Rascalmyshadow

Having owned tiny dogs for quite a few years I found feeding two main meals a day with a snack in betweeen and a snack before bed works well. Even now the boys are 4kg and 6kg so small but not tiny, I still feed two meals plus midday snacks. Oh and to add I don’t like free feeding, most of the dogs I met that got fed like that were over weight, also leaving dry food out all day sends it off not something I would want my dog eating.

All those things are where I have clashed with vets, especially when working in a clinic, I struggle to understand how someone can spend so many years and money educating themselves and in the end don’t do any of their own research and instead believe only txt books and drug companies.

Do you mind me asking which vets in particular you prefer to see there. My first two visits were horrible both with the same vet, I specifically avoid her and will drive to Mornington if she’s the only one on, I have however very good faith in Kerrilee (I think that’s right) we have seen her on a number of occasions but the last time I checked she’s only there one day a week.

Just to add apologies to anyone if my posts seem too harsh I just word things to get straight to the point, not actually meaning to be as judgemental as they probably sound.

Next time I’m in i’ll mention it, he was really nice and just new so I don’t want to create an issue for the poor guy. As for the bones advice he’s certainly not the first vet that has told me the same thing, I do think he was a little nervous so I think that could be why he forget to check ears. I was very polite to him and he did comment on how well maintained Hugo was.

True and I have found a really good vet doesn’t always have to be right but will admit they don’t have the experience in a particular area and put you onto someone that does, instead of pretending like they know it all and give out the wrong advice or doing surgeries they aren’t competent in doing. I don’t disagree it would be a very hard job and I don’t envy them.

Totally agree but unfortunately that’s all too common, the biggest reason I gave up grooming after 23 years is because I was no longer coping with seeing so much constant neglect, my physical and mental health have suffered a lot from being so exposed to it all for so long, as much as I love dogs I will never work with them again. I still have customers ringing/texting me (after not grooming for the last 18 months) to get info on feeding, skin problems, ear problems, etc etc because they don’t trust their vets to give them straight out knowledgeable answers, that’s telling me there is seriously something wrong with the industry.

Oh and I’m not having a shot at young vets, I actually thought this vet was very nice and I did like him I just think they need more varied education before advising their clients. I lost track of the amount of times I groomed dogs straight after a vet consult and had to send them back into see a vet on pick up because they had missed things like infected ears, rotten teeth, curled dew claws, impacted anal glands etc. all because the check up wasn’t thorough enough, ok for me I have enough experience and I check my own dogs over properly every two weeks when they are bathed and groomed, however the average person in my experience doesn’t always notice when their dog has a problem. Prime example, I had a client with a little Maltese, the first time I groomed it the owner thought it smelled so bad from being dirty and matted, as soon as I got near it I knew there was infection somewhere, poor little thing clipped off the matts on its face to find a hole straight through the bone, it had a tooth abscess so bad the bone above it was crumbling, dog had immediate surgery (didn’t even finish the groom) and ended up losing all but it’s four canines.

I didn’t ask him to check his ears because I know they are ok, I do expect when I’m paying $80+ for a consult that the vet checks all the basics without being asked.

Actually you are very rude from other posts it seems your not a very nice person, I don’t expect a vet to know breed specific clips but I’ve never met a vet yet that had no idea a poodle naturally had a hairy face, they aren’t exactly a rare breed.

He asked looking very confused, it’s a little hard to shave a dogs face all over without taking off the whiskers, I don’t believe their is anything cruel about it.

Not sure what BFD means but I would hope most vets should have some idea how most breeds naturally look, I knew that when I was a teenager. IMO if you like your job you go above and beyond to educate yourself as much as possible especially when dealing with something living, learning just from a txt book is not good enough. The biggest downfall to moving so far away has been losing my trusted vet, so far I have found one very good vet in town but she only works one day a week.

Took Hugo to the local vets yesterday for an all over check up just to make sure he is all good before he meets his potential new owner. Was a youngish new vet, quite nice, mostly checked him over although didn’t look in his ears at all (not too good being a poodle) then asked me the oddest question “why doesn’t he have any whiskers’ I was a little dumbfounded since his face is obviously shaved, had to explain this to him, also he doesn’t believe dogs should have bones and are better off with greenies and denta sticks, guess he hasn’t done his research into the blockages greenies have caused. Oh how I wish vets would have more hands on and experience before they are put in position to treat people’s pets.

So what other options is there?

Hi sorry this has happened to you, if you really feel the vets haven’t done the right thing and they will not listen, or give out anymore information you can contact the vet board in your state and lodge a complaint. It can be a long process and although it won’t bring your little one back it might help getting some closure.

I just want to say a big thankyou to animallover99 for sending my boys the most awesome home made treats, it is so nice to know there are such generous people around. Here are a couple of pics of Rascal and Hugo waiting for another treat because they loved them so much, as you can see Hugo got a little over excited. And they are so good that Theodore, my youngest cat had to share some as well.

Last night the boys enjoyed cooked chicken breast, eggs and veggies, they both gulped it down. Off to a good start I seared a couple of pieces of the chicken frames I bought yesterday for their brekky, as I expected Hugo chewed it all up and Rascal looked at me like I was trying to feed him poison, wouldn’t go near it.

There is nothing wrong with asking for references, a lot of breeders ask for references from their puppy buyers so it should go both ways. I would look for another breeder, one that is more honest and approachable.

We have the original BARF not the Big Dog, in town. I’m also a bit hesitant using the Big Dog brand as I know a bit of background about the company and it puts me off.

Thanks will try that.

So I went to get the rabbit, jeepers was a bit shocked when I asked the price, $18 each, the butcher near our old house used to charge $10 each. I didn’t get the rabbit but I got chicken frames, I’ve cut them up and I’ll just put them in the fry pan for a min and hopefully that will encourage Rascal. Tomorrow I’ll see what else I can source locally. Oh and I’ll look into using the egg shells since we have so many, how do I work out how much to give them? This was so much easier with big non fussy dogs.

Oh so I’m not the only one with a weird dog, Rascal will bury them and then stand guard against anything that comes near, cats, Hugo, chooks doesn’t matter, he’ll do that for hours even in the rain until I chuck it out.

Thanks I’m going to try that today, I have a couple of lamb hearts in the fridge so I’ll get I guess 1 rabbit and whatever liver they have and cook it all up with veggies, I can at least freeze it on small portions and add a little each night to their foods. Funny you mention scrambled eggs because a couple of nights last week I gave them omelette with their dinner, we have 9 free range chooks (and two roosters) so there is always plenty of eggs to go round. I’m also going to have a look and see if my food processor has a mincing blade, it’s got a whole range of fancy attachments so it just might.

Have you tried your dogs on rabbit? We have a butcher in the next town that sells whole wild rabbits I was wondering if they are as rich as roo. Hugo can’t seem to eat roo even cooked and in small amounts it makes him vomit. Easing them into the pre made patties then slowly onto my home made stuff I think is probably a good option, Hugo is very sensitive to changing foods, Rascal isn’t so much of an issue.

The dog shop in town have the original Billinghurst patties, used them many years ago (before they were stocked in shops) with the standard poodles,cost me a fortune, would also give them stuffed chicken carcasses to make it a little cheaper. At least my boys are little, we currently use Canidae dry and Ziwipeak tinned so if it’s no more expensive it will be ok.