fiery_di

How awful for you TJ!!! I am glad you had so many precious moments with your Irial. I have mini foxies and know how rewarding they can be. I hope another mini foxie crosses your path one day and brings you as much joy as Irial, although we know she will never be replaced. Thoughts and Prayers, Fiery Di

Jed - where can you buy Polyvite from? Cheers, Fiery Di

I have two mini foxies, which cost me approx $7 a week in total to feed. I feed them mince of either - veal, chicken, roo, kidney, lamb from pet supply places, which costs anywhere between $2 to $3.50 per kg. This is mixed with plain rice and veges (sometime frozen) like carrot, corn, peas, celery, broccoli, etc. I also buy them kibble - I was buying Royal Canin, but of late have been giving them Pal kibble for small dogs (good little bite size pieces). I feel that they are getting enough with the mince, rice and veges that the kibble is like a side portion rather than meal in itself and so cannot justify the price of the more expensive kibble. I also give chicken neck, wings about 1-2 times a week. Very inexpensive, but I guess they are small dogs. Surprises me when people say that their pets are expensive to feed (unless they are large dogs).

My Ruby is on 'Prednisone'. She has an auto-immune disease, Immuno Thrombocytopenia (ITP), which causes her immune system to recognise her blood platelets as a foreign body, therefore attacking them. She is to be on the 'pred' for the rest of her life. Common side effects that she suffers are: - excessive thirst - excessive panting - excessive hunger (literally sits by the fridge, very obsessive about food causing fighting with my other dog) - excessive weight gain (Ruby was previously 4.2kg - she is now 5.6kg) - fur loss (she has regained some fur, but am forever cleaning fur from lounge/clothes, etc.) - Rise in body temp - dont know if anyone else notices, but since Ruby has been on this medication she 'always' feels hotter than normal.

I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you!!! Fiery Di xx

What a GREAT idea BDA!!!! I wouldnt have even thought of that!!! Do differing vets interact with each other, e.g. could my current vet talk to a new vet in the local area in regards to my dog to keep up with the continuity of care for my dog, such as blood test results, platelet counts etc???

Interesting Topic!!! My question is in reversal though... I am extremely happy with my vet, but because I have moved and am about to take my dog back in a couple of months (am moving again to a place with yard space and am getting my dog back from ex-husband), my vet is alot further away than usual. Do I keep going back to the vet that is great and has all my dog's history and knows whats going on due to her disorder or do I find another vet and have all files transferred over and risk a not as good vet, but is closer in case of an emergency??? I'd stay with my current vet, but due to the 45 minute drive if there was an emergency I am worried that this is too big a risk... thus reason for sourcing another vet within 5-10 minute distance. Cheers, Di

I lost my first dog 'Holly' in '96 & I still dream about her to this day!!! She was a special little girl and I still miss her even though I have my current two fur kids to cuddle and love!!! You still miss them even after a few years have passed!!!!

I've taught this trick to my dog in the past and found it 'WAY' easy with a check chain or collar on and directed my dog to turn around by tugging the collar in the way which I wanted her to go after give her the verbal command 'Turn Around' and hand signal (finger in anti clockwise motion), and then food reward and HEAPS of praise on successful completion of trick... The check chain/collar gave a little more direction to my dog for what I required her to go - thus she learnt this trick within 2 minutes. Please note that I did not use forceful pulling of the check chain/collar, just a gentle tug in the direction I wanted her to turn was all that was needed!!!

Trina, that was soooo beautiful... I had to go a get my dog and give her a big hug, as I felt so sad at the thought of ever losing her!!! But the way 'letting go' was expressed in your poem so thoughtfully and loving... brought massive big tear blobs to my eyes!!!