Kirty

Perhaps the vet was referring to long-term lack of management, rather than the few weeks Carlo had her.

I have found that adding chicken mince (pet grade) to their meals helps greatly.

A lot unfortunately. I think you would be looking at over $1000 from memory.

Some wrinkles might move, but many don't get enough air circulating and folds are often full of crap due to rubbing, trapped heat, and guck. Google skin fold pyoderma - it is not a myth at all.

Plus poorly bred dogs, which we see a lot of. And owners who don't have a clue their dog has skin fold pyo - despite the fact that you can often smell them when the walk in! *pukes*

I'm so sorry Jane. She was the luckiest dog in the world to have been found by you and I am sure she knew that. RIP Tazzie. *sending you hugs*

Sort of, some times. :D I refer to my OH as their Daddy but only when we are at home mucking around. Maisie knows what 'Where's Daddy?' means and will search for him. And Pia LOVES going to visit my parents (only one welcome there lol) and so I say 'Let's go see Nanna!' and she gets all excited. :) And I'll say things like 'Mummy loves you' to the dogs.

YES! I would say that over 90% of the Peis and Neos we see at work have skin fold pyoderma or some other sort of skin irritation. Pugs and Pekes also get it in their nose folds. And when you add in colour dilution, as is so popular with Peis and Neos, well the result is not pretty.

Can I also add some tips in case anyone is considering whether they could foster or not... An adult cat can be happily kept in a spare bedroom for several weeks if need be. They do not require great amounts of space or time really. In fact, this poor old girl will probably feel safer in a small room of her own. As long as she has lots of hidey holes (boxes with blankets, igloo beds, etc) and 'up' places (scratching post, shelving, etc) she will be fine. A litter tray and some food bowls, and she is all set. Even if you have other cats or dogs, if she is kept in a spare room away from them all I'm sure she'd be OK. Some rescue remedy on the back of her ears will also help take the edge off. If anyone is considering fostering her but wants more general info about fostering adult cats, I'm happy to offer whatever advice/support I can.

Some of the examples on the taxidermy site are amazing, emotive works of art, others are just weird and some are very disturbing and upsetting. I feel that it is so disrespectful to the animals in most cases. I did end up googling one of the artists who features a lot though and she has dead animals donated to her or uses road kill, etc. Her work was definitely more interesting than others.

Haha too cute! Google translator tells me he is Swedish and it seems he has no training, he just does it! The owners are just as miffed as the rest of us! LOL!

Ideally though a 15yo cat should be in a home. It would probably be quite stressed in a cattery. I wish I could help, don't really know anyone in NSW that would be able to foster a cat though.

I'm so sorry for your loss missymoo. RIP Skippy.

Haha I just looked at your link Erny and realised it is the same stuff we bought for work (you can use Calendula tea to soothe sore eyes and help with conjunctivitis in dogs). I was showing it to a client one day when I noticed a LIVE beetle crawling around inside the SEALED bag!! I then saw that it had come from Egypt so I called quarantine and said I wasn't sure if I should be concerned or not... Well they sent someone straight round to collect it. Turned out to be a species that we also have in Australia but it was quite funny. :)

Thanks Erny and Becks. :) I agree, to me it looks like she is 'fleaing' but I have four other dogs and 11 indoor cats and nobody else is so much as scratching. But her skin is perfectly normal, so sign of irritation as you would normally see with allergies.

Have you had your cat tested for FIV chubbsie? Thats another lovely thing roaming cats are exposed to. Almost 30% of Victorian cats are now affected. Another lovely way to die for outdoor cats. 20 years ago people used to let their dogs roam too. Because the dogs liked it. Times change. Some people learn from the past and modify their behaviour... Anyway, I'm going to bed with my 11 poor, suffering, indoor cats (some of whom are curled up on my bed already - poor things!) and I'll sleep soundly knowing they are safe.

Yes this frequent grooming thing is very new to me! My other dogs haven't been bathed in years. But Toby needs frequent grooming to keep her coat clean and tangle free. :) Will try the calendula rinse. Does it stain though? She is cream so don't want her going yellow!

She doesn't get bathed very often. I think only four times in the 6 months I've owned her. I use a whitening shampoo and it is thoroughly rinsed out. Nex time though I will try the tea. Karly I use Advantage or Revolution for fleas. I have not seen the other dogs or cats scratching or chewing either. Becks she chews under her armpits, her rump and sometimes her groin. But its not like she does it constantly or licks, etc. She might do it a few times in one day then not do it again for several days. She has no bald patches, no stains, nothing. I asked a girl at work today who used to be a derm nurse and she thinks it could be mild allergies.

Hahaha!! What a crock. Cats and dogs are very different creatures. I gave been rescuing cats for about 8 years now, including strays who have been free to roam as they please, and they ALL love being indoors. As said previously, yes you do actually have to make an effort and not just chuck food out, but its worth it. I can leave my door wide open and the cats don't try to go our. Why? Because they are perfectly happy inside!!

Lots of my animals have people names - Maisie, Pia, Toby (girl), Stevie (girl), Champa (male dog but named after an Indian friend's Mum - don't ask lol), Penny, Tommy, Josie, Darcy, etc. :) Have some weird ones too - L.A., Rockling... :D

Toby is a Poodle so she shouldn't be shedding too much! She gets a good brush every few days too. I thought it might have been twigs and things stuck in her coat (she is a complete dag and is always filthy!) but even after her bath and blow dry she is still chewing at herself.

I love when people want to pat my dogs. :) They rarely do though! Lol!

Toby often 'fleas' herself but she has been treated repeatedly for fleas, and I found no sign of fleas/dirt when I bathed her tonight. Her skin is fine - no hot spots, redness, flakiness, etc. Not sure if its worth getting her allergy tested or getting scrapings done because there is nothing unusual to look at? Any ideas?

You could try using the light Supercoat and I would cut out the chicken mince (its generally quite fatty) and replace with something lean like roo mince. What is in the barf?

I agree Snook. I would guess he was not thinking clearly at all and probably felt very trapped. RIP to both of them.