Dog advice

[101d]

My dog has started biting the air randomly. Google says this is a focal seizure, but he is fully aware when he does this and we can distract him.

I recently took him to the vets for suspected anal gland infection, she emptied his glands and said no sign of infection. He has also been pooing through the night (not like him) although we have had 3 poo-free nights now. He just seems a bit down in the dumps. Waiting on blood test results.

 

[allthingschocolate]

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?

 

[Skinnydogs]

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?

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

 

[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

 

[KMAWeasel]

Hi could anyone give me some advice please. My 11 year old boy has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. I'm absolutely devastated. He is my best friend, soul mate and therapy dog. They've advised he can go through chemotherapy but that could cost in the region of 20k and my insurance will only cover 7k. Without chemotherapy, I will lose him in a few weeks
I'm not on benefits so not entitled to free vet treatment.
What can I do to afford the chemotherapy? I just don't have that money but I cant face to lose my boy who is showing no outward signs of illness in just a few weeks.
Any help would be appreciated as I'm beside myself.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Hi could anyone give me some advice please. My 11 year old boy has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. I'm absolutely devastated. He is my best friend, soul mate and therapy dog. They've advised he can go through chemotherapy but that could cost in the region of 20k and my insurance will only cover 7k. Without chemotherapy, I will lose him in a few weeks
I'm not on benefits so not entitled to free vet treatment.
What can I do to afford the chemotherapy? I just don't have that money but I cant face to lose my boy who is showing no outward signs of illness in just a few weeks.
Any help would be appreciated as I'm beside myself.

Has he been referred or is it at your normal vets?

 

[KMAWeasel]

Has he been referred or is it at your normal vets?

Normal vets. Should I be referred?

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Normal vets. Should I be referred?

Some normal vets do chemo but a lot of people get referred. A lot of referral places will give vets free advice on cases as well if a case can't be referred for whatever reason. It'll probably be more expensive at a referral anyway especially the private ones whereas university referrals are (usually) cheaper.
When does your insurance renew for the year if it's a lifetime policy? Would it be part way through treatment as then you'd have the insurance budget renewed?

 

[KMAWeasel]

Some normal vets do chemo but a lot of people get referred. A lot of referral places will give vets free advice on cases as well if a case can't be referred for whatever reason. It'll probably be more expensive at a referral anyway especially the private ones whereas university referrals are (usually) cheaper.
When does your insurance renew for the year if it's a lifetime policy? Would it be part way through treatment as then you'd have the insurance budget renewed?

Typically, we renewed it a month ago. I'm devastated, I don't know what to do

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Typically, we renewed it a month ago. I'm devastated, I don't know what to do

I know my friends dog had chemo at a university and she put it on a credit card as she had no insurance you could always ask your vets to get estimates from a referral centre? But as I said probably ask for a university since they are usually cheaper if there's one near you?

 

[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

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Hi could anyone give me some advice please. My 11 year old boy has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. I'm absolutely devastated. He is my best friend, soul mate and therapy dog. They've advised he can go through chemotherapy but that could cost in the region of 20k and my insurance will only cover 7k. Without chemotherapy, I will lose him in a few weeks
I'm not on benefits so not entitled to free vet treatment.
What can I do to afford the chemotherapy? I just don't have that money but I cant face to lose my boy who is showing no outward signs of illness in just a few weeks.
Any help would be appreciated as I'm beside myself.

I am so sorry to hear this. Losing our furry friends is so difficult.

Im personally a fact person, before you decide to go down the chemo route can they give you the % of dogs with your dogs cancer at his age and recovery stats who get the chemotherapy? Whats the long term prognosis. Is it an 80-90% change be will be cured or is it that it will prolong his life but not clear the cancer.

I dont say any of this lightly but I think you need to know the ins and outs before parting with 20 grand particularly because of his age there is no way of knowing what is around the corner. Even if you put the other 13k on credit after the insurance is exhausted. What would you do if he broke his leg for example in 6 months and needed an op that could be £8k +

 

[KMAWeasel]

I am so sorry to hear this. Losing our furry friends is so difficult.

Im personally a fact person, before you decide to go down the chemo route can they give you the % of dogs with your dogs cancer at his age and recovery stats who get the chemotherapy? Whats the long term prognosis. Is it an 80-90% change be will be cured or is it that it will prolong his life but not clear the cancer.

I dont say any of this lightly but I think you need to know the ins and outs before parting with 20 grand particularly because of his age there is no way of knowing what is around the corner. Even if you put the other 13k on credit after the insurance is exhausted. What would you do if he broke his leg for example in 6 months and needed an op that could be £8k +

Hiya, we've been told that it will give him an extra 6-9 months as apparently cancer is very rarely cured in dogs. It's hard as otherwise, we only have weeks left with him

 

[aliw]

I know this is difficult and easy for me to say, but please think about his quality of life over those extra months. He will probably be ill from chemo and not eat, lose weight etc etc. And 20k is a hell of a lot of money for a few extra months of life. Personally I don't think I would do it.

 

[Maid22]

I know this is difficult and easy for me to say, but please think about his quality of life over those extra months. He will probably be ill from chemo and not eat, lose weight etc etc. And 20k is a hell of a lot of money for a few extra months of life. Personally I don't think I would do it.

I agree, as much as we love them, you really have to look at the bigger picture, my last boy was going off his back legs, vet mentioned him using a cart(think that's what it called) I couldn't do that to him, his quality of life would have been awful, and I'd be selfish for keeping him like that, when we made the decision pts, that little bugger broke my heart .

 

[Wolfshead]

I'm seeking some pearls of wisdom regarding house training. A month ago I adopted a rescue dog. She's 10 months old and has never lived in a house before, having been in a shelter since a few weeks old. Leash training is coming along but house training is not. I can walk the legs off her and she does nothing and then poops and pees when back in the house. I take her outside every 2-3 hours but she still has "accidents" in the house. I tell her she's been bad and take her outside when it happens but there's no improvement. She's never yet asked to go out. This is my third rescue dog and the other two only ever had a couple of accidents before learning what to do.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[TapToBoreMeRigid]

Don’t tell her she’s been bad. She needs to be taken out more frequently than 2-3 hours if it’s not cutting it. Huge praise and treats if she does go outside. My dog used to cry to go home to poo because he was scared to do it outside…he simply wasn’t used to it. At ten months there are some bad habits to break…especially if pup has been in a shelter environment. After a month she is still decompressing and learning to be safe with you. She really won’t understand you scolding her. She will either associate it with attention or with a mean tone.

 

[aliw]

I'm seeking some pearls of wisdom regarding house training. A month ago I adopted a rescue dog. She's 10 months old and has never lived in a house before, having been in a shelter since a few weeks old. Leash training is coming along but house training is not. I can walk the legs off her and she does nothing and then poops and pees when back in the house. I take her outside every 2-3 hours but she still has "accidents" in the house. I tell her she's been bad and take her outside when it happens but there's no improvement. She's never yet asked to go out. This is my third rescue dog and the other two only ever had a couple of accidents before learning what to do.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Please don't tell a dog off for having accidents..they have no idea what you mean

The dog needs taking out every half hour

 

[FeelingPrawny]

I'm seeking some pearls of wisdom regarding house training. A month ago I adopted a rescue dog. She's 10 months old and has never lived in a house before, having been in a shelter since a few weeks old. Leash training is coming along but house training is not. I can walk the legs off her and she does nothing and then poops and pees when back in the house. I take her outside every 2-3 hours but she still has "accidents" in the house. I tell her she's been bad and take her outside when it happens but there's no improvement. She's never yet asked to go out. This is my third rescue dog and the other two only ever had a couple of accidents before learning what to do.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

@Wolfshead She definitely isn't being naughty bless her and you. Definitely take her out more often, are you able to leave the door open for her to wander outside on her own too? Lots of high treat rewardswhen she does go outside. With going inside, is she roughly going in the same places? How are you cleaning them? Dogs will leave pheromones and keep going in the same in the same place so you need to neutralise. What mental stimulations does she have in the house and what breed is she?

 

[Wolfshead]

Thank you for all the input! Just to answer some questions; she is a Formosan Mountain Dog and had a very long flight from Taiwan to Canada. She left behind five siblings and her mother and has had to learn a LOT in the month she's been here. The difference between her and my other two rescues is that they both spent some time in foster homes before coming to me whereas Yuki came to me straight off the plane. She's been so good in spite of all this and I'm not freaking out about these accidents. She still has a lot to learn and it all takes time and patience. I just wanted some input from others and I'm grateful to get that.

I'm not able to leave the door open for her to wander in and out unfortunately, so she has to be taken out. She spends most of her time (between walks) sleeping or playing with my other FMD and he's been a big help to her in settling in.

As far as cleaning up after accidents; I do use a special cleaner so as not to encourage repeat performances. When she does have an accident I only tell her off if I actually catch her in the act and she's praised and rewarded for going in the right place.