Boronia

I saw on a local noticeboard a sign that read: Vet Nurse Advice...call xxxxxxx (phone number) if you have any questions about your pet. It went on to say that she would mind your pet as well for a fee, (yep, fine, that is ok) My question is..is this normal for a vet nurse to charge for advice?...wouldn't there be some legal ramifications?

"Laced" is perhaps a little OTT but the article is interesting. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/pet-food-laced-with-dangerously-high-levels-of-sulphur-dioxode-tests-reveal/story-e6freoof-1226095928053 this is the video link to an affected dog (I hope it works) http://video.couriermail.com.au/2056026475/Dog-food-damage A pet dog in Western Australia affected by thiamine deficiency after eating fresh pet food with high levels of the preservative sulphur dio... Courier Mail15 July 2011 SOME pet food is being laced with high levels of a preservative that can trigger severe neurological conditions in cats and dogs, Sunday Mail tests reveal. Companies are allowed to use the preservative, sulphur dioxide, in pet meat products with impunity because there are no rules about labelling or how much can be added. One product tested by The Sunday Mail last week had 435 times the sulphur dioxide level claimed on the packet, while others included the preservative without any mention. "The problem is because often it is the cheapest thing you can get to feed an animal, ill-informed people or pensioners feed that," University of Sydney veterinary specialist Professor Richard Malik said yesterday. After being alerted to the test results by The Sunday Mail, one major supplier to Coles and Woolworths withdrew its website claims about the preservative. The results come as a wider debate rages over whether pets are being harmed by an exclusive diet of canned and dry food. Clinical studies over the past two decades have proven that sulphur dioxide can destroy Vitamin B (thiamine) levels in food, which is essential to animal health. Scientists have warned that thiamine deficiency can cause neurological breakdown in cats and dogs. The RSPCA has been pushing for new laws to ensure there is enough thiamine in pet food and last week said it was alarmed at The Sunday Mail's test results. "If you want to feed your pet raw meat, our recommendation is to use human-grade products until we have adequate safeguards," scientific officer Dr Jade Norris said. Vet and nutritional expert Linda Fleeman treated a cat for thiamine deficiency at her Victorian clinic in April. "It happens very suddenly and is extremely severe. They get neurological signs that are over a very short period of time," Dr Fleeman said. "It may appear that the animal has a brain tumour or other neurological condition." Confusing symptoms could lead owners to have their pets put down unnecessarily, she said. A new Australian Standard requires that pet food has adequate thiamine but the voluntary system does not apply to fresh pet meat. Sulphur dioxide is used in red wine and dried fruits but in pet food can cause illness when the animal's entire diet consists of products high in sulphur dioxide with no thiamine added. The Sunday Mail last week bought 10 products, selected at random, from Woolworths, Coles and a pet store chain and passed them to Biotech Laboratories for testing. VIP Pet Foods Supreme Steak Mince for Dogs had the highest sulphur dioxide level at 1140mg/kg. Published research says a level of 1000mg/kg depletes thiamine levels in pets by 95 per cent. Paws Fresh Roo Mince for dogs and cats - part of the VIP group - had a level of 870mg/kg, despite the brand's website claiming it "keeps sulphur dioxide at a minimum, at just 2mg/kg". The brand withdrew the website claim after being contacted by The Sunday Mail and said it accepted consumers could have been "confused". VIP's Supreme Steak Mince for Dogs and Gourmet Fresh Mince for cats did not mention preservatives on their packs. The company says all its packaging will have a preservative statement by the end of next month. A VIP company spokesman said extra thiamine was added to all its products to make up for any lost through the use of sulphur dioxide. He said VIP conducts regular tests which show the thiamine levels in their products meets or exceeds international standards. "The sulphur dioxide we use is a food-grade product; it's no different to what you'd consume in wine," he said. Pet Cafe Fresh Meal for cats, manufactured by Sydney Pet Foods, had a level of 715mg/kg. A Sydney Pet Foods spokesman said levels were safe, however the company would soon sell products free of preservatives after developing a process where sulphur dioxide was not needed. Vet Dr Bruce Syme from Vet's All Natural helped develop the product some years ago and continued to receive a "small royalty" but his company withdrew its endorsement after being told of the test result last week. "I don't know if that's safe, unsafe or not an issue, but we don't have preservatives in our pet foods," said Vet's All Natural managing director Andrew Gleeson. A spokesman for Coles said the company would contact manufacturers of the pet food it stocks to "have them verify that their products are appropriate for sale". "The Coles product you've tested contains appropriate and safe levels of sulphur dioxide and is fortified to counter the effect of the sulphur dioxide on thiamine," the spokesman said. "There is no current Australian standard for pet food so we follow the American one." Woolworths has begun running its own tests on a range of pet food it stocks, including its own brand. All products will remain on the shelves until testing is finished.

And don't forget the front page of the Redland Times Good pictures Lisa http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/news/local/news/general/abandoned-dogs-need-adoption-into-forever-homes/2226931.aspx

Hiya Westies88...did you know there is a Westie forum?...perhaps come and say 'hello' and post some piccies of your littlies :-) The topic is here---> http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/106191-westies/

A litle hard to get them here as well, they get snapped up by fisherpersons as the bream go ballistic for them

I Googled 'words that rhyme with crusty' and got---> busti, busty, dusty, gusty, justy, lusty, musty, rusty, trusty soooo...lets not go with that idea and for a laugh... French Words for crusty---> croustillant, hargneux German Words for crusty---> myrrisch Spanish Words for crusty--->costroso, crujiente I like Costroso

Dogs like lying in it in the summer as it feels cool. There are two sorts...a native one which had blue flowers...there is a photo on this link, (along with the introduced species) http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/plants/comm/commelinaceae.html and another piccie of the introduced--which has white flowers http://www.weeds.asn.au/weeds/txts/wand_jew.htm I don't know if the native one causes the rashes as well, though as it is the same family the chances are that it will.

In an email I received this morning Inner Peace: If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat plain food every day and be grateful for it, If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, ...Then You Are Probably The Family Dog! And you thought I was going to get all spiritual didn't you..?

Scottish Terrier more Westies Lakeland Terrier Cairn terrier Skye Terrier (what big teeth you have grandma ) Italian Greyhound...because they are so-a-not-short-legged-terrier

When you adopt the older ones it seems even harder when they have gone...we feel that we haven't spent enough time with them to make up for the years they weren't with us, so we love them just that-much-more. Have fun over the Rainbow with all your new mates Bronnie.

I am so sorry to hear about Whitey K9angel

I usually make my own BARF but my neighbour gave me a box of the lamb as her dog wouldn't eat it. the dogs ate it as they are gutses, )one of their favourite treats is bandicoot poo) but I would never buy it as I couldn't get those bloody little containers open...it was nearly impossible to stab them with the scissors,then cut the hard plastic off without slicing my hand open on the plastic. Who was the moron that designed them?, the original patties were great...just wack them with the hammer and they plinked off the roll.

There is a dog near where I live that is on a chain which is attached to an overhead wire strung between a tree and a post. When I did walk along the street with the little guys,the dog rushes, barking and growling, to the end of is chain/overhead wire so fast that it swings up with the momentum (the dog I mean...not the wire), it then continues barking and pivoting on its chain, carrying on aggressively until I am out of sight. Needless to say I don't go that way anymore...it's pretty scarey

I am so sorry JulesP, poor Brock and poor you. losing ones buddy is devastating. I hope you can ask a friend around for a little support. from me and the little guys

Nancy does seem to be rounding them up rather than just chasing them. The end is pretty funny http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/06/29/3256408.htm

Yep, I bought one also...we will find out if it is any good in the fullness of time I suppose

A friend sent me some amusing military photos...thought I'd post this one :D

I can imagine that! Daisy would have a kids voice.."pickme pickme pickme O pleeze pickme" Penny-Bossy-Boots would sound like a prefect.."No running in the corridors, stop playing zoomies" and Mac would just go in a Nick Park/Aardman Turtle or Slug voice " Oooookkkkay, whatever"

I was looking for a Westie and Googled 'Westie for sale' and there was an advertisment on DOL for 2 older (10 & 8) Westies that had to go together. I didn't want dogs that old so continued looking.There was a few others for sale in other States that I made a note of to contact the next day. I woke up at 2am thinking about the two older ones...emailed Victoria at 2.30am and went and bought them the next day best thing I have ever done! I hadn't known of DOL existence until then.

Yes raineth...flaxseed meal is good (called linseed meal in the supermarket) keep it in the fridge so it holds its goodness. Mine get 1/2-->1 tsp sprinkled on their dinner. You could also put a little cold pressed extra virgin olive oil in as well (it's a good price at Aldi, $19.99 for 4L Australian olive oil)

Yep...I reckon you are correct Sky, when people stop to say hello to my lot they always have the same story of knowing someone or having had a Westie. I bought a old postcard with some Westies on it off ebay and the seller said her next-door neighbour had one ..getting back to the topic...there was a beautiful Ridgeback at the John Goss park in West Chermside on Saturday 12th (Westie Clubs BBQ day)

okey dokey Mirawee, that'd be good. Thanks

If you do, and would like a $50 treatment voucher (FREE) at the Smooth Synergy Cosmedic Clinic. It is for a treatment and is not redeemable on retail products - not redeemable on cosmetic injectables or cosmetic tattooing - redeemable on treatments only . I have posted this in the for sale section but no replies yet and as it needs to be redeemed by the 30th I thought i would post here. I won it in a competition. Just email me and I will forward my email and you can print it out and phone them up. If ya do want to pay something after the treatment (if the treatment is really good I mean) you could donate some money to PACERS.

bugger