Jed

the vet knew what it was when she saw the dog's ears. To do tests to confirm the vet's diagnosis would probably cost another $100.00. If you want a test done, go back and ask for it, but expect to pay. why not put the drops in the ears for the time the vet suggested, and if it doesn't work, then go back and spend $100 on a test? Sound as if your vet acted very ethically, and with the dog's best interests in mind.

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Anything you feed him will take a while to work -- remember it has to pass through the dog before it does any good. In the meantime, go to the day and night chemist and buy some Microlax - use it now and keep the rest for next time. It will work immediately. Why is he constipated? Try giving him sunflower or corn oil in his food a couple of times a week, or sardines.

Hi cjm, I am so sorry about Pru. It doesn't sound as if anything would have helped, but all that could have been done was done. Sometimes things just go wrong - no one is to blame - it just happens. And it's more difficult when it is something unusual. best wishes to you and your family.

for you and Sophie, Cavnrott, those test results are just so good. Congratulations on doing a terrific job with her. May she continue to thrive. Wonderful that she loves her outings.

My experience with my own dogs and demodex is that it is not hereditary, but caused by stress. It may be hereditary, but it also can be caused by other factors, and not be hereditary. Most other cases of localised demodex I have seen have occurred during a period of stress - illness, change of home, change of diet (particularly to a low quality food) or another stressful event.

I have bought from Lenards, but now I buy from a pet meat shop. Whole chickens are minced, bones. everything (excluding feathers and feet I guess!). They use the undersized and the bruised etc. Supposed to be preservative free, and I think it is - nice and fresh. I mix it with the veges and other goodies and when I give to to them, it's gone in a flash. They have beef bones as well - some nights are mince and vege nights, some are bones nights. I find it very difficult to buy frames at a decent price, so this suits me well. My butcher also minces frames, but he sometimes minces "off" chicken (as I find when I open the bags) and it's very fatty, although only $1 kg, so I usually buy the better stuff from the pet food shop.

Try adding apple cider vinegar to his drinking water, or if he wont drink it, to his food. It wont hurt the others if they drink it. Also try adding some apple cider vinegar to a bucket of water and rinsing him in it. That might helpl

:D Kaffy. When we lose an old dog, we grieve because we loved the dog over years and years, from romping puppyhood to slow old age, and we shared so much of our lives with him. When we lose a young dog, we lose the future - all our intentions, hopes and aspirations, and that is so much harder. And it is just so damned unfair. When we lose a special dog, it is even more difficult. I know nothing I say will make it any better, but know I am thinking of you, in that sad place where you are. Kaden's spirit lives, and too, he will always live in your memory, and the memory of those who knew him. In time, you will be able to be glad for what was, not for what is lost. Just not yet. Run free in the empyrean, lovely boy.

That's great news about Sophie, CavNrott - hope it continues. You go girl!! Pleased Ollie is improving, even with the setbacks. He sure is one hell of a fighter! Keep it up boy.

Glad that Sophie got a good report, the natural meds are helping apparently. The reward after the tab has worked for me too --- with SOME dogs. BBQ chicken skin is good as a roll up too, but some smarties still spit out the tablet - and eat the skin!! Maybe Sophie can't cope with that though, or be allowed it.

Shek, the last and most important thing you could do for Jaida - and the one which shows your love for her. One we will all have to face, and I hope I face it with as much humanity and courage as you have demonstrated. She knows, and is happy. Go joyfully over the bridge, small doggy spirit.

Shek, I hope it is only a temporary set back with Jaida, hugs to you both , and I am sending you strength CnR, hope Sophie's vet exam tomorrow is good - hugs to Sophie and you.

MotherKing I wouldn't trust my lot for a second with a guinea pig, rabbit, rat or chook. They clean up all the rats and mice they find, and I just know a bunny would last 5 seconds. I think Harry might be tasting, tasting tasting and I would separate them asap. I think the rabbit is better behaved because he has company - he was probably lonely. When rabbits are friendly, and get a lot of handling, they seem happy enough, but if they are by themselves a lot, they are lonely. But if I owned Harry I would think his motives were not altogether pure!! We had a "house rabbit" years ago who co-existed quite happily with a Border x, 2 boxers and a cocker spaniel - he was a very bossy rabbit, and thumped and growled if he felt the dogs were getting out of line, but they never even looked like hurting him. They accepted him, and the other rather odd pets we had at the time as "part of the family".

I have mine vac with C3, or C4 if I can't find C3, and have done for years. Kennel cough is treatable anyhow. Forget lepto unless you live north of Mackay or somewhere hot and wet (hmmm, Bris at the moment!!) it's hardly worth doing a 13 month old for Corona, as it is a puppy disease.

Try this one too Superminty. There are a lot of links at the bottom of it, which are illuminating. http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/vaccinosis.html And this one http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html And this one - go beyond the link given, there is a lot of good information there. http://www.wellpet.org/vaccines/dodds-schedule.htm Jean Dodds DVM has been researching vaccines for 20 years. She is coming to Australia in June, and will be visiting every capital city to hold seminars for vets, breeders and pet owners. the MDBA is sponsoring the one in Brisbane, which will be held on 26th June. Every capital city will have a seminar, and details of each seminar will be posted on this forum. If you are interested in vaccines, this would be an excellent seminar to attend to increase your knowledge - straight from the horses mouth - and a good chance to ask all those questions you want to ask.

This wont help you much, but I did some research about 4 years ago, and the daily ones seemed safer, for the reasons you outlined. My vet at the time said the same thing. However, I have no idea where I did the research, but it was not from the net. I am not overkeen on the net, anyone can say anything. Might have been from books, vet research papers, I dunno now. However, I couldn't be bothered doing it every night, so I do them monthly with ivermec, but not through the cold months, and I know there have been studies/suggestions that ivermec does cause problems, but I have to be able to actually carry out the routine I have, and daily is just not practical for me. If I only had 1 or 2 dogs, I would do daily, and I recommend daily to my puppy buyers.

For the past 10 years - 2 puppy shots (3 for the first 4 -5 years) then the shot at about 12 months (all C3) then no more. No dog has caught parvo, hepatitis or distemper - or kennel cough, come to that, but they don't go to boarding kennels. A couple have been shown. They often go out in public, but not to dog parks - although a couple attended pet expos etc. in the past 12 months.

ZedNQ - so sorry. Run free, good boy. CnR - that's good news. Am sending good vibes Sopie's way.

Kikuya is a known allergen. I'd try the Vit C to boost his immune system. And I'd have a scraping done for demodex, or get a savvy vet to check him out. Natural diet, no grains, no pasta. I have found a general vitamin supplement - Polyvite, made by Rudducks, and available at big pet shops very good for itches. It contains linolinic (sp?) acid which is excellent for skin health. I have found with rescue dogs that adding it to the food seemed to help most of them ..... and if it doesn't, it certainly wont hurt.

sandgrubber There is obviously something very wrong with him. No one on the internet could possibly diagnose it. He needs to go to the vet asap for a thorough check up, and he shouldn't be anywhere where young dogs can knock him over. He is not well enough for that, and serious damage could be done. Old dogs need protecting from silly young dogs. You could try cooking his meat and veges as a casserole in the microwave, making a gravy from the water it is cooked in to pour over it. They will often eat cooked meat with gravy if they are unwell, but that is a temporary thing.

If they all lose weight regularly, I think they may either need more food each day, or a different food, depending on what you are feeding them. What do they eat now? The satin balls will put weight on, but if they all have the same problem, it would be better to fix the problem.

Horse. Goat

Best wishes to Zed, Sophie & Pearl, and their owners.

If he wont take her to the vet, buy some Quit Itch from the pet shop or produce, and follow the directions. It's antifungal, antibiotic and antiseptic, and will cure most minor things, including funguses and ringworm.