KobiD

It's a tough on to answer isn't it. I don't feel that a rescue should be making profit persay, but then you shouldn't really expect everyone who puts in the hard work running the show to do it at their own expense (of time and effort) either. Then you get into the old not for profit organisation business model where some people rake it in, while the business itself makes not money. It really comes down to the individual/businesses intent and ethics more than the dollars involved. People will pay as little as they can, or as much as they can justify. That's just how people work. Once you realise what you get for your $350 it's not so bad. For our rescue that included initial worming, vaccinations, and spaying. It basically means free dog.. and if the owner can't afford that off the bat you really have to ask if they can afford to own an animal. I'd like to think I'm tight as a fishes in general, and really don't splurge on expensive doggy gifts.. but she still costs a significant amount to own and maintain.

Loratadine is dosed in dogs at 0.1 mg per pound to 0.55 mg per pound of body weight (0.25 to 1.1 mg/kg) once daily or divided twice daily. Another way that loratadine is dosed in dogs is by the total dose. For example, most dogs will receive 5 to 10 mg (total dose) orally one to two times daily (every 12 to 24 hours). Small dogs may receive 5 mg per dog once daily, medium sized dogs 10 mg per dog once daily, and large dogs may get up to 10 mg per dog twice daily. Source: https://www.petplace.com/article/drug-library/drug-library/library/loratadine-claritin-alavert-for-dogs-and-cats/ It's always good to liaise with your Vet or also research any other drug interactions if you have them on anything else. Our dog is 22kgs and she suffers allergies too. Vets run the normal antibiotic and steroid routine but it's not a long term solution, and imo neither are antihistamines. I dose our dog when it appears she is having a flare up. Have tried both Loratadine and Cetirizine and to be honest neither pull up the reaction as well as an oral steroid. At the peak of a flare up I have dosed her 10mg every 12 hours, but it's never for expended periods, and you also have to understand each animal can react differently. If you're not going to work with a Vet re dosage I'd at least suggest starting at a lower dose.

The last week I have been feeding poultry (turkey and chicken (giblets/livers) along with her normal Black Hawk Fish and Potato, and she really seems to be flaring up quite a bit with hair continuing to thin up her front legs and even some red area under one of her armpits. It's so very frustrating.. I have suspected for some time that perhaps her allergy is poultry related as the times I have added chicken/egg seem to align with flare ups, and originally she was on a chicken kibble and fresh egg when she first developed symptoms. The move to Black Hawk saw symptoms stablise, but never really clear up. Investigating the ingredient list: Ocean Fish & Salmon Meal, Potato, Ground Rice, Oats, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols [source of Vitamin E], Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract), Field Peas, Beet Pulp, Fish oil, Canola Oil, Egg Powder, Salt, Chicory, Essential Vitamins & Minerals (see tables), Kelp, Natural Antioxidants, Emu Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulphate, Tomato Powder, Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dandelion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Cranberries. I've read that chicken fat usually doesn't trigger a reaction due to how it has been rendered down, however the egg powder could be enough to continue with the itching. I've done some research and appears Meals for Mutts offer both a fish and lamb variety free of any poultry at all. A few more dollars per kg but if it fixes the issues you can't put a price on it. I'll go back to the straight Black Hawk and when this bag is finished make a change. Wish me luck.

Been a few flare ups the last couple days. Not sure if it's the change of season or that we had a particularly windy week leading into. Have also slipped off the diet a bit and been feeding whatever we have to add to her dinner, as well as kongs so hardly exclusion. Thanks for the info above karly. Have done some reading on it. As with all drugs a few mixed reviews.

I've had our girl on it for a while now (would have to check notes for dates) but over a month if I had to guess. Have her on it to try and reduce reactions to allergies (unknown if environmental or diet related). I haven't been using that exact recipe though. I mix around equal parts coconut oil and tumeric powder. Basically half a jar of oil and add enough tumeric to fill the jar. I then keep it in the fridge and add to her dish where I pour some boiling water over it to create the paste on the go. I then add any proteins and her dry food into the paste and she seems to enjoy it. She smells a bit like curry sometimes, but seems to be doing well. She doesn't appear to be chewing her paws or having any major flare ups. Not sure if it's the reason for the changes or not but definitely haven't seen any negatives because of it. It may not be as potent as cooking the paste down, but it's very quick and easy and not messy at all the way I've been preparing it.

It's just more of the same. Setup the scenario you'd like to see and make it rewarding to the animal. Start with shorter duration and build on it. For us, every time we would leave the house (if for 20mins or several hours) and the puppy alone she would have a frozen stuffed kong to work on. This is something she enjoys and keeps her mentally focused for a period of time. She's also happy to play with her kong once the treats have been eaten. Rather than seeing the family getting ready to leave as something that she is missing she would then associate it with the opportunity to get a reward. By mixing up the duration of time we'd be gone for (and starting shorter trips) she learnt that someone always comes back. Again, reward with a nice cuddle, a game, some more treats etc. Overall you just want the process to be something the puppy enjoys vs something that leaves them wanting. I watch what ours does when we are home, and figure odds are that she does the same when we're out.. which is mostly finding a comfortable place to rest and snoozing between playing with her toys.

I recall having this issue as well. As above, the key is to stop the behaviour from being practiced and learnt. Sometimes easier said than done, but requires a bit of creative thinking and trial and error. When our little one was a puppy I had a small pen (only big enough for a bed, basically a topless crate) which she only went in for bed time. The first few nights she'd sleep there and I simply laid beside her on the ground, quietly. I was with her and when she'd fall asleep I'd go back to bed. Have had similar issues with the barking at the door while the family eats dinner. She still tries it on from time to time, but with the right timing you can mark and reward the behaviours you like. For us, that could be when she lays quietly by the door I will mark get up and take her a treat. When she barks I will either ignore her or redirect her to another learnt behaviour instead, release and then see if she decides to offer a better behaviour than attention barking.

Still chipping away at this. Situation appears to have stabilised a bit. Occassionally she'll chew a patch a bit and a quick dip dip with the metho see's it heal quickly. Still quite a few hairless areas underside of the legs, but aren't getting any larger. Areas between the toes appear to growing hair back nicely. Not using any medication, still have the dose of apoquel to fall back on if it goes pear shaped. Continuing with omega 3's 4000-6000mg daily (split morning and night), along with blackhawk fish and potato and tumeric past. Have been re-introducing some other proteins back into diet along with vegetables again. Still no closer to identifying the source of the irritation though. Has anyone used NutriScan before? Is the cost justified?

Our puppy was, and now at just over 1.5years old still is just like that.. Lacks social finesse in a big way! She can be actively pinned by the throat by another dog telling her off and as soon as they let go she'll bounce back up and get right up in their grill again. As an 8-12 week old pup she was like that with me too. You could rip it up her for biting a hand or foot and rather than cower a bit and come back hesitantly she'd just come back twice as hard. I had the same concerns re her being aggressive but she's not aggressive in the slightest.. she's just hard headed, determined, and has a strong sense of independence in her nature... got her as a mutt totally unknown breeds but given her shape and behaviours and our location very strong chance she's offspring of hunting dogs (wild pigs). Tassie gave me plenty of great advice and it's all paid off well. Totally agree in heavily rewarding what you like, and minimising the behaviours you don't. Our mutt is 22kg and just last week we dog sat for the sister in law; her 10yo maltese shih Tzu. Our dog lives outside so they both had separate areas to themselves.. if allowed free the older dog would behave the same, lip lifting, snapping, hiding behind what she could and the younger dog just didn't pick up on anything (thought it was great). A big bag of treats and her favourite toys, a bone or kong and the situation easily became one where the better choice for our pup was to do what was asked rather than pursue the little dog. Within a few days could easily open the back door and have both stay on their own sides by their own choice.. could have them both in the back yard or in the house together without them being overly interested in eachother.. I don't think nor would I expect them to be the kind to play together, but they can most definitely co exist with a bit of training and structure. We also have an indoor purebred ragdoll so the same training methods have been in use there since the pup was brought home. Can let the cat out and the dog gets excited but will recall and stay away and can let the dog in to say hello to the cat, but on the whole they tend to just sit each side of the door together.. while the dog does her happy dance. May be best to set up some boundaries or areas for each and then allow them more access to eachother as they become familiar and tolerant, guided by you rewarding what you'd like to see. All my experiences with staffies are that most are high energy players and being balls of muscle they don't always know their own strength.

Could work, except she lives all but exclusively outside.. The reaction she has, to whatever she has it to, affects her as a whole. Her whole body itches, albeit not uncontrollably.. but definintely is itchy. I always thought she was just a ticklish dog, but since the round on steroids it's very clear that her tickles are her itches while I scratch, and I've noticed her scratching herself more often, although not to the point where it really interrupts whatever she is doing. Am seeing some improvement in relation to the feet though. The bald patches aren't looking as flaky or inflamed, and in several areas between the toes the hair is growing back. I'm going to stay with the current diet for a few more weeks and see if the overall itching decreases. Environment wise, things are pretty similar. Rain comes and goes. I have taken her around the park the last couple afternoons which possibly could have exposed her to some more grasses so will see if it corresponds with a flare up at all.

Why does it need to be heated? I have read about the golden past recipe but didn't understand why it needs the heat? to assist in break down? I added turmeric powder, black pepper, cinnamon into a jar with coconut oil. Mixed well and popped it in the fridge. I just scrape some out into her dinner dish, pour on boiling water, mix and then add food. Should last much more than 2 weeks one would think as well. Also bought 750g bag of quality turmeric powder from the health store. Not just the grocery shop variety.

Just want to say thanks Alpha Bet. The method indeed works a charm to stop any bacterial growth and drying out the skin. Have seen a reduction in broken and inflamed skin very quickly. She doesn't appear to be chewing at her feed any longer, however is still pretty itchy all over from what I can see. Energy levels are up as usual and she doesn't seem to phased. Still on the semi exclusion diet, fish potato and egg. Have also introduced some turmeric and coconut oil into her diet along with the omega 3 supplements. Funny dog doesn't turn her nose up at anything. Can throw a couple fish oil caps in her dinner, not even hidden and she scoffs em down. Couple of weeks time I'll start looking at adding more raw meat and offal back into her diet.

There is one located in Brisbane that comes up here 4 times a year for consults. My preferred vet was well aware and made suggestions re this route. Seemed more concerned in saving us money and getting a positive outcome vs us coming back every other week for more drugs. I'd be interested in having allergen testing done if it could confirm what she is allergic to, but I'm not sure it's that simple, and from what I have heard its a long drawn out process of elimination before you even get to that point. I need to contact them to confirm that though. I have a real issue with spending coin at a vets to be told something I already know, and then left to put in the hard work myself anyway. Where possible I'd rather take a methodical approach and do some trial and error work myself. At this stage I'll be seeing out the 6 weeks on this particular dry to rule out beef, lamb, and poultry (eggs excluded) as sources of food allergy. If no decrease in itching is seen (which I haven't seen yet nearly half way in) then I'll start adding raw back into her diet and supplement with the dry. I should start adding rice in as well. That will mean I've tried grain free, and also isolated out common proteins. I could try and isolate egg through some home cooked meals, but really I feel that is it largely an environmental reaction. I've got some metho and will use it on her feet, I've used it on myself in many cases to sterilise/dry out wounds; I know it works.. and if I can keep the skin inflammation at bay then that is 80% of the problem. The rest I can work towards isolating what the allergen is and then reducing exposure where possible.

Would you recommend using the metho a bit more often initially until the outbreak is under control? At the moment all 4 paws have some irritation and hairloss, mostly contained to the underside back from the pad spanning up the leg, and only a small patch of broken skin on one front paw where she has chewed the other night; appears to be healing already. My thoughts copy yours re the vaccinations, worming, flea and tick etc. Being in FNQ in the peak of tick season I had to make a choice to dose her though, albeit I already stretch her monthly doses out to quarterly and do daily checks, more thoroughly particularly if we've been in the scrub. Do you have any recommended resources for raw diet?

Thanks Alpha Bet. What you have wrote is what I believe too. 99% certain the reaction is environmental vs food related. I agree that the raw diet is probably best, but haven't started down that route yet. Am feeding a better quality kibble, supplementing with fish oil, raw fish, canned fish, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar. Have ceased all drugs except for the occasional anti-histamine when she is itching badly. Have been using a surgical hand wash for foot soaking every second day (Chlorhexidine), and using topical betadine between to treat any remaining inflamed areas. I like the idea of metho, for the reasons you've listed. Might be a bit harsh in the long term though? She's due for her annual vaccinations, but have opted to try and get the feet under control vs smashing the immune system with more work. Feel the same re worming and tick control.. hard to weigh up what is best for the short term vs the long term immune system.

The struggle is real.. poor little girl is still itching. We have moved her over to Black Hawk Fish and Potato now. Been on just that for around 2 weeks now with no other treats (other than some egg on her food, which is also in the food as well). Almost as soon as she finished her last round she was back to itching and back to the vets. Went to the one closest which I shouldn't have.. not happy with the service really. They prescribed apoquel for 2 weeks and to come back again; further more they didn't know anything about specialists/animal dermatologist. I've opted not to dose daily with apoquel based on a) the cost and b) the side effects I've read. Using betadine to treat any spots on her feet, which are looking alright-ish.. and washing in medicated shampoo every other day, 10min soaking. But it really is her whole body that itches. She has itch reactions when you give her a scratch and has been scratching frequently too. Need to get past this season to see if we can find relief and if it is environmental or diet related.

Interesting topic. And I agree with both sides to some extent. I like to relate things back to the kids (toddlers specifically, as they don't have that higher thought process established yet), and in my experiences different things work for different ones in different situations. Every challenge is unique, and as such what works in one case may not for another. I might be old fashioned, but I believe in action and consequence; essentially what talking dog is saying about dogs and bees. With our youngest daughter, she has an awareness that the wooden spoon can be used for things other than cooking. It doesn't mean that I beat her with it.. but there is a cue which leads to a choice. If she offers behaviours I like I will reward her with treats, activities, games, stickers, etc. If the situation has arose that she is acting on impulse and making poor decisions I won't use positive rewards to encourage good choice, I may withhold and let her know she's missed out on occasion, or I more likely I will use the positive punishment cue (do I need the wooden spoon). Often she'll respond and change her actions, which then can be rewarded.. if not the follow through has to be consistent. On the other hand, there are times where she's clearly well over threshold, emotionally out of control, and all she needs is to be taking out from what she is doing and allowed to reset herself. As a parent you need to evaluate and work with what is in front of you. As a dog trainer it is the same. In comparison, her older brother never really cared for aversive measures. Everything he was just like 'meh' and would be back to doing what you'd asked him to stop doing 5 minutes later. With him it is much more about controlling the environment/options to encourage the right choice. You could offer him 2 scenarios and let him pick one and he'd be as happy as a pig in it. Little did he realise that he'd played right into your game. His sister see's straight through this and is hell bent on what she wants regardless of what options we have. Different kids, different strategies. Again, as a dog trainer it's the same.

We have a cat with a sensitive stomach, and now a dog with sensitive skin. We must be sensitive owners.. I'm sure we'll get this under control. On the bright side even with all this going on the dog is in good spirits.

Outcome as expected, tape test positive for bacterial infection. The vet was having computer issues so they'll email the referral through to me. 21 day supply of cephalexine (500mg twice daily) Prednisolone 20mg daily (10mg morning and night) for 5 days and then tapering off. Continue foot washing every 2nd day with maleseb (leaving on for 10mins). Very strong suggestion by the vet to consider a trial diet for food allergies. They will be emailing through the info for that as well. Specialist is up early Feb, so given the time frames for use of medication I'll hold off this round and try to get her lined up for the next visit (approx. 3 months time). Will allow time to get the flare up under control, get off the medications, and implement a diet change possibly. I suspect it is an environmental allergy though.

Will be getting to the vet on Tuesday. Have been tied up with work at the moment. Keeping her in her cone of shame when she can't be supervised. Things have settled a bit again, but I'd say she'll still needs another round of antibiotics. I'm going to ask for a repeat script for those, and also see if we can try her on a round of oral steroids. I'm not sure if the cetirizine has been working as well as it could so tempted to also try her on another anti histamine after she finishes the steroids. I'll also be looking for a referral to an animal dermatologist. They come up here from Brisbane 4 times a year, so will need to then arrange with them when she can be tested, and make sure all drugs are stopped in the time frames required for allergy testing. Has anyone gone down this route? How did it work out for you? I'd rather invest coin towards a long term solution rather than continuing to go back to the vet for steroids/antibiotics every other week.

Someone has found herself wearing the cone of shame tonight!

It appears I spoke too soon. This morning they were looking a bit red, and throughout the day she's been feeling the need to lick and created a sore between 2 toes again already. Only thing that has changed to routine is that she finished the round of antibiotics. This is well frustrating

This is the approach we have taken too. Our pup has shown a strong defence drive (of territory), where when in our yard she will alert to whatever she perceives to be a threat. It can be noises from the neighbours until she realises if she knows them or not, it can be the neighbours dogs, but more times than not she is keeping the yard safe from birds. It hasn't been trained into her, and outside of the yard on leash she'll walk past them with little fuss (this has been trained), so there is a certain amount of raw instinct at work. I've found going out to have a look sometimes she'll alert a second time at which I acknowledge. It's also a great opportunity to proof a recall in drive if you're confident that she'll return, so most times I call her back to the house and reward for the recall, and then head out again with her to see what it is. Then onto something else to keep her distracted and engaged.

We've just finished the round of anti biotics, and everything is looking pretty good. Still some dry, hairless, flaky skin in areas but overall much better. There hasn't been any further spreading of it, and if anything it does appear that the hair is slowly starting to fill back in. Main improvements have come in the last couple days. Not 100% where the improvement has come from though as we have moved her away from grains. She has been receiving a daily dose of cetirizine (zyrtec), 500mg cephalexine morning and night, plus neocort once to twice a day applied to skin. I'd also been holding off on her flea and tick treatment (nexgard), given some negative reviews of afoxolaner which could have also put strain on her immune if allergies are the issue. Some reading showed that it can also be used for effective treatment of mites/mange though and given we are in the peak of tick season, and that she hasn't had negative reactions to this drug in the past we went ahead and dosed. This has somewhat aligned with the improvement but also overlaps with the completion of the antibiotic course. Guess we'll continue to do what we've been doing and see how things progress.

Around 12 months ago introduced this little unknown mutt into the family! I think she still has some more filling out to do over the next 6-12 months. We've had our trying moments, but she's maturing more and more by the day!