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OLD QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: Hello Viv A: Hi Jane,
Q: Hi Viv
My Border Max is 12 months old. I am a little concerned as his coat has not blown to any extent as yet, he has had a few patches such as parts of his tail and his shoulders that i stripped myself quite easily. Is it common for the breed to not need much stripping at an early age. He has not been neutered.
Thanks for any advice.
Tony
A: Hi Tony, Thanks for the question. I think my first response is lucky you but joking aside Max is not unusual in having a coat like this. As I said in my article, borders coats do vary. You don't say whether Max has a thick undercoat or not but the fact that he is not neutered may be keeping his coat 'in check'. If you have him done you may see a change in time. It sounds as if you are coping very well with the areas that need stripping so keep up the good work and enjoy! Viv
Q: Hi Viv, Can you please help me with this question. How short should my borders nails be. I had read in books before I bought my Border that they do not wear there nails down as they have thick pads and their nails are off the floor. My Border is now 4 years old. when she was younger I took her to the vets to have her nails clipped and she told me they didn't need doing. I tried to explain what I had read about but she wouldn't listen. I took her back 3 months later and she said I will trim a little off as there not that bad. ( I disagreed ) I waited a few weeks and then I changed my vet. The new one said why hadn't I been before as they were very long. He cut them a little and they bled. Since then I have had a dog groomer take a tiny amount off every fortnight. They seem to grow really quick and every fortnight they don't seem to get any shorter. The front ones touch the floor the back ones are off the floor. I walk her 1-2 hrs a day. Hope you have the answer. Many thanks, Louise A: Hi Louise, I have read your question with interest and hope the following will put your mind at rest. I assume your border's nails are all black therefore there is no evidence of where the quick comes to. If that is the case trimming is always more difficult, the quick grows to different lengths and if your dog's have grown virtually to the end of the nails then trimming them very short is impossible as you will be cutting through the quick and they will bleed. It sounds as if your groomer is doing the best he/she can by trimming a little at a time but they will not want to cut through the quick. Would it be possible for you to buy a dog nail file and between groomer visits file your dog's nails to see if they could be shortened anymore. I hope this helps, there unfortunately is not a straightforward solution and it may be that your dog's nails are as short as they can be and so long as they are not causing any discomfort there is no need to worry. Viv
Q: Hi Viv, We have a 6 year old border with a skin condition and have tried everything. She is currently getting fatter by the day on steroids - the only thing that prevents her from itching to the point of bleeding. The only peculiar thing is it all clears up when at the kennels for any length of time. Can you offer any advice as we are now considering re-homing and she is a lovely dog. Thanks. A: Hi, I have just read the above post which left me feeling a little distressed. How upsetting to possibly have to consider rehoming your border because of a skin complaint. I do hope that it doesn't come to that. I have been giving thought to the fact that the skin condition improves greatly when the dog is in kennels for any length of time: has the difference in lifestyle, diet, living conditions been explored; ie is the dog much too warm when at home? Does the diet differ when in kennels? Is there more interaction with other dogs? It is possible that you have considered these differences and if so have any of them been a trigger to the improvement of your dogs skin condition? As you say steroids are keeping the condition under a degree of control but have drastic side affects. Are they continued whilst the dog is in kennels? Skin problems are notoriously difficult to diagnose and often it is a long laborious session of trying one thing and another in an attempt to pinpoint the trigger to the condition. Please be encouraged by the fact that under certain circumstances your dog's condition improves and from that there should hopefully be a way of coping and improving your dog's health. If you wish to discuss this further with me please don't hesitate to email. Good luck. Viv
Hi Viv,
Can you help?
Our 15 month old female BT has, for the last week or so had runny eyes which are sticking together when she wakes up on a morning, and I'm having to bathe them. She then gets a discharge like sleep, in the corner of her eyes throughout the day? Apart from rubbing them when she wakes up, they don't seem to be bothering her. She is eating normally etc.
I did take her to the vets in October when the same thing happened, and they said she had a very slight infection and gave me some cream to put in her eyes twice a day. it cleared up. Now not sure if its the same thing back again, or something else. I've been bathing them a couple of times a day with cooled boiled water with a tiny bit of salt in it.
Want to avoid another expensive trip to the vets if I can.
Could you suggest anything, and do you know if its a common thing for BT's? Its the first one we've had.
Many Thanks
Valerie
Newcastle
Hi Valerie, Borders can suffer with eye infections like any other dog, especially as they like to spend their time rummaging around in the undergrowth and poking their noses into everything, therefore at times meaning that their eyes come into contact with irritating substance and will at times get scratched. From what you say in your email, there is a possibility that your borders eye condition was not completely cleared up in October and has been lying dormant for the last few weeks and has now flared up again. I understand how you feel about another trip to the vets but I recommend that you grab the bull by the horns and make a return visit, it is certainly worth explaining that this is a second visit as the first treatment wasn't entirely successful. Sorry not to be able to come up with a quick fix answer, but it is worth consulting your vet again in case there is any underlying reason for your borders ongoing eye condition, hopefully that is not the case. Please do let us know what the outcome is, in the meantime we wish you and your border well. Viv
Hello Viv What time of year should you strip BT's?
George is looking a bit curly - should I wait until the spring? - I don't want him to get too cold this winter - he is 9 months old - Thanks.
Jenny
Hi Jenny,
Border coats (unless being rolled for show) are usually stripped twice a year, this often happens in the spring and autumn. I assume that George has not been stripped before so by now he will have grown quite a good coat. If he is an indoor dog then stripping him now will not leave him feeling the cold, in fact if his coat has started to 'blow' then it is no longer giving him the full protection of a good close border coat. As each border has a different rate of coat growth, it is quite possible that if you strip George now then his new jacket will be coming through in a few weeks. Have you found a groomer who will hand strip or are you attempting this yourself, if using a groomer then it is wise to check that they definitely do hand strip. Have you thought of taking a before and after photo as a lot of owners are amazed at how different their dog looks having parted with his woolly jacket. Good luck and I hope that you enjoying life with George -9 months is a wonderful age. Viv
Viv, I hope you can help us with our smelly border, Tiger, she is a happy and otherwise healthy dog with periodic ear problems which when treated resolve quite quickly. She is wiry and needs stripping three times a year. We put the smelly and waxy coat down to her sleeping in an outdoor kennel ,which she shares with Bess our black lab. On her last trip to be stripped the groomer suggested a change of diet might help and we are now feeding her Royal Canin mini dog 1-10kg. She has been on this diet for Six weeks now without any discernible improvement. What can you suggest.
Thanks
Andrew Brown.
Hi Andrew,
A very interesting question. Borders can generally be a smelly breed and from experience of having kept them in kennels at times (boarding and welfare) this seems to increase the smell. You say that Tiger has a wiry coat (that sounds perfect) but that it is greasy. It may be that as she lives outside she is over producing protective oils but there are a few points that we can consider. You mention that Tiger does suffer periodically with ear problems: is there any possibility that Bess who she shares the kennel with may be the carrier of the infection, as over the years I have known several labs with deep seated ear conditions. Royal Canin is an excellent food but not one that I would have recommended; in the instance it may be a little too rich. Have you tried Jameswellbeloved which actually comes from the same stable as Royal Canin but I have in experience found that borders do better on it. On the subject of food I assume that Bess has her own food; is their a chance that they swap? What bedding do the dogs have in their kennel and how often do you change/wash the bedding/kennel and what detergents, disinfectants do you use. Has Tiger suffered with this condition for very long? And was there any significant change in her lifestyle before the onset? When Tiger has her coat stripped does she have a bath at the same time? If this is the case it would be advisable to let her skin settle for a few days before bathing and then using a ph balanced shampoo (probably best to consult your vet on which one they would recommend). I hope that the foregoing will help you to sort out Tigers problem. If you wish to discuss this further do not hesitate to contact me on the webpage. Viv
Dear Viv, I have a 14 month old female BT who is tan and black. She was bought from a reputable farm who have only bred their pet BT this once and are having no more. I have a 5 generation pedigree certificate for my dog and she is beautiful obviously! I have been getting her groomed since I first got her at 8 weeks old so that nothing scared her. My concern is that although she gets hand stripped, she doesn't look anything like the BTs in the calendars etc once done. Her hair is very soft and only in the past 3 weeks can I feel signs of a dense, wiry coat underneath. The groomer I use has mentioned she is fluffy and is forever telling me she needs stripped like every 6 weeks! I am not an expert on dogs but my understanding from my vet is that a BT should only need stripped twice a year. Or, should she be done more because she is a puppy until her 'adult' coat comes in? I live in the Stirling area and wondered if you could give me some advice on why me wee dog is fluffy when her coat comes in and also, if you could recommend a proper BT groomer -no disrespect to the groomer I use but I don't feel that they have enough experience with how this breed should look. Thank you for your time. Kindest Regards Kerry
Hi Kerry, I read your question with interest as I groom a blue and tan for a friend and she has a very soft coat (the dog that is!!), we don't groom her every 6 weeks. However, rather than trying to sort your problem out here, it is probably easier if I give you the telephone number of a lady in Perth who has borders and is happy to help with border terrier coats, her name is Anne Gregory 01738 860772. She is very experienced and hopefully will be able sort the coat issue out. I do hope that Anne is able to help, perhaps you would let us know what happens. With best wishes Vivien
Hi Viv We have a cross Border Terrier/Manchester Terrier his name is Todd he will be 7 years old in March. We have him hand stripped, nails clipped and bathed three times a year. He is lovely in every way but one problem, he sometimes smells a bit like sweaty feet.
Most of the time his breath is sweet buy if he has been licking himself he really smells I think it's his breath. When he's asleep there is no smell... it's really weird, we thought of taking him to the vet nut he's not ill. His teeth probably could do with cleaning... could this be the problem? If so, would he have to have a general anesthetic to have this done?
He has always been fed on Jameswellbeloved, he's never had bowel problems, sometimes he will vomit food or water but not very often.
I hope you can help
Thanks
Kate
Hi Kate, Todd sounds lovely I don't think I have ever seen a border x manchester terrier -very handsome I imagine. Borders as a breed can sometimes be a little smelly ( we often say they smell like a pile of old socks!!), have you checked Todd's ears? You say his teeth may need cleaning do they have a build up of tartar on them, yes unfortunately if they are professionally cleaned by a vet then he will have to be given a general anaesthetic, but bad tartar build up can lead to further health issues, so certainly worth looking into. Your choice of food for Todd is ideal, the fact that every now and again he will bring up water or food could just be that he has eaten or drunk too much too quickly, do you add water to his food? As Todd is nearly 7 maybe it is time to change to Jameswellbeloved senior . Another thought on the smell issue, does Todd ever suffer with anal gland problems? Does he have them checked when he is groomed? I hope that the foregoing has been of some help, if you wish to discuss this further please don't hesitate to email. Best wishes Viv
Q:Hi Viv
A:Hi Gail, Goodness what a wonderful read, Monty sounds delightful and reading your letter brought tears to my eyes reminding me of all my dear departed oldies (the oldest making his early 20's, now sadly all have gone and my oldest border now is a young 8 year old). I will try to come up with some useful replies to your questions, firstly I'm so pleased that Wellbeloved did give 6 months relief but sorry to hear that the sickness is increasing. Do you soak Montys food and how often do you feed him? I would suggest at least 2 small meals a day and the food being well soaked, you could always try another food such as Burns or Autarky (senior), does Monty like fish, if so another food I have great faith in is Fish for Dogs, my oldies always seemed to digest this very easily. With regard to bringing a puppy into Montys life, difficult to advise either way, though like you I worried about the effect a very young boisterous puppy would have on an OAP, but did find that it worked well giving the oldies a new dimension to their lives, but always made sure that the puppy treated the old ones with respect and that they had their space and quiet time as often as they needed. Now to Montys little accidents, not being a vet I cannot say whether the sickness and piddling are related, though from experience Borders do seem to suffer with slight dementia as they get older, I have seen it in one or two of mine. There is a drug available from the vet called Vivatonin (think that it the correct way to spell it) which may help, there is possibly an even newer drug I seem to recall a customer telling me of one recently, if you are visiting your vet ask what is available. Just a thought going back to soaking the food well, it does seem to stop them from drinking vast amounts when on a dry food diet. Lastly the stripping, it sounds as if you have been doing a great job with the surgical gloves, now that Monty has a few lumps and bumps I would carry on as before and if you feel that those little areas are best not stripped then gently scissor over them (clipping is not good as it will take the tops off the warts etc.) I do hope that this is of some help and thank you for the kind words about this page, if I can be any further help be email again, but please do let us know how things go for Monty. Wishing you all well Viv
Q: Hi Viv, I have taken in a nine year old Border Terrier "Polly",My Sister-in-Law was ill for some time before she died. I think that Polly had been neglected as when she came to my home her coat was really matted. A man from a mobile company (Dial A Dog) came to the house and did a good job He stripped her, cut her claws,cleaned her eyes and bathed her. I really don't know how to keep her coat in good condition as she is different to other Border Terriers I have read up about. Her top coat is soft creamy Poodle type curly "fur". Apparently both parents and the rest of the litter had the usual straight hard coat. I use a wire brush to groom her but I wonder if I should have her professionally groomed for the Summer. For her age she is a very active fun loving dog, she and I can walk about the same distance ?. I would be thankful for any advice. Molly
A: Hi Molly, I'm very sorry to hear about the death of your sister-in-law, how lovely of you to give Polly a home. The grooming that you had sounds very good, but I'm not sure how long ago this was. Borders are usually stripped twice a year but some may be done more frequently. You say that Pollys' coat is very soft, if she has been spayed this may have changed the texture, though the fact that your groomer was able to hand strip is good (as sometimes soft coats are very reluctant to let go). Yes you should continue to brush Polly to stop the coat getting matted again but do be careful not to scratch the skin with a metal brush. I hope that this helps a little. Without seeing Polly it is difficult to say if she is in need of another strip. Maybe if your groomer is in your area he would give you his opinion. It sounds as if Polly is good company for you out walking and at 9 years old should still be fit and active. But bear in mind that she is heading towards double figures and will start to take things a little more sedately in the years to come, though in true border fashion she will still no doubt be eager to be out and about. Good luck with Polly I hope she gives you many years happy companionship. Best wishes Viv
Q: Hello Viv, Can you help me ?
I have a 9 month old Border who is in need of stripping. I have looked at books but am still baffled !
I live near Woodbridge, Suffolk and wonder if you know of any groomers in this area who could show me how to do it. There are several dog groomers in this area but they all seem to use clippers !!!
Any help would be most welcome.
Many thanks,
Paul Vyse.
A: Hi Paul, I am sorry to hear that you are unable to find a local groomer that is willing to hand strip your border, having just covered this issue I understand how frustrating it can be for you especially as you want to learn how to do it yourself. Unfortunately I do not know of any groomers in your area, possibly the nearest border terrier person is in Hertfordshire, if this isn't too far get back to me. However, have you given any thought to trying to get tuition from a video/dvd there are a few available, one that has good feedback is available via WWW.caninecoatcare.com, this will hopefully help to get you started. Do let us know how you get on, if you need further help please let us know. Best wishes Viv
Q: Hiv Viv, Robbie my BT is nearly 2 years old. He is an intact dog with a good pedigree and is from a reputable breeder. However compared to other borders he has a very thin and sleek coat, so much so that some people often mistake him for a german shepherd pup. He has a little bit of BT fuzz round his muzzle but no real thickness of coat round the rest of his body. Is this just a non typical coat pattern or is it maybe aged related and therefore something that will correct itself as he gets older?. Maybe there are some supplements that might help ? All his litter mates (all bitches) seem to have developed typical border coats by now. Maybe I am just destined never to have the work of coat plucking Grateful for your thoughts Joan A: Hi Joan, Robbies' coat doesn't sound vastly untypical for a border, they do vary and can do so within a litter, and I take it from what you say that the rest of the litter were female, so there is not another male to compare him against. Being entire will probably help to keep his coat from being thick and woolly but as he is now 2 years old I don't think it is going to change a lot now, is there any sign of a double coat at all? Do you feel that Robbie suffers with his coat as it is? Supplements may help, you could try Yumega it does boast wonderful results. If Robbie is generally in good health then the fact that his coat is not in need of regular stripping should perhaps be seen as a blessing, just think of the work or money you are saving!. Do let us know if there is any change in Robbies' coat. Best wishes Viv
Q: Hi Viv, Our one-year old border terrier bitch has a rash on her belly. It does not appea to bother her. Someone suggested it is an allergy. Any suggestions? Thanks, Robert Richie Hi Robert, Apologies for the delay in replying to your question, I hope that maybe by now your borders rash has got a lot better. You don't say if it has been there for long, but you did mention that it doesn't bother her. Unfortunately it is difficult to suggest a remedy, or diagnose what it can be at this distance (not to mention the fact that I am not a vet!). All I can say is that yes it is possibly an allergy, but whether that is due to diet or external factors I am unable to comment. It may be advisable to consult a vet if the condition persists. Wishing you and your dog all the best. Viv
Hello Viv, I live in Maidstone Kent and wondered if you knew anyone that would strip my border terrier. I do it myself but to be honest I am not very good at it. Kind regards, Elaine Hi Elaine, The only person I know of in your area for hand stripping borders is Rachel Lane in the Maidstone area, her telephone number is 01732 743834, I hope this is of some help. Best wishes Viv
Hello Viv, We have an 8 month old Border Terrier who is great and gives us lots of fun and enjoyment. We give him 2 meals a day: one in the morning, which is dried Hills Science and one in the evening, which is a bit of Hills plus home cooked liver/kidney/heart, which he loves. However some days he is fine other days he is sick for no apparent reason. He is a scavenger outside. Our garden is mainly clean. Sometimes he just throws up phlegm. Stools good but recently with a bit of jelly like. Should we just keep him on dried food, or wil this phase pass. He drinks plenty of water and is very active. Hope you can help, From Mel and Norman Hi Mel & Norman, I'm sorry to hear that your border suffers with the occasional attack of sickness. Unfortunately I can't diagnose what the problem is. However what I would say is that possibly the liver/heart/kidney addition to his food may not be agreeing with him. Could you possibly just add a little chicken or minced beef if you feel that he needs 'extras'. You say that your garden is 'clean': is he a grass eater, as quite often they seem to want to eat grass and then just bring up phlegm. The jelly with his stools is a little more worrying. It maybe worthwhile you consulting your Vet on this issue. I wish you well and if you would like to let us know how you get on that would be great. Best wishes Viv
Hi Viv
Hi Bee, Thank you I'm pleased that you find the website useful. Unfortunately I do not know of a groomer in your area, however you say that you have ordered a video, hopefully that won't take too long to arrive. In the meantime I would say have a go yourself, unless you are showing your border you can't really spoil anything as it will grow back. If you work on the basis of removing the longest hairs and gently pull in the direction of the coat, if needs be you can use a stripping knife (but these can cut the coat as opposed to removing the hair by the root, so a few hairs at a time and gently), or you can put chalk powder on you fingers to give more grip. Whatever it won't hurt to start having a little pick away, it can be quite therapeutic and if you are doing it yourself you can take your time. Good luck, do let us know how you get on, how about a before and after photo? Best wishes Viv
Hi Viv
Hi Amanda, I am very sorry to hear that you feel that your groomer has let you down and gone against your wishes. I remember many, many years ago the very same thing happening to me with my first border but all is not lost. The coat on your dog's belly should grow back as normal. You didn't say how you have usually dealt with grooming that part of your dog but that she doesn't let you do it so has it up to now remained long? As the underneath of the dog is quite a sensitive area many people scissor or clip that area as a general practice. I prefer to very carefully scissor a few hairs at a time so that it blends into the stripped body of the dog. I hope that this puts your mind at rest. Perhaps if next time you need your dog's belly grooming it would be worth phoning around your local groomers and tell them ideally what you would like done and ascertaining whether or not they are able to carry out your wishes. Good luck and best wishes Viv
Our border terrier brings up flem mixed with food about 20 mins into a walk. The vet has no answer. Steroids solve the problem but we would like to know what causes the problem. We have had Harry for one year during this time he is always sick whilst on a walk unless on steroids which we feel will be harmful for a long life. He is not ill whilst around the house. The sick is not 'normal sick' but like a phlegm full of air and sticky like frog spawn .It will sometimes contain small pieces of food. This will occur usually twenty mins into a walk or if he plays quite actively with another dog Our vet is baffled and so are her fellow vets since all tests to date have proved negative. Tests have ruled out :- He is fine when on prednisolone 5mg/day but we do not know why. Our vet states that otherwise he is a healthy little dog but we would like to get to the source of the illness Have you come across a similar case in the past and can you suggest what our next step should be ? Hi Roger, Poor Harry, I read your question with great interest, initially thinking I am not a vet so really haven't any ideas to put forward but then had a few thoughts which I will share with you. You didn't say how old Harry is and I am assuming he is a rescue dog? You are probably aware that borders are fairly excitable little characters and at times go over the top not knowing when enough is enough. Therefore I am wondering if it is a case that Harry gets over excited, causing a large adrenalin rush which results in him bringing up phlegm (I have seen borders vomiting a thickish liquid when too excited). It may be that whilst on steroids the production of adrenalin is suppressed resulting in him not bringing up phlegm. As I am not a vet this theory is purely based on my observations over the years of borders and their behaviour. It appears that you have had him thoroughly checked and tested and he seems to be a healthy little dog, which tends to make me think that this is not an illness more a behavioural condition. Do let us know how Harry goes on and if there are any further developments. Good luck and best wishes Viv
HI Viv, We recently bought a BT about 3 month ago, called Holly.
We took her to the vets for a check up and all was fine. She is about 6-7 years (the kennel club papers say 6, but her chip says shes 7 ???) and she was in season.
She became off her food about 1 months ago and her teats became enlarged but she made no signs of bedding down or collecting toys. My husband and I thought she maybe experiencing a phantom pregnancy as she hadn't been spayed (we are getting her done). After a few days she was back on her food and back to her normal self.
We took her to be stripped about 2 weeks ago. As you put in your news letter, they do look like a different dog, almost puppy like in appearance.
Now a bald patch has appeared on the back of her neck,
between her shoulder blades. It doesnt seem to be bothering her and isnt red or painfull but she is moulting terribly. When I brush her I get loads of hair.
Is this natural after being stripped? Do you think they did it properly? I have no reason to think otherwise. Should i be worrying about the bald patch? I have asked our vet and he said it could be hormonal. Is that so? Have you come across this before? Should I give her a bath?
Like I said it's not bothering her but there's hair everywhere and before the stripping she didnt molt at all.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Firstly I do apologise for taking a little time to reply, I have been giving your email considerable thought. I understand from what you said that Holly is no longer manifesting symptoms of a phantom pregnancy, unfortunately border bitches do seem prone to this, some more severe than others. Phantoms will result in a hormonal imbalance and could certainly affect the coat, spaying will sort out the phantom pregnancy side, but doesn't tend to improve the coat. The patch on Holly that is bald is not uncommon; that is the area which seems to often grow the thickest coat, but when stripped is the baldest. With regards to her moulting, again it could be due to the hormonal upset, but don't forget this is spring (warmer weather - supposedly!!) so she will be changing her coat which means she will shed her undercoat. I do not recommend bathing directly after stripping, but after a week or so should be ok, if you really feel that she needs one, but do use a correct ph balanced shampoo for dogs. I hope that the above helps, any feedback you wish to give on Hollys' progress would be interesting. Good luck and best wishes Viv
Hi Viv, We have a lovely border terrier called Bob, who is coming up to 2 years old. Last September he started to itch. This has got worse and we have had all sorts of things done to him: flee, and fox mange treatment, diet change, blood tests, allergy screening etc. Nine months on and he is still itching: at times in distress and when his coat is short is skin gets infected. When the itching started to happen he was going off his dry food so I started to use different brands. It also coincided when my daughter put down half a bottle of shake n vac on the carpet! However we have washed the carpets 5 or 6 times since then and he is still itching, and regardless of what food -wet or dry- he is on. He is on daily tablets which are supposed to calm down the itching but don't. Out last resort is to go on steroids which will shorten his life. I checked with the breeder and there is no history of this problem. Can you help as we are getting desperate watching him suffer. Thanks Gill Hi Gill, I am sorry to hear the your lovely border Bob is suffering with skin problems, these are so difficult to diagnose, whether it be in animals or humans, and as you say steroids are not without their side effects. It sounds as if you have tried all the obvious things and poor Bob is no better and you no further forward in knowing why. In view of this I would suggest that you contact Camrosa (if you haven't already), their products have had some amazing results. Their telephone number is 01892 783240 or their website www.camrosa.co.uk if you order their products they come with a very useful instruction booklet. I do hope that this helps, please let us know how Bob gets on. Good luck and best wishes Viv
Hi Viv, We have a border terrier aged 18 months called Molly and we've noticed that after she has been out for a walk or just got out of bed after being asleep all night we hear a clicking noise which appears to be coming from one of her front legs , she doesn't seem to be bothered by this and shows no outward signs of being in pain could this be a vitamin deficiency. We have her on Royal Canin dried food and was bought from a reputable breeder so their are no links that the parents shared this clicking Hi Tony, I read your question regarding your lovely little Molly with interest, and must admit feel baffled as to what may be causing the clicking noise coming from her front leg, have you consulted your vet on this issue, if not it may be worth doing so just to hopefully put your mind at rest that there is not an underlying problem. I apologise for not being able to offer any advice/solution to your question and hope that you find that Molly is a fit healthy border. Wishing you good luck and best wishes Viv
Hello Viv
Cheers, Dylan. P.S. In the shot of Amos on the beach, he has just been in the sea so he is a touch wet, hope thats not too misleading!
I love the photos of Amos (not to mention his name), as you say the photos show a considerable difference in his coat. From what you say and looking at the photos it would appear that the coat is ready for stripping and you have found that you are able gently pull out hairs without Amos even noticing which shows that the coat is "letting go" and ready to come out. The fact that the coat texture varies is quite normal and often the coat will be heavier along the back. When I used the term "the coat has blown" this means that the coat is beginning to part along the back and that is a definite sign that the coat is ready for stripping, this is not always quite so obvious on blue and tan coats. With regards to doing any damage by stripping early, if all you are removing is the longer top coat hairs which are ready to come out then no this won't be a problem. As I have mentioned in previous updates, when dogs/bitches are neutered their coats can alter and become thicker and more difficult to hand strip, though not always and not straight after neutering. Hopefully you will soon (if not already) have the stripping video and it will prove informative and you will enjoy transforming Amos, perhaps you would like to send BTW an "after" photo. Good luck and best wishes Viv
Hi! Samantha
Hi Samantha, It sounds as if Angus had a lucky escape, and you have found yourselves a wonderful little dog. You don't say how long Angus has been with you, or if his previous owners gave you any information on his diet? It is difficult to advise what is the best diet for Angus, you say he will not eat puppy food, it may be that he was on the same diet as the Newfoundlands, so your first approach could be to find out what he has been eating. With regards to horse meat, I have never heard that theory before, I couldn't imagine where you would buy it!! If you wish to feed Angus a "raw diet" then research the "BARF" diet, as I said I don't feel that it is my place to recommend a diet, there are so many foods available (perhaps you could read up on a few) Sorry that I haven't solved your problem, hopefully when you have ascertained what his previous diet was you will be able to get Angus onto a good food regime that suits him. Wishing you good luck and best wishes Viv
Dear Viv, Hi Jackie, Having read your letter I can understand why you are a little concerned about Peggys skin condition after she has been stripped. With regards to the bald patches, it is not unusual for that to happen, it is possible that the undercoat is coming out and comes out with the top coat, it usually grows back quite quickly. You say that the skin at times is red and there appears to be a rash, for some reason stripping has caused an irritation, does your groomer bathe Peggy after stripping? If she does it is probably worth mentioning the rash and asking her not to bath Peggy, hopefully this will let the skin settle after being stripped. You didn't state whether Peggy has been neutered, if she has it is possible that with time her coat is not "letting go" so readily and stripping is uncomfortable, which would explain her reluctance at the groomers also the red, irritated patches. When Peggy has been stripped you say her coat is soft, that is due to all her top coat having been removed and her being left purely in her "underclothes". I do hope that the above helps to put your mind at rest. With best wishes Viv
Hi Viv, Thank you for your lovely column of July 2010.
I was wondering if you could shed light on the symptoms of our border, Molly, 8 years old.
She scratches in bouts, "motor boats" ie. drags her belly across grass and her belly has turned rather black. She eats and drinks well, loves her walks and at the moment is in dreamland under the study table. I am getting more alarmed as her undercoat seems to be slow coming although she has a nice jacket on her at hte moment - it is rather dull. She does chew her paws intermittently.
I have been recommended, Maliseb, Cam Rosa and it has been suggested that she has a sort of mite.
Can you shed any light?
Kind regards,
Nicky Green
Poor Molly, it does sound as if something is causing quite a bad skin irritation. I think I have said previously that skin problems are so very difficult to diagnose and can come and go without ever finding the cause. It could be that Molly has a grass allergy, it is not unusual, several of my customers dogs suffer this way. If this is the case then you should find that Mollys skin will settle down over the next few weeks and through the autumn/winter she is a lot better. You didn't say whether you have consulted your vet, but did say that you have been malaseb and camrosa have been suggested, have you tried either of these? With regard to the irritation being caused by a type of mite, your vet may be able to confirm if that is the case, but would need to do tests. I do hope that you are able to find a solution to Molly's discomfort, often it is just down to trying different things, sometimes even a change of diet can offer some relief, but that is another thought which you may or may not wish to consider. With best wishes Viv
Hello Viv, We have the most precious 9 year old B.T. He has been handstripped twice a year since he was about a year old and has always looked typically border.
The last few years he has developed a fear of thunder storms and the last time he was at the groomer being stripped there was a bad storm. The groomer said he got quite anxious and we think she could not complete stripping him and must have clipped him around the rear of his back and his hind legs.
We did not see anything unusual when we picked him up, but now that his coat has grown out (four months later), these areas do not have the coarse topcoat he had before....could it be anything other than clipping as opposed to stripping, and is his coat ruined forever?
I would love to get your opinion.
Thank you
Leah
Hi Leah,
I am sorry to hear that your precious border has developed a fear of thunder storms, may I offer an observation on that first. I have found with several of my borders as they get nearer to double figures their hearing begins to fade and sometimes it seems that they loose the hearing in one ear first, which tends to confuse them as they are unable to ascertain where noises are coming from, therefore they become more nervous of loud noises. As I said this is purely an observation, but it maybe explains why your border is now anxious when there is a thunder storm. Now to the issue of the coat, it is very likely that the coat has come through softer after the last grooming if he was clipped and not stripped. Hopefully his coat is not ruined forever if next time he is groomed he is definitely stripped. Therefore, when you book him in for his grooming it is advisable to explain your concerns and stress that you really do want him stripped all over this time. I would just add that if he has been neutered there is a possibility that his coat is as the years have gone by become more difficult to strip. This has been covered in previous updates but if you missed that one, neutering does often effect the coats ability to "let go" as the coats condition depends on the hormonal balance. Neutering of course removes the hormonal influence and therefore in many cases the coat will as time goes by become thicker and more difficult to strip. I do hope that this puts your mind and rest and that your borders coat is restored to its' normal texture. Best wishes Viv
Hi Viv I have just been browsing the BTW website and was reading your Q & As, the ones I was particularly interested in are the skin condition emails. My husband and I re-homed 2 Borders from your group 18 months ago, Basil & Sybil, after a few weeks we realised our male had a terrible skin condition, he was red raw from his armpits to his groin, he was dragging himself on the floor to itch, was actually bleeding and one of his nipples was very swollen and infected. The top and bottom of it all he was a mess, and we didn't have a clue what to do. The vets didn't really have a clue either and just wanted us to spend £1000s on skin and blood tests and then probably have him on medication for the rest of his life, which would have been shortened because of the medication and wouldn't have actually got to the root of the problem. We didn't know what was causing it, but knew we couldn't afford these massive costs and even contemplated putting him out of his total misery. My mother then suggested homoeopathy as it had worked successfully on one of her cats who was prone to cystitis. I found a company who specialised in pet homoeopathy and she suggested a treatment which cost me approximately £5 for 200 tablets. Within 3 days we could see a change in his personality as he had cheered up and within 6 weeks the redness/sores and bleeding had about disappeared. We now have a dog who is totally cured, this is also because we eventually realised he was allergic to wheat, so Basil and his companion Sybil are both now on a wheat free diet. I just thought you'd be interested and could maybe recommend this to other people, I notice you have mentioned camrosa, which I am not familiar with and if it isn't against site rules then it's certainly worth recommending. Infact only yesterday was I contacted by a friend of a friend of a friend whom I had suggested these tablets to, because their dog had severe eczema and after 2 weeks he is almost back to normal. So they definitely do work. I have put the link below to the tablets for your information. I have also attached a couple of before and after pictures of Basil, the first was taken on 9thAugust' 09, the 2ndwas taken on 30thAugust '09, so you can see the improvement in just 3 weeks. I am happy for you to publish this email with the photos if you want to.
I just want to help other people out there who have dogs with similar conditions, I was quite distressed to read one of your contributors was considering getting rid of their dog because of his problem, that is terrible and infact that is probably why our dog was kicked out in the first place. These animals need our help and with homoeopathy it is harmless aswell, with no side effects. Kind Regards Rhonda (York) Hi Rhonda, Thank you so much for sharing your story and information with us, it is always wonderful to hear a successful outcome and you have certainly got one with Basil. I have just emailed a friend telling her to read your story as she has a border with skin problems and is going through vet treatment (thankfully her insurance is covering the expenses) but as you say the side effects of medication are not good. I am sure that there will be many people (and most importantly their dogs) who will benefit from the information and as you say these dogs need our help as skin conditions/eczema are very distressing and often impossible to cure with vet treatment. Once again thank you for passing this on, and if there are any readers who have success with this treatment please let us know. With best wishes Viv
Good afternoon Viv,
I hope you have enjoyed your first year with Mac, Borders are such fun at that age, I expect if he was your first it has been a year of discovery. With regards to handstripping, there is no reason why Mac cannot be done at this time of the year, I would recommend stripping in October, it gives the dogs coat time to grow back before the really cold weather, which we don't usually experience until December onwards. As you say Mac is an indoor dog, and when he is outside he is exercising, therefore keeping himself warm. I would not advise you to get a coat for him at this stage in his life, except for extremely cold days (and we thankfully get very few of those) he is capable of controlling his body temperature. You are concerned that maybe Mac wasn't stripped last time, from you explanation it did sound a little suspect. Mac was neutered at 6 months of age, which will not doubt in time affect his coat (if not already), which is possibly why the person you met expressed the opinion of the difference in coats. Neutering does often make handstripping more difficult, as the hormonal influence is no longer there triggering the change of coat. If you were unhappy with the last grooming are there other groomers within a reasonable distance who advertise "handstripping", if so it is worth contacting them and explaining your situation. The other alternative is that you strip Mac yourself, the benefit of that being that the whole coat doesn't have to be tackled at once, but you could do it a little at a time over a week or so. If the coat is not "letting go" easily then it is kinder on Mac (don't forget to let his skin calm down before bathing). Now to your last point, company for Mac, you say he is a very sociable dog and if he loves other doggy company then there shouldn't be a problem. There are always fors and againsts of having two dogs and only you can make the final decision. It is difficult to advise either way, as I have know 2 male borders get along fine, a male and female is usually the best choice, though I have known both of those pairings not work, it is down to the individual temperament, training and environment. Whatever you decide I wish you well, Mac is at a good age to introduce another dog (pup) into the household, before he becomes to set in his ways, and is still up for lots and lots of play. I do hope that this has been of some use, and any feedback you wish to give regarding any of these issues is always of interest, as it can often help other owners/readers. With best wishes Viv
Viv, After 20 years wanting one I finally live with (not own!) a male BT, nearly 5 months old now. He is black (going on blue) & tan. I was thinking of neutering him. I live in Edinburgh where there are many dogs to walk with & I also walk him on a nearby beach where there are lots of dogs. I don't intend to breed & assumed neutering would be the easiest path once he was old enough. I do not want him running after females… I have a neutered male mongrel already. But I see there is a school of though that says neutered male BTs lose their waterproofing in the tougher outer coat & go fluffier. Is this right? Am I better not neutering if I want him out in all Scottish weathers walking with me? I don't want to lose the lovely BT coat he's developing. I'd much appreciate your advice. Jane Irvine Hi Jane, Thank you for your question re neutering or not, this is always a very interesting and often controversial topic. My first and simple reply is "if it ain't broke don't fix it", but as with all things in life it isn't always that simple. Yes I do agree that neutering can often ruin a good border coat, causing the harsh outer(waterproof) coat to become less obvious and the downy undercoat to grow thicker and softer. Admittedly this can be the result of groomers taking the easier (both for them and the dog)option of clipping not handstripping, but as neutering can cause the coat to be a lot more difficult to "pull" then this is understandable. I believe I have said previously that I had 2 borders coming to me on a regular basis - both male and neutered and they always and had always had their coats clipped and each time they returned their coats were fine specimens of a border double jacket. Though on the other hand I have seen a border coat go wrong within 18months of neutering. You mention that you had considered neutering based on "social" reasons, if I may pass comment that sometimes neutering can have an adverse affect on their temperament, turning them slightly neurotic and sharper. Therefore, I would certainly wait to see how his temperament develops, as you say he is mixing daily with other dogs so you want him to be a sociable little character. With regards to bitches in season, I would assume that all responsible owner of bitches that have not been neutered would keep them away from public areas when in season, or certainly keep them on leads and walk them at quieter time of day if they had to. With regards to the "when he is old enough" issue, I know there is a school of thought that the sooner the better for neutering ie 6 months, but if you really do decide that neutering is the only way, I would strongly recommend that you wait until he is at least 18 months to 2 years of age. I do hope that the foregoing is of some help and that you continue to enjoy the company of your border, especially as you have waited so very long to live with one. Once again I'm sitting typing looking out a a very, very white landscape, with a little more snow falling and the promise of severe cold again. I hope that you are all coping with these extreme conditions and that your Christmas plans have not been ruined. A peaceful and happy Christmas to you all. Viv
Dear Viv, We have a 10 year old border named Ripley, who is developing warts over his body, from the top of his head and down his back and sides. He had two before, which we 'zapped' with Compound W, with success, but wonder if it is necessary, given the fact that it was not a comfortable experience for him!
Two related questions: Are the warts contagious and spreadable to humans?, and can they become cancerous if left alone?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide to us across the ocean!
Ann
Hi Ann,
Thank you for your question regarding your lovely border Ripley. I am sorry to hear that Ripley has developed warts and they are spreading over his body. From what you say I am assuming that you are emailing from the US and you mention Compound W - which I am not familiar with. A lot of older dogs develop warts, sometimes they just come and go, or they can come and stay and in Ripley's case as you say they have spread. I am unable to advise you as to whether the warts are contagious to humans, it is always debatable as to how warts are spread and even if they are passable from one person to another or animal to animal. From past experience I had with an elderly border who was prone to warts, my vet removed a couple which did not return, but one was very "dubious looking" and my vet was concerned as to whether it was malignant, however as Barney was then nearly 16 years of age and fairly frail we decided to leave it be, the wart didn't change greatly and dear old Barney lived for another 18 months. So what I am trying to say is that if you are concerned that Ripley's warts could be cancerous, it would be best to consult your vet. I would be very interested to hear what course of action you take and the end result, it may be useful to other owners experiencing this problem with their borders. I wish you and Ripley health and happiness. Best wishes Viv
Hi Viv, Hello Mark, What a question to get my teeth into! Where should I start, perhaps the moulting issue: it is quite untrue to say that borders do not moult (goodness knows how much border hair has gone into my vacuum over 27 years!!). It does seem to be a myth which I have also heard. They may not be as bad as some breeds and within the border breed there differing coat types and some certainly shed less than others. Yes from what you write it sounds as if it is his undercoat that is filling the brush daily and no unfortunately I am unaware of anything that you can do to minimise this happening, though it is unlikely to happen in such profusion all year round. You say that you had Teddy neutered at 6 months old. You may have read in my previous articles that this may well (not definitely) change his coat and mean that in the future it is a lot harder to strip but it may be that he still looses undercoat quite readily. From your explanation it sounds as if Teddy's coat is ready for stripping and it may be that you have by now had it done. When the coat is parting on the shoulders (on the blow) it is an indication that the old coat has had it's useful day. With regard to the frequency of stripping it is usually twice a year, the spring and then again in the early autumn, but this does depend on his coat growth plus how you want him to look. Also as I said his neutering may have an effect on the growth/thickness which may dictate the frequency. I hope Mark that this has answered you questions and that you continue to enjoy Teddy who sounds a little treasure however much he may moult. With best wishes Viv
Hi
My son has just had Jack - his 18 month border bathed and clipped yesterday to a very short coat at the local dog parlour.
My son was not aware that Jack should have been 'hand-stripped', nor was this advised to him. Its too late now, but is there anything he should do now (or not do) to minimise potential problems?
Regards
Lesley
Dear Lesley,
Thank you for your question, and I am sorry to hear that your son's border has been clipped not stripped, but all is not lost. It is unfortunate that Jack was clipped but if this is a one off and from now on his coat is stripped then Jack's coat should return to the way it is meant to be. Next time he is due to be stripped it would be worth ringing around your local groomers to find out who is prepared to hand strip, explaining what happened last time and that you are wishing to rectify any "damage" done. Good luck best wishes Viv
Hello Susan, Yes I agree that you do not want to use a brush too much on your border but from what you say it sounds as if your dog is loosing his undercoat, which is not unusual at this time of year. You didn't say whether he has been stripped at all, it is possible that his coat is due for stripping and when that is done he will probably loose quite a lot of his undercoat. Border coats do vary but I find that with a couple of mine after I have stripped their coats it takes a few days or more for them to shed their undercoat often with a little assistance, for this I use a fine tooth comb, very gently, so as not to pull out coat that is not ready. I hope this helps and wish you many happy and loving years with your border. Best wishes Viv
I'm the owner of a three-year old red grizzle male boarder named Defor. I've just had him hand stripped and he is moulting quite serverly. It's not the fist time we've had him stripped. Is this normal for a Border ? Please advise.
Thank you.
Ang
Hi Ang,
This year certainly seems to be a mega moult for all dogs, not just borders, most of the dogs I have had in to groom have such incredibly thick coats, much more so than other years. Defor like many others had probably grown himself an extra dense undercoat to cope with the freezing temperatures that last winter brought. Now that the weather has turned to a heat wave they are all trying to discard the extra layers as quickly as possible. So no it is not unusual especially this year for Defor to be moulting so much, regular gently brushing with a soft/medium slicker brush will help the coat to come out. Happy brushing, best wishes Viv
Hi Viv, I had my Border Terrier stripped out last month, he is 8 months old. He seems to have had a bad experience as he does'nt like to be brushed and touched around his tummy and I think he would bite anyone who try's to strip him in future, Has anyone else had this problem? I have had three Borders before my present dog and had no trouble. Would like some advice please.
Many thanks.
Hazel Alway
Hi Hazel, It is quite distressing that your young border should after being stripped be so wary about having his tummy touched. Did the groomer strip or trim his tummy, I'm just wondering if maybe he was stripped and it was particularly painful for him? The only suggestion I can make is with luck time will be a healer, in the meantime perhaps try as often as possible and as gently as possible to touch his tummy, trying not to make it a deliberate action, hopefully he is the sort of dog who loves to roll over and have his tummy tickled and he will soon forget his painful associations. Next time he goes to the groomers it would be worth informing of what happened after his last visit and presuming you do not have a problem with his tummy being trimmed not stripped stress that is what you wish. I do hope that he is soon back to his wonderful before stripping self. Best wishes Viv
Hi Viv, I wonder if you could give me some advice after a bit of a grooming nightmare.
We have a 7 month old border terrier bitch named Bella who is fab and the best dog we could have asked for, but was getting to be a bit long and in need of stripping. My fiance booked her in with a groomer to be hand stripped, but when he picked her up they had clipped her all over. Needless to say it looks awful and I'm really upset at the fact that they did it knowing that it can ruin the coat. Bella also looked very sad at first to have lost all of her fur!
My question is will the wiry coat ever grow back and is there anything we can do to encourage it to grow back? This is the first time she has been clipped and she has never been stripped. I would be really grateful if you could help.
Many thanks
Kayleigh
Hi Kayleigh,
Poor Bella and poor you, it is a horrible shock to find that your pride and joy has had all her coat clipped, when you had been expecting a neat and tidy stripped border. All being well Bella's coat should grow back in time, you didn't say whether she has been neutered,if she has not it should be very likely that you will be able to have a border with a normal coat. If she has been neutered then it may not come back quite so good, but that isn't always the case, as I believe I have mentioned before that I used to clip(very short on the owners request) 2 neutered males who's coats came back perfect every time. There isn't really anything you can do to encourage her coat back to it's correct texture apart from making sure that next time she is groomed she is definitely hand stripped. I do hope that this helps to put your mind at rest and enjoy many fun years with Bella. Best wishes Viv Hello, I do hope that you can help me as my vet and I are at our wits' ends. I have a wonderful 16 yr old Border. He is the last of the line that I have bred for 40 years and I thought that I saw most things wrong with BTs but this has us stumped. His mother went at 16 and her coat gradually fell out beginning at the tail and she just became patchy but the skin itself was fine (vet says that this has no relevance!) Wooster has little scabby dots which appear anywhere, began on the flanks and can now come from neck to rump and down the sides, but not underneath. When he, or I scratch they come off with a bit of hair. He has been on a long course of antibiotics -no effect; had the big thyroid test -nothing untoward; renal test -nothing showed; he has been bathed at least twice a week with special shampoo which has to be left on for 10 minutes and it is me that gets shaken over top to toe! He was born with a retained ball so had them both removed at aged 1 year but he has always been the most wonderful, naughty, hunting (in his youth), fit (used to go at least 10 miles a day with the horses) BT of my lot. Mother to 16, Granny to 19, Father to 20, Grandfather to 16 so well lived line. He is now clipped as he has no topcoat to blow and pluck and looks like a smart little teddy bear with soft fur (all undercoat). My clipper lady always sterilizes her combs between dogs. He still goes for a good half hour walk every day and is very trim with the most wonderful temperament. If you could shed any light on his condition or how to treat it I would be so grateful With best wishes Penny Aikenhead Hi Penny, What a treasure Wooster sounds and I love the name. Unfortunately as you have been finding out skin complaints are so very difficult to get sorted and can prove very costly with the end result being inconclusive. As he is so healthy otherwise, a change of diet may not really be of any benefit to him, but it is always worth considering, I don't know what you feed at the moment, there are company's that do special "Skin Care" complete feeds such as Royal Canin (other food are available - I think I'm meant to write!!). The only other thing that comes to mind is to try using a different sort of shampoo ie Camrosa, also if you look back on my letters page there is one from Rhonda who gives a link to a homeopathic option she has used with great success. I hope that this helps and please do let us know if you have any succes and good luck to you and Wooster. Best wishes Viv
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