piperspal

We have a 13 week old rotti pup, who has developed a cervical mucoceles under his neck tending towards the right of his throat. Has anyone heard of this? the vets have drained it now, but are reluctant to do it again as it inhibits surgery later on. If we decideo n surgery we will have to have it done in Adelaide I think, the local vets seem reluctant to do it in Alice Springs, and I cant blame them, they will be removing something from around the pups juguler after all.

Nope not as a punishment, why you would think that is beyond me. I live in Alice Springs, the land of talking-with-your-mouth-shut so you dont swallow a fly, although they do tend to go up your nose a lot :laugh: All the dogs get sprayed 2 times a day with a dedicated dog friendly fly spray, as well as numerous traps arpound the place to try and contol the population. I also have traps at the chook pen, and the automatic sprays in the areas the dogs use most. So happy accident, sprayed everyone including pup, as they seem to like the 'Rotti ears' the most, and noticed he put his mouth over MIlo, then backed off and had the most disgusted look on his face as is to say 'man yoiu taste like ' lol

Problem solved, I spray all the dogs in fly repellant, apparently (judging by the lookon the pups face) it tastes like crap :laugh: he hasn't even tried to bite at the others, just happy now to do zoomies, or at least he will be when it cools off a bit later on. Thanks for the replies everyone.

We have 5 dogs, the last one is a now 10 week old rotti pup. He is going well, although he has a nasty habit, since he is getting bigger, of using the smallest dog as a bit of a chew toy. They play together pretty well, Milo does zoomies while Tonka (pup) tries and keeps up. Now Tonka is about 10kgs, Milo is around 5. They wrestle and carry on, and while we are there Tonka will let go of Milo if we tell him too, or he gets disciplined. The problem is I need to be able to have him not see Milo as a fun chew toy, he doesnt treat hte toy poodle that way at all as she ignores him and has no value to him, she is much older and a no fun at all apparently :laugh: But Milo is a little smaller than him, and just the right size. Is there something I can put on Milo that will make him taste bad to Tonka, but not make either of them sick? I want them to play, just not have Milo dragged around and hurt. So far its not too bad, but Milo is starting to get a bit anxious with Tonka around, not that I blame him. I dont want to leave the 2 little dogs in the house during the day as its getting too hot now, its cooler outside while we aren't home. They get plenty of bones etc, so its not that he has nothing to do, he also has toys etc to play with, 5 acres to get around on and 2 other bigger older dogs outside so he isnt lonely. He is gradually learning bite inhibition with everything, as well as a few manners.

Once I was a lonely dog, just looking for a home. I had no place to go, no one to call my own. ...I wandered up and down the streets, in rain in heat and snow. I ate whatever I could find, I was always on the go. My skin would itch, my feet were sore, my body ached with pain. And no one stopped to give a pat or to gently say my name. I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run, for people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun. And then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet, and arms so soft reached down to me and took me off my feet. "No one again will hurt you" was whispered in my ear. "You'll have a home to call your own, where you will know no fear." "You will be dry, you will be warm, you'll have enough to eat. And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet." I was afraid I must admit, I've lived so long in fear. I can't remember when I let a human come so near. And as she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur, she told me about the rescue group and what it meant to her. She said, "We are a circle, a line that never ends. And in the center there is you protected by new friends." "And all around you are the ones that check the pounds, and those that share their home after you've been found." "And all the other folk are searching near and far. To find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star." She said, "There is a family, that's waiting patiently, and pretty soon we'll find them, just you wait and see." "And then they'll join our circle they'll help to make it grow, so they'll be room for more like you, who have no place to go." I waited very patiently, the days they came and went. Today's the day I thought, my family will be sent. Then just when I began to think it wasn't meant to be, there were people standing there just gazing down at me. I knew them in a heart beat, I could tell they felt it too. They said, "We have been waiting for a special dog like you." Now every night I say a prayer to all the gods that be. "Thank you for the life I live and all you've given me. But most of all protect the dogs in the pound and on the street. And send a Rescue Person to lift them off their feet." This is on the Patrick Miricle Facebook page, thought i would share it here.

I chased up the contractor who was going to give us a quote this morning, I want the yard done soon so the grass can get established before it gets too hot here, as well as reduce the amount of dirt being bought into the house. Might have to get onto another one as well and see what they can do, this has taken a month so far and I still dont have a quote. I have been putting a kong with peanut butter in it with him while we are at work, as well as chew sticks and other toys, so hopefully he will keep himself occupied. He gets lonely though, and I dont want him out with the other dogs at the moment until we seeing how the dirt eating goes. At the moment he is confined to the back verandah, the smaller dogs can come and go but he hasnt worked out the dog door, athough it would not surprise me to find him out when OH gets home around 1 this afternoon, he's a little smartie!!! All I need to do now is freeze some blocks for him to keep him occupied and he should be ok. Once he has his second needle we sill start some serious training, I think we will need all the handle we can get on this one!!

Its fill, we have hte backyard gutted at the moment so we can have it landscaped, and he is eating the subsoil layer. Its usually hard as a rock, but there are a couple of places where it is quite sandy. Have been trying the banana, he's not impressed but will learn to eat it.

Just spoke to the vets, they asked me to come and get the dog!!!! lol, apparently he is back to his normal self, and have pulled his line out twice, as well as tried to eat the nurses. He has them all well and truley in love with him!!!! So going home this afternoon on antibiotics, and we shall see how we go from there. Thanks everyone for the replies, they are much appreciated.

Spoke to the vets last night around 6, he is perked right up, took his own drip oout and running amuk at the moment. They have kept him in overnight to make sure he doesnt crash again, they think that the antibiotics have kicked in and that is what is making all the difference. So I will ring them around 10am (thier request) and we will go from there. Funny little monkey he is, I have people (good friends who have met him) ringing me from another townt o check on him. They keep calling him 'our' boy, and in ours and thiers, so I offered to let them pay half the vet bill!!!!! :laugh:

Update!!! Just spoke to the vet, he has perked up although still sleeping a lot. He has done a couple of poos that were very soft, but not runny. I mentioned the test for parvo and while it is on thier list, its not high up as possibilities go. So he will stay in overnight, they will call me again this afternoon and let me know how he is. Apparently he already has the nurses completely wound around his paw :laugh:

So sorry to hear this Shek, thoughts are with you and your family.

I hope so, although I have a lot of confidence in the vets, they were very good this morning. It will be strange sitting at home tonight and not telling him 'no' every 30 secs when he is into something. :D

They will do the tests if he has any more poos, the vet did a rectal exam (which did not amuse the pup one iota) and checked some feaces he got then. He has no soreness in the tummy, although the vet said there was dirt in the poos. At the moment they are trying to treat him as gently as possible, and not be too invasive. The vet actually expects him to have perked up in about 6 hours and pulled his drip out! :laugh: Apparently once hydrated they turn into monsters.

Thanks for the replies guys. Well its all go here this morning, I have him at the vets as he was very lethargic, wouldnt eat, shivering and generally not a happy little chappie. Considering last night he was busy detroying a bucket (no, he didnt eat any, just made it full of holes) my first thought was parvo. He has had some runny poos, but was wormed Friday as well. Waited at the car for the vet, lucky we have a wagon, but he just lay down and went to sleep. Vet checked him over, slight temp, no blood in his poos, not sore in the tummy (apparently another sign)so they are happy its not parvo. They suspect he has picked up a couple of bugs, one in his nose as he is very snuffly - but no discharge and his lungs are clear, and one in his tummy giving him the runny poos. Could be from food, something he has picked up while wandering around, so at the vets for 24 hours on a drip and started on ABs. Will call them this afternoon and see how he is, he wont be happy having the bucket on his head. :laugh: He did try to eat the vet tho, which I take as a good sign.

Banana it is!!!!!! Thanks everyone.

Thanks CnR, shall try the banana trick. Would a seaweed meal type additive in his feed give him more minerals? The chewing of hte brink is what freaks me out, I worry he will damage his baby teeth and thus his adult teeth.

Thanks guys, I am hoping its the novelty of dirt and it just tastes a bit different to where he is from!!! Might see if he settles if I give him some seaweed meal or something, shall let you know how we get on. Cheers

OK guys, we have a new pup at home, 7-8 week old rotti. In all other aspects he is a perfectly normal dog, detroying a bucket as we speak. :laugh: However he has one habit I have never struck in all my yearsof raising dogs (and there have been a few) in that is is obsessed by dirt. Not just rolling in it etc, but eating it as well. Dirt, small gravel, any little bits on the floor, it all ends up in his mouth. Is this normal? He has toys to play with, including ones he can get food out of, he is on large breed puppy food mixed with minced chicken frames and sardines 2x a week, he has baked treats he can chew on for a while, but he likes to eat dirt. Its so bad he has been literally chewing on a besser brick. The unfortunate thing at the moment here is we are redoing the back yard, which will then have grass, at the moment its gravel.The rest of hte yard is a mix of gravel and buffel, in Alice so for me to establish grass here would cost a fortune in water. He has 4 other dogs to play with and they all tolerate him really well. Any suggestions as to what it might be?

What about the food bowls that the dog has to activate to dispense a small amount of food?

I saw a name for ahorse the other day that would suit him - Tator tot lol

HI fifi, how do they handle the heat? I have them on my wish list, and really want something that will come for walks as well as lay around. I live in Alice Springs on 5 acres, all fenced, and we have really hot summers and really cold winters. Cheers Erin

That is so true, thanks for sharing

I have 4 dogs, and the latest was bought, more or less, to keep the 3rd dog happy and occupied. 2 dogs are large cattle dog size or bigger, and the 3rd is a toy poodle. I contacted NSW Animal rescue through DOL and we flew Milo up as soon as we could. He was supposed to be the OH's dog, ha, he is so mine, but he fits in well and has a ball running around and playing with the poodle. He is a Chix, so a good size for her. He actually lives to annoy the hell out of her, and she loves it. She doesnt annoy us as much now to keep her occupied, she is a mad ball chaser and he is a mad ball-runner-away-with dog, so I can throw the ball once and they will keep each other occupied for a few minutes while I get on with stuff. Since he arrived one of the other dogs, who was never a 'play' dog (doesnt lick, doesnt retrive, doesnt do zoomies) has started playing with him and she is now so much more relaxed and less possessive about anything. The big dog tolerates him, he will play bow so Milo can lick him and bounce around him. I couldnt ask for a better addition to the family. We have now had him almost 2 years and couldnt imagine him not being around. Thanks must go to Tdierikx (oops on spelling) for taking the time to make sure Milo would fit the family. In saying that, he has plenty of time one on one, I take him for walks or drive with just the 2 of us, as I do with all the dogs. They all get walked together, go to the vet together, and are one big happy pack. But I am top dog, and they all know it too. If they start to get stroppy, its stopped quickly, and the little dogs are able to get away from the bigger ones if required. They are all microchipped, vaccinated, heartwormed etc, as I have the resources to do so. I am actively seeking a new addition to the family at the moment as the oldest dog is getting on a bit, he's 11, and I want his replacement to learn behaviour off him. But I am particular about what we will get, so I am happy to look around for a while. I am not above getting a rescue dog, as long as know what the background is. Again, I am happy to go through the selection process. Ultimately, we got a 'second' dog to occupy the other little dog we have, and its worked perfectly.

Looks like my stepsons girlfrinds dog, I did her last weekend. Took me 3 hours, the poor thing was so good and stood beautifully. The owner felt so bad, she has been grooming her but the hair was so long it was just skimming over the top and not getting deep. She had knots everywhere, even on her feet. I have told her that she is not to leave it more than 5 weeks to bring her back and I will redo her. The dog is mini poodle xmini schauzer. Pretty little thing.

http://www.news.com.au/world/biggest-daschund-to-lose-puppy-fat/story-fndir2ev-1226470648914