Erny

IME there is no "one fix" or no "one way" to work through things in an effort to find out what the cause to Gus' reaction is. I have spent quite a lot of money, not to mention more than quite a lot of time and energy, on working through Mandela's issues, but I guess I could spin those things down a little, as suggestions or tips that might help to at least rule-out possible causes, if not rule them in. 1. Blood test via Dr Jean Dodds USA for thyroid. 2. Saliva test via Hemopet/Dr Jean Dodds USA for "Food Intolerance". I've done a bucket load of other things that I'm not reporting here because they didn't tell me anything useful for Mandela (other than the fact that things are good and/or normal). But please don't think that the above two things are ALL I have done and am doing. Take into account that allergies aren't things that always show up immediately. The body might be intolerant to something, but doesn't show a reaction until it is exposed to the substance often enough that it can't deal with it, and so we begin to see reactions via the skin etc. Eg. I fed my boy chicken when he was younger - it was later that he began to react to it. So for diets .... yes, the obvious is to look at what we've changed and get rid of it to see if that is the culprit, but if it is not, then we need to go back and look at each different protein and begin to unravel things. It can take a while and a lot of patience. As everyone knows, I have used the Calendula Tea a lot as this has eased the skin and stopped rashes, hives and other reactions from becoming secondary skin infections. Because it helps by soothing the skin it also tends to reduce the urge to itch and this too helps in reducing the risk of secondary skin infections developing. So the Calendula Tea is an "in between" aid to buy some time and potentially avoid needing to turn to chemical drugs to assist. It certainly has bought me the time I've needed to get things closer to being under control. In Mandela's case, I'm hoping maturity is going to see things establishing to something akin to a normality. Of course, I'm aware of wishful thinking, but I don't believe it is out of the realms of possibilities. Someone said (in this thread??) that allergies are forever (or something like that). Is that really true? I mean, I have heard of children who grow through peanut allergies and end up being able as an adult to eat them, yet as a child could not do so without dire consequences. ETA: Mozzies can make the body look very bumpy indeed. And I guess it is the same as with people ..... some dogs attract more mozzies and react worse to their bites than others. Mandela does. Wearing PJ's (lightweight - eg. T-shirt material or lighter - for warm weather) can help stave off the mozzies.

I get the sense that this is driven by something medical. This is only a guess of course, but it is a sense that I'm getting from his body language. He does certainly seem disturbed and uncomfortable by whatever it is that has him licking. Going by the staining on his chin, he licks quite a lot? Does he drool a lot? Teeth? In the first video, notice the bobbing of his head as he licks. The licking of items - that seems to me to be more of a displacement behaviour (sort of) as though he doesn't understand why he is licking and needs to direct it towards something. I'm anthropomorphising to a degree, but there is something very awkward about his behaviour. I could be wrong, as any of us could, but if it were me I would like medical investigation (bloods and physical examination, be it by xray, throat scope) first, to rule out any medical conditions. What Rappie said is where my intuition/feeling/impressions lay :

Mandela's was/is pretty bad too, although it is not as thickly coated now and white tooth is coming through :). But it has taken a good while. Initially, brushing teeth didn't make any difference, other than stopping more plaque building up. But I think the Plaque Off has weakened the tartar and made it thinner, so I think brushing does help a tad. I did a bit of scraping with the dental tool I have - that helped quite a bit actually but I'm not adept at it yet and have ordered the blunt end style to see if I find that a little easier until I get used to it. If I can become practiced at it, I think this is the combo that will see us through. (With a huge dollop of luck as, unless Mandela's gum ulcers go away, he's in for xrays and a dental clean ..... along with potential teeth extraction ). I've sent an email to Proden asking about the tartar under the gum and if the Plaque Off would remove that. I'll post up here when I get a response. So, in short, WP, I'd keep up with teeth cleaning and keep on with the Plaque Off. If the gums are reddened your dog might need some extra help. ETA: Nylah bone? I bought one for Mandela because he doesn't do bones much either, but he doesn't do Nylah bones either, it seems. Deer Antlers? Mandela doesn't chew these either, but I know other dogs who do enjoy chewing them - perhaps yours is one? There's some other chews I bought - "Naturalicious". Mandela did ok with them, but I'm holding back on the last one I have as I suspect that his gum ulcers are helping to put him further off chewing than he would be. But if I get past the ulcers, I think the tartar, now that it is a bit weaker/thinner, might cop a beating if he chews one .

Try letting her look on whilst you eat from the white plate, a little bit like a dog would, although it won't hurt if you want to pick the food up with your fingers, but have the plate on the floor or close to the floor. Ignore your dog. Just eat the food. ETA: Oh *cough* .... you don't have to eat dog food - it can be human food, but make it something yummy that she will like as well :). ..... And I presume the white plate is just that ... a plate that you eat from, not a dog bowl.

Calendula Tea :D.

To treat a dog as anything other than a dog is insulting to the dog. Like a human being treated as something other than a human - not on. IMO, if a human loves their dog enough they'll acknowledge and honour their 'dog-ness'. Of course we all have dogs for our own different reasons. It doesn't mean we can't take advantage of what dogs are able to give us, as long as we give back to them for their dog-needs as well.

Thanks R&B. In the picture on their website, I could have sworn I saw a glint in the bear's eyes. Bwaaahhahhhaaahha lol

How bad is the tartar, WP?

Happy Easter to everyone from me too :). Erny

Lol - I could spin you a few stories of my own that would curl your toes. But to find a good Vet is like finding gold and you know that when we find those good Vets, we hold on to them like there is no tomorrow. You'll see the smiles on people's faces when you help their animals. You'll see the relief on animal's faces and in their eyes when you help them. You'll know when you're doing good stuff :). My most favourite Vets are the ones who have the animal's welfare as #1 priority, who think outside the square and who know when they don't know something and aren't afraid to tell you.

Considering all the posts expressing acknowledgement in this thread that there are Vets who do good work, that Vets are needed, you should be pleased you're becoming a Vet . Whilst any one of us and everyone might not always agree with what Vets do at one point or another, there generally is a stage where a Vet is needed and helps our dogs. Chin up. Ya know we lub ya :D.

Hear hear.

Post #32 - Rusty&Biscuit - What are the eyes of the KONG Teddy Bear made from? I get a bit concerned when dog toys have eyes that are 'stud' types, that could be swallowed if the toy is chewed and torn. Nice bear though - I actually thought about getting it for a friend of mine who has recently acquired two pups - a brown and white BC and a pug. The bear's colouring looks a little like the colouring of the BC. Posts #11 - Suziwong66, #13 - Tapue, #33 - Zug Zug ... A Bob-A-Lot is on the short list. I like interactive toys that gets 'em thinking.

I got the same as Smooch. Great value, good quality and excellent service.

Not IME. Assuming you are wearing clothes with pockets that are easy to slide your hands into and out of. Not always the case.

:laugh: .... Be worth paying for the look on my sister's face when she opens up a wrapped parcel containing a toilet roll insert and an empty coke bottle. I'm sure it would be priceless. Thanks everyone. I need to go through each post and check the toys you've all mentioned as your fave, and work out which one (or two) I'll buy for the expected new-comer puppy. I've been caught up most of the day so I've gotten behind with following this thread. Thank you for all your contributions to the list of ideas :).

I've got the Orbee balls - I agree, they do last and are great for tug and throw :). :laugh: ..... I think my sister would kill me for gifting her soon to come home puppy with a toy that would wake the living dead!

Hhhmmm .... I like both of those, MM.

My sister is getting a new puppy. He is currently about 3 or 4 weeks old, so it is at least a month before she picks him up. I want to buy her a new toy to welcome the pup and congratulate my sister for new puppy breath coming into her home again. What's the best ever most favourite toy you ever got for your pup? So you have some idea regarding size, the pup is a Bearded Collie. ETA: I wanted to get a Pee and a Poop plush toy as these are different to any other my sister and her previous dog have ever had, but it seems the company isn't happening any more.

I don't remember the brand name, but the stuff I found very effective for my boy, right through the teething stage, was a natural based product with bitter lime taste. I bought it from "Fantastic Pets" in Narre Warren, Victoria. But what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. Some have had better results by using Crib-Off, a stop chew designed to put horses off chewing the tops of stable doors, etc. The trick is to get in REALLY early, like, BEFORE puppy receives any enjoyment out of chewing an item s/he shouldn't. In those early days I followed my boy around and anything he remotely looked interested in (even though he hadn't actually put his teeth into it yet), I'd call him away, go spray it, and then watch to make sure the spray was sufficient to work. I will also confess - I don't think my boy is a chewer, so I think in that I have the easy end of the stick. However, I'll never really know that. Maybe it was my good training :D ..... I can tell you that I bought and used a few bottles of the stuff at the time. BUT, as I said, it's a matter of using the spray to deter BEFORE the chewing on forbidden items becomes a learnt behaviour. Chewing even just the once can constitute "learnt". I tend to find that people generally wait to see what puppy has chewed and then follow up with the spray, which is why I think the success levels with spray are lower than they could be.

I have the Snooza D100 and give it a big . It has seen my now nearly 4yo boy right through his puppyhood. I don't have any major chewing issues these days though, so I'm lucky. One thing I'd recommend to anyone who has a dog who might potentially chew bedding or is known to chew bedding ..... when you buy something new as Ruthless has, I'd give all the seams and corners a good soaking spray of a good stop chew product. At least if the dog gets tempted, it'll be there and might be sufficient to stop the habit on the new item before it starts. And I'd keep up with re-loading the spray until you're quite certain that it's not going to happen.

What Huski said - they can generally smell that you have food treats on you. So sure, doing without a treat pouch might lull you into a false sense of having out-smarted your dog as far as visual cue is concerned, but not scent. People who get stuck with the food treat pouch becoming a cue are simply not randomising things enough. However, for early day training and/or for novice handlers, a good food treat pouch helps with delivery timing which in turns helps with teaching.

I can hear your pain. But please don't condemn your new dog to a life where Vets are prohibited. Everyone well knows from the health forum that I have a dog with health issues and have and continue to work hard to improve him by using alternative methods. This is not to the exclusion of Veterinary advice, for the information they have and give. I too have been burnt badly by more than one Vet, but there are good ones around. It's a matter of finding him/her. Sometimes we are better to say good-bye to our dogs and help them on their way. It sounds to me that you had a horrendous experience and I'm really sorry that's the case. My experience was not the same, as sad and hard as it still was to make the decision in the first place. But a right decision was what I believe it was. Please don't swear off Vets. They are a part of our dog community and like the most of us in whatever industry we're in, they have their place and are needed.

Hi Ish. I'm interested. I'll PM you my phone numbers.

Here's a link to a thread by someone else who has a dog who suffered a reaction to the Advantix as well. Bayer Advantix Side Effects If you search the health forum, you'll find there are others. I'd take note of the suggestion in the above linked thread to wash your dog thoroughly, if it is still inside 24 hours since you applied the Advantix. I believe there is a Bayer Help Line you can also ring, although I'd have my doubts that there'll be anyone there to answer over the Easter period .