~Anne~

Did they test for crystals? There is an easy way for you to do this too. Put paper under her next wee and then let the paper dry in the sun. If you see crystally bits, then I would think she might have struvites or similar and an associated infection. Dogs urinating often, and only small amounts, sounds like a bladder issue of some sort. Perhaps wait and see what the ABs do and if nothing changes, leave it for 48 hours after the ABs have finished and get another urine sample off to the vet.

I often wonder, when reading the comments of those who determindedly push barf or raw diets for dogs, just how much commercial food they eat themselves and also feed their families. McDonalds anyone? Hmmm, butter chicken? What about a jar of pasta sauce with that pasta.... or even a slice of bread? Perhaps you'd like a biscuit or muesli bar? No? What about a glass of cordial, cola or even a coffee with white sugar? A beer or wine perhaps? Lets put some of those canned peaches with some cream for dessert or grab that bar of chocolate. Now, finish off with a ciggie and all is right with the world...but damn, you make sure your dog is crammed full of natural ingredients less they get cancer or be poisoned in some other way. Commercial food for my dawg, never!

Durability, plush and no small parts that can come off and cause choking.

I agree that the environment we now live in, and our dogs live in, has to be in the debate somewhere as a detrimental factor, however both dogs and humans are now living longer on average. There is a much larger picture in the debate then simply environment, diet or genetics. I would think it is a combination of all three, and others as well. For anyone to single out commercial food (this one seems to be the most common thing blamed), genetics or environment is wrong and giving an inaccurate view im my opinion at any rate.

Sardines - once each week, in water. Eggs - this is mixed in their raw mix - 1 egg to around 500gms mince and veges. Sometimes I will give them egg and yoghurt or egg and water/pet milk as a drink although this is only around once a month and it is 1 egg between 3 of them.

Olivia was squinting a month or so back and it turned out that she had stabbed her eyeball with something. It could have ended badly had she not been seen by my Vet.

My dog was fed quality diet and what the breeder reccomended and so do loads of allergic dogs. Dogs don't become allergic because they're fed PAL or some other non-high quallity food - that's a cop out because there are a huge amount of non-allergic dogs who are fed super market diets. Yes, I have to agree with this. I don't think that commerical food is the best choice, but I also don't believe that it is the root cause of the problems we see in dogs. In fact, I'd like to see any conclusive evidence that dogs fed a commercial diet are any less healthy overall or live shorter lives soley because of this.

Yes, which is much the same as what my Vet advised with my guys. I am actually very surprised they did.

Yep, I do that too but most Vets will advise bringing them in anyway. My Vets, whom I know personally, tell me what I need to do over the phone. The last few 'eating' accidents we've had was Boof eating an entire bag of milk bottle lollies (he blew up like a balloon and then vomitted everywhere) and the Vet said he'd be fine and the time beofre that (you might remeber this one Pugger) was when the 3 of them ate a couple of packets of worming tablets. My Vet laughed and said what a waste of worming tablets. Pugs are notorious for eating things they shouldn't, just like Labs are.

Not water free, just food. Only remove the water for tonight. Let him drink water again tomorrow or he will dehydrate. Mine were given a bowl with a lick and promise at dinner times just so they didn't think they were missing out. Just smear a touch of food around the bowl and let him lick at it or only give him a few teaspoons (depending on how much kibble he has actually eaten) when you next feed him. When Boof did it, he was so swollen he could only lie like a big fat farting log all day. ;)

Don't make him vomit.

I'd leave him be and don't feed him for a day or so. Boofy and Olivia have done this before to me by getting into bulk bags of kibble at various times. They burb, fart and crap like crazy for days and then all is well again with the world. Remove water until tomorrow morning.

No to all three for all three of my dogs. They do have health issues however, just none of those listed.

I have a little Pug who, when bored, will find a bit of fluff... a leaf.... a rock... whatever and bark her head off at it while dancing around it as if it is alive and moving. :D Another little trick of hers is to pull a basket over, thats sits on the floor, and is filled with glass and ceramic balls. The noise is very loud and they roll everywhere while she dances around as if they are chasing her. :D

Yes, agree with this. The greater majority of kibbles use, at the very least, chicken fat for flavour.

A fresh barbequed chook. The smell alone will pique her interest (and every other animal and human within cooee). I've never met a dog yet that isn't tempted by warm and fresh barbequed chook.

How sad.

Convenience and safety with dogs that inhale food. I don't feed bones as food and aside from buying a chunk of meat and cutting it into pieces, mince is the easier option. My dogs get their teeth cleaning benefits and jaw exercise through other means.

I was about to race off to Woollies as that is around $5 less per kilo than normal!

I was buying mine at a butchers at Granville. Look for any butchers and areas that have high numbers of Turkish and Lebanese residents. They eat a lot of goats meat and stock it fresh. Ring around your local butchers. Alternatively, got to granville once a month or so and buy it in bulk. Almost every butcher sells goats meat there.

Goats meat might be cheaper?? I was paying around $8 kilo for goats meat.

How specific are you regarding the breast meat? Woollies sell chicken mince and for the most part it seems to be all meat and not much else. You could ask them what part they mince I guess.

Best thing to do is to take a sample and see your Vet. I would say it is possibly related to his itchiness waking him though.

Agree with what Shmoo has said although I would not think it likely that a 15 month old male has a UTI to be honest.

Depends on which end of Blacktown you are located. If you are at the eastern side, I'd try Great Western Animal Hospital on the Gt Western Highway at Greystanes/Wentworthville.