Everythings Shiny

I used to give mine pedigree pal puppy - not the cheapest but certainly not the most expensive on the market. I think atm it's around the $30-35 mark for 18 kg - last I looked anyway lol hopefully that helps

Your welcome - Its a list I like to keep handy - the copy I have has illustrations of them but it'd take too long to get them on here lol I used to worry a lot as our older neighbour (who was a real nasty peice) had oleander hanging over our fence. When i was little we suspect my horse ate a little of it and he died hours later from colic - which then turned into a twisted bowel - ever since then i have become more aware of plants that can cause harm Hopefully it's something simple and it gets solved quickly

Thats a concern of mine personally as well. After the discussion on another thread - I went back to my bosses and asked them about this 3 year vaccine. One of the bosses who I know for a fact isn't as much worried about the financial side of this (of course he wants a profitable business but...), rather the animal welfare side (esp in our area - lots of govt housing commission people with tight budgets + extremely high parvo area), said he didn't want to use the new vaccine until it had been out in the market for a while - esp to see the rates of dogs catching diseases like parvo whilst still under the three year vacc cover. Now this vet was away when the last thread was up and I spoke to the others about it, so his views are a little different to theirs, my other bosses were concerned with people not bringing their pets in for health checks yearly - even with reminders to ask them too - this particular boss said that that is a particular concern in this area as a lot of the clients here 'have a dog for the sake of owning a dog' - now thats not saying they are all like that - just a majority - which is a a little sad. Now what this boss said to me today was that if these particular people (not the people who treat their dogs the way they should be, the people who have them for the sake of having them that is) get a three year vaccine - even with reminders for bringing them in for an annual health check - nine times out of ten they won't because 'the dog is fine, doesn't need a vacc or anything'. But on the other hand you have the owners who have dogs for the right reasons - they should have access to the 3 year vacc if they want it. So they bosses have a big decision to make - we don't want two sets of protocols - we have to have one to go by otherwise their is too much confusion. I'm pretty sure we'll stick to the annual vacc for now - not my call either way - and i KNOW there are people here going to chew me out over this (again *sigh* - no more nasty pm's please, really isn't called for!) I'm hoping in a couple of years that when the dogs that got the three year vacc originally are showing no signs of illness etc (I mean parvo etc) that maybe we'll go that way, but myself personally, I always avoid new medical treatments as you never truly know the long term side effects - could this vaccine cause cancers in 10 - 15 years (long time for a dog I know but my last three kelpies hit around the 20 year old mark). Another thing in this area I work in is we have a HIGH parvo strain - to the point even dogs with high antibody levels are catching it. How could we suggest these dogs who get the three year vacc should be okay for the three years - it's a new drug - yes there have been clinical trials etc, but not on such a high risk area, which to me as a vet nurse (esp in my area) and a dog owner, worries me a little. Thats my two cents

Is the dog an inside dog? If so maybe something like the DAP diffusers may work - we've had a client who does rescue who has used these with great success is dogs similar to this one. DAP is a dog appeasing phermone - it may work - it may not, but it might be worth a try

That IS the best way to prevent tick paralysis. We've had SO many cases this last few weeks its ridiculous - all of the dogs so far have been dogs treated with advantix, Frontline spray or the shoo tags - they still went down hard - As far as I'm concerned, nothing is 100% effective and checking twice daily or more when in 'tick country' is the best defence

Yep, many plants can (some more so then others) Here's a list I could find - some are completely toxic to pets, others are bad enough to make them sick. If you've got any of these - they COULD be causing the problem: Aloe Vera Apple (seeds) Apricot (pit) Autumn Crocus Baby's Breath Branching Ivy Buddhist Pine Calla Lily Ceriman Cherry (seeds and wilting leaves) Cineraria Cordatum Cornstalk Plant Cuban Laurel Cycads Daffodil Dieffenbachia Dragon Tree Easter Lily (especially cats!) Elephant Ears English Ivy Fiddle-leaf Fig Foxglove Geranium Giant Dumb Cane Gold Dust Dracaena Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy Hurricane Plant Janet Craig Dracaena Jerusalem Cherry Lacy Tree Philodendron Madagascar Dragon Tree Marijuana Miniature Croton Morning Glory Narcissus Nephytis Oleander Oriental Lily (especially cats!) Peach (wilting leaves and pits) Plumosa Fern Poison Ivy Pothos Primrose Red Princess Rhododendron Saddle Leaf Philodendron Satin Pothos Silver Pothos String of Pearls Sweetheart Ivy Taro Vine Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves) Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia Yew Amaryllis Apple Leaf Croton Asparagus Fern Azalea Bird of Paradise Buckeye Caladium Castor Bean Charming Dieffenbachia Chinese Evergreen Clematis Corn Plant Croton Cutleaf Philodendron Cyclamen Devil's Ivy Dracaena Palm Dumb Cane Elaine Emerald Feather Eucalyptus Florida Beauty Fruit Salad Plant German Ivy Glacier Ivy Golden Pothos Heartland Philodendron Indian Rubber Plant Japanese Show Lily (especially cats!) Kalanchoe Lily of the Valley Marble Queen Mexican Breadfruit Mistletoe Mother-in-Law's Tongue Needlepoint Ivy Nightshade Onion Peace Lily Pencil Cactus Poinsettia (low toxicity) Poison Oak Precatory Bean Red Emerald Red-Margined Dracaena Ribbon Plant Sago Palm Schefflera Spotted Dumb Cane Striped Dracaena Swiss Cheese Plant Tiger Lily (especially cats!) Tree Philodendron Weeping Fig Also some of these are hard to get over here and are mainly from USA but I couldn't find my Aussie stuff

Depends on the dog, but I'd say in less pain with a ligament totally torn. if it was just a small tear there would be the constant strain on it, where as it's fully torn - can't tear any further and less strain - But i could be wrong on that

Fair enough if your dog will eat them. Paige will not eat other brands. So many people have said if she's hungry she'll eat it, simply not the case with her. She'll eat kramar k9 crisps and porky chips, Smacko straps, greenies, Veggie Chews and Pigs ears. I can't give her too many Veggie chews as she gets the runs (none of the other three dogs do - she just has a slightly sensitive digestive system) and the porky ears and smacko's she gets sick of. I don't get Greenies mainly due to price (being a vet nurse with 3 dogs, 2 horses, 1 mini horse, 1 mini pony, 12 ducks and 5 cows makes the budget a little tight at times lmao ) Paige has been on the kramar products for a few years now and hasn't had a problem. Serenity has been on them a month or two after I got her, Diesal also has been on them for a few years and no problems there.

After the recent Kramar recall - i'll avoid some of their products for probably 12 months or so, but what you must remember is any company can have a recall - recently Eukanuba had a recall on their prescription diets - There have been many a recall on so many human products such as Coke, Smiths Chips, and so many other well known brands that if you avoided each on because of a recall, then there would be basically nothing to choose from to eat for us humans. Other treat companies i can think of at the moment are: Smacko's, who had a recall a few years ago and Pedigree Denti range had a recall when they first come out. I've used both since as certain dogs here like certain treats. I am cautious with my dogs, my sweetheart Paige has been through enough the last few years that I'd do anything for her to keep her happy, healthy and safe, but I won't change her treats as 1 - it's the only ones she eats, and 2 - she's happy with them - as I said, I avoid the ones in the recall, probably will for a while, but I won't avoid all Kramar items because of this. I'd be more worried about a treat company that has been around for a long time that hasn't had a recall, (things fall of the machinary they use to make treats no matter how much maintenance they do, and other things can go wrong, like being given contaminated products used in production), if they haven't had a recall ever, it concerns me. I'm happier using a company that i know will recall their products if they worry something is wrong - which is what happened both times (Eukanuba and Kramar). While I do agree that a chicken neck, or wing etc is better - I hate having that in the house - crate or no crate - my little brats love to chuck things out of the cage to see how long it takes for 'mum' to bring it back to them. I hate the idea of raw bacteria breeding meat anywhere near my floors. Every now and then my dogs get a lamb shank or a marrow bone cut down the middle to chew on - Paige - who is turning 9 this year - has almost perfect teeth (with the exception of the front ones that she has worn down from eating rocks the silly girl) My mother gives her dog a greenie once in a blue moon (he thinks he is human and will only eat 'human' foods). It is one of the only treats In the end it's up to Nadz what she does for her pet - hopefully she got some good advise out of this thread from everyone who replied

could be a combo from the wet and the harness and rubbing If it was a hotspot nine times out of ten it is red. If it doesn't settle down I'd be getting a vet to check it, but I think it's most likely from the rain etc.

We recommend advantix were we are, as we have a high tick area. But we also recommend twice daily searching if possible if a client knows they are going into a high tick area. Also if the dog is a longer and fluffier coat, we sometimes recommend clipping the dog, to make finding the ticks more easier as you can feel them better.

I would recommend that once stitches were out you could start getting back to normal. Each practice varies when then recommend to have them removed. We suggest 10 days minimum, other clinics nearby suggest 7 days. It would depend on how your boy comes out of the op and how he recovers.

I had a dog with behavioural issues. Since changing her to a more natural and premium brand of food, she is no where near as bad. If I could feed raw I would, but raw makes her vomit

I would probably feed the petite one's under supervision. I give my dog a mix of chew treats. I mainly use the Kramar brand, I find my dogs really like them.

Each state is different in what they require for Vet Nurses. I was extremely blessed as I started studying and got in for TAFE work experience at my local vet. I was told as being my mum was a good client of theirs, and my grade was so extremely high, I would get a job with them, it was just a matter of time. One year into my course, I was offered the job I so desperately sought after. I applied for so many jobs and got knocked back as now a days they won't take a 'green' nurse if they can get an experienced nurse. If she wants to be a vet nurse she needs to prepare herself, she needs to organise personal insurance if she wants to volunteer at a clinic as without it, they wont even give you a second glance. She may be better ofd starting by volunteering at the RSPCA - it will give her something to put on her resume when she goes and see's the different hospitals. Hopefully it goes well for her

i/d can be used long term. i'm a huge fan of Hills. We have many clients on Hills diets. My own kelpie Serenity had similar issues as yours. The only thing she can eat is Hills I/d, Hills sensitive stomach and Supercoat sensitive stomach. All other brands make her sick.

I vacc mine yearly as I said before due to the extremely high parvo in this area. Even fully vaccinated dogs in my area get parvo in summer, not just pups or oldies (we have a three month grace which we do not get parvo roughly every year, and thats only the colder months). I'm not taking risks with my dogs.... I know there is still a chance they'll get it, but I'm arming them the best I can. Everyone is different, I do what I think is right, others might not agree with what I do, but I may not agree with what they do.

I'd give your vet a call in the morning, they may stock another antibiotic that your's doesn't react to. I'm guessing that the vet is trying to fight the infection with a strong dose of the antibiotics.

the vomiting can be a reaction to the amoxicillan

There is now a cheaper alternative to sascha's blend called Peranease Powder, same ingredients, almost half the price. My practice stopped stocking Sascha's as it became so expensive for the client.

Advantage is different to advantix drug wise, but in theory you could still do it, it's just really not recommended. Personally, i used to do that, but now I prefer my comfortis, I'm never going back to top spots!

When I can I feed Hills or Eukanuba adult which is about 330 grams a day (some with it's own little cup measure thing) I also sometimes feed supercoat or Chum, depending on finances, but have always found the hills only that tiny bit dearer in the long run, but I've always been more impressed with it. My kids are all kelpies, two of them have sensitive stomaches, one worse than the other, and I can only feed those brands.

Hopefully this pup is going to be ok. I too would be getting it out of it's home asap. I wouldn't be worried about microchipping until a vet gives the okay, esp with the rearing this one has had. My first stop however would be the vets. You can always get food etc at the vets if need be, but by going there first, they can tell you whether you are about to waste a lot of money and cause yourself a lot of heartache, or if everything should be fine. Everytime an is introduced to my household from a bad situation, a vet check is my first thought. You don't want to get attached to an animal if there is something seriously not right with it. I've seen time and time again at work, people getting dogs and cats from bad situations that have either had medical conditions or bad behavioural issues that the new owners couldn't cope with no matter how much love and attention they gave. But hopefully that won't be a problem with this young one I'd leave the raw food for now and focus mainly on the dry food, to try and get his poor little system into shape first. I'd be specifically looking for a high quality food in this case as he has had a very tough upbringing (I don't know much about Nutro ) Just make sure you totally understand exactly what you are getting yourself into. I have at times put myself into silly situations as I am a 'sook' (my bosses words, not mine lol) and try to do too much. I'm now a little more cautious after suffering much heartbreak with a few young animals (foals and calves mainly, but the occassionaly puppy at work) that sadly crossed the after I got very attached, very quickly. It's a mistake I hope to never make again Karly - why would the I/d be better for this pup? Maybe to start of with it would be useable, but it doesn't have the right amount of nutrients etc that a growing pup needs. I/d is specifically for dogs that need a bland diet (ie dogs susceptible to pancreatitis)

Last set of tests back finally! He's okay, they still don't know what was causing his lymphocytes to react so badly, but he now has a clean bill of health and is doing better. He's now on a premium food (much to the jealousy of my two other kids)

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