Hi guys,

As some of you know, just before Christmas, my lab bitch, Isla sliced her foot open quite badly on some glass (we think), she ended up having to go under a GA to get the wound cleaned as the cut went all the way through her pad into the 'spongy' stuff under it and wouldn't close properly without stiches.  Well she seemed to take all of this in her stride, even the 3-4 weeks of 'lead-walking'  and having to wear a special padded activity boot. 
Since then, she just hasn't been quite 'right', I can't quite put my finger on it, and anybody else wouldn't notice, but I know that she's just not happy.  My question is this,  If I take her out with me in the car, getting petrol, collecting kids from school etc, would she be happier knowing that my 9 month old pup Kester is back at home.  She has always taken on the 'job' of 'looking after' the house when I'm out, so if I left Kester there on his own, would she think that he has been promoted to doing her 'job'?

I'm going round and round in circles with this, not knowing what to do to make her a bit less depressed.
Any ideas?

Ali :)

P.S. She been checked with the vet and is medically sound. She's normally a very active dog, trains every day, goes tracking every week and does Working Trials.

Have you thought about homoepathic remedies or any of the Bach Flower Remedies?  They can be useful during times like this.

Hi,

Yes, I think that I'll try some flower remedies- I hate seeing her like this.
Any particular idea on which one to try-my book doesn't go into enough details.

Cheers
Ali :)

Well I am no expert but I would have thought Gorse for depression.  Obviously you hopefully have ruled out vet problems although if your dog has been on any ABs/steroids this can have a depressant effect as well as a digestive effect hence why probiotics/live yoghurt is so important.

The beauty about Bach remedies is, unlike homoeopathic remedies, they can do no harm; it will either work or have no effect.

HTH

She was on AB's for a while over Christmas, so maybe thats it.  I think that I'll pop down to my health food shop and get some Bachs this afternoon (if the snow melts!), so hopefully I may see some improvement son.
Thanks again for the excellent advice (as ever)
Ali :)

ps what stake are you working your lab in at the mo?

Hiya,

Well, up until about 6 months ago, she WAS working UD, but after a rather nasty run-in with a tree, or something similar, she has actually been retired from competing as I'm unwilling to chance her on the scale.  The really annoying thing is that apart from the nosework excercises, the scale was her favourite thing. (She broke her front shoulder when she was about a year old- I know that there's scar tissue around it, and the vet has now advised that it would only take another nasty knock - or bad landing- for her to start getting arthritis) I'd rather give it up now and have a fairly healthy dog in 5 years time, than keep going and have one thats in pain.
She still does all the exercises to competition level, but as she can't do the scale, she can't compete.  I still go and watch trials though, some of the dogs that I helped train as pups, are nearly ready for their first ones, so its very exciting even though its not my dog!  My pup, Kester is only 9 months old, but apart from the stays (never my fave either!) pretty much has everything else, with the exception of the jumps.  He's also doing really well at tracking.

cheers
Ali :)

Hi, heres a link for bach flower remedies how/what/when to use them & it also has other natural remedies as well as a guide to homeopthy :)

http://www.caninecaregroup.net/dogframes.htm

Christine, Spain.