westiemum

I agree Perse. I'd find a way to stock up on raw. A new energy efficient small chest freezer and a good supplier and you're away. Depending on how many dogs you have its one trip once a month to each six weeks to stock up. And you'll save a fortune in the long run. I have a terrier mix foster here with a shocking coat and ears that are slowly getting better. And I'm keeping him essentially on bones, Chicken necks and wings, protein (Yellowgirls formula) and veg. I'm also making sure he's really well hydrated by putting some moisture in his dinner as well. I can't believe how rapidly his coat is improving and I'm sure diet has a lot to do with it. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Rosetta I don't know about the Artemis, but I've just noticed that in the VIP grain free from Woolies, the chicken variety is rounder and smaller than the game variety. And the westies and my foster (who is smaller) managed both without any problems. Apparently dry food that is a bit bigger is better from a dental point of view because they have to crunch them more and the bigger pieces clean their teeth better. Don't know how true that is but it certainly makes sense to me. And bones are even better!!

Sadly, dogs have actually died from carbon-monoxide poisoning traveling this way on the Spirit. Yes. Horrible, I wouldn't take my dogs over on it. I'd prefer to fly them if they had to go. Yes, a dear friend of mine lost two dogs in the one pass and the third is permanently compromised owing to carbon monoxide poisoning. She had done this trip many time before, always having the dogs in the car or float, on deck 5. This time the official insisted she travel on deck 4. She was sure she shouldn't and stood her ground arguing the point. The official became so insistent and aggressive, convincing her deck 4 was absolutely fine, that she did as she was told in the end, telling herself that they must know what they are talking about. One died as the ship was leaving and the other shortly before they got to the car after docking on arrival. Heart breaking. After much research, evidence has been found that many animals - cats, dogs, horses etc have died during the passes. Hundreds of animals also cross safely with no issues. Still, not odds I would back. Any loss is too many. The kennels are another story altogether - wet, cold and if you have big dogs and arrive at the wrong time, you have to lift them high to get them into the crates above as everyone hogs the low ones. Scary stuff. I will never take my dogs on the Spirit. The thought terrifies me. After thought... if I have written anything above that may be inappropriate, slanderous, get Troy or myself into trouble, please advise and I will happily remove it. Oh dyzney was that your friend with the Rotties who were off to a show? Heart-breaking and so avoidable. I didn't know those details about transporting animals on this ship. No way would I ever do it now. Yes, she was going to a herding trial. Needed one more Started pass on her older girl that had recently had a leg amputated, as she just missed out at Melbourne's last trial for the year. So thought she would zip over there (as she has business in Tasi and it was like her 2nd home) and try for that pass as her girl wasn't getting any younger. She took a heavily pregnant girlfriend along for the fun girl's trip. She will never get really over it. Such a shock. She called me early that morning, just as they were driving off the boat... dogs still in the car, wretched smell. We were both just hysterical on the phone. Just complete shock. CM I think you have a recommendation. Don't do it. Not worth the risk. IMO.

You're not serious??!! In wet cramped kennels for 12 hours (more including loading and unloading) and where humans won't go because of fumes??? Nuts.

Sadly, dogs have actually died from carbon-monoxide poisoning traveling this way on the Spirit. Yes. Horrible, I wouldn't take my dogs over on it. I'd prefer to fly them if they had to go. Yes, a dear friend of mine lost two dogs in the one pass and the third is permanently compromised owing to carbon monoxide poisoning. She had done this trip many time before, always having the dogs in the car or float, on deck 5. This time the official insisted she travel on deck 4. She was sure she shouldn't and stood her ground arguing the point. The official became so insistent and aggressive, convincing her deck 4 was absolutely fine, that she did as she was told in the end, telling herself that they must know what they are talking about. One died as the ship was leaving and the other shortly before they got to the car after docking on arrival. Heart breaking. After much research, evidence has been found that many animals - cats, dogs, horses etc have died during the passes. Hundreds of animals also cross safely with no issues. Still, not odds I would back. Any loss is too many. The kennels are another story altogether - wet, cold and if you have big dogs and arrive at the wrong time, you have to lift them high to get them into the crates above as everyone hogs the low ones. Scary stuff. I will never take my dogs on the Spirit. The thought terrifies me. After thought... if I have written anything above that may be inappropriate, slanderous, get Troy or myself into trouble, please advise and I will happily remove it. Oh dyzney was that your friend with the Rotties who were off to a show? Heart-breaking and so avoidable. I didn't know those details about transporting animals on this ship. No way would I ever do it now. ETA It sounds like this company needs to really lift its game if its to continue transporting animals. Not good enough. And sounds like a nightmare. Wet??? Surely a clean dry area accessible for owners could be set aside? Nuts. Sounds like a 19th century convict ship.

CM not wishing to be blunt - but I wouldn't do it unless you are able to check on your dog yourself - and if i remember correctly, you can't check yourself and must rely on staff. And I think its about 12 hours - so a long trip. If the issue is you want to have your own car in Tassie then you can request a freight quote for your car here. Then you and your dog could fly and collect the car in Devonport. Two healthy dogs died in their owners car on the Spirit of Tasmania earlier this year. To be fair, apparently it doesn't happen often but personally I wouldn't risk it. I know its quite a bit more more expensive to do it this way - but better than a dead dog IMO. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Happy Birthday gorgeous boy from me the westies and the foster. They will all have a treat in honour of your big day . As will I. Gee I'd love a grey...

Not at al Panto. I'm just so sorry that I didn't realise you were going until its too late to get an express bag to you. Nevermind - I'll make a donation through their website instead. Dogmad if there's any chance of getting something to Panto I'm sure it will be sooo appreciated.

Despite being Terriers, I'd be confident with regular walking the westies would be fine in an apartment, particularly with a doggy door to a balcony. My only worry would be they might disturb the neighbours with their daytime snoring!

Hmn... my Andy became a foster failure because no-one wanted him when I mentioned he had very mild unmedicated focal epilepsey. Four years down the track, he's become such a fantastic dog I've had a couple of offers for him. Too late!!!! He ain't going anywhere. ETA this is the little dog no-one wanted... A couple of days after I got him in January 2009... And Snook's photo of him 2.5 years down the track in December 2011...

My thoughts as well - although I didn't like the sound of this from a 'I want a small cute fluffy dog ' perspective - it may turn out OK with an apartment suitable bomb-proof dog. Met a beautiful GAP grey at the dog park last weekend. He was absolutely bomb-proof - a grey would be ideal IMO. BTW I had a similar thing at an off-site work meeting last Thursday morning - we were early and the topic of 'pugaleirs' came up -'so cute but I want a little one not a big chunky one' (Where's rolly eyes when you need him??) - anyway you can imagine how the conversation went. So I couldn't help myself (yeah I know!!) I jumped in and said 'you can't choose like that - if you buy a crossbreed puppy you play the genetic lottery and get what you get'. If you want certainty get a pug x cav from the pound or a pure-breed. Under the guise of sharing 'baby' photos, I then of course handed over my beautiful photo on my phone of my westie Sarah!! I'm hoping I at least made her stop and think.

Yes. I read that bit and thought 'I wish!' :laugh: But would we have to feed him/her? Could turn into a bit of a nuisance ... sitting around waiting for something to happen!!! :) And would it need vet care? That could be expensive!

Thanks Rosetta. Now I look properly at the box , the vet has given me Heartgard Plus for heartworm, roundworm and hookworm. So might be the combination tablet that produced his very smelly wind! Amazing what came out of a little dog!! It seemed to last only 24 hours and appears to have settled so i suspect thats what it was. So thanks for that.

T, I loved Timmy and loved those books!! Famous Five were soooo much better than the Secret Seven!

Excellent names!!! Will add those to the list!

Dammit!! CC I thought of naming the foster I have here David and the other two people helping me name him laughed so hard I gave that idea away!! You just wait! I'll name my next foster 'David'!!! I think its a cracker name for a dog - just like my cat called "Mark'!

Thansk again DD - I know little about heart worm Rx as its not a problem here in SA - or so I've been lead to believe and the westies have never been on it. The vet said he needed it coming from a Sydney pound. So I'm following instructions - but phew was he smelly boy yesterday!! As to the fleecies - Oliver and Mac are on one having taken over the lounge!!! So cute!!!

DD thanks for all that - really helpful. Yes now I look at it it could be pigmentation and would explain why the vet didn't comment. Its just that the bare patches are all down the front of his back legs as well Maybe its just the pigmented skin underneath as you say. Anyway I'll talk to the vet about it on Friday night when he goes back for his post-desexing check-up. He's doing really well. He's still very sensitive about having ointment in his ears so I'm very careful with that, but apart from that his coat is improving by the day and he learnt to eat chicken necks this morning. He had his first heart worm tablet on Monday and seemed very 'windy; yesterday - could clear the lounge - is that normal? Oh and he's in love with the Ikea light blankets! What is it about these $4.95 acrylic blankets that dogs seem to love?? I thought it was just the westies but Oliver now loves them too! Will have to get his a couple to take with him to his new home!

I got an email from a scammer on carsales.com.au - so be careful. His name was Tyler Collins - and this wasn't for a puppy but 12k for a car. . Got very suspicious when he said he'd already left the country and the car was in a warehouse in Darwin and he'd ship to me for free to inspect. Wanted over 12k sent to a bank in Spain. I admit I had a bit of fun stringing him along for a couple of emails with 'You can't be too careful as there are so many scammers about' and how beaut the car was in Darwin as I used to live there and would get a friend to inspect it for me Of course it was locked up in the shipping container and only he had the key (so how was it to be shipped?? ). He then sent me an ebay invoice 'for both our protection' - but of course it never appeared in my ebay account. I asked him to re-send to my ebay account but he said there was a problem with ebay and it was taking some time to come through and in the meantime I should send the money, I was beside myself with laughter by this point. Anyway I rapidly got bored after that and just let it go - never heard from him again. I reported it to Car Sales and they weren't at all interested. Ebay confirmed it was a fake invoice and hadn't originated with them. The Federal Police weren't overly interested. But I recognise he was good! I could see how people fall for this stuff - the old adage applies - if it seems too good to be true then it probably is! The OPs email is definitely a scam Report as Mrs R Bucket suggests and go to a reputable breeder where you can see the puppies and their parents. Good Luck!

Yes poor little man. Fancy letting an animal get to this point. At least his coat is clean, and he's free of flea dirt and fleas. (You should have seen the water after his first bath!). He's not scratching now. Yes he moves OK (like greased lightning if I head to the kitchen ) - he seems a bit stiff-legged but no more than the westies - Mac in particular. And he doesn't appear to be in any pain. So who knows?

Thanks luvdogs. Yes he had a dose of Revolution when he first got out of Hawkesbury and went to his temp carer. So he's definitely flea free and I'll give him another dose in a week or twos time. And I can't find anything that looks like hotspots. His dark patches on his pink skin are all over his penis but not his scrotum. Its quite dramatic as you can see which I why I thought I'd ask what people think.

Also some of his back end standing and sitting... the odd looking photo on your right is a side shot of him sitting - his butt doesn't seem to get right down and hit the floor. Suggestions? Thoughts? Its just that his sitting seems very awkward to me - or because of Mac's rebuilt back end am I just paranoid?? ETA He's back at the vet this Friday night to have his stitches out and will talk to him about this then. I just thought I'd ask the DOL brains trust what they thought. . Thanks everyone.

Thanks kayla1. Yes he's doing very well. I just wanted to post a couple more photos to see what people thought: Here are two close-ups of his tummy rump and leg skin. Is this typical of flea allergy? (Excuse the explicit photo!) Any suggestions? Thoughts?

I have a friend who paid $190 odd for a Swatch Watch. I liked it so much I quickly looked it up on the iPad and found I could source it for $84 dollars including postage online. She was a tad miffed!! Part of the problem seems to be that bricks and mortar retailers have been very slow to realise they are competing in a global market place whether they like it or not. They need a different business model that works with the new online retail world and not against it - they'll go broke if they don't unless they find a niche that is very difficult to replicate online - eg customer service and allied services (not products). This woman charging to browse has it all wrong - she needs to change her approach to work with her customers rather than against them.

This. Easy solution and an opportunity to build relationships and cement customers to her business for repeat sales instead of just sending them elsewhere!