Boronia

had a search and this is what I found (or seeing that this is a Scottish post...Ah hud a search an' thes is whit Ah foond) https://www.facebook.com/theweewhitedug/?ref=br_rs

I found out how to delete your quote (I think). Just leave your quote as it is and go to another forum, then come back and go to the bottom of the last post and click the 'Reply to this Topic' box. That box will open with your reply and there is an option to 'remove'

hahaha, DDD, you made me laugh we have a troll it seems

I give mine Canine MSM Chondroitin Glucosamine Powder (they used to supply it in 500g bags) http://stores.ebay.com.au/Health-Within?_trksid=p2047675.l2563 and Pernease powder because I bought some cheap-as from Gumtree and.. Henry gets monthly injections of Synovan (http://www.ceva.com.au/Products/Products-list/SYNOVAN-Injection-for-Dogs) I don't know which one of those three is working but he is a happy little boy and much more supple from when I first bought him in October last year He also gets Golden paste, I make it myself because it's easy peasy. I buy the turmeric from here https://countrypark.com.au/product/turmeric-powder-1kg/ here is the Golden paste recipe How to make Golden Paste: ½ cup turmeric powder 1 cup spring water (+ ½ extra if necessary) 1.5 tsp ground black pepper 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil Directions: Mix water (1 cup) with turmeric powder in a pan and slowly heat it up and stir for 6-10 minutes until you get a thick paste (add the additional ½ cup water if it is too thick). Add black pepper and oil and continue stirring until all the ingredients are fully mixed in together. Allow the paste to cool. Store in the refrigerator in a jar for up to 1-2 weeks. This recipe was developed by Doug English, a veterinarian who has utilized the ancient healing spice in all manner of animals ranging from dogs to cats to the most exotic types like alpacas and even crocodiles. edited to add that if he is on other medications it would pay to join and ask in this group to check if turmeric is compatible, there are a couple of antibiotics that the turmeric inhibits https://www.facebook.com/groups/415313751866609/

two long coats here Amber https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/chihuahua-long-coat.asp and two short coat https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/chihuahua-smooth-coat.asp and three here https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/pomeranian.asp

I did that and ended up freezing the pieces after a few hours of drying. OMG the stink you have no idea how bad it was Never never dry green tripe yourself ever

These people sell them WM (hummm, spelling could be better-->Why give just a dog treat when you can give a natural feat?) The price seems a bit exxie though https://store.rogueroyalty.com.au/products/r-a-w-dried-green-tripe-dog-treats according to their 'clunky search for a stockist' link you can buy here; PETS ON SEMAPHORE 115 Semaphore Rd Semaphore SA 5019 PH:(08) 8242 7302 also same price here http://www.naturalpetstore.com.au/k9-natural-freeze-dried-lamb-green-tripe-200g cheaper here https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/k9-natural-lamb-green-tripe

Stating the obvious I reckon http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-28/our-pets-strengthen-neighbourhood-ties/8659174 How our pets strengthen neighbourhood ties The Conversation By Lisa Wood from the University of Western Australia Updated yesterday at 2:35pm Photo: When dog owners meet, it helps build a safe and connected community. (Wrote/flickr, CC BY-NC) Talk to any pet owner and you are bound to invoke stories about the joy and companionship of having a pet. But evidence is mounting that the effect of pets extends beyond their owners and can help strengthen the social fabric of local neighbourhoods. Now a cross-national study involving Perth, Australia, and three US cities has lent weight to the observation that pets help build social capital. This is not a frivolous notion, given the erosion of sense of community is often lamented. As Hugh Mackay recently observed, not knowing our neighbours has become a sad cliche of contemporary urban life. I stumbled into pet-related research some 15 years ago when undertaking a PhD on neighbourhoods and sense of community. I was curious about the elements of a neighbourhood that might help people connect to one another, so I threw some in some survey questions about pets. In what has become my most-cited academic paper, we found that pet owners were more likely to have higher social capital. This is a concept that captures trust between people (including those we don't know personally), networks of social support, the exchange of favours with neighbours and civic engagement. Fast-forward a decade to a much larger study to look at the relationship between pets and social capital. Pet owners and non-owners were randomly surveyed in four cities: Perth, San Diego, Portland and Nashville — four cities reasonably comparable in size, urban density and climate. In all four cities, we found owning a pet was significantly associated with higher social capital compared with not owning a pet. This held true after adjusting for a raft of demographic factors that might influence people's connections in their neighbourhood. Photo: Pets are a great leveller in society, owned and loved by people across social, age and racial strata. (ABC News: Lisa Morrison) How do pets help build social bonds? It is often assumed that the social benefits of pets are confined to social interactions that occur when people are out walking their dogs. Lots of dog owner anecdotes support this. In this large sample study, however, levels of social capital were higher among pet owners across the board. We did nonetheless find that social capital was higher among dog owners and those who walked their dogs in particular. Dog owners were five times more likely to have got to know people in their neighbourhood. This makes sense, as dogs are the most likely to get us outside the home. Yet our survey data and qualitative responses show that a variety of pets can act as a social lubricant. Pets are a great leveller in society, owned and loved by people across social, age and racial strata. Perhaps it is having something in common with other people that strikes a chord, regardless of the type of pet. What does this mean for how we live? That pets can help build social capital is not just a social nicety or quirky sociological observation. Hundreds of studies internationally show that social capital is a positive predictor for a raft of important social indicators, including mental health, education, crime deterrence, and community safety. Given pets are entrenched in the lives and homes of many Australians, it makes sense to tap into this as a way to strengthen the social fabric of local communities. Not everyone can or wants to own a pet. But two-thirds of the population does, so our cities and neighbourhoods need to be "pet friendly". Australian suburbs are generally pretty good for walkable parks and streets. In this study, we also found that having dog walkers out and about contributes to perceptions of community safety. Given the broad social benefits of pet ownership, perhaps we need to rethink 'no pets' rules where possible. Photo: Dog owners enjoy a higher level of social capital, the study found. (ABC News: Simon Royal) However, in Australia, pets have traditionally belonged to people living in detached housing with backyards. Many rental properties, apartment complexes, and retirement villages still default to a "no pets" policy. Other countries, where renting and higher-density living is more the norm, seem more accepting of pets across the housing spectrum. Given ageing populations, housing affordability and the need to curb urban sprawl are critical social trends in many countries including Australia, maybe we need to recalibrate our notions of who can own a pet and where they can live. This is not to say that pets have to be allowed everywhere, but the default to "no pets allowed" is questionable. My father-in-law in his 80s, for example, couldn't downsize to a retirement complex because his extremely docile rescue greyhound exceeded the "10 kilogram pet" rule. He couldn't bear to part with Moby, a faithful companion through whom he met many local residents daily at the park nearby. Constant companions in times of change A lot of my current research is around homelessness. Chatting recently with a man who was homeless with his dog on the streets of Melbourne, he told me how his dog gets him up in the morning, keeps him safe at night, and gets them both walking daily. His dog was one of the few stable things in his life, so he needed a public housing option that would allow pets. People who are homeless also need crisis accommodation options that accept their pets. Hence it is great to see places such as Tom Fisher House in Perth, opening its doors to rough sleepers with pets needing a safe place to sleep. Beyond the practical implications for pet-friendly cities, the potential for pets to enrich the social fabric of communities has strong appeal in an era of global uncertainty, frenetic "busyness" and technology-driven communications. As cultural analyst Sheryl Turkle has said, the ways people interact and forge relationships have undergone massive change and we can end up "connected, but alone". By contrast, humans have been drawn to companion animals since early civilisation. In many people's lives, they remain a tangible constant that can yield enduring social capital benefits. Lisa Wood is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Social Impact and School of Population Health at the University of Western Australia. This article was originally published in The Conversation.

some more 'feeding turmeric to your dog' info here Powerlegs (maybe adding flax-seed oil instead of olive oil would be tasty for them) http://turmericlife.com.au/turmeric-for-dogs/how-to-feed-turmeric-for-dogs/

my lot ate the golden paste off the spoon, they thought it was yummy, maybe it was the olive oil I put into it when making it. Perhaps mix it with some mackerel or sardines or just the juice out of the can or mix it with some mince.

Yes, it definitely seems to be more economical but I kinda liked the one I had originally purchased as it included the MSM, Chondroitin and Glucosamine all in the one packet and was for dogs. I get my turmeric and rosehip granules from Country Park...they are lovely to deal with

My vet put my 11 year old Westie, Henry (I have only had him 8 months) on monthly Synovan injections, the first few months didn't seem to make much difference but he seems to be happier when going on his walks now. I also give him glucosamine and Pernaease and have started on the golden paste. After hunting about I found this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Canine-MSM-Chondroitin-Glucosamine-Powder-400gm-Dog-Joint-Arthritis-Dysplasia-/152388783221?hash=item237b144c75 and here's the info on th Synovan http://www.ceva.com.au/Products/Products-list/SYNOVAN-Injection-for-Dogs I had also changed his meals from minced turkey necks (I just didn't feel like poking 14kg of necks through the mincer!) to roo mince + a little bit of Taste of the Wild kibble and raw vegie slops, he seems to be doing extra well on that

Laeral...maybe ask Troy to move this to the Health/Nutrition/Grooming forum. are you making your own golden paste? a simple recipe here if you are interested https://www.davidwolfe.com/turmeric-golden-milk-before-bed/ How to make Golden Paste: ½ cup turmeric powder 1 cup spring water (+ ½ extra if necessary) 1.5 tsp ground black pepper 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil Directions: Mix water (1 cup) with turmeric powder in a pan and slowly heat it up and stir for 6-10 minutes until you get a thick paste (add the additional ½ cup water if it is too thick). Add black pepper and oil and continue stirring until all the ingredients are fully mixed in together. Allow the paste to cool. Store in the refrigerator in a jar for up to 1-2 weeks. This recipe was developed by Doug English, a veterinarian who has utilized the ancient healing spice in all manner of animals ranging from dogs to cats to the most exotic types like alpacas and even crocodiles. Why add Black Pepper? It is beneficial to take black pepper with turmeric because it helps the body absorb turmeric.

the photos have not loaded so click on the link http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/could-cannabis-oil-work-for-pets/8638256 Pot for pets? What happened when terminally-ill Muttley took cannabis oil Posted Wed 21 Jun 2017, 12:14pm Updated Thu 22 Jun 2017, 6:20pm By Shalailah Medhora He'd been diagnosed with cancer earlier that year, and after rounds of chemo and five surgeries, the vet said there was nothing more they could do for him. "He was extremely lethargic. He'd sleep 20, 22 hours a day and wanted to be left alone, didn't want to go outside. Basically, getting towards the point of he was going to die," Tim told Hack. "In October we said goodbye to him. We were going away and we didn't think he'd survive the week," Tina said. "The only other option would have been putting him down, because he didn't have any quality of life." Chemo was having a terrible effect on Muttley. "He got really sick, he lost ten kilos and started urinating blood and the vet said that's pretty much it. He probably has weeks to live, if he's lucky," Tim said. To ease Muttley's discomfort, the vet suggested Tim and Tina try something a little bit controversial - medicinal cannabis oil. The couple was sceptical at first. I thought I'd heard it all, until I'd heard that." "But then I thought, if he can't take traditional medicine, if it makes him feel sick - he was vomiting and he would do this really sad thing where he would bury his nose in his paws and rub his head in the grass," Tina said. "You could tell he was really in pain and that was a sign that he was nauseous. So I thought, what do we have to lose? We might as well try it." They got him some low-dose cannabis oil... and noticed a change within days. "He's put ten kilos back on, he's pain-free, he's hyperactive, he's energetic, he's loving life, and he has a huge appetite," Tim said. In some ways, Muttley's turned into a typical stoner. I guess he gets the dog munchies." "He does tend to get the munchies, even after his second dinner. He follows me to the fridge and he absolutely loves ice-cream," Tim said. "For some reason, this is a new taste he's developed after we've given him the hemp oil. He absolutely devours an entire bowl of ice-cream." "After taking medicinal marijuana, he wants to be around everybody, he wants to play, and sometimes at midnight he gets his toys and he wants to play with his toys even though everybody else wants to go to bed," Tim laughed. 'For use in humans only' The thing is, no cannabis products have been approved for use in animals. In fact, the Therapeutic Goods Administration - the regulatory body responsible for giving medicines for humans a tick or a flick - actively warns against cannabis use in pets. "Some substances that are relatively benign in humans can be highly toxic to dogs and/or cats," a spokeswoman for the TGA told Hack. "Cannabis cultivated and manufactured into medicinal cannabis products is for use in humans only. It should not be provided to pets." Pet owners may be tempted to provide black market medicinal cannabis products to pets. This should never be done." But veterinarians have the discretion to prescribe human medicines to pets, if they think it'll help, and certain very-low dose hemp oils, like the ones you may see at market stalls, can legally be sold in Australia. "The reason they're legal is that they have such a low concentration to be legal so they can't be abused. They may well be safe, but we also don't know that they're effective," practicing vet and member of the Australian Veterinary Association, Phil Brain, said. He cautioned pet owners against seeing medicinal cannabis as the silver bullet for their sick pets. "There are many more conventional products that can be used to improve well-being and appetite," he told Hack. "The AVA remains open to the possibility of these drugs, we welcome further research. It's probably just at this time, the unquestioning acceptance of the products is premature." Phil said he's much more likely to see pets get sick from accidentally accessing their owner's stash. "They come in with quite profound signs of toxicity, ranging from being spaced out, but often including seizuring, they're wobbly and they're quite neurologically affected. In some cases that toxicity can be fatal." He says the same kind of medicinal cannabis trials that have been conducted on humans should be done on animals. "We keep an open mind I suppose, but veterinary science is a science and accordingly the AVA are advocates for only using products that have been thoroughly tested," Phil said. Aussie company taking Europe by storm Could we see approved cannabis-based product for pets on the Australian market soon? It's not a medication, but Australian-listed company, Creso Pharma, has registered a hemp-based product that you can feed your pets to help them with chronic stress and ageing. That's been registered through the European Union's regulatory body, called the European Feed Material Registry. "The European regulations are a bit more open, so we're starting in Europe," David Russell from Creso Pharma told Hack. Next step: getting the product into Australia on a trial basis. "That's probably the first path for us, to get some product into the country through a TGA approval for research purposes so they can have some experience with it," David said. Cannabis is a good option [for pets], but we need to gather some local evidence." David admitted Australia had been slow off the mark when it comes to utilising medicinal cannabis, but he said it's "for the right reasons". "There are about 5 million dogs - that's about 40 per cent of households in Australia - and they're part of the family. They're a very important part of people's lives, and we want to make sure we give them something safe," he said. The product will launch in Europe later this year, and there's still a question mark over when we could see it in Australia. A last resort Tim and Tina didn't regret their decision for a second. Muttley is a much-loved member of the family, and his human parents would do anything to make his last days bearable. You would do that for anyone, you'd try and make them comfortable." "I mean, his prognosis is terminal and all it's done is make him comfortable for however long he's got to live," Tina said. Tim agreed. "I just think, give it a go if there's no other option." Phil's approach was a bit more cautious. "I would say to those pet owners to see the veterinarian and have a long chat about conventional medication, discuss using alternative medication as an option." Credits Author Shalailah Medhora

I was talking to a lovely Irish terrier at the vets last week, she was such a charmer! (I meant the dog was charming...well, ok, the vet was as well :-D)

hahaha, the photo I liked best was the sea-side one in December, those two terriers having a disagreement about some (probably imagined) slight. I can almost hear them

He has his photo pasted in the papers and over the internet The police are aware of him now (he will get 'street-checked' as he may have a weapon) His friends (if he has any left) will all know as will his family and his work colleagues and management and the local shops and cafés...he may be kept waiting aeons to get served he is well and truly buggered now

I like these stories so have posted another for your enjoyment http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-08/births-deaths-and-the-human-factor-in-vet-practice/8596328 Births, deaths and the human factor of country vet practice ABC South East SA By Kate Hill Posted yesterday at 11:29am Photo: "It's time." Alex Cape shares a last few minutes with her cat Mischa. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Related Story: A day in the life of a country vet Related Story: Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend Map: Mount Gambier 5290 On the long line of chairs in the waiting room of the Mount Gambier vet clinic, Alex Cape sits alone with a cat carrier carefully placed besides her. The high school teacher is upset. At 14 years old, Ms Cape's much-loved cat Mischa's health is failing and today, she knows he may not be returning home with her. Vet Ms Skirving gently lifts the cat out of the carrier and examines him, noting signs of dehydration, anaemia and further weight loss in the week since she has last seen him. "You just look tired, don't you mate," Ms Skirving said. Photo: Alex Cape with vet Rebel Skirving in the clinic waiting room. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) His tail switches weakly under her touch, another sign the elderly cat is fading fast. Normally, the vet has to restrain him from leaping off the table. "This is the right time, isn't it?" Ms Cape asks. "I do think it is." Ms Skirving gently explains that any treatment from now on will be a band-aid solution and only buying time, not quality time. "As tough as it is, I think it's a good time to say goodbye." Euthanasia is a subject many people find confronting, but the death of animals is a routine part of day-to-day life as a vet. Ms Skirving gives Alex the option of being with him during the injection and leaves the owner to her farewell. Mischa was rescued from the Port Lonsdale RSPCA as a kitten and was with Alex through a number of important life moments, when she moved out of home, started studying teaching. He has been a constant in her life. "He was family," she said, simply. Photo: The animal euthanasia drug. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Today is not an easy one for the vet, who has treated Mischa for over six years and has seen firsthand the time and devotion Alex has committed to her feline life companion. "It does get harder as you know people and their animals," she said. "It's the people side of it that upsets me more than anything. "As a young vet, euthanasia is a bit confronting. I always thought I'd get better and more desensitised as I got older but I think it is quite the reverse. It gets more challenging. After a decade at the Mount Gambier clinic, the same animals Ms Skirving first treated as bright-eyed puppies and kittens all those years ago are aging, succumbing to diseases and when their time comes, dying. "You see them when they first come in for their vaccinations right through to old age. It's the big picture." Before the euthanasia injection, owners have to sign a form showing they understand the procedure is non-reversible, resulting in the animal's death. The mundane words 'put to sleep' may be nicer, but can be confusing for children, who can be upset when the animal does not wake up. Photo: Last minutes: Mischa is given the euthanasia injection. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) "I don't sugar coat things," Ms Skirving said. "I avoid certain words like 'put to sleep'. "I say 'we're going to give him some medicine to stop his heart and he will die'," she said. Farewell The waiting room is quiet and the only sound is Ms Skirving's low voice as she gently explains what she is doing and how long it will take Mischa to die. As she slips the needle full of green liquid in the IV catheter, it takes just seconds before Mischa's eyes glaze and his heart beat stills. Weeping, Ms Cape is given a few minutes alone with her cat. Photo: Mischa's body is taken away for cremation. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) As his body is wrapped in a calico bag ready for cremation, Ms Cape goes back to school and teaches a year 9 class, then goes through a full night of parent teacher interviews. Anything, she explains, is better than going back to a home where reminders of Mischa are everywhere. Two weeks later, as she collects Mischa's ashes, she said the emotion she felt about the loss of her cat knocked her for six. "I didn't think it would be like grieving for a person," she said. Photo: Alex leaves the vet clinic without her beloved pet. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) The human factor "I think a lot of people come into the veterinary profession with a romanticised idea that you spend all day working with animals, but you deal with the people first," Ms Skirving said, President of the Rural Vets in SA. "Eighty per cent of what I do each day is working with and managing people." To the many students that pass through their clinic, Ms Skirving instils in them that they also have to be good at listening, counselling and managing the human side of veterinary medicine. Ms Skirving said vets saw all ends of the spectrum, from practical farmers driven by economics to highly emotional companion animal owners and everyone's relationship with their animal was different. Every day in the veterinary industry is different and some are more challenging than others. "You have good days and bad days and the bad ones can be really tough and they can be emotionally and physically challenging," Ms Skirving said. The mental health of staff in the veterinary industry is a topical and timely issue, particularly as a number of studies have shown the suicide rates in vets is four times higher than the general population. Although Ms Skirving loves her job, she makes sure herself and her team of staff get ample downtime, away from the clinic. Photo: "One day, I'll get that Mustang." Vet Rebel Skirving with her V8 vet-mobile. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) After a rough day at work, you will not find this vet bombed out on the couch immersed in television. Ms Skirving is far more likely to be out driving her beloved V8. "Most of my relaxation techniques involve fossil fuels," she laughs. "I love my cars and I love my power tools." A Friday calving Then there are the good days, where you get an unexpected win. The next call-out for Ms Skirving is to a farm at Weepar just outside of town, to see a cow who is struggling to calve. Recalling all the times she has had to pull dead calves from cows, the vet is not optimistic about the calf's chances. Photo: Feel here: Vet Rebel Skirving shows the farmer the cow has a broken pelvis. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) "The best outcome is a live calf with no caesarean-section," she said. "Cows don't do as well with a caesarean-section as with a natural birth," she explains, pulling on waterproof clothing and hefting a 5-kilo tub of lubricant from the car. As farmer Wally and his son Peter watch, Ms Skirving tries in vain to deliver the calf naturally, giving the tired cow an epidural and using a purpose-built pulley system. At one stage, she puts her full weight on the ropes connected to the calf's legs, trying to get the leverage needed. But the cow's cervix is not dilated enough, risking tearing her cervix and to make matters worse, Ms Skirving says she has a broken pelvis. This calf won't be coming out the usual way. "Your call" she says to the farmer and he nods. Photo: A bucket scrub before the caesarean section begins. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) For the casual observer, a caesarean on a standing animal is a fairly eye-opening procedure, but these farmers have seen it all before. Injecting the anaesthetic into an animal with just a few bars between them, Ms Skirving is aware this is the optimal time to get kicked. "Are you happy to pull and I'll cut?" she says to Wally. New life Around 20 minutes after her first scalpel cut, Ms Skirving is able to cut through the layers of abdominal cavity and uterine wall and pull the calf out, back legs first. "We're winning," she exclaims, as the body slides out of the gaping hole in the side of the cow. Photo: "You pull and I'll cut." A caesarean section on a cow. The calf collapses on the ground, covered with blood and birthing fluids and gasps for air. After such a difficult entry into the world, there is a high risk of the calf being brain dead. Struggling to breathe, he makes a pitiful sight and Peter gently rubs his chest to get him started on his own while Ms Skirving is busy stitching up the incision with a neat row of stitches. Photo: Struggling to breathe, the calf's chest is gently massaged by the farmer. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Sometimes, calves born by caesarean have been so bright eyed and eager to feed, Ms Skirving has to push them away as she hurriedly sews up mum. Expecting a more sombre outcome, the farmers are surprised and delighted to see the calf alive. Untangling his long, unsteady legs, the newborn calf takes in the world from the dirt-covered floor of the stock yards. Ms Skirving's face and clothes are covered with blood and muck, but she is smiling. A live calf and a healthy cow is a welcome surprise on a Friday afternoon at the end of a long week at the practice. Photo: Welcome to the world: a newborn calf at Weepar. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) It's a good day after all, says Ms Skirving, as the calf shakes his head. "I love it when they flap their ears. That's a good noise." Enjoyed this story? The country vet series continues on June 12 on ABC South East.

sorry, I can't copy and past the article so you'll need to click on the BBC Scotland link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40132057

Hi Gabby and welcome to the forums. I had Henry, my Westie, castrated a couple of months after I bought him (he was nine then) and apart from feeling sore, which is to be expected, he was fine. He has settled down more. A month before buying Henry I bought bought Saffy, as an older desexed bitch, and they both get along fine. Unless your bitch has pedigree papers, and is an excellent example of her breed, it would be best to desex her as well, less chance of an 'oops' litter...too many unwanted dogs in rescue already so it's not a good idea to add to it. There are some members here who can help with managing your dog's competitiveness or you can ask on this Training/Obedience forum as well https://www.dolforums.com.au/forum/9-training-obedience-dog-sports/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-01/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-country-vet/8569614 One-eyed pugs, cat attacks and the case of Bailey's genital bean: A day with a country vet ABC South East SA By Kate Hill Posted yesterday at 10:22am Photo: Gelding Bailey gets a 'willy wash' by vet Stuart Skirving. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Related Story: Images of overweight show dogs online 'normalising' obesity: study Related Story: Convenience food blamed for making household pets fat Map: Mount Gambier 5290 Rubber-gloved to the armpits, vet Stuart Skirving disappears under the back end of a heavily sedated and swaying horse and fiddles about. Gelding Bailey, although practically asleep at the end of his lead rope, gives a noticeable jerk and the vet emerges triumphant. "That's the biggest I've ever seen," exclaims the vet, proudly displaying a large waxy object on his gloved palm. "You'll be able to pee better now mate." Extracting a 'bean', or a lump of hardened smegma from a horse's penis, is the kind of job only a country vet can get excited about. Photo: A bean, or hardened smegma extracted from a horse penis. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) At Gambier Vets, a large practice in South Australia's south-east, husband and wife vet duo Rebel and Stuart Skirving never know what emergency or creature will pop up in the daily appointment book. A wombat off his food, a cat with a blocked bladder, and pigs with pneumonia are all on today's list, along with the nuts and bolts of daily vet work — desexing, vaccinations and consultations. A complex desex Today's most complex case involves young female kelpie Sheebah, in for spaying. Although it's a routine procedure Ms Skirving has performed thousands of times, this dog will be no easy operation. Twice before, Sheebah's heart rate has dropped dangerously under anaesthetic and vets have had to put off her surgery. Today, the dog is being monitored on a state-of-the-art anaesthetic monitoring machine to ensure she's not 'too light', which could mean she wakes up under anaesthetic. Photo: Third time lucky for Sheebah, a young kelpie in for spaying. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) The dog delivers an ominously dirty look sideways at Rebel as the vet tries to inject a pre-med sedative. As a preventative measure, Rebel slips a muzzle on her to protect both her and the assistant holding the dog. The words "she's never bitten anyone" are treated with a certain touch of irony today, considering Rebel's weekend battle scars. A cat with paralysed hind limbs rushed to the clinic for emergency treatment had decided the vet's digits were fair game. "Without warning, the cat sunk it's teeth into the fleshy part of my hand right up to it's gum line," she said. Suddenly, the vet was the one dripping blood all over the surgery floor. Photo: "Every day is different," says vet Rebel Skirving. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) After euthanasing the cat due to its injuries and dealing with another emergency case, it was 2:00am. Although her arm was aching and sore, Rebel chose a few hours' sleep instead of a doctors opinion. But in the morning, the throbbing bite site was looking grim and there were angry red lines spiralling up her arm. Her doctor sent her straight off to hospital where she was told she had developed septicaemia, or blood poisoning. After a short stint on the IV, duty called and Rebel discharged herself to go and look after her animal patients with a little help from her children and one thoroughly amused husband. "After 16 years as a vet, it was the first time an animal had put me in hospital," she said. A one-eyed pug Photo: Uno the one-eyed pug gets his nails trimmed. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Today, a steady procession of canines are streaming into the clinic. Two elderly father and son pugs, Sam and Uno, come in for their six-week 'mani-pedi'. In some dogs, it's easy to confuse the tough nail with the highly sensitive nail bed and clip too far in, hence the reason for their regular visits. Uno, who has broken his hip twice and is minus one eye, is nicknamed the $9,000 dog by his owner Beverley as they have spent so much money on him during his nine years of life. "At one stage he even had his own credit card," she quips. Photo: Racing greyhound Mike comes in for draining of his wound. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Rebel drains a vast pool of seroma from a large wound on the side of prize-winning racing greyhound Mike, who takes the needle in his side without so much as a whimper. Although this owner is a regular, the Skirvings have noticed a definite rise in the number of owners bringing their racing dogs in for treatment during the past year, after the industry was rocked by the live-baiting scandal last year. One reason may be due to Greyhound Racing South Australia, which has introduced a Track Injury Surgery Rebate Scheme, which reimburses 80 per cent of surgery costs for injuries sustained in the running of races. In further good news for ex-racers, those injured greyhounds in the scheme are given priority entry into the Greyhound Adoption Program after their rehabilitation. Companion and supersize pets Purebred toy poodles Mocha and Mia are led into the examination room with Marilyn Gribble and her daughter Heidi. Photo: Mocha the toy poodle gets an examination. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill ) As Ms Skirving examines them, she listens patiently as Marilyn explains how the dogs have not left her side after Graham, her husband of 48 years, died suddenly last year. "They follow me everywhere," she tells the vet. "I think they're protecting me and watching that I am okay." "They're not just dogs or companions. They are family." The position of many animals in society, be it a horse, rabbit or cat, is vastly undervalued in many cases, the vet believes. "If that animal is someone's companion, there is so much more to that animal than being just a pet," Ms Skirving said. "It's someone's life. Those animals have personality and character and they hold a lot of emotional significance to people." Impervious to such matters, Mocha lifts his leg and slyly pees on the table leg. Photo: Around two or three dogs a day are desexed at the surgery. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Of course, then there are those owners who spoil their companion animals a little too much, one of Ms Skirving's bugbears. "Obesity is the most common form of neglect I see," she said. Just like their human counterparts, supersize pets can suffer from serious health problems such as heart, liver and kidney complaints, diabetes and a reduced life span. Not surprisingly, the incidence of obesity in pets gets higher the fatter their owners are and Rebel said most people are not keen to hear they are the reason for their pets widening proportions. "I tell them overfeeding them is just as detrimental as underfeeding." Blood, guts and gore On a mild and sunny Sunday afternoon, a farmer snaps a few shots of a blood-spattered Rebel and fellow vet Teagan sitting in a paddock. Rebel is pulling bits of a dead calf from a cow and Teagan is dealing with a prolapsed uterus in another cow. Deciding to introduce their Facebook followers to the delights of a 'fetotomy', a fancy word for cutting up a dead calf inside a cow, Ms Skirving said she was surprised to see the graphic images become one of their most popular posts. The Skirvings have never shied away from showing those keen to see an accurate and honest look at daily vet life. Photo: "You need a very good washing machine," vet Rebel Skirving says. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Many a starry-eyed young student has come to the clinic on work experience and has been shocked by the amount of "blood and guts and vomit and diarrhoea" the vets deal with on a daily basis. "I like to be really honest with them about what to expect. There is a lot of cleaning involved," she said. "Especially being a country vet, you need a lot of changes of clothes and you need a very good washing machine," she laughs. "It's mucky and filthy and smelly, but by the same token rewarding and challenging." Stuart Skirving, who was once told to "stick to animals" by a doctor after suggesting that a client's broken foot was not actually broken, takes particular delight in grossing people out. "If he gets to deal with a big abscess that explodes, he loves it," Ms Skirving said. Love and bad smells It takes a strong relationship to endure the odd smells that a vet brings home and it is here where Rebel and Stuart Skirving count themselves lucky they've married into the profession. The awful smell that lingers after dissecting dead calves in utero is particularly soap-resistant, Ms Skirving says ruefully, but her husband understands. "When you come home smelling like something terrible and rotten, he's not offended, because it has probably only been a few days earlier since he came home smelling the same," she said. The pair met while studying — a "first-year vet school romance" as Ms Skirving dubs it. Twenty years later, their flock includes three children, a dog called Mo, 40 bantam chooks, 20 breeding cows and a bull. "If you take an eyeball in a jar to a class of kids, it is amazing how many of them are genuinely intrigued to have a look," Ms Skirving says. The pair are often invited to career days or schools and have a golden tool in their vet arsenal — the surgery's pathology collection of curiosities. Photo: The surgery's pathology collection includes bladder stones, cancerous lumps and aborted foetuses. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) The strange assortment of objects floating in formalin-filled jars includes maggots, cancerous lumps, bladder stones, an aborted kitten, and malformed foetuses. Among the horrified faces, a junior vet-in-the-making is quickly spotted. "Some are fascinated, some are revolted," said Ms Skirving, laughing. Rex's legacy As the day ends, Sheebah is recovering nicely from her operation, Sam and Uno have gone home freshly manicured, and Bailey's genital offering has been much admired and added to the collection. As the phone stops ringing and the plaintive howls in the recovery room quiet for a moment, Ms Skirving is able to reach for her ever-present coffee flask and tell a story. Although vets aren't supposed to have favourites, there's always one animal, owner or tale that grabs your heart and sticks fast. Photo: Rebel monitors Sheebah's heart rate on an ECG machine. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Rex was a feisty wire-haired Jack Russell who had been coming to the clinic for more than a decade, a much loved 'only dog' of a couple. "He was certainly a character around the clinic and we developed a stronger and stronger bond with the dog and his owners," she said. As vaccinations and health checks on a young Rex gave way to illnesses and age-related injuries, the day came when Ms Skirving had to explain there was no more that could be done to keep the elderly and cancer-stricken dog alive. Ms Skirving says the day Rex was euthanased was "heart wrenching" for both her and the owners. A short time later, a gift from the couple. They donated a large sum of money to buy a state-of-the-art anaesthetic monitoring machine for the clinic, vital life-saving equipment to be used to help other pets. It was a thank you for the many years of looking after their Rex. Enjoyed this story? The country vet series continues on June 7 on ABC South East.

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