Dagmar

Sorry for asking - but what are the antibiotics for? Dagmar

I do not know where you live. If you are somewhere in Southern Queensland you could give Robert Humphreys a call, he is a fantastic chiropractor. Not sure, if he can help, but that would be an option. Dagmar

I know a very good animal ophthalmologist, her name is Anna, she works in the BVSC in Albany Creek. I have no idea about the charges, but you could just give them a ring and ask. She is extremly good, my dogs and my client's dogs were all very well looked after. But only by her... Dagmar

If your dog is not eating/drinking and is lethargic, then please rush him to the vet! Those can be signs of an emergency. Maybe he has a tick or ate something he shouldn't, whatever it is, don't waste time, get him to the vet asap! Dagmar

I am not sure about the laws where you are, here in Queensland one can grow it in the garden. Anyway, only after the bones have been set it should be used. There are a number of ways to use it. If he was my dog I would probably try either a poultice, tincture(externally) or get the homeopathic form (symphytum). Dagmar

I am having the best results with the Budwig diet: http://animalconnection.com.au/index.php/tips-and-tricks/52-the-budwig-diet.html It is easy, natural, tastes good (yes, you can eat it as well LOL) and has a lot of health benefits. I hope that helps. Dagmar

Dorothea Hofmann is a vet who says she has used it successfully many times before. Dagmar Dagmar is she in Qld? Yes - Glass House Mountains

I would definitely avoid plastic bowls, glass or stainless steel are best. A very simple and easy way to deal with a cracked nose it using some Labello. Obviously not a flavoured one. I am using that on my dogs nose and lips, if they get cracked or very dry and it does not matter, if they lick it. If you are too concerned about that Olive oil is always very good for dry skin. Dagmar

Dorothea Hofmann is a vet who says she has used it successfully many times before. Dagmar

I also agree - and if it is lymphoma indeed, discuss all (!) available options. It is heart-breaking, but there is no cure for cancer. The next consideration is to think about life quality. Chemo can extend the life, but to what costs? And I am not talking about money here... Eventually the cancer will come back and chemo will not work any more. I know a number of people who voted against chemo and used good nutrition, supplements, a bit of sunshine, lots of fun and love and experienced the same survival time as with chemo, only with the difference, that the dog was happy and not suffering. Please do not get me wrong, I am not discussing the pros and contras of chemo here, just giving you options to choose from. At the end of the day it is your dog and you decide what you feel most comfortable with. I believe it is important to get informed and get knowledge about what is available in order to make a decision you can live with. All the best! Dagmar

You seem to be concerned the same could happen to the other eye as well? If he was my dog, I would definitely detox him once he is off the medication as according to TCM the eyes and the liver are related. Good luck with the doggles :-) I tried them on my dogs once and I was amazed how quickly they came off! Have a chat with the ophthalmologist, maybe he has an idea what else can be done preventative? All the best! Dagmar

Wow - good that you got a diagnosis, bad that he will loose his eye. Make sure, they give him enough painkillers after the surgery and if you can, get some Emergency Essence (Australian Bush Flower Essence), put it on your hands when you visit him and just rub it onto his fur. It does make a difference. It is sad, when a young dog looses an eye, on the other hand the younger, the better they adjust to it. He will be fine in the end.

My first thought was ACL as I read this. Without seeing the dog, it is really difficult, but if the dog is in pain - and it sounds like it - there is no reason to delay a vet visit. You need to get a diagnose, then you can check out what options are available. Dagmar

Hard to say from the distance, but it sounds to me like a corneal ulcer? Did the vet also check under the 3rd eyelid? You might consider seeing a specialist as in my experience unfortunately not many vets deal properly with this. It is a VERY painful condition, so please do not delay it (it usually only gets worse the deeper the ulcer grows). Dagmar

Sounds like tapeworms, which are transmitted by fleas. If they were my animals I would use food grade Diatomaceous Earth to get rid of the worms and fleas. It is a natural substance and has the benefit that parasites cannot get used to it like to chemical wormers. Here more info how to use it: http://animalconnection.com.au/index.php/t...l-dewormer.html I hope that helps. Dagmar

Have you tried Slippery Elm bark? It settles stomach upsets like vomiting and constipation and is completely natural.

If he was my dog, I would feed him cooked beef liver once a week. Dagmar

I am glad to hear you are checking their heart rate, etc. on a regular basis. I recommend to my clients to do that all 2 or 4 weeks and keep note. Only then you will know what is normal for your dog. And only then you will know, if things get abnormal. Dagmar

Town water tastes different everywhere, so I assume she does the same as my dogs do, they sniff at the water and then walk away. I do not know where you are, but I live a bit outside Brisbane and we have rainwater tanks, that is the only water my dogs would touch. The same can happen with the water bottle, dogs smell the plastic and walk away. Maybe add just a tiny bit of low salt broth and see, if she likes it then? Or dip your finger in the water and let her see that your finger is not falling off, she can even lick the water off your finger to start with. Dagmar

I can understand that you are concerned. There is a guideline reg. normal resting heart rates as follows: Cats: 120-240 bpm Kittens: 200-300 bpm Small dogs: 90-180 bpm Medium dogs: 70-110 bpm Large dogs: 60-90 bpm Puppies: up to 220 bpm Saying that, it obviously depends on the size of the heart of the dog which can be related to fitness or not. Rommi's respiration rate is absolutely normal and if he appears fine and the vet is not further concerned, I would not be. I have 2 dogs, same breed, same gender, same weight, same age - different heart rate and respiration rate. How did you check the heart rate? Or was that number given to you by the vet? Dagmar

I have not tried it on horses yet, but thanks for sharing, good to know. I noticed that the Glucosamine by itself did not do very much, but in combination with chondroitin and MSM it really works well.

Not a problem, again it goes by weight. The dosage for Vit C (ester) is 100mg for 10lbs of body weight once daily and the dosage for Vit E is 100 IU per 10 lbs of body weight once daily.

Yes, I am also using Ester Vit C, sorry forgot to mention. Let me know, if you needed the VitC/E dosage as well.

Glucosamine and fish oil alone will not be enough. Fish oil is good, but Glucosamine should be combined with Chondroitin and MSM. Vit C and E may also be beneficial. All doses go by body weight, the Glucosamine Hydrochloride dose would be 125mg per 10lbs of body weight daily. Dagmar

The tests showed for sure he is not suffering from Pancreatitis? Just asking as you mentioned he is lethargic and the hunched back. Thyroid comes to mind as well, especially when feeling cold, a sign the hypothalamus is not working well. Even if the standard thyroid test does not show any abnormality, I would send a blood serum sample to Dr Dodds in California for a full panel test. Another idea would be to find an animal acupressurist/acupuncturist and let them check your dog. It sounds to me as if he was suffering from a cold condition and in Traditional Chinese Medicine we have a few points to check out conditions. Of course a diagnose from a vet would help, but if there is none, an acupressurist/acupuncturist can do an independent 'diagnose'. I hope this helps and your boy is well again soon! Dagmar