Flash30Aus

Thanks Rappie... I'm confused!!! LOL I do know when I've had to go back in to buy syringes I've had to ask for the same .50 syringes I always use, so that explains it abit more... I think! Christie

Hey Emma, Well that is confusing! I might call my vet tomorrow and see if I can get some more information also. Interesting what you say about the 19 units too. We have 10 mil vials of caninsulin also. We also definitely give Lucy 19 units each morning and night, every day for like, ever! LOL That's kinda gross about the cadaver information, but I guess it makes sense. No wonder its pricey, its amazing what they can do these days. I'll let you know if I find out anything different! Christie

Hi Emma, I think I must be using a different size syringe to you. Mine are a .50 guage which seems to be a small needle, so 19 units in this needle would be less than 19 units in a bigger needle. I may be running low at week 4-5. I use every little last bit of insulin I can out of the vial! I'm really sorry to hear your cataract surgery didn't go well. I've contemplated this for Lucy, but with her age (we estimate 13-15yrs) and the fact she stresses alot now, I don't think I could put her through it. My basic principal now is to keep her as comfortable and happy for as long as possible. I have faced the fact that due to her age she isn't going to live forever, but I do try and reduce her stress levels as much as possible. I'll still be heartbroken when the time comes though! Let me know how you go with changing insulin? I'm very interested! Thanks, Christie PS: Thanks Rappie for the cat/dog diabetic difference. Appreciate it!!

Hi Emma, Sorry if I wasn't clear, we currently use Caninsulin also. My vet just told me at the beginning of our journey we might go to human insulin if her dose was continuing to increase. I haven't yet moved across. But I'd be interested to hear how you go with it! Its a major committment financially and also time. Also since Lucy has pretty much gone completely blind she stresses when she isn't with us, so even my good friend can't babysit her anymore. I was conincidentally at the vets yesterday getting my cats vaccinated, and as I'm pretty much a regular, were talking about Lucy also. My vet was telling me that cats apparently do alot better as diabetics as they still have some insulin function in their bodies when they present with symptoms of diabetes. More similar to how people react. Therefore they can tolerate slight over and under-dosing. Apparently dogs don't show symptoms until there is pretty much no insulin being produced naturally by their bodies, which is why its harder to get the dose correct in dogs. I have to say I'd have never thought I'd give needles as well as I do now! Christie Lucy & Dash

Hi Raineth, Doggies are diagnosed with an initial blood work up that indicates diabetes, and then they keep them in for a day for an 8 hour glucose curve monitoring. Taking blood every hour or so and measuring how the dog reacts to the various levels of food and insulin over that time. In the beginning you go in nearly every week for the glucose curve, and once stable its 1 day every few months. Not much fun for doggies! Or kids I imagine! Christie

Hi Folks, My young BC boy Dash used to do this when we first got him (9 weeks). His favourite sucky toy was my older BC Lucy though! She let him do it for a while, and I can't say I saw her stop him, but he stopped after a couple of months. I put it down to a comfort thing, and the only reason I really worried about it was that he would give her bald red patches on her fur! Christie Lucy & Dash

Hiya, I share your pain, my old dog Lucy's insulin dose has just kept increasing. She started off high and then was dropped down as the blood work stabilised, then its just kept creeping back up again. When I was first introduced to the dose my vet said that if she maintained a high dose we would use human insulin which she told me was cheaper. I believe the issue is with smaller doses and human insulin you can't control the amount so well, as the caninsulin is less concentracted and therefore easier to get exactly the right dose for the dog. Downside being you go through more of it! We paid about $80 for our last vial and that lasts us about a month. What dose is Em on? Lucy is on 19units in a .50 syringe. Hope it helps! Christie Lucy & Dash

Thanks very much everyone. I think you are right in that she was without me and her Dad and feeling very lost. When we went to collect her she threw herself at me and whimpered. It was very sad, but I know she was just very relieved to see us. I've not thought about the scent ideas, I'll definitely do some research on that. I have used a diffuser with my stressy cat in the past and that has worked well. So I know they do work. I agree about the medication issue. She needs all the senses she has, she's limited enough. Thanks guys, you've made me feel like there is hope in all this, and thats exactly what I needed Christie

Hi Fellow Dog Lovers, I have a massive worry with my old dog Lucy and our planned relocation to Bathurst. We currently live in Sydney's west, but through a work relocation I've been lucky enough to secure a dream job in the country. Its a great move for us, we have horses and will be able to buy acreage. Having said that, my old dog Lucy is my only really big worry in all of this. I've had her for 18 months, she was a stray that no one came forward to claim. Terrible health issues, which has ended up with diabetes which we treat twice a day with insulin. Since the diabetes she is pretty much completely blind. She was deaf when I got her through years of ear infections, so basically she uses her nose to get around. This is fine in our own place, but when we went away on the weekend and my most trusted friend took care of her in her house, Lucy really stressed. She often bumps into things around our house, but it doesn't really seem to phase her. In a strange place, she obviously would feel very insecure. She had been to this place before and had settled well, but this time was not happy. My friend said I may have to consider having her put down due to the stress of the move. I've known this has been potentially coming for some time, but I cant bring myself to do it until I know for certain she is not enjoying life anymore. I do know a move will stress her, but would take every precaution to try and make the transition as easy as possible. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to manage this situation? I plan on going to the vet and seeing if they can provide some sedative medication for the first few days, that won't interact with her insulin. I'm thinking a small space initially at the new place so she can get her bearings. Apart from that, I'm lost Thanks for any help! Christie

Hi Fellow Doggie Owners, I've recently been offered a job and the opportunity to move to Bathurst. So I'm collating all my information and am hoping for some recommendations for a good vet in that area. I have an aged Border Collie with diabetes who I will not want to have travel back to Sydney for her regular glucose monitoring. I also have horses, so any vets that do large animals too, would be good. Bit the doggie vet is the most important at this stage. The horses don't have that many health issues Thanks in advance, Christie Lucy & Dash currently in Sydney!

We take our young Border Collie lad to Blacktown Kennel & Training Club, and they meet in Glendenning. About 15mins from Berkshire Park. Website: http://www.bktc.org.au/ My husband currently attends the classes with Dash, which go for 1 hour on a Tuesday night. He learns alot and has a great time. Good luck with your training Christie Lucy & Dash NSW

I think its the risk you take when you freight any animal. You have to trust that the people taking care of your animal have the same values on care as you. Its always a risk no matter how professional an organisation. Christie Dash & Lucy Sydney, NSW

My young boy does it too! He has started with cat poo, so I have to clean cat litter before he comes inside, as he thinks its GREAT! Then he did it once on a walk, so I had to pry it out of his mouth. I don't actually think he does it because it tastes good, he doesn't gulp it down like he does good food, so I don't know. My boy is also fed twice daily and doesn't have any ongoing medication. He doesn't eat his own poo or our other dogs. Its a gross habit!! Christie Lucy & Dash

My BC boy is just 4.5 months and stays like a good thing using the "treat for short durations, gradually extend the time" method. We just started obedience classes, and they recommend to use the command for "wait" when you want them to "come" to you at the end. You use "stay" when you want them to remain in position until you release them. I think stay is the hardest command, as they just can't stand to be away from you! Your Oliver is beautiful! Christie

Hi ya, No real words of wisdom here, I'm not a breeder! But I do have a 4.5 month old Border Collie pup and can vouch that both our play pens (professional and bunnings special) do not hold him any longer. He's pretty big now, probably 11-12kgs, and has long legs, he can jump up onto my outside dining table when he wants to look into my bedroom window! "C'mon Mum, where's breakfast?" LOL Naughty boy! I recommend Nutro Large Breed puppy food, you can buy it in 15kg bags as you go through it pretty quickly. My Dash looks fantastic on it, and has lost the skinny look he had on the old stuff he was eating. Good luck with your new additions. Christie

Hi There, I posted something similar happening with my new Border Collie pup and my old BC girl. It wasn't play fighting though, it was suckling. I eventually tried an essential oil concoction of lavender, lemon juice and water, which worked. He really hated it. I tested it on myself first and saw his reaction before putting it all over Lucy. It would sting on open skin, but you could try on the other bits. I think it had the effect of making my old girls scent less attractive as well as the bitter taste. I only had to use it for a few days before Dash gave it away. He occasionally tries again, but seems to give up before I can even get the oil out. Hope it helps, Christie

Hi Kwirky, We recently did this, but the opposite genders. Our aged Border Collie girl Lucy (11+) and our newly acquired rescue pup Dash (also BC and just hit the 3 months mark). They have settled in well. My few tips would be: 1. Feed and give treats seperately - no one wants food based aggression or to feel threatened over food. My old girl is diabetic so on a special diet anyway, and the puppy food is definitely not on her menu! 2. Focus on your old dog before you greet/pat/acknowledge the pup. Let him feel like he is still the centre of the universe and more important than the new dog. It will help establish the pecking order. 3. Especially in the early days give your old boy space for time out from the pup onslaught. We can split our yard off down the middle, so when Lucy has had enough we put her on one side, and Dash on the other. She generally doesn't like it though, and wants to be in amongst it. Good luck with your new baby, I'm sure it will be great! Christie

As the owner of 2 rescue doggies, both Border Collies actually, I have to say that I made a mental decision to deal with whatever health condition they came with. I also researched breeders and breeds and still came to the same conclusion, and that is you never know what your going to get when you buy a dog. You can have all the tests and guarantee's under the sun, and if you research the breed enough, you get some indication of what your likely to end up with, but at the end of the day, you never know. It might be having owned a number of horses, and they all came to me second hand Some were expensive, some free, they were all different than I expected, some better and some with issues. At the end of the day, I made a committment to them, and we work through whatever they throw up. *boom boom* So no amount of genetic testing, temp testing, grand championship titles is going to be able to provide me with a robotic dog (or horse). They are living, breathing individuals after all. Its the same with the daughter, and I know her pedigree Christie Lucy & Dash

Hi DancinBC, Thanks for the information. No, I did not get any health clearance, so I know we could have issues in the future. I'm surprised about the weight to age thing, thats very interesting. He is currently at 5.5kgs and nearly "11" weeks. He is eating kibble really well now, but possibly his preference for the mince over the kibble might have had to do with his size. And on the topic at hand, I need to reapply and forgot last night, therefore pink patch was back today. Reapplied this morning and he isn't happy! LOL Christie

Hi There, We did this just a few weeks ago, and it went great. I think it mainly depends on the temperament of your older dog and if they are keen for company. Most dogs are. Most dogs arn't nasty to pups, so this is good. We basically just chucked them both out in the yard together to get it over with. Once they establish a pecking order, which is Dog 1 and then Pup your all fine. Pups are always submissive, its instinctive. We didn't have any growling, maybe only a few tellings off of the old girl to the pup in the 3 weeks he's been here. My main tip would be to pat and cuddle the older dog and just ignore the pup. When our old girl got all the attention and the pup was told to sit down and stop jumping she was pretty happy. Good luck, and don't stress, your guys are young and will love each other. Christie Lucy & Dash

Hi Folks, Abit of an update - seems Lucy was less pink skinned yesterday so obviously Dash found other things to do :D I've made a concoction of lemon juice, a small amount of lavender oil, olive oil and water and I'm trialing this sprayed onto Lucy's sides to see if that stops him. So far it has, he took one wiff of her hip and shook his head and walked off in disgust. He was trying it on again when I went home at lunch and I reapplied. Lucy has never smelt so nice to me, but he has other ideas! Thanks, Christie Lucy & Dash

Hi Dju, I've considered pepper, but not tabasco! Not sure if that might irritate her skin now its abit pink. I guess I'll try it on myself and see Thanks for the reply, its obviously not a common thing! Christie

Hi Folks, Our new addition; 10week old Border Collie - Dash has taken to suckling on our old Border Collie; Lucy, which while sweet in the beginning, has started to give her a bit of a red patch on her skin. He has done it since he arrived, and I'm sure its a comfort thing. He was a rescue from the RSPCA so I've no idea his background, but I thought it was sweet she let him, and she actually doesn't seem to mind him doing it at all. He only does it to her, she probably reminds him of mum. Having said that, he would only do it once or twice a day, or so I thought. He's growing fast and I've started to leave them outside together through the day while I'm at work. She seems to take good care of him, and I go home and check him each lunch time. But last night I noticed that he must have been sucking ALOT yesterday, and she has a red patch on her hip. He doesn't suck her nipples... he sucks on her hip! Go figure Its not red raw but its definitely going to be if he keeps going, and she lets him! Anyway I'm wondering if anyone has any idea of what I can use to put on her sides that will stop him doing it. Obviously I don't want it to hurt him, or her, but I have spent a long time clearing up her terrible flea allergy dermatitis and don't want her skin sore and red again! Any ideas would be great - thank you :D Christie Lucy & Dash

Looks like the X-Trail is winning on space, price and fuel economy. Love the picture of the Delica though... I've never seen one off-road before! I've also heard bad things about the Rav4 from our mechanical relative - but that was in regards to the older model. I've not heard anyone mention any subaru's though, and I did like the look of them. I think they are abit pricier though. I like the idea of the triton but it is also alot dearer. Thanks for everyone's contribution! Christie Lucy & Dash

Hi Shelby, The 4WD part was really just a safety thing - I've done so much dirt track driving in my Corolla I'm after something a little sturdier. Although the car isn't trashed, a lesser car probably would have been Having said that we don't really off-road much apart from paddock and dirt track driving. No mountain climbling or anything. The BT-50 is a new one to add to the list - it looks good, and relatively cheap. Christie