Dagmar

I am so sorry! You did the bravest thing and showed her the biggest sign of love in letting her go. I hardly can imagine the grief you must be in by now, what helped me best in those times is the Emergency Essence of the Australian Bush Flower Essences. Other than that I can only say that I am with you in my thoughts! Big hug! Dagmar

Sounds like an adverse reaction, check this out: http://petscriptions.com/mometamax I would not continue using it and contact the vet. Dagmar

some people have success by sprinkling something like chilli or any other deterrent on the poo. You got some quite good tips here so far, pineapple, picking it up immediately (obviously), NOT making a big fuss over it - and no doggy kisses ;-) Good luck! Dagmar

Very good reply! Saves me lots of typing ;-) I usually send my blood serum to Dr Dodds for checking, I believe she is in California. The hardest part is to find a vet here who is willing to draw some blood so that you can send it off to the US then... Important is to get a full panel thyroid check, the standard T3, Free T3, T4 and Free T4 tests do NOT show auto-immune thyroiditis! In fact they can show absolutely normal results and the dog can still suffer from thyroiditis. And as you mentioned, the symptoms are manyfold. Sudden unexplained aggression was the only symptom I saw in my dog.

Linda, I think, if you put enough pressure on them, they will pay the vet costs. You could send those pictures to the media... I only once used Frontline Plus on my dogs and will never ever do it again. Not only did the fur turn white at the spot, my dogs had the worst allergies for months afterwards! Once on you cannot get rid of that poison. And that is it, lets face it - it is supposed to kill fleas! That was an eye opener and since then I only use natural methods which work perfectly, with no side effects at all. I hope your poor girl will recover quickly. Maybe talk to your vet, if you can apply Manuka honey under the bandage it will heal a lot faster. Dagmar

I assume he was checked for mange? Well, unfortunately Shar Pei's can get lots of health issues due to the breeding. Is he itchy? How is his fur, is it nice and shiny or dull and lifeless? Is he hot to the touch? Have you tried a home made diet for him?

I know, it is really hard to get something into Australia - and very expensive! That is true, there are differences between manufacturers, unfortunately it is very hard for the consumer to see on the label which ones are good and which ones are not. You are so lucky to visit those plants! I wish I had that opportunity. Can you share your experiences? Thanks!

The food has been here for some time now and it is not irradiated. For the opening poster - I've fed Evie on the Adult Vantage and Ocean Fusion - she enjoyed both but particularly liked the latter, she always likes fish! What I do like about the Ocean Fusion is that it contains no other animal proteins, so may be of benefit to those dogs who do have allergies in some areas. Meal is meat with the water taken out of it. Sags So how do they get it into the country? To my knowledge every fresh food gets irradiated, would be interesting to know? I know what 'meal' means, the trouble with commercially manufactured meals and by-products is that they are often highly contaminated with bacteria because they do not always use slaughtered animals. On top of all fungi can be present, quite often in fish meal.

1. They are based in the US. Importing will be very difficult and if, it will be irradiated which can change the structure in some foods (remember the Orijen cat food scandal?) 2. Ocean Fusion - every time I read "meal" I just want to run. No matter, if fish meal, chicken meal, etc. Those are the things we do not want in dog foods (I definitely wont). Canola oil can be genetically modified, why do they not use a good oil instead? 3. Primitive natural - meal, meal, meal again. Is that chicken organic? Why not? What about the egg, was it raw and then dried or boiled and dried? My very personal opinion? I would stay away from it. I also read the many supplementary ingredients, depending on the health of the dog it could be beneficial to add them, but without knowing the dog I would be cautious. They do not state amounts and e.g. an overdose in B vitamins can be quite problematic.

I have to agree with the other ones here, there are too many possible causes for this kind of behaviour. We can surely scare you will all sorts of assumptions, so best would be if he could see another vet (getting a 2nd opinion). Maybe it is something serious, maybe it is nothing to worry about. To find out one needs a diagnose.

It is a tough one, I have 2 boxers myself and one has mast cell tumours. 3 years ago they gave my girl only 6 more months, if I did not start chemo/radiation immediately. She was 6 years old by then. I refused as I felt the same as you (I would only do it for me, not for her) and thought I will make her life nice and wonderful instead of going through those harsh treatments. Lets face it - chemo kills the immune system, the only thing that can possibly fight the cancer! Of course everyone can decide by himself what he wants to do, for me this was not an option. I decided to give her the best nutrition, add supplements, she gets sunshine, acupressure, Flower Essences, Kinesiology, exercise and lots of love and fun every day - and she is still alive and a very happy girl! So please do not get upset when a vet tells you how long your dog will still be around, how can they possibly know? BTW - Prednisone is chemo as well, but you can wean off. Dagmar

Even 2 minutes will be a challenge ;-) Anyway, please keep us updated what happens.

Hi Encouraging .... how long is a "while" ? If it is cough, it shouldn't be going on for too long, especially if it is only a mild case. My boy picked up canine cough (mild dose) when he was a pup. Coughing gone within 24 hours and he was back to bouncing within 48 hours. Started of as occassion hacking gag-around the time i met a rescue boxer pup that owner said he had recovered from the virus, and every vet i saw thought it was environmental factor-allergies, as the test to diagnose wouldn't work-aka rub the throat and nothing-so no vet believe me that when i said she had a hacking cough, and even told numerous vets that i suspected kennel cough, the cough gradual increase to a couple of times a month, and now it about every few weeks-but she would not cough on walks, not cough while eating, no change in appedite or behaviour as i said before we tried 3 or 4 veterinary clinics to try and get a diagnose. She an ox-stubburn little mite, but i heard of kennel cough and thought her cough was very similar sounding, however it was very infrequenty compaired to the kennel cough i had heard. Trying to get vets believe you though is a challenge and half-are they really going to believe a 24yr old with no prior veterinary trainning, when they had years of experience above you? Finnaly convince this vet, and got a reaction from the dog which finally proved i was right all along. Not exactly sure of the timeframe when i 1st notice her cough she got medication-doxycyclin 100mg- 1tablet twice daily for 2 days, then 1 tablet once daily(about 12tablets), and if this doesn't work, i be seeking a second opinion, there another farm vet in the area. She still bouncing around and was ridiculously silly, she was acting like a pup yesterday coming home from the vets. Yes, I know, it can be hard at times. Not doubting the diagnose, what can happen in older dogs sometimes is also that the soft palate kind of drops down (not sure how to describe it better), then the dog also coughs and makes those hacking sounds. My Julie has this, it happens all of a sudden. She had KC as we adopted her 3 years ago, sounds pretty similar, only that bronchitic kind of coughing is missing. Strengthening the immune system will definitely be a good thing in an older dog.

Sounds like it is a very small lump and if it is not getting in the way, I personally would probably not have my dog operated on it, Julie has a few lumps this size on her legs. They swell up now and then, but then go back to the small size they are. Wow - that is a LOT of cortisone! I wonder why she got so much? Clearly that must be hard on her liver - I would consider detoxing seriously!

I have a boxer with mast cell tumours (many!), so I can relate how you are feeling. Saying that, my Julie was diagnosed 3 years ago (she is 9 now) and she is still a happy girl. Where on her leg is the lump, how big is it and is it itching? What happens in mast cell tumours is that the mast cells (which are responsible for producing histamine) suddenly over-react and produce just too much histamine. The vets give cortisone to suppress this reaction. I personally am not a friend of cortisone, but sometimes one has to give it temporarily to stop the mast cells from over-reacting. Is Stella eating again? It could well be that the mast cell tumour slows down after the round of cortisone - or it may flare up again, you will never know. How is Stella otherwise, is she still in good health? Depending on the size and where the tumour is located on the leg, it may affect her walking. If it is operable, you might consider that option. But it is very difficult to get a good margin around the tumour on the leg. And IF she gets into surgery, make sure you ask the surgeon about the anaesthetic as boxers cannot handle the standard anaesthetic very well, they need a special one. If she was my dog, I would detox her and at the same time boost her immune system. It helps my girl for sure. Dagmar

If she is 14 years old, make sure you have her checked by the vet regularly as her immune system will not be as good as that of a younger dog and she could develop pneumonia as a result to KC. Some people add chopped fresh garlic to their dog's diet (1 clove per 40 lbs). If she was my dog, to further boost her immune system I would use a combination of Australian Bush Flower Essences, they work very gentle, effective and have no side effects at all. Dagmar

Could be in you pug's case just a soft palate issue. That happens in older dogs, the muscles relax more and more and the soft palate can drop down. Then the dog does this kind of coughing you described (massaging the throat from chest to mouth usually helps). The other dog is still pretty young, so I do not believe it is the soft palate. If it is not this honking coughing, then it probably also isn't kennel cough. Please do not worry, we are already excluding problems! If you are too worried, by all means go and see the vet. As long as the dog is still alert, eating and drinking normally, I personally would not be too concerned. The moment your dog gets lethargic or stops eating/drinking it is a sign to rush to the vet. How long is that 'hairball' coughing going on, when did it start? Dagmar

I was thinking the same, not sure about the kind of coughing though. Is it a bit like a "goose honking" cough and then he has to retch because he had to cough so much? Dagmar

Great! I wish I always had before/after pictures. It looks a bit like an infection, is he scratching the nose? Did it change rapidly or over time? I agree with you as having the dog as a family member, I do hope you will find a place soon. I also live here and I think the nights are getting really cool now. Have you got many biting midges at your place? Maybe they were the cause for this. If he was my dog, there are a number of things I would do. First it has to be cleaned and kept clean. The dried-on stuff you saw was probably some dried discharge from the wound, not mucous. His nose could be sensitive to the touch, so best would probably be to start with some luke-warm chamomile tea and gently press a soaked tissue on the spot to soften it up. Try more to pad it than to rub it. For desinfection best works salted water or Colloidal Silver. To soothe it, I would try to get some Aloe Vera and apply a bit after cleaning. If he licks it off (I doubt it as it is really bitter), just leave it off and clean a few times a day, ending with chamomile tea. Additionally I would give him 1 Arnica 30C tablet twice a day (or drops). Let us know how he is going! Dagmar

I have not heard about hairballs in dogs, just in cats. How is your dog otherwise, eating and drinking normally, alert or lethargic? How is his coat, shiny or dull/lifeless? Is he a fearful, easily frightened and maybe even aggressive at times? Sorry for all the questions, I am just trying to get a full picture. Dagmar

So sorry to hear that. What do you mean by his back end is going? Arthritis? Or anything else? yes he has athritis in his spine so he drags his hind legs when he walks, he slips over and can't get up, he can barely feel his right foot at all. He also pees his bed everynight and poos it most nights. Is there any treatment for his arthritis? And does he have other conditions as well like spinal canal stenosis?

So sorry to hear that. What do you mean by his back end is going? Arthritis? Or anything else?

I chose to follow the "alternative" track, rather than run with antibiotics, cortisone etc. I know that there is argument that will counter my thoughts, but I took the option of "alternative" first, leaving the conventional option open to me should I require it. I don't have a crystal ball to know whether my choice is right or wrong. All I have is my dog to look at and gauge from how he has been and how he is now. My boy's issues seem to relate more to digestive issues and build up of toxins from within due to his digestive system not functioning at its optimum. The symptoms by all accounts have been the same and/or similar to any other allergy symptoms. Hives; interdigital cysts; oily/flakey skin; ear issues; gunky eyes. We also have symptoms of loose stools and of refusing certain foods. I've worked with him holistically for 18 months. We have periods of success (maybe 4 - 7 months at a time) and then set-backs. I'm now under the guidance of a Canine Naturopath. Even at her own admission, my boy has been a tough job and has taken a long time to respond by comparison to any of the other dogs she has worked with over the years. I've been working under this Naturopath's guidance since last December. We've worked through the hives (he had literally several hundred hives covering the greater portion of his body, when he broke out last November). We've worked through the inter-digital cysts. His coat condition is much improved. He had a small outbreak of hives about a week ago - there were only about 4 or 5 hives and his own body dealt with them without interferance or assistance from me, and they were pretty much disappeared inside two or three days. Nothing by comparison to his previous 2 outbreaks. We've worked through his ears issue and I still tend to treat that once a week (it's only been a recent thing). His coat is good - I know it is capable of being even better. We're working on his now loose stool symptom. I hold my breath when I reluctantly tell you (for fear of jinx) that this seems to be improving as well - albeit slowly and more slowly than one might expect, but that's been the way of it for my boy. It's not over for us and until my boy begins to eat normally, I know things still are not as they could or should be. And I also know that until he hasn't had an outbreak of allergy symptoms for a year, then I won't even remotely begin to think there's a possibility we're through and past that. For us it has been a lot of work, but my boy's issue has made it more complex than perhaps others would find for their own dogs. But we're working on the inside of my dog as well as dealing with the outside symptoms. My kitchen bench is dotted with his 'treatment' supplies. Vitamins; Aloe Vera Gel; Calendula Tea; Colloidal Silver; tablets; ear drops; other powders; cotton wool balls. Don't necessarily use them all at once - it depends on what is happening with him at the time. But looking at him, he's improved, he looks well (albeit lean - but more solid than he was .... time for development may be a contributing factor for that). And I'm happy to know that I've done and am doing it without having to address chemical drugs at this point. I won't tell you that it's easy. But I also wouldn't necessarily suggest that anyone else would find it as difficult as I have either. IMO and as far as my experience has taken me so far, natural methods are worth trying. A very important point - if you are after a 'quick fix', then please don't go 'alternative'. You will only get that with conventional medicine (if you are lucky), a temporary relief due to the suppression of symptoms. If you try to find out what causes a problem in the first place, especially chronic issues, then alternative or complementary ways are the better options. Besides of getting rid of the problems for good eventually, you will learn a lot on the way, if dealing with the right practitioner.

I have considered going the alternative medicine path, but I'm a bit sceptical about some of the things I've read. That being said I havn't discounted it yet. It is good to be sceptical - there are a few black sheep around for sure! I work as an Animal Therapist AND I am a very down to earth person, so using an alternative modality means for me that I should not have to believe in something to make it work (dogs would not know what to believe in anyway) and I would only use modalities with no negative side effects. To be honest, I am not a big fan of so called 'alternative' methods, I prefer the expression complementary. For me personally it is most important to find a way that is best for the dog. Sometimes that is conventional medicine, sometimes it is alternative and quite often it is a combination. I try to avoid chemicals when possible and if they needed to be used I detox the system afterwards. Any questions reg. 'other' ways - please feel free to just ask! I don't bite