Papillons

Thanks everyone, for responding! You've made me want to give Colby a chance to 'strut his stuff'. :wink: I've signed us up for some handling classes in a few months. If one of us doesn't really like it, we'll quit and find something else to do. K, you mentioned seaweed for helping to improve pigment, I'll have to check that out! Sounds great. Someone also told me that Vitamin D would help. Anyone heard of that? (The pigment is only a problem on his lips and not anywhere else... it's just a little weak.) Sanvean, you asked how his confirmation was in other ways? Well, I've never shown dogs (only horses!), but I've taken the advice of other Papillon breeders and they've said he's put together well. His bite is lovely, and his gait is quite nice. He also has a very "go gettum" attitude and loves to meet new people. Now, Colby just can't decide what color he wants to be. Started out as a black and white... last week he was a dark sable, now we're onto a lighter sable with gold flecks. lol Thanks again, for the advice everyone!! 8) Very much appreciated! Colleen

Hi Carol, Thanks for the reply! Actually, his pigment isn't that off. For Papillons the options are Black, and Liver. But Liver is severely penalized in the show ring. His pigment is black. But, a weak black. It's actually called "Snow Nose". With exposer to sun and warm weather, it would increasingly become darker. (Which it has over the past few days even!) His confirmation is great, his bite is perfect and everything else fits the breed standard thus far. I would love to be able to show him. I'm going to wait a month or so and then make up my mind. But I want to educate myself as much as possible about the neutering incase I do go that way. Thanks again! Take Care! Colleen

Hi everyone! I'm back with another question. I have a (now) 14 week old Papillon male. We were going to show him, as he was sold on a "show quality" basis. But, his lip pigment just isn't as perfect as I'd want it to be, and I don't want him bred because of it. (I feel, why take him to his championship if there's a quality in him I wouldn't want bred to another dog anyway.) Oh well. :( In your opinion -- When's the best age to neuter? He's just a little guy (a little less than 4 pounds) who exhibits no aggressive behaviors, very much a gentleman. I was thinking 6 months. Some papillon breeders have it so their dogs are neutered before going to their new homes at 12-16 weeks. I feel that's too young! But maybe I've been misinformed. Also.... Isoflurane. What are your feelings on it? Papillons are ultra sensitive to anesthesia. I think Isoflurane is a better option since it doesn't stay in their system long. (Just goes through their respiratory system.) (Correct?) Thanks! Colleen and Colby :D

Thank you Cassie! :D Fortunately, Colby shows none of the symptoms they list. He's quite active, eating well, not throwing up etc. He's going back to the vet in a week for a check up on the mange. Maybe I'll ask about the blood work then to make sure all it well. Thanks again!

Homeontheashley - I'm sorry your puppy has mange also! You seem to have seen results muchhh faster than I have. While Colby isn't itching quite as much, he still goes at it. But then again, he's on Antihistamines also. So that could be what's cutting down on the itching too. Good luck with your pup! :D As for it being contagious... I've had Colby for 2 weeks. I've never once had a rash nor has anyone else in my family. (Nor the dog or 5 cats. lol) No itching. Nothing. So, I would argue with it being contagious to humans. Or maybe we just got lucky! 8) He even sleeps in my bed. Not anything so far. (I say this while knocking on wood!) :wink: Again, thanks everyone for your help and support!

Hi everyone! I have a problem. :-? My less than 4 pound Papillon ate about a tablespoons worth of cooked onion by accident when someone was watching him (while I turned my back for less than 30 seconds... I'll never do that again! :( ) I know onions are toxic in any form for dogs and cats. I know it can cause anemia. Or kidney failure. Or worse. It's almost 8pm on a Saturday and there aren't any vet hospitals open. (I was going to call and just ask what I should do.) But that's not an option now. Do you have any adice? Am I over reacting? I don't know how much is "too much" for my toy dog. Sometimes it takes 5 or more days to even see a result. Ahh... I'm scared and an overly protective Mom. :o Any help would be much appreciated. -Colleen

Ohh... I just found something on one of the sites that Rosebud linked: "The newest treatment for canine sarcoptic mange is selamectin, manufactured by Pfizer in the United States as [b]Revolution[/b]. This topical parasiticide is effective in treating a number of different parasitic infestations in dogs and cats. For dogs with scabies, the treatment is applied topically as a single dose. Sometimes a second application is administered thirty days later." So, hopefully the Revolution we applied 4 days or so ago will start working soon. :)

Thanks everyone for your support and advice! I (and Colby) really appreciate it! Rosebud - the links you posted are wonderful and educational. I was aware that Sarcoptic Mange was *shudder* *gag* Scabies. :o But, I wasn't aware it was a type people could contract. And to think this boy's been sleeping on my pillow! :wink: (That's okay, I still love him, scabies and all!) I'm going to take him to a Toy Dog specialist nearby and present what you've so kindly found for me and see what they say. A millon thankyou's to everyone! :D -Colleen

Thanks everyone for your help and concern :) Colby (The puppy) has been seen by 3 vets. 2 out of 3 agree on Sarcoptic Mange and all of the tests were done by Skin Scraping. (The 3rd vet said it was just normal puppy itch. ?!?!) All the results of Skin Scraping came back negative. Apparently he "looks" like he has Sarcoptic Mange and when they scratched his ear (too rougly to my desire) he "thumped" his same back leg which is a test they sometimes do when the Skin Scraping is inconclusive. The Antihistamines were just supposed to control the itching and discomfort while the Revolution worked on the Mange. I read on the back of the Revolution and it said it does treat Mange. Rosebud, you said a shampoo treats this type of Mange? What is it called, if you don't mind me asking. And how fast do the results appear? Papillons are known for occasionally not growing back in their hair when they itch too much or the hair follicle is damaged. So, you can see my concern! :o I think I'm going to give the Revolution another week to [i] kick in [/i] and then start searching for other methods. I'm at a loss of what else I can do. :( :cry: Thanks again! :D

[quote name='Michele']what about benedryl.....it won't hurt the dog if you give him a little bit...[/quote] Thanks Rowie and Michele for the replies! I'm sorry your Rowie's a naked pup too. lol Poor thing. Michele- Benedryl? Sounds lovely to me! But, how much do I administer to a less than 4 pound pup? Will it counteract with his antihistamines he's already on? :(

Hi everyone! :) I have an eleven week old Papillon male weighing in at a mere 3.6 pounds. He's been tested positive for Sarcoptic Mange. (I may have spelled that incorrectly.) But, not from the skin scraping. The vet scratched his ear and he "thumped" his same hindleg. Apparently this is called a penile positive exam. (?) (Might have that incorrect also.) Anyway, he is scratching himself BALD and crazy! He's on his 9th day of antihistamines (which don't seem to be doing a darn thing.). And the vet has given him 1/2 tube of Frontline (up to 23 pounds) and a full tube of Revolution (up to 5 pounds). Supposedly, the Revolution kills this type of Mange, but may take up to two months! Two Months!? My baby is going to be a Chinese Crested before it's through. lol (No offense to those Crested pups! They are sure adorable, but my Pap's supposed to have his hair.) :wink: Does anyone know of [b]ANYTHING[/b] that is safe to put on his skin where he is itching? It has to be something that's not going to make him ill if he licks it. (Which he does constantly on his "sites".) [i]Oatmeal baths[/i] maybe? Has anyone had any luck with these? And how long did it help? I've tried cool/cold baths but he hates to be cold and I feel cruel doing it. It didn't even help for very long. :( Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. :D My poor pup is crying and depressed. -Colleen and Colby - "The Hairless Pap"