or gates, he couldn't care less). I was told to wheel around & start walking in the opposite direction to the approaching dog, then walk on a few yards, then give command 'Sit' & give him a treat. I did this consistently & we spent a lot of walking time, wheeling around in the opposite direction. But the base problem really stayed there. Then he was adopted by a man we knew....a tall & well-built bloke. First time he took this boy out on a walk, not a peep out of the Tibbie, didn't matter how many dogs were approaching. He just never did it again when he was in the company of his new owner. So I'd start by seeing if your dog does the same, no matter who takes him for a walk, & how big they are!

Lilli & Erny, what would you recommend that the OP do? Our neighbour is considering getting a second dog for company for his rather feisty BC X.....& he's been talking about being concerned with dealing with rivalry that arises. Sort of at the step before the OP. Are you saying OP should wait for the dogs to sort it out? And keep testing the extent to which they can be around each other without fighting? Maybe make a decision at some time to keep them permanently separated? If so, what would be the criteria for making that decision? (Like no peaceful moments??)

I've heard that when 2 housemate dogs are battling for top of pack order.....it helps to pick out the one that shows the most dominant behaviours.....& reinforce that status by treating it in certain ways. Which then settles the argument. It's also necessary, tho' for the owner to establish his or her clear leadership over this particular dog....as well as over the other. So obedience in everyday life is important, too. It's explained well on this site. http://spca.bc.ca/Animalbehaviour/dogaggression.asp Other DOLers experienced in advising on problems....or having sorted this problem themselves....might comment on this.

Thank you, Rysup.....which is why my heart is going out to Callech & her Westie.

I know how you're feeling.... Our beautiful Tibetan Spaniel girl died recently.....after being given a medication. She had one health problem only....she tended towards allergic hypersensitivity. First showed up when she developed an allergic reaction to internal sutures when desexed. In that case, I had to search for a good vet....who diagnosed that. And said that if it didn't clear with steroids, he'd have to operate to get the material out. Fortunately, the reaction cleared. She then had a long history of skin hotspots.....but I noticed they were always down around her flanks & bottom. When she started having trouble with anal glands, I asked could this be connected with the allergic hypersensitivity. Was consistently told no. Then the vet got the bright idea that her anal gland problem might be cancer . I asked could they merely be impacted. Was told cancer had to be investigated. So she was referred to a specialist. I told that specialist her only problem was allergic hypersensitivity.....showing up in things like nasty skin allergies. So they put her under anaesthetic to investigate . Results were... no cancer.....the anal glands had been impacted. BUT they had swabbed her bottom end for the operation.....& she developed a massive allergic reaction on her skin that made her scream in pain for 3 nights. To say I wasn't happy was an understatement. Changed to another vet.....who listened when I said that I thought the anal gland problem was associated with her allergy. At first she said, no.....but went & looked up the research & said I'd been right. There is an association. I told her how Gracie's only health problems had been how vet treatments had triggered her allergic hypersensitivity....iatrogenic, it's called. So she said to give Gracie polaramine (antihistamine) for her anal glands ....no problem, she'd had it before. And it did help her. Then the vet said there was some inflammation when the glands emptied, so prescribed an antiobiotic I'd never heard of before. Knowing Gracie's allergic reactions.....I asked about side effects. Was told could be upset tummy. 3/4 way throught the pills, Gracie (an enthusiastic eater) lost her appetite. Told vet who said it was a side effect & said stop the pills. But even then Gracie's appetite would not come back. I told the vet.....who made no remark on this. Then one night, Gracie started to throw up......just as I was getting her into the car to go to the emergency vet, she just died. I looked up the website of the maker of that antibiotic. And was horrified to see that it warned about life-threatening dangers in giving the medication to a dog who might be allergically hypersensitive to it. It said loss of appetite was a side effect.....& it was a serious sign if the side effect continued AFTER pills ceased. And there you have a picture of Gracie & what happened to her. I phoned the vet & told her this.....her answer...'My guess it was cancer.' Needless to say, I've taken our remaining Tibetan Spaniel back to a vet I took the pets to.....12 years ago. If there was a legal action....or a complaint.....that would bring Gracie back, I'd pursue it. But there isn't. Incidentally, Gracie was not only a loved pet.....but a valuable pure-bred, an Aus Ch. I remain appalled by all this.....