BANDAR

Hi, Your doing an excellent job I am sure, and with that many I can only imagine how tired you must be. I only ended up hand raising one puppy and found Biolac to be excellent and yes I too did the 2 hourly feeds. I was very tired but she put on weight and thrived in the end so was all worth while. As for keeping warm well this may not be practical for you but I put both a prem-baby hat and booties on my baby puppy and she slept under my arm in bed with me on a towel. As she had no mum or litter mates to keep warm with I found I was doing the lot, oh and my lovely hubby helped too. Once on semi solid food things get a lot easier, oh and a good vet never goes astray either. keep up the great work. Bandar

I'm a bit late but would be really interested if one is held in Brissie. Cheers Bandar

I currently have 4 ridgebacks and they eat a combination of Hills Science diet and raw food such as chicken necks ect. The cost is about $25 per week for the science diet ( that is for all four of them). The raw stuff costs about $20 - $25 per week (again for all four) depending on the going price which sometimes varies from butcher to butcher. One of my bitches eates more raw than dry food due to skin problems. I personally don't like the dog roll food as it gives my guys the runs big time ;) . Cheers Bandar

No green poo that I've seen, but after two chomps they are gone and given the price I have not gotten anymore. I get my guys those monster bones from the butcher and that lasts them a day or so. Interesting to hear what others have experienced with this product. Cheers Bandar

My ridgebacks won't eat roo meat at all, surprise for me as they eat anything. My male ate it and got really sick and the girls just sniffed and walked away. Have never tried roo again. cheers Bandar

Thanks Holly for the link. Dare I say it but I think my girl is looking a little better ( all fingers and toes crossed). The scratching and chewing seem to be less and the big sore is looking drier and like the healing process may finally be starting. Just a quick question ( if you guys don't mind)??? How long does commerical dry food stay in the dogs system??? I am thinking if the dry food is now out of her system then maybe I am dealing with a food allergy ... any thoughts?? Coat is still looking pretty dry and quite brittle to touch, sorry still no pictures we think our computer is playing up. Thanks heaps Bandar

Hi Guys, Thank you Mita and Elise for your advice I am learning a great deal from everyone. Holly I couldn't find the dry foods you mentioned so have continued on the chicken mince, rice and vegies with flaxseed oil and tuna to try and put in some oils to her coat. This morning she is looking the same but no worse which is a blessing for her and me. Her coat is looking quite dry and this does concern me a little, thanks Sirmonsta for the tip on mozzies and sandflies, I have not seen any sign of bites but will keep checking just in case. I am having a hell of a time trying to reduce these photos and attach them, not very good at that sort of thing LOL. Will get hubby to give it a go for me tonight, I really want you guys to see what I am dealing with and it might give a better idea of her condition. Holly your poor boy looked just dreadful in the first photo and wonderful in the second, what a difference you made to him. Thanks again guys you are really great with this sort of thing. Cheers Bandar

Hi Holly, Thankyou will wait for more info from you and in the meantime will try and get a photo of my poor babies back end so you can see what I am dealing with. Off today to get some of the Vets all natural food and give that a go, this morning she is looking about the same. Cheers Bandar

Hi Holly, Thanks so much for your thoughts, yes the chicken mince is fresh with no extra's but no have not tried either Vets all natural dog food or the advance chicken and rice. Which would you suggest I try first??? If I eliminate fleas and food allergy then you mentioned dust, plants and the like ... what do I do about them?? What do you think of the Malaseb wash?? Is it alright to use all the time or just for a short period?? Sorry for all the questions but the vet seems unsure and my poor dog looks so horrible. To my mind it must be very uncomfortable for her as well, all that itching and chewing. thanks Bandar

Hi Guys, I would really appreciate some advice regarding my 12 month old ridgie bitch who about 6 weeks ago developed what I thought was a hot spot. Vet put her on Keflex and I bathed it and applied betadine as directed. This "hot spot" remained clean and dry but other small sores started to appear, again to vet who said she was having a hormonal reaction. Was advised to stop all dry food and commence her on a diet of tuna (which she had already been getting) chicken and rice. No better so back to vet who examined her for fleas (no sign of them) and did a skin scraping for possible mites, and no sign of mites either. Now have started washing her in Melaseb ( hope spelling is correct) every three days. It gets hot up this way but she spends most of the day inside in the air con, is on frontline every month for flea's and is hydrobathed every three weeks. I have not had any problems with her skin until this and my other 2 dogs are fine with no sign of allergies or irritation. The truth is she is looking worse rather than better and I am now at a loss as to what to try next. Thanks in advance for all advice. Cheers Bandar