Alibear

I know I have asked before and I have searched the forum and internet for days now and just wanted to ask again everyones opinion. Bear has just turned 6 months old. And one of his ears (which has been up and stayed up for a period of time) is floppy again and has been for maybe the past 3 - 4 weeks. I was told because they have come up not to worry, they should come up again at some stage, but he is 6 months old now. They comes up when he is listening, playing with other dogs and rarely, but sometimes when I get home from work, but within minutes, if not seconds it comes down again. I don't want to leave it to long, but I know that he can hold it up as it was up for a period of time a few months ago. Suggestions? Sorry to bother you again with this. When I asked the vet at the last visit, they said not to worry - but of course - I am!

DREMEN - What a great pic! I am going to try this when I get 5 minutes spare! Looks almost good enough to eat ourselves!

Last night I dropped some treats and one landed on Bear's head and he sat there looking up at me to drop another piece. I was like "tip your head dummy, there is one on your nose" it was pretty funny! He really doesn't get it at all!

This is creepy! I was only thinking this morning that I would get on here and ask about what people put in there Kongs as Bear loves his and was running out of ideas. I used to soak his kibble in chicken/beef stock and freeze it, but that was getting way to easy for him, so lately I have been stuffing with treats and jamming something in the end for him to get out before everything else comes out. I don't want to put it in to hard as I don't want him to be frustrated but he manages to get everything out in 2 seconds flat. I have also just smeared vegemite and peanut butter on the inside of the kong for him to lick at all day. I hadn't thought about the chicken necks - will do this tomorrow. ETA - Are dogs ever strong enough to bite the whole Kong and crush up say a big bone and get it out?

Thank you both. I figured the whole "from the mouth" was to difficult for him so I started with the tossing of the food, but he lost it and could never find it, so by dropping it from above his head he had concentration on it but has only snapped at it twice in I think 200 tries! Any suggestion on how to get to the food before he does if he misses it? He is awfully fast! ETA: now that I have started this, can I ever give him a treat from my hand, or do I always need to "drop" it for him?

Anyone who was at K9's workshop on the weekend will understand what I mean about the "Spitting" on rewards for your dog. I have been trying to do this along with lobing the food or droping it from above bears head. He concentrates on the treat and then when it is dropped or coming at him, he dosen't react. If I get to it quickly enough I pick it up so he can't get it from the ground (but I can't get to everyone, he is pretty quick). My question is, how long will it be before he starts to understand what to do. He doesn't even snap at the food and miss it, he just doesn't understand at all. :rolleyes: I have been doing this every day since Sunday and he isn't progressing at all. Should I see any improvement yet?

Thanks. I'm sure he will and if not, then it looks like I'm in for a lot of green squirty stuff I'm just glad I know what it is now and I don't need to worry his insides are falling out!

Oh ok! Well I guess that is going to be an awfully long swim for Bear if he wants to meet Misha

I am so very very sorry for your loss. I can't even begin to imagine how you are feeling. My heart goes out to youself and Axel! ;)

Innana - where are you located, it might just be the beach I go to!

:D ;) Nice story KitKat! Now I really do feel MUCH MUCH better! Poor little thing, that is horrible. He must feel terrible when that happens! How gorgeous!

Oh good! Can't wait to hear KitKat's stories then! Thank you again.

Thanks guys. I thought that it could be the sea water and try my best to stop him from drinking it and make sure he has plenty of clean drinking water, but just didn't realise it could get through he system that quickly. I just would have thought he would of been more likely to vomit. Thanks again molasseslass for putting my mind at ease! You are a wealth of information :D Jacqui - at least it isn't just my boy then. I feel much better now!

I took Bear to a dog park / beach on Sunday. We have been here quite a few times now and Bear absolutley looooves it! He has a ball in the water and playing with all the other dogs. First trip there he vomitted, every trip after that he drools alot and doesn't look comfortable (as I have mentioned in other threads I think he gets car sick most trips in the car - short or long!) Yesterday he had diarrhoea, but basically it was just a huge shot of green water out his little bottom - twice! He doesn't seem distressed - totally the opposite. He kept running around having a good time. No diarrhoea like that at home though. What do you think it could be? :D

OH OK! Thanks everyone. I will check this out when I get home! Very informative!

I will have to have a look tonight. So you say not every dog has them? But they are ok on the front right? Why are they are bad thing? Do they cause trouble?

Ahhh...that is funny to me as when I was growing up we always just called the elisabethan collar a "Bucket" I didn't know there was a real name for it! What is wrong with me One last question (well at least until you say something else I don't understand any way), what are the read dew claws? At my puppy school I remember the trainer checking Bear and said something about still having the Dew Claws but I didn't know what he said or meant so I didn't think much of it again. Is this something I should know about and get removed?

Thanks a lot. I had always just thought I would get the "standard" desexing, but was interested when my dad mentioned it the other day. I just didn't realise they actually took the testicles away. I guess I wasn't really thinking about it all that much though! Another question yet again - what is a elisabethian collar? I bet you knew I would ask that anyway.

Ahhh... Interesting! Is one more expensive then the other? Do they recover better from either one? The vet I saw the other day (that I didn't like) said that Bear may need to be sedated for a few days to keep him still after the procedure - is this correct?

Is there different ways of getting your puppy desexed. My dad said to me that I should really be able to just get it done like a male human does and just get the "snip". I just thought that was what happened - obviously I very unclear on the procedure. Can anyone tell me what actually happens? Do they actually take his penis and testicles away so he will look like a girl?

Thank you. I might just try it on my finger if you think a bit should at least get in. I tried last night and this morning to hold his eye open, but he didn't like that. I just didn't want to hurt his eye ball by using my finger. My husband said, "it is just like putting a contact in our eye, it won't make him blind if I accidently get his eye". Think I am being a little to paranoid. I'm pretty sure a fair bit got in, just not sure if it was enough. Thanks again for all your help.

Awwww! Good idea! I haven't tried this one yet. I'll give it a go tonight. Tell me, how do I hold his eye open? He either wiggles away or closes and I can't open it enough to get it in the corner of his eye. Man I am just full of questions aren't I!

gusgem - What kind of dog is Gus? We take Bear to the beach every couple of weeks, so maybe the sand is causing problems for him? Is that why you mention the beach? How did you go about getting that cream in his eyes? I am really struggling! Did you vet recommend you get it done because it would cause damage to the eye or did he just say it was cosmetic? I go to a vet at Kellyville in Sydney, but she is overseas for 5 weeks so I went to a vet at Quakers Hill that friends and family have been to before and recommended - I won't be going back there though!

KitKat, Must of messaged just at the same time. Just fixed the shots now! Gee wizz - as much as I love Bear, that was kind creepy!

Holly Molly! They are big pics! I can't get them any smaller -sorry, they are from scanned shots not the digital, maybe that is why! Lily, yes it was a strip and then some liquid stuff that was supposed to run out his nose. You said you have used it on patients at the clinic - are you a vet?