Cavalier

Could someone please go through with me their method for teaching correct dumbell retrieval??

My Cavs do it when they are excited!!

Almost all ear infections really need to have a course of steroids in the treatment regime to ease the pain, itching and discomfort for the dog. Just using antibiotics IMHO is unsatisfactory, and usually results in a quick return of the infection upon finishing treatment.

Absolutely! I advise finding friends who have fully vaccinated dogs and bring them over to their house for socialisation. I also go through basic obedience training and highly recommend joining puppy preschool once the vaccinations are finished. (even the dog club up here wont take pups for puppy preschool until they have had all 3 vaccinations). Its not perfect but the risk of catching parvo here is far too great.

It doesnt by the look of it Sheridan - the "mixed tocopherols" are an antioxidant used instead of ethoxyquin. Can I just point out - too much of ANY antioxidant will cause liver and kidney damage. Vitamin E toxicosis is very well documented. However these foods need an antioxidant otherwise the fat in the kibble will go rancid - much less healthy for your pet than a a small amount of antioxidants.

This really depends on the area you are in. In our town it is a very high risk parvo and distemper area. We recommend people not take their pups anywhere outside their yard until 1 week after their third vaccination at 16 weeks. The virus load is so high here we have had so many pups in with confirmed parvo even after their 2nd vaccination at 12 weeks. Not worth the risk IMHO.

Why would you use antibiotic ointment if there was no infection?

Steroids and antibiotics as an automatic 'must have' ? I wonder. Do they really? Or has this just become a common place standard prescription? There are more natural treatments that can be used that are also anti-bacterial. Sure - in some major cases these sorts of this just might be necessary, but in this case we don't know how bad (or not) it is, so there's a chance that the application and administration of drugs may not be necessary, do you not think? Maybe I'm wrong, but I am really becoming very concerned about how swiftly (especially) anti-biotics are suggested and administered without question. No not all hot spots require antibiotics - but most do. Most dog owners leave it until the infection is very deep (because they have tried to treat it themselves). My dog gets hot spots regularly, I catch them very early and start her on a course of steroids and antihistamines and have never needed antibiotics because I havent left it the infection untreated. I only prescribe antibiotics if there is a confirmed bacterial infection - especially with ears. A culture and sensitivity is a must. Most of our hot spots up here are ringworm, with secondary bacterial infection. Usually require a course of antifungals as well.

Bought some of these tonight and they are a winner! The dogs love them Thanks for your help!

I only have a small oven and I baked quite a few bikkies!! Had to do it in many stages

Royal Canin contains BHA - which is very similar to Ethoxyquin and has been linked to the same disorders (kidney, liver and immune dysfunction). However....the levels of ethoxyquin and BHA used in Hills and RC foods are up to 10 times lower than the standards for human food preparations. It would be more dangerous to your dog for commercial foods to not contain these antioxidants.

Mine love carrots too! They have raw carrots instead of bones Have also been roasting and dehydrating sweet potato and carrot slices, however I just dont have the time to cook. Fish is a no go. Ive been cooking up my own biscuits with oats, lactose free milk, wholemeal flour, carob chips and egg and the dogs go crazy for them! But it took me about 12 hours to bake the darn things and the only lasted a week. Shall check out the ones at Coles. Thanks everyone for your help!! Heya, Did you see the Royal Canin sole protein (vegetarian) kibble? My dog went on it for his allergies. No I havent. She has been on Hills z/d ultra, which improved the allergies but not 100%, when I went to a complete vegetarian diet allergies completely gone! Ill see if I can order some in tomorrow. Would be so much easier to have a commercial food to feed that doesnt have meat.

Mine love carrots too! They have raw carrots instead of bones Have also been roasting and dehydrating sweet potato and carrot slices, however I just dont have the time to cook. Fish is a no go. Ive been cooking up my own biscuits with oats, lactose free milk, wholemeal flour, carob chips and egg and the dogs go crazy for them! But it took me about 12 hours to bake the darn things and the only lasted a week. Shall check out the ones at Coles. Thanks everyone for your help!!

Does anybody have any suggestions for commercial biscuit style treats for dogs (similar to lucky dog bones) that do not contain any meat? Have already got the veggie pigs ears (dogs LOVE them!!) and greenies. PS Im not going to enter into a debate about my dogs vegetarian diet. She is allergic to practically everything and this is the only way I have been able to control her skin allergies. I have put a lot of effort into balancing her diet and her health is not being compromised.

Ditto for hot spots. The need a course of antibiotics and usually either a course of oral steroids or spray on steroids.

Still sounds like kennel cough to me. Kennel cough sounds like a deep hacking cough, where they commonly vomit afterwards, and it sounds like someting is stuck in their throat.

I too would look at what she currently eats & see if you can adapt to something suitable. I dont now of any dog that eats the Hills special diets . All my 3 dogs and 3 cats do and they all love it! Got two on Hills k/d (kibble) and h/d (cans) and another on Hills z/d. Cats are on Hills m/d

I agree. This doesnt sounds like a true vaccination reaction to me. Vaccines are straight out of the fridge so are cold under the dogs skin. Its not uncommon for them to scratch at the site for a while after the vaccine.

In my experience once dogs are on treatment for Addisons Disease they are managed extremely well. You are very correct Kelly. Addisons Disease is much more deadly than Cushings if left untreated, but much more easily managed. Treatmet either involves daily tablets or an injection every 3 weeks

I think this is a very important point with dogs sleeping on human beds. Mine are allowed on but only if they have been invited. They understand that it is not their right!! Only my Cavaliers are allowed on the bed.....the GSDs are always on the floor

Whats breed is your dog? These are very classic signs of syringomyelia

Yes unfortunately some vets simply "diagnose" based on breed rather than the individual animal. Not saying this is what is happenning here but it can happen. I took my then 12 month old Cavalier into Murdoch University for a check up (before I was a vet) and the vet told me she had a grade 2 heart murmur. Naturally - being so young I booked her into the specialist cardiac clinic for a full work up (ultrasound, ECG, xrays) and thank goodness I did - the specialist said my dog didnt have a heart murmur and the echo showed a perfectly normal mitral valve The first vet just saw Cavalier and assumed she would have a heart murmur.....

He spends time with all 3 of them during the day. There are no responsible breeders in our area.... small country town. Its BYB city unfortunately

Unfortunately no.... However I have 3 very playful Cavaliers, all with very different temperaments who can show him the ropes. He will be crate trained, and will have very strict rules, as do the others. Once he is fully vaccinated he will be going to obedience training with the others as well. Hopefully we wont run into too many behavioral problems!

Thanks for your help. After examining all the information we have decided to vaccinate him today, then again at 6 weeks. Pup still doing very well. I am absolutely amazed how quickly they develop. Even though I am a vet, we very rarely get the opportunity to see puppies this young. It has been a great learning experience. Every day he learns something new. Just today he started to respond to my voice, and comes when called. One more question. He is eating solids very well, but how do I teach him how to lap water?