~Anne~

Not sure although, I must say, I have never heard of other dogs getting them??

I would think it was perhaps some kind of reaction to an irritant perhaps? He is licking it becaus eit is either sore or itchy or both. I would take him to the Vet to have it looked at if it doesn't go away in or if it gets worse.

If you were told be a Vet after your dog had been assessed, then yes, I would say you were given correct information. ;) Not all dogs that reverse sneeze have problems with breathing. If you are concerned then I would recommend have the palate looked at by your vet.

Raw chicken can cause problems as it contains salmonella. I would be very wary of using any chciken mince that didn't smell and look fresh. Keep the chicken and the vege mix well refrigerated.

Someone has in their signature "The best food for your dog is the food your dog does best on" and I think that is applicable here.

Yagoona is near Bankstown in Sydney (south west burbs). They are only in for the day. Prividing everything goes well you would drop her off that morning and collect that night. Yes, it is often referred to as 'reverse sneezing' as well.

Not a good way to test because you have no idea how long it was already in the shop for when you purchased it nor do you have any idea how long it was between culling and packaging. There is a substance you can buy that, using an eyedropper, you squirt it on the meat and the end colour that it turns depicts the amount of preservative but I can't recall what it is.

Almost all meat has preservatives regardless of where it is purchased. The question is - how much? Meat without preservatives would only last a day or two as a nice 'pink' colour. The pinker it is is and the longer it stays pink then the more preservatives as a rule.

I agree for th emost part with 'witheverythingIAm's' response but no.3. I will not feed pet mince and will only buy human grade mince as it does not have the same amount of preservatives and crap in it as the pet mince does.

I know it might be a bit of a drive for you but try the RSPCA Yagoona. Chris (Vet) has done quite a few palate surgeries. She is doing the Pug I spoke of above that needs the palate, nose and saccules done for a 1/3 of what I was quoted elsewhere.

I recently had a quote from a specialist in Sydney to do the palate, nasal passages and saccules for $2100... but I have since negotiated a deal elsewhere for $800. It wont be cheap. Goosehonking can be seen in many dogs, in particular toys and brachy breeds. The only conclusive way of determining how much of a problem it is is to have the Vet check it out.

How old is your dog? She may just have an off stomach (for any number of reasons) and it may clear on its own by the end of the day. Is she listless at all? Does she still want to play? Has she been to the toilet? If you are concerned then the best thing is to take her to your Vet. A few dollars is a small price to pay if it is something more serious or if it is nothing at all.

It is very common in brachy breeds. The simplest way to diagnose is to have the Vet look down her throat. He may need to put her under an aneasthetic to do this. Phlegm is caused by an infection on the lungs and has nothing to do with an elongated palate, although you may be describing the choking gagging sound that they make when they have this condition. Goose honking, laboured breathing and tiring quickly, problems with keeping cool in warmer weather, heavier breathing then normal when exercising and snoring are all signs on what is termed as brachycephalic syndrome, of which and elongated palate is one of the problems of this syndrome. Other issues that could be affecting your dog are everted laryngeal saccules, stenotic nares and a collapsing trachea. Any dog that suffers this condition is at risk of early death, heat stroke and a collapsed trachea if not corrected. Obviously this all depends on the severity of the condition. There is risk with any surgery and this surgery is not any different. Many dogs undergo the surgery without any problems and there are members here who have had dogs undergo this surgery and have reported fantastic results back. It is expensive though.

Actually, I don't think anything will prperly disenfect it as wood is porous. If I were you I would be laying vinyl over the wood as this can at least be cleaned effectively. But given that you may not want to have a vinyl verandah, and assuming you do not have stray dogs (fosters or rescues) coming and going, I would try phenyl perhaps? It has a very strong odour though so only use it as directed. There is a phenyl bin disenfectant that is sold through most supermarkets in the cleaning isle. I use this outside and it is fine.

I have only ever bought human grade. Also, there is a difference between a butcher's meat and the large supermarket meats. The reason I buy only meat fit for human consumption is that the regulations on the sale of meat for sonsumption for humans is far more strict then pets. Pet mince is usally filled with rubbish, more so then human grade mince. Pet mince is also far higher in preservatives and the butchers have less preservatives in their meat then the large supermarket chains. I worked with a Vet years ago who worked with racing Greyhounds and he used to advise clients not to feed the pet mince to Greys as it slowed their performance. He used to ask clients to bring in a sample of their meat and drop some kind of liquid on it. The more purple the liquid showed, the more preservatives were in the meat.

My only advice would be to have a camcorder or a video capable mobile phone handy and record the next incidence. In most cases, if the dog now appears perfectly normal it is probably pointless to take them to the Vet with only a description of the event. Try to capture it on film and then take him to the Vet if you can.

Low immunity which enables the mites to multiply to such numbers where they become a problem. He believes that, although there are several reasons for the low immunity issues and the suseptibility to this condition, it may be hereditary and linked to the mother. He advises anyone that has a bitch producing pups that develop localised or generalised demodex to have her desexed. Obviously, a dog with immunity issues relating to other illnesses or just 'because' is not the same. Once a dog has issues with demodex it is likely to recur all through it's life, particularly in times of stress, and in the elderly and in sickness when immunity is normally low.

Yes, the same could be said for some trainers as well. So what is the difference? I think Frank has left the thread. I think Frank represents a good number of the pet owning public. I think a lot....

OT: - I loved that book as a child - Pokey Little Puppy

Bubbles had generlised (as you can see in the pic). It progressed from localised. Sorry but I wasn't sure if that was clear in my post. Good luck with your little one. Perhaps call the vet and ask his advice re; the vaccination. Let us know how you go.

A footnote: Bubbles was apparently named Bubbles because when she was purchased as a puppy, she had 'bubbles' around her eyes... which was the beginning of the demodex.

How sad for you. I am sorry to hear that. You must be fearing the worst then with this one understandably. Little Bubbles, the girl in the pic, endured so much. Her whole life as she had known it was with the pain and discomfort of demodex. She had scabs all lover her, her skin was black, she stank and no-one had ever cuddled her because of her condition. She was dunped to live outside while another dog of the family lived inside. Luckily for me, she was able to withstand the insecticide treatment. She was on so many lotions, potions and washes in the first few weeks it was incredible. She was on injections every three days as well. She endured baths (and this was on the middle of winter) where I had to leave her sit and shiver for 15 minutes with an antibacterial wash on her before I could rinse it off. Now, she glows with health. her demodex has returned slightly once but her new owners took her to a specialist this time and it was under control within a week or two. There is every likelihood it will return again over her lifetime.

I have never heard of this. Not saying it isn't possible.... but I have never heard of this and I have come across a bit of demodex with rescue and as a veterinary nurse. Demodex is as a result of the demodectic mite. Most dogs have demodectic mites on their skin. Mites only live in certain layers of the skin. Whilst it is related to low immunity it isn't a death sentence for a dog. Treating the mites with an insecticide, treating any bacterial infection with an anti-bacterial, treating infections with antibiotics and ensuring the dog is healthy and not under stress will clear it. I have never heard of a case that can't be cleared. Here is Bubbles. She developed localised demodex at 6 weeks. A lack of timely diagnoses and owner compliance saw it reach this level by the time she came to me at 13 months. The second pic was taken approximately 6 weeks later. Almost 18 months later and this little girl looks even better then that. She had infected skin, stank to high hell and was a mess.

You 'lost' a dog?? Huh> Do you mean one 'died' from demodex? If so, how?

I would vaccinate. Demodex can take some time to clear and it is not life threatening... whereas parvo is a death sentence.