Mags

Mel given your number of dogs and that you do rescue perhaps you could be recognised on their breeder programme. Anyway here is their site which has suppliers and contact numbers http://www.royalcanin.com.au/

I'm sorry Mel but thats abuse - the poor boy is morbidly obese at that weight and probably couldn't exercise. My cattle dogs get a cup of dry food a day or lamb brisket or raw food but if they are getting dry it is strictly one cup and they are fit and a healthy weight. I feel so sorry for the poor man - I just do not understand how people can kill their dogs like this. However he may have thyroid problems it is quite common in cattle dogs and a blood test would certainly be worth doing - it could potentially help his temperament too as hypothyroid cattle dogs can be quite grumpy. I hope you can get her to see sense. Also mention that he may end up with diabetes and how would she cope with twice daily injections and the need to be continually bleeding him to do blood glucose readings.

So sorry but not your fault. You were trying to save 2 dogs - you did manage to save one. Rest in peace Mika.

I would not use Rimadyl on a young dog for any length of time (if at all) but have used it on 2 oldies where quality of life was what we were worried about. It gave relief and made them comfortable when other safer drugs didn't. There is plenty of info on the net about Rimadyl and its side effects. Am now off to look up Previcox.

I am shocked but that is nothing to how you guys must be feeling so sorry to hear of his passing. Rozzie and Trish hugs to you both and little Pirate run free little man you were much loved by both your mums.

I get good results with Advance (chicken) and for frequent buyers they have a card whereby you buy 5 or 8 bags (seems to vary with where you buy it and it is tied to the store) and get the next one free.

Have seen a few dogs that just will not eat Hills z/d ultra. Royal Canin also have a hypoallergenic food and this seems to have much better palatability. I have a cat that has food allergies besides the vomitting and less than desirable consistancy of faeces she also had a greasey coat and ears. We put her on an elimination diet and then gradually started adding things back into her diet - we now know what she is allergic too though have to be continually on the alert as the number of foods she is allergic too has been increasing over time. Goodluck hope you can sort things out for Mika - if you can work out what she is allergic to things become much more manageable.

I have had good experiences with them - though was using a collar lead combo. Got one for my mum whose cocker use to slip a collar with ease - she never had him get away on her again. But still very gentle - much better than a choker IMO.

If the breeder is prepared to take him back - I think thats what I would do - as long as you get a full refund. Getting a puppy in this condition is just not good enough he has obviously cost you a considerable amount in vet bills already and it could well continue. But the ultimate descision is yours - goodluck with what ever you decide.

So sorry to hear about Cricket - take heart in her being a shiny happy girl who loved and trusted her family - you made that possible.

I have, yrs ago, fed supercoat and the dogs did OK on it. I currently feed Advance and find this works best for the dogs I currently have - have never had success with Hills or Eukanouba (including Iams) though know other people who swear by them. Over the years I have tried different brands - Premium/super premium etc means nothing if your dog doesn't do well on it. One of the best brands I've used is Precise but it is no longer imported into Australia and was difficult to get hold of even when imported as mail order only. Oh and I have always fed a mix of dry and raw meat bones.

Who knows - because they could would be my thought - my OH said so people would think they were "nice". To be honest I was surprised they took her for blood tests without having to be hounded into it. If we never saw them again it would be too soon.

What do you think? We were barely able to remain civil. Didn't stay with her either pathetic bastards.

I can not stand my in-laws and today just took the cake. They have recently lost their lab x kelpie at 15. A beautiful little dog that was reasonably well looked after but we had to nag them on lots of occasions about vet checks, vacs etc. Well she became ill was not eating well and they eventually took her to the vet bloodwork came back showing she was in end stage renal failure. Instead of taking her back to the vet as he suggested they shopped around for the cheapest deal they could get on euthanasa - now if they were poor I could understand it but they are very well off. So why take the poor little buggar miles to be put down by the RSPCA instead of taking her to the vet she knows. I am so angry at them they seriously only care about themselves and their bloody money. They are just hateful people.

CCA has been banned from use as has been said anywhere children can come in contact with it. I definitely wouldn't be using it on a helping box.

Cat so sorry for your loss. RIP little man.

Ah adolescence don't you just love it - your well trained clever puppy vanishes and is replaced by a defiant air head. Only good thing about it is it is does pass - stick with your training and things will return to normal. And desexed or not they do still go through it from what I've observed over the years.

I bath my dogs a couple of times a year helps with getting coat out when they are shedding. Also if they have rolled in something smelly otherwise their coats are in great condition and they do not smell so why bath? Younger one washes herself in her trough at least once on any even moderately warm day so is generally spotless anyway. Have on one occassion had to wash her twice in 24 hours (before she went off for her desexing op) had her all nice and clean let her out to the lou early for a pit stop - caught her rolling in a dead bird so another bath and then off to the vets. Vet laughed at me apparently most people don't bath their dogs before taking them in??????

Our 15 yr old ACD went from being wonderful to paralysised in the back end over night. Rushed her to the vet who tried cortisone after xraying her spine (very similar problems to your boy - vet could not understand how she had been so sound to date) by 11 that night she was trotting around the yard again with little signs of problems. She was then put on Rimadyl (which I am not a great fan of in younger dogs on a continuing basis - but works wonders for oldies as the potential side effects are outweighed by the gains in these cases IMO) and we had her for another very special 6 mths. We understand what you are going through and send lots of support your way - be strong for your special boy. Jo

Yeap, but only in Winter and only when they are older.

My old girl - 14 yr old ACD - benefited very quickly from Cosequin - in fact miracle relief. Expense but well worth it. However would advise that despite the claims of no side effects Lachlan could not remain on it due to problems with her kidneys. So if you would like to try it get a blood work up done first and then in a month so you can monitor whats going on - which is what I did and how I picked up the problem. After a few months of prescription diet and blood testing she was back to good. (I did contact the company and they thought it could be a coincidence and wanted me to go through the process again so they would know if it was their product - no way was I prepared to risk my precious girl for their benefit).

Dru - mites are not a bacterial infection though a secondary bacterial infection can establish with mites. Mites are a parasite - an arachnid like ticks.

I have no intentions of being involved in a hate campaign - also have no intention of feeding my guys canned dog food until I find out what the hell went wrong with the quality control in the canning process - for gods sakes cans should be safer not deadly enough to kill 7 dogs when they only got a spoon full ea. And yes I have no clue what brand and I can assure you even if I knew that it would make no difference to me - no canned food for my guys until I know what the heck went on. To think we keep a few cans for emergencies and in case anyone is off their food and rotate them by using them as the occassional treat. The brand will only matter to me if the company does not treat this poor woman and her family well after what they have been through or if they fail to pull this batch of cans off the market. If either of these things happen I will boycott all their products which is my right as a consumer.

Mel if you are going to start feeding Royal Canin make sure you get one of their frequent buyers card - I think its buy 10 and get one free. Have just filled my card so don't have one at the moment to check - 10% discount does help. Also works out significantly cheaper if you buy a bigger bag. For registered breeders you need to check out their special deals for registered breeders http://www.royalcanin.com.au/ - really worth joining their club if you feed their food regularly.

Use Advance Senior/Lite for one and Advance adult for the other tried Royal Canin but they didn't do as well on it. Use it for the cats though.