belgavin

isn't that a pretty major operation? The vet put him to sleep once to cut one right back to the bone; that kept it from growing back for a good 8 months. He told me if they needed to be taken out completely he'd have to cut much farther into the leg and it'd be an expensive exercise plus take a lot longer to heal. I wish it was done when he was a pup but too late now. I suppose if they keep being a problem then permanent removal might be the only answer

really? I understand if it isn't good for a dog but dying from it sounds a bit extreme, unless a dog ingested a whole lot. I've even mentioned to the vet in the past that I've used dettol for his dew claw problems and he said that's fine.

thanks again. no more dettol it is

ok thanks for the advice. I know Dettol probably kills the bugs well but I'm worried now I could make him sick by using it earlier this afternoon. He sat down and licked his paw for ages after I splashed some on. I thought he'd the smell but apparently he likes it. Unless he actually doesn't like it and wants to lick it off!

I've used it a bit before in the past - I just splash some diluted Dettol onto my JRT's dew claw when they get caught on something and there's any blood. Everytime I do so he ends up sitting down and licking his paw for a while, I think he likes the taste because most of the time he doesn't think to lick the claw until the antiseptic is applied. I know that there are no doubt other recommended creams or liquids out there to use on pet wounds but am I risking poisoning him by doing this? I use a very diluted small amount

yeah Urine Off is where it's at, just try white vinegar diluted first and you may be lucky.

have had this happen twice in the last year with our JRT. First time the vet just yanked the broken piece off and all was good, second time was not so easy and it needed to be operated on because it was broken very close to the base. if the break is in the bend/curve like you say it is then it is should be manageable for yourself or the vet to treat, but I suppose if you're unsure whether to pull on it yourself do as others suggest and tape it up for a few days and be sure to add some kind of antiseptic to the area before doing so

true, I didn't think of that. thanks for the replies

yeah I read that. He doesn't scoot at all or lick his bum or anything. I wouldn't think anything of it if a bit was coming out onto his fur when he poos, but the way it is happening when he is asleep/relaxed doesn't seem normal, or is it?

ok I've posted about our JRT's anal glands here before, a while ago, and how the first time I noticed them leaking was in the back seat of the car when he was asleep. I have since had the vet check them and express (while the dog was under for a minor operation on his dew claw) and was told there was barely anything in there anyway. I didn't really worry about it but I find that lately, about once a week, the glands are leaking themselves a little bit, usually when he is asleep. It isn't hugely overwhelming but I sniff near his tail and it is definitely that fishy smell. Since I am worried he is going to leak or spread the smell onto the furniture, carpet or bedding I find myself sniffing near his bum a couple times a day. He definitely gives me a look of 'what on earth are you doing?' So I had asked the vet how to express them myself. He pointed out where the glands were and noted that I probably wouldn't need to do it because they empty themselves when he poos. His stools have been a bit soft as of late so I have added pumpkin to his diet and they have hardened, but the leakage is still happening. I try to express the glands myself but don't really get anywhere, I use a bit of toilet paper and there is no liquid on it afterwards. I can definitely feel where they're at, right around 8 and 4 o clock on the outside of the anus, but just can't seem to get the gist of pushing in and up/out to get anything. Plus I am worried I am going to hurt him. Anyway, my questions after rambling are: - What are the chances I can do damage by attempting to get this squeezing right? My vet said I can't really do any damage, but I read on another forum about the possibility of rupturing a gland? - How do you know that they're full (apart from the obvious leakage)? What I can feel now is like they are 'bulbous', if you know what I mean, but I don't know if that's what they normally feel like Would love to be able to take care of this myself rather than another vet visit. Not that I mind but since his dew claw operation the pup has gotten very antsy when he goes there and has a hard time allowing to be examined. I'll go again if the leakage continues but just thought I'd ask your thoughts here! Sorry for being long-winded!

also try putting moth balls into the vacuum cleaner bag. It stinks but it apparently kills off any fleas the vacuum picks up, or so I've read

While Yoshi was out for surgery on his torn nail yesterday I asked the vet if it would be worth doing a heartworm test. He told me that, in regards to my missed dosages, as long as 60 days hadn't gone by in between tablets the likelihood of worm infection drops from something like 99% to 97%. Don't know how spot on that was but I suppose if he was after extra money he would have lied and said it was needed so I trust him

UPDATE - just took him this afternoon and he needed to be put under to have the nail clipped back right to close to the skin with a bone-cutting implement. Apparently the break was way too close to the skin to be able to clip it when awake by the vet or me, too much pain for the pup. So that's done and he's all bandaged up for a few days. Permanent removal is and was an option but I opted to make sure that I can keep them clipped down short enough from now on so no damage happens again, even if it means taking him to the vet for special visits just to do that. Thanks for your replies all again and I'm glad I took him and didn't wait until it fell off or something because infection would definitely have happened. He is on anti-biotics now

I am only slightly worried as, although he has been on Interceptor since whatever age they usually start (6 months? can't recall), there has been 1 or 2 instances when both myself and my partner thought the other person had covered it for that month and he has missed a dose. Hasn't happened for a while as I make sure to be rigid with it now. I'm sure I'm just being paranoid but thanks for the replies. Am off to the vet in half hour anyway will ask if he thinks it is worth doing

Our Yoshi expelled his all over the car back seat last month, it was the first time I have seen or noticed it happening in his 3+ years of life. He was asleep most of the trip home so I assume it happened then when he was relaxed. Kind of scary knowing it could happen at any time in the house!

ok thanks. does it cost anything or is it just part of a standard consultation?

hi all, I'm not particularly worried that our JRT has heartworm as he is regularly given Interceptor Spectrum, but I read online that for people who get new dogs the vet can do a simple test to see if it is present? Just curious, what sort of test is this? I would have thought it'd be at least a blood test that would take a while for results to get back

thanks for the replies. I am willing to give it another try myself but I'm worried can I do damage if I clip it down to the base where it is broken? Won't that hurt like hell because its right at the quick?

Because of plenty of walks on hard surfaces we don't really need to trim our JRT's main nails, but his dew claws have always been a problem as he is fussy about his paws and squirms/squeals/latches-onto me whenever he sees the clippers anywhere near him. I have attempted for a long time to get him used to them and the feeling of touching his paws, he is fine most of the time but I cannot get the actual clippers around a nail before he spazzes out. So, as you can see in the pic, we had trouble with his claw that is on the left in the photo. Took him to the vet, who cut it off all the way down and now it seems to not really be growing back, which is probably a good thing. This was about 2-3 months ago. Now the right claw has done the same thing the other did and has been caught on something and turned sort of sideways. There has been a small amount of bleeding and I have applied a little diluted dettol. What are the chances it'll just fall of if I let it go, or is there a high risk of infection of his thumb/paw if it is left? I'll take him to the vet again but last time seemed almost pointless as he clipped it off in 2 seconds and said it probably would have fallen off anyway. The nail seems almost broken when touching it and I can push it almost horizontal. I tried to clip it last night and came very close to just getting the tip off but he became very traumatized. There is no swelling or anything at the base of the claw, it is just dark from I guess dirt and maybe some dried blood. His actual thumb/paw is a little pink but no swelling. Any thoughts appreciated! Thanks.

He eats Eagle Pack kibble and plenty of raw chicken and beef, canned food maybe 1-2 nights a week but only a bit. I'll try to cut it out completely and see if there is any difference, although after 3 years this is the first time I have noticed it has happened. I suppose it has several times before but he must have done it outside or somewhere else I can't smell it

I do not want to think about this stuff anywhere near my face, let alone in the mouth! That would destroy my year. Thanks for the diagram roxy. I might just leave it until going to the vet next though, as I said I have tried and nothing seems to happen. I can kind of feel where they and I push in a little and squeeze, but I don't know how hard you have to do it and I don't want to damage anything. Hopefully this episode has meant his are empty for a while or at least until the next vet visit

I swear it is one of the worst things I have ever had my nose detect. I have scrubbed the back seat with all kinds of cleaners and it is still kind of lingering. God help me if he ever does it inside on the couch or the bed or something. Thanks for the reply!

hello all. Our 3 yr old JRT has never had his glands expressed by a vet, as far as I know. I have attempted to do it myself after reading up on it but don't seem to have the knack for it as nothing came out and he just looked at me weird. I had been meaning to ask the vet upon other visits but it always slips my mind. I always thought it must just happen naturally when he poos. Anyway today we were coming back from a holiday and he was restrained in the back seat. Suddenly there was a putrid smell and we thought it was the country area we were driving through, it sort of smelled like fertilizer. When getting home and getting him out there was a stain/patch on the car seat that didn't look like urine. Upon sniffing it the smell was overpowering, not like just regular poo smell, it was like a poo x 10 but with maybe some fishiness mixed in with it. Sorry this sounds offensive just typing it but I'm trying to describe it as best I can! Can anyone tell me is this what it usually smells like? I cannot think of what else it could be. He had the smell around his bum a little until I washed him. If it was some kind of diarrheoa I assume it wouldn't be a clearish liquid like this seems to have been. It also got onto a backpack and didn't leave a stain, just that really bad stench. I attempted to squeeze his glands while bathing him after all this and couldn't seem to get anything out, I guess that is because whatever was in there has now gone. I am hoping his anus isn't secreting something weird because of any kind of sickness. He went to the toilet later on in the night normally and it all looked normal. Any thoughts appreciated, ta

I've taken him to the vet but unfortunately Yoshi wasn't cooperating much with getting his mouth looked at so the vet only got a quick glance. I am going to show him the photos I took above instead. He told me that it is fairly common and there's always the choice to do something about it (getting a tooth capped etc) but that could be around $700 or more just for one tooth. Basically I just have to keep the tennis ball usage to a minimum and get him onto rubber toys or something else. The vet told me not to worry too much as he has seen dogs with their teeth worn all the way down to the gumline and it still doesn't bother them

I've booked him in for a vet visit tomorrow and we'll see what is said. I feel really bad giving him tennis balls all this time and being unaware of the dangers.