dwynwen

I had a dog with 'normal range' bloods that a specialist picked up as showing a problem. He had IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). My boy had weight loss and exercise resistance though - I certainly hope your boy doesn't have IBD, just wanted to point out that sometimes what the lab says is normal, isn't.

As long as it's not left any LONGER than it needs to come up to room temp, it won't hurt. The problem is if you forget you've put it out ... I sit the baggie in some warm water for a few minutes to take the chill off - although mine like it cold in the hot weather..

'cept Sue's not there anymore .. unless she snuck back without telling me.

Benadryl seems to contain different things in different countries ... confusing. Vet asap IMO.

Thanks malisa, I've been wondering about that - I've got a double K and have only used it a few times and not gotten a completely dry coat yet ... obviously need to be more patient (dog and I have been timing out at about an hour)

I have an incontinent older girl and her urine isn't particularly offensive (I'm very sensitive to smells) - something else going on with your girl I'd think.. off to the vet again (sucks doesn't it)

It shouldn't stink when you buy it... I find that cooked peas seem to come out the other end much as they went in, same with cooked carrot. Raw (pulped carrot) seems to get digested though... Strange things, dog innards.

We found Megaderm really helped a scurfy dog.... (available at online shops)

My dogs get protexin too - I buy it from the horse supply place (vet tends to only keep little sachets = expensive) Yukult had a lot of sugar in it last time I checked the ingreds... not what you want if you have a yeast issue in the first place.

Suki is an akita too (I'm assuming Kuma is, given your ID and her name) She was on 1/2 rec dose - also hyper on full dose. She's now 10 - has been off it at least a year - tried stilboestrol but it cause vaginal bleeding (she's speyed). When we took her off it she became a much happier dog - I'm convinced that it made her feel crappy (my technical term for sub-clinical side effects).

My girl was on it for around 2 years - at which time we stopped because it became ineffective (new bottle or not) and the side effects were unacceptable (couldn't increase dose). I never noticed a dropoff at the end of the bottle - but it's an interesting thought - it does have a shortish shelf life... after exercise, before exercise, 10 minutes after a pee ... suki can be incontinent any old time.

yikes.. I had two dogs titre tested in 2005 for $167.28 + consult.... hope it hasn't gone up that much.

Just on the lack of email replies - it pays to check your junk mail folders. I rang a supplier (not the one being discussed here) to find out about a delivery delay and later found the email they'd already sent me in my junk folder .. overenthusiastic email program.

there are butchers and there are butchers... my local guy does a lot of restaurant supplies (they use frames for stock) and orders frames in for me by the box ... I just ring him and ask for 'the usual'... I love my butcher.

Has his thyroid function been tested? Can be an issue with mals.. and can show in skin problems. ETA - the 'normal' t4 ranges specified by the lab is not necessarily the normal for a specific breed.

That'll work... thanks ...

The prices at Priceless Pets are certainly good, but the ordering system is interesting... much easier to do an online payment .... (post office a squillion miles away .. and I want it NOW) but sooooo cheeeeeepppppp lazy vs save money .... aggghhhhh

My boy had massive swelling after being desexed by the pound's vet ... he wouldn't let my vet touch him to take the stitches out. But he let me do it. SM, you do what you gotta do. You'll be fine. Just be glad you don't own a male horse.... (I have a link but I don't think you're ready:-o ) Re the food - don't stress .. Pandii/Shek's advice is good... I weigh my dogs' food but I suspect I'm a bit overanalytical.

Best wishes for Ollie - I used to keep a diary of meds/diet for my Neelix when he was very ill - had my own set of codes for poo quality.... it did help me keep my head around where he was up to. Re the ankle - if at all possible get to a physio asap - they can do some work on it to get it healing and give you some exercises to help strengthen it .... they work if you do them religiously .. My ankles have gotten dodgier (sp) as I've gotten older too.

The following post has some good discussion ... http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=62118&st=0 I've found stronger leadership and desensitisation very helpful with my 40kg boy. Some one on one with a good trainer would be valuable too Good luck.

I'd love a copy - can transfer disc/post costs to you if you PM the details Dwynwen (I was at the workshop - I was the one being dragged about by puppy Sprocket and shown up by Jefferson)

Even after 10 years of double coated dogs - I'm pretty much a grooming ignoramus. I've looked at the Mars Coat King website before and was put off by the terms 'stripping' and 'blades' as it sounded like the coat is actually cut in some way ... I've seen a comment that it should not be used too often, so it must do more than just remove dead/loose hair. Can someone who has one explain precisely the action of the tool?? I'm looking at it for akitas and a woolie malamute. regards Dwynwen ETA - I don't actually know what 'stripping' means in this context.

Suki would have been desexed somewhere between 6 months and 2 years, probably closer to 6mths. She was sold by the breeder at 6 mths and rehomed to me 18 months later. The people we got her from never mentioned the occasional incontinence but certainly it was happening intermittently from soon after we got her.

I have a large breed desexed bitch with incontinence very like your description of Grace's. She is now about 9yo but has had slight problems since I got her at 2yo. Currently it's pretty well managed with propalin liquid given with food twice a day. She's on half the recommended dose which 'just' keeps the incontinence in check. By 'just' I mean that occasionally she still has a small leak. I'm reluctant to increase the dose as it makes her hyper (propalin is basically pseudoephedrine). There is a hormone based treatment as well but we haven't used it so far. We have hard floors for the most part so cleanup is easy, but for situations where a leak is a problem (eg xmas with the inlaws) she wears waterproof dog pants with a heavy duty pad (the human ones).

Sorry to hear that you lost two lovely dogs. They knew they were loved.