stormie

From experience, when a food changes to become made in Aus, the price tends to go up as they claim the ingredients are more expensive in Aus. Interesting to see what happens with Pro Plan

I wouldn't say that all foods that don't state their not irradiated must be. There has been one food that we know of that was, which is now unavailable because of the problem it caused. They don't even know for sure it was the irradiation that caused the problem. As for Australian made kibble, I'd be going one step further and wanting to know their ingredients are also sourced from Aus. Just because it's actually made here, doesn't mean they aren't still importing the ingredients from overseas.

If you wanted someone really familiar with GSD's I go see Rob Zammit at Vineyard - he breeds GSDs

I'm not sure if it's food - tbh the fact that she is still staining on the eagle pack indicates to me that it might not be food at all (she was on royal canin dental when the staining started)... but it doesn't hurt to put her on as low allergen a diet as I can find right? I would prefer to feed a kibble as I am worried that I might mess up the ratios of nutrient or miss something she needs if I tried cooking something for her - If someone could point me to a EASY to make diet that isn't too messy (she is an indoor house dog with LONG white hair around her face) I might try it out though. My vet isn't helpful - whenever I bring up the staining and feet chewing they just say 'oh it's nothing she probably just likes chewing her feet' or 'all white dogs stain'. I've had her on the l/D science diet before but I don't like it and she doesn't need it - the vet and specialist have both said this. Canidae ALS has 34% has it's protein from beef, lamb, chicken and turkey, I would prefer a single protein source i.e. just lamb or venesion or salmon. Of course, a low allergen diet is definitely a good place to start, but I don't know I'd call those you've mentioned low allergen. And the Canidae you mentioned has Salmon, which is the same protein found in the Eagle Pack so you might just be wasting your money, particularly if it turns out Salmon is the culprit. I like Eukanuba's Fish/Potato in terms of an elimination diet, but probably not going to be that good for you seeing you've fed a fish based food already. I am just really suggesting that if you're looking at food as a possible cause, then you'll need to find a kibble which contains no ingredients that were previously in other kibbles you've fed - it needs to be a completely new protein and carb source to do it properly. With the feet being a primary issue though, I'd be inclined to think its more a contact issue - her feet are coming in contact with something which is inflaming them, causing her to want to lick, which then leads to further inflammation and bacterial overgrowth. I'd be regularly bathing her feet in a medicated shampoo and using something like Cortivance Spray, which is quite safe so long as you follow the directions, to control the inflammation. As or for her eyes, the excess tearing could be an environmental thing, again with something in the environment like pollens etc irritating her eyes, causing them to tear. I would also maybe suggest a second opinion from a vet who is a bit more open to working up her case rather than dismissing your concerns. Goodluck!!

I was lucky and got my Nursing job without any qualifications or experience. I was lucky to find a Boss who was opened minded and from his experience, found the nurses with Qualifications were often no better than ones who had no experience Keep an eye on Kookaburra Vets as its usually updated daily and I've often seen clinics advertising for trainee nurses.

There are a few products on the market that may stop the licking but it is better to find a reason why the licking has started-especially since it restarted once E collar was removed. It is also important to know the area where the dog is licking as to a possible diagnosis. +1 Dogs often lick areas around joints if they are a bit sore. Then it becomes a cycle. I personally use a cream like Neocort/Neotopic that has anti inflamm, antibiotic properties with a bit of local anaesthetic in it. Increases heeling time and reduces the discomfort they are feeling in the area.

Orbit's had a couple and loves them. They last forever too! Not something I'd do regularly, but as a one off treat here and there, I doubt they'd be any trouble. I know horse hoof trimmings are always a favourite with dogs after shoeing and have never caused a problem for those who've eaten them either..

If you suspect food to be the cause, why don't you try doing a proper food elimination diet, rather than switching kibble?

Yelping doesn't always mean pain. A dog can yelp from fear, shock and various other things. If training with purely positive methods work for you, then awesome and well done. But not all dogs have an eager to please attitude and some are much more stubborn and need a little more. If learning by aversion works, then awesome. It might only take one or two pulls for the dog to realise it's uncomfortable and won't do it again. Done. Dogs correct other dogs with warning then physical contact. Mothers will correct their young with a small nip and the pup learns that was a bad behaviour to do. I'm all for positive training methods, but I also think aversive methods have their place and are understood by a dog as it's their own natural behaviour to inflict pain to correct. eta: I have seen my dog scream like a banchee when having no pain inflicted at all. He was young and was scared of an approaching elderly Golden Retriever. Orbit lay down on his back screaming, when our other dog was still a couple of meters away.

ticks

So far everything I've found is all overseas but yeah interesting!!

Wonder if this will affect Australia too?

I believe the implant is made from some sort of fat which contains the active ingredient. When you put it in, it's a solid but once in the body overtime it slowly disperses, thus slowly releasing the chemical.

The 'chip' does dissolve over time. As to whether it could be removed early, I guess if it hasn't fully dissolved you could surgically remove it. It's registered for use in Males but is occasionally used in bitches for female incontinence, with some success. Not sure about anything to do with female reproduction as I've never seen or heard of it used in this instance. We used it on a dog a few years back with chronic prostatitis as the owner didn't want to desex. It was successful. We also used it as a form of chemical castration in a show dog for 12months, with 2 separate 6monthly implants. The dog was never bred from so can't help you there with fertility.

It's these two contradicting posts which are making me think (and hope) that the latter post is either someone hacked her account, or maybe just wanting to stir

I really don't think the issue here needs to be about the Pony. Many horses are kept alone these days and adapt just fine. Dogs are pack animals too remember but many just have one dog. I am truly astounded that someone could behave in such a way with regards to their dog. The dog clearly needs veterinary attention. An Aspirin is not going to alleviate the pain or fix the problem. If you are serious about the Aspirin, atleast call up a vet first for an appropriate dosage guide. And then perhaps have a read of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

Is this some sort of joke?

I'm not disagreeing with you WnH, what you're saying makes perfect sense. The story I mentioned previously was about the cattle industry - when my vet friend was on prac, she saw a steer get led in to be killed and it saw the dead body of the one killed before it. She said it went absolutely mental trying to get out of there and took many people to wrangle it. She never ate meat from that day because she was so distressed by the action of that animal, knowing it had the same fate as the one before it.. Same with chickens - they're hung upside down on a moving rack which sees their heads lowered into electrified water. The chickens see the one in front of it die. There is a person whose job it is to use a stick to push their heads under, because many then try to hold their heads up out of the water. My local abattoir isn't huge and doesn't seem to have a lot of OTT horses - mostly just paddock neddies that are old/injured/unwanted. I actually asked them once about their horses and surprisingly they told me most of the horses surrendered to them are completely sound and sometimes Hacks, but the owners for whatever reason, cannot have them anymore and would rather they were killed than be rehomed so they know their outcome. I also just called my local and they said they are not allowed to use any animal for meat that has been euthanised , drugged etc. I know there are no regulations but she was very adamant that this was the case and is followed strictly. Also, unless they are in a bad way, they are wormed then turned out in the paddock until after the withholding period.

Cattle can become quite flighty also, when they see the carcass of the one killed before it. I believe it's not meant to happen and the previous is meant to be taken away before the live one is bought it, but unfortunately it doesn't always happen like that and the cattle become VERY distressed.

This pic originally did the rounds wit the dog named as a Boerboel, but I reckon it's been photo shopped to make the dog bigger. We have a client who breeds them and theirs are definitely not that big. I guess the girl could be really really tiny This is more like the size I'm used to seeing:

Sometimes i think people forget that dogs are animals and instead, put human logic on to the dog. Most animals don't like to show pain. Obviously not all, but many. Dogs can't speak to us so we really have no way to gauge how much pain they're really in, but IMO, we have a duty of care to provide for them. They can't get themselves treatment so we need to do it for them. We know if we've just pulled a muscle and not to go a Dr, because we know the pain and what it means. We have no real means to gauge the same thing for out pets. People might argue that vets will only want to put them on NSAIDS or what have you, but as owners, you are within your rights to decline such treatment or ask for something else. But I think we should at least do our pets the decency to get pain/illness etc looked into when necessary. I get that people know their animals and I'm not suggesting people should rush in at the drop of a hat, but when its an unknown, surely we owe them an opportunity to make sure it is in fact nothing serious. Our dogs give us everything, every day. Constant companionship, loyalty, happiness etc. I just think the least we can do is help them out when they're hurting.

You are 100% right Stormie, I feel terrible about the way animals are slaughtered and transported etc but at the end of the day my dog has to eat and I cannot afford to feed him human grade meat ( he is just too big and eats way too much). We are back on roo and sweet potato because of a reaction to chicken, we will be trying out other proteins soon and if it turns out that beef, chicken and lamb all make his allergies react then I will feed roo, goat and maybe some horse. I'm the same as you - I can't afford to feed human grade either. But even human grade stuff isn't necessarily killed in a nice way. My boss still gets a bit upset when he talks about his field pracs to the abattoir and another vet I worked with turned Vego purely from her experience there. And this is for the human food.

But cows and goats can all bond with people and be pets, so could just as easily be a companion animal Out of curiosity and by no means having a go at anyone, but those who don't like the idea of feeding horse meat because of the conditions they are travelled in and how its suggested some are slaughtered, do you have the same attitude towards feeding say beef or chicken? Some of the stories I've heard about their slaughtering are pretty unpleasant too

Just for the record, we see lots of Staffy's in general, with skin issues. I don't know if it's the 'well bred' lines and we're just mostly seeing poorly bred BYB staffy's, but it seems quite common in the breed from my experience, regardless of colour.

Then IMO, no, she shouldn't be made to run around in a clinic, because you have no idea what damage may, or may not, have been done to the leg. Just because a dog 'feels it should do something', doesn't mean it should. We fractured a broken leg on a 16month old puppy last week. Whilst broken, there were times it wanted to move around. The day after the repair, with pins through it's bones, it wanted to run around and play with the other dogs. But it shouldn't, because it will risk proper healing. I've also seen a dog with a dislocated hip run around. It just didn't bear weight on the leg properly. eta: you're OP said she isn't quite weight bearing and that she's holding it up to run. So that's why people have been 'dramatic'. I don't think any vet would think you were an idiot for bringing in a dog that wasn't bearing weight on a leg.