greytdog

I looked at PetPlan, and noticed that after the age of 10 (7 in some breeds), or after the dog has been insured for 3 years, the owner has to pay 35% of the vet bill as well as the excess. Seems a bit odd to me. ETA: just had a look at PIA and the $27.55 rate means you pay an excess of $250.00 per condition, so it isn't 100% cover. Also had a look at Medibank Private - you get a 10% discount if you're a member (worthless due to price) and you can't get accident & illness cover with $100 excess, only $200 or $500. Has anyone looked at/got anything to say about Petcover?

I use Priority Pets and haven't had any problems. I buy their lean beef (as Bianca can get a bit porky given the chance) and their minced roo for the cats. Also get kibble and grey bikkies (2x4s or 4x4s) there. You can ring up and order the meat in advance so it is ready when you get there, or put in a regular order. You can get other types of loaves there (eg with veg), but Bianca didn't like those much. Also frozen chicken frames, lamb shanks etc. I buy chicken frames from the chicken shop on the top floor of Dandenong Plaza, usually $0.85 a bag of 4 (or 3 large ones), but sometimes I'm lucky and get 2 bags for $1 (8 frames last time). They weren't pongy either. The butcher down the "hall" a bit (next to the chinese veggie shop - which is also pretty cheap sometimes) also has pretty cheap chicken frames.

Great that you found the problem. I know it can be difficult not to spoil him when you are in the circumstances you are in, but it helps to remember that you are actually not doing him any favours healthwise, and in the end he might end up miserable and sickly because of it. He is a dog, and depends on you to do what's right for him. He'll learn to eat good stuff if that's what he gets, and he'll be happier and healthier for it (eventually Good luck.

No worries By the way, I have an eleven week old cocker here who is hell to try and toilet train. Would you like to take him and train him up for me too hehe why not. the more the merrier. its easy to train puppies by i cant train my OH.... ;) Why, does your OH wee in the house too??? :cool: My sister had a few couples over the other day for a birthday...do you think any of the guys could aim straight? The loo floor was a mess. Sorry, OT

On the same website, but under "Grooming Combs", they have a "Shape N Shed". I used one of these on Bianca during the first moult of her "outside kennel coat", the first spring I had her. It worked fantastically. You don't need to use a lot of pressure - obviously you wouldn't on a grey due to their thin skin anyway, so it won't hurt a foxie - and they really do a good job on the hair. Bianca never grew a long coat the following winter as she spends nearly all day inside, and is coated when cold, so I won't have nearly as much hair to deal with this year. I also use a rubber pimply brush which works OK on her, and she loves the feeling of it. I bought mine for $2 at the cheap shop. An old hacksaw blade does the same job as the Shape N Shed, but these combs have a handle which makes using them a bit easier. Just start gently with them.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I bought one of those rubbermaid ones, but I haven't tried it yet. I don't think it's airtight, but that doesn't really matter unless insects can get in. I'll think of something else for the bikkies and gear tho. One thing I forgot to mention is that it had to be easy for my rather frail mother to open as she's the one that feeds Bianca (can't stand waiting until I get home, as has doggy eyes staring at her from 4pm onwards LOL). Somehow, I think the kibble will end up being back in the laundry pretty quickly as I don't see Mum going out to the back verandah to get it.

Might have to try that...it wouldn't need to hold more than 15kg. Sounds like just the thing. I wonder if Big W or KMart sell them? ETA to add...thanks everyone

I might even get one to put her coats/leads/collars/muzzles/yada yada yada in. Damn dog has more bling than I do.

Well, we've decided that the laundry just isn't big enough to store all of Bianca's dry food and dog bikkies, so I'm looking for some suitable bins. I'd like them to be bug proof and preferably airtight, so I can put them on the back verandah. I'm not sure what size bags of dry they are, but they're pretty large, and the bikkies are 2x2s, which come in a huge box. Any suggestions anyone? I'm southeast of Melbourne.

Instead of boiling it, can you microwave it? I microwave chicken that I'm going to use in sandwiches - looks jolly awful, but tastes great once you break it up. Then you can share Chuck the chook into a glass casserole dish or other microwave dish with cover. Microwave time depends on size of chicken, eg No 14 chook is cooked for 14 minutes each side (hopefully I've remembered that correctly). I think the chook has to be defrosted for the times to be right, but you can do it from frozen too (increase the time and check the juices are clear).

I don't go to Lort Smith any more. They broke my dacschie's jaw during a dental and she never recovered. Put a bad taste in the mouth, particularly as no one would explain how it happened. I also found many of the vets downright rude - probably b/c of all the horrible stuff they see, but no need to treat everyone like dirt. Also you have to wait AGES to see someone, even when you do have an appointment. I see a specialist grey vet in Keysborough, but my sister's vet (Rob Jones) in Dandenong is great also, but too far for you I guess.

The vet I did work experience with many years ago left a dog unconscious on the table whilst he went and conducted a job interview. This was a LONG time ago admittedly, but I think he still practices (not that I'd go near him with a 10' barge pole).

Nah!! He does it to absolutely anyone. If we are eating at the table, inside or outside, I keep a water spray bottle with me. He hates that. So if he comes near the table I just pick up the spray bottle and he goes away. I feel mean but he drives us nuts. My father in law would feed him from the table. One day he went to give him a piece of sausage so I squirted him Unfortunately he's not as easy train as a GSD Ooo, I'll have to try that with my Mum. Somehow, I don't think she'll be impressed either

Do not be emotive, keep it factual. I prefer to stay away from "I think" and use phrases like "it was evident that.." and "on examination, it was found.....". If you feel that a personal opinion is called for, put it as a summation at the end, and do not forget to include your professional qualifications, years of experience and maybe something to the effect that you have worked on many different breeds. Good luck.

I now feed a chicken frame in the morning with a 2x4 dog bikkie when I go to work, then raw and kibble at night. From what you're saying, I would be better to change this around to put the frame with the raw at night, and feed the kibble in the morning (with the bikkie)?

yep, wrong. dry foods have sugar in them, will cause tooth decay more then their chewing them with prevent it. bones are far better for their tooth and jaw health. and as CDM said, it is important not to ever mix Dry and raw in the same meal. Can someone please expand on this a bit further?....this is a new one to me, so I'd like to learn more. I feed raw and kibble together, so what is it that is happening that is wrong here?

How very sad for your sister. Hopefully the OH will now change his tune. My own sister has a OH with similar attitute, and I've emailed this post to her. RIP Tex, run free.

Ha ha...this happened to a person I know - he was petrified when he saw what was in the loo, but the doctor nearly wet himself

I usually take Bianca to the dog supply shop where they have a DIY hydrobath you can use for $4.50 (I also buy the dog meat from there so it is handy). They have a dryer, but I don't use that. I don't actually use it like a hydro, ie put the shampoo in the bath to recirculate, I only use it as a wet down and rinse off b/c I can get the shampoo worked in better with my hands than with the hydro. Plus it uses too much that way, and I have to use sensitive skin stuff on her, which is expensive. I sometimes take her into the shower, but the shower is quite small and, whilst we have a "showerhead on a hose thingy", it is a tight fit for her and she has to bend in the middle a bit to fit in. Also kills my back. I wouldn't put her in the bath b/c it is acrylic, and she'd scratch it with her nails. I suppose I could put an old towel on the base to stop that, also good for those dogs afraid of slipping. I've only used the hose in the garden on really hot days in summer to rinse off after a swim in the dam. If she can stand the freezing water in the dam, then the hose isn't going to worry her! It doesn't take much to wash a grey, and thankfully they don't have a lot of hair. Also doesn't have to be done often, but I'm going to have to take her soon b/c she has to be clean for the show promo. Reminder to myself to also wash her green collar (her GAP collar, which greys in Vic wear to signify they don't need to be muzzled).

Rarely do I get whities out of Bianca, but my problem is that they're HUGE!!!! Real bucket-fillers.

Going a bit more general... I know my mother always pooh poohed people who were worried about catching things from their dogs (yes, I know it CAN happen, but how common is it really?). We've had dogs (and cats and cows and sheep and pigs and ducks and .... ) for years, and been licked, had contact with poo, wee, vomit etc etc etc. When I was a kid I used to hose out the cowyard in my bare feet in summer (nice and squishy!). Maybe it built up our immunity. I know the only nasty that transferred btw the dog and myself as a child was a ringworm - and I gave it to the dog after catching it at school