Page 23 - Summer 20

‘Urticaria in cold air’ also contains Caust: one dose in 9C stops this, he needs a second dose 3 days later and that is it.
Junior the big wuss. (Bernard Heude, France)
He is a big German Shepherd dog, thee years old. He looks
a bit funny: his ears are too big, his tail is too long and his body is not in the right proportions. They had called him Helios in the kennels where he came from: this name was as much pretentious as how bad the quality of the breeding kennels was. His owner is a fifty years old lady who still lives with her very strong-minded mother.
Junior has eruptions on his ears, likely of allergic origin. The eruptions are painful.
‘’His ears are red and sensitive, he cries when he shakes his head or makes contact with them. It is worse in the spring and summer and disappears in the winter when Junior ‘stays at home’.
The owner is an adept dog trainer: twice per week she goes to the dog club regardless of the eczema of the ears being present. Junior is her fifth dog.
Tell me about Junior: ’’He is a wuss: till the age of one he was scared in the dark. I forced him to go out in the dark
and he slowly got over it. ‘’
What is he afraid off? ‘’He does not like exuberant people, or people that speak loudly. He does not like people stroking him: he shakes and walks away, even in the club where he knows everybody. He comes and sits by me trembling if people insist on stroking him. With people there are no issues, he is not a fighter. When in his litter his brothers were quarrelling he sat on the side, he likes quietness.
He is quiet in all he does. We taught him to eat with his bowl on a napkin so he does not make a mess. At the time of his meal he goes and gets his napkin. If we forget the napkin when we go on holiday he does not eat.
He does not like sweet things and hates chocolate, does not drink milk or eat fruit. He eats meat, rice and green vegetables. If we forget to put butter on the vegetables, he does not eat them. He likes charcuterie and smoked sausage. He will not eat fish even with lots of butter on it.
‘And what more?’:
He takes his time for everything he does: eating, walking. He is phlegmatic, he never gets in a hurry, even when playing. He is frightened of people, not traffic or firework. He is worried when I go out but does not worry when my mother goes out.
‘Anything in relation to temperature etc?
He is subdued in the hot weather in the summer. In the winter he likes a cover over his back but does not search out the radiator. He likes the snow, he does not like the rain. He does not go in the water and avoids walking in puddles. He hates water.
‘In relation to the other dogs you had, how was he to be educated?’
He is not as bright, he needed some time to learn my commands but once he got it, it stayed.
‘How does he relate to other dogs?’
He is not interested even when bitches are in heat.
‘What bothers you the most about his character?’
He is slow in everything, he does not get it easily, he does not have a vivacious spirit. He is flexible and does not have a bad character. He is easy, with a stable mood. He is neither demonstrative or expressive. He never jumps with joy.
‘How is he with your mum?’
When she goes to lay down when she is tired, he will lie
next to her.
‘Does he worry about you? Would he defend you is you were attacked?’
With my mum he would worry and protect her, with me it is different. When there is a noise in the house at night, he comes and wakes me as if to say ‘sort it out yourself’ : he makes me understand that I have to deal with the problem and then goes away.
Solution
The questions to ask are:
What is strange bizarre and curious and also, what are the symptoms that stop this dog from fulfilling its life?
Temperature reactions are not very bizarre, the food aversions may have more to do with the habits of the house.
Mind-related: it is noticeable the owner strongly indicates that he is slow learning. He does not like exuberant people and is worried in the dark.
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