tdierikx

Ain't it the most hopeless feeling when one of your babies is ill, and you can't make them feel better quickly? Glad to hear the little terror is getting better... pass on a hug from me, OK? T.

I had a stray turn up on my doorstep a few weeks back - 4:00am no less! I couldn't keep it here until pound/vet opening hours because I have foster puppies, and don't want to chance them catching anything from a stray - so I called the local Police to come and get him. They came and took him off to the RSPCA night pens. The dog was chipped and the owners got him back later that morning (I rang the RSPCA and checked). I felt really bad sending him off to the RSPCA, but there was no other option at the time. Nice gentle and friendly boy - well groomed and totally happy to be handled - and my older dogs thought he was just fine too. T.

3 weeks to heal from multiple fractures? Something sounds a little fishy there... Offer to come over and help fix their side of the fence so that their baby is contained and safe from doing itself any more injuries... T.

I have a chronic poo-eater here myself - she will come in from having a midnight snack and burp in my face while I'm trying to watch TV... needless to say, she doesn't get a happy cuddle in return... ewwww! T.

Coccidia can have similar symptoms too - but apparently we don't see it all that often? An obstruction doesn't normally produce watery diarrhoea, but it's also worth looking into. Is there any way that the pup may have chewed/swallowed something she shouldn't have? I'm assuming that your vets have the little one on a drip at the moment, yes? Here's hoping she is feeling better today... T.

Awww.... Hector is such a cutie! Lucky Maverick to have such a cute little brother... T.

Lethargy, diarrhoea, and off her food... the first thing that pops into my head is Parvo... praying that I'm wrong, and that it's something minor and she makes a full and quick recovery... T.

I swear that my dogs have teflon fur... they haven't had a bath for at least a year... and they sleep on my bed, so if they were smelly, I'd know it pretty darned quickly... T.

Katdogs has A5 sized flyers that she prints up about where all our local pounds are, their addresses and phone numbers, etc... we hand them out at the fair, and she has also sent them to a number of local vets who print them up and keep them for customers to take from their counters. Last year she even wangled a Council Ranger to be at the stall with his microchip scanner and laptop, and we were checking and making sure dogs' chip details were all up to date and correct... it was a big hit! Some people even went home to get their dogs and bring them back to be checked... I usually have a rescue foster pup or two that helps get people in - puppies are people magnets - and we discuss how the pup came into rescue and how rescue works, etc... Katdogs will also have one or both of her dogs there also. Our goals are not to shock or scare people about puppy mills and the silly excuses that people can come up with to dump their pets at pounds or shelters - we try to emphasise the positive things that rescue does - and "convert" people to thinking that rescue or reputable registered breeders are better places to get a pet than from a pet shop or BYB... seems to work pretty well for us... T.

Hmmm... maybe a nice new doggy bed or crate, and some nice puppy toys to play with while the pup convalesces would go down well? The nice quality stuff of course... *grin* That could help with neighbour relations and offset the possibility of them coming back at you (or your dogs) later as being "at fault" in this incident... I wouldn't give them any cash towards the bill, as the incident occurred because THEIR dog put it's paw under a tiny gap in a fence that is inside YOUR fenceline, and that contains YOUR dogs more than adequately. Where is THEIR fence or barrier to stop their dog doing something silly like this? Honestly, some people can make a nasty legal battle out of your fronting any part of the cost, and making out that you did so because you felt at fault... it's NOT your fault, and you should NOT be responsible for any part of the vet bill incurred. T.

I still have the crutches the hospital gave me to use when my Labrador and her friend decided that they didn't have to avoid my legs when playing zoomies... T.

Hmmm... so you still bred with this dog on the promise of getting his paperwork at some point? Would it not have been prudent to wait until you had his paperwork before letting him sire a couple (or more) litters? T.

No dog has a jaw that "locks" - some may have stronger jaw muscles though, that can hold very tight... What Judge Judy knows about dogs you could place on a pinhead and still have plenty of room... grrr! T.

Cute puppies don't always grow up to be cute dogs... and no matter what pup you get, training is the key... T.

Obviously there isn't anything majorly serious wrong with the pup, or they'd have been on your doorstep last night when they got home from the vet... I'd play it by ear - if they are the type to cause a stink about your dogs being dangerous, noisy, or their poo smells, then maybe a goodwill gesture of something towards their bill might save the day. I'd be asking them to sign a note saying that your payment is NOT an admission of any guilt on the part of your dog though - just a neighbourly goodwill offering. T.

We have a Malt/Poodle and a Schnauzer/Poodle at NSW Animal Rescue. They are young adults and very even tempered - maybe this woman could be steered towards rescuing a dog that once came from a place like Rivergum? We also have 2 pure Poodle pups (16 weeks - white)... T.

Firstly, wait and see if the neighbour comes back to you with a real injury to their dog. The pup could have a sprain, and it could be all better by now - unless your boy was shaking the pup's leg or punctured it (in which case there would be blood), then the chances of any real injury should be low. Pups can scream the house down just in fright at being caught or startled, so don't go by the noise as to the possible extent of any injury, OK? Let the neighbour make the first move about who's paying for what - and don't agree blindly to anything. You don't want them getting the idea that it's your dog's fault and report him as a dangerous dog because their pups decided to stick it's leg under your fence to tease your dog. At most, I'd agree to half the cost of the x-ray... T.

I probably would have told the little shit to stop staring at the dog like that... but I have poor social skills with people... *grin* T.

Marcus was playing very nicely with Henry I reckon. The way that he kept lying down to be at Henry's level was lovely to watch - and I can tell you now that Marcus and Henry were actually playing quite gently... I have a 4 year old Lab and a 16 week old Lab puppy - and their play gets a whole lot rougher and noisier than that. Trouble (the older girl) will literally plant Lilly (the pup) if Lilly gets too carried away with the hanging off her ears or lips... *grin* Wait until you are treated to the full Labrador game of zoomies... that's hilarious... and fast! T.

8:30pm on Bio Channel... T.

Oh yes... she does look pretty chuffed with herself there, doesn't she? Trouble the Lab is a total crack-up at times... Here's one of Miss Prissy Pants Zeddy doing her "I'll just get my feet wet, OK" act... T.

What about dogs that are incontinent when asleep that haven't been desexed? Say in pups? Is there any reliable treatment that will work long term? I've heard that the medication can become less effective over time - a couple of years seems to be what vets I've spoken to say, then the effectiveness can be "spotty"... T.

It was very hot here on Monday, so when I got home, I broke out the clamshell with a bit of water in it... here's the result... T.

Do you think that Charlie might be able to wear some sort of little doggy back brace to protect his weak area? I'm sure one could be made for him... and it could help reduce the stresses a young and active dog may put on a weakened back... T.

I've met and cuddled Charlie - and he's just perfect in every respect... I wouldn't worry what some fat stupid cow in the street thinks... T.