OzzieLioness

Oh the delivery was no problem for the dog. It was this 1 kg dog that she'd bred - weirdest thing I've ever seen. Perfectly proportioned (except for the testes) but incredibly small! I was always terrified when I visited and could not see where he was - thought I'd tread on him and kill him! I think it must be a small breeds thing, after reading what you said - and others I have heard about!

My aunt had miniature poodles for as long as I could remember. There was only once she bred a miniature girl she had and it was mated with a toy. She had 2 puppies. One was small like it's sire - but the other one could sit in the palm of a SMALL hand when it "grew up" I have no idea what went wrong - he was perfectly proportioned; just incredibly, ridiculously small (except for the testicles, which were a toy poodle size on a TINY dog and just for his health, he was neutered). I never thought it was right to breed her like that.

Are you keeping it scrupulously clean and dry? Have you gone the cortisone ointment route too? Manuka put out a great cream for problem areas like this ... think it's called Manuka Doggie Balm. At any rate, I would be very reluctant to put a 14 year old dog under an anesthetic if I had not tried everything else first. Good luck! I hope you can find an answer that works for your dog and you.

Fantastic info .... thank you for that! I saw an interesting comment by a dog groomer about Cavs being desexed too early and it affecting their coats? Have you ever come across this? I know it's not a serious health issue, but it got my interest

As far as I have seen, you have NOT quibbled ... just asked about what would be "fair" Someone did comment that you might as well ask how long is a piece of string - and while I may agree with the intent of the comment, to me, saying it in that way is just insulting What I would say to you is that demand for anything - whether its a car, or a dog, will drive prices up as you already undoubtedly know .... sometimes unfairly so! "Covid puppies" are a prime example. Inflation has certainly hit the cost of just purchasing a dog! Look to the breed associations - they will be your best guide, I think. Perhaps if you were more specific with mentioning a breed in mind? Good luck!

We have been considering a Cav ... but this has been very enlightening, so thank you for talking about your experiences .... I had a Saint with so many problems, I had not choice but to end his suffering ... and I have not been ready for another dog until now .... I don't know if I could cope well if this sort of thing happened again.

I guess people just miss the whole point. Mehhh It must be this thread

I've had 2 purebred Dobes ... one came docked and the other had her tail. It is my belief that dogs that are born with a tail should keep it, unless it is causing them pain or discomfort/health issues. It is one of the ways they express emotions! Doing it for aesthetics is just abhorrent, to me. I have never come across a NST - so I learned something tonight .... but I don't believe it makes it a good idea to breed to it. As for Stumpy tails, my sister once had a Australian Cattle Dog Stumpy Tail and the ONLY one of the litter of 8 that was "normal" .... to look at! Then she bred her a couple of years later to a top ACD and she had 2 pups ... sadly, they were like something out of a horror movie with spinal and anal deformities and had to be put down. She also of course desexed her dog.

I also agree that in the absense of ANYTHING else .... it's probably an old dog thing. My sisters 14 year old White Shepherd will, from time to time poop while he's inside laying down. She tried feeding at different times etc., but it didnt stop it. He's inside a lot because he has a little pink on his nose and so he's never out in full sun. It's a small thing and we dont worry about it for such an awesome dog and so much love from him. I hope you can work it out

I've only had one experience with this - a Doberman I had got a big belly, and had milk It was over on Day 64 and never reoccured.

Explained: Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis & Kennel Cough Updated July 24, 2021 Distemper appears to be increasing again, probably due to low vaccination rates. An Australian study for the years 2006-2014 found 29 confirmed and 19 suspected cases, always in un-vaccinated dogs (Wyllie et al, 2016). Explained: Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis & Kennel Cough In Dogs (walkervillevet.com.au)

Epidemiology and clinical presentation of canine distemper disease in dogs and ferrets in Australia, 2006-2014 A total of 48 individually affected dogs and ferrets in 27 case groups were identified, including eight confirmed case groups (> one individual). Confirmed cases were more common in summer and on the central coast of New South Wales and southern Victoria, and occurred exclusively in young, unvaccinated dogs. For dogs there was no obvious sex predilection. A mortality rate of 100% in ferrets and up to 77% in dogs was estimated. Neurological, gastrointestinal and respiratory were the most commonly reported systems affected in dogs and ferrets. There was no evidence that any large, unreported outbreaks occurred during the study period. Conclusions: Continuation of vaccination against canine distemper virus is justified within Australia, particularly for younger dogs. Veterinarians should continue to consider distemper in their differential diagnosis of cases with neurological, gastrointestinal and respiratory presentation. Epidemiology and clinical presentation of canine distemper disease in dogs and ferrets in Australia, 2006-2014 - PubMed (nih.gov)

If people think its rare or non existent, with the way costs keep climbing, there WILL be people who don't vaccinate because of the mistaken belief that distemper doesn't occur. It is so preventable ... and vaccination is something I will NOT budge on. It does not take long for it to get up and running again ... 16 August, 2018 .... "The Tasmanian Government has written to vets warning them to be on the lookout for distemper after the virus killed a puppy owned by someone who has traded dogs across the state. Distemper is contagious and potentially lethal viral disease that attacks a dog's respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. It was once common in Australia in the 1960s and 70s but vaccination efforts reduced the threat to sporadic cases. But vets in Tasmania have received a letter from Emma Watkins from the Government's Animal Biosecurity and Welfare Branch warning them of a recent case where a Hobart dog owner took a sick puppy to a clinic where it died from distemper. "Although this pup presented in Hobart it would be worth being on the alert all over the state as the owners had a history of trading dogs and puppies throughout the state," she said. The dog that died was a mixed breed, but Ms Watkins would not say which Hobart vet clinic treated the sick puppy. Ms Arnott said she vaccinated dogs from six weeks of age, and very young puppies could benefit from their mother's vaccination. "As long as the mother dogs are vaccinated and have very good immunity they will pass that onto their puppies," she said. "As soon as they stop feeding their puppies and passing that immunity on, if you get those pups vaccinated you will have no trouble at all with distemper. "That is why we haven't seen it in Australia for 30-plus years, really." Ms Watkins said distemper was not a concern if people were vaccinating their dogs. Tasmanian vets warned after pup dies from now-rare distemper disease - ABC News

Serious question .... When was distemper made rare? It still exists and to say its almost unknown is, to my thinking, a dangerous thing to state. People will end up stopping vaccinating for it as money gets tighter .... and it is as prices for everything skyrocket .... and then it will be roaring back with a vengeance killing half the dogs unlucky enough to get it.

O-M-G What a brave young woman

After a brush … oh my, that feels great

Dawson (he came with that name LOL) is getting on in years now …. He’s 14! And not too bad for an old fellow. He came from Sippy Creek, and some wonderful people from here put me onto him. I purchased him for my Mum and she loved him right up until she passed in July, 2020. Dawson really has adopted my sister though Some pics of him chilling … and hanging out with his friends, the Chooks!

I have seen some HORRIBLE 'regular' job, dog owners who I would not give a mouse to look after. People who FIFO for work generally speaking, only do so for a short time, to make enough money for whatever purpose - and if they can have a brilliant *other* care giver for a dog, I see no reason to discriminate against them. I truly think it depends on the person - I would not do a blanket ban, as everyone's different.

Even ebay warns people NOT to use Western Union. Fools and money, guys - easily parted. I can only echo that!

:laugh: We are NOT alone then! My sons ACD x Kelpie is basically rabid about catching mice - and the bloody dog has even learnt how to spell! :laugh: She caught on really fast and the furniture, like grumpettes dogs, are irrelevant - she'll shove it aside, in order to get the m-o-u-s-e. :laugh: When I SEE her swallow one, I get the heaves too. She does not always eat them and ya, sometimes there is just half of it left. Brrrrrrrrr

I agree - it would seem that people who SAY hip and elbow scores are not important and “just a number” are the ones who avoid doing it - whether for financial reasons or other more sinister ones (or a combination). A dog I had, that I purchased from what I thought was a reputable person had NO HIP joints at all; "the worst case my vet had ever seen". He had elbow problems, his teeth were all crooked,and he had continual eye issues from severe ectropia in both eyes. By the time he was old enough and fully grown, for surgery to help repair his eyelids to make him more comfortable, the hip issues showed up, then the elbows fast followed - and there is no way that ALL those problems were not inherited. Yep, I do agree that nature occasionally throws a curve ball -but not several at the same time, in the same place! I contacted the breeder of my dog and she emailed me ... this is what she said regarding hip and elbow scores (keep in mind this way my first foray into a large, heavy dog breed too, so it sounded okay to me)... They do not usually x-ray in the States or Canada so I have no history of family background on the sires side. The dam I bred and she is fifth generation and all have had very good hips and elbows. She has good hips but I would need to get a better x-ray to get her scored and I am not prepared to put her under for that. The Vet that took them went over the x-rays with me and said that her hips were very good. Hipscores are only a number and mean nothing. (His sire was an imported dog) I had called her on the phone first, prior to email, to tell her about my dogs problems and in discussion, she did ask me if my dog was desexed or still an entire male (he was still an entire male). In her email, she also said this... As far as your dog is concerned, I will take him back, have my vet x-ray him and if he is as bad as you have stated I will put him down. Interestingly, she refused to put HER dog through x-rays to get better ones for hip scoring, but was happy to put MINE through it AGAIN - and his xrays were VERY CLEAR.... as if another vet would get a different result! I have to agree - it would seem that people who SAY hip and elbow scores are not important and “just a number” are the ones who avoid doing it - whether for financial reasons or other more sinister ones (or a combination). NONE of this was apparent when my dog was a puppy. Hip and elbow scores are very important – BUT, I also think that it needs to be viewed together with any and all information on the lineage of the dog you are looking at. I know I learned a very painful lesson, but I know a lot more now.

How awesome of you. I guess that pets affected in flooded areas are always the forgotten ones, for the most part. I also think if you were desperate, you could either soak the dog bikkies and make a bit of a porridgey thing for cats, or break the biscuits into smaller pieces, suitable for cats?

St Bernard Dogue De Bordeaux Neapolitan Mastiff Great Dane Rottweillers Dobermann White Shepherds German Shepherds French Bulldogs English Bulldogs Boxers Maltese Terriers I'd love one of each of all of them! How can ya pick on looks alone. Can't you just "see" the faces of people rocking up to the gate and having THOSE hounds run out to bark and say G'day! :laugh: I lurvvve all dogs - and if I had one of each, I can just imagine the work - and the feed bill! :laugh:

I know!!! The malty cross bribed him to do it! ;) :laugh: Hope you get it sorted. Good luck