Alison

That's fine Riley, but you need to realise that just because you think that way, it doesn't mean that everyone else has to. I am not highly competative, but when you enter a competition you do so with the hope of being recognised for what you have achieved. If it was purely about being a fun day than it would not have been scored and their would not have been a winner. The day was a comp, and hell yeah, I wanted to win it. The club posed the day as a competition, not a fun day. Every training session that I attended in the weeks leading up to the comp was sturctured around it being a comp. Im not sure where you got the impression that it was purely about fun. If that was the case, it would have been called an Interclub Fun Day not an Interclub Comp, and it would have involved fun activities, not ones that were judged and scored. Can we please let this thread die now? I just wanted to state what had happened to me, I didn't expect to have to defend myself over being competative in a comp. Maybe comps aren't for you. See you on Sunday :D

The day was a COMP, it was also a practice run for those who want to trial. I have every right to be annoyed about this Annoyed with your post???, no not annoyed.

Thanks, but she got there yesterday :rolleyes:

Was this in response to my post? Edited to add: Nothing fun about having something you have worked hard for taken away from you cause the judge has no idea! It has been confirmed that the judge failed me for 2 things I should have passed got very high marks in. The rest of it we got maximum points, which would have taken us into a minmum of 2nd place! Oh it's quite obvious this was in response to my post now that you have edited yours.

I don't know his name and wouldn't post it even if I did. The judge was a blo**y idiot though and cost me at least a second place He had no idea how to score and didn't even know the rules :rolleyes: He was told before the comp started how to score on the sit for exam and still failed me when I did it perfectly because he forgot it could be done in front If you are going to put your name up to judge on these days you should take the time to remember the rules. I put alot of time into training for this day and can't get that back. This judge cost me a ribbon On a happy note, Congrats Dog Dayz and Hedds

I agree with Nat that you should state that you work for the place you are recommending. As a club, you rely on new members to keep going. Without new members, your club would not be able to keep you in employment. It is for this reason that you have a vested interest in getting new members to join the club where you are employed. As you have stated, you are not payed a commission on new memberships, however, it does make your job all that more stable if you can manage to keep memberships up.

Are there possums on the property Mickatie? Possums can carry fleas and make it difficult to break the flea cycle. You need to persevere with Frontline for at least 6 months if you have a major infestation.

I agree with Noisymina, the growl is a warning that your dog is uncomfortable. Take that away and you have no idea when the dog is worried or uncomfortable or even in pain. You need to find out what is making the dog so uncomfortable and T-touch is a great way of helping the dog to relax. The book is actually called "Getting in T Touch with your dog." Have a look, it may help to get the dog back in touch with itself. Edited for spelling

Cartrophan is a great drug and does great things for a lot of dogs. I hate to say it Mel, but it doesn't work for all dogs Try changing to fortnightly injections and see how you go, but unfortunately, sometimes it just doesn't work. I put Tyler through an entire course last year and saw no improvement at all. Fortunatley she only suffers from it ever so slightly. I will find out when winter fully hits how the Sasha's blend has gone. She has been on it for nearly a year now and on Omega Pet for over a year. It has been quite cold all week and I haven't noticed any problems as yet, so finger's crossed!

How long was the dog with you Rozzie? You said it showed no signs of atopic allergy whilst with you. What has changed in the dogs environment or with it's food since it went to where it is now? You may have no other choice but to have it sent back to you and see if the problem clears up. Can they take it swimming? Salt water is very good for the skin. Do the owners have any of the known allergens on that list I posted?

Looking into it further it looks like Beth McDonald comes highly recommended Rozzie. She also works at the vetinary surgery at the University of Sydney. You may need a referral by the looks of it. Give them a call and explain that these people are despreate and looking at PTS if it cannot be resolved ASAP. Alternatively, they should be able to ring their vet and ask for a referral to see her. This is from the Sydney University site: Veterinarians from around New South Wales, and Australia, recognise the University Veterinary Centres are staffed by veterinarians of international repute and refer difficult cases requiring the attention of veterinarians trained in specific disciplines. At Sydney this includes small animal medicine, surgery and anaesthesia, dermatology, ophthalmology, animal behaviour, dentistry, neurology, imaging, and nuclear and chemical cancer therapy. Our clinic staff have advanced knowledge in areas of interest including surgery, cardiology, neurology, endocrine diseases (such as diabetes), cancer therapy, and infectious diseases. Referral cases are generally seen between 9am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday. Dermatology Dr Beth McDonald Beth is a Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology. She has a Masters Degree in Veterinary Studies, is a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (small animal medicine) and a member of the International Society of Veterinary Dermatohistopathology. Beth is also a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Dermatologists. She works throughout Sydney and consults at the UVCS on Tuesdays. Beth has two young children, a food allergic Labrador and lives in paradise (Manly). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Linda Vogelnest Linda is a specialist Veterinary Dermatologist who works at the UVC, Camden 3 days per week and works one day per week at the UVCS. She has 3 dogs, 1 cat, 2 budgies, multiple fish, 2 kids and a husband called Larry and lives on their ? acre property in Camden. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs Jackie Eisenberg Jackie is a qualified veterinary nurse who works with the Dermatology service. Jackie is also an accredited Canine Good Citizen Instructor. She runs the weekend puppy classes for the UVCS and has her own full day care centre for dogs. Her 11 year old Labrador x Greyhound is her inspiration and business partner, training both Jackie and the visiting dogs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Tina Baxter Tina is the new dermatology resident, sponsored by 'Virbac'. Tina worked for 4 years in a small animal Practice. In 2003 Tina completed the Post Graduate Distance Education Course in Dermatology. She consults at the Sydney Clinic on Mondays with Linda. Her main research interest is in equine dermatology. Tina is also a very keen Horse rider Address 65 Parramatta Road, Camperdown, NSW. Our contact details are: Phone: (02) 9351 3437 Fax: (02) 9351 7436 Email: [email protected] The Clinic is open: 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm Saturday No Consulting Hours Sunday

Can you call a local vet and tget a referral Rozzie? Im don't know anyone in Sydney but I did a search and came up with this place, not sure as to cost or how good they are, but at least it is a number to start: Animal Referral Hospital STRATHFIELD: 444 Liverpool Rd (Hume Hwy) Strathfield NSW 2136 Phone: (02) 9758 8666 Fax: (02) 9758 8880 BAULKHAM HILLS 19 Old Northern Rd Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Phone: (02) 9639 7744 Fax: (02) 9639 6720 DERMATOLOGY Beth is Sydney's most experienced dermatologist, providing help in the diagnosis and management of all types of skin disease in dogs and cats. She has a lot of success managing chronic skin allergies with intradermal skin testing, and is also particularly interested in endocrine and immune-mediated skin disease. Beth McDonald BVSc(Hons), MVSt, MACVSc, Dip ACVD Rozzie, just a thought, but I would start a seperate topic asking for a recommendation of a dermatologist in Sydney and PM Rappie. On searching for a dermatologist I found a post from Rappie saying how he/she had been working with a dermatologist a while back. Sorry I can't help anymore

Can they try cortisone Rozzie? Giving up after just trying medicated washes seems a little pre-mature

We think Tyler's is from grass. I dont have to worry about it so much now as we do not have hardly any grass in our backyard. Before we moved, I would manage it by washing her feet with pinetarsol (sp?) after walking on the wet grass and drying her feet after she walked on wet grass. It is important to keep grass cut short and not let it go to seed, I would mow my lawn once weekly to keep it short. She would also have cortisone shots every now and again when the allergy was out of my control. This would bring the allergy down and give her a chance to stop licking her feet which would make it worse. I also found that she was much better and suffered from this very little when I changed her to the barf diet and she now has Omega 3 and 6 oils every night (approx 1 tsp a night). I also wash Tyler in Aloveen Shampoo as it has an anti itch formula in it. The pinetarol is also very good but I would not wash the whole dog in it, just use it to clean the effected area when necessary.

Following is some info on Atopic Allergies that my vet gave me to read a few years ago as Tyler suffers from this: (sorry it's long but very, very helpful) ATOPY - ALLERGIC INHALATION DERMATITIS General information Canine atopic dermatitis is an inherited tendency to display allergic symptoms like scratching, chewing and rubbing at the face, paws, armpits and stomach. The age at which this is first seen can be as young as three months or as old as seven years, but the average is between one and three years of age. Common causes of atopic dermatitis include pollens, moulds, dust mites, wool and feathers (see attached list). These microscopic particles can set up an allergic reaction in a sensitive individual. Depending on the particular allergy the symptoms may be mild initially and seasonal (e.g. pollens), or year round (e.g. house dust mites). With time these signs usually become more severe and continue for a longer period (unlike in humans where children sometimes grow out of allergies). Allergic signs can be aggravated by concurrent flea infestation. An animal which is allergic to pollens can also be allergic to insect bites. Even if there are no fleas or other insects seen a single bite can aggravate the dermatitis. What are the major symptoms of atopy? The major symptoms are itching and scratching, often in the armpits and groin. Dogs also rub their faces and lick their feet. However this is not specific for atopy as both food and insect bite allergies can produce these signs. The other signs which result from scratching include hair loss, redness, scale formation (dandruff), darkening of the skin colour and bad odour. How do we diagnose atopy? In most cases we will diagnose atopy by examining your dog while taking into consideration the age and history of your pet. It is important to note that other skin diseases (e.g. infections, mites) can also lead to itchiness so we need to make sure these are not present. Dogs with untreated atopy can develop skin and/or ear infections as a secondary problem. These must also be treated appropriately. The best way to identify a specific allergy is to perform intradermal skin testing. This is a referral procedure which we may recommend especially if your dog suffers from severe or year round allergies. Treatment. Like human allergies, there is no lifetime “cure” currently available but we do have some treatment options to alleviate your pet’s symptoms. These may include some or all of the following: 1) Reducing the allergic load: Allergens are everywhere. They may be in your pets bedding, they may be from plants in your yard, they may be air-borne or they may be in your pet’s food. The combined total of allergens your pet is exposed to is termed its allergic load. If your pet is allergic to a number of things it may only show symptoms if exposed to more than one of these at a time. Eliminating as many suspect allergens as possible may reduce the tendency to itch. Examples include strict flea control (important for all allergic animals), removing woollen blankets, avoiding areas of grass which seem to set the itch off, wiping or bathing your pets feet and belly after walks due to transcutaneous absorption of allergens and considering hypo-allergenic diets. 2) Corticosteroids: In cases of mild seasonal allergy of less than 2-3 months duration, corticosteroids (a type of cortisone), which relieve the symptoms of allergy may be the treatment of choice. Common side effects of corticosteroids include increased thirst and appetite. Occasionally some dogs may develop urinary incontinence due to their increased water intake. These side effects are normal and reverse once the medication is finished. If given for an extended period of time (many months or years), corticosteroids may cause increased risk of infection, hair loss, liver damage, muscle weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea. Long-term corticosteroid usage is therefore not recommended for young dogs. In the older pet, corticosteroid therapy at low doses on alternate days may be the treatment of choice. 3) Antihistamines: The advantage of antihistamines is their safety. Side effects are rare. The most common one is drowsiness, which often disappears after the first few days. Occasionally some animals will develop increased thirst or appetite. Unfortunately the success rate is much lower than in humans and only 30% of the animals will have their itch controlled with antihistamines alone. If we consider using antihistamines to reduce your pet’s itch we may try a number of different types to see which (if any) work the best. Antihistamines are also more expensive than corticosteroids. 4) Omega fatty acid supplements: These naturally derived dietary supplements have been shown to reduce the allergic response. They must be given for at least 6 to 8 weeks to allow them to be incorporated into the animal’s tissues before they will be effective. They are safe and have no side effects. 5) Hypo-sensitisation: This technique normally follows intradermal skin testing. Skin testing is a referral procedure which involves injecting small amounts of known allergens (see list) under the skin and observing which ones cause a small skin reaction. From this information a vaccine can be prepared specifically for your pet, which is given repeatedly over many months or years to reduce the allergic tendency. KNOWN CAUSES OF ATOPY IN DOGS 1) Grass Pollens: Couch, Paspalum, Kentucky Blue Rye Grass, Canary Grass, Prairie Grass Bent Grass , Oat, Maize English Couch, Wheat, Sweet Vernal Cocksfoot, Yorkshire Fog 2) Weed Pollens: Ragweed, Dandelion, Dock Plaintain, Fat Hen, Mexican Tea Rough Pigweed, Nettle. Red Sorrel 3) Tree Pollens: Elm, Palm, Casuarina Eucalyptus, Peppercorn, Birch Melaleuca, Lucerne, Wattle Privet, Olive, Oak Pine, Plane Tree, Sycamore 4) Epidermals: Cat Dander, Feathers, Sheep Wool Human Dander 5) House Dust Mites: D.pteronyssinus, D.farinae 6) Moulds: Peniccillium, Aspergillus, Cladosprium Alternaria 7) Insects/Miscellaneous: Cockroach, Flea, Mosquito Ant, House Fly, Horse Fly Kapok, Rose, Tobacco

If we can get up to speed on time than Tyler and I will be there. Mum has said that she would like to come and watch us, now I just have to find a way to keep all of you away from her while we are doing our thing so you don't tell her any lies about me

You can get a spray from the Pet Supplies that does Flys, mozzies and midgies. Might be worth a shot. It has citronella in it.

are you feeding Vitamin E or rubbing the cream into the skin?

Elmo n Em, I would be giving Elmo liver treats as reward instead of ice cream, and like Ruffles said, give them to him when he sits away from you quietly while you are eating and not when he sits at your feet giving you cute puppy looks to get your food

Ruffles, from what I understand dogs are not born lactose intolerant, they actually become intollerant if it is taken out of their diet. So a dog that is fed lactose products all it's life shouldn't become intollerant. However, even if a dog is not lactose intollerant, I can't imagine that the sugar in ice cream would be very beneficial to a dogs diet. In saying this I must admit, do as I say not as I do, Tyler always has a tiny amount of ice cream whenever I do. I am not a huge ice cream eater though. I would not feed it in large amounts or regularly.

Not sure if I'll be able to go. We haven't been to training for a few weeks, but have been doing some at home. Plus Mum is coming all the way from Queensland to spend that weekend with me. Im not too sure if she would want to spend the day at a dog comp

I would keep giving the Vitamin E tablet and Cod Liver Oil as iCod Liver Oil is an activated Omega 6 EFA. I would also add an Omega 3 EFA. Either Evening Primrose Oil, Safflower Oil or Sunflower Oil. Vegetable oils that do not contain EFA's such as ones from the supermarket (with the exception of first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil) are heat damaged and will have no benefit to your dog. Alternative to giving 3 seperate oils and trying to work out what quantities to give of each, I highly recommend Omega Pet from the Health Food Shop. It comes in a liquid form and contains; Flaxseed Oil, Safflower Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Wheatgerm Oil and Vitamin E. The following is some info on the product, which is made by Melrose Health, found on their website: Omega-3 Liquid Total Omega EFA (essential fatty acid) Promoting healthy skin & coats We love to see our dog’s coat bright and shiny as this is an outward sign of good health. Feeding your dog a meaty bone is only part of its fat requirement. What is overlooked is your dog’s need for the essential unsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6. These essential fats serve functions in cell membranes and in metabolic regulation, eg., as precursors of prostaglandins and related metabolites. Of the two, Omega-3 fats are essential for optimum health and a shiny coat. OmegaPet Omega-3 Liquid is an essential fatty acid product designed to provide Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in a balanced proportion. Composition per 100grams Omega-3 alpha Linolenic EFA 28g Omega-3 EPA Eicosapentaenoic EFA 2g Omega-3 DHA Docosahexaenoic EFA 2g Omega-6 Linoleic EFA 28g Other unsaturated fats 29g; 29g Saturated fats 11g Vitamin A 12,000 I.U. Vitamin D 40 mcg Vitamin E 400 I.U. Directions One to two teaspoons (5-10ml) per 10kg body weight introduced with the normal meal. Available in the following packs 250mL black plastic bottle 2 litre and 10 litre bag in a box - 100% protection from air and But please, remember that all oil fed to your dog needs to be kept refridgerated and not kept for long periods of time.

Dont forget you need to feed vitamin E also so the oil doesn't go rancid in the dogs body!

What Comp

I use an oil from Health Food Shops called Omega Pet. It is the best oil I have found as it gives them a mixture of all the oils they need in the correct quantities. It contains Omega 3 and 6 and already has the vitamin E in it so it doesn't go rancid in their bodies. Oil from the supermarket has been heat damaged. The only one you can use is extra virgin first cold pressd olive oil. However it doesn't contain any EFA's. Do not keep your oils for too long as they can go rancid and always keep them in the fridge. The right oil for your dog also depends on whether your dog can convert inactive EFA's into their active form. Some dogs are unable to do this if they do not produce the enzymes needed to carry this out. If your dog cannot convert inactive EFA's to their active form you will need to feed active EFA's, these include: Omega 6- Evenng Primrose Oil, Borage Oil and Black Currant Oil. Omega 3 - Cod Liver Oil and Fish body oils. Inactive EFA's include: Omega 6 - vegetable oils including; safflower oil. sunflower oil, and corn oil. Omega 3- flaxseed oil and hemp seed oil.