~Anne~

Explanation times with the wolves theory. :D Someone has stated that domestic dogs share 98% of their dna with wolves. Yes? Therefore, wolves and dogs must be very alike. Yes? Did you know that humans share 99% of their dna with chimps? Given that fact, they share an even closer bond with us then dogs do with wolves. Do you believe that we have the same requirements as chimpanzees? Source: taken from a paper written by Bioinformatician Bernhard Haubold of the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology.

Thanks Tess. I guess I'll sit back, read and see what I can learn about it all.

Even though their physical 'insides' would remain similar or the same, their nutritional needs are vastly different. I don't think wolves ate everyday either, let alone twice a day, although I could be wrong. Isn't the theory with raw (or barf??) that 'in the wild' dogs would have eaten animals, including stomache content that contained vegetable and plant matter. The carcasses that people purchase, I presume from a butcher, would be gutted wouldn't they?

To be blunt... and in my personal opinion, I think many consider for too long the dietry needs of a dog. I feed, like someones sig says, "what my dog does best on". I term it raw but I am sure it will be labelled something else by the nutrition nazis. I feed raw minced meat, some veges, sardines, raw eggs (not with the shell), plain yoghurt, diluted pet milk and a handful a kibble a day. I can't even imagine trying to feed a Pug a carcass of anything. The pug is nothing like a wolf. I think we need to set a sensibility here on the 'descended from wolves' theory. Sure, they most likely did originally descend from wolves, but thousands of years of specific breeding and the fact that these dogs have been domesticated for thousands and thousands of years has altered them a great deal. I understand that I descended from Neanderthal man (this is the closest to us at any rate, but they go back even furhter then this)..... but I can tell you now I don't have much in common with that man today. Back on to 'Prey ' feeding. Can someone explain, in simple terms, what it is and what the theory is behind it? This term is a new one for me.

One seizure sounds like a partial and one sounds like a tonic/clonic. My dog, Monte, also has partials where he staggers around like he is drunk. This will last usually about 8 seconds, although it seems much longer at the time. Once or twice during a partial he has stagered, fallen down and completely rolled over and then gets up again like nothing happened. The partials usually always happen to Monte during feeding times. I can usually tell if Monte has had a seizure when I am not around by the following signs; - he will be more tired the usual or he will be more clingy (almost impossible with a Pug to be more clingy but he is) - I can usually find wet patches from drool on the floor (Monte doesn't urinate but many do and this is a sign to look for) - there will sometimes be some 'disruption' to his surrounds - things like his bed will be moved into another position, the puppy fence that stops him from going into areas of the garage I don't want him to will be pushed in a haphazard way etc - he will have a wet patch on the side of his face from the drool or the fur there will be stiff from dried drool Not all dog's seizures will be controlled by medication, particulalry pheno on its own. If the pheno doesn't control them they will intorduce another drug, usually potassium bromide. They can even add in a third drug. Monte's seizures have never been stopped by medication even when it is in therapeutic range. They are obviously much improved but he still has clusters of seizures and on the odd occassion single seizures.

I think you may be wrong about this.... and if true, then the Vet needs to go back to school. Seizure activity is caused by many things. The reasons for the tests are to rule out disease and poisoning. If all the tests are clear and all other things are ruled out it is labelled 'epilepsy'.

The signs; Seizure activity. This can range from; - a tonic/clonic seizure which consists of the dog falling on its side, frothing at the mouth and excessive drool, possible urination and or defecation, rigidty, a running or paddling motion. The dog is usually unaware and not conscious of surrounding dusing this. They may have a period of a trance like state in the beginning and they may run around, become scared, agitated or manic after the seizure. of anything during this entire. - a partial seizure where they may drop to the ground, or may just wobble while standing, drool, tremble and then return to normal. It may last one second or 10 seconds. - air snapping where they snap at the air as if biting flies but they are not conscious of their surroundings when they do this. - facial twitches or eye movements. A dog is consdidered an epileptic when it has more then one seizure and all other conditions and diseases have been ruled out. Epilepsy is a term used for seizures when there is no know cause. There are many other conditions (such as poisoning, cancer and trauma) that can cause a sog to have a seizure. The most common age for epilpesy to develop is between 18 months and 3 years. I forgot to add - I have an epilpetic dog, so does Staffylover, FieryDi, CaseyKay, Lillysmum and a few others. There are some great informative threads here if you do a search.

Yes, and the advice (all on personal websites) talks about it being good for 'splinters of glass' not a whole fish hook. I would consider even a Veterinary Clinic site saying to give cotton balls in an emergency as close enough to factual but I can't even find that. IDWT - the bread I thought was more likely to 'push' the fish bone through, not wrap around it to stop it from sticking in. Again though, fish bones could be considered in a similar category to splinters of glass in size. A fish hook is much large and much more solid.... and the idea that the cotton ball would 'wrap wround' the hook and stop it from cutting in or hooking is a little off the mark I believe. As I said though, I am happy to believe otherwise if someone can show me a more definitive answer.

Thanks, that is an interesting thing to know. Glad to hear it is all sorted. I hope the bubs will now be on the mend.

It sounds like it is chloremphenicol based which is a type of anitibiotic. From my knowledge, chloremphenicol based ointments are commonly used for eye infections. Perhaps give you Vet a call and discuss your concerns with him?

Westielover, where are you getting the titre tests done? What is the cost?

You just illustrated my point above k9katz. I wil repeat. I said "...and can't find anything anywhere apart from one persons text that is repeated several times on a few personal web pages relating to dogs" I am looking for FACTUAL info, not a personal website. Every single website you have quoted states the exact same personal opinion. It is a case of 'repeated internet myth' I think you will find. If you have factual info from a qualified site then I would love to see it. Who knows, there could be some weird truth in this myth....

I have done a reasonably (although not exhaustive) comprehensive search in relation to this advice and can't find anything anywhere apart from one persons text that is repeated several times on a few personal web pages relating to dogs. I'd be interested if anyone has any primary and factual info on this? I will also speak with my Vet as mentioned above.

it's done by vets! I'll have to ask my Vet about that one then!

You said she had been xrayed and so I assume she is under the care and advice of your Vet. In my opinion, they are the only ones you should be taking advice from. As for swallowing cotton balls............ I am not sure whether to laugh or cry at that one.

Thanks Freckles, that sounds logical. I haven't really played with it a lot so I am a little backward with these things.

Freckles - can you do that same affect, using gaussian but not cutting the pic out? I thought you could just lasso to select and then use the blur on the background?? Or am I thinking of something else?

Woohoo, good news!

The Vet.

Here Sammy, in here! This thread contains HEAPS of great info and experiences by quite a few DOLers with epi dogs.

Really. How long ago and how does the new test work?

Sounds like the testing method has changed?

It is done on the spot. In simple terms, they will extract some blood, squirt it through a special 'sieve' mat. The seive is very fine but not fine enough for the microfilarae (baby heartworm) to pass through. The sieve mat is put under the scope and if there is mircrofilarae present then they will be seen as little wiggly wormies under the scope.

As Pugs are a little risky under anestheatic I would ask the Vet to do the dental work while he is being desexed. It will save putting him under again at another time. I recently had a 7 year old bitch have some dentistry work done. They removed approximately 3 teeth and cleaned the rest up. She also had bad breath but it is great now.

I don't feed my Pugs raw bones as I have had too many choking episodes. I do agree that this is best for the dogs though and so, if can, feed them this. To subsitute the teeth cleaning and jaw exercise that bones would normally offer, I give my dogs nylabones. They have always enjoyed these and chew them non-stop (they actually spend more time chewing these fake bones then they would if they were fed real bones). I have noticed though that many of the rescues coming through will not chew them. If you encourage your dogs at a young age though then there would be no problems. I am currently feeding Royal Canin (low cal) kibble but have tried various varieties. They all seem fine although I suspect that I do not notice a huge difference as it is not thier 'main' food source but only a filler.