Dog advice

[markcorriganscrisps]

Have you tried the 4fleas tablets? My old lad has only had ticks once (thank fuck and full sympathies to you guys ) but I bought some in desperation once and the little bastards just died and fell off, it was quite miraculous. Good for spot treating fleas too if, just for example, you so happen to think you've finally got shot and the dog starts scratching 3 hours into a 5 hour car drive to go on holiday

 

[FeelingPrawny]

can anyone recommend a joint supplement please for dogs? My brothers Labrador (almost 5) is a having joint probs (he was basically over exercised when he was a pup) he’s tried yumove but everything he hid it in it was detected by the dog and he basically wouldn’t touch he’s now started him on salmon oil I am due to look after him soon so wondered if anyone had any tips?

Have a look at nutraquin and nutraquin+. The nutra brand is great and truly works. It's under nutravet

 

[Fairyqueen]

I have a dog 5 days after giving birth first pregnancy she had one pup. She also had difficulty getting pregnant. She isn't a great mom leaves a lot of it to me. Won't mother the pup unless she is laying on me. Even when pup is asleep very heavy panting. When away from pup no panting at all

 

[G_man]

Thanks for responding, yes this ideally what I would like to happen. I've tried a few techniques but not read about that one so will give it a go thank you.

Very sniffy pup, we do have a long lead. I cannot forsee us letting him off, he slipped his harness once and ran straight home (thankfully without incident). Much like me I suspect he is just a bit of a home bird.

Slip lead high on his neck, start walking and as soon as he starts to pull, quick flick on the lead and change direction, once he starts walking beside you say the word “heel” so he associates heel being at your side. He will then soon realise if he wants to go somewhere, there has to be no tension in the lead(slip lead) once hes kind of ok with this, start putting direction turns in, once hes by your heel, put your leg infront of him and turn 180, this is how you establish the eye contact as he will be looking at you, waiting for your next move. Please get rid of the harness, theres a reason huskys use harnesses, it wont help you. I have made this sound really easy and it does take time but i do train spaniels myself so feel your pain. I’ll try and find a video to link to if that would help? Am i allowed to post links?

 

[aidil]

I always praise him when he is good. He isn't scared, I think he is jealous of me around my dad. He was in the bath and Barney waited outside, I came out my room and bam he's barking at me for being near the bathroom. When he's not here he's fine with me. I don't want chemical castration as I know long term proper castration will benefit cancer wise having been through that trouble in the past. Yes the nurse is specialising in behaviour. It's listed on the practice website. I would tell you so you could look at the site but I don't want people knowing my exact place I live. The practice has been there donkeys years, I've been since a teen and they are 100% reliable. Going there since 16 and I now 45. If you want to message privately I can tell you the website of the practice and the nurse. I've never met her as she is newer to the practice. I doubt they would lie about what she is working towards getting qualified in.


Veterinary Nurse
I first started working as a veterinary nurse in 2004 at a small animal practice in Hertfordshire, and qualified in 2007. I later went on to work in Emergency and critical care nursing at the Queen mother hospital for animals, a specialist referral hospital that is part of the Royal veterinary college.
I moved to Cornwall in 2019 with my husband and two young children and started at blanked out for privacy vets later that year.
We have two dogs – a lively Jack Russell called Barry, and a friendly Labrador cross called Wilson.. who loves the beach!
I have a keen interest in animal behaviour and am currently working towards a diploma in behavioural medicine.

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Oh the bit about negative reinforcement wasn’t aimed at you, I know you’re not punishing him! Yes, it definitely sounds like he has some issues around your dad being there doesn’t it! I think you’re making the right choice getting a behaviourist involved. And then if you can get the behaviour sorted, then go for surgical castration. I know what you mean in regards to avoiding health issues - I didn’t get my dog castrated till he was 6 as he had issues I needed to get on top of first but I was so nervous about cancer!

I’d definitely give that nurse a go! Hopefully she can get a plan in place for you and if she thinks it’s more complex she may refer you onto a clinical behaviourist who would come out to your house. Let us know how you get on, I find behaviour fascinating!

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Thank you for your reply, how did introducing the cats and dog go? Was it quite easy and stress free or did it take quite a while? I definitely think visiting a rescue is a good idea, though the fact so many say no cats next to each dog is what's sadly led me to thinking about a puppy from a breeder, I'd always prefer to rescue. I will suggest this and see what happens
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I don't know anyone who's dog I can borrow as such but the fostering idea may be worth a try? So long as that's an option given that I work, thank you

There's also the cinnamon trust where you can foster as well whilst the owners in hospital although you'd probably not know how well behaved they would be. Or for the cinnamon trust you can even just volunteer to walk a dog if you wanted to slowly build up your daughter being around a dog maybe could do that with her?

 

[Maid22]

It's upsetting I know. I'm looking after a dog and he's a bugger for snapping at me for no reason at all. He's had a vet check. Doesn't do it to my dad whom I live with.

Oh gosh that must be upsetting for you, my dog loves my oh to bits, I really want another dog, have always had 2, but we tried it last year, he hated puppy so we had to re-home, which broke my heart.

 

[Skinnydogs]

Fostering is definitely worth a try , some rescues have known cat friendly dogs available. I'd contact some local, smaller independent rescues and go from there. Obviously you would have to take some time off work to settle the dog so be prepared for that.

 

[G_man]

Your girl sounds a lot like the dog I started looking after last December. He barks at everything. I just know he'll be barking the house down come fireworks night. Thankfully we have understanding neighbours who don't complain about him. I've tried ways to tackle it but haven't had any success. He's a chihuahua like all my previous dogs and I got him for his owner as she wouldn't take on a rescue. I thought an older rescue would be better considering she's in her 70's but she wanted a pup. The agreement was that being the age she is if she couldn't care for him I'd have him here. This was before my girls passed. I always hated the term ankle biter but by God he is at my ankles all the time! I'm going to take him to a behaviourist to try and stop it as he's broken the skin biting at my ankles.

Wouldn’t waste your time spending £70 an hour on something what can be easilly stopped honestly, hes biting your ankles because to be put quite simply, he has no respect for you. When he does this, what do you do?

 

[ChiRie]

I’ve booked a vet appointment but they’ve been backlogged until this week, I’ve also been emailing the vet and she said it could be a variety of things.

but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced their dog (1year old male) suddenly peeing on their beds? The patches smells like burning rubber.
There has been no stressful changes to his routine or anything like that, but I don’t know why he’s been doing it.
The last week my dog has peed on my daughters bed, he done 3 pees in one but different places on her bed and twice on mine, (I cleaned the beds with the carpet cleaner vac and sprayed the beds with the dog urine and odour spray)

A new mattresses have been ordered.

Urinary tract infection? Is he drinking more? When my girl was peeing all over I thought it was old age but it was her kidneys. I used a special urine shampoo back then. Don't allow him on her bed it's harder to clean up and like you said you've had to get a new matress. If he can get up himself keep her door shut so he can't get in or get a dog gate. Defo get in with your vet asap though. Not sure about the rubber smell but UTI's can affect the smell of urine. Had one myself amd it stank.

I used this but my girl was peeing sooo much. I had to get a carpet cleaner and gate her off at night to one area. https://www.hygienesuppliesdirect.c...qzGkWWoNPVXAFP3r1nlJROorU4vP1jFhoCrT0QAvD_BwE

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Yes! Loki just got his last week. I honestly wasn’t that fussed about it when I started classes,I just wanted a well behaved and well socialised dog, but I do feel really proud of him and me that we’ve improved so much that he got his on first try. When we started I couldn’t get a 10 second sit/stay, can now do a 2 minute down/stay without problem. Whenever he’s naughty I remind him he has bronze paws now so knows better

I'll probably sign him up then it does start till June but it also finishes the week before I go away. I assume I can book into any exam and it doesn't have to be straight after he finishes classes?

 

[Maid22]

Not advice, more of a moan about vet fees, bloody dew claws, my boy had to go vets last year because he caught it, vet didn't charge, but we brought some metcam, always handy to have, he had to go back again this week with same problem, blimey cost over £80, and she was rough with him, he properly yelped when she took it out .
Blimey vet fees are soo expensive.

 

[Maid22]

Yes I think he definitely felt threatened by the dachshund today confirmed it.. although I am being very cautious and keeping my dog on a lead and close to me in case of it happening again.

I walked my dog early this morning and we passed 5 dogs all different breeds and he he didn’t react to them at all, they were bigger and older than he is and they were growling and barking at him to play but he didn’t respond to them just walked away.

I think you're doing everything right, and good on you, it's really hard when your dog has been attacked, over the years, every single one of my dogs have been attacked and they've all reacted differently , my late last girl never got over being attacked, it really changed her, she got really aggressive when meeting other dogs, I always put her on a lead and stood to the side, what used to really annoy me was other folks with their dogs off leads, saying they're ok, I'm like saying , mine isn't.

 

[allthingschocolate]

I would have him checked by an orthopaedic vet. Supplement are generally a preventative but if he's already having problems it's likely he will need something only the vet can prescribe along with a management programme

Thankyou yes he has seen a vet

 

[Maid22]

My 13 year old has had 4 seizures or episodes over the course of 3 years or so. 3 were similar and after extensive tests including MRI scan, results were inconclusive regarding the cause. Each time though, he lost the use of his back legs although he regained full mobility over a couple of weeks. The last episode was a completely different type of seizure. No loss of back legs, no funny eye movements. Vets ran blood tests and think it might be related to low glucose levels, we are waiting for a further test on that. With each seizure or episode, I feel better knowing what it definitely isn't (eg tumor on the brain) so even though the tests are mostly inconclusive, it has put my mind at rest that certain things have been ruled out. And the last one was definitely a different kind of episode so close observation of what is happening at the time is really helpful. Hope your collie is OK, watching them age is a special kind of pain x

Thank you for reply, so sorry your doggy is going through this, and interesting to hear the symptoms of their seizures, my late terrier started having them when he was about 7 or 8, they'd last for a few minutes (though felt like hours), he'd start to salivate, then really heavy panting, he'd go rigid, couldn't walk at all, then he'd go outside, sometimes be sick, then come back in right as rain as if it had never happened. He could have 2 in a month, then none for months, but it's a constant worry, I never left him on his own, I didn't want him to have a seizure on his own, I wanted to be there to reassure him, so I know the worry you must be going through. I hope the results shed some light for your dog, and they recover well x
My collie has been fine since, just keeping a close eye on him, really hoping it was a one off.

 

[Alfie1234]

Yes you dont need to hit him and dont crate him either as thats his safe place and he will soon resent it.

Firstly, I would remove access to absolutely everything apart from water, toys etc all get put away, dont let him access the couch etc, things like that have to be earned, make him work for things. If he does it again, grab him by the collar, firm no and remove him from the rest of the house, not saying lock him in a container but just pick him up and move him to the opposite side of the house. Clip him on a lead and show him that YOU are in charge and that what hes doing is unacceptable. Next time your expecting visitors, clip him on a lead and control him that way. I dont use treats for rewards as its a form of blackmail, use plenty praise instead.

Agree with the lead, I’d have a house lead on him at all times, until you can retrain the behaviour at the door simply put him away when you need to open it.
As for the firm no, I respectfully disagree, she needs to show him what good behaviour gets him and to redirect the bad behaviour to good. Have you trained him “touch”? Simply hold out a hand, palm facing him and say “touch”, as soon as he touches your hand reward with a treat. Dogs love this one and learn it really easily, it’s great for redirection, next time he’s going for your ankles simply start practicing touch and his mind will work with that instead of biting you.
Sounds like your behaviourist friend might be a great asset to you, personally I’d happily spend 70 quid to find out why my dog was doing something and what I could do to make him happier than be locked in an endless battle of wills that no one wins. You don’t need to dominate, just be calm and assertive. Good luck x

 

[Former_Antelopee]

My pup is 10months old. He is not a food orientated dog at all. So it's hard to train him as he isn't really interested in treats especially after a few, I found he loves salmon and mackerel and will focus for them. But his main meals are my issue. I ended up putting him on raw as a puppy in the end after about 5/6 months of dry/wet mix. Even the raw he isn't overly fussed on but he will eat it and it helps that he needs a lot of it over the other food, he needs around 150g raw Vs 100gbdry but the dry seems a lot more Vs over a big tin (400g) wet!
Does anyone know either a good dry food where they don't need many grams to meet their daily requirement or recommend a raw food that isn't too expensive. I did really want a diet with grain in though and I can't find a raw diet with grain in.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

So I did the bronze kennel club training, not done the exam yet I'll probably wait till he is a bit older and has focus for longer (+ more practice).
I started pre agility training which is what I've found the most enjoyable so far out of all training classes I've done.
I'm a bit worried about some of his behaviours so I also am doing 1-1 sessions with a trainer.
But he isn't food motivated so I struggle to get him to want to listen. Anyone got suggestions of the best treat? Tried the usually chicken, ham and a variety of dog treats.
Been especially harder the last 2/3 weeks as he is getting to the age of wanting to sniff more and mark his territory.
The last two weeks of the bronze training I couldn't really get him to focus at all just had his nose down all the time. He is doing better at the agility training though

 

[Maid22]

Maybe I've been going to the wrong vets with all my animals, one girl (collie) ended up with pancreatitis, she was so poorly one night, rung vets, took her late at night, his first thing he said, oh look she's wee'd on the floor, she was very timid, and he didn't have a nurse with him, so he had to mop up floor, that's another example of poor vet care, I have a list tbh, most of them are only interested in the money.

 

[Maid22]

That's true it happened with two of my dogs over the years and both were seriously ill I discovered.

My last boy had illnesses, but he never snapped at me, never had this before, he knows I'm pissed off with him, I know I'm a stubborn bugger, but he's really upset me today.