Her Majesty Dogmad

My girl lasted 4 years in relatively good health. It was a very expensive and onerous diagnosis and initial treatment process, it cost about $3000 in 2004 as I recall. I was also supposed to pay about $500 every 2 months for special tests. As I have another dog that is very sickly and has also cost me many thousands of dollars, this was a major worry for me. I decided to see how we went, changed vets and did not have the tests every 2 months and her medication levels remained constant, the tests were always OK when carried out. Vets have different opinions, my new vet would not have put her through all the traumas of diagnosis and initial treatment because she was already about 12 years of age. She developed a tremendous fear of going to the vet which she'd never had before and it never left her. I found administering the chemo to be very stressful but I understand there are newer treatments available now. I hope that if your dog does have Cushings, that it will be the operable kind.

Spot on. Terriers are very intelligent. Just make sure that when you praise her, reward her as well. I find a lot of people say "good girl" in a normal tone of voice, I was the same until the trainer told me I was not getting the message across that I was pleased with my dog's behaviour. I needed to appear a lot more excited and use a higher pitch. As I demonstrate this to people, they are surprised to see their dog does respond differently than when they say "good girl/boy" in their tone.

I lost my dog in July to Cushings. She had the pituitary tumour (the less common and inoperable type of Cushings). She was about 12 when she got it. She always remained very thirsty but for the whole four years she was on chemotherapy. I'd actually just bought more - it's very expensive and in tablet form - you are welcome to have them if you need them, just pm me and I'll post them to you. She had little fits if she overexercised and she couldn't have surgery unless she came off the chemo for a few months first. She had to have a growth removed and we did a dental at the same time but due to the chemo, she had to be on a drip for a day first - whole op and growth (in mouth) removal/testing cost $1000 and that was 2 years ago! She had to be put to sleep because the tumour had begun pressing on her brain, causing her to have anxiety attacks, particularly during the night, for a few days in a row. She was very distressed and only the previous week had been running round the park and I was marvelling at how well she was doing. I miss her very much, my dear little Dixie.

Poor dog. Puppies chew, yes they shouldn't chew furniture but they do, that's why I don't normally have foster dogs under 2 yrs of age because they will do that. Distract her, exercise her, you could try putting citronella onto things she's chewing that you want her to leave. Start toilet training with her, (doesn't matter if you think she already is), this method is all about positive rewards and praise and it helps you build your relationship with the dog. Also, try giving her some Rescue Remedy drops, either onto her tongue or in her water. Walnut Oil massaged onto her chest or her head might also help relax her a little. HOUSETRAINING TIPS Ok - first thing to do is decide on the command (I call it “do wees”) you will repeat over and over. You have to really focus on the dog for about 2-3 days to be successful. You have a pocketful of special treats on hand all the time for the first 2-3 days. Walk the dog several times a day and every time the dog wees, you get very excited and keep saying “Good boy/girl, do wees, do wees” – give the dog treats every time. First thing in the morning, last thing at night and every time you see the dog eat or drink (both precursors to weeing) whisk the dog into the garden and repeat the command “do wees”. Get very excited and present treats every time dog goes. The dog’s aim in life is to please you. If the dog should have an accident inside the house – say NOTHING at all. The dog soon gets the idea that when he/she goes outside you are really, really pleased and he/she gets rewarded. NB: Please note that the smell of urine must be properly removed for any housetraining to be successful. There are products on the market such as “Urine Off” but they are very expensive. A mix of white vinegar and water is a much cheaper alternative and should work for tiles and other surfaces although you should always take care with wood etc. For carpet/rugs, I use either a mixture of Napisan/water or bicarb of soda and water. I completely soak the stain using a dab on technique with a cloth. When it is very wet, I use an old towel to soak up the excess moisture. Again, be careful on any expensive carpet/rug, I have never had any problems but I cannot guarantee any method here.

You are actually breaking the law by allowing your dog to "rush" up to people, same with other dogs. She sounds downright scary. The people on the corner near me had a dog like this and a lowish fence and it was terrifying to pass by. I avoided going by but the Council received a number of complaints about her behaviour and the owners got rid of her, after getting in the behaviouralist that charges an arm and a leg for throwing a chain on the ground. What they should have done was fenced the property better but they are not good dog owners anyway so it was all too hard.

So very sad for you, Ripley was a beautiful innocent, such accidents can never be foreseen or even imagined. Don't blame yourself, take care of yourself.

Can you put a doggie door in?

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One of my dogs will be having this surgery soon and he will be in a crate, he sleeps in one at night anyway and loves it. Before I crated him at night he used to run in the garden and bark at bats all night ...

If it is a clear perspex door, this is a common problem. I have one and have fostered over 50 dogs in the last 5 years and have had a few that wouldn't use it. I saw Dr Harry recommend cutting out 2 squares of wrapping paper the same size as the flap and sticking it to both sides. This gives the dog a target. I always foster small dogs and put them through it quite a few times, takes a few days sometimes but they've all gotten it in the end.

I lost my dog in July, 4 years after she was diagnosed with Cushings. For the whole of that time, she was on Lysodren, it is expensive and I have some left. If someone needs it, please pm me with your details.

What a beautiful boy, I'm so sad for him and you but I'm very glad Thomas was your rabbit though, he only knew love and happiness whilst he was on this earth by the sounds of it. You were only trying to enhance his life by leaving him in the garden. So many rabbits live short sad lives of neglect.

I've had a few dogs like this (bags of bones), I think my current one may have gotten into trouble for eating, he was very worried about going anywhere near his food for the first few weeks. He's not a chi but a pom cross and arrived as a bag of bones a month ago, weighing around 2 kilos. All of the above have given good advice so I won't repeat it. I've had to use the syringe option and the nutrigel but my little guy does want to eat. He's very active so I'm having trouble keeping the weight on! I've always found that strong smelling food often gets them started. I buy Woolworths Homebrand sardines - 3 cans for $1.59 and they are very good quality. Tuna or Pink Salmon are other things I use and the BBQ chicken but I've had dogs refuse even that. I do 4 x small meals a day, I work full time so it's hard but I'm up at 5.30, then I feed again at 7.30 and when I get home and before bed. In my experience, it takes about 2 months to achieve normal weight. Good luck!

I don't go to the store at Westleigh as when I've been in, they have been smoking! They also don't work Saturdays. There is a place I found at the back of Thornleigh/Normanhurst but I haven't tried it yet. I use a mobile groomer, "The Dog Basket" based in Pennant Hills, she's always been fantastic. I must call her!

So sorry for you at this awful time. He was a very handsome boy, sorry that your time together was cut short.

Fortnightly or sometimes weekly, depends on the dog but the important thing is to use a very good quality shampoo. People's dogs get into trouble when they use things like soap powder (yes, really!) or some very cheap shampoos. There will always be some dogs that might be OK but many will end up with skin problems.

Looks like a potential flea problem to me. You need to stop flea infestations NOW - summer is coming. I work in rescue and see dogs crawling with fleas constantly, too many fleas can cause anaemia at worst, and baldness too from constant scratching. Flea infestations can even kill puppies! So not something to take lightly and who wants to scratch all day! Good flea treatment costs about $6 per month - all you have to do is put it on the back of the dog's neck and not within 48 hour BEFORE or AFTER a bath as they rely on oils in the coat to protect the dog properly. I have several dogs and no fleas, occasionally in summer they pick up an odd one at the park but that's it. Frontline doesn't seem to work as well these days so I use Advocate (also covers heartworm, intestinal worms and lice) or Advantage. I buy from the cheapest place in Australia - www.pricelesspets.com.au. It is delivered to my door within 2 days of placing an order. Easy!

I believe he's been desexed many years ago as he had an ear tattoo when I rescued him (he's the boy in my avatar and the apple of his mother's eye!!). They stopped tattooing quite a few years ago. The prostate is an interesting thought, a few days before he had his first accident, he had his anal glands emptied, I wonder if that could have started this off. I have had a new foster dog for about a month but I've since adopting my foxie in May last year I've had a few foster dogs and he's never had any issues. I don't think it is that. I also wondered about just trying the pills, I read on the web that it's hard to determine the cause of male incontinence. He's just taken himself out for a wee as he likes to go to bed early. He's a creature of habit and a dog that has never caused me any troubles, I just don't think he is doing it deliberately.

Be very careful, once bitches fight they don't usually get over it. Different to males. I'd imagine they are cranky after surgery and there is a hormone change. I'd be keeping them separate and supervised when together for a while to see if things settle. Your vet could do some hormone tests. I'd be trying to give them peace and quiet and some Rescue Remedy as well.

He's a very clean dog, I'm pretty sure he's not being naughty but my vet said to give it a month in the crate before I start doing the other tests. I've just had HUGE vet's bills for my other dogs and my vet said that there are lots of tests required to determine male incontinence. I had also read on the web that Chinese herbs help incontinence. I do also go to the All Natural Vet at Russell Lea but it's much further away and hard to get to and I didn't want to wait 2 wks for a check up so went to my local vet.

She wouldn't eat the metamucil when I stirred it into her food. I think the sardines are so strong that they mask most stuff, maybe because I use the sardine water and it stays more moist?

I have a 10+ male foxy I adopted last year from the pound. Apart from having bad teeth and having surgery, he has been in fantastic health. about 2 weeks ago, he was sleeping on my bed - he likes the same spot every night. Anyhow, about 4 am, he'd moved (this was unusual) and I moved my hand to find the covers soaking wet. I took him to my vet that night and she did a urine test and there was no infection. She said to keep him in a crate at night and see if it happened again. I did for 4 nights but it has been cold so I got him back on my bed, under the doona to keep him warm. Next morning, same thing, he'd moved and there was a great big soaking wet large area in his usual place. Back to the vet that night. She said I have to keep him in a crate for a month and check each morning if he has wet. She thinks he is possibly being lazy and doing this deliberately. Having had my other foxy die of a brain tumour last year this frightened me as he had developed incontinence as well but there were other symptoms present. With this foxy, there appears to be nothing else wrong. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this or any suggestions.

I've just had a major problem with one of my girls following her inactivity after a fall. The vet suggested metamucil but when she hadn't poo'd for almost a week, she was booked in for an enema. She wasn't eating much but she used to be regular, every day. Anyhow, the metamucil worked well - about an hour before the enema appointment! I had emptied some sardines and the water into a bowl and stirred it in. In the evenings, she is eating a little meat and loads of cooked vegetables (she's on a vet supervised diet). I knew that pumpkin was great for constipation or diarrhea conversely but she won't eat it - spits it out. So I bought frozen veggies - a selection of different ones and have discovered that she loves carrot, broccoli and cauliflower!! She's also up and about again so our constipation probs have eased.

So sorry Anne, it is a horrible agony when you lose such a special dog and way too early as well. I know you will be together again one day. Hugs to you.

I think you should go to the vet. Dogs have a lot of the same eye conditions that we get. My dog also got an infected penis - it was totally gross. I had to pull back the sheath rub cream in the area 3 times a day ..... he didn't seem to mind I said to the vet "surely you can give him an injection for this" but no, topical cream was what was needed.