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Pawbly | 9 years ago
We Have Had Our Female Shitz Tuz Mandie For 3 Years, She Was A Rescue…

We have had our female Shitz Tuz Mandie for 3 years, she was a rescue dog from a nasty place. She came to us scared of people, it took us a full year to gain her trust, and she can still be skiddish around others. The 1st yr we had her we noticed what looked to be a bug bite, a few days later we had a home visit from a local vet who checked her out, gave her shots etc. We pointed out the bite which had by that time turned into what looked like a boil, which had popped earlier that day. The vet said it was due to fleas, and gave her drops, which we keep current. Ever since that bite she has been chewing herself raw on that spot. We couldn’t find anything there, no bumps or marks that would cause it to bother her. We did notice that her skin in that spot discolored a little. We thought it could be from her licking and chewing. A few months went by and she continued to chew, we switched her shampoo to low sud/oatmeal soap, and switched up her diet to Nutro dry food, no chicken or corn. and that hasn’t helped. Its gotten to the point where she doesn’t want to play, and she sleeps more, may be because she sit up at night after we are sleeping chewing. Her skin is now bright pink all over and her chewing has now moved to any spot she can reach. Any ideas on what is causing this? And, what I should do. Our vet’s here are extremely high dollar vet’s and we just can’t afford a $1,000 vet bill. Please help I feel so bad for this little girl.

Thank you
Lori G

3 Responses

Comments

  1. Ashley Garison

    Hi Krista, Thanks for your advice, we figured as much. I guess we all have to pitch in on this one and get our baby healthy again. And being so hot right now I’m sure isn’t making her feel any better either. I’ll give her a nice cool bath tonight and take her in first thing tomorrow.
    Again thanks for responding so fast. We all need more vets like you!

  2. PK Dennis

    First get all grain out of her diet, including treats.  Go to a good pet store (not the grocery store, or big box) and ask to be shown to the grain-free dog food and start reading lables. Pick a grain free dog food that has real meat as the first 2 , or even better 3 ingredients.  Real meat is easy to spot it says lamb, elk, bison, turkey, salmon meal or whitefish meal (meal is the entire animal ground up and dried).  Do not buy any food with by products listed in the ingredients – this is and indication of inferior goods.  The worst grains for dogs are: wheat, corn, corn gluten, rice, soy, oats.  Many dogs do alright with buckwheat since it is not a grain.

    Dogs may not be allergic to grain, but it impacts their ability to fight other allergens.  Most dogs do much better when grain is removed from their diet.

    Next, stop washing your dog (they only need a bath if they have rolled in something!) and just rinse her instead with a mix of 1/3 vinegar (cider vinegar is her coat is colored, white vinegar if her coat is mostly white) and 2/3 water.  Work this into her coat and skin and allow her to shake and dry.  Do not rinse it out.  You can rinse her with this every day, and if you have her coat cut very short, you can do it 2 times per day.  Just be sure she dries out between applications, you don’t want her staying damp since that will lead to other problems.  The vinegar smell will disappear as she dries.   I recommend you do keep her coat short for the time being – it will help you keep allergens out of her coat.  Brush her daily.  You can keep her tail hair long since that is one of the best features of this breed!

    Keep a bowl of this mix beside the door (make it fresh every day) and rinse her paws in it when she comes in from outside – this will help reduce the amount of allergen she tracks into the house.

    Cover every place she sleeps or naps with towels or sheets and toss those covers in the wash once a week.  This helps remove the pollen and mold spores that may be making her itch.  Wash her dog bed weekly too if she has one.  Vacuum the house daily with a HEPA filter in the vacuum.

    If she has any raw or ‘hot spots’ dab on witch hazel with aloe vera – you will find this in any pharmacy.

    If your vet told you to use Benadryl, switch to Zyrtec instead – it seems to work better.  Same dosage, and generic is fine.

    I agree with Dr. Krista’s advice to get the help of a vet – but after 22 years of dealing with itchy terriers I know that I have to take these other steps along with what the vet recommends.

  3. Andrea Cox

    I think you need a vet as this dog has been suffering long enough. You have tried hard to treat it at home and unfortunately it hasn’t worked. The next step is a vet and preferably not the same vet that saw her the first time.  It would be no wear near $1000. Probably less than $200 including the meds. You did a great thing by rescuing this dog and to continue being a great pet parent it takes sacrifice and some occasional money with a vet. Where I live a vet consultation is a mere $39. At that point they will tell you what needs to be done. You will be feel so much better once you help this poor dog. 

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Just Got A New 9 Week Old Kitten. I Got Him The Night…

I just got a new 9 week old kitten. I got him the night before last. The Kitten is perfectly healthy in every way but one. It is eating solid and canned food. Canned food once a day and dry food through the day. He is drinking water. He is playful and active. Has urinated about 4 times. His belly is not hard. And he is sleeping well.

BUT he has not pooped yet.

The old owners said he pooped the morning of the day I picked him up. But that was Thursday and this is Saturday. I am worried. I wonder if it may be the stress of a new home, no mother or litter mates and two new cats. The one cage of mine has not taken to the kitten yet but the other is coming around.

I do have a vet appointment booked but I have anxiety and I worry.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Went To The See The Vet Because My Dog Had A Bump On Top…

I went to the see the vet because my dog had a bump on top of his paw and wouldn’t walk on it. On the x-rays it showed one of his “toe” bone pushed in next to the other “toe” bone (broken) and it requires surgery they said. but right now he is walking fine with no limp. Instead of it needing surgery could it have been possible that it just needed a cast and time?

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Have An American Bulldog Who Is Almost 2 Years Old. Despite Training, He Is…

I have an American Bulldog who is almost 2 years old. Despite training, he is very aggressive towards other dogs. He was attacked by a pit bull, on our property, before he was a year old and every since will not tolerate any other dogs or any kind of animals for that matter. We have paid quite a bit for training to try and help him socialize but after a while he is back to his old self. No one will board him and we can’t take him anywhere that has a lot of people or other animals. He’s great at home and wonderful with our children, so I am at a loss s to what to do. He also has pretty bad hip problems and is in pain a lot if he gets a lot of exercise. I love him so much, as does my family, but I want to do the right, humane thing. Help.

3 Responses

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  1. Madelyn Fischer

    Hello, as an extreme animal lover, I say no, try to train and comfort as much as you can, but I don’t know you and I can’t tell you what to do. That’s the last case scenario. Good luck!

  2. Madelyn Fischer

    Hi Krista, I totally agree.

  3. Crystal Williams

    We have done two extensive training courses for his aggression . One two week program and one five week, away from home program.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
She’s An American Bull Dog And She’s About 7 Years Old. She’s Never Done This…

She’s an American bull dog and she’s about 7 years old. She’s never done this before. I also have 2 other dogs and they aren’t acting like this.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
She Is A Bengal, Approx 1 Year Old, De Sexed And Lives With A Male…

She is a Bengal, approx 1 year old, de sexed and lives with a male tabby 5 years old also desexed. They are both healthy indoor cats. There have been no other behavioural changes, she’s very affectionate, eating and drinking well. No more or less than usual. The urine stains don’t show any signs of discolouration and don’t smell unusual or different from the other cat’s.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
My 3 Month Old Kitten Has Diarrhea And Can’t Control When It Goes. The Only…

My 3 month old kitten has diarrhea and can’t control when it goes. The only other animals it has been around is our puppy but he is not sick. What can I do to stop the diarrhea

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
Found A Kitten He Has Gooey Eyes But No Other Symptoms

Found a kitten he has gooey eyes but no other symptoms

1 Response

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  1. Anonymous

    Thank you for rescuing!  I would plan on a vet visit once they’re open, just to make sure he’s alright.  All new pets should be seen within 3 days, anyway.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I’m Planning On Buying A Cat This Coming Semester. I’ll Be Living In A Fraternity…

I’m planning on buying a cat this coming semester. I’ll be living in a fraternity house with 20 or so other people. I was told that, when I inevitably move (likely in a year) the cat will mourn what it percieves to be the deaths of its former housemates, since it will not be seeing them around its living space any more.

1 Response

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  1. Brandon Verkamp

    “Buy a cat. I presume you mean adopt a cat? ”
    Yes, you are correct.

    “It is too noisy, too chaotic,”
    I have considered this factor, actually. The house I’m living in is actually not loud or chaotic at all 99% of the time.

    “and there are too many people coming and going.”
    As long as they watch to make sure that the cat is not going to dart through the door when they exit, it should be fine, yes?

    “Most college kids lack resources for all of the possible needed pet care items, and especially lack resources should emergencies happen.”
    This is, obviously, something I have considered. I wouldn’t even think of adopting a cat unless I had secured a decently paying job and had sufficient savings to cover most emergencies.

    “I just strongly believe that this is not a stable, healthy, safe environment for a cat. I have seen too many misguided attempts at pets in college. Please wait until you are out of school.”
    I will certainly consider your advice and concerns seriously before I make this decision. Thank you for your time!

Question
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Pawbly | 9 years ago
One Of Them Is A Pit Bull Black Lab Mix, And The Other Is A…

One of them is a pit bull black lab mix, and the other is a pit bull rottweiler mix who is also fixed but the pit lab is not, not sure if this is relevant or not.

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Dawn Ferara, DVM

    The  one dog not being fixed is definitely the reason for the aggression.  Get the 1 dog fixed ASAP then attempt reintroduction this may mean contacting an animal behaviorist for help.

  2. PK Dennis

    Dr. Dawn is correct – you must get the second dog neutered, and even then you need to keep these dogs apart (so they can’t even see each other!) for several weeks afterward.  This gives time for the testosterone to work its way out of the new neutered dog’s system.

    Then, get the help of a professional behaviorist to reintroduce these two dogs – don’t attempt it yourself because they now have a history of aggression and will associate this aggression with each other.  You need someone that can read the tiny signs a dog gives when they are uncomfortable with another dog.  Even your own fear of something bad happening can trigger aggression between these two, so find a way to get help.  If nothing else, contact your local SPCA and tell them your situation – and ask if they have someone that can help you, maybe a volunteer or a trainer that will help at a reduced cost.  Explain that you are trying to avoid having to re-home one of the dogs and maybe they can help in some way.

    Good luck – and don’t wait to get that boy neutered!