~Anne~

Or you can just buy a Roomba robot vacuum, which is what I did. It vacuums while I am not home and I come home to lovely clean floors every day. Unless you dog goes to the bathroom on the floor. There was a post going around twitter where a mans dog had pooped on the floor and then his Roomba did the rounds... Yep you guessed it... Everywhere. LOL!! Oh dear oh dear oh dear! I am new to the Roomba thing and have yet to brave setting it to do its job whilst I am not at home. My main reason was because of the amount of hair (long hair in particular!) seems to get the brushes stuck. Now there's another reason to be careful about letting it go whilst I am out (especially if i have a new foster dog around!). Anne - have any of your dogs ever chased it or damaged the roomba? No, they ignore it. Initially they were fascinated with it and followed it around. That lasted about an hour and then they lost interest.

Or you can just buy a Roomba robot vacuum, which is what I did. It vacuums while I am not home and I come home to lovely clean floors every day.

It is fiction. Feel free to wash your dog as often as you like. As long as you use a good quality dog specific shampoo, you have nothing to worry about. I wash my dogs weekly and have for years. Always have, always will, unless of course it affected an individual dog... which it hasn't.

Theoretically you shouldn't with a top loader as they have gallons of water flushing through the hoses and filters. Front loaders use minimal water though which puts them at risk of clogging up.

Sorry Teebs, you did your best.

I wish mine worked like that. It is 4 years old and I am already replacing it! I wished I had never decided on a front loader. I assumed it was because of the hair, but perhaps it is just the brand or a dud machine??? Either way, I am getting my new one installed today so I don't care.

I wash mine every few days in the washing machine. Until sometime today, I have been using a front loader. The front loader simply does not deal with the amount of hair and it gets clogged. I am reverting back to a top loader which is being delivered today. I then, more often than not, use the dryer as this removes a good deal of the dog hair from them. I am not doing much for the environment I know but the dogs beds and blankets are clean and I have far less dog hair to contend with! I run my machine, with just vinegar and no clothes in it, to clean it after doing a few loads of dog things.

Lucky me too Peres! The dogs are in heaven. There are so many different places to take them for a walk, each different. The Illawarra is great for dogs.

It was too cold on the day although I suspect that they will always consider it too cold. I took them to the tide line several times but they were clever enough to see the waves when they came in and washed up so they never even got their feet wet really.

My boys, Monte and Boof, and Olivia at the beach. It was their first time and they really enjoyed it. It is an off lead beach too but I need to gradually introduce them to the concept... or to me anyway. I am used to fenced off elad areas which obviously isn't appropriate here.

Thanks.

Would Calendula cream be as effective do you know? No. IME the Calendula Tea is better. Not as messy either. You just brew it, let it cool and put it through the coat and skin. Leave it to dry. Dog will smell fresh and I found my boy's coat felt nice and clean and soft too. Sorry for the dumb question, but as an excuse, I am not a tea drinker. Can I buy this in the supermarket?

I am currently looking at purchasing new beds. Does anyone have any info on the following online suppliers; Ozdogbeds Dogbedsgalore Pookinuk I am hesitant to spend big $ on the unknown and I have never used any of these before. The first one, Ozdogbeds, have some really great prices too.

Given that you mention allergies and feet issues, this thread and the link to the video may prove useful. There were many points made and a lot of very good information in the video about skin issues. If you search the site, you will find a few more as well. http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/219997-video-about-yeastitchy-skinsmelly-dogs-problem-treated-with-diet-and-bathing/

He looks older than 5?? He is grey in the face too or is it just his colouring? Poor little guy. I don't think I have ever seen an emaciated BD before. I just watched the video. I hope he continues to improve.

Totally agree. I would alter it a little to this though and say if we are no longer affected by the death of any animal, then we should no longer be around animals. Anne, I am sorry but there just has to be some exclusions. Like snakes. Souff hates snakes and if a few more died there would be no tears shed here. There were also a couple of very evil roosters in little Souff's childhood. They made VERY good soup ;) and I probably helped to pluck 'em. No tears shed for them. Souff I was more inferring an animal that is not neccessarily in your care though. Evil roosters? Perhaps you grew up near me... Big Red was a devil and had evil sized claws. We all cheered when he was knocked off.

Whilst I agree we do not have an oversupply, I'd be very interested to hear where you got your stats. Whose salaries do the dead dog's pay?

Totally agree. I would alter it a little to this though and say if we are no longer affected by the death of any animal, then we should no longer be around animals.

Way to go girls.

Former Vet Nurse. Former Rescuer. Current pet owner.

No, it isn't true. They have no right to euthanase an animal that is a perpetual wanderer or escapist. I would however seriously advise that they (your friends) look into an alternative form of containment or fix what they have if it is failing.

How do you develop competency if you've never put a scalpel into living flesh? I am only guessing and taking it from the way they introduce graduate teachers (yes, I understand the two professions are poles apart but building knowledge and experience is the same regardless of profession). Students studying degrees in teaching start practical studies in the first year. Through the 4 years of study, the practical side becomes more involved and the length of time on practical studies is increased until they are teaching with only light supervision by the final year of the degree. I would therefore assume that Veterinary Science students would undertake a similar method where practical experience is increased and becomes more independently based towards their final year. They may start with theory, build for some areas to cadavers, and then finally to live patients. By the time they reach their final year or two, they will have gained enough expereince to be able to perform basic surgeries under supervision. Again, it is all purely speculation and assumption. Therefore - if this was close or refelctive of how students build experience in this arena, they would be coming close to competency by their final year. This is what I assume happens with Blacktown Pound dogs when we are told 'Uni Students' perform the operations at UWS.

So, dogs that get desexed at the Uni through the pound system shouldnt be, as it is a surgical procedure and of lower standard? Dogs that get desexed via the pound system don't have owners who'll sue. That is what a waver is forNo vet can guarantee you dog will live once put under anaesthetic and we all sign paperwork before surgical procedures I just think there could be alternatives and thinking outside the square is a good thing Where possible trying to preserve life should be the main objective I just believe that if the students are to operate on live animals, then use animals that need procedures whose owners (or non profit resuce for that matter) who don't have the finances to have it done and then the students get to see the recovery instead of just its death If a vet kills your dog, they have professional insurance to cover any compensation. You can't contract out of your liability at law. Waiver or not, if the dog dies due to error, there's probably a case for compensation. Of course that doesn't bring the pet back to life. I have always assumed that the students doing surgery on Blacktown Pound dogs were in the last year or two of their degree. Although this assumption could be totally wrong. I can understand that first, second or even third year students may not have enough hands on expereince at this point, but those closer to completing their degree would have a fair degree of competency under direct surpervision wouldn't they? Perhaps one of the vet students or Rappie could provide more detail in this area.

Was just thinking about all of this overnight. Operating on animals that dont have any medical issues then they get PTS- correct? Wouldnt it be good if the services of vet students were offered to low income families or pensioners who can't afford alot of veterinary care? Some procedures are really costly but if the University offered a free or low price option then the that could be a huge help to the community and then students would also be able to aide the animal in its recovery. I know it soudns bizarre, but I think you will find that it would then become an equity debate. Why should people less fortunate have Vets students, with obvious risks associated with this. I am not saying I agree or disagree, but just what I think might occur.

Jo, you seem to be missing a point. The point is your deliberate use of provacative language. By the way, some on here need to stop confusing logic with objectivity.