stormie

Definately recommend the crate in your room. Orbits crate has since been moved outside into the sunroom and he uses it whenever he is outside. In my room he now has a bed on the floor where his crate used to be and he sleeps there mostly (when he's not on my bed )

Orbit got vegemite on toast as a supper snack thanks to this thread

Orbit used to drool in the car. He never refused to go in, but would drool for the whole trip. I used to put him in the car and get in with him and just sit and talk for a bit then just get out without actually going anywhere. Then I would take him for a short trip down the road and get out and have a little play, then get back in. He now waits by the car to be helped in and doesn't drool a drop!

Please just make sure that the RC is suitable for a growing large breed dog. Check to make sure the calcium/phosphorus ratio is correct and the protein and fat content isn't too high.

Orbit is 1 in August

Hi Janelle, Can you tell us what the specific plant oils are? As many atopic dogs are in fact allergic to plants and their pollen etc, its very possible that this cream and others similar could actually make the problem worse. I'm sure many people would be interested to give it a try though if its ok for their dogs! Thanks!! What sas said is true about healthy normal dogs coming back with positive test results. It's really complicated, but basically when the blood/serum is exposed to an allergen, the IgE receptors can still react to it in any dog. However not all dogs show a reaction of being itchy within the skin. You could test every dog and they could come back with a positive, but not all of them have the issue that this reaction causes them to be itchy . They specify that these blood tests do NOT diagnose atopy - you have to be sure that the problem is definately atopy first, by a whole range of trials, so you can be reasonably confident that the results you see are the true culprits as to why the dog is itchy. For example, see how Dante's results came back positive to chicken, yet he has been on a chicken diet for 3 weeks and the itching has remarkably improved. If the reaction his body has to the chicken made him itchy, he should be eating himself alive on the chicken diet.

I agree with Frodo - get a urine sample and take it to your vet to be tested incase she has an infection. Shouldn't cost more than about $30.

My mistake, Danielle, I guess I misread your posts with saying high protein and high fat diets aren't good for dogs hence why I was curious as to your thoughts on the raw food. I'm not disagreeing with you with regards to the high fat - we see plenty of pancreatitis cases so I am well aware of the dangers. With regards to the percentages, I got the information from the pet food companies websites - they have the analysis for their products. Pal is actually quite low in fat - about 5%, where as the fancy feast fish I saw was only 2 or 3%

No, they won't die from occasionally eating cat food. But a daily diet of it, which is what the OP is suggesting, is not a healthy diet for any dog and can cause future health problems. The OP was not suggesting it as the daily diet. What was asked is if it would be ok to mix in with the meat the dog is already getting. Danielle - why do you suggest high protein is dangerous for dogs? What are your thoughts on the RAW diets? Also just for interest sakes, the fat percentage in fancy feast fish cat food is lower than that of Pal tinned dog food.

Unfortunately it may end up concerning a lot of people. Rescuers could quite possibly be fostering your puppies or their offspring from the pounds in the future. And vets and nurses might be treating them for genetic problems that weren't tested for...

Depends what you mean by bad breath I guess. Orbit's puppy breath became slightly stronger during the teething stage.

Yep, I found the Nature's Own and been pretty happy with it. The biotin for horses should be fine, so long as its still just pure biotin - I found it to be really expensive though, especially compared to the Nature's Own.

What breed is Keeda and i she fully grown? Using one on a growing dog might cause too much stress to joints etc...

The vet could have done a test, but remember, they see things like this every day so they do get to know what looks/smell right or wrong. Generally, resistance is built up when people do not carry through with the full course of treatment, which gives any remaining bacteria an opportunity to build resistance. So continue the Dermotic for the full period you were told, then maybe give your vet a telephone call to let her know how its going. Some vets like to try something simple and cheap the first time to save you money, particularly if they think they have a fair idea what the problem is. If the problem doesn't clear up, then maybe you can both look at doing further tests to get to the bottom of it. I think $30 is not too bad. I know you say you weren't there for long, but most consultations these days are $50-$70, and I think that its reasonable that the vet charge something for her time.

Dermotic is quite safe to use even if there is no bacterial or fungal infection. Is there any sort of bad smell coming from the ears? If there ears are a little sore inside, it may be a little uncomfortable for her to have the drops to start with because the skin inside might be a little damaged. Doesn't sound like you were overly happy with the vet consult, maybe when you go back again ask them to explain things better, or look at going somewhere else where they might be more helpful.

What are the name of the drops? I noticed in another thread you said your dog is also a little itchy all over. Its not uncommon for dogs with itchy skin and ears to get bacterial infections in their ears. The drops you received from the vet will most likely be antibacterial also, so I suggest you use them for the length of time directed. Dogs don't always like having drops put in their ears. Just make sure you only put the directed amount in and give it a nice massage at the base of the ear afterwards. A treat after each treatment might make it more enjoyable too..

They ring you and as if you'd like the surgery to go ahead. I realise that, but what if owners can't be contacted at that time? It's just easier if its checked when owners bring them in there and then, that way they can even be shown and price discussed better.

;) :p

IMO, boys should be checked on admission by the nurse/vet to make sure both testis are there, that way the owners can be notified.

No, the guy you know is definitely not a typical male I doubt any of the males I know would be at all interested in fondling their animals genitals. There's a name for people who sexually interfere with animals. I don't see anything funny in the behaviour either. So people who collect semen are 'sexually interfering'? I'm not saying i'm agreeing with it, but just because some guy believed something he was told, doesn't make him some kind of psycho. And my 'typical male' comment was more based around the concept of a young guy thinking sex makes something loyal, NOT for doing that particular thing. Was just a joke. Sorry if it offended No need to aplogise, you didn't offend. I hope that guy you speak of doesn't have a dog though. Just because he believed a story someone told him, doesn't mean he's going to do it, and doesn't deserve to own a dog. Breeders who collect semen from their stud dogs are doing it for a totally different reason and have good reason to do so. Blood lines for future generations in their breeding program. I agree, however it is still the same act of using a human hand. It's hardly a similar situation to someone who would do that to keep his dog loyal. My dogs are loyal and I've never felt the need to play around with their bits. It's not typical male behaviour, not from the males I know. I asked a male friend yesterday who works with dogs what he thought of it. I won't tell you what he said If you re read my post you'll see I was referring to the fact that he was thinking with his 'lower brain', NOT that it was typical male behaviour to do this to a dog. I don't think it's funny either but I guess we all have our own sense of humour. It was a joke? Sorry, I thought you were serious that the guy really did think it was the way to keep a dog loyal. Again, re read my post - the 'it was a joke' was referring to the 'typical male' comment. I didn't mention the word psycho I said there was a name for people who sexually interefere with animals because there is. Yes, I am aware there is a word for this. There's also a word for a guy who believed some old wives tale he was told. It's called gullible. No where in my post did I mention that anyone did, or was planning on 'sexually interfering' with a dog. I was simply telling of a person who was told something by someone, and believed them.

No, the guy you know is definitely not a typical male I doubt any of the males I know would be at all interested in fondling their animals genitals. There's a name for people who sexually interfere with animals. I don't see anything funny in the behaviour either. So people who collect semen are 'sexually interfering'? I'm not saying i'm agreeing with it, but just because some guy believed something he was told, doesn't make him some kind of psycho. And my 'typical male' comment was more based around the concept of a young guy thinking sex makes something loyal, NOT for doing that particular thing. Was just a joke. Sorry if it offended

All the experts in this field agree that in all the studies done, the only thing that showed to be proven to make a difference was increasing the cats water intake. So simply changing the cat onto a strictly wet food only diet might make all the difference..

Just wondering if there are any dog parks in Sydney that have purpose built agility equipment?

Not heard of that one. But I knew a guy who honestly believed that if you 'fondled' with an entire male until he ejaculated, he would be loyal for life. Typical male.... ;)

It's in Hunters Hill :rolleyes: Correct. Thanks!