Rascalmyshadow

I use Barry Haywood he is in Cranbourne/Pearcedale he is fabulous, I have never needed more than two visits and he only charges $50-$60 each one. He is very gentle and is one of the few people in the veterinary world I look up to, well worth the drive. PM me if you would like his details

I agree with most of the article, too many people use the term 'rescue' to make themselves feel/look good when many of the dogs were never at risk in the first place, however a true rescue dogs background should always be considered. We have only one that i would class as a rescue, we know was abused, due to that we have to be careful with him around strange men, he is not going to simply move on from his past life. I use the word adopt for any animal acquired after it has already had one home (not where it was bred) so another word for a second hand dog but not necessarily a rescue. I also believe it is neglect to not have dental work done on a dog that needs it, if someone can't afford it they shouldn't have the animal to begin with, money is no excuse for allowing an animal to suffer. I don't think anyone should ask for a discount at the vets unless the are a registered rescue, we do get discounts on our own animals and our fosters but I have never asked for it and we are usually in there about 2-3 times a month for consults on average. I always pay my bill immediately and I send them a lot if business.

I would still see a Chiro ASAP, if your dog has put anything out the muscles will continually be a problem. I was given Tramadol and Metacam for my old girl and the vet said the same thing just sore muscles if I hadn't taken her to her Chiro so quick no one would have diagnosed the underlying problem, vets are only gp's there is lots of things they don't have the knowledge or experience to treat.

Sounds similar to what my old poodle did a few months ago, she misjudged the bed and fell backward on her back and tail, she was also holding her tail sideways and was very uncomfortable. We went to her Chiro and she ended up on anti imflamms and pain relief and he adjusted her lower back and around the tail base.

There is nothing I can say to make what your going through any easier but I'm sorry it's happening. I lost my heart boy (cat)of almost 14 years mid last year I am still grieving. If I was to have the time again I would keep a daily diary, just a few lines, and I would also take a daily photo. Do as many fun things as you can together and keep lots of mementos, most of all enjoy your time you have.

Dogs reactions can vary quite dramatically when one of their pack dissappears, the time frame is an individual thing. I would try using a DAP diffuser, or spray on their collars and beds etc. (not on the dog) that will also help as they settle back into positions in the pack. None of my dogs could care less if the others dissappeared as long as I was around but I have been having problems with my youngest cat since losing my elderly cat 7-8 months ago, we are using Feliway (DAP for cats) and we have recently adopted another male kitten which seems to have helped.

It can be very hard when your heart fights against your head, I said we were stopping at 3 I was quite happy with that but the last two just came along, one intentionally and one foster failure. Having two was great, I really miss it because it means they can go places with us more often, with three that becomes a bit more hassle. However having the odd number as you suggested does allow more one on one without anyone being left out. The other thing to think about going from two to three you will start to see more pack behaviour so you will need to consider the problems that can crop up if not managed well. I have learnt over the years having dogs of similar ages is easier especially as they get older and their exercise requirements change but it does become very expensive. Our dogs range from almost 13 down to just turned 1, we normally have to do two walks to cater for their needs, even then Rascal has to have extra ball throwing etc. to be satisfied. If it were me I would get involved in the dog world more over the next year or two, let the dogs you have get a bit older then consider a third. Good luck either way sounds like you have lucky dogs.

I have just read through these posts and I am so sorry you are going through this. I know what it feels like to barely get yourself through the day let alone look after anyone or anything else, I am also battling my own demons. You have done a great thing puting your dogs needs above your own you shouldn't for a second feel guilty about it. Stay on here so you have some support if needed and try to give yourself a break about giving up your dogs. Put yourself and your needs first, try to find small things to look forward too and take it day by day. And remember we're all thinking about you.

My children have been taught to be polite and would quite happily give up their seats for someone in need but I would not allow them to move just because someone is older. OSoSwift has described the exact way my kids are brought up. Treat everyone equally no matter their age, respect does go both ways and they do not have to respect or obey someone just because they are older. My generation are this way because of we were raised, we had no choices, were forced to obey adults just because, were told to be seen and not heard and smacking was a normal part of discipline. None of this taught respect all it did was teach us what not to do with our own kids and for myself it made me resent my parents to some extent. Our animals were also brought up the same way and I didn't like it even as a kid, it is what has been my driving force to work with dogs,live with a pack, be with them 24hours a day, be able to observe their behaviours and get a better understanding of their true needs and basically revolve my entire life around them. Being able to work with dogs on a daily basis particularly the 'problem dogs' as well as doing rescue and owning multiple of my own has taught me much better ways of treating, training, raising and living with my animals and children, without the need to bully or use stand over tactics.

I would remove any of my animals from a seat for someone to sit but I would never ask my children to move unless it was for someone elderly etc. Both of my kids have exceptionally good manners but they have been taught that children and adults deserve the same respect. They are both very high achievers, very mature for their age, gentle and respectful with animals and all round good kids. Just because I don't believe kids should be treated below adults doesn't mean I let my kids run wild with no care for other people. In our house the animals are also treated with the same respect and consideration, they are allowed on beds and furniture providing they get off when asked.

Double post.

Wow there are a lot of people that seem to think they are better than others. Move a child so an adult can sit down??? Children are human and deserve the same respect as adults, if someone date asked me to move one of my kids so they could sit down they woulda get a very nasty reaction. Animals and children are not objects they have feelings and it is disgraceful that people treat them that way. The old thinking that adults are somehow better or above animals/children is a joke. Obviously there are many people that live a sheltered life and have nothing better to do than bitch about things that really don't matter. A vet clinic is built and designed specifically for animals, it is NOT a cafe, restaurant, persons house, doc surgery, etc.

Dogs that are reactive do it because they are fearful, comforting and settling them makes them less frightened therefore removing some of the reactive behavior. Growing up we had a 65kg GSD named King, he was the most confident bomb proof dog, except at the vet clinic. Normally he did not get on any furniture but at the vet he would half climb on our laps because it reassured him everything was ok. A couple of my less confident dogs will mostly ignore other dogs if up on the seat or my lap but on the floor they feel more threatened and will bark and carry on.

Try puting yourself in the position of a tiny frightened dog on the floor of a scary vet around large dogs and strange people's feet, I hardly think picking them up is mollycoddling, in actual fact leaving them on the floor feeling exposed and vulnerable is quite cruel. I don't take my dogs to other people's houses unless they have the same rules my dogs are used to, I also don't allow non dog people into my house.

I have noticed most vets don't seem to say much about dogs weights to their owners, I suppose they benefit too much from the health problems that go with it. Obesity in dogs is almost epidemic IMO I groom so many that are disgustingly over weight, cavi's the most common. Dry foods are being way overused, to digest dry foods dogs need to drink more water than they normally need, over time causes stress on the kidneys. Dry flaky skin is common because the good oils even though added are mostly destroyed in the cooking process. Obesity is a problem because of the fat content in all dry foods and most dogs I see with serious dental disease are fed dry food only diets.

After working in a vet clinic for almost 13 years I have come across many lazy vet nurses that will b>%#h and complain about any extra work. It takes a few seconds to wipe down a seat or mop up a wee, nurses are paid to do it as part of their job discription. If it were me I would make it very clear to the vet in charge how unhappy you are. We had a couple of girls fired over the years due to customer complaints.

All dry foods are coated in fat to make them palatable, even the low calorie ones. Stop feeding so much dry change to two smaller meals a day and use fresh or even good quality tinned instead. Add sardines in oil, raw egg and natural yoghurt to the dogs meals a few times a week.

Whoops

Letting a dog up next to you or on your lap if it is uneasy or scared is comforting, what a load of crap that its enforcing bad behaviour. Any one that walks into a vet and has a problem with it maybe shouldn't enter a place full of animals. Really amazes me how petty some people can be, is a bit of dirt or dog hair really going to hurt anyone?

So many people worried about sitting on a chair after a dog? Very strange. I think I would be more worried about sitting on a chair after the last person, much more likely to catch something.

My dogs always sit on the seats at the vets and so do many other dogs I see there, no one has ever said anything and I would be quite upset if they did.

I would clip short but leave a small amount of feathering so you keep the cavi look or clip all over with a 4# blade. Cavis are one if the most common dogs I groom and about 80%-90% get clipped off in summer and all owners say they are a lot more comfortable.

Yep definitely can come on with age. Our old dobe x pointer was the most bomb proof dog I've ever net, very rare that anything would worry her, around 13 she became noise phobic especially with thunderstorms and fireworks. I have a dog here that is the same but he's only 4 we use Xanax if there's fire works or big storms.

As others have said possible misuse of the grooming tools could be the problem but having groomed many double/heavy coated dogs often there is skin issues underneath that the owners are not aware of and it's only the force of the dryer that makes it easy to find.

Cats purr when they are stressed they will also stay still. Many owners don't even realised just how stressed they are.