greytdog

Many many years ago, we drove from Yannathan (Sth Gippsland VIC) to Phillip Island, at least an hour away. There was Mum, a carful of kids, and Ramsay, the chi. We had a good day, piled in the car and drove home. We were literally 1 minute away from our driveway when I say, "Where's Ramsay?" We'd left him behind. Turned around and all of us trucked back to the beach. We found him where the car had been parked, and a man sitting nearby said he hadn't moved the whole time. Boy did Mum feel guilty. Not a dog, but occasionally I clip the claws of my sister's eclectus parrot Jimmie. He doesn't like it at all, although I only take the tips off. This one time, I must have twisted his claw and he let out a shriek. I cuddled him and said, "Sorry Jimmie, sorry sweetheart." He said, "That's all riiiiiiggghhht". Wet myself.

Checking in every day...thinking of you Jed.

To much information Sorry. The alfoil seems to be a good idea. I would imagine it would be easier to ensure it's clean than a takeway container. I would just worry about crushing it when trying to shove it under her butt.

I don't know if this is becoming common these days, but I hate it when vets have "packages" and "options" like this. I feel like I should be guilty for not picking the "best" (and most expensive) option. Personally, the vet should just do what is appropriate and get on with it.

In my thoughts....

Takeaway container works for me. I find once she decides she's going, there's not much that stops her. Bit like me once my butt hits the can...

Candle lit. Hang in there Jed, your pets are waiting for you to come home.

Didn't see this until tonight as I've been away in Sydney. Then I was in OT and saw all the candle avatars and thought, "Oh hell, something's happened", and went and had a look around. So sorry to hear this news. How devastating to lose one's companions and home in such an awful way. RIP to all the beautiful souls gone to the Bridge :D Best wishes and healing thoughts go out to Jed and her family. May they find peace and solace in each other, their remaining pets, and in the well wishes of the many many DOLers who have posted here, and who hold them in their thoughts and hearts. I have made a donation to MDBA Pacers. Thank you to everyone who has organised things, attended to the animals, dead and alive, and provided and offered help and donations. DOL is a wonderful community.

Wash your absolute best machine washable outfit in it. You can be guaranteed it will pick up every bit of dog hair in the machine, so there won't be any left in the machine. If you use an old machine for the dog stuff, texta DOG on the top and front. Hopefully OH can read.

..... and bread is bad for ducks anyway....

Does anyone know of cars that have air conditioning vents in the rear cargo area? I have an Outlander, and it's fabulous for Bianca - I don't even need to fold the seats down and she fits well, but sometime in the dim dark future, I'd like to have something similar but with air con vents in the far back. I'm thinking I'll have to go to a people mover and rip out the seats, but I don't want to do that as I'd have to drive it everyday and it would be shite.

I think I could live with this, but I couldn't do it if I didn't get her back.

This would imply that, as "dog lovers" we wouldn't do what was right for our dogs, only what makes us, the human, happy. Yet how many of us (and I'll stick my neck out and say "all") would euth our dogs the moment we felt that their lives were no longer worth living? Being a "dog lover" doesn't mean hanging onto a dog at all costs, no matter how good or bad that was for the dog, it means being in tune enough with our dogs to understand their quality of life and act accordingly. We say that a blind dog that is coping well has a good quality of life and therefore pts isn't necessary. Where the dog isn't coping well, pts might well be the best option.

OT, but Bianca's last lot of antibiotics were $90 for the course. I had to ring Chris for a followup and got him to check the price just in case it was a mistake. Phoar! BTW, I think he's great. Back on topic... I don't know much about it, but I would prefer lopping off a hind leg than a foreleg if it comes to it (not that you have a choice obviously). Forelegs are a difficult one b/c they carry a lot of the dog's weight, particularly in large breeds. I'd be going to the specialist now if you're going to (expensive for rescue), only b/c if there's any other option than surgery, it might be better now than later when the bones are mature. Again, not that I know much.

I had a mini foxy that stayed with Mum when I got married (as she was friends with her dog). She gradually went blind, and coped very well. Got around her own back yard really well, including chasing birds (and nearly getting them b/c by golly she could jump). You wouldn't know she was blind. However, Mum went on holidays, and I decided to bring her to my place rather than have to go there every day. When I brought her home, she was lost and panicky. I quickly realised she was better in her own yard, and she went home again, where she was fine. I wouldn't PTS based on blindness if the dog is coping well.

Bianca has pills every day, and I find the easiest way is to buy a home brand devon roll, cut it up into chunks, pack a few day's worth into sandwich bags and freeze. Defrost them in the fridge in a container, and when it's pill time, shove the pills in the chunk and give it to her. Rarely any trouble. I sometimes have two pieces, and give her the pill filled one whilst holding the other one in front of her face. She's usually in such a hurry to get the second one that she gulps the pill one down quickly.

I use a pill popper that I got from the vet. Works (mostly). Still sometimes need to wrap the cat (yes, Herriot was a bit slow, but by God, he could wrap a cat (by his own admission)). Luckily, the cat that had to have pills every day was pretty good about it. For the dog, I push pill into some devon and it usually goes down. If she drops the pill, particularly the fish oil one, she has been known to lick it up off the floor if I'm holding another piece of devon. I find giving her the pill one, and holding another one in front of her works well b/c she's in such a hurry to get to the second one that she just gulps the pill one down.

+1 I vet nursed at a shelter as well as a private clinic, of the thousands of animals pts, both homeless & owned, we never once sedated first, never had one thrash about, never had one problem. It was quick and peaceful. My heart dog screamed and cried in pain as she was being injected. The screams got quieter and quieter as the drug took effect, but it was the worst experience I've ever had in my life of owing dogs and cats. I cry when I think about it, and I'm crying now. I feel so guilty. It wasn't my usual vet, and I don't know what went wrong. I hope she's forgiven me. I'm sorry sweet girl. My second daccie went peacefully, but I wasn't allowed to hold her for some reason, although I was close and could pat her. The same vet let me hold both the cats when they went. No vet will ever tell me again that I'm not allowed to hold my dogs. ETA: In addition to the pain, vet left her on the table when she was still breathing. I had to tell him to use more. No, it wasn't the last gasps, it was regular, shallow breathing, but he didn't seem to be too concerned about it. I often wonder if he was a vet at all - for all I know, he might have been the cleaner with aspirations. Bastard.

Yes, it's awful. People try to give away their greyhounds all the time.

I googled, and came up with an old thread from DOL, that said that LuvALab also rescues GRs. I've emailed them. There is not GR Rescue as such in Vic that I could find.

Was walking past the fish and chip shop in Wantirna South today, and the owner of the shop has a sign in his window, giving away his 8yr old Golden Retriever away free to good home. Made me feel pretty bad - poor boy, 8 years old and they're getting rid of him. Doesn't say why on the sign, just that he's a nice dog that likes to snooze.

Abby AJ Alice Alika Alchemy Amber Amelia Amy x 2 Anais Annie x 2 Anastacia (Annie) Angel X 4 Anishinaabe Annabelle Annabella April April RIP x 2 Arizona Asante sana Ashka Askari Astro Athena Aubrey Audrey Aura Ayla Baba Baci Bailey Basha Beanie Beans Becky Bella x4 Bianca Bit Blaize Blossom Bonny x 2 (Bonnie) Bonita Brandi Brandy Bree Bridie Bronte Buffy Cally Cara Cassie Casper CC Cedar Chapparelle (pronounced Shapparelle, and shortened to Chappa (Shappa)) Chelsea Chevy x 2 Chloe x 2 Charlie-May Charlotte Cider Cinders Cinta CJ x 2 Claire Claudia Clover Cleoparta Coco x3 Colour (for a greyhound who's not grey!) Cookie Cossette Crupi Daisy Dallas Dancer Delilah Delta Demi Dexta Diazz Dinky Dixie Durham Dyzney Ebony Echo Elizabeth Ella x2 Ellie Ellie x2 Emily Emma Emmy Erin Evie Faith Fanta Feather Finta Flame Fleur Froggy Gabbie Gabby Gemma Genie (not exactly a girly name but I thought it suited my goldy) George Ginny Gita Glitter Grace Griffin GT Gypsy x 4 Harlow Hayley x2 Heddy Heidi x2 Holly x 5 Honey Honour Hope Imme Imogen - Imy Indi India Jade Jane Jasmine x2 Jay Jay Jazz Jedda RIP Jenna x 2 Jess Jessi Jessica Jessie x 2 Jeune Jezebel Jindi Jinxy Jodie Juliet Juno Kara Kari Karma Karmen Kaos Katie x 2 Katy Kayla Keeta Keilani Keirra Keisha Kelli Kelsey Kenzie Kibah Kiesha Kimba Kiri Kiri-Lu Kirra (agility name Kiz) Kitty Kizzey Krissy Kuean - (Queen) Lacey Layla Lea (lele) Leia Lexi x 2 Libby Lily x 3 Lizzy Lobo Logan Lola x 2 Lottie Lucky (yes, a bit tacky, but I loved her) Lucy x5 Luuka Mable Maddie Maddison Maggie x3 Mallee Marie Claudette Marlo Meeka Meg x 2 Meisha Merrique Mia Milla Millie x3 Mindy Minnie x 2 (Mynni) Minouche Mischka Missy Misty Mitzi Molly x5 Molly Coddle Moochie Mya Nala Narla Natasha Nena Ness Olivia Pagan Panda Paris Paxy Pearl Pebbles Peggie Penny Phoebe Pink Pip Piper x 2 Polly x 2 Popcorn Porridge Porscha Prada Quince Rani Reba Rebel Reno Rhoda Riki Ricky Rizzi Rogue Rommi Rosey Rosie x 2 Roxy x 2 Ruby x3 Rumour Sabrina Sadie Saffron Safire Sally x2 Sarah Sarah Jane Sari Sascha x 2 Sasha Sarsha Satu Savannah Scandal Shae Shandy Shannon Sharnie Sheba Shine Sinta Sienna Skye SkySnow Sola Sooty Sophie x2 Sophia Springy Spook Stella x2 Stimpy X2 Storm Stussy Sue Suzie Sybill Tamar Tara x 2 Tasha Tayla Teegan Tess x 4 Tessa Texas Tia x 2 Tieke Tilba Tilli Tilly x3 Tinka Tinny (tin tin) Tori Tully Tyra Vada Viviane Voodoo Winter Wilhelmina Wolf Xanthe Zara Zillah Ziva x 3 Zena Zoe x 3

I love Rupert as a name for a big dog. I also saw a big dog called Bogart which I thought was a great name too.

Sister's GSD lived to 17 on a diet of pub scraps (they owned a pub) which included lobster, balmain bugs etc, supermarket food and supermarket dry food. He had pancreatitis in his youth, and was always a bit sensitive, but did OK in the end. Lovely sable dog. She has a big photo of him lying on the beach and another of him running thru the snow - he looks like a wolf. We miss him.

We've always had cats and dogs and never had any problems that I can remember. Generally the cats rool! Don't have any cats at present (for probably the first time in my life), but Mum is thinking about getting a burmese (which we've had before). Bianca is good with cats in our house, but needs to understand that those cats are part of the pack and not to be messed with. She would chase strange cats if she had the opportunity, so introductions would be careful and slow. She was good with the cats we had when we got her (after a couple of nervous moments at the start, which were my fault). Those cats would go into the back yard (too old to scale the fence tho), but any new cats we get would be inside only.