Golden Rules

Hey Suz I have had this problem before - have used a couple of things - Aloe Vera gel works brilliantly in settling all irritations, no matter what they are. They other thing I have used is Malcolm Harker's PetSooth Lotion - www.malcomharker.co.nz - lovely stuff I'll let you know if I think of anything else along the way........

Wow That's darned expensive insurance.....over $83 per month per dog. I hear the RSPCA now has about the best policy of all the pet insurances. So they should if they're charging that price for their premiums. Most monthly premiums are around the $30-$35 mark. I have a feeling the $$$ might be better in a high interest bearing bank account. Apologies, you are right Anne, that would be darned expensive insurance! You made me go check my policies - almost $1000 per year for TWO dogs, not each dog - there now, that feels better - even my bank account says so!! :rolleyes:

What is Quit Itch? And where do you get it? :rolleyes:

I think you just answered your own question there :rolleyes:

Honestly Horty if you're that worried, I would be taking her to a vet to get checked out ;) Hopefully all will be well. ;)

Has your vet checked for any cruciate ligamet damange? One of my dogs was limping and struggled to get up as well, I thought it was arthritis or HD and took him along to the vet, discussed it with him, he didn't seem overly concerned, didn't offer any medications etc (I already had him on all the usual supplements) - but as the limp got worse in the following weeks, I went to see another vet and he immediately diagnosed cruciate ligament damage. I kicked myself for suggesting to the first vet what I thought the problem was as I should have just let him think about all the options. He is a young vet and obviously still learning..... Anyway, it's worth keeping this in mind

RSPCA Insurance is not breed specific and they will cover any illness or injury as long as it wasn't pre-existing when the insurance was taken out. (I have just claimed for Xrays and surgery for cruciate ligament damage.) I prefer RSPCA over the Pet Plan because there is no excess to pay. My cover is for 80% of all vet bills regardless of whether they are major or minor. So if your dog has an ear infection, you pop along to your vet and come away with a bill of $100 (inlcudes consult and medications) - my insurance pays $80 and I pay $20. With Pet Plan, there'd be no point in claiming because you have to pay the first $100 of every claim.

I'm with RSPCA insurance - paid $1000 per dog per year thereabouts - have already claimed almost all of that back on one dog only and the first year is up in February 2008. Speaks for itself really

I prefer to use Rescue Remedy for a particular situation. If it's put in a dogs water bowl, how do you know when and how often they will drink it? You are much better to dose the dog yourself. The drops are easier than the poppy pills - because you can't touch the poppy pills (oils on skin will render them less effective if not ineffective). If you haven't used either before, just try the drops and use frequently when required. I use it for myself and it beats a stiff gin any day!

Yes, ditch the Frontline and try Neem Oil spray - spray twice weekly only when fleas are bad. www.neemaus.com.au

One thing I have used recently which was surprisingly effective was 100% Aloe Vera Gel, made by 'Fruit Of The Earth'. My dog was licking his front legs constantly after they had been shaved to put in an IV and anaesthetic - he licked them red raw over a period of a week - I applied the Aloe Vera gel before going to bed and his legs were about 80% better by the morning. I was amazed and because they were so much better and obviously felt better, he stopped licking them. So it worked well and quickly.

If you want an Elizabethan collar and don't have one, then there's a collar of sorts that you can make. cavNrott invented it so PM her, or First Time Puppy Owner as she has made and used one as well and said it was brilliant. It's something like a wide length of cardboard wrapped in a hand towel which is then wrapped around the dogs neck and secured with duct tape or similar. Hope your boy is well soon

Try Neem Kennel Wash www.ausneem.com.au or is it www.neemaus.com.au It's a great natural disinfectant and gets rid of fleas etc as well.

I won a whole lot of Squirt stuff when I had Hamish, I didn't like the coconut smell so much and gave it all away! I kept the beach towel and duffel bag though

D&D do you use the drops? I've been trying it with Chopper and Angel for the last few weeks due to a barking complaint. I think it's helping, but I find it a bit of a nightmare trying to get the dropper in to their mouths! Yes, I use the drops on my young lad who is scared of thunder - I just squirt the dropper down the side of the mouth, as long as it goes in the mouth somehow, I don't care how it gets there Alternatively you can drop it onto the back of their necks like a flea treatment but you need to make sure it makes contact with the skin - I prefer using it orally though. Duncan lets me do anything to him anyway so is easy to treat - and I have found it does work very well with thunder and other anxious moments. The thing with RR is you need to give it every 15 minutes for the first 3 or 4 doses and then every 30 minutes for the next couple of doses and then if still required, maybe once an hour or two. It's trial and error and because I have used it often in different situations and different numbers of doses, I am quite confident with using it, and the effectiveness of it.

try Visit My Website Great website! Have marked it as a favourite. Is it your website Kingsleychi?

Hi Loraine Hope Zedley's OK! OT - but where do you get goat meat from??!

Here's one supplier: http://www.bestpetpharmacy.co.uk/detailed_...uct.asp?id=2267

Only the diffusers are available here in Australia - but sprays are available overseas and diffuser refills are cheaper to buy overseas anyway. I used an online vet supply store from Scotland - just google DAP and see what you come up with or search ebay. I can't find the link for my supplier right now, something like _____4you.co.uk Rescue Remendy is available in drops - from a Health Food Store and good chemists or try www.holisticanimalmedicines.com There is the Bach flower Rescue Remedy in drops or there is the Homeopathic RR in pillules (poppy pills) - I prefer the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy for dogs as it is easy to administer - I also use it myself and it is brilliant. It is also a lot cheaper to use than the DAP - but maybe you should try both and see what works best in your kennels.

Assume you are talking plug in? I have both plug in and spray. I used both recently for the first week after my dog had surgery. I also used it when I brought the second dog home for the first time. Don't know how it would go in a kennel though....... you don't want winds or draughts as they would blow the pheromones away Honestly, for the cost of the DAP (and it is expensive) I would give Rescue Remedy, I actually think that is more effective by far and you see results very quickly. The DAP is far more subtle.

My young boy vomits on a regular basis, maybe once a fortnight, it's usually bits of bone that he brings up with that grey liquid you mention. I have never done anything about it as he is quite happy otherwise and I assume it's just his body expelling something foreign that shouldn't be there...... But if it's happening so frequently with your little one, as cavNrott said, a vet check would be a good idea to rule out other things.

Yep, as cavNrott said, it's a natural antibiotic and used to great effect as a preventative although I am using it currently for Dougal Dog who has had surgery. I also used it for Duncan when he had Kennel Cough. Google it and you'll find lots of other useful info on it. Lots of people and even some hospitals use it as a dressing on wounds as it has such wonderful healing properties.

I would suggest you use the 'mother' stuff, ie it has the sedement in the bottom of it and it usually has 'Mother' written somewhere on the bottle - it's only $3 or $4 from the organic section in the supermarket. My dogs did notice when I put a good splash in their water so I tend to put a teaspoon of it in their food each day - when I remember - the lawn is suffering badly at present.......must get back into the habit of doing it.

Yeah, I heard of people in NZ doing that too! I guess it's cheaper in the long run. Does it take up much room? That Manuka Honey is very handy at present cavNrott! Thanks

I use it neat! You can dilute it if you want (maybe 50/50) but I just wet a small cut chux cloth with some colloidal silver and wipe around inside their ears. I only do it once a week, sometimes once a fortnight as their ears are usually clean anyway. It is also good to use if your dog has an minor ear infection, just use a dropper and drop 4 to 6 drops in their ears 3 times daily. NB, I buy it in litre bottles for about $35 and it lasts for ages.