The Brittany Forum

Waldo · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

Sorry, things aren't that bad really.
I have my health, my oldest son (17 1/2) is fantastic, good job with nice people to work with and I have learnt so much about dogs since I got Annie. So many positives, just a few negatives that are part of life.
Cheers,
Waldo

Lin Dyke · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject:

Waldo, through the negatives we better appreciate the positives and the positives enable us to accept the negatives better.

Take care.
_________________
Lin, owned by Rudi and Copper the Brittanys & Zac the Springer.

Pippa's Pack · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

If all else fails you could give homoeopathic remedies a try. Our oldest bitch had some problems many years ago with sore spots on her paws which she would lick and lick until they bled. The vet prescribed anti-biotics and steroids which caused other problems. We stopped using those and gave her sulphor tablets which cleared up the problem and it has never returned.

Also, consider allergies even to something new in the home environment. I never use biological washing liquid when I wash their bedding for example.
_________________
If your dog thinks you are the best do not seek a second opinion!

Ghilliegumdrop · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject:

Try giving her a big tablespoon of chopped up raw spinach in her food everyday. This has been used to good effect in many cases of itching.
Doesn't matter if it's fresh or frozen and it is very cheap [over here] to buy from the local supermarket.
_________________
Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!

Waldo · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips guy's, I'll give them a go and see how she goes.
Cheers,
Waldo

Waldo · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

Just been thinking while walking Annie to the shop this morning, perhaps this could be a diet related condition. For the past 2 months she been living largely on venison offcuts with some table scraps and an occasional feed of prepared high quality dry food.
The diet prior to this consisted of a mixture of table scraps, chicken necks, lamb offcuts and prepared dry food.
The condition hasn't got as bad as it was the first time it appeared (a bit of a blessing), she is off to the vets this morning (nice birthday present - she turns 2 today) for the biopsy so when she comes home I might feed her the dry food or try the spinach or sulphor tabs for a couple of days and see how she goes. It would be great if it was this simple!
Thanks again for the advice.
Waldo

guy · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

When i first got Ellie she was suffering from itchy patches on her head -around the eyes - missing hair, scabs. She also had terrible flatulence. Several trips to the vet did not resolve it. I changed her diet to green tripe and included Salmon Oil. She recovered condition without going back to the vet. AND the wind stopped.
I thought she had an intolerance to cereal - and if she gets cereal now her gut flora reacts violently.
_________________
Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk

Des O'Neile · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:49 pm Post subject:

Sounds awfully like spring time nettles but then your seasons are the opposite to ours. The stingers scald the feet and the under belly and the dogs licks them and therefore gets them round the mouth.

Waldo · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject:

Well the vet phoned first thing this morning and the lab tests are a bit inconclusive. It appears to be some kind of inflammation of the top layer of skin causing the cells to die. No real firm indication of a cause but no sign of any allergens either.
The vet said if I was a concretor and she was exposed to cement dust etc. he would say it may be a caustic burn but she has been no where near anything like that.
She has been prescribed a course of anti-biotics and cortesone tablets which I wont start till the weekend. Before starting the meds, I have removed the current bedding and replaced with an old piece of carpet (just off the living room floor) hopefull that maybe that the bedding (old towell etc. recently washed) may be contributing (clutching at straws perhaps).
If no improvement by Sat. on the drugs and hopefully clear it up to never return (fingers crossed).
Cheers,
Waldo

Ghilliegumdrop · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

Try the spinach Waldo.

_________________
Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!